Peyton Update

4 months old already!  Peyton had her checkup with the pediatrician early last week.  She now weighs in at 13 pounds 3 ounces and is 25 inches long.  That puts her in the 50th percentile for weight and between the 50th and 75th percentiles for height.  She is definitely my peanut when I compare her size at this age to both Emily and Danica.  Both of them were into the 95th percentile for height and the 75th percentile for weight.  She had her shots (one in each leg) and fared pretty well in her reaction to them.

She is much more reactive to her environment these days as well.  She can grab toys and is happy to be entertained by her big sisters.  She still has a love on for Mommy - and although that can be frustrating at times, I secretly enjoy being the center of her life right now.  I know how quickly that adoration fades!

It's exhausting being this cute.

 Smiley girl.

 Dinner conversation is so draining.

All Natural

The other day, Greg and Peyton were watching hockey together and I snapped this picture.  And since Peyton's favorite state of dress is to be wearing nothing at all this is pretty normal around our house as of late.

For some reason I can't seem to get this picture to right itself.  This is from the surprise BBQ we hosted for Pete and Cheryl before they left to move to Ontario.  There were a number of other families in attendance but we wanted to get one last shot of our "besties" to quote Oprah.  Such fun was had with this amazing group of friends!

Beautiful

I think this picture of Peyton is beautiful - I have the larger version hanging on my wall right now.  What a joy having this new little life has been for us!

More pictures to come soon as we had her three month photo session this morning and from what I saw at the shoot, there are more great shots coming our way!

Our first full week of above 20 degrees has hit and we've been busy getting outside and staying out of the house.  Soccer season is in full swing for us as well - four nights a week - yikes.  Emily has made leaps and bounds this year with her ability to get in the game and get the ball.  She has scored twice already this year.  Danica is just learning the game but has managed to score a goal already this season.

Mother's Day was a great day for me - we went to church, had a wonderful lunch and then I had an Ultimate Frisbee practice in the afternoon.  I received an e-reader which I am enjoying immensely as well.

Finally, and sadly, our dear friends Pete and Cheryl and their children Hudson, Havyn and the soon to be born baby moved back home to Ontario.  We were blessed to have them during their time in the Peg and we already have plans to meet up next summer in the Wisconsin Dells for a much needed reunion.  Remember Cheryl, it's not goodbye - it's see you soon.

10 Weeks

Summer has arrived in Winnipeg - finally.  We have hit 20 degrees today and my girls have been loving the weather.  Bikes have come out of storage and both girls have been spending lots of time riding up and down the street.

Peyton is now two and a half months old and we are enjoying watching her grow and develop.  Waking up to her smiling face gives me such great joy each day.

Now for some pictures:

Smiles

 More smiles...

 Even more smiles

 Easter egg hunt

 Easter Sunday - I could kiss those cheeks all day long.

 Matching dresses.

 Hanging out in our swing.

7 Weeks

Oh how time flies in this house lately!  Has it really been a full month since I last posted?  The bucket list of what has been going on in our home these past few weeks:

• My sister-in-law, nephews and my aunt all came from out of town for a visit.
• Peyton was baptized.
• A shopping trip to Albertville was made.
• A trip to Iowa was taken to visit Greg's sister, my brother-in-law and my adorable nephews.
• Peyton smiled for the first time.

Oh so much to update on!  First things first - Peyton's baptism.  It was such a blessed weekend filled with family and friends.  The feeling I get when one of my children is being given to God is overwhelming.  To feel the hand of God on the little one he has charged me with raising actually gives me goosebumps.

No pictures were taken of our trip to Albertville but here are some from the wonderful visit we had with Janelle, Dale and the boys in Iowa.

And finally, some of the most wonderful news.  We have very dear friends who were due to have their third baby about a month after I was due to have Peyton.  Unfortunately, little baby Grant had to come into the world 4 weeks early via emergency c-section.  He was not expected to live and by the grace of God alone, he made the most amazing strides and after more than 4 weeks in the NICU, he was able to come home!  Peyton met her new BFF the other day - he is a cutie!

Just because I think she's so cute - here are a few more Peyton pictures:

Three Weeks

How has three weeks flown by so fast? We have quickly adapted to having a new member in our family and aside from a bit of sleep deprivation on my part, we are all doing well. Peyton has been quite a good baby - waking every 2-3 hours to eat and for the most part going down to sleep again right away.

I have been enjoying picking Emily up from school lately which was something I was not able to do while working and hearing all about her day. I'm also taking as much time to snuggle with Peyton as I can since I know this time will fly by so fast. Danica and I have been enjoying a lot of one on one time while Emily is in school and taking lots of time to read books and to color and play.

Next weekend we are looking forward to celebrating Peyton's baptism with family and friends and then at the end of the month we are meeting up with my sister-in-law and my nephews in Albertville for some shopping and then heading back to Iowa to spend some more time with them.

Here are some more recent pictures:

Welcome Peyton Isabella!!!!

Arriving 6 days early (much to my surprise) Peyton Isabella van Leeuwen made her grand entrance into the world.

I had gone to the doctors the day before and wasn't feeling overly well and was put on sick leave until the baby was born. I left work on the 15th feeling slightly out of sorts having to leave so quickly but we had been operating on a day by day basis so that everything was in order if I left suddenly.

At 3:30 in the morning on the 16th my water broke and I started having some very mild contractions every 10-20 minutes or so. I called the doctor's office at 9am and they told me to go to the hospital to be checked out to make sure that the baby was doing okay. We arrived to a very busy hospital, was checked out and it was decided that I was going to stay. Since not much was happening, I waited in triage and the discussion on whether to start medication to help my labour along began. At 5:30 in the evening, real labour began (all on its own) and by 6 I was in my room. I received an epidural (which did not work as things progressed so rapidly - much to my dismay).

At 7:14pm, Peyton was born weighing in at 8 pounds 8 ounces (the smallest of the girls by over a pound) and measuring 20 and a half inches long. Another healthy baby girl and we couldn't be happier!