5 Random Thoughts!

1. I need to be cleaning my house, but I have no modivation.

2. I want to loss 10-15lbs. by next year!

3. I hope Ben is having a good time in Alabama with the boys, I am jealous, lucky him!

4. I wish I had more friends here, that wanted to do stuff! Or that called me!

5. I want to go shopping, badly!

There. . .now I feel better! Thanks Rhiannon, for the idea! That really seems to help me. Now, time to take a nap!

My Dad's Surgery Day!

Today my Dad is having surgery to remove a tumor on his foot. It is benign, but I of course am still worried about any time of surgery! I wish I could be there to help because I know it will be a long recover and he will have to remain off his foot for several weeks. Those of you who know my Dad, know what a task in it's self for him! It is unlike my Dad to just sit still, for long periods of time, and do nothing! Just this morning(before surgery) he got up early, washed his truck and then went and got his hair cut!

So I just wanted to send my thoughts and prayers to him today! I love you Dad and am thinking of you AND wishing I could be there for you! I love YOU bunches!

Fun Time!

It's Sunday evening here at in The Smith household and I just wanted to share something funny that happened this weekend. As most of you know Blakely has been teething(getting 9 teeth in at once) and she is finally on the last few that are popping through, so needless to say, she hasn't been the happiest baby. It has taken us an extra amount of energy(not that it doesn't when she isn't teething) to keep her busy, so she doesn't think about the pain.

Side note: I am not a huge fan of giving her medicine, if not necessary!

Well, this weekend she took a turn for the better and started showing us a funny side to herself. She has started to want to play "games". They consist of her hiding behind our long curtains in the living room, standing really still, and laughing uncontrollably! Literally! She has this funny little laugh that reminds me of a fake baby doll, mixed with this sweet sound of helium! ha

Another game is her running, more like a slow walk for me, but she runs as fast as her feet, combined with stableness, will let her. . . giggling the whole time! We also got new couches and we ordered a large over sized ottoman with it, about the size of her crib mattress, which has made Blakely the happiest girl in the World! It is a bit shorter then the couch, so she manage to hoist herself onto the top of it, lay flat on it, and throw her feet up and down, of course, giggling the whole time! Another "trick" of hers while on the ottoman is standing up, making this shape with her lips(kind of puckering them out), and making this monkey noise. She gets quite a kick out of herself! As do we!

I am trying to capture some of this on video, so be looking for that! I just thought I would share how wonderful of a baby(big one) she is turning into! She has quite the little attitude, but her "tough/serious" shell is coming down, slowly, and she is starting to turn into this little sweetheart! She is starting to kiss alot! She blows kisses to anyone and everything every time we leave or they leave. It is funny to see, because most people have no clue what she is doing! I say, "She is blowing you a kiss, that's how she says goodbye!" They simple reply, "Oh, I was wondering what she was doing! Bye!"

Love to all!

A Birthday Rant!

When speaking to myself about how old I was the other night while lying in bed, I realized that I am in my late-twenties! I shot up out of bed, looked at Ben and said, "I am in my LATE twenties!!!" He just looked at me and softly replied, "It's okay honey, your old. . . " What I ment was I was getting "older"(not old) and when gettin golder means many things. . .

1. That my parents are getting older!

2. I am all most 30!

3. I loved my twenties, where are they go?

4. I am a mommy at 28.

5. I am a grown up!

6. The time has gone by faster then I thought it would!

7. Remember when you where 18, and you "thought" about those people in college and who where in their mid to late twenties. . .How OLD that seemed to you?!?!

I AM THAT PERSON NOW!

All these reasons are why I started to think about being in my late-twenties and the reason for my rant! I just am having a hard time with the whole thing! I love being this age. We, as a family, have much more then I ever imaged at "this age". I am happy, healthy, and here!?!?

So, what is my problem. I am not old! BUT when are we "old"? I do not consider my parents "old", but in that same statement. . .I don't consider my grandmother old. I guess it is in the way you act and live your life, right? I don't feel 28, but do I look 28? I remember when I was younger and someone carded me, I would be so upset. . .now when it happens, I happily oblige!

Ok, my rant is over. ::::::::::::::::::SIGH:::::::::::::::::::::

Here are a few pictures from my birthday! I did have a wonderful one! Ben got me a day at the spa(manny, peddy, message, and facial), plus let me buy new couches! Plus, a good friend of mine, Chauna, had us over for a delicious dinner! I received tons a phone calls, and even got some money! It was great. I felt loved! Thank you all!

Sweet Caroline's Boutique

Just wanted to tell everyone about my friend who opened up her own boutique. Visit:

www.sweetcarolinesboutique.blogspot.com

She can make anything for any occasion! From trucks to crowns, for boys and girls! Just ask and she can create it!

First Day of School!

My new favorite word. . ."HOLY MOLY!" Today was your precious baby's 1st day of school! It is actually called "Parent's Day-Out" and she is only going one day a week, but it is a big deal to us! She was dressed in her "first day of school" outfit, had her lunch packed, and blanket with her! She was ready! And I wasn't!!!!!!!!

I was running around the house, trying to make sure I had everything together and she had everything she needed. I felt like a chicken with my head cut-off! I told her, "You are going to school today, are you ready?" She looked me dead in the eyes and shook her head "YES". I know she didn't understand what was about to happen, but I could see she was excited about what was going to happen!

Once we got into the Church{where she is going to PDO}, she was super excited and started playing with all the toys! As I was telling her teachers(Barb and Nancy) about a few things that might need to know, I glanced over and saw her playing by herself, acting so independent. When Barb told Blakely to say good-bye, she run over to me with her arms out, hugged me, and started blowing kisses to THEM. It broke my heart, she was telling them "bye", she thoughts she was going with me!

Needless to say, she cried for 10 minutes after I left and they had to give her "The Blanket" to calm her down. I told them that she normally goes down for a nap between 11:00am to 12:00pm, and to just lay her down anytime during that time. Well, she didn't take a nap! They did try and lay her down, but she got up after 30 minutes, screaming. On top of not napping, she didn't eat lunch either. . . by the time I got there to pick her up she was tired, hungry, but happy to see me! I called her name and it was like a dog hearing a cat 1/2 mile away, she looked up and started running toward me! The grin on her face will be burned in my memory forever! It was priceless!

As we left her first day of school, I looked at her and said, "Do you want to go home and take a nap?" Without a pause she shook her head, "YES" once again!

We love our daughter more then she will ever know! She brings more then joy to our life's, she brings happiness! We love you Blakely!

Blakely's Well-Baby check-up!

Ben and I took Blakely to her 15 month well baby check-up(even though she is 16 months)!

She weighed 28.5 lbs(95th %) and height 32 inches(75th %)! She did get a shot, which she only cried for 10 seconds, then was more interested in the band-aid they put on her leg!

While we were there, they did tell us that she had a ear infection! So the poor thing is on an antibiotic...for the next 10 days.

Just wanted to update you all on our little princess!

Love to all!

Working Non-Stop!

Well, we have been home for 8 days and have been working extremely hard trying to get the house back in order and finishing all the "projects" that we were unable to get done before we found out that Ben had to go on a "deployment"! The first thing we did when we got home was unpack 3 months worth of clothes! Let me just tell you what a project that was in it's self! Ben had off for 4 days, so we got right to work of landscaping the front yard! We went to a local landscaping place, bring along the

measurements of the two areas we lanscaped. I couldn't tell you how happy that made me feel to be at a place where I could just pick and choose from thousands of plants! :::smile:::

Well, we worked all day until about 6pm in the rain trying to get the whole project done before the big rain storm that night! WE DID IT and it turned out wonderfully!

I have also, since being home, been going through mine and Blakely's clothes! We plan on have a garage sale sometime in September, so I have been wanting to "clean" some old stuff out{to make room for the new. . .hehe}! I also listed some stuff on Ebay, which takes like 4 hours to do! That was painful, but hopefully worth it! As of now, it really has just been annoying because you are asked some of the stupidest questions! Ex: How many times has this outfit been worn? I don't know, you are buying used clothes. . .what do you expect?

What are the measurements? Do you ship overseas? Are you willing to do buy it now? blah. blah, blah! I guess my point about complaining is. . . I stated all those answer in my description, if they were to just read it, then they could find it out themselves!!!!!!!!

This pass weekend we had some friends over for dinner(I know a dinner party and we just got home) and Ben smoked a Pork Butt, then shredded the meat and made a sweet North Carolina barbecue sauce to go with it! He got he recipe from his step-dad, who is known to be an excellent cook! Holy Moly, it turned out perfect! The best pork I have ever had(sorry Dad) that even my Dad would of been impressed with him! I was so proud of him because our dinner guest couldn't believe how moist and perfect the meat was! They said it was the best barbecue they have ever had! That says alot! Great Job babe! Yummmmmy!

We also sighed Blakely up for the Mommies-Day-Out program for 1 day a week! We have our Open house, where she gets to met her teachers and other kids she will be with, this Wednesday. I am a little nervous about the whole thing, but know that it will be a good thing for her and I!

Well, that is all for now! Hope everyone is well! All our love!

Check this out!

We got some pictures of Blakely taken at the beach while we were home. We got them done by Tiffany, who owns Avant Images. She has a sneak peek on her blog as well! Check them out!

Visit: www.avantimages.blogspot.com

Made it back to Missouri!

We have finally made it back to Missouri! The 2 day travel back home was broken up by us stopping in Mississippi and staying the night at my Uncle Dale's house! We got to his house on Saturday evening being welcomed by an amazing, breathtaking, beautiful home. Walking into this home, was like walking into a page right out of an Ethan Allen catalog with the added bonus of amazing art that he has collected over the many years of travel. He had a a chef that works at his casino make us up some yummy lasagna, delicate olive salad, and olive bread to top if off! Not to mention The General's two bottles of smooth red wine that made your taste buds desire more. :::::::sigh::::::::: I love my Uncle!

We continued on our path home at 6:45am the next morning with our baby girl, two dogs, and car loaded to it's max! Blakely was great the whole ride! I have to give props to my baby girl who can ride in a car for 15 hours and not completely lose it! She really was a trooper!

We ended up making it home by 5:20 pm! It was like seeing our home for the first time all over again! It now has grass in the front, so it was even more beautiful then before! We were so lucky that our contractor that built our home, also helped keep up our yard and watch over the house for us while we were gone. Plus, we also have amazing friends (The Allen's) that did the same as well!

So, we are home, safe, and happy! We have a ton of work to do, but welcoming it with the attitude of gratefulness! Love to all!