Mr & Mrs Smith

I almost forget love day isn't just for sugar cookies & heart shaped breakfastes. But that's what makes this little girl glow. A craft party with friends that lets her get out the glitter glue makes her go woohoo! I tried something different with the cookies this year & it's my new tradition - baking the cookie bars first and then cutting them out. These were delicious thanks to the foodnanny! I believe our actual valentine's day will be a little low key. Lexi is just looking forward to Gammi's package. It's so hard for her to make enough good choices to earn it. I praised her for listening so well yesterday morning & she admitted it was so she could get Gammi's package, haha! For Dallin's treat, he is back to telling me when he has to go pee since he went on a 2-day hiatus that made me really stress out.  And they've also been staying in their bedroom through the night. I'm h...

Between my surgery, Dallin's Croup virus and then a THIRD round of mastitis, we have been home A LOT. And surprisingly Lexi has handled it well. But really I thought this might just be our new life until Spring. I mean the local grocery stores are already setting it up where you just order your groceries in advance and they come load your car. I get the urge. Preschool has been cancelled every week last month due to illnesses, but you can't catch mastitis, it just comes oh so naturally...to me. I didn't even know it was a real option at the time, 9 months into it! It totally took me by surprise and had no warning. That's why when the breast pain came earlier in the day, I figured it was due to Dallin's teething. But then I realized it was the breast tissue. Once the chills set in that evening I texted Mr Smith and told him I had mastitis, right after the doctor office closed. I just figured I'd hold on until the 6:45 time period when Mr Smith said he would ...

Lexi would SCREAM bloody murder when we would try to comb her hair. The SLIGHTEST knot would cringe ears. Sometimes she would be too distracted to notice, but combing our hair became a chore nonetheless. I kinda took over brushing teeth, which she will do when we talk about "stinky face" but Daddy took over the hair and fixed this one by first making it into a game of chase. She didn't seem to mind when he would pull hard if it was a game. Then he came up with this "tough" mentality where she would raise her arms in muscle stance and they would yell "tough" every time he combs through her hair. And he isn't holding it and combing gently folks; he is doing it hard! And I just sit there smiling with a little shock on my face. She even let me do it the other day. Tough. She wants to be tough for her dad. Update: Dad doesn't get away with this EVERY time now. We were at the dinner table and Lexi was distracted from eating, talking about a bug ...

Being a counselor in the Bishopric worked when it comes to representing the Bishopric for a baby blessing. What a perfect opportunity to do a blessing while both families can attend! We all got together at the Smith's home. It was a great conference weekend.  President Monson said (and I mention specifically to Mr Dallin): "Remember who you are and what God expects you to become. You are a child of promise. You are a man of might. You are a son of God." His blessing mentioned being faithful, honoring the Priesthood, serving a mission & marriage in the temple. During the difficult times ahead, he will be faithful and an example to others.

I love this photo, it almost leaves me speechless. Story time was over. Singing time was over. Yet he kept rocking her as she fell asleep in his arms. It is hard to move a sleeping toddler, but more than just physically not wanting to wake them up, it is so rare to get these sweet moments with them. She is still forever and always our baby Lexi even though we're trying to encourage big girl status.  We are all very excited to have baby boy make his entrance. My previous posts with Lexi revealed that 35 weeks was my tipping point back then and it still holds true. We're ready at this point even though we know 5 weeks still lie ahead. And even with all the discomforts or annoyances that exist with the last month of pregnancy, more than anything, it's the anxiety from the anticipation. At this point, you feel like a ticking time bomb and you're just ready to meet your child. I'm assuming it was a little different with Lexi; this time the anxiety rests more aro...

Dear Daddy, we wanted to bring you breakfast in bed to tell you thank you for being so awesome. We are so glad you are in our lives. Dads are so so important. And I know you like berries, eggs & toast. Me too - that's why I helped you eat some. Thanks for always coming home with arms open wide. I love your kisses and hugs. I love that you will give me your attention and energy as you chase me around the house. Thanks for wanting the best for me. Thanks for working so hard to make me comfortable. Thanks for pushing me to be my best self. Mommys' just aren't the same without daddy around, so thank you. - Lexi (she told me all this verbadem)  PS - I hope you enjoyed that extra hour of sleep. They won't happen often.  

I asked for a love letter and then love note (less intensity) for my birthday (trying to think of all the things I'd love that don't cost any money), but it's hard for him to express feelings in words. He hates feelings almost as much as I love them. Back in our dating days it wasn't so tough, but that's why it's important to write things down and save little things like that - later on - they become big things. And just like all the back massages, you have to make the last one last… So touché Mr Smith.  Any way, this is exactly opposite of what he would like for his birthday, but I'm going to do it any way in memory of mine. He loves it when I make those decisions. These aren't the pictures that I wanted to go along with it; you know, that picture in my head that met failed hopes, but they're still cute and remind me of what matters most. Dear Mr Smith You matter most to me. Well, you combined with Lexi make up my little world he...

I love the idea that out of all the names he could have chosen, Heavenly Father chose to be known as Father. How impactful to me. I love my Father. Even if I disappoint him, he doesn't let me know. To me, he's a big, happy teddy bear who knows his little girl is her own crazy person, but makes me feel like I'm all the better because of it. I love him for how he loves his children. Our phone conversations are rare, but they're perfect. No matter how grown up I get, a girl always needs her dad. And to her, he fixes everything. And we all know I love Mr Smith. I could not breathe if I did not have him. That doesn't mean he makes it easier to breathe all the time, but literally I just don't know how I'd handle life without him. But it's not husband day; it's Father's day. His relationship with Alexis is priceless. I love all that he does for her. He is a daddy through and through. He works hard to take care of both of us. He works hard ...

Literally. As in fingers on rock. Toes wedged. Only looking up. Hanging by a rope. We drove up into the mountains with some friends who were familiar with Chimney Rock. It was only a 20 minute hike in once we drove to the spot. For some strange reason, we brought along a one year old. And even more surprising, it all worked out, barely. We all took turns trying to keep Alexis entertained far enough away from the cliffs. There wasn't much space to move around, but somehow we kept her entertained enough for all four of us to climb. Most know Mr Smith as a climber, but since we moved from DC we haven't challenged the cliffs. So Mr Smith was disappointed to see how he's not in the climbing shape that he was used to. The girls only went up once. I'm all about ending things while I'm ahead. I go to say I tried. And so I'm always successful. More than anything it's a mind game. I don't like looking to see how far I'm up. And even though...

Not us.  I wish!  (with many nerves tucked under that) I just read quickly through a few news tweets that Ashton & Mila are expecting a baby. They have been dating since 2012. So then it's okay . Because that's commitment?  I keep hearing these sort of things  all the time  now. Well, I think they may have been recently engaged. So that's a step up over some? I mean really, since when did it become natural and completely acceptable and almost the new norm to have children before getting married? It's backwards people. And we wonder why the current generation seems sex crazy and immoral.  Oh . Maybe that's just me. I could step on a million toes with blog posts like this, but I'm not sure I care about that this time. And it's not just that they happened to get pregnant - whether or not they were trying - it's that they did because THEY DID something you shouldn't be doing until you're married, because that is when we should be embracing...

That was our 2 year anniversary. LITTLE late about posting about how grateful I am we made it to the TWO year mark (marriage pros at this point) but that's because there are a lot of other distracting things on the computer (I don't even like facebook but it's the first thing I go to) ANY WAY, yes, I still love Mr Smith. I probably don't write about how much I love Mr Smith enough. I'm too busy whining about how easy my life is.  Like how hungry I still am after that pb&jelly sandwich. Making lunch is so difficult and I have no idea why. #whitegirlproblems So, contrary to what Mr Smith believed or wanted to believe, Papa Johns is not our anniversary tradition (thank goodness I blog because I would have fallen for it). Last year was Olive Garden. This year was Thai, because it's our favorite (still missing our little ma&pop Thai place in Old Town, VA that boarded up their windows). We said we would branch out next time. I got Panang curry & he go...

I have a Heavenly Father who knows me better than I know myself. He created my spirit. He is perfect. & Christ is the father of this beautiful earth, including man. I'm grateful for His creations. He is the perfect example. I was born into the home of goodly parents. I have an earthly father who would do anything for me. I don't say that in a spoiled way. I say that with the utmost respect. It's nice knowing you can count on someone. I have a father-in-law who helped shape the amazing man I married. And that amazing man I married is now a father himself.  I love Fathers. I spoke in church today on the conference talk "For Peace at Home" by Elder Scott see talk here I loved this talk because it was centered on Christ. "One of the greatest blessings we can offer to the world is the power of a Christ-centered home where the gospel is taught, covenants are kept, and love abounds." I testify that I know the Atone...