One

Frederick Ian Smith, you're one! One year ago we were holding you in bed, discovering tar poop and breastfeeding. We were shocked and delighted at the miracle just born into our lives. Your birth had been a beautiful peaceful experience, and set the tone for the joy your life would bring us. I love you. Happy Birthday!

My baby lies next to me, nestled in between Collin and me, lightly breathing. Making that shoo, shoo, shoo sound, so quietly. Collin is completely out. He was exhausted as we read our book, Gone Girl, together. It switches back and forth from the point of view if the man and the woman. I read her and he reads his parts. The whole thing is very startling, so far.
But my baby is sleeping. He is about to become a one year old-next week! It's crazy! I don't dread it because so far every stage is fun and I can't wait for him to start talking etc, but it's still crazy. He'll always be my baby (yes, Mariah) but he will never again be a baby. And never again will we be new parents. One day we will be middle-aged with kidS and they won't know the young us.
I just want to cherish this time. I don't even care that I missed seeing one of my favorite bands tonight because we couldn't bring Fred (we bring him to shows all the time but this was a little different). It was still a good night.
I love my little family. I have big hopes for our future together.

Bleb

My left breast started hurting really badly Thursday night--it felt clogged and would feel better when I nursed on that side so I did often. It continued to hurt all day Saturday and Sunday. massaged, pumped, nursed, let hot water run...etc. it felt like Freddie was biting me. Then last night it surfaced...another bleb! :( its my fourth one ever but I haven't had one for a good 6 or more months. There is this white spot the size of the head of a pin on the tip of my nipple. I guess there was a random small clog of dried milk and I've been working it out. It hurts sooooo badly--it burns and feels like my nipple is being twisted and ripped off. Hurts so much that my toes curl and i can barely stand it when Fred sucks but this is the best way to get rid of it. My other ones went away after a few days so I'll suffer through. Nursing is worth little challenges like this.

babywearing, crafts, love

Friday at Babytime...I want an Ergo very badly. I have a Moby Wrap and that worked so great for us when Frederick was younger and didn't move much. It distributed the weight really well and left me hands-free while I could keep Fred close to me and he didn't have to cry for me to hold him constantly. But as he has gotten bigger, it's harder and harder on my back to wear him in it. The fabric is stretchy so when he moves, it loosens. It can also get hot, but I live in freaking Phoenix and take public transit a lot, so what the heck doesn't? So I totally recommend it for younger babies, but now I'm ready for something more sturdy. I tried on my friends Ergo and it felt like Fred weighed 2 pounds! I walked around super comfortably and Fred seemed to like it.

Blurry photos.....below is baby girl Charlie and Frederick being all boyfriend and girlfriend.

Fred chillin in his high chair.

My mom's bday lunch with her girls. They were all so sweet and cute. I hope I have a group of friends like this when  I'm.....53.... hehe sorry mom, but you look 38.

I love the temple and these ladies. We went as a Young Womens Presidency. It had been a few months for me so I was grateful to go. Then I ran over to Super Saturday for church. It was a huge craft party. I had signed up for 4 crafts and didn't get any of them finished, but I'll have lots of fun stuff to work on in the next month. I also took a toffee making class and am so excited! Let me know if you want Toffee. I'll make you some when it gets cooler. I really will.



While I was out at the temple and crafting and having fun, Collin was hanging with Frederick. I pumped a couple of bottles for him (and by the way, my left breast started hurting like heck two days ago!! not sure why! it feels better when I nurse or pump so I keep doing that...)

BUT so I figured that when I got home we'd clean up the house and then get working on MORE crafts (for Frederick's birthday). When I got home this is what I saw.....

He had cleaned the whole house and gotten all the crafts ready! Man oh man, what a guy!!!!!! During the temple the biggest impression I kept thinking about was that i need to be more patient with my dear dear dear Collin and Frederick (believe it or not, I can get really frustrated and take it out on them, which makes me really sad). There's no reason for me to get mad at them ever, so I'm going to try hard not to....I've already messed up, but I'll keep trying.

So a night of crafting began! Friend, Chelsea J, joined us.
 
 






Then we took a break, picked up Tanner J, and ate some delicious Cafe Rio. 

I think this picture deserves to be X-Large.



 

Found a pet store and loved some ridiculous cat stuff. 

 

THEN we crashed the Youth Stake Dance....(we were asked to help chaperon) but it was wicked awesome and I wicked embarrassed myself dancing like a wicked fool. I loved it.

My ADORABLE SON this morning before church!

 

Last ones....found this cute poster in the hallway at church. I love my husband. He's an active supportive amazing man husband & father. I just stared at him today, so grateful to be his wife, partner, and best friend.

 

The Children's Museum Phx

Yesterday we went with my mom to the Children's Museum in Phoenix. I love this place. It's super magical. Super creative, hands-on, musical, active, interesting. It's stress-free because I can just sit and watch Freddie who is free to run around and be...free! I don't have to worry about him getting into toilets, litter boxes, galling off couches, smashing his finger in doors, breaking stuff, eating any paper product he can get, etc. and he's so entertained! Super fun toys and things to touch and learn about. I always meet really nice interesting moms to talk with the whole time; this time it was a woman from Prescott with a 2 yr old, twin 1 yr olds, and 1 due in March.

And there's FREE PARKING! Im telling ya I love this place. I'm buying a membership for next summer.

I love these photos as Fred looks very contemplative in them. We all had a great time. My mom is wonderful. Sorry for some seeming duplicates. There might be a slightly different expression or hand gesture and they are all precious to me.























My fav photo of the day...

Wilco

Listening to the band Wilco. Frederick is dancing naked and reading books, Dot is giving herself a bath, and Montgomery is hunting....something...

CLIPS + weekend

   

 
 
 
 

THUNDER FOOTBALL STARTED 

Found him eating off good family friend's plate, hehe.