A birthday that means so much

As Peyton's first birthday comes tomorrow, I can't help but be so grateful and thankful and sappy feeling. I am more excited about her birthday and spending the day with her and her party than anything in a long time! I hope her party will be enjoyable for her and everyone else, but most of all I hope she feels loved and special and can feel how happy she has made us. I guess she will always be our princess, but Saturday everyone else will get to see!

Here are Jamie's comments that he wanted me to post tonight...

Well, Peyton is officially 1 year old tomorrow. She has come a long way in the last 12 months and is gearing up for her first birthday party this weekend.
She of course will be a princess for the party, with a princess dress and crown, to help her feel even more the part. We are going to Orangeburg to have the party there as most of Amanda’s family lives in that area. I am sure it will be an interesting event to say the least.
Peyton has done so much changing in the past year. These past couples of months she has moved onto saying “Mama” more and has really mastered the sippy cup. She seems almost ready to take her first steps on her own and is getting braver every day. Most of the time I just let her hold my fingers down by her sides and she walks pretty much on her own. She still requires that little bit of help in the balance department but she is getting there. Her daycare teacher informed us a couple of weeks ago that she held onto the wall of the nursery and walked across the room. She is also doing the same thing with the cribs in the room and I think she realizes it is a faster way to get around.
She now has eight teeth and is getting more hair (Amanda will be happy when there is enough to put bows in). She likes books a lot and pretends to read them to me and herself. She basically opens the books up and then begins to “talk” as if she is reading. It is really cute.
She has also mastered getting around on her zebra toy. This is basically a zebra on wheels that she can ride on and move around by pushing with her legs (A great consignment store buy). She especially likes riding this in the kitchen because she can go so much faster, resulting in her crashing into things harder. The harder she hits them, the more she likes it.

It has been a rollercoaster of a year, but I wouldn’t trade this past year for any other time in my life. Out of everything I have done in my life, having Peyton has been the most rewarding. Just one look from her with her nose crinkled and that grin can brighten even the worst day. She is such a big part of my life and I couldn’t imagine not having her here this past year. I look forward to the years and milestones ahead.

A few crazy things

Yesterday one of my students came to me on the playground and said, "Ms. Stewart, umm, him and him, umm, they were trying to jack me up."
The other teacher and I started laughing. I told him not to play with those boys anymore.

Is it wrong to tell a 4 year old that you are going to tell their mom to bring some tape tomorrow and that if he doesn't stop talking you might tape his mouth shut? Is that wrong? Because if it is, I would never say that.

Or is it wrong to tell another 4 year old that if they don't stop clapping in class for no reason that you might tie their hands behind their back? If not, then I'm going to try it.
The same one also walked into class this morning and said, "Ms. Stewart, I brought myself a treat in my bookbag. Can I go ahead and have it since I have been good?" I literally laughed out loud and told her the day hadn't even started.


I am really looking forward to going to Clemson for Peyton's first tailgate experience, but why is it stressing me out so much? I mean, what to take, what not to take... you would think we have gone away enough that I should be used to this.

I'll be too busy stressing and packing tomorrow night so Go Tigers! See you after the weekend, bloggers.

Why Everyone Should Buy an iPhone According to Jamie

So, since I have had a child, my technology fascination has taken a nosedive. I haven’t been buying the latest gadgets or really getting excited about anything that has been developed lately. That all changed a couple of weeks ago – I bought the new iPhone.
I really had been debating whether I should buy it or not since it came out in July. I got money last year for Christmas and my birthday (I really didn’t want anything in particular at the time) and I saved it. What I couldn’t get past was the data plan you have to buy with the new iPhone. I mean, I have internet at work, which they do filter, and I have it at home. Why do I need it on my phone?
Well, Amanda went to the AT&T store while I was at work one day and got me the iPhone (I think she knew I wanted it more than I did). I got home later that day and played with it a little, but didn’t really get a chance to explore it thoroughly. As the next few days passed, I spent more and more time doing things with it and I have to say, it is an extremely handy gadget.
As most of you probably already know, the iPhone is a phone with an iPod built into it. But by no means is this where features of the device end. It also has a GPS chip built in and although I haven’t used this feature a lot, it seems pretty cool.
The internet is also nice to have on the phone, especially since the phone is capable of not only using AT&T’s 3G network, but also any free Wi-Fi connections. This especially comes in handy at work since my company filters a lot of sites (like this blog and other like it, not to mention some key sports sites). I can also get my email on the phone and it is nice being able to check this anytime, anywhere.
With the applications that come on the phone, I can access weather, YouTube, text messaging, stocks, and the iTunes store in seconds.
I have also downloaded a free application called Sportacular that can give me updates about any game in any conference with the click of an icon. It can update me on conference and overall standings, as well as player stats. You can customize it to exactly what you want to see and I just can’t say how cool this application is in words.
And not only can you use the phone as another iPod, but you can also download another free application called Pandora. Pandora is an internet radio service that basically allows you to have your own radio station customized to your preferences. You just tell it what you like to hear and it tailors the station to you. And since it is internet radio, it is free and doesn’t take up space on your hard drive with songs. Plus you can hear new stuff from your favorite artists and buy it later if you want.
I have to be honest. I was really skeptical about getting this phone in the beginning. I really just didn’t think I would use all of its features enough to justify the extra cost. Since having Peyton, I just think about how much I want her to have and really don’t want things for myself as much.
But I have come to the realization that you need to splurge on yourself every once in a while. So join me in purchasing an iPhone for yourself. You won’t be sorry you made the choice and you’ll have me to thank. I mean, how can you go wrong with this much technology right at your fingertips?

Have you ever been spanked?

So today while we were having snack, one of my students brought up something about getting a spanking at home when they were bad. Since this topic is of debate for a lot of parents as to whether or not to spank or to find other sources of discipline, I decided to take a poll of my class to see how many of them had been spanked before. Out of 11 students that were there, 9 of them said they had. Interesting...I then asked them what did they do to get a spanking. They all started telling me things but the funniest one was, "I got a spankin when I peed myself."
I had to turn around and laugh. It isn't funny, but the way this child said it sure was.

And then as we were sitting at the dinner table tonight and Jamie was feeding Peyton chocolate chip cookie (which she shouldn't be having so I rolled my eyes), I told him that I guess I was going to have to be the disciplinarian in our family because he gives in to every thing she wants. To which he replied, "Well I guess that would make me the more liked parent." Oh great!
At least maybe she will respect me in 20 years when she learns to appreciate the structured life that she has had!

Good night!

I'm so glad...

Well, it isn't Thanksgiving yet but I thought I would just let you know what I am so glad about today:
1. I'm so glad to have a great family to help and support and love me all of the time. It really makes life worthwhile.
2. I'm so glad to have the ability to travel and go places with Jamie and Peyton. Whether it be on a vacation or to visit family and friends, it is really nice to make those things a priority, even with the high gas prices!
3. I'm so glad the Internet was invented. I remember when it didn't exist, but now I can't imagine communication without it. I would hate to be so far away and not get to see my friends' pictures and blogs and facebooks and myspaces. And also being able to see scores and weather online whenever you want is nice too. Oh and shopping online is so convenient. And downloading music whenever you want. The list goes on and on.
4. I'm so glad that the Colts won today, no matter how ugly it looked. I know one day soon we will return to the team I am used to watching.
5. I'm so glad the fall is here which means jeans and sweatshirts and football and all of the good holidays are coming soon! (Peyton is going to be Supergirl for Halloween- can't wait!)
6. I'm so glad that someone at Apple invented the iPhone so Jamie could have something else to be so excited about in his life! The highlight of his day Friday was the firmware update that was supposed to improve performance.
7. I'm so glad Peyton's first birthday is almost here. I can't believe it but I hope her 1st year was as great for her as it was for us and I hope she loves her princess party! :)

Thanks for reading!
Good night and Go Colts!

Well at least...

Well at least my teams won yesterday. I would have hated for Clemson to lose to the Citadel. I didn't get to watch it because we live in the sucky state of Georgia but at least we won. And Ohio State pulled it out but can you please start playing better than that?

Well at least Peyton Manning can start the game for the Colts tonight but unfortunately the center Jeff Saturday cannot. I really hope we win and play well tonight. I will be putting on my lucky Colts rubber bracelet today and not taking it off all season. I hope it still has some luck left in it.

Well at least Jamie and I have the weekend to spend time with Peyton. It is so hard during the week because we only get to spend time with her for about 1-1.5 hours a day. She gets tired now and wants to go to bed at 6:30-7. I feel so lucky to have the weekends to catch up on my cuddling and playing. And yesterday she was hamming it up with these crinkled nose smiles and walking back and forth to Jamie and from the couch to the ottoman.

Well at least Peyton can scoot around on her bottom everywhere. She might not can crawl but believe me she can get where she wants to go. Yesterday she ended up under the kitchen chair and then couldn't get back out without help!

Well at least Peyton is getting a little bit of hair on the top of her head. I bought a bow yesterday because she needs one and people still think she is a boy!

And at least I have this blog to keep up with my friends' lives and tell them what I am thinking.

Have a good day!