Peyton and Ayi

Our househelper (Ayi means auntie) has been with us for over 3 years now - Mason was only 4 months old when she started working for us.  Now she is so happy to help me with Peyton in the mornings when she is here....

Would you please pray for her and her brother? Her brother was diagnosed last week with colon cancer and had surgery today to remove the cancerous portion of it.  I don't know much more because she's been off to be with him.  She is like-minded and I long for her brother to also know the same joy and peace.  Ms. Liu is a precious gift to us and we are so thankful for her help.  She is broken over her younger brother's diagnosis. He has a 4 year old daughter and makes a living driving a three wheeled electric bike taking people around town (so he doesn't make much).  Please ask Father to heal him and to provide for all their family's needs.

Peyton - 2 weeks to 2 months

2 weeks

2 months

Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

It wasn't really Peyton's preference to take a picture at that time but, hey, we rolled with it.

We went to some friends' house and had a nice traditional Thanksgiving meal. They made the turkey. I made the cornbread dressing (my mom's recipe), green beans (my Mimi's recipe), and a corn casserole (my friend SB's recipe).  After dinner Mason had a major #2 accident and if it hadn't been for another Mom having an extra pair of pants we would have had to leave early or go buy some at the supermarket nearby.  We enjoyed the company of several other families and friends.  We shared what we were thankful for, played a few games, ate some good food & dessert.  Unfortunately when we got home Micah really started feeling bad and has been sick the last 2 days with an ear infection of some sort.  But we did manage to get the Christmas decorations up. This year Reister was really excited about doing that and kept pushing me to keep going. He couldn't wait to put the star on the top of the tree but I made him wait till we had everything else on. Any other moms of little ones out there just give up on having a "pretty" tree? I have some prettier decorations, but Reister kept pulling all the old, cheap ones from the box and putting them up. I couldn't bring myself to deter his efforts.  So I just accepted the fact that for the next few years our tree will look haphazard rather than 'classy'.  I'd much rather have that kind of a tree and have three amazing little boys!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you are in the world!

Daddy Date - Reister

While we were in Thailand Micah took time to take each of the boys on a special "Daddy Date"to do something really fun.  Reister's was to go zip-lining.

On the way - he was super excited

All geared up and ready to go

Micah said Reister was so brave - he wasn't scared at all

"Daddy and me"

The were several guides that stayed with the group of people that went through the whole course together.  Reister got to know them and the other people in the group and Micah said they all enjoyed having him along

One of the many lines of the course

they also got to go across sky bridges

Just hanging out

Having fun

Micah said Reister only cried one time and that was at the end - because it was OVER! I think I can see a hint of this here - they did the "Jungle Flight" zip-line course outside of Chiang Mai

Reister 1
Reister 2
Reister 3

Check out these blog posts from 5 years ago to see if you think Peyton looks like Reister when he was a baby...

I've heard through the grapevine that pictures are being requested ( sorry Leslie for being slow!)

Here's a recent one of Peyton during bath time. 

Things are going well, I guess. Peyton is precious, but sometimes likes to exercise his lungs (i.e. cry, scream). We think he might be a little collicky but we've learned to utilize the paci as much as possible, try different positions (especially on his tummy), and give him the gas drops!  He seems to be growing a lot - (look at those leg rolls!)  I'm trying my hardest to get him on a schedule of eating and get him sleeping for longer periods at night. He's does pretty good most nights, but those hard nights are HARD!  Fortunately, God gives grace and I'm not feeling too exhausted.  i'll try to get some more pics posted soon!

Peyton Justice - ONE MONTH

We're back in our city and trying to get back into a routine of life with three kids.  The big boys have started back to their preschool in the mornings. Peyton is 5 weeks now, but this picture was from when he turned one month old.  He is becoming a pretty fussy baby, but a sweet and cute one. He doesn't sleep too long at night and sometimes thinks it's time to have "wake time" at 3 am but ... what can you do?  Sometimes during the day he just won't wake up! I don't remember that being the case with my other boys!  But thankfully I'm not feeling too exhausted, just still pretty sore from the C-section (sneezing and coughing are helping that!).  We sure love our little guy and are amazed at how he's growing and changing.  What an incredible blessing!