Bauer's almost ONE!!!

I can't believe it. Really, I can't. I still remember how it felt to be anticipating his arrival. I still remember being in labor for such a ridiculously long time. I still remember the pain of delivery almost like it was yesterday. A YEAR AGO??? It's amazing. And I have such a sweet baby boy, that I've been able to cuddle and kiss and watch grow up for an entire year! Thank you, Jesus!

I think I'm more excited for Bauer's birthday than he is. Is this what every birthday will be like? It takes everything in me to not give him all his presents immediately, I'm counting down the days until his little family party, and I've had the whole thing planned for months!

Bauer's grown into such a big boy. And so tender-hearted! I know he gets that from his dad. I tell Tim often how thankful I am that Tim is Bauer's example of a man. I pray constantly that Bauer will learn Tim's soft heart, gentle spirit, and love for other people. He's showing signs of it already. Often, when I'm sitting on the couch, B will walk up to me and put his head on my knee, just for a little cuddle. Or he'll just lean in and give me a kiss for no reason. It melts my heart. He's sweet to his stuffed animals too...gives them kisses and hugs them. Of course, then he throws them across the room, but I'm sure it's done in love...

We officially have a "walker!" He started taking steps around 10.5-11 months but didn't really start walking until last week or so. He's so determined too! No matter how often he falls down, he gets back up and bravely keeps going. He LOVES to walk from the house to the car, where his big-boy carseat now waits for him. He follows Mommy everywhere, which is adorable...although I might have stepped on him once or twice. He's also very curious. I've caught him splashing in the toilet more than once (a clean toilet at least!), and he is constantly trying to figure out the buckles on his stroller, carseat, and highchair. He loves to spin the toilet paper rolls and opens every drawer and door that he can reach. Baby proofing time, anyone? Ha!

Things have been busy for Mommy too. I've recently launched my photography website (check it out here) I'm so excited to see where God will take this new adventure and it's been so fun to feel creative and enjoy a hobby!

I decided to actually decorate our home for fall this year, and am loving it. We're usually such Christmas people (we put our tree up at the beginning of November!) that I end up skipping fall altogether. But I LOVE fall....pumpkin spice coffee, and cinnamon cider candles, and dorky little scarecrow men wishing me "Happy Harvest." I can't wait until the weather catches up to the season!

Things are pretty happy around the Smith home lately...we're counting our blessings and thanking God for our favorite little one year old. Happy (almost) birthday Bauer!!

Updates!!!

I have no excuse. It has been almost 8 months since I have updated my blog!! I actually don't even know how that happened...time has been such a blur since I last posted. Here are the big things you've missed:

~ Bauer's first Christmas was awesome. We spent Christmas day with Tim's family and then drove to Arkansas to be with my family at my grandparents house. It was a 21 hour drive and Bauer actually did a great job in the car. He was very patient for such a little guy! More patient than his dad and I...






~Bauer got his first two teeth in February at 4 months old. He drooled constantly for a month and a half before they actually popped through, and hardly fussed. He is currently up to 7 teeth, with 2 more "buds" in sight!



~ We moved from Gilbert, AZ to Phoenix (Ahwatukee area) in March. It has been a great move for us although it was sad to leave our first home. But our new home has been such a blessing...a backyard facing South Mountain, no stairs, and a fireplace are perks that have made it extra special for us.

~ In May we visited my family in South Carolina, which was so much fun. It was Bauer's first plane trip. I was of course very nervous, but he traveled like a pro. We drove to Florida to my mom's beach condo for a few days and got to visit Universal Studios. We missed the Harry Potter ride by only a few weeks! :( Bauer had a great time at the park though- especially on the Cat in the Hat ride. It really is so much more fun to visit those places with your child...watching him enjoy it all- even at only 7 months old- is so incredible. We love that kid. :)



~ Bauer has gotten so big! He is still a happy baby, and it's so much fun to learn more and more about his personality. He absolutely loves to eat, and so far will eat just about anything we give him. His favorite "real foods" now are cheerios, goldfish, cheese, and yogurt. He refuses to drink water in anything but a glass or water bottle "like a big boy." He is crawling everywhere, pulls himself up on anything he can (even the toilet....gross) and loves to laugh. He gives adorable open-mouthed kisses, but is pretty picky about when he'll give them. Other than Mommy, his little friend Aiden is the only one lucky enough to receive one so far! He says Mama and Dada now and will even yell at us directly if he gets REALLY mad! His other favorite sounds are growling and squealing, and he can be very loud if he wants to be!



All in all, we are very content and blessed in our lives right now. God has been faithful to provide our needs and we are so thankful. :)

Bauer Mark Smith

It is almost exactly two months since my last post, and life has changed so drastically I don't know where to begin!!

First, our beautiful son Bauer was born on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 12:10am. He was 8lbs, 8oz and 21 inches long. I laugh when I re-read my last post, because I was so sure he would come that day. But, he definitely wanted to make me work for it!! After having contractions ranging from 3-15 minutes apart for 26 hours straight, I finally called my doctor Wednesday morning to ask what to do. I definitely wasn't getting any sleep and knew I was in labor, but was frustrated because my contractions weren't consistent enough to go to the hospital. She encouraged me to go on in, if only to get something that would help me sleep through some contractions. But when Tim and I got there around 8:30am and the nurse checked me, I was already 4cm dilated and 90% effaced...I wasn't going anywhere! At least all those hours of contractions were doing something!! :) After a LOOONG day of walking circles in the maternity wing, eating only one bowl of soup and a couple pudding cups, not actually getting into a room until 4pm, pushing for a miserable hour and a half, and having an episiotomy, Bauer Mark Smith made his grand entrance into this world! 46 hours after labor began, I was finally holding my son.



What a surreal thing it is to be a Mommy. Bauer will be two months old tomorrow and I still sometimes just stare at him, in awe that he is really my own. God created such a perfect little boy and just handed him to Tim and me to enjoy...what an incredible blessing! The past two months have been so fun and Bauer is growing into such a big boy! He is over 12 lbs now, smiles alot (he has the most adorable smile, by the way) and loves to talk and coo at his Daddy and Mommy. He is fascinated by colors and lights and loves music. If he is fussy, the minute I start singing "You are my Sunshine" he will get completely still and just calmly listen. Needless to say, that's made me tear up more than once! Bauer has always been very strong- something I noticed when he was still in my tummy- and has been holding his head up and trying to roll over since he was only 3.5 weeks old. Mostly though, he is just a sweet, sweet little love bug- loves to cuddle and be held. I can't get enough of my little lovey boy!!



One of the most precious things about having Bauer here, I think, is watching Tim be a Daddy. There is nothing so wonderful as seeing your husband loving his new son- changing his diapers, comforting him, making him smile, and whispering "I love yous." Who knew diaper-changing could be sexy?! Haha. Tim has become so confident and strong with Bauer and it is obvious how much Bauer adores his Daddy. I love my boys!!



So now, we're adjusting to our new life. I am working again- just Mondays and Thursdays- and leaving Bauer with Tim on those days. Bauer is on a good schedule- still eats a LOT (which can be a challenge for me since he is only eating breastmilk at this point) and has been sleeping about 6-7 hours straight since he was 4 weeks old. We are so excited to celebrate his first Christmas in a few weeks and can't wait to spend the holidays with our families. We are so blessed to be at such a precious and wonderful time of life, and are trying to enjoy every minute as it flies by. Praise the Lord!

Waiting, waiting...

I woke up this morning at about 4:45am with regular and painful contractions. After about 3 and a half hours, they have stayed consistent at 7-10 minutes apart. Today- October 6, 2009- could possibly be the day I finally get to hold my little guy in my arms for the first time!!

We are so ready and so excited to meet our little man, and can't believe God's goodness and faithfulness in sustaining and orchestrating this pregnancy. He has created a new life for His glory and I pray that Tim and I will be faithful in being parents who will teach Bauer the joy and excitement of loving Christ with your whole life! Praise God for creating this little miracle!

We will definitely try to update everyone as soon as Bauer makes his first appearance in this world and appreciate every prayer you want to send our way. Now, if we can just get him here....


"Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonderful things..." ~Psalm 98:1

Almost time...

I have been putting off blogging for WAY too long! But here I sit- 38 weeks pregnant, listening to my hubby play guitar, and feeling awake and coherent enough to actually write something. So I'm going to take advantage of it!

So many words can describe life lately for the Smith family- fun, exhausting, busy, exciting, hopeful, giggly, anxious, precious, happy, and thankful. Our little guy Bauer is growing and healthy, and LOVES rolling around! I think he is just trying to show off his amazing strength, which seems to increase by the day. He's even woken his Daddy up during the night a few times just by kicking him really hard in the back! It's already been so fun to watch his little personality developing...and his attachment to Tim. Recently he has really been responding to Tim's touch. Anytime Tim puts his hand on my belly, it's as though Bauer realizes its Dad and starts trying to perform! He's constantly pushing his little butt up under Tim's hand, and they both just LOVE to get him all riled up so that I can't have a moments peace! It's so precious though...especially to see the smile on Tim's face when they play. I love my boys!

I am now 38 weeks pregnant and feeling very ready to have this baby! The doctor says everything looks healthy- good weight gain, healthy baby, good blood pressure and sugar levels, and no concerns about his birth. Praise the Lord!! I have definitely been having some contractions and as of two weeks ago was already dilated to 1cm and 50% effaced, so the process has begun! I'm so excited to finally see Bauer's little face, kiss his nose, smell his head, and count all his little fingers and toes...and that excitement helps make all the pregnancy aches and pains well worth it. Not to mention the anticipation of my swollen feet and ankles returning to normal size, being able to get in and out of bed without help, my groin and back pain healing, and not constantly having to pee! Haha. Yes, we are very ready and excited for Bauer to make his grand entrance!

It's amazing and overwhelming to think that we're about to become parents. Three years ago today, Tim proposed to me and we officially started planning our life together. We never would have imagined all the wonderful blessings God had in store for our first three years. He has truly knitted together a family and continues to do "exceedingly and abundantly beyond all we could ask or think." Just a few more days of life as we've known it. Just a few more days of a family of two. Just a few more days until our lives change forever, and we can't wait....

Hurry up, little buddy. We already love you so much...

67 days...

Well, our "Bauer Countdown" is officially at 67 days to go! Tim and I have been so excited to watch each day bring us closer to October 13....and we've definitely been keeping ourselves busy! We have been organization maniacs every weekend for the past few months and, after our yard sale last weekend, we were officially ready to start working on Bauer's room. My sweet grandparents sent us some money a few months ago to buy his furniture and Tim worked hard to put everything together and get the room painted in just 3 days!



Other than some "furniture arranging" bossiness from his wife, Tim did all of the work and we both LOVE the way it has turned out! It is so amazing to see how God has already provided so much for us...when we first found out we were pregnant, we had no idea how we'd even afford a used crib, let alone a whole nursery full of furniture! We are constantly overwhelmed by the generosity of the people God has placed in our lives.





Bauer has been growing so much lately...and he has gotten so strong- kicking and rolling constantly. I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching my belly dance, and as much as I want to finally hold my little boy in my arms, I know I'll miss that feeling. We had our last scheduled ultrasound today. It was supposed to be the exciting "3D/See the Baby's Face" one we've been looking forward to, but I should have known that our little guy would be WAY too stubborn to preform for any camera! Haha. Every time I've tried to capture his belly dancing on video or even let someone other than Tim feel him move, it's like that kid purposely starts holding his breath and stops any form of movement! So of course he knew how badly we wanted to see his sweet little face this morning and refused to turn toward the camera. His face was completely buried in my back. At least he was comfortable! Haha. But- most importantly- the doctor did say that he is continuing to look very healthy and is actually measuring about 5 days early at this point. What a happy answer to prayer!

Pregnancy continues to be an adventure. Now that I'm beyond the 30 week mark, I'm really starting to feel the typical aches and pains of pregnancy. Heartburn, back spasms, a constant urge to pee, and swollen feet have become a daily occurance. Oh what fun! I have had some trouble with my blood sugar levels and- even though I did pass my second glucose test- I am still borderline diabetic. I am not terribly surprised though, because I have had the worst sweet tooth of my life in the past 2 months or so, and I should have known that a regular diet of Oreos and Fruit Loops would catch up to me sometime! Haha.

With everything that has happened, time has flown by and I can't believe we're almost in a single digit weekly countdown. We cannot wait to meet our son!! I am going to try to keep updating the blog as much as possible, especially because I know there are so many sweet moments ahead for our little Smith family...thank You, Jesus!!

It's A...

...BOY!!! 

Well, Biscuit officially "told" us 2 weeks ago that he will be our first SON! Tim and I are so excited to be having a little boy and even with his skeletal little face we think he'll be adorable!! :) We decided to name him Bauer Mark Smith. Bauer just because we liked the name and Mark after my dad. God continues to bless us abundantly!

Things have been great for the Smith family lately. I'm getting bigger by the day (which of course means Bauer is too :) and finally feeling good consistently. Our little guy is already really active. I felt his first little kicks around 13 weeks, Tim felt a nice big kick at 15 weeks, and he has been moving constantly ever since!! I have a feeling he will keep us entertained to say the least! Ha! At his ultrasound, the doctor said all of his vital organs are developing well, and he shows no signs of any problems, praise God! She also said he is measuring exactly on his due date at this point, so we'll see when he decides to grace us with his presence. I can't wait for that day!

The day Tim and I found out that he was definitely a little boy, we got to spend a wonderful evening together to celebrate. Tim had done some work for a friend and been given a gift card to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, so we decided to eat there. It tasted absolutely AMAZING and it was so fun to get dressed up and have a date together to just be excited and daydream about little Bauer. We already feel so blessed that God picked us to be his parents! We can't wait until we get to see him again in a few weeks on that tv screen, and then in just a few months face to face!!

I don't want to sound like I'm trying to be "annoyingly spiritual" or anything, but I can't help but think lately about the parallels between the process of growing a baby and life in Christ. Just as God planted a little egg inside my womb and started a new life, He put His Holy Spirit inside my heart so many years ago and my life was made completely new. Then began a long process of growing and changing- for Bauer and for me- which was not always easy. And just like a baby's birth comes at such a painful cost to his mom,  so also my new life in Christ came at the most painful cost to Himself. But the best part- that wonderful, blessed, amazing day- when we meet each other face to face...that day makes the high cost SO worth it. And I have a feeling that both of those days will be filled with tears of joy!  A friend of mine recently posted this on her facebook page and I LOVED the thought: 

"What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see. To look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace. When He takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land, what a day- glorious day- that will be!"

Needless to say, I am counting down the days until I get to see my son's precious little face. And I can't help but think that maybe God is doing the same thing as He waits for me to join Him one day.

 ...and what a glorious day that will be!