Mr & Mrs Smith

In the last week of October we finally caught some festive fall happenings at a nearby pumpkin patch. She had so much fun! And I did too. I was pleasantly surprised that there was so much to do for free! During school hours adults don't have to pay, but it's only $1 afternoons to get in so obviously they are just nice folks and it's appreciated since it's hard to find fun, affordable ideas in this area that don't make you feel like a sardine with a billion other kids. She did the kids maze, pet several animals, walked through a little "haunted house" without  holding my hand, went down their slide, walked around hay barrels, wallered all in their corn box and took a nice hayride through the pumpkin patch and corn field! It was great. ESPECIALLY with her best buddy by her side. These girls are just a couple days apart and really do love each other. As soon as we got there, they ran to each other and gave each other a big hug. She wants to play with...

The 20 Week apt went off without a hitch. Lexi came to the ultrasound with us and although Mr Smith was a little worried about the technician finding everything with the heart in a timely fashion... everything appears to be normal with the baby growing a few days behind, which I figured is a more accurate due date. That puts delivery at March 11th (they won't technically change it from the 7th), but I guess we shall just see =) Right now, he is still pretty darn skinny and tiny even though they look "so big" on the screen. And definitely a mover, positioned still fairly low in my uterus. -I've gained about 14 pounds so far, which is a little high achieving, but it seems to be similar to my first pregnancy. -I have upper stomach and lower back pains like with the first pregnancy. -His kicks are decently strong and come easily when I'm on my back -I can eat most anything and enjoy eating... -I'm long-winded // have heavy chest breathing a lo...

Lexi: Mommy you're a queen. I'm a princess.  Me: What about daddy? Lexi: I don't know Me: He's a King Lexi: Oh Lexi: Mommy is queen. I'm a princess. Me: *using the bathroom* Lexi: Good job, Mommy *thumbs up* Me: Lexi, it's time to go to the grocery store (after a play date) Lexi: You go to the store by yourself! "Mommy, look at me! Take a picture!" Me: Lexi is that other chair for little brother? Lexi: The other chair mine. I have two chairs. Me: But where is little brother going to sit? Lexi: He sit in my chair I mean I can just see her smile and hear her little voice and I don't ever want to lose it! ...along with all her sassy and funny faces.   Lexi is my best pal; we spend our days and nights together, so it only makes sense that she is always on my mind and who (between her and Mr Smith) my life revolves around. You have heard us mention "tough" and to expound on that, we mean ...

We don't really get out on dates or do formal family activities, mostly to save on budget and 2, there is usually a lack of thought and energy in mind as well.  However, taking Lexi to see a movie at the theatre before the baby comes has been on my list. When I learned of the dollar theatre still having Inside Out (which everyone raved about), we decided we had to try. Daddy spoiled her with a movie pack. I seriously forgot how much they rob you at concessions. I'm sure it was only 10 minutes previous to the start of previews, but Lexi wasn't sitting still for long while the lights were on and an arcade existed at the front of the theatre. One track mind people. I'm sure Mr Smith got worried at this point thinking we were never going to get through 1.5 hours. She can certainly be engaged by a movie, she is still just used to sitting and moving around at home as she pleases. And so as the movie began, she moved from Dad's lap, to mine, back to her seat again etc...

It's nice when you can feel the baby often because e.v.e.r.y time I feel him I'm like "oh good. still there." Whereas our other child is now crying my name after 30 minutes of talking to herself instead of sleeping. It's 3 PM and is today the first day my 2 year old won't get a nap? - - those were my quick thoughts from yesterday.  Today, I shall talk about how I hate giving blood. I got the follow-up thyroid check (I only do it when they force me to) to see if my levels have decreased and heaven help me I sure hope they are closer to normal. Although I do not FEEL normal. The last few days have been extremely sluggish! I'm losing my will to be productive again. Thinking of doing things just exhausts me! It's so crazy! So I hope it passes soon. I've only been going into work once a week recently and I would love this trend to keep up. However, it's craft season and I have yet to plan anything out. Happiness to Mr Smith, sadness to me. Than...

I hate to think making statements about how awesome motherhood is and how it's the best work I could be doing might dim the light of others who haven't had the same opportunities for one reason or another. If it's because you don't want it, then I still feel bad because being a mother is so great.  Something I'm now having the opportunity to witness is meeting up with friends from my pre-marriage life who have kids now and it's awesome to see the love carried forward. This is the direct quote from Elder Holland I referenced a few days ago:  No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child [...] Bear, borne, carry, deliver.  These are powerful, heartening messianic words. They convey help and hope for safe movement from where we are to where we need to be—but cannot get without assistance. These words also connote burden, struggle, and fatigue—words most a...

For some reason, my pregnancy seemed to actually be going by fairly quickly until I hit week 17 and now I feel like I've been at a standstill. Why does life get like that? Finding out the gender just makes me think about week 40 and how much further my belly has to go? I'm not sure. I don't really want to rush the holiday seasons, but since when does March give us something to look forward to? Baby Smith - he's what's up. We're not talking names, really talking names, until around then, so just let it go. What else can distract me? How to rearrange their room? Diaper deals (oh heavens I have to buy those again!!). Photo possibilities. Boy clothes. Figuring out what to do about a double stroller... I guess just enjoying our time giving all of our attention to Lexi. All the things we enjoy now that she is big enough, we need to squeeze in before the 1-1 dates make that an only possibility. Any way, I'm almost at week 19 waiting on week 20. That's about ho...

Although I want to say this to all of our immediate family (and we have in various ways on a number of occasions), the truth is people do as they wish and make excuses until they give it an honest thought. This primarily goes out to my children. Perhaps it will make more sense to you for the waiting period may be over by then, but at least you can understand our beliefs in the matter at hand. Our goal will always be to encourage you to have faith and be believing in all things pertaining to the gospel because you want to .  Not because you have to earn His grace , but because His grace should become your motivation in this life.  Some of the gospel principles we've been taught surround self sufficiency in our temporal needs. It will surprise you how many people live day to day or paycheck to paycheck and don't really understand what being self sufficient means and it hurts worse when they don't care or feel entitled to the opposite - especially when America truly is a ...

I've been really anxious to know if this round will be with another girl or a new experience of a little boy.  We really wanted a boy with Lexi, but of course fell in love with having a girl, even if she is a tough one. We wanted the next child to keep up with her and so we were really hoping a boy was on the radar, plus less anxiety down the road once you have one of each! And it spices things up in the family. Gender is such an interesting concept, yet I know it is divine as well as our place within the family.  God knows best. And I guess I'm just excited by what God thinks is best for our little family. I was anxious enough to do a gender ultrasound at 16-17 weeks instead of waiting until 20 weeks, especially since I never did a 12 week ultrasound so I really want to "see" him so that it became more real. Let me tell you it is always SO cool to see them. I'm so excited to see more at week 20 and make sure that heart is functioning like it should and that ...

I did it; the big camera came out this week. My brother took a picture of my belly at 17 weeks and I was surprised and happy to see that I look smaller than I feel.  Besides still feeling the lack of energy,  I'm much more back to myself with only a few ligament pains here and there. I didn't really want a picture of my head, but then again, it's reality.  I took a picture of his head (the original purpose). Last weekend we celebrated Grandma Jane turning 90! I've been wanting a picture of Grandma Jane and Lexi Jane for awhile so I'm finally glad we got one (same with Mr Smith to be honest. I almost said "okay give her a hug" because wouldn't that be sweet? I just quickly realized it's not how they roll).    And this weekend is conference! I love the relaxing, rejuvenating weekend General Conference brings. April  & October are my favorite months because of what the seasons bring and it's great to begin them with wo...