Grandma and Grandpa visit!

Here is Peyton opening the last of the gifts from Grandma and Grandpa. He got a cool new suitcase, a headboard, blanket, and throw pillows, for his big boy bed, clothes, a basketball mural for the wall, and some new books! He loves opening presents and his reactions are priceless! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!!!!

Here are Peyton and Grandma eating Peyton's most favorite treat....POPSCICLES! I swear the kid never gets sick of them. He loves to eat them with someone and this time, he picked Grandma. He loves to trade while he is eating and eat some of the other person's and then trade back. Grandma and Peyton are also sitting in the new chair that Grandma and Grandpa bought for me!!! It is a glider rocker and will be perfect for rocking our new baby! We put our loveseat downstairs a while ago and really needed something upstairs. This chair is perfect in the spot and is very comfortable!!!!

Here is Peyton admiring his new basketball mural on his wall. It is really cool!

Grandma and Peyton sat together at the ESU game on Saturday and talked about how the players dribble, pass, shoot, and make THREES! Peyton also looked everywhere for Corky our mascot!

BUDDIES! Here is Grandpa and Peyton sitting together after Peyton's nap. (of course they are eating popscicles!) Peyton loved hanging out with my dad and playing with him. It was so fun to see them together. Peyton loves having company and having new people to play with. He had a fun time on Monday staying home from his babysitter to spend time with just them. He has been very lucky lately to have had so much company!!!!

Peyton's birthday party

Here is Peyton blowing out his candles at his birthday party at Pizza Ranch

Posing for a picture with Grandma and Grandpa

Here is Peyton with Mommy and Daddy at the party.

This is Peyton's cake this year...I worked hard to make it look like a basketball on top of a net. Thankfully my mom was here to help me decorate and get the ball on top to stay...it was a big challenge, but ended up turning out good. The best part was that it tasted really good! So, overall, I think it was a success!!!

Here is Peyton and Mommy the morning of his birthday.

Peyton had an AWESOME time at his birthday party. We had about 22 adults and 6 kids come to Pizza Ranch for pizza, cake and ice cream. Peyton loved every minute of the party and especially enjoyed dancing and playing with all of his friends. It feels so good to have such nice and caring people here in Emporia. :) I am also really glad my parents were able to be here for the party. It was nice to have the extra help getting everything ready for the party!!!!!

Peyton's 2nd birthday

Here are the cookies I made for Peyton to take to his friends at daycare tomorrow!

Here is our little ball player shooting baskets tonight!

I can't believe it has been two years since Peyton was born. Two years ago at this time, I was still trying to be brave and endure labor without an epidural. Silly me. I have wised up and will be getting one right away with this baby!!!! We had a long labor and actually thought he would be here today....and then didn't come until 5:29am on the 30th. It has been a wonderful year and Peyton seems to be getting more and more verbal everyday. We are amazed at what he comes up with and the things he is able to do. I will post pictures of his birthday party on Saturday as soon as I can.

PICTURES!!!

Reading books with Great Grandma. She is very silly!

My birthday cake with Grandma, Great Grandma, and Joey. It had a dog that looks like Copper on it!

Sitting by Uncle Joey. I love that guy!

The "pet whisperer" Grandma. Copper and Lucy just love her!

Eating popscicles with "Uncle Josh." I thought he was a pretty cool guy!

Visitors!

We have been very busy during the past two weekends! Last weekend, my aunt and uncle, Linda and Bruce came to visit on their way to Branson. They took us out to eat and went to the big Washburn vs. ESU game. We really enjoyed having them here. That same weekend, Josh and Scott "Sterles" came to visit as well. Sadly, Sterles got sick while he was here, but I think the guys still enjoyed hanging out.

This past weekend, we had more company! Joey, Grandma Mary and Great Grandma Benish came to celebrate Peyton's birthday. The Grandma's stopped at Northwest Missouri State on the way down to watch the Bearcats vs. ESU. Sadly, the Hornets lost. We had a busy day on Sunday and a fun party! Peyton got some new clothes, sheets, and a cool blow up football player from Uncle Joey. He loved it all and had to try on his new clothes right away! I will be posting pictures very soon!!!! Grandma Benish (who claims she does not like animals) seemd to get along very well with Lucy and Copper. They followed her everywhere and Lucy was on her lap constantly! Peyton got to spend today with the Grandma's and did not have to go to the babysitter. I think everyone had a good time. Peyton loves having company and new people to play with. He was very tired tonight and is fighting a little cold, so I hope he sleeps well!!!

This week will be another busy one for us. I have a regular doctor's appointment on Wednesday. This will be my last monthly appointment and we will be going to bi-weekly. Peyton's birthday is on Friday and we have scheduled our 4-D sonogram for that day. My mom and dad are coming into town so hopefully they will get here time to go with us...we plan on taking Peyton too, so he can see the baby!!! Then Saturday night, we are going to have a birthday party at our new Pizza Ranch. We have a lot of our friends from Emporia coming and the theme is basketball....who would have guessed!?!?! It is sure to be a busy and fun time! I will get pictures of all of our visitors on as soon as I can....I have started my ESL practicum classes and seem to be a little overwhelmed with all I have to do before the baby comes. Our closing session is scheduled for three days after my due date...I swear I will not take ANY more college classes for a VERY long time!!!!!

24 weeks!

Here is Peyton holding Lucy again. He just can't get enough of his baby kitty. She is the most tolerant cat in the whole world. He holds her like this all of the time and kisses her. Then he carries her around the house and sings to her. Lucy also has a great time playing with Copper. She has really fit in well to our household! I am so excited that she no longer has front claws! I have many less scratches!!!!


Onto the pregnancy update. I decided not to shock everyone with a picture of the belly. Instead, here is a picture with sweater down. I am 24 weeks here and recently had another doctor's appointment. My belly continues to measure at least 2 cm bigger than the week I am on, so we may be looking at a big baby! I also had my blood glucose test and everything checked out great. I have been feeling more short of breath lately and just fat. When I went back to work on Monday everyone thought my belly looked a lot bigger! My new student teacher came on Friday to meet my students and one of my students said, "Mrs. McCollum, are you going to tell her..." when I asked tell her what, the student replied, "about the baby!" It was so funny because there is absoultely no way of hiding it at this point...I said to her... "I think she has probably figured that out already! :) It was hilarious. The kids are now giving me hugs and saying hi to the baby. They are pretty excited about it all.

Ben, Peyton and I had a fun family night last night. We went to the new Pizza Ranch and then to the high school basketball game to watch our family friend and Ben's newest Hornet play basketball. Pizza Ranch is just as delicious as I remember it and it is so nice to have a little taste of Iowa here in Emporia! Peyton loved the pizza and had two pieces! He also enjoyed the game...until half time when he said, "Bye bye ball."

Lucy and BIG BOY BED!

Here is Peyton's latest trick with Lucy our cat. He picks her up and gives her rides on his tractor. She is such a sweet cat that she just lets him do it...we did have to have a time out the other day for shooting Lucy through the ball hoop. Poor little kitty. :) He does love her up a lot though and spends a lot of time giving her hugs and kisses (right on the mouth). He also sings her songs and rocks her. They are quite the duo!


Here is a picture of the new room!

It is official...we have a big boy in our house. This week, we switched the crib and the guest bed so Peyton could have a big boy bed in his room. He had just gotten a new quilt from Grandma Ackerman and lots of room decor so we though it would be a great time to make the switch. I must admit, I was a little sad to see the crib move rooms and to see him on his new bed. He looks so big and is no longer a baby. He was a little sad the first night...not quite sure about it, but he has been doing great since. He wakes up in the night and gets a little scared, but then goes right back to sleep. It is so weird when he gets up by himself and comes in our room in the morning. Sometimes he scares me! Here are a few pictures of his new bed and room. I think the quilt looks great! Way to go Mom!!!