Mr & Mrs Smith

Insta post: My little TWO year old man! Who is oh so sweet when he isn't frustrated (very assertive). The squishest, ticklish, cuddliest boy. Who is potty trained!! Only after several long weeks. He loves books & cars & the tv. 31lbs doesn't weigh him down too much. He loves his "sissy" and my favorite phrases are "I did it!" & "the end". He still likes to crawl into our bed during the night. He loves to be pampered. He feeds off his sister's mood 🙃. He likes boundaries of "this is mine & this is yours" but is willing to share if you're nice about it. He is always up for a good tease/chase & "piggy" with his toes. Doesn't like to sing along or get too dirty. We took the kids to McDonalds Thursday night to play & eat french fries on his birthday. Saturday we saved to really celebrate & take some cute photos; Dad even gave him another haircut. He also took them both to the church parki...

The latest is that February flew by in a very mundane way. We have been home more than not which is hard on me & the kids, but we're making it work. Part of that was due to our minivan being in the shop (but it has also been really cold, even snowed a good bit). We have only paid for a transmission fluid flush at this point; I dropped it off yesterday for a second transmission opinion so we're just waiting. Always waiting and lately it has been for bad financial news. But what's a car in terms of heaven.  Life is expensive & there is always something. But it has been frustrating nonetheless to want a dependable minivan for the 3rd child and dealing with this before she even comes.  I'm just very frustrated if all this drama was due to a missing dipstick that has been missing since we bought the vehicle. The question is if the transmission will go, is it worth the other quoted RARE mechanics eventually needed as well as the regular stuff. It's hard to in...

I guess I wanted to make January monumental & slowly recover from PTSD for the rest of my life. I decided to potty train Dallin at 22 months. Gammi already got us the cars underwear & potty seat. "Guys potty training is so draining! BUT after I talked to several close friends about their success at a younger age following Lexi, it stayed on my mind. Even the 3-day training that was such a success with Lexi said 22 months was ideal. But he is a BOY & everyone likes to say they are harder. I dread this more than nursing! Due to my feelings about Dallin who SEEMed ready according to all those who say "what really matters" (interested, randomly taking off diapers, hardly wet at night, able to communicate) & the timing of a new baby, I thought I'd give it a shot. I keep telling myself it'll be nice to avoid 2 in diapers or training while I'm nursing &or doing school drop-offs. It's now or 6 months from now. What could possible go wr...

I guess it's still fall, but it feels like the freakin winter. The one where your bones freeze. And it hasn't even snowed yet. But I love Idaho! Everyone says this, so I even accepted it and made the sign that says Idaho is home. It's "resting" in my home in Idaho (because we haven't hung a single thing on the walls). I've accepted this. I'm embracing it. Because Mr Smith tells me NOW that he got a very clear answer that "this is home". I guess I just need to work on being inspired in the same way. Or maybe it'll come to me differently. We are different people after all. But I'm also still the biggest skeptic in life sometimes. I just feel like I can't be immune from anything. Maybe that's humility, I'm not sure. But it would be nice to find a place that feels like home #lifegoals I haven't had much photo inspiration as of late. There was a beautiful three week period of orange and yellow leaves that I complet...

Just for the record Dallin hadn't slept well since he was sleeping well in my 18 month post. I jinxed us. Last night was the first time since then that I slept from 10-730 and it felt like heaven. We stayed with Dallin in nursery today because we can't trust him with other kids. He doesn't tolerate anyone being annoying or taking something from him. He still grabs at us when he wants something and only recently started to be "soft" and "show love" to say he is sorry, but only to us. I do not know why he pinch grabs! It's annoying though, especially when it's the cheeks of his sister or other kids. We just wish he would use his words, but I'm guessing it has something to do with his slow communication. It's getting better. We've added a few more words, but still pretty slow going and not often or on cue. "Bye Bye" and "baby"  And since he started teething (hence the restless nights, runny diapers, nightly...

Note: I've only take 5 minutes of photos with my camera since the move. I've become really terrible & it's sad because they have so many cute moments that go uncaptured. Only a few words: Mama! (the most popular), Dada, Banana "nana", No "Ugh Ugh", Yes "Uh Huh", Thank you "ank who", Here you go "heh ho", More "mah mah!", Dog's bark "who who", "Uh Oh!" But he understands a ton. I can ask where his shorts or shoes are and he will go get them. Or ask him if he pooped and he will point to his diaper and then go grab diapers or wipes and lay down. I'll say, go ask dad, and he will. I'll say put this in the trash, do you want a treat or where is sister, and he knows. I'll tell him if he is ready to eat, to go get in his chair, and he will go and climb up in it.  He will give me a high five, but refuses to wave hello or goodbye. You'd think those are the easy word...

SOOOOO much attitude. But at least he loves me enough to sleep in his crib now and even with Lexi IN THE SAME room. So far not too bad...this was our first week at attempting it. But he still doesn't get enough sleep and it's perhaps why he is cranky half of his life.                  He has definitely grown an inch or two because nothing seems to be out of reach now. Dallin is climbing everything these days, or at least trying to see if he can. It has made our normal chaos even more exceptional. We just can't rearrange the house in a way that would help me keep my sanity. He started pinching when I'm ignoring him AND pulling at my "extra" stretchy skin for fun. He seriously needs to start speaking because I cannot handle abuse. He still bites me some so I think we're still teething. He has been extra moody lately; SO much attitude comes out of this little guy! He definitely lets his sister know when he has had enough & he tota...