torture

We went to a little Christmas party last night. The real reason we went, well, I brought the guest of honor, aka, Santa. Stephen was even more upset about him being there then he was in the last post. He could be found cowering in the corner as far away from Santa as he could be. It both broke my heart that it bothered him that much, and made me laugh. So, at the end of the evening, as is tradition, someone (this time, my mother-in-law) asked me to go sit in Santa's lap so she could get a picture. This is what we ended up with:

Poor poor thing. I wish we could have gotten it all in one picture, but I think this gets the point across. He did not want me to be near that scary, scary man in red. This is, by far, the closest that Stephen got to Santa on his own free will. And it was to save me. I'm proud of my little boy to overcome his fears to save his momma.

too soon

This is what we thought might happen. Maybe it will be better next year.

Better lights!

Last night we tried something better for lights. We went to Temple Square. It was very busy! And fun. And not fun... :) Taking an almost 2 year old into a large crowd is exhausting. Good thing my mother-in-law, brother-in-law and his wife were all there to watch Bennett so I didn't have to worry about that. Poor souls, I doubt it was any fun for them. My sister and her family also joined us. Add two more kids - an almost 3 year old and a 9 month old. I'm not sure I actually looked up at the lights much. Anyway - we have pictures from this evening, too.

Isn't that lovely?

Stephen was done, we just wanted to be sure to remember this moment...

Bennett was bundled in the stroller and fairly content. At least I think he was. I didn't actually see him all night!

My sister and her family.

We are building memories!

lights up!

Our little town had "A Small Town Christmas" celebration and part of that was "Midway Lights up!" It was the lighting ceremony of main street. I thought it might be fun, so we bundled up and walked to Main Street. It was going to happen at 6:30. I didn't realized that was when the program was going to start. I thought someone would say something like - "Let the Christmas season begin!" Then a switch would be flipped and all the lights would come on. Boy was I wrong. The program consisted of a few people saying a few words. I don't know what was said - I was either chasing Stephen or trying to keep Bennett from crying - Scott was doing the same. Then there were people dressed up like the carolers that Scrooge would have yelled at - they sang a few songs. Then we all sang songs... then we were informed that because of the electrical system - there is no big switch to flip. So, all the families and businesses that 'adopted' a tree were suppose to go to their tree and, on the count of 5, plug it in. So those that were a few trees away could no longer hear the countdown and not everyone who adopted a tree was there. So a few came on at random times and some not at all. Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed. I didn't expect much, but I did expect a little more than that. Anyway, by the time the lights came on, Stephen was no longer interested in what was going on. But we did get pictures!

This was the first annual, maybe next year will be better.

Off the charts!

Bennett had his 2 month appointment today. We have been joking about how much he has grown. He is such a chunk! Well - it is true. He was off the charts for weight. Above the 95th percentile. Wow. We are going to have to start doing exercises now, I guess, maybe all we need is more tummy time. Other facts: Height - 50th percentile, Head - 50-75th percentile. The head is to be expected - there are some large heads in this family, seriously. Everything else looks great. That is the update as of now. I just wanted everyone to know that if you see Bennett, he is huge, it is ok to notice...

Halloween

here are our pictures from Halloween:

Stephen and his cousin sitting by the pumpkins we all carved (they didn't help much - they just played and not even with the pumpkins!)

Stephen was Tigger. Someone at this party thought he was Tony the Tiger, though. This picture was only made possible because of the cookie, notice there is one in each hand...

I think he knows how cute he was, even though he slept through the majority of the trick or treaters that came by.

Here are my boys! They are ready to go out for trick or treating. Bennett stayed with me and handed out candy. Stephen came home tired, but satisfied with what he had accomplished. (Free candy!)

Blessing

Today was Bennett's blessing day. Scott did a beautiful job blessing Bennett. I was very humbled at the end of the meeting when a Sister that I don't know very well brought us her program with the blessing written on it. Isn't that wonderful? I was trying to remember what Scott said, but now we have it written down! After the meeting, we came to our house with our family and friends and had people stopping by through the afternoon. We just had sandwiches and snacks for all. It was a wonderful day.

Proud papa

Proud Mama

Here is my dad with his 4 grandchildren (all under 3) How fun!

Fall!

My dad is in town and yesterday we all went up (minus my brother-in-law - he was working) to see my grandmother in Idaho. We rented a 15 passenger van and had 5 adults, and 4 kids in car seats (all under 3). It was good times! The DVD player helped a lot. While we were there, we decided to pick apples from the only tree that hadn't been picked clean yet. The best method was to shake the limbs and let the apples fall. My dad was tired of us trying to reach the limbs to shake them, so he climbed up the tree. That was much more effective! I also took the opportunity to get a fun apple picture since that is Stephen's favorite fruit, or at least the word he says all the time. "Appo" I love the appo picture!

My dad in a tree

Stephen and the apples!

hanging out

Last night was such a fun evening for me (I hope it was fun for everyone, but I'm just putting in my opinion right now). After our early dinner, we all went to the park to enjoy the last bit of sunlight for the evening and the warm weather that we think will be ending for good here soon. Then we came home and just hung out together all on the floor. Bennett was in a good mood and Stephen was being silly and playing around. We were having a great time. so I got out the camera.

Stephen doesn't know it yet, but he is about to get attacked by tickles from his dad. They both love it.

Stephen laid down on the floor next to his brother. I feel like this looks like Bennet is on his head, but he really isn't, they are both laying down.

Having fun - playing with toys and giggling.

just a couple pictures

I just wanted to post a few pictures, so here ya go...

a proud big brother

We are trying to please the car gods in this picture

Bennett at one month. This was probably the longest he had been contentedly awake so we got a few pictures.

last yard update for the year

We did get grass seed in the yard before it started to get really cold. This is what it looked like when the grass started to come up - it is a lot greener now. Yea! We had our sprinklers blown out yesterday so now it is time to let the grass winterize and hopefully we'll see it get nice and strong in the spring!

Somewhat here

We are around and getting through each day, but we really aren't up to much. Just getting use to having little Bennett around and getting to know him. Here are a few pictures:

Sorry this is sideways. He was 'grinning' so I was trying to get that in the picture. This is the best I could do. I feel like he looks like an old man here. He is about a week old in this one.

We have learned that he does best when not laying flat. Here he is propped up almost standing on the couch.

Stephen loves his little brother. He is fascinated by his toes, belly button and eyes. This was very cute, actually. Stephen just walked up and said hi to Bennet then began playing with is feet.

We can't forget Stephen all together. Monday night was, we think, our last really warm evening. We were at the Gateway for a wedding reception and decided to let Stephen play in the shooting water fountain. He was more interested in watching it and was shocked when he got wet. He did have a good time - and thanks to Scott for going in with him!

This is about all I have time for now. Until next time....

Well, it is official. We are now a family of 4.

Bennett Edison Smith joined us at about 6:23 PM on Wednesday night. Yes, he is an 09/09/09 baby. We were hoping for a 9:09 birth and a 9 lb, 9oz baby, then we would have been on the Today Show or something... Ha

Anyway... Bennett is getting used to life. Mostly Eat, Sleep, Poop, Cry, repeat. Jamie is doing great.

His official stats were:
9 lbs, 1 oz, 20 inches, at 6:23 PM. He did get 9's on his Apgar (sp) tests too.

Not yet

So, yesterday I swore that I was going to have this baby. I just felt like it could happen at any moment. But that passed and there is no new Smith child yet. Today, I am feeling better, not nearly as uncomfortable, but still wishing that this baby would come - and I'm not even overdue or anything! Just ready. I feel like there is only so much preparation that I can do! We are still looking forward to next Wednesday as our day, will I make it that long? What do you think?

slackers

So, I know we have been slackers as far as the blog is concerned. I have been taking a lot of naps so blogging hasn't been on the top of my to do list, also I haven't felt like we have been up to all that much to really shout about. This isn't all that much either, I just wanted everyone to know that we are still alive and we are back working on the yard. Here are a few pictures.

Stephen climbed in here on his own and grabbed the controls. He knows what's up.

This is our first load of gravel, we got two total. This filled in our parking area next to the garage and the area under the future deck.

Here are 6 of our first 10 (yes, FIRST 10 loads of dirt). The other 4 were in the front and the next 4 will be here on Monday. The future deck site is on the right.

Here is what the front of the house looks like with dirt spread out all nice and smooth. I love it! You can also see that we have a few plants in our bed in the front (some are actually blooming).

That is what we are up to. I sit and watch and let Stephen get dirty while Scott and his parents work like dogs. I have fed them, I guess that is my current role. We should get the rest of our dirt on Monday and then on to grass seed once the dirt is ready. We are so excited to have an end in sight! Grass that we should be able to see in about a month... yea!

In other news, I am scheduled to be induced on 9/9/09. I didn't even pick that day, it just fell into place. I would love to go into labor before that, but that would be a pretty cool birthday to have so we are excited.

There you have it, we are counting the days to baby and grass...wow are we ever exciting.

Knees and a Harvest

For those of you who don't know, Scott had knee surgery on Monday. He is doing very well and is walking around very comfortably now. The worst part was getting all the anesthesia out of his system. Once he was over that hurdle, he did just fine. We spent the afternoon after the surgery at his parent's house because it was close to the surgery center and there was someone else there to either watch Scott or Stephen, whoever required it the most. I spent most of my day waiting in different waiting rooms (in the surgery center and the pharmacy) and it wore me out! Scott was able to walk to the house and car after the surgery, so it was good. That evening, once he was feeling a little better, we walked to the end of our street and back. He is doing very well. He had some broken cartilage cleaned out and, according to the paperwork, something was done to the meniscus, but we don't know what. Hopefully they will talk about that at the follow up appointment on Monday.

In other news, I went out to water our garden yesterday and came back in with this:

I know, it isn't much, but it is our first harvest of the season. We have gotten a few strawberries, but this was by far the most we have gotten in one shot (I know, it is pitiful). We are excited, though. Things are finally producing. It is hard to see, but there is one blueberry there. Last night, I picked a cucumber, too. yea! We are finally getting things! It won't be enough to can or make jelly/jam with, but it is a work in progress. When we actually have a garden spot, we should be able to plant more. ahhh, those future plans are always so nice...

Projects

So, I have not been on the internet all that much recently. I haven't really been reading up on the blogs, or checking my email all that much. I have been working on projects! Scott has teased me about 'nesting' all too early, but I have gotten a few things done. My brother-in-law is getting married in a couple weeks, and I decided maybe a month ago that I would make them a quilt. I had all this denim that I have been saving for a project and all these other scraps of fabric, so I made a plan and started cutting and put the quilt top together. I really like how it turned out. I told Scott at one point that I wanted to keep it and that we could just go get them a set of bowls or something, but I didn't. Mostly because I'm pregnant and hot and the last thing I want right now is a quilt (and the fact that I WAS making it for them). I am pretty sure that I was talked into a fabric that was way too heavy for the back and I'm pretty sure they won't use it because it will make them sweat, but ask me in a few months if my mind has changed or not - once I'm not always boiling. Here is the best picture that I have of the finished project. If I am ever in the same room with it again and have a camera handy, I might remember to take a better picture so I have it.

This isn't the only quilt I made either. I made a crib quilt for our next boy! This one was very easy, I just tied it, minky and tricot (spelling could be off on both of those), so it is soft and silky.

I also made a couple changing table covers out of towels and have been working on a few picture books. One for Stephen that is church-y stuff and I am working on one for that second boy that will have alphabetical pictures and family and colors and whatnot. I have one for Stephen and he really likes it. It needs to be updated with a few new family members, so they may end up sharing this next one.

I have also finished a few flannel board stories and have a few more to finish. As well as get the flannel board put together, I have flannel, so that is a start.

Baby clothes are out, sorted and put away. Not washed, I'll save that for another day.

There are other things, but I can't think of them right now. I have been very happy to get all these little projects done! It doesn't seem like a month's worth of work, but I usually only have a few hours a day to work on these things, depending on Stephen's nap, and that is outside of my normal cleaning/cooking/playing with Stephen day. Naps are also becoming part of my daily routine. I haven't been sleeping well at night, so I'm napping during the day. That really gets in the way, too, but sometimes I have no choice but to lay down! I have been so hot, I am glad that I'm not in the South right now, I would have melted into a puddle by now. I actually sat on an air vent today - ugh. Less than 2 months, less than 2 months...

Our helper

Yes, more to say about the yard here. We have been in a bit of a holding pattern on doing too much out there, but working on smoothing out the dirt we have, filling in holes, and removing unwanted rocks. We have discovered that Stephen is very good at putting rocks in the tractor when we don't want them. Tonight, he was having a hard time settling down for bed, so we thought he just had more energy to expend, so we went outside and let him move more rocks around! I finally got a few pictures. He was wearing a white shirt, so I put on his little Home Depot apron that we got there one day. He seemed happy to have it on and loved moving rocks around.

It is so nice to have a helper!

Unwanted house guest!

Free Loader Alert!!!

I guess he didn't quite make it back to the cave or barn where he usually lives, so he decided to sleep away the day right above our front door. Freaked Jamie out. You should see a pregnant Jamie jump away from the door yelling "it's a bat!!!"

Anyway, by morning, he had moved along. Probably off to where he usually calls home.

something is actually finished!

Just a few yard pictures. Feel free to skip this post if you aren't interested. :)

Here is Scott 'in the trenches' if you will. Some of this dirt was really packed down, so he was not looking forward to cleaning it out. Some of it came right out though.

And then - sprinklers! The pipe is under the sidewalk and everything! yea! (and THEY WORK!)

We got some gravel and filled in where the utility boxes are on the south end of the property. This also shows some new trees and sprinkler pipe (the sprinklers work and everything). What is that nice building behind us? The elementary school. Yup - right there, and the bells will ring all summer, evidently. Excellent!

Here is the gravel around the utility boxes at the north end of the property. Yes, we have boxes on both corners. Isn't that lovely? You can also see some sprinkler pipe in this picture. (Did I mention that THEY WORK?!)

We haven't been able to get too much done over the past few weeks because it has been raining. Unusual for these parts, but welcome. It makes Stephen a muddy boy just about every day that we are able to go outside, but he doesn't mind. The yard is coming along. We will be excited when those sprinklers are able to actually water something. But for now it is nice to know that Scott was able to design and install those all by himself! Way to go!

The boy likes rocks

We got a load of gravel for the house and boy was Stephen excited! I wish I had a video camera when he saw the gravel falling out of the back of that trailer! We had just about gotten all the gravel out when we put him in the trailer (his dad was in there pushing it out and he wanted in!) He wouldn't come out for a while! Here is the happy boy.

This is the "I am so excited I can only scream!" face. I wish you could hear the noise that goes with that face and stance.

More yard pictures to come!

The haircut

It is now summer, and so to celebrate, we decided on Friday evening to give Stephen a nice summer haircut.  Here is what he looked like before we cut his hair:

This is actually with a little trim in the front, I had been doing a little here and there just to keep it out of his eyes.

Here is a better shaggy view

And then there was this!

See that trauma face?  He screamed the whole time we buzzed his head.  He is usually pretty good at getting his haircut, but I guess he is at a stage where he isn't interested in anything like that.  He freaked out at his last Dr. visit, too.  I don't know if you can see the amount of hair that is all over his back and all over me or not, but there was a lot.  He was starting to calm down and then Scott brought out the dust buster...  that didn't help.  We used the longest setting on the trimmers, but it is still pretty short for him.  It is actually shorter, we believe, than it was when he was born.  

This is a little blurry, but here it is after all the trauma and after a good nights sleep.  

I actually expected it to be blonde, but it is still dark over most of his head.  On Saturday, after he woke up from his nap, I came in to find him rubbing his head on his mobile.  That made me laugh.  At church on Sunday, quite a few people came up to me and told me that they didn't know who he was until Scott or I were with him.  He does look different, but it is a great summer cut, don't you think?