Brynlee....9 Months Old

Our little Brynee Boo is 9 months old now! She is a busy little crawling machine whom we just adore! We like to call her our little vacuum cleaner. She crawls around and finds the little things to pick up and eat. We have to keep up on the floors being swept and vacuumed. Although, I'm not sure that even works. She always seems to find something. The other day I asked her what she was eating and she took a little tiny piece of carpet out of her mouth and was holding it up in the air as if she were showing me or handing it to me. What in the world! A piece of carpet!! She is a little monster!!

New Things About Bryn.....

At Brynlee's 9 month check up she weighs 16.12 lbs and is 27 1/2 inches tall. That puts her in the 25th percentile in her weight and 50th in her height. Still just as perfect as can be!!
Here is a brother and sister comparison- Hayden at 9 months weighed 20.14 lbs. and was 29 inches tall. Hayden was our little butterball!!

She still doesn't have any teeth. And no signs of any coming in either. That's OK, the longer they wait the better off her teeth will be!

She pretty much thinks she is a big girl and can eat what we eat. She despises baby food. All except the fruit and cereals. We were able to start #3 baby foods and I thought since they have more flavors like Spaghetti and stuff that she would like it. Nope!! She likes our style of spaghetti but the baby food kind is yucky. Even though she doesn't have any teeth she chews and squishes everything through her little gums. It sounds hilarious! She learned real quick about the good stuff!!


She has also quickly learned on what to do to get our attention to get what she wants and that is by screaming at the top of her lungs. She mostly does this when she is sitting in her high chair. I put her in there while I am making dinner and we are eating. She is fine as long as I am sitting right there by her talking to her or if she has snacks to eat while waiting for dinner. Nate and I can't even attempt to have a conversation together until Brynlee is out of her chair. We try not to laugh or smile when she is doing it and we acknowledge her but it is just too funny!!

Brynlee can walk!! OK, not really all by herself but Santa brought her a cute little doll stroller walker and she can walk behind that pretty well!! When she wants too that is!!!





Miss Big Stuff walking with her new stroller.

Grandma with her special girl!

Brynlee just being sweet!

Mommy with her favorite little Princess!

Here is Miss big stuff again riding her new little pony that Santa brought her. She loves to push the button to make music!

Brynlee's favorite place to get into trouble! Touching buttons, pulling down pictures, and emptying out drawers.

A Day of Pampering!

This past weekend I spent the day at Cottage Retreat Day Spa in Gardner Village. It was a long awaited trip to the spa that I have needed for so long. It was the most relaxing day I have had in a very long time. I started off my pampering by having a 60 minute facial followed up by a 60 minute massage and a 90 minute pedicure! It was all so great!

Later on that night while I was taking a shower I started to think about the relaxing day I had and then realized about the funny things that had happened to me while I was there.

First thing that I realized was that as I arrived they took me down to the bathroom/change/shower room to get changed into a robe. As the girl left she didn't shut the door and I didn't think anything of it because there is a curtain that you get undressed behind so no big deal. I got all changed and sat on the coch in this little waiting area. While I was sitting there another girl brought down a client and was showing her the bathroom/changing/shower room and then she left the shut the door so she coud get ready for her massage. I thought to myself, "Oh, I guess I should have shut the door. Good thing no one came bursting through the curtain while I was changing!".

Then on to my facial I went! The girl that was doing my facial was super nice and was doing a great job. As I was totally relaxed and enjoying my facial I thought I heard water dripping/spuing all over the tile floor and then I felt hot water on my legs. She stopped foing my facial and said that the steamer is not working right so she is just going to turn it off. I don't think she realized that I was all wet from this HOT water on my legs. But the facial went on and I did enjoy it! No big deal!

Next, I was having a 60 minute massage and oddly enough that hour went smoothly. Very relaxing! Oh, all except when I went ti turn over from my stomach to my back I flung my arm around I think I hit the poor massage guy in the "you know what area"! OOOOPPPPSS!! So I was a little embarrassed about that for a moment!

After I was all done with my massage the guy told me to go ahead and change back into my clothes for my pedicure so I thought this time I better shut the actual door. As I went in and shut the door I was just getting ready to change when I heard a knock at the door. So I went over and said that I was in there and a girl that worked there opened up the door and said she needed to get the shower ready really quick. So I said OK and she came in and waited for her. She left the bathroom area and shut the door. So I went behind the curtain and started changing and back in to she came with her client and she started to shower. What the heck!! A little uncomfortable so I hurried up and got the heck out of there!

Off to have my 90 pedicure! A cute young girl came to get me to take me to the nice new pedicure area. The room has one long bench of 5 pedicure tubs and one lonely one off in the corner that is on front of the other 5 tubs. The long bench was full of women and so I was brought in front of them to lonely tub. It was fine because those ladies wee almost all finished up so I wouldn't be on parade for long. As I sit down and put my feet in the bubbly water the cute girl says she is going to drain a little but of the water because it is so soapy. As she is doing that she had left the jets on and soapy water started spraying all over me. I of course let out a little scream because it startled me. So I am sure it was quite a little show for all of the other women in there. No big deal. We move on!

WE are just about finished u and my toes are being painted. As she is painting she keeps sniffing and sniffing and sniffing some more. She finally looked up at me because we were talking and she had a drop of snot hanging off the tip of her nose. I felt so bad for her! But I was hoping at the same time that it wasn't going to be dropping on my toes either. Thank goodness it never did and we were done!!! She left me sitting there for a little while for my toes to dry and while I was waiting I thought I thought I would look at the polishes they had to buy. I went to pick one of the polishes out of the plastic holder it was in and the entire holder came apart and polishes went flying everywhere. Luckily none of them broke but I did let out yet another scream. Not one person came around the corner to see if everything was OK. So, I started to pick up the polishes and tried putting them back in the holder. I couldn't get them in there. It was the wrong holder for that brand of polishes. No wonder it all fell apart!!

WOW!! So that was my adventure at the day spa! It was suppose to be relaxing and when I left there I felt as though it had been but boy what a day I had!!

Happy 5th Birthday To Our Bubba!

On December 30th, Our favorite little man Hayden, turned 5 years old! I can't believe how fast time has gone by. He has been the joy of our lives for the past 5 years and still continues to amaze us! He keeps us on our toes, that's for sure!! He is the light of our lives!


Dear Hayden,

Happy 5th Birthday! We are so proud of what a handsome most loving little man you are becoming. I wanted to share with you our amazing story of how your little life began. I started typing this story just after you were born but never finished it completely. I had big plans for your so called "baby book" and I wanted this story to be a part of it. Since you are now 5 years old and there is yet to be an actual baby book I have decided that this little family blog that I have created is going to take place of it. I only wished I had started it a lot sooner. But that's OK, this is the perfect time to share our story about our little miracle.


Everyone kept telling us that our lives would completely change as soon as you arrived but for us it was a little sooner. On September 30th, 2005, I went in for an ultrasound to make sure what I was feeling was you inside my belly. And of course you were there and growing to be a healthy baby boy however they noticed a problem with me. I was rushed over to labor and delivery where they took a closer look at things. It turned out that I have what they call an incompetent cervix. I was only 24 weeks along at the time and you were only about 1 pound. Daddy was just leaving to go on a hunting trip and I just caught him at home in time to tell him what was happening.

As soon as he arrived to the hospital I was rushed into surgery to have a stitch put in my cervix to keep you in my belly for as long as I could. The doctors and nurses kept telling me how lucky I was I had come in that day because if not I would have had you within two days and most likely you would not have survived. This was a really scary thing for us as you can imagine. I was put on strict bed rest. So strict that I actually had to live at the hospital for 2 months. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

After 8 weeks of laying in a hospital bed, my doctor decided to release me just before Thanksgiving. I was so relieved to be able to spend the holidays at home. Under doctors orders I was told to come back to the hospital 3 times per week for monitoring. I was still on very strict bed rest at home. I was thankful for being at home but at times was real tough because I obeyed my Doctors orders and I truly stayed in bed the entire 4 weeks left remaining until you arrived.


The first week back to the hospital for monitoring and to see the doctor, she advised that I stay in the hospital for two more weeks so that I was at least 35 weeks along. I refused. It was the hardest decision that I ever had to make. I just couldn't understand the point of me staying in the hospital bed when I could be at home in my own bed were I was more comfortable with less stress. I literally could not take anymore mentally.

I made it to 35 weeks and then finally I requested the doctor schedule when she would cut the stitch so that you would be born. We had to wait until I was 37 weeks so she scheduled it for Dec. 29th. I remember this day as if it were yesterday! Grandma and I went in on the 29th at 7 am. The doc came in at 11:00 and cut the stitch. I immediately was dilated to a 3. A few hours went by and the doc came to check me and I was a 5. She told me that I would not leave the hospital without a baby!!! She came back that night at 8 pm to break my water and I got an epidural at that time. I really didn’t think I needed it but I was taking potocin so they said I would need it later. It was a very long night. The last time I could remember looking at the clock it was 2 am, December 30th. Then it seemed as though that things were happening so quickly. I started having stronger contractions (so the machine said) and it was time for your arrival! It didn't take much time or many pushes for Mommy and you were here!! Our most perfect little prince! Ten Fingers and Ten Toes! And mounds of dark black hair! And not just on the top of your head. You were a hairy little critter with dark hair all over!! And you still are!

I was told that I would be lucky to make it through the first 24 hours after the stitch was placed and it would take a miracle for me to make it full term (36 weeks). That just sums it up for us as to why we call you our "Little Miracle". It couldn't be more true.
There are so many more little details and ups and downs that I could tell you about about our journey together before you arrived but we did it! You and I! In the back of my mind I always had a feeling that things would be just fine. I knew that you were meant to be here with us and for you to be a part of our Family.

As I was gathering information and things to start your baby book I would send myself emails of all your firsts so that I would remember. Thought that would be better than writing it down on random pieces of paper and then maybe losing them here and there. Well, emailing wasn't such a great idea either. Our email account was cleared out. There was no way for me to locate all of my emails. We lost everything I had saved. I felt horrible. I do have a little bit of info below. A little time line perhaps but it's not much-

Dec 30th you were born 5:09 am 6lbs. 1.7 oz 18 in long
Jan 6th Landen was born
Jan 13th 2 week check up - sorry, no details
Jan 28th First giggle while sleeping
Feb 4th first sleepover at Grandma Wendy's
Feb 21st 2 month check up. 11 lbs 1 oz 23 in long.
March 26th Hayden’s first haircut

Even though I may not have all the little details of your very firsts through the years we still enjoyed every minute sharing them with you. You amazed us then as you do now at the big age of 5 years old. We can't imagine life without you. We Love You Bubba!!

Here we are! Our first family photo as a family of 3! Pardon the way I look. We are just leaving the hospital and it had been a long road for me!!

The only picture taken of me while I was pregnant. This was on Thanksgiving Day just days after I was released from the hospital. I was 33 weeks along.

Look how tiny you where! Mommy and Daddy didn't have anything ready for you when you came home from the hospital. Not even an outfit! We were so thankful that Grandma Wendy came to the hospital with a sack full of new little outfits and this was one of them. It was your Daddy's favorite outfit and we still have it!

8 Months Old

10 Months Old

10 Months Old

Your 1st Christmas

Your 1st Birthday

2 1/2 Years Old

3 1/2 Years Old

4 years Old (almost)


And the big 5!! (almost)
Look at those eyes!!




*Hayden's Favorites*

Hayden's favorite color is BLUE.

Hayden's favorite foods- Macaroni and Cheese with peas and Pizza

Hayden's favorite snacks- frosting, frosting, and more frosting oh and Cookie Dough. Just like his Mama!!

Hayden's Best Friends-Landen, Trevor, and Kayson

Hayden's Favorite Things To Do-camping, riding his four wheeler, playing video games (He LOVES Mario on the Wii and his DSI)

Hayden's Favorite Movie-Transformers

Hayden's Favorite TV Shows-Phineas and Ferb and Scooby Doo

Merry Christmas To Us.....

We were so excited to wake up Christmas morning to see if Santa had come. And boy did he!! Here is a look at we saw.....

Brynlee's First Christmas Loot!

And Hayden's biggest Christmas ever!

Look at that sneaky little Toebell sitting Hayden's four wheeler!

Santa was very generous to us this year (to say the least!)!!

We were so excited to see what Hayden's reaction was to see if very own real big boy four wheeler that Santa brought but it wasn't what we had imagined. I think he was more excited to see what was in all those wrapped presents. He was hoping there was a DSI in that pile because that's all he really wanted. Well, besides everything else he seen on TV and in the stores but a DS was his main want. When asked what he wanted for Christmas, he always said a four wheeler and a DS. So I thought we would be good with the big four wheeler and he wouldn't even remember about a DS. What was I thinking, this boy remembers everything, and I mean everything. I felt pretty bad as he was opening his gifts knowing that what he really wanted wasn't in there. But Hayden surprised us. He didn't mention another thing about a DS until later that day. He wasn't upset he just mentioned that Santa didn't bring him one. I then explained to him that Santa can't bring everything and that we must be happy with what we have. He excepted that and went on to play with all of his other treasures that Santa did bring.

A little side note: Mommy and Daddy had a DS for him but was giving it to him for his big 5th birthday that is 5 days after Christmas. That's why we didn't feel too terrible about not giving to him for Christmas.

Hayden and Daddy testing out his new wheels early Christmas morning.

I was especially excited to give Hayden his new four wheeler because that is the age I got my very first four wheeler. I got it from Santa too. (26 years ago, WHOA!) I was very adamant that Santa leave the four wheeler in the house since that is where had Santa left mine. Here are some pictures of my special Christmas all those years ago.

Everyone else had a great Christmas too. We gave Grandma the Kindle! She was super excited!

And Grandpa a new IPod Touch. He loves it!

Hayden also had been wanting a pillow pet. And his Grandma and Grandpa gave him a cute doggy one. He loves it!

Brynlee and Grandpa. How cute!!!

Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas eve was super fun this year! We spend it with my parents and my Grandma Darlene with a nice dinner and that's when we get to open our Christmas jammies. This year my Mom decided that the jammies didn't need to be so Christmasy so she did something a little different. The guys got like comfy pants and t-shirts and the girls got fancy animal print jammies. The boys got pirate ones but of course the princess got special Christmas jammies that were pink with Santa's all over them.

We also had another surprise... Santa had made a visit to Grandma and Grandpa's a little early.
Underneath the tree was full of presents for the kids. But there was a special stipulation for these gifts. All these gifts were to stay at Grandma's. They were for the Boys and Brynlee but Santa thought that they needed some new toys to play with at Grandma's house. At first they had a hard time understanding that concept but it sure makes it nice when we go to Grandma and Grandpa's that they already have alot of fun new toys to play.

Brynlee got a doll house with barbies to fill it with and the boys got Star Wars stuff and some Toy Story 3 Stuff.

Four Generations!
Grandma Darlene, Mom, Rhonda, & Brynlee

Brynlee got an extra special gift on her Christmas Eve from her Grandma and Grandpa.
Her very first bike!!
When we put her in it for the first time, she had this look on her face like she was such a big girl. She was trying not to smile. She just looked at us so grown up like she was so cool riding her new bike. It was priceless!

I finally caught a smile!

Me and my Daddy-o! Boy, I sure do Love this Man!!

The Peterson Family 2010

Candy Train Makin' Fun

It has been another year of fun making candy trains and this year we tried our very first gingerbread house. Hayden made sure I knew that this year he was big enough to make his train all by himself. And that he did! He had a super yummy time making his train just perfect! (As you can see below!)

The glue (frosting) is his favorite part! It was scoopfuls after scoopfuls of yummy frosting! He is so much like his Mommy!

Here are all of Hayden's little buddies!
Mason, Landen, Trevor, Hayden, & Loftin
These boys are all about the same age.
Aren't they all so handsome!

The gingerbread house wasn't as easy to make but I think the boys still had fun!