How do you know when you've completely given your heart away?

I really think I've lost mine . . . just look at them. They just make me melt everyday. Jacob is SO content with everything in life, I feel so blessed to have him in our family. He has a great routine and he is just so incredibly happy. Andrew is in to everything! His personality is charming and easy. He is learning by leaps and bounds and sometimes I just wonder if I am going to be able to teach him as much as he needs to know. I'm thankful that Michael is my partner in parenting--he seems to know a whole lot about everything.

Long and lean

Neither of us are tall individuals. But both of our boys are in the 97th percentile for height. I just took Jacob for his 4 month appointment at month late--oops! He was 27 and 3/4 inches long! Two feet and 3.75 inches might not seem very big, but it is for a 5 month old. He weighed in at 15 lbs and 15 oz. Only in the 45th percentile for weight. We are really grateful for a few nice traits in our gene pool. Keep growing Jacob!

One, Two, One

Little did I know, but the number one comes after two . . . and before two! Try as we might, Andrew refuses to believe us that the number three is involved in the counting process. This illusive number has graced Andrew's vocabulary once or twice, but usually, one precedes and follows two. I am betting that there will be a day that Andrew realizes that we aren't just pulling his chain and we'll be able to count as high as four or five . . .

In the mean time, we'll enjoy: one, two, one.

It's not always as smooth as it seems

The danger with blogging is that everything always looks and sounds so perfect. Just so you know, we still experience temper tantrums, days with no nap times, diaper rashes on both bottoms (just the boys!), nights when Michael is stuck at the office (come to think of it, when is he ever home?), chicken nuggets every night for dinner--because mama is too tired to make anything else--plenty of screaming during the bewitching hours before bedtime and lots of ice cream to get us through the day! We have ups and downs everyday, but by the end of the night, after the kids are tucked into bed . . . all is well and I am so grateful for my crazy life. Here's to motherhood. It's the hardest thing I'll ever do, but I'd be willing to be my life on it . . .It's the most rewarding thing I'll ever do as well.

Everyday

Growing up in a family of four girls, I never even imagined that having boys would be so much fun. Andrew and Jacob fill our lives everyday with adventure and laughter.

LOVE THE HAIR!!!

Newport, Rhode Island

Pictures on the cliff walk . . .


Whenever we can steal away a day to head down to Newport we do. It just doesn't come as frequently as we'd like.
I headed down with the boys and a few friends last Monday while Michael was at work. (He has been literally living at the office for the last 6 weeks. I think he's contemplating renting out his part of the apartment to make a little extra money! I hope the new roomie won't mind the kids things everywhere!) We have a few ties to RI that encourage us to keep returning--Michael was born in a darling little hospital in the heart of Newport, and his family spent several of their early years of marriage living here.
Newport is home to many beauitful mansions. Wikipedia informed me that: "Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, wealthy southern planters seeking to escape the heat began to build "summer cottages" on Bellevue Avenue. Later other wealthier families joined the area--the Wetmore family, the Vanderbilts, and the Astors to name a few." These "cottages" are my kind of vacation home!!

Pictures of the ocean and the Breakers ( the Vanderbilt cottage) . . .


Sunset in Portsmouth . . . how could you not fall in love with this place!!

A lot has happened in the last 10 years!

It hardly seems possible that ten years have come and gone since I graduated from High School. This was my best friend from school, Emily Hackett (Freeman).
I had the most wonderful time traveling back to San Antonio, more specifically Schertz, Texas for my reunion. I was flooded with nostalgia as I drove through this little cowboy town. I had so many precious memories return as I visited my old home, church building, friends homes, the military base, etc.--some memories I was grateful to leave behind--but more often that not, I really cherished my time in Texas.
Texas was wonderful in 1997-- and it still is!! The sky is never ending, the stars are innumerable, the Tex-Mex is amazing, the Cowboys are darling, the music is heartwarming, the football rocks, and the pride is contagious! I miss the Lone Star State. God Bless Texas!

Plum Island Beach

We've lived in Boston for three years by now and this was the FIRST time we visited the beached in Massachusetts. How embarrassing! We went with the Harts, a family from our ward, and had a wonderful time with the kiddos.

This picture made me fall in love with Michael all over again!! He loves time with the boys . . . but it's been rare the last few weeks. Work has been consuming all of his time. We feel lucky that he was able to join us for this day trip before things got hectic.

New York, New York

There is something so enchanting about NYC! Michael and I took a weekend away from the boys and drove to New York the first weekend in July. We had an incredible time! I think I had forgotten how it felt to have a conversation without being interrupted. And since we ALWAYS have a child in our arms or are pushing a stroller, our hands are always occupied. It was so nice to hold hands and walk down the street again!

Friday afternoon we met a friend for lunch, other friends for dinner, tried to get into a show, and enjoyed dessert at the Mandarin Hotel. Saturday morning went running in Central Park, met friends for brunch, dinner and salsa dancing. The weekend was packed. It was so rejuvenating to be without children, but by the end of the weekend we were ready to come home.

Grand Old Flag

We celebrated our country's Independence like most Americans . . . we decided to pull out the tie-dye, make the famous flag cake, and gorge ourselves--like every holiday!
This year was the first year we've celebrated the 4th in Boston. We've been pulled away for the last two years, but were grateful to be home. We are so blessed to be in this country and enjoy so many freedoms. I am thankful for a day dedicated to remembering our forefathers and the sacrifices they rendered in our behalf.

Oxford Park

One of the things that I absolutely LOVE about living in Cambridge is the parks. I think--without exaggerating--that there are at least 30 parks in a one mile radius from my home. Andrew loves going to play . . . and Jacob loves to watch. While playing at the park, Andrew is usually so overwhelmed by all of the possibilities for having fun that he wears a dazed expression! (see picture #2)

Mourning Mornings

Jacob usually wakes up really early in the morning to eat. As soon as I can, I lay him back down and try to fall asleep for the last precious moments before my day is really forced to begin: when I hear Andrew jumping in his bed and calling out "Mama, Mama". It really is rather cute. But I do appreciate my sleep these days.

Thankfully, Michael has been a HUGE help easing me into our daily routines. If he has time in the morning, he'll get up with Andrew so I can drift off for a few more moments. The other morning, I woke up and found them reading. It doesn't get much better than this!

Socks

We love socks around our house. There is no lack of desire to find a really good pair of socks and snuggle them right on to your feet. Andrew has learned at a very young age to appreciate this Smith family tradition.

Slight obsession

I was completely wrong. I had been warned about possible jealousy issues that older siblings have toward younger siblings when they are born. I think that thought was lost on Andrew. Maybe he was too young to catch on but, Andrew LOVES his little brother. It could even be considered a slight obsession. He loves to be everywhere Jacob is and everywhere that Jacob has been.