It might actually happen!

Nicki at daycare yesterday asked me if I wanted to bring home their wedge - they use it to help babies learn how to crawl. Another teacher, Carrie, told Greg this morning that Peyton "crawled" (probably more like wiggled) down it! They told us to put something down at the bottom that she would want - they used her bottles. Well surprise, surprise, she went down to get them! We decided to go ahead and take it since Greg will be home with her most of this week. She was too tired tonight for us to try it but I'm excited to hear how she does with Greg's one-on-one attention tomorrow. We'll try to enjoy this last month or so of her being somewhat stationary.

Peyton also is getting over her new tooth coming in. A few weeks ago one of her two top teeth poked through. We only had a couple nights where she was up a lot. We're so lucky she's become such a happy baby. I can't tell if the one right next to it is ready to come through or not. How funny is she going to look with one tooth up top?!?

Peyton's First Christmas

Peyton really enjoyed her first Christmas and did well being dragged around. Christmas Eve we went to Uncle Jerry's and got to see Papa & Betty. Christmas morning was at Grandma Judy's. Christmas Night was at cousin Nika's. Friday night my brother had a party and we spent the night so we didn't have to wake her up to come home for the third night in a row. Saturday was Christmas with Grandma & Grandpa Thies. (This was after Greg & I got about three hours of sleep Friday night - sigh). Peyton had fun playing with her cousins Sampson & Thomas at my family's. We had fun watching our nieces, Haylie, Desi & Dakota, get so excited over their Polly Pockets and Little Pet Shop. Peyton got a ton of clothes - which she needed desperately - and some great toys. She of course loved ripping the paper open. She also loves to look at the lights and touch the Christmas tree & ornaments. I'll be sad when we have to take it down.

We continued the tradition of getting the worst present at my brother's rob-your-neighbor. One year Greg got "Deliverance" on DVD. We brought it back the next year, Steph ended up with it and regifted it at my house's rob-your-neighbor last Christmas (my poor mother ended up with it). One year I got a deer antler toilet paper holder. This year we got Polo cologne. Needless to say, the cologne and Deliverance will be our gift at next year's party. At one point we had Superbad DVD and then a $25 gift certificate to Culpeppers in our hands. They were both stolen and we ended up taking the last gift on the table, which was the cologne - another sigh. I'm pretty sure the same guy brought it who brought the antler thing - I'm going to have to tell Bobby to stop inviting him. Oh, also, did I mention that Bobby is the proudest uncle EVER?!? He showed her off to all his friends Friday night and told them how he was going to buy her a boat for her 2nd b-day. He already has it picked out.

Peyton's Eight Months Old!

Peyton turned 8 months on the 23rd. We would have not made it to the daycare by 6 because of the rain (and the highway), so Grandma Judy picked her up that day and we all had chili together. Well, Peyton didn't get chili. You can't feed a baby chili! (name that movie). We have been introducing big people food, though, per PAT instructions. After a few weeks most of it actually stays in her mouth, now. She's still not a big fan, though.
We're still working on that crawling thing. Greg told her tonight that she can't have birthday cake if she's not crawling by then. What a meanie!
She got to meet Santa at daycare. When I walked in to pick her up they said that she was the best one (they probably tell all the moms that, but it's nice to hear!). I did get to see pix of all the kids in her class and she was one of two kids who weren't screaming their heads off.

Thies-Niehaus Family Christmas

This Saturday we celebrated Christmas at Grandma & Grandpa Niehaus's house. Twelve adults and nine children ages seven and under! It was lots of fun. As expected, Peyton was at first more interested in the wrapping paper than her new fun toys. She didn't know where to look first, there was so much activity going on. Jess brought the Brandt's Santa outfit and it fit Peyton perfectly - she really did look like Santa with that belly! Thanks to Jean and Terry for another wonderful dinner/party and for all of the presents.

Punk Rocker

Peyton's hair is growing in more and more each day. Here's her first shampoo mohawk. This was probably also Peyton's last time in the sink. Greg went out and bought her this huge plastic tub to put in the actual bath tub (he said the chair was too expensive). And this is the guy who doesn't like clutter. So, I hope nobody but a kid wants to take a bath anytime in the next two years because a big plastic tub will be in there permanently until then.

Going to get a Christmas Tree

For the second year now, we took our niece, Dakota, to go help us cut down a Christmas tree. Peyton stayed with her Aunt Danie and cousin A.J. We love spending this time with her and can't wait for Peyton to get big enough to join in the fun.

First time in the big bath tub

We decided to see how Peyton liked it in the big bath tub. She loved it for the few minutes she was in it. She very quickly got very slippery so we had to swoop her up. I don't know what we were thinking! Next mission is to go to Babies R Us to get the tub chair.

Thanksgiving

Peyton had a great time on her first Thanksgiving. She got to meet new family members like Aunt Shari and cousins Nicki and Stevie. We thought she was going to go to sleep at Grandpa & Gaga Thies's house, but she heard all of the fun everyone was having downstairs playing Wii and had to join in on the action. We dropped her off at Grandma Judy's afterwards, since she watched her on Friday while we worked, and were told that she didn't go to bed until 10pm - way past her bedtime!

Saturday we took Thies family pictures. We were a little worried how were were going to get 16 people together, including 5 little kids, but they turned out great! Peyton even smiled for a few. We all went home and took naps that afternoon. (Greg & I were reminded how old we are after going out on Friday night and having to get up early the next morning. We have to have Trailhead pumpkin beer at least once a year, though!)