Sorry it's been awhile since we've updated...the past month has been busy. We're pretty much done Christmas shopping, just a few more things to get. The kids are all doing really well. Lexie is finally starting to sleep long stretches at night...longer than 3 hours...yay! Last night she went to bed at 7pm and didn't wake to eat again until 2am. That's the best she's ever done. I can tell she's going to be a talker; she already makes the cutest cooing sounds. And her smile is so beautiful. Still being mean to her Daddy...she cries all the time if I leave her with him. Poor Daddy. :(
Julia's winter program is next week. She's very excited. We got a pretty red dress for her to wear. Wally left town this morning for a week, but luckily he'll make it back for her show. I can't believe Julia's first year of school is almost half over! She's grown up so much in the past few months, it's unbelievable. She's spelling words, writing, adding,she's just learning so much. A little too much sometimes! Yesterday she came home and asked "Mommy, C___ said there's a bad word in 'astronaut'. What is it?" Her little innocent face just killed me!! Apparently she was told that there is a bad word in "helicopter" too!
Aiden is continuing to learn new words daily. Today he just busted out a whole sentence..."Yay, we go school" But when he says school, it sounds like "skoo" He's tall enough now (36") that he can reach all the light switches in the house. He also loves to run the dishwasher. And he knows how to turn the dial so he CAN run it or start it over again. Sometimes I know the dishes are clean and done and all of a sudden I hear the dishwasher running again. Sigh. He's tough to keep up with lately, always busy.
Wally's out of town this week and then back for Christmas and New Year's. He's leaving the 3rd or 4th to go back to Savannah for about 6 weeks. Yuck. I'm hoping we can visit him a few times while he's there, but we'll have to see how busy we are.
I'm going to try to enjoy my last couple of weeks before I start back to school. I'm kind of excited to go back. I got my nametag for my internship in the mail and that was cool. It says "Mrs. Smith" :) I should find out about my placement soon. My classes begin the week of Jan 7, but the internship won't start until Jan 22nd. The classes I'm taking are Diagnostic Reading, Children's Literature, and Teaching Exceptional Students. After this semester I'll take two classes over the summer (one about teaching social studies and one about teaching students whose second language is English) and then take my final internship in Fall 08. So one year from now, I'll be graduating! YAY!
December 13, 2007
November 13, 2007
Good Times
We had a really great weekend. My brother Erik and niece Kayla came to visit us. It was good to spend time with them...the kids had a lot of fun playing together. Erik and Wally watched the football game; Wally was disappointed that his team lost to the Gators.
Late Sunday afternoon after Erik and Kayla left, we realized it was the last day of the fair. It was about a half hour away, but we decided to check it out. It was the first time Aiden had ever ridden those little rides they have. He LOVED them! He would point at the cars and say "vroom!" He even went on a kiddie ride that was very similar to the Dumbo ride at Disney World. He and Julia sat in a little elephant that went around the circle and also lifted up in the air. I was really nervous, but Wally insisted on letting him try. He talked to the operator, and the man nicely agreed to stop it if Aiden got scared. He did so great! He didn't even look scared for one second! He just kept staring at the center of the ride, looking at it like "hmmm, how does this work?" It was so funny how serious he looked. I personally didn't think he was ready for that type of ride, but because he's so tall...he is already able to go on all the kiddie rides. But I was wrong! He had fun and was not scared of anything! We're so proud of how big our boy is getting!
The girls are both doing well too. (It sounds so funny to say "girlS") Lexie went for her 2 month check up yesterday and is up to 12 lbs. She got her first vaccinations...three needles. For the first time, I completely chickened out and left the room. It seems like with each kid, those types of things bother me more. Luckily Wally was off of work and with me at the appt so he stayed with her. She did fine, but I still cried. :( She's been sleeping more and eating less since the shots, but is otherwise okay. I took Julia to get her haircut yesterday after school at the children's salon, Snip-Its. She played video games the entire time her hair was being cut. It turned out really cute. She kept worrying that I was making her get "a short haircut"....I had to pinky-promise her that I wasn't. Serious business. The Kindergartens' Pow Wow and Thanksgiving Feast are Friday and Lexie and I are going. I have to make mashed potatoes for 18 kids, and the teacher asked me to cut the turkey into bite sized pieces for the kids. I'm picking up the turkey from her Thursday after school. Wally and I will get it done between the two of us.
wow, this is getting long. I gotta get going, Lexie Lou is starting to squirm around and that means she's getting hungry! Here are some pics and a few video clips.
Julia's Haircut
Lexie
Kayla, Aiden & Julia
Julia Jumping!
The BIG Slide!
Late Sunday afternoon after Erik and Kayla left, we realized it was the last day of the fair. It was about a half hour away, but we decided to check it out. It was the first time Aiden had ever ridden those little rides they have. He LOVED them! He would point at the cars and say "vroom!" He even went on a kiddie ride that was very similar to the Dumbo ride at Disney World. He and Julia sat in a little elephant that went around the circle and also lifted up in the air. I was really nervous, but Wally insisted on letting him try. He talked to the operator, and the man nicely agreed to stop it if Aiden got scared. He did so great! He didn't even look scared for one second! He just kept staring at the center of the ride, looking at it like "hmmm, how does this work?" It was so funny how serious he looked. I personally didn't think he was ready for that type of ride, but because he's so tall...he is already able to go on all the kiddie rides. But I was wrong! He had fun and was not scared of anything! We're so proud of how big our boy is getting!
The girls are both doing well too. (It sounds so funny to say "girlS") Lexie went for her 2 month check up yesterday and is up to 12 lbs. She got her first vaccinations...three needles. For the first time, I completely chickened out and left the room. It seems like with each kid, those types of things bother me more. Luckily Wally was off of work and with me at the appt so he stayed with her. She did fine, but I still cried. :( She's been sleeping more and eating less since the shots, but is otherwise okay. I took Julia to get her haircut yesterday after school at the children's salon, Snip-Its. She played video games the entire time her hair was being cut. It turned out really cute. She kept worrying that I was making her get "a short haircut"....I had to pinky-promise her that I wasn't. Serious business. The Kindergartens' Pow Wow and Thanksgiving Feast are Friday and Lexie and I are going. I have to make mashed potatoes for 18 kids, and the teacher asked me to cut the turkey into bite sized pieces for the kids. I'm picking up the turkey from her Thursday after school. Wally and I will get it done between the two of us.
wow, this is getting long. I gotta get going, Lexie Lou is starting to squirm around and that means she's getting hungry! Here are some pics and a few video clips.
Julia's Haircut
Lexie
Kayla, Aiden & Julia
Julia Jumping!
The BIG Slide!
November 5, 2007
November 2, 2007
Halloween
The kids had a great time on Halloween! Julia dressed as Hermione from Harry Potter, and Aiden was Spiderman. He wouldn't wear his mask though. He got a little scared by some of the childrens' costumes, but overall he did really well. Julia was very happy because she saw several of her friends from school. There were hundreds of people in our subdivision, it was very busy. I thought it was really cute that several families had their children in wagons and were pulling them around. I guess we could've pulled Aiden in ours, but Wally just carried him most of the time.
I was really proud of Aiden because he said "thank you" and "bye bye" to almost everyone who gave him candy. Until recently, he's gotten shy around strangers and wouldn't say anything.
People loved Julia's costume. She looked so cute. She had her Gryffindor robe and tie and her wand. And Lexie wore black and orange Halloween sleeper that said "boo"on it and had a little tail coming out of the back. She slept the first half and I carried her the rest of the night. She wasn't fussy at all, just looking all around.
Speaking of fussiness, Lexie does have colic. The dr basically just said I need to find out what calms her because every colicky baby is different....and they usually outgrow the colic by 3 months. I hope so because it's so hard and frustrating when she cries, and I don't know how to help her. I don't want her to be in pain. I'm trying an herbal remedy the dr suggested called gripe water. We'll see how it works.
It's also hard because about 90% of the time, she'll only calm down for me. Poor Wally, sometimes she just screams no matter what he does. I'm hopeful that she outgrows this "mommy only" phase soon....there are so many times that Wally's not here to help...and right now he is, but Lexie won't let him!
We're looking forward to Thanksgiving break and our trip to the cabin with my parents later this month. It will be a nice break and a fun vacation. Julia and Wally are excited about going fishing! I'm excited about the hot tub and hanging out with my mom.
I will have to upload our Halloween pics and post them later.
I was really proud of Aiden because he said "thank you" and "bye bye" to almost everyone who gave him candy. Until recently, he's gotten shy around strangers and wouldn't say anything.
People loved Julia's costume. She looked so cute. She had her Gryffindor robe and tie and her wand. And Lexie wore black and orange Halloween sleeper that said "boo"on it and had a little tail coming out of the back. She slept the first half and I carried her the rest of the night. She wasn't fussy at all, just looking all around.
Speaking of fussiness, Lexie does have colic. The dr basically just said I need to find out what calms her because every colicky baby is different....and they usually outgrow the colic by 3 months. I hope so because it's so hard and frustrating when she cries, and I don't know how to help her. I don't want her to be in pain. I'm trying an herbal remedy the dr suggested called gripe water. We'll see how it works.
It's also hard because about 90% of the time, she'll only calm down for me. Poor Wally, sometimes she just screams no matter what he does. I'm hopeful that she outgrows this "mommy only" phase soon....there are so many times that Wally's not here to help...and right now he is, but Lexie won't let him!
We're looking forward to Thanksgiving break and our trip to the cabin with my parents later this month. It will be a nice break and a fun vacation. Julia and Wally are excited about going fishing! I'm excited about the hot tub and hanging out with my mom.
I will have to upload our Halloween pics and post them later.
October 29, 2007
Mine!
This just happened.
Aiden wanted to hold Julia's necklace, so he was pointing at it and whining. I said, "say 'can I hold it please?'" He continued whining/pointing. I decided to go even more basic, I said "say please." He continued to whine. Julia hates for him to get upset and always gives in...she just handed him the necklace without a word. He took it, looked at her, said "Mine!" and walked away.
I wish I could look at something I wanted, say "Mine!" and it would be given to me with no objection....especially when it comes to shoes and purses!
Aiden wanted to hold Julia's necklace, so he was pointing at it and whining. I said, "say 'can I hold it please?'" He continued whining/pointing. I decided to go even more basic, I said "say please." He continued to whine. Julia hates for him to get upset and always gives in...she just handed him the necklace without a word. He took it, looked at her, said "Mine!" and walked away.
I wish I could look at something I wanted, say "Mine!" and it would be given to me with no objection....especially when it comes to shoes and purses!
October 28, 2007
I can't sleep
I can't sleep because Lexie is up every 2-3 hours around the clock. I can't sleep because I have insomnia. Wally has been out of town since Thursday and I am SO TIRED!!!
Lexie has colic, I think. She is very fussy in the evenings lately. Last week she started crying at 8:30pm exactly almost every night. The past two nights she started earlier. She cries anywhere from half an hour to 4 or 5 hours. It's exhausting and frustrating not to know exactly what's wrong or how to help her feel better. I'm hoping this phase passes quickly.
Aiden, Julia and Wally are all doing great. The kids are enjoying school and Wally is back to work. We had a good time while he was on vacation last month visiting with family, but now we're back to these frequent short trips for work. Blech. I just want him home! When Wally is gone, all Aiden wants to do is follow me around the house. He'll play with Julia, but he also spends a great deal of time at my feet saying "Mama, mama" He's talking so much. He said his first sentence this week! We were in the garage and he didn't want to go inside so he told me "No go-go!" We're still working on animal sounds too, but right now all animals say "woof!"
Lexie looks just like Aiden! It freaks me out. Lately she's been wearing some of the onesies that he wore, the gender neutral ones, and it's like deja vu. She looks exactly what he looked like at this age, she's just smaller than he was!
I have to register for my Spring classes this week. No word yet on where I will be doing my internship. I'll be relieved once I've registered. I've been worried about getting the right sections of the classes I need, I have so few left. My advisor put a hold in my name on two classes for me, or maybe it was just one. I can't remember. I register on Halloween. Until then, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'll have to remember to get back on here later this week to post their Halloween pics. Julia is going as Hermione from the Harry Potter series and Aiden is going to be Spiderman. They both tried on their costumes a couple of weeks ago and they look adorable. Aiden's really going to enjoy it this year.
Happy Halloween!
Lexie has colic, I think. She is very fussy in the evenings lately. Last week she started crying at 8:30pm exactly almost every night. The past two nights she started earlier. She cries anywhere from half an hour to 4 or 5 hours. It's exhausting and frustrating not to know exactly what's wrong or how to help her feel better. I'm hoping this phase passes quickly.
Aiden, Julia and Wally are all doing great. The kids are enjoying school and Wally is back to work. We had a good time while he was on vacation last month visiting with family, but now we're back to these frequent short trips for work. Blech. I just want him home! When Wally is gone, all Aiden wants to do is follow me around the house. He'll play with Julia, but he also spends a great deal of time at my feet saying "Mama, mama" He's talking so much. He said his first sentence this week! We were in the garage and he didn't want to go inside so he told me "No go-go!" We're still working on animal sounds too, but right now all animals say "woof!"
Lexie looks just like Aiden! It freaks me out. Lately she's been wearing some of the onesies that he wore, the gender neutral ones, and it's like deja vu. She looks exactly what he looked like at this age, she's just smaller than he was!
I have to register for my Spring classes this week. No word yet on where I will be doing my internship. I'll be relieved once I've registered. I've been worried about getting the right sections of the classes I need, I have so few left. My advisor put a hold in my name on two classes for me, or maybe it was just one. I can't remember. I register on Halloween. Until then, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'll have to remember to get back on here later this week to post their Halloween pics. Julia is going as Hermione from the Harry Potter series and Aiden is going to be Spiderman. They both tried on their costumes a couple of weeks ago and they look adorable. Aiden's really going to enjoy it this year.
Happy Halloween!
October 17, 2007
My son is a manly man
Aiden is very macho all of a sudden, doing all sorts of "boyish" things.
* He now says his version of "vrrooom!" when he plays with toy cars. It sort of sounds like the way he says "woof!" when he sees a dog.
*If his nose is runny and we haven't wiped it yet, no problem, he'll just wipe it on his shirt!
*He's into everything and can open any door in our house (bedroom doors, we had to childproof the ones that lead outside). We also had to install cabinet locks because he will get out snacks, open the package, and smash them into the floor.
*He loves to wrestle and play ball.
*He can destroy a room in ten seconds flat...toys everywhere.
*He pulls the heads off of his sister's Barbie dolls. (not kidding)
*He tried to eat my deodorant today.
Lately he is more of a little boy and less of a baby. :( He is growing up so fast.
Who can resist a face like this???
* He now says his version of "vrrooom!" when he plays with toy cars. It sort of sounds like the way he says "woof!" when he sees a dog.
*If his nose is runny and we haven't wiped it yet, no problem, he'll just wipe it on his shirt!
*He's into everything and can open any door in our house (bedroom doors, we had to childproof the ones that lead outside). We also had to install cabinet locks because he will get out snacks, open the package, and smash them into the floor.
*He loves to wrestle and play ball.
*He can destroy a room in ten seconds flat...toys everywhere.
*He pulls the heads off of his sister's Barbie dolls. (not kidding)
*He tried to eat my deodorant today.
Lately he is more of a little boy and less of a baby. :( He is growing up so fast.
Who can resist a face like this???
October 16, 2007
A New Routine
Wally went back to work October 1st. It's been challenging, but I am figuring things out as I go. Sometimes Lexie cooperates and sometimes she makes it much more difficult! I keep telling myself it will get easier as she grows and gets on more of a consistent schedule.
Last week Wally went out of town overnight for the first time since Lexie was born. Tomorrow he is leaving again and the kids and I are going to visit my parents for the weekend so we won't see him again until Saturday evening. I'm nervous to have them by myself for that long! But it was going to happen sooner or later... I need to learn how to get by on my own with the three of them.
The kids are all doing really well. Aiden is talking more everyday...he now says "thank you" very clearly. He still calls Julia "Ya ya" It's very cute. He also says "go go" when he wants to go somewhere. Any mention of the van or going on a w-a-l-k (we have to spell it) and he runs to the door, clapping his hands and yelling "go go! go go!" He cracks us up.
Julia continues to enjoy Kindergarten....she came home the other day talking about Vincent Van Gogh. Then over the weekend she and I stopped at a garage sale and she was thrilled to discover a huge hardcover book of Van Gogh's work. It was only $1 so I bought it for her. She's taking it to school tomorrow to show her art teacher.
Lexie went to the doctor last Friday for her one month checkup....she weighed 9 lbs 9 oz! That means she gained over 2.5 lbs since she was born. She still seems very small to us though. She still doesn't fit in the majority of her clothes...she mostly wears preemie sized onesies and pants right now.
A few weeks ago we went to Sea World and Epcot. We had a really great time on our first vacation as a family of five! The kids loved the animals at Sea World and the rides at Epcot.
Enjoy some recent pics...talk to you all later.
Last week Wally went out of town overnight for the first time since Lexie was born. Tomorrow he is leaving again and the kids and I are going to visit my parents for the weekend so we won't see him again until Saturday evening. I'm nervous to have them by myself for that long! But it was going to happen sooner or later... I need to learn how to get by on my own with the three of them.
The kids are all doing really well. Aiden is talking more everyday...he now says "thank you" very clearly. He still calls Julia "Ya ya" It's very cute. He also says "go go" when he wants to go somewhere. Any mention of the van or going on a w-a-l-k (we have to spell it) and he runs to the door, clapping his hands and yelling "go go! go go!" He cracks us up.
Julia continues to enjoy Kindergarten....she came home the other day talking about Vincent Van Gogh. Then over the weekend she and I stopped at a garage sale and she was thrilled to discover a huge hardcover book of Van Gogh's work. It was only $1 so I bought it for her. She's taking it to school tomorrow to show her art teacher.
Lexie went to the doctor last Friday for her one month checkup....she weighed 9 lbs 9 oz! That means she gained over 2.5 lbs since she was born. She still seems very small to us though. She still doesn't fit in the majority of her clothes...she mostly wears preemie sized onesies and pants right now.
A few weeks ago we went to Sea World and Epcot. We had a really great time on our first vacation as a family of five! The kids loved the animals at Sea World and the rides at Epcot.
Enjoy some recent pics...talk to you all later.
September 25, 2007
Lexie is here!
We are so excited to announce that our daughter Alexis Cassidy Smith was born on September 10th. She is beautiful...we feel so lucky to have three amazing children. Julia and Aiden are very happy to have a sister...they are so loving and sweet with her. Wally was able to take some time off of work so it's been great to have him at home. He's been able to help out with the kids more, and I've been able to get some rest since coming home from the hospital. He goes back to work next week and then I'll be on my own taking the kids to school in the mornings, but I'll manage.
Julia loves Kindergarten! She has adjusted really well to her new routine. Her favorite class is P.E. She is making a lot of new friends, and we're so proud of what a big girl she has become in just a few short weeks!
Aiden is a happy little boy and talking up a storm! He started calling Julia "Ya ya" which is just so cute! They play really well together. He looks more like Wally everyday. When we're out , sometimes total strangers will stop us and comment on how much Aiden resembles his daddy. I imagine he'll be taller than me before he starts middle school!
We recently found out that our time here in Melbourne is being extended until late next summer. We don't know where Wally's next job will be at this point, but we are happy that we'll be in this area for another year. It gives me a chance to finish my degree, and Julia will be able to finish the school year with her Kindergarten class. I really didn't want her to have to move in the middle of the school year.
Julia loves Kindergarten! She has adjusted really well to her new routine. Her favorite class is P.E. She is making a lot of new friends, and we're so proud of what a big girl she has become in just a few short weeks!
Aiden is a happy little boy and talking up a storm! He started calling Julia "Ya ya" which is just so cute! They play really well together. He looks more like Wally everyday. When we're out , sometimes total strangers will stop us and comment on how much Aiden resembles his daddy. I imagine he'll be taller than me before he starts middle school!
We recently found out that our time here in Melbourne is being extended until late next summer. We don't know where Wally's next job will be at this point, but we are happy that we'll be in this area for another year. It gives me a chance to finish my degree, and Julia will be able to finish the school year with her Kindergarten class. I really didn't want her to have to move in the middle of the school year.
September 3, 2007
Ready for baby
We are getting excited waiting for Lexie to arrive. Julia started Kindergarten last week and we are settling into a new routine. It's a whole new world to have to get up and get the two kids ready at 6:30 am to get her to school on time! Soon I'll have three kids to get ready in the morning. Wally has PT five days a week now so I'm on my own... :(
Aiden is doing really well, growing so fast lately. His favorite word lately is "no" He says mama and dada, sissy, Paris (our dog, for those who don't know), all done, uh-oh, yeah, no, yay, hot, and just in the past week or so he has started saying "thank you." But when he says it it just sounds like "da ca" ....you really have to listen for it to be able to make it out. He's also really into brushing his teeth lately and bringing everyone their shoes. If you say it's time to go somewhere, he immediately goes to the door and gets everyone's shoes, one pair at a time, and brings them to you. And he knows which pair belong to each of us!
Our new living room furniture arrived yesterday so that was exciting. Wally really wanted his new recliner in time for football season so he is a happy man.
I'm so ready for the baby to be born. Lexie is clearly out of room in my belly; I'm getting extremely uncomfortable. My back has given me a lot of problems this pregnancy, and it's very hard to walk longer distances now. It's hard to go grocery shopping without Wally.
So I'm going to attempt to update at least weekly. We'll see how that works out once we have three kids! lol
Aiden is doing really well, growing so fast lately. His favorite word lately is "no" He says mama and dada, sissy, Paris (our dog, for those who don't know), all done, uh-oh, yeah, no, yay, hot, and just in the past week or so he has started saying "thank you." But when he says it it just sounds like "da ca" ....you really have to listen for it to be able to make it out. He's also really into brushing his teeth lately and bringing everyone their shoes. If you say it's time to go somewhere, he immediately goes to the door and gets everyone's shoes, one pair at a time, and brings them to you. And he knows which pair belong to each of us!
Our new living room furniture arrived yesterday so that was exciting. Wally really wanted his new recliner in time for football season so he is a happy man.
I'm so ready for the baby to be born. Lexie is clearly out of room in my belly; I'm getting extremely uncomfortable. My back has given me a lot of problems this pregnancy, and it's very hard to walk longer distances now. It's hard to go grocery shopping without Wally.
So I'm going to attempt to update at least weekly. We'll see how that works out once we have three kids! lol
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