May Mashup

Here is a collection of jaw dropping cuteness for your viewing pleasure.

"My art is my passion. My passion is my art."

Double trouble.

"Mommy, this is called a swagger. Take notes."

"Now, stop, hands on hips, pose, and give the paparazzi what they came for."

"Collapsing the tent is almost as much fun as being inside of it."

"Top of the morning to ya!"

"Peyton, you're coloring outside the lines."

"So many pools, so little time."

Memorial Day Weekend

As Martin put it, Memorial Day weekend is probably the best three day weekend of the year. It's the start of summer, the kickoff to barbeque season, and the pools open. Plus, it ends a 3 month dry spell from Feburary to May of three day weekends. Basically, MDW as we call it here, is a much anticipated event.

Which is why it was such a major bummer that Martin's business trip got extended, forcing him to hole up in Kentucky for MDW's entirety. Let's be honest. Martin works for the government. We all know the government takes advantage of all federal holidays. So why on Earth he had to work all freaking weekend long in another state is beyond my comprehension.

But PK Drama and I made the most of our Mommy Daughter experience. The trip to the aforementioned sprayground was probably the highlight, but Peyton and I enjoyed a plethora of girly bonding time, starting out with a Saturday morning run to Starbucks. Mommy enjoyed her skinny latte, while PK dined on a blueberry muffin and a juice box.

Getting her morning caffeine fix at Starbucks.

After a little pool time, it was time for the neighborhood barbeque. Peyton was decked out in her appropriately USA themed garb and hit the Circle to party it up with Amber.

Miss USA.

"I think something is missing, but I can't put my finger on it."

Mommy and her favorite gal.

"If you don't have a corn popper to get around, you should just stay home."

"The corn popper is so last minute. The wagon is my new mode of transportation."

"I need to just figure out a way to get into the water buckets."

Making the perfect rainbow. Move over Picasso.

"A little chalk to highlight my dimples."

"Successful BBQ, Amber. I am pretty sure we ruled the roost."

Sprayground: Best Fun Around!

The gossip queens at Peyton's Sunday morning play class tipped me off to a newly opened "sprayground" near our house. If you're like me and have no freaking idea what a sprayground is, it's a concrete area with various water fountains and water features designed to let kids run amok while staying cool in this brutally hot and humid Washington summer. Pure genius. The icing on the cake - this new sprayground of fun is FREE. Win, win.

And a win it was. Amy, Ethan, Amber, Peyton and I donned our best bathing suits to give the new agua area a try. PK and her BFF Amber were a bit apprehensive at first. There were a zillion kids running at about 1,000 miles an hour, water squirting everywhere, and lots of commotion.

"This looks like it has potential, Mommy, but I'm not so sure I can hang."

"Maybe I'll just observe from the sidelines. I look cute enough to just stand here and do nothing."

"Who am I kidding. Mommy, get me out there, STAT!"

"Ms. Amy and Amber are doing it, so can I!"

"Hey, Amber, just take it one step at a time. The water is really not scary once you get wet."

"Ok, take your picture and then let me go...there is a whole world of fun to be had!"

After realizing what fun lied underneath those spouts, the two were off to the races. I don't know if I've seen Peyton squeal with such delight for anything before. And she squeals with delight a lot.

"Water, water everywhere!"

"Hee hee, it tickles."

"Playing on the regular playground is so last month."

Happy Birthday to Me!

"I can smile so great that I will totally steal your birthday thunder."

After 7 years of marriage, I'm still bitter about the fact I have to share my birthday MONTH with my spouse. I am considering asking Martin to change his birthday to April or June so I can once again reclaim the entire month of May as my own. But so far, that hasn't happened. So, one week after we toast Martin growing older, we toast me. And this year, not only was I reminded May is no longer MINE, I realized that my birthday really isn't about me anymore. It's all about Peyton.

We went to Peyton's favorite restaurant for dinner - Macaroni Grill - after spending the day pushing her around the circle on the trike, playing in the neighbor's water toys, and watching Marmaduke.

Peyton did save her pennies to buy me (with Dad's help) a great bracelet and a spa gift certificate. And although the day was spent doing what Peyton wanted to do, I wouldn't have changed a thing.

"Cheers! Here's to another year old, Mommy."

"Mommy is drinking wine. I choose apple juice."

Spoiled Rotten

Free day at the zoo: Two senior citizens and one child.

Grandma and Grandpa Richardson came to visit - and that means one thing: from the minute they landed to the minute they left, Peyton was spoiled so rotten she stunk...more than usual. After unloading presents from their suitcases, we took Peyton to the petting zoo in nearby Reston. She was a little apprehensive of most of the animals, but enjoyed looking at the little caged bunnies.

"These look eerily familiar to that creepy animal Mommy forced me to see at Easter."

Peyton was also a little scared of Grandpa at first - she hadn't seen him in about 4 months. For the first day and a half, she wouldn't let Grandpa come near her. But then a rabid duck tried to attack her at the zoo, and Grandpa swooped in and rescued her. From that moment on, Grandpa was her hero. The two of them spent the rest of the day attached at the hip. As an aside, PK stepped in duck crap and got it on Grandpa's pants.

"Holy Duck!"

"My hero."

New BFFs

Grandpa avenges the attempted attack of Peyton, feeds duck Alka Seltzer

"Little does Grandpa know I already smeared duck poop on his pants."

We also took Monkey to Burke Lake Park, where she got her mow/juice box on and screwed around with her Princess tent.

"Nothing in the world like mowing the grass and throwing back a cold one."

Kisses for Daddy

Happy girl at the park.

Showing off her throwing skills....

And her kicking.

We thought she would love riding the carousel, but as usual during our 16 months of parenting, we were wrong.

"I said I wanted a REAL pony!"

By the time we got around to the best thing in Burke Lake Park, the choo choo train, Peyton was tired and disoriented. She sat dazed and bewildered in Grandma's lap for the duration of the ten minute ride, likely thinking back to the harrowing duck attack that had been her closest brush with death in her short life.

"I could use a nap."

In all, Peyton had a fabulous weekend. She got more treats and toys than any one year old should be allowed in a three day period, and was, as always, the center of attention. Naturally, she charmed the daylights out of Grandma and Grandpa by learning how to "cheers" her drink at dinner, and melted their hearts with every gracious kiss.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a great visit...Peyton misses you already.

16 Months Old!

Our little supermodel is really getting the hang of posing for the camera. These monthly photo sessions used to take upwards of an hour to capture a good smiling picture. Now, Peyton sees the camera and obliges within seconds.

Peyton is 16 months today - on Friday the 13th. Her Daddy turns 36 today too. Thirteen is definitely a lucky number in this household. At 16 months, Peyton is taking off. Literally. She is running, marching (more like a goosestep, but whatever), and climbing. She loves to sing songs, with her favorites including Mommy's awesome rendition of Twinkle Twinkle, Patty Cake, and the always popular My Little Buttercup.

In addition to all of the adorable things Peyton does - like say Mama and Dada, communicate with about 30 signs, help sweep the kitchen floor, go "upside down" and give kisses and hugs, she's also going though a few behavioral challenges. Peyton has yet to master the art of sharing. She may have once or twice tried to innocently hit her best friend Amber. And, although I may have deserved it by forcing her to hold my hand in the parking lot, our angel accidentally put Mommy's hand in her mouth and closed her teeth.... We are working on all of these things with some tough love, a few time outs, and hopefully lots of patience from Mom and Dad.

In other Peyton news, she is graduating from the baby room at daycare and slowly making the transition to the "big girl" (toddler) room next week. I about fell over when I read the sheet indicating I needed to buy a cot cover. Not because I minded spending the $25, but because my baby - my little teeny tiny baby - is going to be sleeping in a cot!?!?! In the words of Scarlett O'Hara, I'll worry about that later. For now, I'm going to enjoy my beautiful 16 month old daughter and my wonderful 36 year old husband.

Out takes:

"Picture time again, Mommy? Really, I'm getting too old for this nonsense."

"But, I will smile for you because Daddy is making funny faces again, and I simply can not resist."

"Ooooh, pink jellies! I've always wanted a pair of jellies. Thanks, Mom!"

"Wait, I get cake and ice cream tonight for Daddy's birthday? FANTASTIC!"

"Oh, but those presents downstairs aren't for me? That stinks and isn't fair. I betcha Grandma and Grandpa have something for me."

"Let's get the party started, already. I'm not getting any younger."