Beck Ezra

This little boy has so much personality. He gasps at everything and yells when he's excited. He loves balls, animals (especially dogs), music or anything that makes sound, the movie Toy Story and Bolt, coloring (mostly on the table), his mommy, his stuffed moose, playing with toys, playing outside, and the list goes on and on. He is so curious and funny and we love his little spirit. Here are some pictures from te past year.

WE LOVE THIS BOY!

Paisley Aleta Smith

She's here! Three months ago actually. I've been so terrible about blogging and I feel terrible. There are so many things our sweet little Beck has done to make us laugh and I don't have any of them recorded! Time to catch up. But first, I'll introduce our new sweet little bundle. She is perfect.

Paisley Aleta Smith | 11-02-11 | 7lbs 15oz | 20 inces long

I went into labor the evening of November 1st, four days early. I started having contractions around 4pm and called Justin to hurry home from work. Luckily my parents were in town so we didn't have to scramble to find someone to come watch Beck. He loves playing with his Glama and Papa Rock. We finished packing up and I made sure to smother Beck with all the kisses I could while I had Justin lowered the mattress in Beck's crib (I noticed the day before that he was trying to climb out and I didn't want him breaking any bones and meeting us as the hospital). After we loaded up and in the truck, Justin, my mom and I headed a mile down the road to Alta View Hospital where we checked in and waited to be admitted. I was dilated to a 5 so I was staying. The nurse had a really hard time putting in my iv and after poking me a million times she finally called the anethesiologist who was able to get me hooked up so I could get settled in my bed. I had the epidural and got comfy while Justin called his family to let them know little girl was on her way. The rest of my family came to see how I was doing and Beck was happy playing at home with Doug and Maddy's roommate Erica letting my parents sneak away for a bit. I wasn't progressing very quickly so we sent everyone home to get some sleep. Around 2am the nurse checked me and I was finally dilated to a 9. She told me to sit tight and that she'd be back in 20 minutes to check again to see if it was time to get the doctor in. When she came back she checked me out and quickly closed my knees together telling me not to move, that the baby was on her way out. I thought the baby probably was because I was starting to feel a lot pressure. I was right! The nurse rushed out to call the doctor and Justin called my parents. Beck was the first babyborn on my side and my whole family was in the room during his birth which I loved. I'm sure it's weird to most people but I love the cheering and crying and excitement going on around me. Having Justin by my side and holding my hand while hearing everyones excitement keeps me distracted from the thought of anything possibly going wrong. Because Paisley was born in the middle of the night we had to call everyone and tell them to hurry and get dressed! I pushed for two hours with Beck but Paisley was ready to meet everyone and from the first push to the last, she took a whopping 10 minutes! It was great but only my dad (who stood behind me getting the PG view), and Summer made it in time. Oakley showed up as they were weighing Paisley and my mom stayed home with Beck. Maddy was to far to get there in time so we told her to just wait and come in the morning. Still it was great to have the phone calls and support. Justin's family were great from afar and were able to meet her a couple of weeks later. Beck came to meet his new little sister the next morning. He was more excited about all the buttons to push on my bed and being in a new room than he was about the baby haha. He wasn't very interested in her for the first couple of weeks but then one day it was like a switch clicked in his little mind and he realized that she's here to stay. He loves giving her kisses and sharing toys with her (piling them on her lap in her swing), shushing me when she's sleeping and tickling her. He loves her and I pray they will be best friends. When I found out I was pregnant with Paisley, just after Beck turned seven months, I was scared to death! But it really seems like it was meant to be and that Heavenly Father knew we were ready for her. She was born with a head full of dark hair, chubby cheeks with a dimple on one side, healthy and happy and loves to constantly snuggle. She is very alert with big wide bright eyes and smiles all the time. Thank you to all the help from my wonderful HUSBAND, family and friends during my pregnancy and after with the meals and babysitting offers. We love you all. 

Ice Castles

This past Saturday we drove up to Midway to see the ice castles. Justin's cousin Noelle and her darling family live there and blogged about how cool it was so we thought we'd go see for ourselves. It was pretty awesome and Beck seemed to like it. After touring the castles we explored Midway a little and went to visit the Olpins. They took us to dinner at a super yummy mexican restaurant right across the street from their house. We had so much fun catching up with them and watching Beck taste a lime for the first time. We couldn't stop laughing. On our way home we stopped by Jordan's going away party at Belmont but didn't stay long due to a very sleepy baby. I forget how late single people like to party! It was a fun day also including a morning run for me to babies r' us and Justin was able to go shooting with Jordan one last time before boot camp. Lucky for us, the weather was perfect for a fun day out and about! Saturdays are the best!

Driving into Midway we saw these four giant elk sitting in a field.

Needless to say, Justin thought it was the coolest thing.

Jordan

We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful country. Even with the war in Iraq and many feeling there is no end in sight, there are still so many young people excited to serve. Justin's brother Jordan left last night night for boot camp in San Diego. We are so proud to have a future Marine in our family and pray for his safety and success. GOOD LUCK JORDAN!!!

"light" and food storage

Little Beck is my world. Being a new mom and a stay at home mom is more than a blessing. Even on difficult days, like today, with teething and lack of sleep it is pure bliss because of all the little special moments. Todays special moment happened after nap time. I noticed a couple of days ago that when I get Beck out of his crib, the first thing he does is franticly look up and try to find the light fixture and stare at it until I flip it on. Then he usually smiles. It cracks me up. Today after finding it, still groggy from his nap and satisfied after turning on the light I sat in the glider and said the word "light". He looked up and stared. I did it again and again he looked. He knows the word "light" and I love it! What a wonderful word right?! Light. It seems like such a small thing but it seriously made my day.

4 new teeth coming in on top

On another less exciting note, last sunday we had a combined relief society/priesthood lesson on food storage and financial security. It hit me hard. I walked out to the car after class totally stressed out about how unprepared we are. A list of things we needed ate at my brain all day. A fire escape ladder (we live on the 3rd floor), food, water, first aid kit, 72 hour kits, copied personal documents... just to name a few. So I've decided to start with 72 hour kits and to start building my food storage supply by buying a few extra cans of food every time we get groceries. I went to the store this week and also pulled a few cans from my pantry and stored them in a separate place. If disaster strikes tomorrow we have about 12 cans of green beans and corn to live off! I went through our stuff and found some extra back packs to use for the 72 hour kits but thats as far as I've gotten there... I have a long way to go but I figure I'll just make a list and start collecting things when I can and cross them off. The bishop talked about the importance of not only being prepared for what my family needs but having enough to help others as well. I'll get there. If anybody has any tips on this subject I'd love to hear them!

and we're back

Time to get back into the blogging world! Its been a while...

Happy 2011! We had a great 2010 with Becks birth and the recent holidays. Thanks to all who sent us Christmas cards! We loved getting your pictures and family updates. I was hoping to get one out but ran out of time. So here is our picture and update.

Beck is almost seven months now! It has gone by so fast. He already has his two front bottom teeth and more are coming in. He is finally getting his hair back. He rolls all over and is about to crawl (time to baby proof my house!). Its so funny to watch him get up on his knees and push off with his feet diving an inch forward. He loves to bounce, yell and play with anything! He loves when we sing him songs and read him books. He LOVES watching "baby einstein" but I try to limit TV time as much as possible. He chews on everything (including his feet) and will eat whatever we feed him. He especially likes prunes, peas and oatmeal. His new favorite play place is a cardboard box my friend Jesse gave us while I was helping her unpack in her new house. We set him in the box with some toys so he wouldn't escape and he sat there playing so contently we had to take it home. Thanks Aunt Jesse! I decorated it so it wouldn't look so white trash! Beck is a great traveler. Since his birth we've been to california three times, Idaho and St George. He is great in the car and in the air. I hope it stays that way!

Beck's "play box"

THANK YOU Bunten family, Hodge family and grandparents for all my books!

Mommy's two favorite things!

Teeth!!!

Beck is a very lucky baby. He gets more love than anything in the world. His aunts love to smother him and his grandparents cant get enough, not to mention all the hugs and kisses he gets from his daddy and I. You can sit and kiss his cheeks over and over while he is busy playing with something and he wont even flinch, he is so used to it.

Christmas was so fun this year. Beck and I flew out a week early to visit my family before heading to Sonora where we spent actual Christmas with Justin's family. My parents spoiled him (and me) and we loved all the attention. My dad is so sweet with Beck, sneaking him into his bed at night to cuddle causing me to almost have a heart attach when I snuck into check on him and he was gone! My mom couldn't even get mad when Beck knocked a candle off a shelf spilling it all over my mom, her phone, grand piano, walls and carpet making a huge mess. Beck loved visiting with his other grandparents too snuggling and playing with new toys. He got to know is cousin Easton better and it was so fun to watch them interact and play together. Christmas is so much more fun with babies! Everything is.

Beck with his Christmas presents

Grandma Smith

Grandpa Smith

cousins

Clark Family Christmas Photos by Aimee Brown

Justin and I are also doing well. Justin is doing great at work, working with doctors, and is now thinking of going back to school to do something in medicine possibly next year. A CRNA is at the top of his list but we will see. I LOVE my job... a mommy! And try to read, craft and exercise during any down time I have. Soon we will be moving to Salt Lake to be closer to Justin's office. I cant wait for the day he can be home before 6:30 and we can meet him for lunch but I am honestly going to miss Provo. We love our home and our friends and having sibling close by.

Our goals for this year are to move, get ready for another baby, attend the temple more often, become more organized, get back into shape, and to grow closer as a family doing fun things.

We hope everyone is healthy and happy and that you know how much we love and appreciate you!