Mr & Mrs Smith

Many may know I've battled with family traditions, specifically Christmas ones for awhile now. I  don't fall in love with most traditions, especially those that are just for the sake of tradition and Mr Smith even more so. However, I do believe the scriptures make reference to righteous AND unrighteous traditions of their fathers, so we can filter for our own families. I only want our heart in it. I want our kids to enjoy time as a family and traditions are great for them.  With Christmas, I also need Christ in it. We are celebrating Him and that's why "happy holidays" makes me a little squeamish. So it's Hanukkah too and some Christians are beginning to wonder if it's best to celebrate with them vs the pagan roots of many Christmas traditions (or are they, it is debatable?!). I think there is a balance with no need to go to the extreme. While other cultures are fascinating, we do have to find a way to celebrate Christ. While our daily efforts are ess...

I've never been good at being concise. I like words too much. I think outloud. And I haven't had time to blog all these conversations & posts & mental thoughts and it's eating at me to write it all down, to get it out there. These are some words that no one understands anymore: love, tolerance, faith, forgiveness, covenants, judgment, respect, moderation, self-worth, humility, equality...at least if they say they do, I wouldn't believe them. In truth, I think we should be forever understanding what these words mean. Yet I hear people affirming over & over again in their actions & with their voice that they want to be right and they want you to know it & accept the choices they're making. So much for democracy & freedom. They might say "to each his own" but I'm not idealistic anymore, people don't really believe that.  I reference "the world" a lot. Let's clarify what I mean. We can start with Holly...

I haven't been good at managing my time. I've learned to lower my standards, but I'm afraid I get to lax & make TV too much the babysitter. I miss the pre-k activities I'd try to do with Lexi. I just get exhausted by the idea of planning something for all the kids. Our park excursions when they work out is the best I can do. I'm really trying to make a more concious effort to SEE my children & not just dismiss the odd things they get excited by & try to listen to Lexi's next greatest idea. I need to value her imagination; even if I just see a chaotic mess, she sees a beautiful party. It really doesn't take much to make them happy. And I've come to realize how much joy Lexi gets from making me laugh. Anytime I laugh at one of her sayings, it makes her happy. I still just stare at her realizing that she is growing up so fast; it's like I'm trying to soak her in. I even started noticing that sometimes she brings her lower jaw out over he...

We are less than theatrical around here when it comes to anniversaries or parent birthdays. I always try to get my free food (Cafe Rio credit, Jamba Juice & Firehouse subs), but we otherwise spent it relaxing as a family (Mr Smith cleaned up the house) & attending Gpa & Gma Smith's gravesites. I was very imoressed with Mr Smith when he walked up to an elderly lady we passed. He asked her who she was visiting with Lexi and she proceeded to tell about her brother who served on a boat. Lexi didn't realize why that was important, but I know it touched her that we were trying to teach our children. She teared up talking about her family. I was grateful for Eric's example of taking time to touch a stranger. We are grateful for all the brave men & women who fight for freedom. Those we lost, are not gone forever & definitely not forgotten. There is so much joy in teaching our children that. ​ Earlier that week we had the awesome opportunity to tow our van o...

"These hours with your family are precious and few; use them wisely to shower your children with love... In the eternal scheme of things, nothing else really matters. You can do it; Heavenly Father will help! Remember, they're His children too."  - Lucile Johnson

Adjusting & Lots of Sibling Love ​ It's always easier with the village. I had wonderful people make things for the baby & drop off food. Mom, Troy & Lisa all came to play with the kids. Mr Smith always gives me a third hand. I let the kids watch a ton of TV, but we also are lucky enough to enjoy good weather now. They've made use of the water table, Jeep & their bikes. I know they have felt some neglect, but they are lucky to have each other. We spoil them once in awhile with treats or late night shows to show we care, ha! Dad took Dallin on the father/son campout about two weeks in. The novelty hasn't worn off of having our own baby. Dallin copies Lexi and she dotes on the baby constantly. They always want turns holding her. We still haven't figured out how to keep the older two from crawling into our bed at night. So it's just one big party by 5AM! First Sunday, Mother's Day + End of Soccer ​ Was a complete fail! Haha. And I didn...

Mr Smith wants me to copy my posts in for our mothers. In many ways, it seems I still just had a baby yesterday, but we have slowly moved on from the bloody pads & early nursing woes. I guess I was paranoid about mastitis again (for a good reason!) and I've fretted over every clogged duct & went to urgent care when I thought we had thursh. I stayed up all night pumping on one side because the sharp glass nipple pain was nothing like I've ever felt before. The NP (who I thought was a joke) didn't think there were thursh concerns, but I still feel like she had a yeast diaper rash & my nipple pain was not just bad latch trauma. I got the "triple nipple cream" and the pain to the touch was gone by morning. Thank goodness! She has still had a tight bite at times, but like I figured, around a month in, and she is sucking better. Besides the nursing woes for a time, she hasn't had any issues. Knock, knock. (but not even a clogged tear duct or cradle ...

I've been writing directly into the bookmaking app instead of blogging (if there are any lingering followers - the best thing to do is just follow us on Instagram!) But I don't feel like opening the app up at the moment. Time is flying with a newborn & there are so many precious things to be captured. Lexi: learning how to ride a bike without training wheels. The other day we talked about it because she just wanted to walk to the park. "I'm scared, that's the problem" and I just crack up at her phrases. Dad promised her money for the $1 store. I also started a star chart with her. She gets a star for being kind (selfless, grateful...) and she has stayed interested in it for once. Once she reaches 10 starts, she gets to choose something off the reward page. She has mostly chosen to pick a movie or show & eat ice-cream. I've wanted to start a snack reward system for summer reading, but haven't rolled that one out yet. She is obsessed wi...

Dearest Lexi, I think I'm overdue for another letter to you. Your 5th birthday was full of a new baby sister! As well as Gammi spoils (your first Chuck E Cheese experience; Uncle Troy drove up too!), strawberry icecream & cake, water balloon fight at the park with friends & a surprise visit from Maren! Thanks to Aunt Lisa. You are very loved. Nothing beats becoming a mother for the first time. All the high & lows of caring for tiny humans that grow up so fast you find yourself just staring at them wondering where time went & what their future still holds. I find myself staring at you constantly and you'll just give me a quick smile.  You've grown into a little girl, not my chunky toddler. Every day counts when it comes to teaching and loving you; and I'm grateful for second chances because I'm definitely less than perfect. I find so much joy in letting all my children enjoy new things, but you're right at that age of asking qu...

Rebecca Paige Smith We really struggled with agreeing on a name again. We each had several we liked, but only a few were mutual: Katelyn, Hailey, Jacey (only if middle name was Elizabeth) & then Rebecca. I hadn't considered many classic names, this one being very common in the 90s, but when I heard the name at the temple, it felt right. I went there with two questions in mind, and felt that one had been answered. We are studying the Old Testament in Sunday School. I came home and told Mr Smith and he just said "I'll call her Becca". He then told me Lexi had told him the name Paige that same day, and I said the two sounded perfect together. Details 7lbs 13oz 20 inches long 14 in head lots dark brown hair light eye lashes Birth Story Friday, 4/20 elective induction (4/22 due date) - I had GroupB strep for the first time. I had not planned an induction until this added stress, which meant I needed 4 hours on antibiotics before delivery. I was worri...