Hello Santa... Nice to Meet You!

My sister and I took Adalyn and Kayson to meet Santa Claus. They both were awed by him and couldn't take their eyes off of him. Neither one of them cried and Kayson even checked to see if he was real by giving his beard a tug. It was so cute.

Ring The Christmas Bells

On Saturday Devin and I had the opportunity to go to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert (thanks for the tickets Mom!) It was an amazing concert and Devin and I really enjoyed the night out. It was such a great way to feel the Christmas spirit amidst all of the craziness.

We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas season and that the spirit will be abundant in all of your hearts.

My Soul Delighteth...

Everyday I feel so lucky to be where I am... A stay at home mom(to the cutest girl ever) and wife to an amazing man. I have wonderful family and friends surrounding me and I am blessed beyond description. Here are just a few things that I have delighted in lately...


1. Our curious little lady is figuring out how to get what she wants, when she wants it. Lately she has been pulling herself up to reach different things. Everyday I get to see all the funny and interesting things that she is learning and doing. She amazes me day after day and I love every moment I have with her.


2. 10:00pm. That's right I find delight at 10:00pm and here's why. This is the only time that Devin and I have a chance to just sit and relax together. Devin, who is appreciated more than he knows, has been working excruciating hours keeping him at the office very late in the evening. Also, Adalyn's bedtime is about 9:30, so right around 10:00 we have just a moment to ourselves before it's my bedtime. Devin is so wonderful... even after very long days he is so willing to come home and help me with whatever I need (even if that means running to the store for GingerAle!) He is also so optimistic and can always make me laugh. He makes our home such a happy place to be. I delight in knowing it will be forever. (Isn't he handsome?)

3. Best Friends. I am so grateful to have such wonderful friends who I have stayed close with over the years. I have known Jessica since 4th grade and I don't doubt that she will remain a life-long friend. We have begun a monthly craft day and I am so grateful that we are able to stay close. She is a beautiful girl who I will love forever. A picture of our recent craft is below.
4. Family. I love, love, love my whole family! They are wonderful and I enjoy every single individual person. I am so extremely lucky not only to have been born into an amazing family but to have then also married into one as well. So many of them do not live in Utah but they will be coming here for Christmas very soon and I can't wait!
My cup runneth over...

Happy Birthday Mom!

I just wanted to let my mom know how much she is loved and appreciated. All through my life you have been more than just my mom. You have been my best friend, my cheerleader, my example, and my continued support. We have laughed together, and cried together and I have enjoyed every moment. Now, as I watch you with Adalyn, I know that you will be the same as a Grandma that you have been as a mom and I am so happy that Adalyn will get to know you as I've known you. You are an amazing woman! Thanks for all you do! We hope that you have a wonderful birthday!
We celebrated by going to Ogden's Christmas Village.

Here are more pics...

'Tis The Season

Adalyn loved decorating for Christmas... there were so many fun things to see and play with. She took advantage of every moment! She loves to see the Christmas tree lit up and gets so excited when we walk into the room...



So I just had to put one in her room! It's not a very good picture, but I know what you're thinking... This girl is going to HATE pink when she grows up! Not that it has anything to do with this post, but here is a video of some new noises that Adalyn has begun to make. Too funny!

Our Thanksgiving Trip

For Thanksgiving our little family headed out to Colorado to be with Gavin, Becky, and Eleanor. We were promised a wonderful time complete with a Turducken feast. And let me tell you... they did not disappoint! We had so much fun spending time with them and our Thanksgiving feast was incredible. Here are pictures of our week with The Colorado Paynes...


Here we are at the airport awaiting our flight.



Adalyn and Devin on the plane. She was so good, and loved it because there was so much to see.




Becky, Adalyn, and Eleanor at Hammonds Candy Factory.



We also ate at the best Chinese Restaraunt ever!




Our Thanksgiving Feast Gavin carving the Turducken. It was so yummy!


Even Devin helped in the kitchen! Here he is scooping the potatoes that he had dug up earlier that day.

Dinner was amazing and we enjoyed the company even more. It was such a great Thanksgiving Day!




Adalyn loved playing with her cousin Eleanor. They were so cute together!



Thank you so much Gavin, Becky, and Eleanor for a wonderful Thanksgiving trip! We can't wait to see you all for Christmas!

Mom's The Word

Ladies and Gentelmen... I now present to you... Adalyn's first word!



Here are a few pictures of other things we have done lately...


Devin was able to get tickets from his work to a suite at a Grizzlies Hockey Game. It was fun and Adalyn really liked watching the players skate around on the ice.

Adalyn's first 'big girl' bath. Up until now she has been sitting in the bumbo with the shower running. She didn't quite know what to make of it all.

Here she is 'helping' mom make cards. Can't get mad at the mess when such a cute girl is making it!

S.O.S.

Last night I had the opportunity of participating in our ward's Sisters of Service Retreat. After being in the ward for a little more than 6 months, I finally discovered what amazing sisters I have surrounding me. Not only was this retreat a good way to finally meet more people, but I was also able to learn so much about them. As part of it we were asked to write down a service that we could provide another sister and then gift wrap it. We then picked them as if it were a white elephant game. I came to find that this group of women is not only talented in so many different ways, but they are so willing to give anything to serve another sister. I am grateful to my husband for not only giving me the opportunity to go, but pushing me into it as well. And I look forward to getting to know my fellow sisters even more.

(Sorry, no pictures... I forgot my camera!)

Be Prepared

Okay, so I am obviously a little too prepared! However, my friend, Jessica, and I discovered this idea and could not resist doing it right away! I guess it will have to serve as a decoration until the appropriate time.

Besides, I don't know how I will ever be able to discipline this cute little girl!
During the making of the chairs Adalyn was well entertained by Jessica's son Jonas. They had a great time playing and talking to each other. It was very cute!

Halloween of Firsts

Adalyn's first Halloween was very eventful. During the day we went to Devin's work party. You would never believe what Halloween can do to an office full of professionals!

Special Delivery!



Yep...you either go Big or go home! The horses weren't the only props of the day... there was also a Ghostbuster car! It was so funny!
After that we ended up going to our ward's Trunk-Or-Treat. This was a FIRST for Devin and I. We have never had to pass out candy before, so needless to say, as Rookies, we ended up quite short. We had no idea what kind of madness was in store, and we only lasted about 10 minutes before having to close up shop!

Everyone commented on what a cute 'lil ducky she was!

We thought about having Adalyn score some candy so we would have more to pass out, but in the end we decided to just hang our heads and drive away.
Oh, how much more fun the holidays are with kids!

Good Times

Not only am I cute but look close and you can see my tooth...

Carson, Adalyn, and Natalee at the Old Navy Dress Up day. They each got a free T-shirt for dressing up! Not to mention the discounts that the moms scored!

Adalyn and I hung out with our friends Jessica and her son Jonas, and Kara and her son Braden and daughter Madison.

Adalyn helped me make Daddy's lunch this morning... she found the paper towels to be a great form of entertainment.
Adalyn dances whenever Devin goes do do do!

Crazy Eights

My sister-in-law, Sara, and my friend, Stephanie, tagged me.

Eight TV shows I like to watch:

1. The Office
2. Friends (I have all 10 seasons!)
   
3. Pushing Daisies
   
4. Cash Cab
5. Intervention
   
6. Without a Trace
   
7. Greek
8. Gilmore Girls

Eight restaurants where I like to eat:

1. Chick-Fil-A
2. Cafe Rio
3. Red Iquana
   
4. Olive Garden
   
5. Chilis
6. Anywhere you can get Pupusas
   
7. Happy Sumo
   
8. Any Thai restaurant
   

Eight things that happened today:

1. Woke up
2. Fed/Changed Adalyn
   
3. Met with my Visiting Teachers
   
4. Played with Adalyn
   
5. Attempted to finish Adalyn's Christmas (that's right, I'm nearly done!)
   
6. Ate spaghetti for lunch
   
7. Checked my email
   
8. Blogged
   

Eight things I'm looking forward to:

1. Halloween
   
2. Flying to Colorado
   
3. The Turduckin we will eat on Thanksgiving (refer all questions to Gavin Payne)
   
4. Doing crafts with my friends Jessica on Monday
   
5. Our ward's Relief Society Retreat
   
6. The Whole Christmas Season
   
7. Ryan, Sara, Isaac, and Maddie coming to visit
   
8. Aaron, Angie, and Kayson coming to visit
   

Eight things on my wish list:

1. A new computer... our's is making blogging difficult
   
2. A vinyl machine
   
3. A sewing machine
4. Clothes
5. Shoes
   
6. Learning how to sew and cook
   
7. A stress-free vacation
   
8. Being able to make a good Christmas for Devin and Adalyn
   

Eight people I tag:

1. Angie
2. Melissa
3. Michelvis
   
4. Leah Garmire
   
5. Lauren
6. Heather
7. Shannon
8. Becky

Half Year Birthday

And boy do we know how to party! With doctor's visits and shots... sad but true. Adalyn turned 6 months old yesterday and happened to have her check-up on the same day. We found out that she is currently 15 lbs. 2 oz (23%), 25 1/2 in. long (23%), with the Payne head at 17 in. (64%). She is looking great and even more amazingly she didn't cry when she got her shots! After the second set of shots she began to whimper but as soon as I picked her up she was fine. What a tough little cookie. We then decided that she deserved a little celebration so we went and got her a new toy and then gave her Pears to eat for the first time. Yeah... we party hard!
Adalyn enjoyed her Pears so much she began bouncing around in her seat.



Bottles are for Amatures!

One night, I was holding Adalyn and drinking water from a cup. I noticed that she was watching me (as she usually does when I eat or drink). Then suddenly she reached out, grabbed the cup, pulled it to her mouth and began drinking. Too funny! Now she loves to drink out of our cups whenever she sees them. She never ceases to amaze us!



Starting early....
I didn't think that I would have to worry about Adalyn getting into my make-up until she was at least 4 or 5 years old. However, like with everything else, she has decided to start early. We have many many years before you start this routine baby girl!




Our beautiful girl! We just can't get enough of her gorgeous smile. The nurse at the doctor's office couldn't get enough either. She told us that she needs to be on the cover of magazines. Naturally, I agree. Anyway, Happy 6 months baby girl! We love you!

Kid Tag

My sister-in-law, Sara, tagged me. I have to write 5 things about my kid that others might not know. Sorry if they are things you already know, I do share (brag) quite frequently about Adalyn. And I tag Angie, Leah, Becky, and Shannon.

1. Adalyn has received her first tooth! At first we had no idea, cause we thought that she just had a cold. She hasn't been very fussy or acted like anything was out of the ordinary. Then, last night, as she was knawing on my finger I thought, "Hmm, I've never felt that before!" So, I checked, and sure enough I found the beginnings of a little tooth!

2. Miss Independent. Adalyn does what Adalyn wants, when Adalyn wants to do it! It sounds bad, but it really isn't. Adalyn becomes more and more alert as she gets older and she is figuring out that she can do what she wants. An example: Adalyn loves playing with new things, especially things she isn't supposed to have. Ex. remotes, phones, etc. So when she gets her hands (and lets face it her mouth) on one of those items we try to trick her into giving it up for another toy. It doesn't work. She will move every which way to get back the thing that she wants. It is quite funny.

3. Loves Hugs and Kisses. This is my favorite! Plain and simple... Adalyn has always loved snuggling up with people, but now she loves giving and getting kisses.



4. Fascination with Mouths. Adalyn is intrigued by any and every mouth. She loves putting her hands right in them. She grabs at the teeth and plays with the lips and never gets enough of it.

5. Super Smart. Adalyn gets smarter by the minute. She is constantly learning new things and gaining new abilities. Just last night she watched me turn on her Aquamarine toy that hangs in her crib. Right after she saw me do it, she kept turning it on and off, on and off. She is completely amazing. She's even 'reading' books by herself!


She is such a good baby and has brought so much joy into our home!