Spring equinox and a supermoon!!

Spring is here!!! It’s been beautiful and sunny, bright. Little buds are popping up everywhere, including many tulips, crocuses and other little greens in our yard. We spend lots of time
Outside. Barefoot! The weather will go back and forth from now till the end of April, but the days are longer, it’s generally warmer and sunnier, and we all feel quite happy and giddy around here.
We had our first prenatal appointment with our midwife, Christine, whom we love! She comes to our home! The kids adore her too, and entertain for her attention. Ella says, “Chrissy, look at my (doll, house, cat, toy, moms tummy, etc...).” Hattie lovingly rubs my neck and arms. Fred joins in, and then goes back to reading as soon as things seem all settled. Collin sits next to me, supporting me, my partner. I take it all in, breathe it in. I’m present in the moment and in disbelief that we will have another little child soon.
Prenatal yoga has been so good. So thought provoking and healing always. Wild and crunchy too, which I desparately need. We leave for Phoenix tomorrow and I can’t wait.
Oh! And Ella got her first book from Great Grandma Smith!!!! She loves it and carries it around with her ever.

Ultrasound at 22 weeks!

MWe got our ultrasound yesterday! Little Bebe is growing very well. Everything looks normal! He or she is very active and was playing peek a boo and dancing to the beat of the music in the room the whole time. He or she seemed to be showing off for Fred and hat and Ella. Hahaha. 

Ella kept saying “oh my gosh!!!” And afterwards said, “that was fun to see the baby.”

Fred got to get out of school for an hour for this and was telling everyone so proudly that “he gets to see the baby on an ultrasound!” He read and pointed out everything he could see and asked a million questions.  He asked me if we could, “PLEASE find out if it’s a boy or girl.” Nope! But he’s super excited to be the one, with his sisters, to look and call out the gender at the birth. 

Hattie stayed close to me, smiling, and commenting over and over that “it’s so exciting!!” 

Collin and I were full of joy and gratitude to experience this together. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

35 years old and good night

The rest of the my bday was awesome. We all just hung out and had a great day. Hattie helped me make a cake and meticulously placed every single strawberry piece, we went shopping at DI, had lunch at in n out and MAN Ella and that giant burger is my favorite thing.   I ended the day by going to a prenatal yoga class that was so good. I loved my cards and notes.  I talked to my mom and dad and all three brothers. Very good day.

35

I had some of the best sleep in a while because I wasn’t woken up at all In the night by the kids! We woke up on time—another miracle since daylight savings time Sunday—and Collin had a 35th birthday surprise waiting for me!!! Hattie woke and immediately said, while rubbing sleepy eyes, “happy birthday, mama.” The other two kids got up and joined us. There was music playing, collin was cooking; it was a fun, lovely, happy morning. We ate and read scriptures. It had been snowing since last night! As the sky got lighter, it wasn’t stopping.  Fred got ready for school, then he and Hattie bundled up to play in the snow together while collin scraped the snow and ice from his car and Ella and I snuggled in a blanket in the doorway, watching. There were lots of hugs and kisses and then Collin took Fred to school. We’ve had 5-6 inches by now. It’s lovely!! But we are hoping the snow won’t kill our tulip, crocus and other buds that have been poking up in the past week of warm sunny weather!!!

Pregnancy with Babe 4

I haven’t written on here in a very long time, but I’ve been wanting to record some things with this pregnancy. I just reread the birth stories of my 3 children and feel so grateful and am looking forward to this upcoming birth.
It’s March 10, 2019, and I’m 20.5 weeks along. We have not yet hired a midwife. The midwife we had for our last birth, Jessica, is unavailable this summer, and we have interviewed several midwives and birth centers and have not felt the right fit with anyone quite yet. Though we are kept very busy at this time in our lives, we are constantly aware and thinking of this new little one coming to us. I do prenatal yoga and exercises at home with the girls 3-4 times a week, and Collin and I have been taking a Hypnobirthing class again, practicing and reading every day and night.
Joseph comes over every Thursday night to watch the kids while we are in our class. They LOVE it and have so much fun and go to sleep right away for him when it’s time. He does such a great job and we are SUPER grateful for his ability and willingness.
I have enjoyed meditating and taking time to connect with this babe.
It hasn’t been the smoothest road. Collin and I have experienced a lot of stresses together recently. I’ve been more emotional than ever during this pregnancy, but constantly getting better as we work through things, talk, make goals together, and love each other.
When I had Hattie and Ella, there were no kids in school, no actual commitments besides doctors appointments and library story times. The transition to having 3 kids was so huge, but we were able to stay home for a good 6 months before we were out and about with just the kids and me.
This time, the baby is due end of July to mid August. And then school starts at the end of August.  Fred will be 2nd grade, and Hattie, half day kindergarten! We’ve planned to have collin take Fred and hat in the mornings, and I have a friend with a daughter in Fred’s class and who will have a kindergatener next year as well, who lives pretty close to us. I’ll go get the Kinders at 12:15pm everyday and then the friend will get Fred and bring him home in the afternoons. There will also be piano lessons and let’s play music but it looks like it’s all going to work out. I have faith that it will because we have felt so strongly that we need to have this baby. And we are so excited to. We’ve wanted him or her for some time. I’m hoping to get help from the ward and neighbors in the first few weeks, and then have my mom come for the start of school for two or so weeks to help drive. Then....it’ll just all have to work out. The kids are so extremely excited and proud. They are so sweet with me and understanding.

When we told them, Fred just kept wanting to snuggle me. He will come up to me and snuggle and kiss my belly, so proud. He says, “I really hope it’s a brother, but I know it’ll be a girl.” I answer that it’s a 50/50 chance of having a boy or a girl. He says, “no, it’s a 50/40 chance,” (50% girl; 40% boy. 😂💕) He snuggles my belly and talks to the baby every night.
The other day I did the BEST pregnatal yoga stretches and Hattie massaged me the whole time! My legs, back, arms, neck. Very lightly, SO gentle and sweetly. She's so sweet. Ella tried to beat me up half the time so it all balances out. 😂🤪
Ella loves the baby too though. She is convinced the he or she is inside one of my breasts. She says, “baby going to come out and sit by me.” My milk has been gone since about 4-5 weeks ago and she hasn’t nursed in 3 weeks. She’s asked but I always change the subject because it’s too irritating right now. She’s usually fine to go get a snack together instead, but there has been once or twice where she’s just laid her head in my lap and sobbed. I love her so much. I would love to have her start again when the baby comes, but I’m wondering if she’ll forget how. It’ll all work out.
Each of the kids will be amazing siblings to this new one. I can’t wait to see them altogether.
I’ll start pregnatal yoga wth Alicia at Utah prenanttal yoga next week, and I can’t wait.
Next week I turn 35! I love being pregnant on my bday. It feel so special. I remember all the bdays I've been pregnant. Every one except Hattie, whom I got pregnant with ON my bday. (Or right about).
My 27th with Fred in DC. My mom and Joseph came out to visit on spring break. We went to mount Vernon and an Irish pub. Friends came over for cake. We had been trying to get pregnant with Hattie for a while and after March at turning 30, found out right on general conference Saturday that we were expecting her! With Ella, at our home on Capitol Hill, i turned 32, and we had a party with all the Nesbit family in Utah. It was so fun and after everyone left just the 4 smiths climbed the Capitol steps for a night time view of Salt Lake City.
I’ve been going to bed pretty early most nights. I feel very well. I get good sleep off and on depending on the kids and how they sleep usually. Some mornings I wake early and can’t fall back asleep like this morning. It’s quiet and a nice time to think. I have been reading the Book of Mormon again, this time paying attention to the parenting. This was the idea of Elder Ballard, who came and spoke to the young married couples in our stake recently. It’s been great. Fred and I also love to read a scripture about baptism almost every morning, in preparation for his own baptism. He simply cannot wait to be baptized. Collin and I try to study come follow me every morning and have been making efforts to study as a family too. There are great resources in this very inspired program. I feel very blessed and am trying to keep on top of it all.

Good morning.