Happy BirthdayPayton!

Payton Marie is the first dog I ever had on my own. I got her when I was in college, living in a sorority house (also known as HELL) and she kept me sane! I rescued her from the shelter where she had been left by her abusive owner.

When I met dh, he loved her and her obsessive compulsive behaviors as much as I do! Now she is a complete daddy's girl!

Because she had such a rough start, she is super super timid. We had to REALLY coax her to get into the stream but she was brave! This was almost 3 years ago!

She loves to fetch and constantly has something in her mouth (sometimes it's a sock)! She is sooo athletic. She never stops!

And here she is...daddy's little baby.

I can't believe she is FOUR! She is becoming a woman! I love all her little speckles!
OK, I'm done now. I just wanted to share my little boo boo's story! I love you Payton Marie! (and I apologize for the formatting...blogger continues to get the best of me!)

Love this song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT7x3VnrqbA

Somedays...

are just better than others. Today has started off a little woozy. I can't believe how slow life moves when you're counting in weeks. I was only at the doctor a week ago....it seems like a month at least.

I just want this little one inside me to grow so strong so I won't be so worried! Although, from watching my mom and Matt's mom, I don't think it matters how big and strong your children are, you still worry!

That's all for today...I was just checking in.

We had a visitor!!

What an awesome family weekend! Matt's mom arrived on Thursday night where we met her at the airport. It was so great to see her out here, a familiar face and a good hug! She got in super late so we didn't do much on Thursday. Friday she watched the girls all day and then Friday night we went to Fudruckers and the mall. I hadn't been out of the house, or to a restaurant in a LONG time so I was nervous, but I did great. I ordered the potato wedges, which were delish! We strolled around the mall until they closed the place down at 9!

On Saturday morning, DeAnn, Matt and Kevin headed up to Camelback mountain because she wanted to climb it! She is so strong and active, I love it! They made it over halfway and then decided to head back home.

That afternoon, we rented a van and did some site seeing. We drove down to Westgate, which is like an outdoor mall type place with restaurants and shops. It was SO hot and packed that we headed back towards our house for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. I ordered grilled cheese and it wasn't that great but everyone else enjoyed their GIANT meals! The entrees there are HUGE! Oh yeah, and so is the cheesecake!!

Sunday was our cookout, which was one of my favorite parts of the weekend! We all swam for hours!

DeAnn and Yasmeen

Kevin and Yamila

Two little ones didn't make it very long before it was nap time! Well, ok...one big one and one little one! hee hee

Once Matt woke up he decided it was Watermelon time, and poor Kira missed out! She was so tired!

The rest of us enjoyed the delicious summer treat!

Once Kira finally woke up, it was time for cake and presents because her birthday is next tuesday (the 28th). She didn't hesitate to dig into her cake!

























She loved her bitty baby blankie and fell asleep with it almost right away!












Monday morning was one of my favorite times. Everyone else was at work/school and DeAnn and I got to spend some time together. We chose to spend it lounging by the pool! She had to leave around 3pm so we had most of the morning to layout and chat. It was nice and relaxing. Then, I took her back to the aiport. :( We already miss her LOTS. A weekend just isn't long enough!!

Peanut's First Photoshoot!

We had our first doctor's appointment Thursday and everything "could not be more perfect!" Those are the words of my doctor! We thought I was 10 weeks but the baby only measures 8 weeks so I'm not QUITE as far along as the doc originally thought. We couldn't hear a heartbeat yet because I'm not far enough along, BUT we got to see the heartbeat which was absolutely amazing. It made everything seem so real. Matt and I were holding hands and when the shot came into view of the little heart pumping we squeezed hands. It was just pounding away! I looked up at him and he had the BIGGEST smile on his face. It was SO cute.

Here he/she is in a photo debut!! The head is to the right and the little feets are to the left! Hi Baby Carty!!

Guest Design Team Freak!

Here is the layout I entered at Scrapfreak for the Guest Design Team Contest, and I won!! WOOT! The challenge was to do a layout about your day and this is what I came up with!

Titled: A Day in the Life of Me

Journaling reads: My day is like a circle; it begins and ends with I love you!

green circle: sleepyface*i love you*have a good day*gentle kisses*sloppy kisses*rise and shine*coffee*doggy potty breaks

orange circle: computer chair*work*The View*scrapfreak*scrapbook heaven*mycell phone*all my children

blue circle: scrapbooking*pool time*Chili's*snuggle time*primetime tv*the big bed*Seinfeld*Goodnight, I love you

It is now time for the August contest so get on over to scrapfreak and enter your layout!!

Wow, it's August

I can't believe it's already August and we've been in Arizona since April. Time has really flown up until now. Now that I'm pregnant and everything is counted in weeks, it seems like time has stopped. I am not feeling well about 85% of the time, and the other 15% I'm so afraid I'm going to get sick that I rarely leave the house. Yesterday was the first time I've left the house in 9 days. We went to Old Navy for about 15 minutes and then came home. Shopping isn't even as fun as it used to be. I'm just ready to feel like myself again. Matt is trying to help me, but I really don't think he could ever really understand what I'm going through. I am so lucky to be able to work from home. I don't know what I would do if I had to leave the house for a job. All I want to do is sleep. Too bad I can't sleep for the next 32 weeks or so.

I really don't think going home will help because it's not here that is making me miserable. I'm just miserable in my own body, in my own skin. Ugh, I just can't explain it. I hope after our appt on the 16th I'll understand more of what is happening to me. We are anxious just to hear that everything is ok with the baby. I'll be 10 weeks on the day of my appointment which seems like a long time to me!

I need to feel better for my husband, and my job, and for my hobby too. I won the design team spot at scrapfreak and I haven't scrapped in weeks. I really hope I don't let them down. I need to just snap out of this. I wish it was that easy.

Sorry for such a downer post, but I wanted to record how I'm feeling.