6 months old

Peyton Sage Reidhead 

 I can't believe that my little baby is already 6 months! 

 Peyton is such a sweetie and we sure do love her!  

And Peyton and B are the best of friends.  Brightlie is such a caring big sister, 

and loves to help make sure that P is happy, hugged, 

given lots of kisses, and awake when she is!  :)

Peyton's stats are:
Weight: 15 lb. 10 oz.

Length: 26 in.

She has to get a few shots, ans hardly even cried!  

 She is happy, healthy, & right on track for her growth and development.  

Fun Facts about Peyton:
- her bottom 2 teeth came in this past week!
- "rolling" is her main form of movement, although she loves to sit up all on her own
- she loves to play with teething rings and toys
- she likes sleeping in her own crib, & recently started sleeping for 6-8 hrs. at night.
- daddy is her favorite cuddle buddy
- she says "Mama"!!!!
- she ADORES Brightlie- the two of them are best friends!
- her big, bright blue eyes seem to get noticed by everyone!
- she loves to smile and giggle
- she holds her own bottle now
- we are still waiting for her hair to start growing (our cute little baldy!)
- she wears 9 month clothes & size 3 diapers

FALL FUN

 Peyton

(6 months old, Oct. 2012)

Brightlie

(Almost 3 yrs. old, Oct. 2012)

This past weekend, to celebrate the arrival of cooler weather and the fall season, we headed over to Schnepf Farms for the Pumpkin & Chili Festival!  It was a lot of fun, and we enjoyed sharing the evening with our friends, the Anderson Family!  

 On Friday morning, we were part of a one hour special event! Fox 10 news was at the farm, so Brightlie was able to get her 1st big TV debut!  :)  This is her, riding the swing ride.

 B is 3 ft. tall, and almost 3 yrs. old- she is 

getting so big!

 Brightlie sure loves her bestie Mikayla!

 Me and Paul- having fun with our little family!

 Elisha & I!  Best friends are hard to find- sure glad we found each other, 

and that our families have so much fun together!

The two cutest pumpkins in the pumpkin patch!!!!

We sure do enjoy fun family traditions, and visiting

Schnepf Farms is one of them!

Now onto pumpkin carving, hot chocolate, cooler weather, and Halloween!

Ces't la vie

WARNING: So today's post is kinda a downer/realistic point of view, so do not read if you are wanting "happy-go-lucky".  Also, it may not make sense to you- please disregard. :)

This week.  wow.  NOT what i expected.  Lies, secrets, betrayals, disappointment, hypocrisy, heartache.  My poor husband, strong (in his own quiet manner) and supportive, stands by my side - He is my companion, my best friend, my advocate in this mess.  And yet, he is also put (due to no fault of his own) in the middle.  It's funny how you can think that everything is fine, and then all of a sudden, reality slaps you in the face.  'Family' is an interesting concept to me.  It is a divine design.  Yet, it can also be a devastating force to one's soul.  I've grown up most of my life without any extended family.  My mother was truly the only one i have ever truly felt an eternal bond with.  A relationship of true friendship and love, understanding and accountability    My sister and i struggle to maintain a good relationship- but we know where we both stand - we are honest, caring, and forth-right about what we can and can't talk about, in terms of religion, life choices, and expectations.  And while we don't always see eye to eye, we are never fake.
Being an in-law though.... totally different game.  In fact, it's not even a game- it's more like a carnival booth that is rigged so that no matter what you do, you will always loose.  At least that is what it feels like to me.  Just when i think all is at peace... the thunder seems to strike.  Hurtful gossip, "blood" vs. in-laws, and fake hugs and "we love you's" are more than i can take sometimes.  Who needs enemies?  (Or frien-emies?)
No one ever wants to be the "out-law" / in-law.  I always dreamed of marrying into a family where i was loved, cherished, and treated as an equal member.  Where girl's night outs, exciting family vacations, and eventful holidays would abound. Where members can agree to disagree, discuss problems openly, learn & grow from each other's experiences, while strictly adhering to high standards of integrity and appropriate behavior/mutual respect.  A girl can dream right?...
I mean, is it me?  I am a classy girl who takes care of herself.  I try to be a good mom, and love my children dearly.  My husband says I'm a good cook.  I try to keep my home tidy, a place where the Spirit can dwell. I am temple worthy.  I participate actively in my religion.  I have lots of close girl friends.  I try to think of others, via meals, VT,service, etc.  I am extremely proud of my husband and the great man that he is.  Our marriage is doing wonderfully, full of love, respect, and trust.  I like to think that i have a good personality.  I am confident, honest, a thinker, organized, and prepared.  But, no matter what i say/think, it will never be good enough.        
Anyways, this past week i finally have had enough.  I give up.  I'm exhausted.  They win.  I can't believe that after being married to the man i love for 4.5 years, that i still get wind of hurtful comments, judgmental attitudes, toxic & irresponsible behaviors, ridiculous 'secrets' (obviously not, i heard about them), and unique loyalties.  So, i concede, for the sake of my husband, so he can not feel quite as torn....
I will play their game.  I will put on the fake smile. I will be involved in surface level conversations that have no real value. I will ignore the elephant in the room.  I will nod and be polite, while never giving any real opinion, or thoughts.   Saying "i love you" will be out of cordial obligation more than the fact that we actually have any type of deep, meaningful relationship.  Absolutely ridiculous.
However...  I will subject myself and my children to this as little as possible.  It's not healthy.  And it is mostly... well... just plain sad.  It is sad that they will never really know me.  Or who i am.  Or why i am the way i am.  Or what i have to offer. Because i really would like to have more than this type of relationship.   Yet, after talking to many people, the advice i got is this:  "Sometimes, you just have to move on and care less.  Not because you don't care, but because they don't."   And it's not worth my health and happiness.  Or my marriage.  Or my sense of self-worth.

I am a Daughter of God. I am a wife to a wonderful husband.  I am the mother of 2 beautiful girls. I am an independent woman, who will not allow others to make me feel bad about myself.  I am strong in my faith- my belief in God and Jesus Christ helps me daily to remember my divine potential.  I have been put through many trials, and am striving to CTR and trust in the Lord.  I am a best friend, who believes that relationships are worth only what you invest in them.  I believe in serving others, and taking pride in church callings.  I believe that marriage is about 2 people working together each day to enrich each other's lives in order to spend eternity together in heaven.   I believe that life is about choices, and that we alone are responsible and accountable for what we do.  I believe that love conquers all; and that mercy, while important, cannot take away from justice. I am a Mormon.  I believe in being true to ME.  And i think that 'Kristi' is a girl that has something special to offer.       

lets PLAY!

This past week has been pretty simple.  Lots of play-time at home and some fun times with some of our friends, aka. play-dates!  That's the best kind of week though- one where everyone is healthy, happy, and enjoying life!  Because it seems that time is going by way too fast (Sept. is already over!)--- i just want my kiddos to stay little and to be kids as long as possible :)

 Peyton is 5 months old!  She loves to play in her exersaucer, sit on the floor (yep, she sits up now), and enjoys grabbing/holding toys in her hands. She went to see a neuro surgeon this week- He said that although the back of her head is a bit flat, it is not bad, not affecting her brain, and that she will most likely NOT need a helmet.  Yay!!!

Brightlie & Peyton

 Sisters. Friends. Play mates. Memory makers. 

Peyton is sitting up!  She usually does well sitting on her own, but due to a few fall, she usually is aided by the boppy pillow.  But she LOVES to be sitting up, looking around at everything- oh, she is getting so grown up!

 Brightlie, having a party with her animals/dolls. Her 20+ stuffed animals and dolls
are truly her best friends.  She has full on converstaions and imaginatory adventures with them.
Today, she told me they were having a party, and everyone wanted to eat pink & green cupcakes.

 Peyton started eating baby food this week!  She likes it for the most part.  :)  Today, was sweet potato.

 Splish-Splash!!!  The girls have fun doing bath-time together.  Brightlie likes having Peyton in
the tub with her and likes to help get Peyton "all soapy".

My little Diva.  This girl is the spunkiest, sweetest, most dramatic little girl ever!!!!  She loves pink.  She likes to wear bows in her hair.  Her favorite shoes are her new brown ugg boots.  Dora is her favorite TV show.  She asks Paul and I for a cat or a dog several times per week. She likes to go shopping with me, and tell me what clothes she likes.  She picks out her clothes to wear each day, and tells mewhat Peyton 'wants' to wear too.  She likes to play in my makeup and wear my sunglasses.  She is all girl, all day, and I LOVE HER!!!
A common conversation we will have is her saying " I'm going to do {something} okay? It's ok, i'll be right back!". In a commandingbut cute tone.  oh, and today....
Me: "What color is your hair?
B:  "um, black."
Me: "no, it's brown.  You have brown hair, and daddy & Peyton have brown hair."
B:  *thinks for a moment* "No, not brown, black. Sorry mom." {said in a sorry you're wong, i'm right, factual tone}.... As she casually went back to eating her lunch.  Haha!!!  This girl seriously makes us laugh every day with her funny comments.

Oh, also this week, we enjoyed spending time with Tiffany and her girls, Kate & Ellie, and took a quick trip to Carter's to shop for some fall clothes.  I am pleased to say, that I have officially completed all of Brightlie & Peyton's fall/winter wardrobes in this month (Sept.).  I got great deals, and they both have lots of cute clothes, jackets, sweaters, dresses, etc.!  I also got Paul a really nice sweater jacket for 70% off, and 4 nice dress shirts for only $5 each!  So really, it is just me who needs a bunch of clothes, since last winter i was prego with Peyton.
We also enjoyed hanging out with Elisha & Mikayla, and the entire Anderson family tonight for Sunday family time.  We always enjoy going over there- the kids play, Elisha and I talk, we bake cookies with the kids, and the Paul & Dion play video games or watch football. It's relaxing and fun for everyone!

Life is good, we are all healthy and happy, fall is almost here, and lots of upcoming events are around the corner!!!  Get ready, life is about to get crazy busy!  (playing at the park, bonfires & smores, pumpkin carving, halloween, B's birthday, thanksgiving, Paul's job advancement, Black Friday, and then onto all the Christmas events in Dec.!)