Mr & Mrs Smith

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...