12/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer and theo

we are so excited about these two. Brother. Sister. 
It's amazing what your heart is capable of:')

PS. haven't even left the hospital and I've already said to Jacob (words that make him a weeeeee bit UH-LOT nervous;): "how will I ever stop?".

it's a girl:)

i'm not sure where to start...I believe HERE would be a good place:') Although, I can hardly believe it's been almost 23 months since we went down this road for the very first time but with our baby boy, Homer:) In so many ways 23 months has seemed like a lifetime but in so many more...it has flown by.

yesterday morning...actually, almost exactly 24 hours ago...we welcomed a baby girl into this world. Into our growing family:) We now have 2 children. Homer has a baby sister. It was just as quick and intense an experience as it was the first time around. And we are forever grateful that things went as well as they did with Homer...if not better! And that in the end...we have another happy, healthy child:)

it's been an emotional 24 hours...so much happy. Jacob and I both can't believe that it can or could have or DID get more happy. We have agreed that we must go home and immediately give something away. Give back...we need to pay it forward...somehow:)

theo daisy smith

3/30/14 . 528AM . 8lbs 12oz . 20-1/2"

"...let her sleep, for when she wakes...she will move mountains..."

more to come on the details of how our baby girl came quickly into this world and how things are going and what's to come:)

with love:)
the Smiths - Jacob, Casey, Homer and Theo

10.11/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

forgive me but I'm going to count this as 2 so that I can get just a tad ahead before this baby makes his or her arrival:)

homer

pants-less with sneakers. That is his uniform these days. I wish I could pull it off as well as he does;)

This boy also said his first sentence today. 4 words that I've already forgotten (jeesh...pregnancy brain??! - he said it to Courts...maybe she remembers???) and that caused me to cry for an embarrassing amount of time. 

I love what he's becoming:)

baby

this baby of ours is determined to make me patient before he or she even arrives. We're 3 days away from our due date and I'm anxious as all hell!!! Anxious because I'm scared. I want so badly for things to go as smoothly as they did with Homer that I think I'm psyching myself out a bit:/ I feel great and I just need to take a couple deep breaths and wait. Waitttttttt.:)

PS. i love those belly photos more and more every time I look at them:) Thanks Courts:)

week 38:)

i'm STILL pregnant!!!!!!

to be honest...neither Jacob or I expected to leave the weekend without having a baby in our arms. But here we are...Monday and baby is still holding tight!! But all of that is okay. I'm not shocked at all that our instincts were off. They normally are about such things;) But I'm really feeling great and I'm not "GET THIS THING OUTTA ME" quite yet...although, I didn't go over with Homer...so check back when we're 4 days past my due date and I may be singing a different tune;)

But as of right now...I feel good. We feel good. 

i was also able to celebrate my 31st birthday outside of the hospital this weekend! So that was very kind of the baby;) And I have to say...it's been one of THE best birthday's I've ever had. 

Note to Self: plan to be 39 weeks pregnant on ALL future birthday's till the end of time;)

Besides the normal birthday attention...Jacob is completely pampering me anyway because of my 'state' and it's been complete bliss:):)

AND I still have one more gift coming (not counting the baby;) from Jacob, my mom and sister, Courts - it's being shipped:). So I'm VERY excited about that! 

so everything is good, good, good:) And I'm thinking this MAY be the last 'baby' post until after there's a real-life baby. Um...whaaaaaa?!?!:)

in a few weeks, I hope to be adding one more photo to this group...of me holding our new baby girl or boy:):)

TOP: 14WKS   BOTTOM: 38WKS

due date 

any day now!!!!!! (scary face;)

boy or girl 

jacob has finally admitted it COULD be a girl;) My gut is saying girl! 

names 

i think we've finally settled on names! I doubted us for a minute and was about ready to scrap all our girl names and start over...but it's all good:) And most likely it WILL be a boy now that we had such a hard time settling on girl names;)

belly 

i'm pregnant. So there's that.

weight 

as of last week...I was still bringing in about a pound per week - impressive, I know;). My next appointment is scheduled for tomorrow and I have not been holding back in the last week. I figured it's my last days of pregnancy anddddd I'll do what I want;) 

current weight: 181lbs

total weight gain: 44lbs

even if I weigh in 5lbs heavier tomorrow...I'll still have gained less than I did with Homer. Whoa.

wardrobe

there are definitely minimal options now and comfort is key. Luckily, I'm officially on Maternity Leave...so no pressure to look too neat;)

AND we're already planning our Annual MOA Trip for April and I'm SO excited to go without a belly and hopefullyyyyyy without at least 20 less pounds;)

baby buys 

Um. I've ordered THIS - for 10% off and it's something I've been loving on for quite some time - and plan on putting it in the baby room if it's a girl. I've also scored a few super cheap things on used IG sites - where they sell their baby clothes. The most recent outfit were THESE stripped pants and one of THESE tops but I got the set for $4, shipped:)

9/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer

he really is too cool for us...school...time outs...us mostly;)

This kid cracks me up...when he's not messing with my minddddddd!!!!;)

baby

this baby is still cookin' and he or she can stay cookin' as far as I'm concerned. I've got a few things left on the To Do List yet:)

I'm so fortunate to still feel really great and besides those normal pregnancy feelings of exhaustion and just all around feeling like a huge beast...I'm doing so well:)

month 22 - Homer:)

i think the photo above captures my overall mental status this week...and hey...it's MONDAY!!!!;)

ah, Homer Homer Homer:) My sweet baby boy. I don't blame you one bit for what is going on inside that little head of yours...you've been cursed with your mom's emotional and mental instability. I can only hope you meet someone with your father's personality...you're going to need that in your life to calm your ass down;)

as I've mentioned in previous posts...Homer has been quite the handful lately. But maybe it's me taking a step back and realizing that I AM okay at this 'mom thing' and we're doing the best we can and this too shall pass...and suddenly it doesn't seem so bad:)

i mean...it kinda seemed bad when we were checking out at Target and he was throwing a fit so bad that he threw himself and smoked his head on the counter and then the check-out girl tried to calm him with a sticker (I killed her) and I was sweating and he was screaming and it was pretty much awesome;)

but other than those few outbursts...I do feel like we're back on track. And he's giving me some extra snuggles the last few days and fell asleep in my arms againnnnn tonight. I just feel like he's telling me it's okay...you can have that baby. I'm ready:)

but I'm not sure how ready I am or ever will be. I know that I have enough love to go around. I'm not worried about that one bit. I know I'm sad that another baby means that it won't JUST be Homer anymore and that's what we are right now. Us and Homer:) I know that Homer can't be a baby again and this is the circle of life, as Jacob would say;) I know I'm just freaking out about my current baby...not being a baby anymore and havingggggg a baby is going to really make that loud and clear:'(

but I do know that when Homer gets there to meet his little brother or sister - I'm gonna go all distorted face cry - but when we're all together, a Family of 4...it's all gonna make sense...somehow:) 

homer lately:

- he's telling some pretty long stories...none of which make too much sense yet but it's pretty adorable (someday I hope he's as good of a story teller as his mom...you know what I mean Friend;)

- he's finallyyyyyyy starting to eat a bit more. He's a pasta lover, so we're letting him indulge so that he gets SOMETHING in himself. But we're also trying to be more consistent...it's hard.

- he can recite the entire alphabet and 1-10...we're pretty excited about that:) (obviously, he needs to repeat after me but it's impressive;)

- cuddling with Rosco (our cat) is one of his fav things to do...of all time;)

- tucking him in at night is THE most adorable thing. EVER. We tuck his 'Friend' in, which is a Darth Vader doll;) He lays down. I give him a little kiss on the cheek and say "mama loves you". He gets back up and gives me a hug and kiss...and then he lays back down and squeezes his eyes shut real hard. 

Don't get me wrong...there are nights it goes down the opposite of that...BUT overall...he's been the best little sleeper and has been in his big boy bed (little mattress on the floor) since the New Year (which means he mastered that within 3 nights at only 19 months old...PROUD:)

i look back on a post I did when Homer was only 2 days old. I believe we may have still been in the Hospital and I was blogging from my hospital bed:) The best day of our lives was the one that brought us together with Homer. And I know we're gonna be adding another "best day of our lives" some time very soon:)
And soon I'll be able to repeat what I said less than 2 years ago...

"...but what I can say...is that my heart hurt before...at the thought of my family and my life with Jacob. And now when I look at our baby...something we did and have yet to mess up and is so incredibly perfect...I know for certain my heart will never recover:)..."

smithbabydos.

i won't add much cause these pretty pretty photos will speak for themselves (I'm biased though, cause I love this little - growing - family of mine:). I believe we got these photos around 36WKS and here we are at 38WKS! Time is flying and things are moving and I know this baby is gonna be here before we know it:)

HERE is the link to our photos with Homer almost 2 years ago:')

this may be one of all time favorites:)

i just can't wait to have this process begin. When will contractions start? Where will I be? What time of day? We've already lined my sister, Pigg, up to take Homer at ANY time of day, at the drop of a hat and then we'll head down. We still have a few things that need to be packed - like Homer's bag and our own...the only thing we're really ready for is dressing the adorable little baby...not so much anything else having to do with our hospital stay....Oops;)

and then naming the baby!??!!? Oh man...see how I'm avoiding most things having to do with the baby having to come out of me;)??

12 days till Due Date:)

8/52.

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

homer

there have definitely been some tough times over the last few weeks with this little guy. Maybe he senses the changes to come and is rebelling. Maybe he's showing us his 'true colors' (please let that NOT be true!!!;). Or it's another phase that we'll look back on and NOT laugh about cause it super sucked;) 

Regardless of those difficult moments (try hours;)...when he's a good boy. Man. He's the best:) 

He really is exactly what we needed our first baby to be and he's going to make an incredible big brother:)

baby

12 days till maternity leave. 14 days till my birthday. 17 (possibly) days till the baby's birthday. Mind.Blown.

It's definitely crunch-time around these parts and we've spent a lot of time trying to finish up all those projects that we began months ago. Get our finances in order. Leave the house a few last times as a family of 3:) And just prep for baby! We're excited and we're tired and we're a lot excited:):)

sunday best:)

sunday's have, surprisingly, become our most productive day of the week! It's usually the only day we're all home. No plans. No work. YAY:)

this particular Sunday's theme is: shirtless:) - most of the time the theme is 'naps' or 'don't move from the couch, watch movies and eat MD's all day'.:)

the boys sporting their blindingly white torsos;)

homer's new favorite thing. Ever.

laid some, super inexpensive, linoleum in the bathroom to cover the old tile. You can tell this was NOT done by a professional. Ew. But it really does clean it up some:) AND nowwwww I have an excuse to go buy new bath mats:)

BOTH FANS ARE FINALLY HUNG IN THE LIVING ROOM!!! This deserved all caps because we've had these fans sitting...waiting...tauntinggggggg me for over 8 months!!!:):)

believe it or not...this is not a photo to show off how insanely disgusting the area is around our sink:/ But to brag about how many bottles I have to sort through. Arg. Baby Prep Day has commenced!!!

it was warm enough for a family walk today!!!!!! We can NOT wait for Springgggg:) Also. Jacob made me go put a hat on after he took a good look at the hair I've been sporting for the last few dayyyyyssss. Oops;)

another great day in the books!! Unfortunately, daylight savings is taking it's toll on me. Homer's more pumped than ever and I'm the most tired you can be for 730PM. It may be a longgggg night!:)

week 36:)

today we're actually closer to 37 weeks than we are to 36. I'm not sitting here mind blown about how far along I am or how soon this baby will be here. I must be too damn tired for that;) 

with this pregnancy...I feel like those things hit a lot sooner than they did with Homer. The exhaustion. The aches and pains. The feeling that the baby will just fall out if I go from sitting to standing too quickly. My doc assures me that these are all pretty common symptoms for a second pregnancy. I assume having Homer around to keep me busy may have something to do with the exhaustion as well;)

overall...we're doing fantastic! My birthday is coming up and we decided to celebrate a little early, seeing as I may not be in the mood as my due date approaches. Thursday both Jacob and I are going to our 37 week appointment (this will be his first time being able to come with me!!!!) and then heading...somewhere. We have no plan. My favorite Day Dates with Jacob involve NO planning. I'm so excited that it seems forever away yet!!!

as far as this baby...we're so excited. SO so excited. I can't wait to have the contractions start (not the FEELING of the contractions but the whole...where will I be when they start? What time of day will it be?!!!). I love the anticipation and surprise of it all!!:)

we're SO not ready but we're ready. Kinda;)

due date 

March 26th...or before...or after!??:)

boy or girl 

my mind changes on this dailyyyyyy! I seriously thought we were having a boy. But nowwwww I feel girl. Did the same thing with Homer...

names 

i think we're pretty set with names at this point. 2 boy options. 2 girl options. Both first and middles names are set:) SO now to wait and see what suits the baby when he or she arrives:)

my Friend did send her weekly suggestions: Mogley and Winnie. Adorablllleeeee!!!

belly 

i feel like the baby's definitely dropped. I don't remember feeling as if Homer was going to fall out of me as badly as I do with this baby!! Lordy...going from sitting to standing takes some time:/

weight 

we're down to weekly appointments. Whoa.

I was hoping to keep the weight gain minimal from here on out...but I'm currently craving MD's and I have a feeling my husband won't say no to that 9PM suggestion;)

current weight: 179lbs 

(that was last week...so I'm guessing this has gone up:/)

total weight gain: 42lbs

we are right on track for where I was at with Homer but I did go on to gain 55lbs with Homer...hoping we can lock this shit up at 45lbs this time around;)

wardrobe

i actually just did some major downsizing in the closet! Pretty excited about the 'new leaf' I'm trying to turn over in regards to my purchases and spending:)

And going through my clothes allowed me to start a little Maternity Tote of my own (us sisters have been kinda sharing one for the last few years and it was preeeeeetty outdated) but I was able to try a few things on and feel like I may have a few more COMFORTABLE things than I thought to get me through the end of this pregnancy:)

baby buys 

no current baby buys! We're just working through what we already have. Keeping the spending to a minimum (see: NEW LEAF above;). Jacob deemed this week: Baby Prep Week! Bottles need to be pulled out and washed. Bags for freezing milk need to be bought. Car seat needs to be drug out, cleaned and installed in the car. Phew. That's just what I can think of off the top of my head;)

i had Courts snap a few photos of the necklace I was wearing this day. It's a gift from her for Christmas actually! I know she purchased it off PS i Adore You but it's not listed there anymore...HERE is something similar...so similar that it may actually be the exact one she got me:)