Two months old

Peyton is TWO months old. In the past 2 months she has become such a little girl. She has put on more than 4 pounds, has started smiling, laughing and cooing and even sleeps most of the way through the night. When she was born I didn't think I could love her more. But I do. It is so amazing to watch her grow and change. Here is my precious little 2 month old.

A Happy Halloween

I know I am a little late, because at this point all thats left from Halloween are the extra pounds from those damn mini-choloclate bars. Even still I couldn't resist posting a few of pictures from Peyton's first Halloween.

How fast time flies...

My baby girl is already one month old. I can't believe that a month has already gone by - but at the same time - I can't remember my life before her. Happy Birthday Peyton Rayne!

Daily Dose of Peyton - September 23

Peyton has had a good grip since she was born. Today she discovered something fun to grip... mommy's hair.

Co-sleeping = survival

I still believe that my baby is 7.5 pounds of perfection - but I have to tell you - the last two weeks life has been a little more difficult. After 3 days of sleeping well in her pack and play, Peyton decided she did NOT like night time. As soon as we all go to bed, she just starts to scream - not fuss, not cry, but scream. And NOTHING seems to settle her. We think its gas...she has such a bloated little belly, but no matter what we try, nothing will calm her down - nothing except being close to mom and dad. She will still cry when she is with us in bed, but once she settles down she will sleep most of the way through the night. She will wake to feed, and then go right back to sleep. The last few nights we have gotten 5-6 hours of the sleep, and believe me - it was needed!! I always said I wouldn't co-sleep, but as someone wisely told me - when they are babies, co-sleeping isn't really 'co-sleeping', it's survival.

Daily dose of Peyton - September 20

Today Nanny Breau came down to meet Peyton - it was love at first sight.

Daily dose of Peyton - September 19th

Sunday's were made for sleeping in.

Happy 2 week birthday baby girl

Today Peyton Rayne turns 2 weeks old and I can hardly believe it. The days are going by SO fast. It was a BEAUTIFUL warm, sunny day in Halifax, so to celebrate, we took Peyton on her first trip to the beach.

Daily dose of Peyton - September 17th

It has been quite a week! We've had so much fun with our little girl this week and have kept her very, very busy! On Tuesday she had her first car ride and loved it. We took her over to walmart and had her passport photos taken. We have already filled out all the paperwork and are just waiting for her birth certificate so that we can send it in. We don't have a trip planned just yet, but we can't wait to take her out and show her the world!



On Wednesday she had her second dr's appointment and she did great! She is up to 7.5 pounds, so almost half a pound from her birth weight in less than two weeks. We love going to see the dr and getting all of our questions answered and we think she kind of likes seeing Peyton too :) After the dr, we took a nice long stroll through the Public Gardens before heading home.



Thursday Grammie Richardson came up for the day and Peyton enjoyed getting more Grammie time. I enjoyed getting some rest while mom rocked my daughter in the same rocking chair she used to rock me in when I was a baby.



Then Friday we enjoyed a rainy day in - sleeping in late and just hanging out together around the house.

Your daily doese of Peyton - September 12th

Today we took Peyton out for a walk on the Halifax waterfront - it was a little cool out but so great for all 3 of us to get some fresh air.

Your daily doese of Peyton - September 11th

I adore her.

Daily dose of Peyton - September 10th

Today aunt Jenny came to visit - and Peyton loved her.

Your daily dose of Peyton - September 9th

Today was Peyton's first trip out of the house. We took her to her first dr's appointment, about a 30 minute walk from our house. Of course - daddy also had to take her to starbucks.

Daily dose of Peyton - September 8th

Peyton took her first bath! Mommy and daddy were SO nervous. We watched you tube video's, looked up instructions and made 2 trips to Shoppers Drug Mart. It the end - it was a success.

Daily dose of Peyton - September 8th

She has the cutest feet!

Your daily dose of Peyton - September 7th

Getting some time with Grammie before she heads back to Moncton.

Your daily dose of Peyton - September 6th

September 6th we brought Peyton Rayne home from the hospital... we were SO proud!

Our little girl's arrival into this great big world

It's been four days now since Peyton Rayne made her way into the world, and into our hearts. It's hard to believe there was ever a time she wasn't here. Since we arrived home from the hospital I've been meaning to share a bit of her birth story, but I just can't seem to tear myself away from her long enough to write.

Peyton's birth day is a day I will never forget. Saturday, September 4th 2010 was her due date, but everyone, including her dr's expected her to be late. We hadn't had any real signs of early labour and I figured she'd be about a week behind schedule - fashionably late - just like her mom.

Hurricane Earl was on track to hit Nova Scotia, so on Friday night we went to a pub on the waterfront to enjoy the warm temperatures and watch the waves crash on the harbour. We hadn't been home even an hour when my water broke. Even then I didn't believe it could be, but I stayed up late putting her clothes away and packing for the hospital. Around 1am the contractions started, and things moved pretty quick from there.

We got up Saturday morning just as the wind and rain was starting. We had to run to the grocery store and by the time we started to walk home, the category 1 hurricane was in full force. We were able to eat breakfast before our power went out, and shortly after, when my contractions were about 4.5 minutes apart we decided it was probably time to head to the hospital. We had a hard time getting a cab in the storm, but arrived at the IWK Grace in Halifax just before noon on Saturday.

We checked into the hospital and contractions were just over 3 minutes in length. We spent about 3.5 hours in the assessment room, which turned out to be a gift from our doctor to ensure we weren't admitted too quickly and were able to try for the natural birth we had wanted. Finally, around 4pm they formally admitted us and we were moved into the birthing room. I spent the next 2 hours in a tub while we the contractions got progressively stronger and Ron stayed by my side the entire time providing whatever support I needed. Around 6:00 we moved back to the bed and that's when the real fun started.

After more than 3 hours of hard labour and pushing (we had the natural birth we so longed for), our precious little Peyton made her way into the world. Both Ron and my mother were by my side and it was the most beautiful moment I have ever experienced. I'll never forget the rush of energy in that final push, or the relief of hearing that first cry. I'll never forget the feeling of her being placed in my arms or the pride I felt watching Ron cut her umbilical cord. And I will never forget the overwhelming sense of love I felt for this little creature I have been growing to love over the last 9 months when I looked at her for the very first time.
They let me hold her for an hour before taking her to do her weights and measurements. It was such a special time for the three of us and Ron and I just marveled at her beauty - her perfect nose, her little ears her long fingers, her full head of hair and her beautiful long feet. She was born at 9:13pm on September 4th, weighing 7lb's 1 oz and measuring just under 22 inches. And to us, she is 100 percent perfect.
I can't say enough good things about Dr. Lewis and the staff at the IWK. Although all that was important to me was the safe arrival of our little girl, I had really had my heart set on a natural birth with my midwife in Toronto. Being in Halifax for the birth meant that my only option was a hospital birth, and I was certain that it wouldn't be the birth I had planned. I only had 2 visits with her, but had shared with her my desire to have a natural birth. Well, I had the birth I hoped for. We did the whole thing without any drugs or interventions and everything went SO smoothly. I was able to move around at will (although aside from changing positions I was in far to much pain to get up and walk around) and they monitored her heartbeat with the doppler rather than a fetal heart monitor. I'll be honest - it hurt like hell. And had the Dr offered any interventions I likely would have taken them, but she knew what I wanted and helped me to achieve it. I couldn't have done it without Ron either... he stood by my side every step of the way and coached me through ever contraction. He always seemed to know exactly what I needed and I focused entirely on him, and on the baby we were waiting to meet.

I am so thrilled with with our little girl and her journey into our lives.

Welcome little one

Just a quick update to let you know that Ron and I welcomed Peyton Rayne into the world on Saturday, September 4th at 9:13pm. Peyton Rayne weighed in at 7lbs 1 oz, and measured 21 1/3 inches. She is absoloutly perfect in every way. Ron and I are complealty overwhelmed with love for our baby girl and have spent the last 36 hours just soaking her in. I cannot get enough of her.

I will tell you more about her birth in the next few days, but for now just wanted to share a few pictures of our little girl.

It's September 4th - could it be the day?

Today is our baby girl's due date...

And even though I was sure she would be late like her mother is - as of 11pm last night all signs are pointing to today being the day.

We got it all put together!

I mentioned the other day that our orbit baby stroller arrived. Well, we have it all assembled and I love it! I'm so happy with the finished product. I just can't believe that in a few days we will be pushing our little girl around in it!

So thankful for family and friends

Today I did 5 loads of laundry to get all of baby girls things ready for her impending arrival. Until I got into it I honestly had no idea just how much stuff we had!! I am so thankful for the generosity of our family and friends and everything they have already given us. I feel very blessed.

Time to pack the hospital bag

Our baby girl is due in just 2 days, so Ron has been reminding me that I need to start getting ready and get packed for the hospital. So today I decided to start - and I'm sitting here staring at an almost empty bag.

Yesterday my beautiful hospital gown arrived from Annie & Isabel which I am thrilled about, and that you will see and hear more about when I head to the hospital any day now. And of course, I know I need to throw a few more basics in there - clothes for me and clothes for the baby - but really -I feel a little lost on what else should go inside. What did you pack in your hospital bag - or what didn't you pack, but wished you had?

It's September which means we are due on...Saturday?

Oh my gosh - it feels completely surreal! The last months have gone by so fast, and it never really hit me that September was just around the corner. I have gotten so used to answering the question "When are you due?" and for so long it was just "September" as if that was years away. September changed to 5 weeks, to 3 weeks, to 2 weeks, but now - now its not even weeks. Now my answer is Saturday and every time I say the words it still surprises me.

I cannot wait to meet her and I cannot believe how soon she could be here. It really is an 'any day now' scenario. She has definitely dropped, and I've had a bit of cramping, but no other signs of labour. Personally - I think she is going to be late, but with her due date just 3 days away - I'd love to know what you think! Visit our online baby pool and enter your guess for due date, size, name and weight.

A wonderful weekend in Cape Breton

This past weekend, Ron and I took a chance and drove 4 from Halifax (and my hospital) to visit his family in Cape Breton, and I'm SO glad that we did! I hit 39 weeks on Saturday so more than a few people told me I was crazy, but it was so nice to get away for the weekend and to finally meet everyone. I had never been to the Cape Breton highlands before, and his family owns a resort right on the Cabot trail, called the Lakes Resort. It was a busy but wonderfully relaxing weekend. Most of his family headed to the resort on Saturday afternoon for a little get together to see him and to meet me and we had such a great time getting to know each other. That night we had a fantastic dinner at the restaurant and then went back to his sisters place where we stayed up late talking. On Sunday we got up and drove out to the Cabot Trail, had lunch on the wharf in Cheticamp at Wabos pizza and then hit the beach for the rest of the afternoon. Unfortunately Monday morning we had to hit the road early so we could get back to Halifax in time for Ron to work. It went far to fast, but I am grateful for every moment we had.

Here are just a few pictures from the trip - as well as a special little gift from Ron's aunt Debbie.

I can't help it...

I LOVE baby shoes! How can you not resist.