Blessed

As I sit and type this, I hold the sweetest, spunkiest 5 going on 6 month old. I feel so lucky to get to have your cute little self in my home as I just stare at your adorable golden lashes that I can't seem to capture on camera, just right. I hope you have them forever, and that they never turn black. Every time I have put you in your crib today it hasn't lasted long. That's ok, because I know you just want to be held. I know this is a behavior that we should be working on, but today I just cherish it.  I love that you love being with your Mommy. My life has changed so incredibly much since you came into this world. I am sincerely grateful for every moment of it. You have already taught me so much in your short little 5 months on this big earth. Love, and patience, and joy in the little things. I chuckle as I watch you get frustrated trying to get something just so. I chuckle because I know you get this from me. You also love to pull those funny faces or do something silly. You are always making me laugh. This you get from your daddy. I love to watch you as you explore the world and learn so many things each new day. I sit in awe and try and figure out how I could possibly deserve to have such a wonderful little soul to care for. I'll never know. I just hope that I can be the mommy that you deserve. I hope that I can teach you all the things you need to know about life. I know I won't always be perfect, but I want to be my best for you. You deserve that. You deserve the very best.

Big personality in a little body.

Yesterday Daddy and I wanted to go to the mall. I am a newly professed fan of the Seattle Seahawks! A few months back I said I really liked the Seahawks colors and uniforms. I also picked Marshawn Lynch as my running back in the Smith family fantasy football league, so that didn't hurt either. He plays for the Seahawks. He was my top scorer. They call him the beast and when he scores touchdowns it literally rains skittles because all of his fans throw skittles at him. Skittles are his favorite snack. As it turns out they are headed to the Super Bowl to face the Broncos. Daddy said we would get some Seahawks gear to cheer them on with. So we decided to head to the mall to scout out some prospects. So I put you in your car seat and started to buckle you in. You stuck your finger in the latch at a very inopportune moment. You whimpered like, twice, never cried. So I quickly stopped. I grabbed your little finger and started telling you how sorry I was. You just stared at me for a second, got this little determined look on your face that I wish I could have captured on film, and proceeded to chew me out for a good two or three minutes. I have no idea what your were saying. I probably wouldn't want to know, but it was one of the most adorable/ funny things you have ever done. After we got home I started getting you ready for bed. You have been particularly grabby the last few days so I chose a touch and feel book. I thought it was so cute watching you gasp and get so excited to feel all the different textures. Your favorite is the furry dog. You love the books we read together. I love that you love books like your Mommy! I hope you always have a love for reading and stories. I am glad that this is something we can share. 

Why I blog.

Our little blog has been something that has been very much on my mind lately. Mostly the why's of doing it. I love that Ty and any future babies can get on here someday and see what life was like for them growing up. I also love that they can get to know their Mom and Dad in a whole new way. The latter is something I definitely slack in. I can go on and on about Ty and all his cuteness but to write my thoughts and feelings is really hard for me. So I have set a goal to change that. I want Tytus to know that his Mom has always had a testimony. I want him to know how much I love his Daddy. (something I really feel is the best foundation for raising kids)  I don't know many details about my childhood. Mostly I just have the few memories I can remember. I would have loved to know more. Not just about me, but how my parents felt about things when they were young. I would have loved to know the things that strengthened them. I would have loved to know more of the fun things we did together. I mean sure, I know the big things, like trips to Yellowstone and fishing with my dad.  I want to know the LITTLE things. Like how my mom spent forever dressing me up on that trip to Yellowstone so I would look nice meeting my aunts and uncles for the first time and how right before I met them I found a hill full of mud and slid down it because it looked fun. Or that one time I wanted slippers so I went through Amy's stuffed animals, found the biggest one, cut off its feet and used them for slippers. How every Easter my dad would hide an egg under his chin (and still does). That little red wagon I would PILE up books in because they were too many to carry, wheel into my moms room, and she would read to me for what felt like hours. I want to know what they enjoyed doing and the things we did together as a family. Their favorite moments. Even times they struggled and the things that helped them get past it.I remember being in young women's. It was one of those Sundays where we stayed in Relief Society for their lesson. I can't even remember what the lesson was about but I remember a comment that was made. Someone started talking about how their mom kept a journal for each child and gave it to them when they were grown. It would say funny things that they did or said. Times when they were strong. Times when they learned a good lesson. I knew then that this was something I wanted for my children. I just didn't think it would be in blog form. I don't even think blogs existed at the time. Facebook didn't even exist, I don't think. We have so very many resources available to us. A fire would have been devastating to that mom! I am so glad that even if disaster strikes, I still have this blog. I don't have to worry about pictures. They are all online too. Even our Wedding pictures. I can replace stuff. Its just stuff. Even my Kitchen Aid. (oh man would I cry though!) I can't replace the moments. 

Tytus 5 months!!!

Ty turned 5 months old a fewish days ago. This is super weird for me. Next month he will be 6 months old. Half way to 1 years old. WHAT?!?! Seriously how did we get this far?!?! It seems like just yesterday I was bringing him home from the hospital. We are half way to him walking and putting words together and eating real food! (He would really just like the real food now) Well this last few weeks have been so much fun! He has just exploded as far as personality and milestones (even mommy hit some amazing milestones!!!). He has such a great little personality and adds so much to our home. It makes the hard days (and nights) worth it. I feel like I say this every month. haha Do I? Anyhow... This is what the little stinker is up to this month.

* Solid food- We are definitely having a love hate relationship with it. One day he likes something and the next day, not so much. I don't get it. But boy can he clench those toothless gums shut!!! Not sure if it is a texture issue but hey I am up for suggestions if anyone has them. I am out of ideas except for just being persistent. Also I said I would never be that mom who did crazy things to get their child to open their mouths. I am that mom... So please don't judge me if you see me feeding my son in public. The foods I most often have luck with are bananas and squash. And he generally does better if the food is mixed with rice or oatmeal and some formula. And yes he really wants the real stuff. The other day I was holding him and eating a banana and he grabbed it out of my hands and tried to stick it in his mouth. So I took some fresh banana and mashed it for him and he wouldn't touch it! Seriously the same banana he had just tried to steal from me. I think we'll do much better when he is past this pureed stuff. Right? I sure hope so.

* Rolling over- Still mastering this but with enough concentration he finally gets it done. I think he is just a few days from easily doing it. I can tell he wants to start getting around. So today we anchored our shelf so I don't have to have nightmares of it falling on him anymore. We are now as prepared as we are gonna get for that stage. And I can tell already that our vacuum is going to get a workout.

So happy after one of his first roll overs!

*Giggling- Oh my heavens! The cutest ever. EVER! Probably my favorite of the milestones, for sure. Daddy can get him to giggle way more than I can. I thought for sure he would be a mommy's boy with how much time we spend together, but I definitely think he is a daddy's boy for sure. I just absolutely love how excited he already gets when daddy gets home from work. A few weeks ago were really rough. Justin would leave before he woke and get back after he was asleep. We both missed Justin so much! 

* Name recognition- He is finally looking at us when we say his name. We better enjoy it while it lasts. I hear they ignore you later on. 

*Trying to sit up- Yep we definitely have not mastered balance yet. Today he finally figured out that he could steady himself with his hands. He eats carpet A LOT. Haha. 

* Reaching for toys- Starting to get a whole new interest in those toys we have been collecting. He reaches, grabs, shakes, puts in his mouth (everything is in his mouth these days, especially his index and middle finger) The Bumbo seat has become a problem because he will drop a toy to the side and gets so angry when the seat won't let him twist at just the right angle to recover it. 

 

AND MOMMY'S MILESTONE

Tytus has been sleeping in his crib all night for a week!!! 

This is definately more my milestone than Ty's. He has been ready for a LONG time. I was so anxious about the switch from the bassinet to the crib. It terrified me that he would need me and I wouldn't know it until it was too late. I tried the baby monitors. Hated them. You hear everything. EVERYTHING!!! The little girl crying downstairs? check. Every single breath he takes? check. The cat jumping into the bed? Check. (yep happened) Honestly it made things way worse than better. I have no desire to ever use monitors again. Finally after Ty had been waking up every 2 hours for 2 weeks Justin finally broke down and said I think its time. And I knew. I had to do it. So I did. And I am so glad! I sleep better and he sleeps better and Justin sleeps better. Which makes us all just happier in general. And when he needs me I know it and I am there for him. 

He even frowns cute! Such attitude. LOL

2013 in review!

Wow is it 2014, already?! I can't believe it! 2013 sure was a roller-coaster for us! Mostly highs though. So many wonderful blessings. Its crazy to look back at all we accomplished in 2013 and I hope we can accomplish just as much or more in 2014.
January- We got to hear baby Ty's heart beating for the first time!
               I brought home Jade. Our obnoxious but funny cat! She was so tiny!

February- We moved, again!
March- We found out we were having a BOY!

     Justin turned 22.

April- Justin got laid off due to SOH closing its doors.

May- We set a temple date and started preparing to go to the temple. 

          Justin received the Melchizedek priesthood. 

June- We became a forever family!

 July- We moved

          I was put on bed rest 3 days later!

          Justin started a new job working for A New Hope

          Spent the entire month on bed rest dilated to a 4! We anxiously waited for the arrival of our first baby and spend many nights in labor and delivery. Turns out I don't have painful contractions which is both a blessing and a curse! Could never tell if I was really in labor.

August- We finally got to meet our sweet baby boy! Born August 11. Weighing in at 7 pounds 11 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long. We named him Tytus Taylor Smith. He has the same middle name as his Daddy and great grandpa Byington. 

September- Spent lots of time with family and friends getting to know our cute bundle of joy!

                   Justin had an emergency appendectomy.

                  

October- Tytus was given a name and a blessing. 

November- Had our first Thanksgiving with our little Ty man!

                   Ty got to meet his cousin Serena.

December- Ty got to meet Santa for the first time.

Justin and I celebrated our second anniversary. 

                  Spent our first Christmas together! (The three of us)

And we wrapped it all up by spending the last two days sick with the flu, Ty teething for the first time and all of us being in bed by 9 on New years eve! Haha 

2013 was quite the year for us! Not sure any year can beat all the blessings we had this last year. To become a forever family just tops it all! I am SO grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for all the many blessings I enjoy from being a part of it!

  Can't wait for all the things 2014 will bring! Hoping you all had a great year as well! Hoping 2014 is even better! Happy New Years!