Family & Friends with Cricket

Here are pictures of Cricket with our family and friends...

Cricket with MeeMa (Scott's mom)

Cricket with Aunt Taylor (Scott's sister)

Cricket with Uncle Jim (Liz's brother and Future Godfather)

Cricket with Cousin Logan (Scott's nephew)

Cricket with Grampy (Liz's dad)

Cricket with Nina (Liz's friend & Future Godmother)

Cricket with Liz (Liz's friend)

Cricket with Aunt Sarah (Liz's sister)

Cricket with Cousin David (Liz's nephew)

Cricket with Cousin Callie (Liz's niece)

More to follow tomorrow!

More pictures of Cricket!

Isn't she so cute!!!!

Cricket with Mommy

Quick video of Cricket sleeping on Mommy.

Cricket's First Bath

She did NOT like her first bath. However, she felt great afterwards and slept a few hours.

Cricket's First Video

CRICKET IS HERE!!!!

Today we were blessed with the arrival of Cricket Payne! Born at 12:24 p.m. weighing in at 8 pounds & 9 ounces and 21 inches long, Allison Elizabeth Payne's birthday is now officially December 3rd. 

Everything went absolutely wonderful today.  Liz and I got to the hospital at 9:30 a.m. and we were in our room by 10:00 a.m.  Family arrived around 11:00 as we were preparing to go to the O.R.  At approximately 12:00 p.m., they took Liz and I back to the room.  They had me wait outside the room as they prepared her.  Around 12:20 p.m. the nurse came out to get me from the hallway.  Crazy sidenote - they had a radio playing in the O.R. and as I walked in, I hear the song that is playing - Making Memories of Us by Keith Urban - our wedding song!  So not five minutes later, I lean over the drape just in time to see Cricket coming out.  Dr. Rajala pulled Cricket out and asked me to announce whether it was a boy or girl.  IT'S A GIRL!  It was definitely worth the wait not finding out.  I couldn't have asked for a better surprise!  She's going to be a such a Daddy's Girl.  I can already tell.

Thank you to all of our family and friends who kept us in your thoughts and prayers over the last 9 months.  We feel so blessed to have a happy, healthy little girl as part of our family now.  I also feel so blessed to have such a wonderful wife who not only did such an amazing job today, but such a great job growing our little one over the past 9 months.  She is already such a good mother!

Below are some pictures from throughout the day today.  Check back over the next few days and weeks for new pictures.  Please leave your comments if you'd like and please note that if you click on the picture, it pulls up the picture and makes it larger.

Stubborn like Mommy...

Well, we have come to find out that Cricket is going to be stubborn like his/her mother.  Cricket is currently in a breach position which techinically means that Cricket is upside down.  Cricket needs to be in a head down position, but has decided that he/she likes to be in Mommy's chest.  Because of this and the issues it could cause if labor starts, our Doctor has asked us to schedule a c-section for the week before Cricket's due date.  If Cricket decides before then that he/she wants to turn upside down, the Dr. said that we could go back to a normal birthing plan (pray that Cricket turns!!!)  So that means if everything stays as is - Cricket will be here on DECEMBER 3RD - one week from today!  We are scheduled for 12:00 on Thursday, the 3rd.

Notable Events in history on December 3rd -
1818 - Illinois becomes the 21st U.S. State
1967 - The 1st successful heart transplant takes place in South Africa

Notable December 3rd Birthdays:
Singer Ozzy Osbourne
Actress Daryl Hannah
Actor Brendan Fraser
Figure Skater Katarina Witt


We hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving today!  Go Cowboys!!!

Finishing Touches...

Liz and I spent the last two nights putting the finishing touches on Cricket's room.  Liz finished off the bed (thanks to Andy and Sarah for getting us the crib mattress) and I finished a shelf. Liz bought a really cool wooden shelf a few weeks ago for the room that has a removeable back much like a picture frame.  I went to the paint store last weekend and found some light red paint that matched the room.  After painting the room, I cut border to go where the pictures would go to match the room.  You'll see that we have the diaper holder hanging from it next to the changing table.  It turned out really cool. 

We still have some final things to do in the room, but wanted to give everyone an update on the progress we have made so far.  Leave us a comment below and let us know what you think!

ONLY 27 DAYS LEFT!!!

29 days and counting....

We are officially less than one month away from Cricket's arrival.  Many of you not around this area have been asking to see pictures of my beautiful wife and you'll be happy to know that I finally convinced her to let me put a picture on here.  The shirt she is wearing in this picture is really cute - it says "Mom in Training" - but you can't see if from this side view.

We've got all kinds of new posts coming in the next week or two.  We are currently putting the finishing touches on the baby's room.  We spent last night hanging stuff on the walls and making the bed.  Liz finished her first load of babies clothes in the washer last night and we folded those clothes this morning before work.  We plan to pack the hospital bag tonight and put together some of the things that Liz got at the shower last Saturday.  Before you know it, the time will be here...

Enjoy the picture and check back soon for our new posts.

Liz with Our Baby Cricket

The next Tiger Woods… Cricket Payne!

So I just have to brag on my wonderful husband, not only is he the sweetest, most handsome guy I know... he is also the newest winner of the "Larry Craig Cup". This last weekend Scott went down to Austin for a golf trip with the guys. They played 18 holes Friday, 36 holes on Saturday and 18 holes on Sunday..... For the weekend they kept track of the scores and came up with some point system that would determine the winner of the Larry Craig Trophy... Scott won!!! (Are you asking who is Larry Craig?  Google it - pretty funny)

Why does that mean that Cricket is going to be the next Tiger Woods? Well, Cricket has been golfing since he or she was just a few weeks old (and would still be if Mom didn't have a big belly in the way). And with Scott's trophy winning golf genes there's no stopping this little one!!! 

The guys... and Scott with his Trophy!

Did I mention Scott's Trophy got its own seat?