Peyton and the Crocodile

When Peyton was very little his SILLY Daddy told him there was a crocodile in the bathtub drain. I think Peyton kept pulling up the drain and releasing all the water, so Daddy told him this to keep the plug in. and it worked-Too well. Peyton has talked about Daddy's "Tockadile" in the drain almost daily. Don't worry- he now knows this is just a "story". We got a flip video for Christmas and I want to test out posting video to the blog, so here is Peyton STILL talking about his "Tockadile", 2 years later. Thanks Daddy:)
I just love his little voice and intonations, wish I could keep him this little forever! (I had a cold so ignore my voice)

Our Christmas in Pictures

Christmas Eve Mass and Dinner Loving on our Gigi. Merry Christmas New Baby! Christmas Baby. Christmas Eve= fancy coat from Kristen, it is so cute! Dandy's Juice, V8, it does a body good! One of the only healthy things this child loves.

Christmas Eve Dance Party with DJ Jazzy Gigi and DJ Dandy Dancing! Dance, Dance, Dance. Fa la la la la la! Grandy and the Kids Dancing to Christmas Music Jingle Bell rock. Dandy's Legs.

Getting Ready for Santa
Watching the Santa Tracker for news about Santa's sleigh. Writing a letter to Santa. Santa doesn't really need these cookies, does he?


Bright and Early Christmas Morning
All of the gifts and lots more under the tree. First glimpse at what Santa brought. He said "Oh Oh Oh, Oh Geez." very quietly Only one of many new musical instruments, this is his electric percussion pad First spin on the roller coaster A princess coupe for our little princess. Now she goes down all by herself! The Garage. The only thing that Peyton said he wanted for Christmas. It is the same garage that David and I used for our matchbox cars when we were kids, Santa found him a 1977 Hotwheels Service Center. He told everyone that he wanted a "garage" for Christmas. In fact, his MOPS teacher was a little perplexed when she handed me Peyton's drawing of A gift he would GIVE to baby Jesus (like the gifts the 3 wise men brought). It was a drawing of a garage. I think she was thinking he meant a car/house garage and was a little confused.

After presents we went to Marshall's brother's house for Christmas dinner and more Christmas gifts with Marshall's whole family. With all of the fun there we forgot to take pictures!It was so much fun to be with everyone on Christmas day. Peyton got a bike from Bebe and Papa and it was a huge hit. It was so much fun opening presents with all of the Yates cousins too.

Here are some special memories from this year:
1. Peyton couldn't hide his disdain at receiving clothes, socks, etc. for Christmas. Of course, these are the presents that I liked best for him because he really needs it. I tried to teach him to be graceful when opening things like that but he would just throw them across the room and say he wanted to open a toy. This is why we don't open presents at birthday parties at this age!

2. Mallory just wanted to eat everyone's breakfast and could care less about the present part. She snatched up Peyton's entire bagel and walked around eating it while he was busy with presents.

3. Peyton's favorite presents as of Christmas morning (this will change throughout the year) had to be his roller coaster, garage, bike, drums, and car/garage/key toy. Mallory's favorite presents as of Christmas morning was definitely the roller coaster and her shopping cart.(she climbs in it and growls for people to push her)

4.Christmas Eve mass with the kids was a circus but that won't be changing anytime soon.Peyton really enjoyed feeding the reindeer, watching The Grinch who Stole Christmas before bed, and being totally spoiled by all that love him.

It was a precious Christmas with our precious children.

Hard Hats

Peyton: "What Smells?"

Mallory: "Ta Da! It's Me!!!"

The kids got these cute hats at a recent "Construction themed" birthday party. And this was the best picture I could get of the two of them wearing them. Funny little people.

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?