Okay, so Payne's birthday was March 20, and I am REALLY bad at posting regularly on this blog! I set a goal and I am failing, miserably! But, over a month late, here is ALL ABOUT PAYNE (from his mother's perspective) :):
Payne was born March 20, 1997. I remember it was the first day of Spring and a beautiful day! I went to the doctor for a regular check up and left Camden and Stirling with a friend. I didn't come home. I had been leaking amniotic fluid and they sent me straight to the hospital. I called Christian and my friend, who ended up watching the kids all night. After checking in and being induced he was born in an HOUR! It was like a TV show where everyone was running around like crazy, calling the doctor to get in STAT. He has been in a hurry since! He was 5lbs. 6 oz. We couldn't decide on a name, and had two... we knew we wanted his middle name to be Thomas (my Dad's name) and we really liked Payne (after the golfer, Payne Stewart) but didn't know if that would be cruel to do that to a kid or not. After we saw him Payne just fit.
He was the most independent little baby and little kid. Tough as anything, and funny! We always enjoyed watching his antics. I swear he could make popcorn as soon as he could climb on a stool and push buttons on the microwave. He has always been ready to be "on his own"... even telling me when he was 12 that he could live on his own without any help from us. (he gave up on that idea, thank goodness!)
Payne has always been his "own" guy. He doesn't really care what others think about him, as long as he is doing what he thinks is right. (and he isn't always right, lol!). He is just, Payne. I love that about him. He doesn't give up if he wants something, ever. He is ambitious. He will talk to anyone, and I do mean, anyone, if he wants to learn something. He is unafraid. He has always been fearless, jumping in with both feet to any new adventure. When he and Stirling were little people would often turn to Stirling to see if he wanted to do something new first. Stirling was a little more concerned, but Payne would always volunteer! He lives life to the fullest.
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| Here it is a 10 degree day in the winter and Payne is building a fire, because he is so tired of being stuck inside! |
Payne is the best uncle in the world! He LOVES babies. (especially his nephew). When he was 10 his cousin Ethan was born and he was smitten. He loves his cousin Evelyn too! He just loves little ones. I often have to vie for Will when we are all around. Payne will take him off every time!
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| First time he met Will. (one of my favorite pictures, ever) |
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| Watching football. |
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| Twins! (Payne's words, not mine) |
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| Helping his cousin "ride a bike" |
Payne is a real gentlemen. He will joke about things often, but when it is time he can be such a gentleman. I like seeing that side of him. I love this picture of he and his prom date last year.
Payne LOVES, LOVES, LOVES cars! He seriously loves cars. I think he will someday work with cars somehow. He amazes me with his knowledge. He knows how cars work (or he fakes it well), he knows who drives what car, he knows the stats of all cars (at least it seems that way to me). He loves cars. He will talk to anyone about their car. He also has little respect for anyone that doesn't like his truck. :)
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| Working on his truck. He is often working on his truck. |
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| Driving my van. He loves to drive. Always. |
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| Sitting in a BMW at a golf tour. |
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| Last year for his birthday we got him a "ride along" on a NASCAR track. He loved it! |
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| First time in the Ford truck that he loves! |
Payne is also SO FUNNY! He always has the most interesting ideas that make us laugh. (and sometimes shake our head). Here, after eating at a restaurant for David's birthday he walked out early, and put the candle in a hole in this railing, lit it, then waited for us to come and find it. He was tickled with himself, and we thought it was funny too! One CANNOT not laugh if Payne is laughing... really laughing. He has always had that effect on us.
One year for Christmas Payne wanted a Belgian waffle maker. He loves using it, and has even made bacon and cheese waffles for us. (it was better than it sounds). Here he is working his magic.
As you can imagine, with that sense of humor, it is very difficult to get a "good" picture of Payne. All of his pictures look like this - from when he was a little boy! He has always had this "spark" in his eye. When he was a toddler he had a speech problem and he said "c's" like "t's". (So "cat" was said "tat") He would start to do something and we would say, "Payne you can't do that!". He would look at us with a grin and say, "I tan!". I always had to say "you SHOULDN'T" do something because if he CAN do it, why shouldn't he? I still see that in him today.
I am proud of Payne and the man he is becoming. And I love him dearly!
