Ashes and Soot

Mallory is no longer my easy, mellow, go with the flow baby girl. She has turned into a rough and tumbler tornado baby that always wants to be held, sometimes growls :), cries really loud, and gets into EVERYTHING. She keeps me very busy and pretty entertained. Today I put the two of them in front of Sesame Street for about 15 minutes while I sat at the computer in the kitchen. This is what followed:



Yes, Big Brother is NEVER too far from the scene of the crime. In fact, it was his hysterical laughing that tipped me off to what was happening in the fireplace. And someone had to open those fireplace curtains....








Be glad you don't clean chimneys for a living, the soot was really hard to get off!


"Twas the Monday before Christmas and all through the house, all the babies were stirring while Mom sat with the computer mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, and Mallory decided to climb into the fireplace to see if Santa was already there.

She was dressed in her jammies, from her head to her foot, and soon she was all covered with ashes and soot.

But a good scrubbing shower and the soot was soon out of sight, Happy Christmas to all, Mom really needs a drink tonight!"

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

We've been having a fun-filled December. Lots of Christmas themed activities, a nightly Advent calendar, opening Christmas cards, singing carols, Peyton's Christmas program, Christmas lights, lots of online shopping :), warm snuggly jammies, and talk about presents.

We have a lot to be thankful for. Our doggies went missing for over 24 hours but are home safe and sound- we were lucky to find them in time at the Dallas Animal Services. (not such a merry place) We got them as soon as we got married and they have traveled our life's journey with us. Literally. Drove with us from Dallas to Denver, from Denver to Raleigh, and from Raleigh back to Dallas. That is a lot of miles. They watched us bring home Peyton from the hospital, and then Mallory. Although they drive me crazy daily they are members of our family and we are glad they are back home! We took this picture of Hattie and Mallory about an hour before they went missing. I'm so glad it won't be our last one.

Mallory is wearing Peyton's jacket. Sometimes you just grab what you see!

We still have lots of Christmas "To Dos" to accomplish this week. Peyton and I are baking goodies, we hope to see the Northpark trains, drive through Dallas and look at lights, and throw an impromptu birthday party for Jesus among other things. I am having so much fun just sharing my favorite parts of Christmas with them. Here they are watching old, old Christmas classics before bed.


We wish you all a FUN week before Christmas! These two sure are having fun and we hope that you are too! It definitely helps to have such a fun Daddy.

Sad Santa

December always means a much anticipated Santa Picture. I had such high hopes for this year. Mallory had the cutest Santa outfit, complete with red Ugg like boots, and I was hoping we could use it as our Christmas card. Well I officially need to lower my expectations because something about Santa equals Baby Torture.

Before I show you what happened during "Storytime With Santa" this year, here are some Santas of the past.

Peyton's First Christmas- 6 months old, December 2007.


He LOVED the jolly old fellow. Couldn't get enough of him so we had a round 2!Santa treated himself to some great botox and laser eye surgery in between our visits!



Best friend Aidan was NOT so happy. This picture cracks me up. Santa was sad too.


Christmas 2008- He's not so sure about this anymore. Why are we doing this again? Even Santa seems to be questioning it.



Christmas 2009, Mallory's First Christmas. Sad, Sad Santa.

And Mean Mommy Christmas Card Nazi is yelling at all three of us! Here it is again without the mean mommy.


Christmas 2010-
Started out okay, we were pretty excited to be there and waiting for our turn.


But then it was our turn.

What in the World is this about Mom?!?!?



It quickly turned to this. I've never seen her so upset!



She was actually trying to escape his hold in this picture. Peyton just seems to be holding strong with the "If I don't look at you then maybe this really isn't happening" method.



We know there is always next year. When there will be THREE Yates children to torture on Santa's lap!

Merry Christmas to all!

Best Baby Products 6-12 months

My first installment of favorite baby products seemed to be a hit so I thought I would finish the year with the next part of the list. Mallory is 13 months old now so I have good perspective on what helped us get to this point. Here are 10 of some of my favorite products for her age, hopefully just in time for Christmas shopping :)


1. A Crib Soother<>

Both of my kids have their own and it has helped so much with sleep training. I can just put her in the bed, turn it on, and she will watch it as she goes to sleep. It plays for about twenty minutes, just enough time for her to fall asleep. Peyton used to wake up in the night and use it to lull him back to sleep, so we would wake to the music playing over the monitor. I started using it with her when she was teeny tiny to make it part of her sleep routine.

2. Gerber Sippy Cups

This is a great starter cup, and then you can move into the cups we use for Peyton. (below) Great for families with multiple kids because the parts are pretty much all interchangeable. This is the ONLY cup I use for Peyton. Only three pieces so easy to wash, they really don't leak, and come in multiple sizes. We started Mallory on the ones with the handles but now she can do all of his without problem.

3. Activity Table

Great to help them learn to pull up and stand on their own. Plus 2-3 babies can play with it at once so fun for playgroups.

4. Toys with Balls (Busy Ball Popper) or Busy Ball Train

5. Marpac Sleep Machine (or any white noise machine)

All of my children will have one of these and we use it every nap, every bedtime, every time we travel. It is just white noise and drowns out dog barking, crying, talking, tv, etc. and is just another way to develop a consistent sleep routine. The Marpac has been around forever and has a great warranty program and is just simple white noise. no fancy buttons, no nature sounds, just white noise.

6. Exersaucer or Activity Center

Mallory didnt use hers as much as Peyton but this is a lifesaver for when you need to take a shower or want to have some time to yourself while they are plenty entertained. It confines them :) I like the Baby Einstein one because it has plenty of well made toys without being too overwhelming. We put her in as early as 3 months old and just put a pillow behind her to support her.

7. Inch bug Name Labels

Best invention ever! These labels go over bottles or sippy cups so you always know which cup is yours (good for when you leave them behind at playgroups too!) and they go straight into the dishwasher, label and all. No more marker washing off with every washing! And unlike the sticker labels you can easily move them from cup to cup.

8. Laugh and Learn Play House



If I could only have ONE toy in my house for the rest of their toddler hood, THIS would be it. Mallory loves it. Peyton loves it. We love it. They play with it each and every day in multiple ways. It is a house, a drum set. a jungle gym, they drive cars on it, they use the clock, they sing to it. BEST TOY EVER.


9. Push Toy (Shopping cart, stroller, etc



Both of my kids love their shopping carts and now Mallory has a stroller too. They will play with this one for many years. Peyton still uses his all over the house and to move his play food around. Also helps them as they learn to walk.

10. Any and all of Big Brother's Toys

(especially taking apart his train table!, play kitchen, big building blocks, etc.) Drawers filled of sippy cups. Kleenex boxes, things in the baby bag, my purse or wallet, and the laundry hamper. :)


(Add Blue Marker to the list!)

I have been amazed at what Mallory will play with by simply being exposed to it. She loves all of his toys, especially his train table. She also LOVES drawers of kitchen items so I have a special drawer at her level that is totally baby proofed with Tupperware and baby cups so that she can feel like she is pulling apart my kitchen.

Of course this isn't everything, but hopefully will help someone! Other Moms- what did I forget that you love?

America's Top Babysitter?

Did you know that I am currently developing a new reality tv show called "America's Top Babysitter"? Top reality tv stars will compete for the ultimate title of "America's Best Babysitter". We just finished filming episode 1 which included past Bachelor and Bachelorette Stars Chris L. and Peyton W.! Their ultimate babysitting "Challenge"? My Peyton.




Ok, so obviously just kidding about the show, but I think it is very funny that Peyton and Mallory were recently babysat but such big reality stars. :) Girl Peyton is one of my best friends (and the reason I loved the name Peyton!) and is dating Bachelorette runner-up Chris L. (From Ali's season, apparently he was America's favorite). He was in town the other week, I had a doctor's appointment, Girl Peyton is like part of our family, and somehow the two ended up as my babysitter for the appointment. If you don't know who Chris L. is, google it- you'll be impressed that he was our babysitter. Well, at least some of the stay at home Moms in Peyton's playgroup were! Women my age love this guy! And rightly so, he was very sweet to the kids.

Thank you guys for playing with the kids! You really are a precious couple!

Blast from the Past

I sometimes wish I had started a blog when Peyton was little to remember the first few years of his life. To remedy this I am going to start posting a few old pics every now and then. I was thinking about this picture yesterday because my sweet husband has gotten the kids fully dressed before I pull myself out of bed a few times this week. This is such a huge help and reminded me of how far he has come in the Daddy department. This is a picture of one of the first times he dressed Peyton by himself.



Yes folks- that is a dinosaur onesie, puppy dog pants, and snowmen socks. Such a fun outfit! I remember Marshall defensively stating, "Well, they are all blue!" Hey, we've all got to start somewhere! I love this picture because it is such a fun memory, I remember laughing and laughing. Times change though, these days I don't care what the children are wearing as long as they are dressed. :)

Ring Bearer

*All photos courtesy of Holly Reed Photography.

Peyton had the huge pleasure of recently being a ring bearer in one of my best friend Kristen's wedding. Kristen married Ian in Austin at the end of September and their wedding was so much fun. It was so intimate and personalized to the two of them. Peyton was a ring bearer and I was a bridesmaid. Marshall titled himself "Ring bearer Wrangler" and Mallory thoroughly enjoyed the wedding cake :)


I met Kristen in 2nd grade when she asked me to play paper dolls and we have been friends ever since. It was so special to see my child walk down the aisle right before she did :) She is also an amazing "Aunt" to my children and we all love Ian too.

Pouty Pants!

"I am looking for Gigi! And aren't I cute in my seer sucker suit?"

"Hmmm. Why is Gigi sitting over there?"

At this point Peyton started talking, loudly, and The Ring bearer Wrangler escorted him out of the ceremony :)

Here are some pictures from the day.Peyton had the MOST fun of his life drumming along with the wedding band. He drummed so hard he broke his cake plate, in fact, he was so interested in drumming that he didn't even eat his cake. Kristen gave us a CD of some of the wedding songs and we now listen to it nonstop. This 3-year-old knows some oldies but goodies and has acquired Kristen and Ian's music taste! He calls the song "Be My Baby" his wedding song (since he first heard it at the wedding) and must listen to it whenever we are in the car. He now keeps a pair of drumsticks in the car and plays along on his lap.

Here he is drumming with forks on his cake plate. And this is SUCH a Marshall face!

"This is fun and all Gigi, but what does a girl need to do to get some more cake?"

It is so much fun to have a mini-mere!



The Flight of the Pillow
Peyton found himself on a balcony after the ceremony. We were taking wedding party pictures down below.

"Hmmm, this could be a lot of fun........."

"Yup! We dont need this old pillow anymore. This should spice things up."

Ring Bearer Wrangler to the rescue.

"Now Peyton, it isn't nice to throw your special ringbearer pillow off of a balcony onto unsuspecting wedding guests."

I was just relieved that only the pillow came over the balcony!



Thank you Kristen and Ian for letting us ALL be part of your special day! We had a great time celebrating you! Especially Mallory who went to sleep and woke up the next morning smelling like a giant piece of wedding cake. :)