14 Weeks

Grayson is going to be a Big Brother! We are scheduled to welcome his little brother or sister into the world somewhere around Sept. 6, 2011!

He amazingly seems to understand exactly what is going on. As soon as we told him that there was a baby in my tummy, he responded, “the baby is still growing!” I guess we had had enough pregnant friends at that point that he had the concept down.

In the hundred of times we’ve asked him by now if he is having a little brother or a little sister, he always answers with a confident “a little sister!” (we promise no one brainwashed him.) We were wondering if maybe he had the gift of prophesy, but he’s also told me a couple times that there are “two babies in there” (which we know is not the case), so we’re not taking his prediction too seriously. He also keeps telling us that the baby is going to be a giant (because why else would it take so long to grow?)

Tonight Brad asked him what we should name the baby and he said, “Zacchaeus!” (who he learned about at church two weeks ago and has been asking us to sing the song every night at bedtime). We thought a little girl named Zacchaeus Smith would be pretty cute!

Pregnancy…

We found out Jan. 3 that we were expecting our second little miracle (which I found out later was ironically the same day my parents found out they were pregnant with me…which my Dad remembered crazily enough). It was an answer to prayer and a wonderful way to ring in the New Year and celebrate our 5th anniversary!

So, why wait until 14 weeks to finally blog about it? Well, for starters, because of a very scary pregnancy with Grayson and his early arrival, and then experiencing a very early on miscarriage trying to get pregnant this time around, we don’t take pregnancy lightly! Aside from our own experiences, we have precious friends and people we know who have experienced late miscarriages, still births, infertility and trials that are a constant reminder that life is fragile and we are not promised tomorrow!

After Grayson was born and we were assured by our doc that we had no reason to think that whatever happened to cause his pre-mature birth would happen again, we prayed that next time around, we would get to experience a no-scare, routine pregnancy, bringing a healthy baby home from the hospital with us. As crazy as it sounds to women who spend most of their pregnancy throwing up, I actually prayed for the nausea and all the text-book symptoms that go along with pregnancy (not matter how not fun they might be). I needed that confirmation, and I got it! (another reason for the scarce blogging these days) Even with our prayers, we didn’t know if bleeding during pregnancy was just my norm (because it is for 20-25% of women) but we’ve been thankful to find out this time around that it’s not. In fact, this pregnancy has been night and day different from my pregnancy with Grayson so far and we’ve been thankful.

And it has been an even stronger reminder of what a miracle he is!!! Because had it been up to my body, he would not be here! He is a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness and sovereignty!

And this baby is already a constant reminder of God’s perfect timing & plan for our lives!

Grayson Greatness

Just a couple stories for you Ags...

#1

In the midst of the rolling power outages (that we don't know are happening yet), I hear Grayson's voice bright and early Wednesday morning. At the time, I wasn't sure if it was part of a dream, I was hearing him on the monitor or if he was actually in our room. All I know is it's pitch dark and Brad isn't in bed. I shortly feel Grayson's little hands on my face and realize he's in our room. At the time, I thought perhaps he had gotten up early and Brad got him out of bed and sat him in front of the TV (as he sometimes does so I can have an extra half hour of sleep). I couldn't see what time it was, which was when I realized the power had gone out. And it finally clicked what Grayson was saying to me..."It's not working! It's not working!"

As we stumbled out of the room to find the flash light and my cell phone to call Brad, I finally realize it's about 6:30AM (Grayson doesn't usually wake until 7:30/8). I call Brad and he had left about 45 minutes prior to this and both Grayson and I were still sound asleep and the power was on.

So, our little monkey had climbed out of his crib, opened his door and made his way across the house in the pitch black to come inform me that that thing that wasn't working were his night light and fan :) We spent the morning snuggled up tight in blankets making shadow puppet with the flash light, which he loved, while for the next 6 hours, the power turned on for an hour and then off for 45 minutes and so on. It's very hard to explain to a two-year old why they can't follow their normal morning TV routine.

Later in the afternoon, he was watching one of his Boz videos when the DVD started skipping, he put his hands on his head with all of the drama and distress of a real life crisis and said, "It's happening again!" :) Over the last few days, he has purposely gone and turned off the lights and asked if we could play with the flash light...overall it was a very educational day learning about electricity.

#2

I took Grayson to Chick-Fil-A last week for a little Chicken Minis for me and a little play time for him. I'm sitting in the play area talking to one of the other Moms when Grayson looks over at her son (about his age) and goes, "Come Here, BOY!" (in much the same tone his Daddy sometimes jokingly says, 'Where's my Dinner, WOMAN?')

I was slightly mortified, but luckily the Mom thought it was funny. Grayson and I then had a lesson in politeness and asking children their names before demanding that they play with you, although I'm quite sure it went in one hear and straight out the other.

#3

Tonight we're at a Birthday party for a friend of ours who is turning 30 tomorrow. His wife wanted to have everyone pray over him. I'm sitting on the stairs with Grayson and another little boy trying to keep his not so quiet whispering to a minumum. He starts "whispering" about something, and one of the guests turns around to look at him. Grayson points and yells at the top of his lungs, "That guy not praying!!!"

(So embarrassing except for the fact that my laughter was probably more disruptive than his outburst)

5 Years and Counting!

January 6, 2006

How do you sum up five years of marriage? I wish I had some amazing pearls of wisdom to write here, but we're still learning. And I know we forever will be. But, when you get married, and you say your vows, "for better or for worse," no one really knows what "better" or "worse" is really going to look like. Already in five years, life has brought trials that we couldn't have predicted, and joys that were more than we hoped for. And through all of it, I've stepped back and thought, "God really knew what we would need when he put us together!"

Brad, I love you even more today then I did back then! Thank you for being you!

Some Final Pics from 2010

"Happy Birthday Jesus Baby!"

Please forgive my horrible singing in the background!

CHRISTMAS DAY






CHRISTMAS EVE

What "adults" do after all the kids go to bed

"Messy Kisses" for Gam-Ma



Christmas 101 Dalmations McDonalds Happy Meal Toys, my sister and I collected years ago




An Aggie Uniform...this gift got the best reaction

No, he didn't get an iphone for Christmas, he's just obsessed with my sister's, and sadly can operate it much better than either of his parents



His First Wish Bone



Christmas Light Looking



Grayson & Grandpa




Christmas with the Smiths -- Me Maw, Gramps, Aunt Barbara and new baby cousin Annabel (Brad's cousin Natalie's daughter)




Grayson with Great Me Maw & Gramps


AMY'S WEDDING!!! & My favorite girls (plus Brad)...there's just something about being with old friends!






JUST A RANDOM ONE
To avoid going down for a nap, Grayson says, "But, I wanna watch football with Daddy!" Way to know your audience, my friend!

Getting ready for Christmas! This is a ski slope that used to be my grandparents that my sister and I would enjoy watching for hours, and now Grayson is doing the same!


THANKSGIVING in Round Rock at Elaine and Josh's new home (Brad's parents always seem to avoid making it in our pics...I think it's a conspiracy)

Uncle Blake and Gray have the same "I just woke up from my nap" look (or the same "I'm on drugs" look)

Gray's new Drum Sticks from Uncle Josh and Aunt Elaine (Thanks alot guys!)

The Silly Smith Kids


Grayson is seriously focused on beating Uncle Josh at video games

I don't know what Elaine is doing here...but it's a funny pic


We got to meet Elliot Roberts (Josh & Courtney's new baby) while we were in Austin




HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Thanks for keeping up with us in 2010!!!

He Keeps Us Entertained

My sister and brother-in-law have had Gray for the past 5 days while we took part in our dear friend Amy's wedding festivities and finished last minute Christmas preparations. We of course missed him, but enjoyed our time alone! And he was too busy keeping my family entertained to miss us!

Whit and my Mom were out to dinner the other night with Gray when he asked for an onion off of one of their plates. My Mom says, "No night night kisses for Gam-Ma if you eat that onion." Grayson thought intently about that for a minute before he attacked my Mom with what he called "Messy Kisses" rubbing his bar-b-que/cheeto stained face all over her!

How's that for no night-night kisses Gam-Ma?

Whit and David were in the drive-thru at Taco Bell yesterday with Grayson and after every food item my bro-in-law ordered, Gray yells from the back seat (not in anger, just in general disagreement), "No....no....no....no....no....no...." And as the lady lists the order back over the intercom, he yells matter of factly, "Yes.... yes....yes....yes....yes...." So my sister turns and asks, "Grayson, is there something you would like?"

Grayson: "Chuck-E-Cheese!"

Since he has only been there twice ever, and not in the last six months, we have no idea what triggered the sudden desire for Chuck-E-Cheese, but he quickly agreed to settle for mac-n-cheese instead.

We finally got our son back last night. As we walked in the door, he ran to Brad, and my sister says, "Grayson, look who else is here (pointing to me)!"

Grayson: "TAG!!!" (Our dog)

I see where I rank in this family! Whatever!

Last night, Brad and I are reading our Christmas family Bible verse with Grayson and he is adding one more star to his "Nativity Count-Down Craft." Brad says, "Look buddy, you only have a couple more stars to put on before Christmas." I said, "Grayson, whose birthday is on Christmas?"

Grayson: "Jesus Cake!"

We are wondering if he thinks Cake is Jesus' last name???

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours

BLESSED
So much to be grateful for this Christmas season.
Brad, Haley & Grayson


While getting Christmas cards is one of my favorite things, it's a lot of work and it's not cheap to send them :) So, this year, we went easy on ourselves. We ordered 20 and mailed them out as we received them. So, in case you're not one of those people who sent us a Christmas card, and therefore, did not receive one from us, or in case you're thinking, where is my usual Christmas card from The Smith's?, we still want to wish you a Merry Christmas. So from Our Home to Yours.....God Bless You This Christmas Season!!!