Mrs. Smith » mother moment

So far this week…

Mrs. Smith — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:22:45 +0000

We love Temple Square!

I love the feeling there, even when the kids are a little squirrely, and even when the toddler wouldn’t leave the reflection pool alone.

With it being a beautiful Monday evening, I expected to see more families. The place was practically empty! I guess the crowds only show up for Family Night when the Christmas lights are up. Personally, I like it better there in the spring/summer, and we enjoyed a perfect, windy evening there. We almost didn’t go, but I’m glad we did. The exhibits are wonderful and the grounds are beautiful. If my camera batteries weren’t aaaaaaalmost dead that night, I would’ve taken 100 pictures.

It’s one place I know I’ll get comments about our large, young family — Nice, happy comments about what a lovely family & how lucky blessed we are, and not as many of the heads shaking, “I’m glad it’s …

Hugs

Mrs. Smith — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:08:02 +0000

…

Two Weeks’ Worth

Mrs. Smith — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:29:50 +0000

It’s been a pretty exciting two weeks.

2 weeks ago tomorrow

Baby G was born. Beautiful delivery. Favorite quote from the midwives who were there, after it was over:
“You really didn’t need us.”

Yep. I agree. Glad they were there anyway, and grateful (so grateful!) that they read my mind in terms of their involvement. After the initial monitoring and the barbaric waking of the baby with a loud buzzer on my tummy (Oh look! Now that he’s awake his heart rate looks wonderful. Go figure! Sorry, baby - I would be trying to sleep through labor if I were you, too.) they left me alone and let me do my own thing. It was exactly what I wanted.

My favorite: During that initial monitoring — the one where the stuff is strapped around your tummy — the nurse in L&D let me undo the obnoxicity that is an elastic-strap-around-a-contracting-uterus …

Family

Mrs. Smith — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 04:33:25 +0000

(Stuff highlighted like this is from Sis. Beck’s article found here.)

This morning I thought over and over again of how grateful I am for our little Smithlings, for our happy marriage, and our family in general. It’s (sadly) not necessarily every day that I feel those kinds of warm-fuzzies or think those kinds of happy thoughts, but they were on my mind today.

Parents, teachers, and leaders of youth need to teach the rising generation the doctrine of the family. It is essential to help them achieve eternal life (see Moses 1:39). They need to know that the theology of the family is based on the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. They need to understand the threats to the family so they will know what they are fighting against and can prepare. They need to understand clearly that the fulness of the gospel is realized in …

Ah-two!

Mrs. Smith — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:37:45 +0000

Two. What a marvelous age!

This little monkey man is at the stage most would call “handful.”

How’s that?

Well, let’s just say I discovered this week that he has the amazing ability to turn a bottle of glue into a 35-ft trail across the house… in all of about 30 seconds. Maybe he needed the trail to find his way back to the sink. Maybe he was just trying to make it obvious that I really do live in a Family Circus cartoon.

Happily, I also discovered glue cleans up pretty quickly, even off couches. Thank goodness for small miracles!

The little monkey stinker boy figured out how to climb out of the crib about… oh, 3 months ago, maybe. This was bad news for bedtime, but good news for Freedom who had definitely outgrown the bassinet.

My first two kids made the transition out of a crib pretty …

Most Days

Mrs. Smith — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:43:50 +0000

I’ve been pondering motherhood a great deal lately, and specifically wondering how to make mothering my “element.” I am convinced it is within my reach, and furthermore, I am also convinced that there are solid, God-given principles in place here that could help *all* mothers feel energized by this high and holy calling.

I mean, really.

Wouldn’t it be amazing? To find parenting supplying you with more energy, more love, more joy? I know I’m not the only one who (cough, cough) might possibly not quite feel that way. Yet.

I guess I should let you know that I don’t have my head completely in the sand here. It goes w/o saying that not every blessed moment is going to feel inspiring. Duh. That is simply not real life. At least, not in this sphere.

There are moments of messyness that are simple not transcendent acts of beauty; there …

Compassion

Mrs. Smith — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:53:56 +0000

I love ah-ha moments. Wish they came more often. In writing “Part Four: Show Time!” (about F’s delivery) I reminded myself of a sweet little moment that happened a few weeks before Freedom was born. Then I wrote a few lines and never came back to it. Well, here it is, finally fleshed out into the post it deserves.

Once upon a Sunday…

An adorable 12-year-old (who would probably die if he knew someone called him adorable) was passing the Sacrament for the first time that day, and I happened to be sitting in his line of duty.

I have long since forgotten exactly what happened (and come to think of it, I’ve forgotten which new, adorable Deacon it was!) but that new adorable Deacon made some silly mistake, some noticeable breach of “protocol,” in passing the Sacrament to me.

My heart went out to him in complete and …

First Date

Mrs. Smith — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:56:29 +0000

It’s been a long time since I’ve gone on a first date. It’s taken me quite a while to get the courage to ask him out. Can’t blame me for wanting to, though.

He’s…

And most of all –

I wanted to make a good impression, so I took him somewhere super special.

On the way there I tried making small talk.

“So. What’s your favorite thing to do?”

The quick reply came,

“Spend time with you.”

Wow! What a great conversationalist!

We went to see a play I thought he’d enjoy.

When we got there, he went around the car and opened the door for me. Someone sure raised him well, I tell you what. I think he might have been a little excited, because he smacked the car next to us when he opened his door. Oops. No damage done, thank goodness!

He held my hand on the …

Our Brave Boy

Mrs. Smith — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:36:31 +0000

So we’re on day three of the binky weaning. It’s been much easier than I thought – but not totally without a great deal of sadness, naturally. A concerned loved one asked me if he really understood what happened and why he couldn’t have it any more, if he really “gets it.” A good question. He is only 2.

Without a doubt, he understood that his baby brother was sad and wanted a binky. Without a doubt he knew that the one in his own mouth was the only one available.

I will even go so far as to say he knew he wouldn’t get one again. I’ve never had a child sacrifice like this for a sibling. It still amazes me.

But – come to think of it – we haven’t talked about it; he hasn’t asked for it and I haven’t brought it up.

As so, to satisfy …

Well, that was unexpected!

Mrs. Smith — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:07:17 +0000

Setting: Bedtime. Past bedtime, really.
4 and ~6 year olds: Asleep.
Baby: Crying.
Toddler: In his crib, talking to himself.

Binkies: Almost all M.I.A. Only one — you read that right, ONE — located.

One binky. Two binky-lovers. Most nights the 2y.o. thinks he needs twoof them to get to sleep, actually, as ALL binkies are HIS binkies, but lately he’s been willing to nap with just one.

Great.

Binky: with the toddler.
Baby: still crying, presumably from binky-withdrawals.

Totally vintage. Totally special. And new to Eagle, which was the important part. Maybe it’ll work.

Holding it concealed in my hand, I went back to his crib.

“Guess what, Eagle. I found something for you!”
<a little grin began to replace the frowny eyebrows>
“This is a special little dude, just for you.”
<bigger grin>

And he spent the next hour snuggling and talking …