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.

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.

SPRING TIME Waldorf blessings

In our Winter garden, seeds lie warm below,
flowers are waiting, waiting, waiting
for the Spring to show



Where are the froggies when the north winds blow?
We cannot see them in the ice and snow.
Deep, deep down in the mud they lie,
froggies sleeping with tight-closed eyes.
When the warm spring sun comes out,
froggies wake and jump about.
Oh, how happy they will be,
a springtime world they will see.

Where are the turtles when the north winds blow?
We cannot see them in the ice and snow.
Deep, deep down in the mud they lie,
turtles sleeping with tight-closed eyes.
When the warm spring sun comes out,
turtles wake and crawl about.
Oh, how happy they will be,
a springtime world they will see.

Where are the bears when the north winds blow?
We cannot see them in the ice and snow.
Deep, deep down in a cave they lie,
baby bears sleeping with tight-closed eyes.
When the warm spring sun comes out,
bear cubs wake and run about.
Oh, how happy they will be,
a springtime world they will see.

Where are the squirrels when the north winds blow?
We cannot see them in the ice and snow.
Cracking nuts in a hollow tree,
squirrels are cozy as cozy can be.
When the warm spring sun comes out,
squirrels wake and jump about.
Oh, how happy they will be,
a springtime world they will see.



King Winter be gone,
then soon cometh the spring!
The ice is a breaking,
the flowers awakening,
and green groweth each thing!
King Winter be gone,
then your rule put away,
the birds one and all,
now with jubilant call,
now bring tidings of May!



Winter goodbye, winter goodbye.
You may no longer stay.
Springtime is on its way.
Winter goodbye, winter goodbye.



A little seed for me to sow.
A little earth to make it grow.
A little hole, a little pat,
a little wish, and that is that.
A little sun, a little shower,
a little while, and then a flower.



I can't see the wind, but the wind can see me.
It follows me dancing across Lanternlea.
It blows round my ankles, it puffs through my hair,
it tangles me up 'till I do not know where,
or whither or thither or why I'm this way.
The way of the wind on a merry March day.



Splish, splash, splish, splash
here's how we walk in the rain.
Splish, splash, splish, splash
here¹s how we walk in the rain.
And splash -we run through the puddles.
And splosh - we skip in the rain.
And splish - we turn round the corner
until we come home again!



This is a house for a robin
(make a nest with hands)
This is a hive for a bee
(two fists together to make a hive)
This is a hole for a bunny
(thumbs and pointers on both hands to make hole)
And this is a house for me!
(Arms and hands form roof overhead)


Little brown seeds so small and round,
Are sleeping quietly under ground.
Down come the raindrops
sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle.
Out comes the rainbow,
twinkle, twinkle, twinkle.
Little brown seeds way down below,
Up through the earth they grow, grow, grow.
Little green leaves come one by one.
They hold up their heads and look at the sun.



Let us go back home,
and wash our hands and face,
brush our hair,
change into a clean shirt, and pants.
Tie your shoes and we are off to go to the fair!

Good Morning, Mistress and Master!
I wish you a happy day!
Please to smell my garland,
'cause it's the first of May.

A branch of May I have brought you,
and at your door I stand;
it is but a sprout, but it's well budded out,
the work of Nature's hand.

A happy Easter and egg hunt!

We started the Eater weekend on Saturday with a fun egg hunt (our first!) for the kids. It was also dada's birthday. The sun was bright and the little blossoms were popping out on all the trees.  A perfect happy day to celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

We filled the eggs and baskets with little dollar store cars and trinkets and crafts and puzzles. It's was so much fun. 

The next day was church on Sunday. Freddie and I sang in the choir and every meeting was filled with the spirit and hope through the Atonement. I love my little Easter dinos!

We all got to wear or new Easter clothes and that was super fun. 

We had a delicious ham dinner with Lulu and Pops and sang songs, talked about passed Easters and shared some of our thoughts on the Savior. We did a fun activity from the Children's Friend Magazine on the symbols and meaning of Easter. 

It was a great happy day.