What I L.O.V.E About Peyton...

I love Peyton so much I could explode with love glitter...seriously. This little dinosaur (and my handsome/perfect husband) has stolen my heart. I can't believe I am lucky enough to be his mother. Peyton is all smiles. It's still mostly a toothless smile except for half of a tiny tooth on the bottom. Peyton loves to wiggle and he loves to laugh. His smiles and giggles light up any room and have brightened my life in a way I didn't imagine possible. Our little man is almost crawling, but mostly likes to be on his hands and knees and rock back and forth. He gets flustered when he can't get to things he see's and wants. He has a strong spirit in a little body. I think sometimes he gets frusterated with his limitations. But each and every day he grows stronger, more coordinated, and of course even more adorable than the day before. Time moves so quickly. I have been proud of myself for savoring and loving every second of each day I spend with him. He is so quickly growing from a little baby into a little man. Peyton loves to babble. He loves to have 'conversations' with mom and dad. We babble back and forth and make each other laugh so much. His favorite toys are not in fact the expensive toys we buy him (though he loves his Tickle Me Elmo) but spoons, napkins, paper plates, straws, and plastic cups. Maybe when he is a teenager he wont want a fancy car but a bike?!? Ha! Wishful thinking I'm sure. Peyton loves to suck his thumb and cuddle before he takes a nap but loves to babble himself to sleep and play in his crib before he falls asleep at night. Nothing could possibly be cuter than his coo-ing in the morning to call for mom to pull him out of the crib. He kicks with excitement and smiles so big when I pull him out of the crib, this is always the greatest start to our day. We are so blessed as a family. The love Aaron, Peyton, and I have for each other is indescribable. Every day is a wonderful gift and I'm so thankful for our eternal love.

Family Update

This week was super fun! Peyton got to come dance with mom while she taught ballet class. Aaron took Peyton and I on a golf and lunch date. We had a blast and are just loving our time as a sweet little family. Peyton also decided to grow out of his swing, car seat, bath tub, and most of his clothes this week. He also figured out how to get up to his hands and knees and broke a tooth. Wow! This little dinosaur is sure turning into a big boy! Our little guy is FULL of personality and is so much fun! I cannot believe I am so lucky to be his mom!

Peyton Tries Sushi!

Our little man was introduced to sushi! L-O-V-E-D it!!!

Super Bowl Sunday!!!

Peyton's first big game!!!

My New Favorite Thing!!! Making Peyton Homemade Baby Food!

6 Months after having the Baby I finally feel like I'm Back!

My fabulous photographer friend Karen Edwards took these pictures for me! She is so talented and sure did a great job of making a very tired new mom look pretty!

Oh Goodness! Glad I'm not Prego anymore!

39 weeks pregnant. All photos done by the fabulous Nadia at Soulfire Studios.

Peyton's First Christmas 2012

Being A Mom...

Every one told me assuming the role of a mother was the most challenging job in the universe. Not that I didn't believe them I was just really convinced I was above all of that and the minute I brought my little boy into the world every thing would be just so natural for me. I really ruled the school in all other departments of my life...why would my most important role (as a mother) be any different? Motherhood has sure given me a swift kick in the pants and is hands down much more difficult that I ever could have anticipated. I thought because I was a pretty perfect wife and had accomplished a lot professionally that meant motherhood was going to be a walk in the park for me. Motherhood is much more comparable to running a never ending marathon than that beautiful stroll in the park I had envisioned when I signed up for this. I really love reading other mother's birth stories and experiences after giving birth so I figure I better document my epic experience. My little baby boy Peyton was brought into the world on July 12, 2012 in Las Vegas. I didn't go into labor naturally (sigh) and was a little sad I had to be induced...I really wanted to be a pioneer woman and push my baby out without an epidural but I had heard (and believed) being forced into labor was much more painful than your body naturally going into labor. So once my water was broken for me (without the epidural so kinda an unpleasant experience) and I became dilated enough to request an epidural I did. It was actually more of a I BEGGED for an epidural rather than asking nicely for one. The Dr. who administered the epidural was great...didn't feel a thing and was numb so quickly I couldn't move my legs back into bed. Two hours later I started feeling a ridiculous amount of pain and excuse me for being so graphic but this is a 'birthing' story... I felt like I was pooping out a bowling ball and thought my body was going to break in half. Turns out medicine can fail. My epidural failed when I was nearly dilated to a nine. The epidural was redone before the real action began. I was thankful not to feel the crowing stage of labor. I pushed for two hours. Loved pushing ...can't wait to push another baby out (Ha!). I felt so helpless and useless through out most of my labor that when it came time for the grand finale I was ready to have a good performance and actually do something. I will never forget looking at Peyton for the first time. It was so strange to me that this little purple baby had grown inside of me and was now MINE (ok and Aaron's too). I didn't have that emotional response you see on TV shows. I just kind of stared at him. I think I actually poked him to see if he was real or a dream. Little baby Peyton has quite the set of lungs on him now...but he struggled to breath the first few days of his life. Peyton spent his first three days in intensive care. Devastated really isn't strong enough of a word to describe how difficult it was on me to not be able to hold, nurse, or bond with my baby right after he was delivered. After the baby was wisked away Aaron followed to watch after the little guy and make some decisions with the neonatologists. After my Dr. stitched me up (yikes!) he and the nurses left the room. I basically sat in a cold hospital room by myself for an hour...this really wasn't playing out as I had hoped. I'm really thankful Peyton's condition was a pretty easy fix. I talked to parents in the NICU who had their babies in intensive care for weeks or even months and it really put things into perspective for me. It was sad Peyton had to be there, but it could have been much worse. Aaron and I were so excited to bring Peyton home. But with an infant came challenges I thought I was prepared for mentally and physically but I really wasn't. The extreme exhaustion from not only the lack of sleep but my body recovering from the trauma of giving birth was really hard on me. I was so tired I was throwing up from exhaustion. I waddled like a duck from those blasted stitches. My neck was so stiff from looking at the baby funny while I was nursing him. On top of all of that I ended up with a sweet case of mastitis from nursing. I had NO idea it was even within the realm of possibilities to become so ill from nursing your child you couldn't lift your head or get out of bed. I had never had a fever so high (106...yikes)and had never felt so horrible. Thank goodness for antibiotics! Peyton is 4.5 months now. Today was honestly the first day in four months I felt like myself again. I know some days will be awesome and some days will be hard with a little one. I need to learn to truly appreciate the beautiful days and know that the hard days will not only pass but I will grow and learn from them. I can honestly say today was my first decent day in four and a half months. I really struggled those first months to have any sort of identity other than a human pacifier/ human bouncy seat. I am slowly but surely starting to become the cute fun mom and wife I always hoped to be while still being a ballet dancer/teacher. I'm so thankful for a husband who is brilliant, patient, and such a constant in my life who supports our little family so well. I really could not have done this without him. I'm grateful to those who are wiser and more patient than I am who have helped me get through such a hard but important part of my life and am looking forward to getting the hang of being a mom.

Babies, Babies, Babies!!!

I don't think I could ever handle twins:)

Peyton's First Halloween

Our little guy in his cute Baby Lion costume!

16 weeks old:)

Peyton's First Conference.

Eating breakfast sure makes this little guy tired! Made it less than an hour into general conference before passing out for his morning snooze.

Peyton's Baby Blessing!

Playing and getting ready for the big event!

Little stud in his blessing outfit!

Our little family!

Cute Random Peyton Pictures

How We Cook Dinner for Dad!

I have a little baby bear who just loves to be strapped to mom all day...so he does every thing with me!!! He takes ballet class (not the jumping or turning sections) with mom, cooks dinner for dad with mom, goes on walks with mom, even does the grocery shopping in the Bjorn. I'm a pretty lucky mommy!

My Two Favorite Boys Melting My Heart

Little Slice of Heaven

All photos done by the fabulous Soulfire Studios!

Peyton Diesel Radmall Arrives

Sweetest Little Boy delivered Thursday July 12, 2012, 9:17 a.m 7 pounds 10 ounces of pure handsomeness. More pictures and posts to come when this tired mom can keep her eyes off her the new love of her life.