Mr & Mrs Smith

While Daddy is away.... Mommy will put off the trash until forever. It'll just sit there at the top of the stairs all ready to be taken out. And that darn lid that always pops off? It'll stay popped off. Both kids will be screaming, and I'll secretly wish you were here. When I need some extra encouragement for an Amazon splurge for that laminator... I'll want your opinion. And that darn deadbolt at night... I almost forgot it was my responsibility. I don't know if I love that. I handled you being away for the longest you've ever been away and with both kids (3.5 days). It was better than I thought, but I think because dinner was a little easier, and then I didn't get distracted with a TV show - I had plenty of time to put the kids to bed. Lexi wasn't going crazy because sometimes only daddy has a special way of expanding the energy levels at bedtime. I pretty much had all the control that a 3 year old will give me, and it worked out okay. Most li...

Haha, okay, some days I look at pictures and see it, but this time it's a stretch. Just trying to extend the lifetime of Lisa's onesie. And that pacifier clip... I even threw in the same soccer ball, but Dallin kicked it out in this photo which was the only non-blurry one. And that's life folks. <4 month babies in 9 month onesies>

Life gets away from me constantly. Mostly because I'm just so exhausted to fit in everything let alone the abstract things I "should" do. Some days still really seem like survival. A fog some say, truly exists.  But I try to at least be present for my kids. I definitely struggle with Lexi. I usually max out early evening. And I know Dallin is too well aware of media already. But every day is a new day to try. And try my patience they do. Just kidding, I mean not, but the goal is for me to be better because I'm the one who needs it. We have kids to try our souls I tell ya. I feel like having kids has made me completely aware of all my weaknesses, like a slap in the face. Otherwise, I would have been a very patient, easy going, kind spirit. Now, I'm a bit of everything.  Lexi is still very much attached to her brother, but I realized I don't have a ton of pictures of just the two of them. I also fell in love with Dallin's 12 month church outfit. Sla...

  We had a blast at the work party earlier this month! We decided to be a little late and wait for daddy but I'm so glad he was there. Lexi got to experience it all, there was just so much stuff I felt like we rushed somewhat trying to get it all in. I just know I couldn't have given Lexi  the same daddy experience in the bounce houses, rock climbing, etc... we did everything from caricatures (I was a little surprised by it...), face painting, Photo Booth (I looked tired and ragged, it was fitting) to cold stone ice-cream & rock climbing. She even got a balloon at the last minute and instead of 1 sword, he gave her a bundle. She is THREE so loves everything in the moment and is for whatever reason crying when we leave. Too much fun? Perhaps so.  

I just have to document the EXACT day that DALLIN SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT. I mean, it's one of those "will this ever happen" dreams (I have a few). BUT THIS ONE DID! My prayers were answered 4.5 months post Dallin's birth. July 21st. Dallin is trying to give daddy the best birthday gift ever...we appreciate it buddy! Too bad Dad wasn't here. bwahaha. And too bad Lexi spilled water in the bed to wake me up instead. WHATEVER. Count your blessings name them 1 by 1.  Backstory: About a week ago we tried longer cry-it-out sessions. I knew the doctor was going to say he didn't need to eat at 2 AM, and I was right so I tried gearing up for that and then we were in full swing starting the day of his apt (exactly a week ago). If he was fed and fine, we left him, but only for one day was he in our room. We moved Lexi's mattress to the foot of our bed and put him in her room. We stayed up a few nights wasting TV time while he cried and it wasn't more than a...

Well, he had the chance to be perfect and he blew it. I guess a little too much spit up these days and his clothes weighed him down a few weeks ago when we weighed him at 20lbs, he is a mere 19lb 11oz. Typically, he is wearing clothes, so I'm still lugging around a 20 pounder. That puts him at the 99th percentile for weight. I'd love to meet the other 1% babies. They should be friends. The official stats: Weight: 19lb 11.5oz 99% Height: 26.5in 92% Head: 43.5cm 92% We talked to the doctor about the molars. She said they are raised up, but she doubts they'll be rupturing through the skin to cause any teething pains (although I'm still not sure how she knows this). So that excuse is out the window and we don't officially have teeth yet.  We talked to the doctor about his sleep. How he likes to wake up a lot at night. I had been feeding him 1-2 times a night still. She said to stop it unless it has been 8 hours. He is a big boy and can surely lear...

It's not about not wanting to. It has nothing to do with what I want, not really . It's what I'm willing to do or shall I say, my priority in this moment.  I feel like ever since I got married or had children, the question "what do I want" never comes to mind. It's always a matter of "what am I willing to do." Maybe I'm just talking semantics. I'll explain.  In an ideal world, I would do it all. Everything selfish or unselfish I would do. Because why not? But no one has the energy for all that. AND what I really want is typically intrinsic, like happiness. We really just want to find the joy that's found living on this earth, but we rarely understand what gives us that in the end. If I knew, I would make the best choices every time. What makes me happy now and will it make me happy later? Delayed gratification plays a big part too. I don't have to love every step in the process, but I may want to do it because I want that en...

The Smith family does a reunion every couple of years and this was our first! It was also our first "vacation", long drive with both the kiddos and my first time in Idaho.  Lexi has always been great in the car, but we were curious about Mr Dallin who was basically done with the car when not sleeping. He did okay though and we tried keeping him happy with tastes of applesauce. Probably would have been fine if I could have sat in the back with him. It was a 5.5 hour trip and we decided just to get a hotel to make things easier.  We drove up Friday afternoon and made it for the ice-cream social. Saturday they had a breakfast gathering in the AM, a pool party during the day and park play time in the evening. We made it late for everything lol. But Dallin got passed around and Lexi enjoyed whatever and whoever came her way. I still don't have all 7 siblings and their kids sorted out, but everyone is pretty awesome. We went to church with a cousin & stopped by to see ...

4 months later, and today is probably the most tired I have felt. We were kinda busy yesterday; but Dallin had a better night last night even though the prior two were some of his worst nights. That kid. I was up every hour the night before. I kept trying to insist he sleep in his crib. Last night Dad kept him from 11-2 when Lexi came in and woke us up wanting in bed. I ran after her when she started crying because I get SO furious when she wakes Dallin. Ugh. But we're trying to stop that bad habit Mr Smith created. We can't have both children in the bed, I refuse! And she just needs to get over it although we aren't sure why she cries out sometimes at night. But Dallin woke up a few minutes after I put her back to bed so I fed him and then laid him in his crib. Like clockwork, he was up an hour-ish later and I just caved and brought him to bed where he stayed until 7:30, which is his normal wake time even with a late night. So I fed him once, but still wasn't even sur...