Ian, Andi, and Co.

Halloween and Pre-Halloween (Finally!)

2011-12-11T14:52:00.001-08:00

We went to our favorite pumpkin patch this year before Halloween with our best friends the Taylors. Avery and Addie have been best friends since before they were 1! The girls had a blast and Hudson napped in his sling for most of the time we were there :)

We were shocked that Avery was brave enough to hold the little turtles!

For Halloween, Avery was a mermaid, Berkley was a peacock, and Hudson was a dragon. Cutest mermaid, peacock, and dragon EVER!!

2-3 Month Old Hudson :)

2011-12-02T12:41:00.001-08:00

Hudson smiles ALL the time but he doesn't like to smile for the camera. This is one of the only semi smiles we have because he would much rather smile at a face then a lens.

Such a handsome boy!!

Hudson's Blessing

2011-12-02T12:17:00.001-08:00

Hudson was blessed by Ian on October 9. He wore the same white blessing outfit that his Daddy did when he was blessed almost 30 years ago! Hudson was also wrapped in the same white blanket that his Great Grandma crocheted which was also wrapped around both of the girls on their blessing day. We are so blessed to have Hudson in our home!! He is such a sweet, chunky little guy :)

Berkley hanging out with Hudson after the blessing. She LOVES her brother!

Happy Birthday Avery!

2011-11-09T19:59:00.000-08:00

Avery is 6!! On September 14, Avery turned 6. She had a great day, with McDonald's for lunch at school with Mom and Hudson, flowers on the doorstep from Grandma Thompson, a sprinkle cake, and an awesome birthday party. Her party was an ice cream/ bounce house party. We had a bounce house with a slide attached which was such a hit with the kids! Instead of cake, Avery decided on an ice cream bar with plenty of toppings and lots of ice cream. It was so fun and Avery had a great day.

We love our beautiful Avery and we are so proud of her. Avery is so smart and is doing so well in school. She is also an amazing big sister to Berkley and Hudson. Hudson LOVES watching Avery and she knows just how to make him happy. Avery is also hilarious and brings such a joyful spirit into our family. Happy Birthday! We love you!

Happy Birthday Berkley!!

2011-11-08T16:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Berkley!! On September 19, Berkley turned 3!! Berkley had a great birthday with a McDonalds lunch at school with Mom and Hudson, flowers on the porch from Grandma Thompson, a sprinkle cake, presents, and a joint birthday party with Avery.

We are so lucky to have Berkley in our family. She is so quirky and funny. Berkley is also very sweet and cuddly. She is also very intelligent and fun to be around. I am so proud of my little 3 year old and I love her so much!

Months 1&2 of Hudson

2011-11-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

Dumb baby acne took over Hudson's face when he was a month old but it cleared up pretty quick. His mama thought he was pretty cute anyways :)

Big Girl Panties

2011-11-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

I think these pictures explain it all :)

Berkley got potty trained at school by her preschool teacher and has been a pro ever since! It is nice to only have one kid in diapers!

First Day of Kindergarten and Preschool

2011-11-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

I cant believe that my little baby started kindergarten this year! She has grown into such a beautiful, smart, caring, and fun little lady in such a short amount of time! Here she is on her first day of kindergarten rocking her new backpack. Avery LOVES everything about school, especially her teacher, Ms. Hodak.

Little Miss Berkley also started school this year. She is in the Bear class and she is loving making new friends and bringing her Elmo backpack and lunchbox to school.

More Hudson (iphone pictures)

2011-08-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

Hudson Michael Smith

2011-08-08T09:07:00.000-07:00

Hudson Michael Smith

July 13, 2011

8lbs 1oz

21 1/2 inches

31 1/2 weeks

2011-05-11T21:01:00.000-07:00

31 1/2 weeks and 24 lbs later and here we are!

Mother's Day

2011-05-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

My beautiful girls being sweet for mommy!

I am such a sucker for matching dresses!

Springtime

2011-05-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

The Easter Bunny brought a pretty fun present! The girls LOVE the trampoline and we jump on it every day! Best purchase ever!

Zoo fun :)

Watching a movie

Avery's spring concert

Berkley LOVES the kitty...

And the kitty obviously LOVES Berkley as well :)

Easter :)

2011-05-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Easter morning egg hunt and Easter baskets

Easter dresses
(Please ignore the huge bruise on Berkley's forehead. It was a close encounter with the furniture)

Easter Activities

2011-05-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

To get ready for Easter we did a lot of fun activities!

We went to Easter Village at Purina Farms where we played in the hay and got to pet baby animals :)

Of course we decorated Easter eggs

And we had an awesome Easter egg hunt with our favorite friends from our old ward downtown

Snow!!

2011-03-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

One morning we had some snow!! Berkley LOVES snow (for about 5 minutes) and so she wanted to go out and help Daddy shovel the driveway. However she did not want to wait for me to get her snow clothes on. Therefore, she went out in her jammies, jacket, hat, and cowgirl boots!

Halloween

2011-03-20T20:24:00.000-07:00

I loved my little Halloween bugs! We had a beautiful butterfly and a mischievous bumblebee around our house!

Pumpkin Patch

2011-03-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting around to getting all caught up on picture posting!

Here is our fun trip to the pumpkin patch right before Halloween :)

Birthday Dresses

2011-03-20T19:33:00.001-07:00

I realize how late this is, but these birthday dresses are too cute not to share! These pictures also show my cute stenciled wall that took forever but was well worth it!

Best Friend Sisters!!

2 Years Old Already!

2010-11-11T11:27:00.000-08:00

My baby turned 2 on September 19. I cannot believe she is 2 already! She still tells me that she is my baby still though and to make me feel better she lets me carry her everywhere because she says it hurts for her to walk ;) We LOVE our little Berkley and she is the most lovable and sweet little girl. She adores her big sister and wants to keep up with her so bad. She also cheers so loudly when her daddy gets home because she loves wrestling and playing with him. However, she is mommas girl and wants me over anyone else. I wouldn't have it any other way!

However, if Elmo came to town, Im sure I would be dropped like a rock!

Happy Birthday beautiful girl!

New Wheels

2010-11-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

For their birthdays, Grandma and Grandpa got Avery and Berkley a hip new ride. Needless to say it is the envy of all the little girls in the neighborhood. They LOVE to ride all day in our culdesac and Berkley has only fallen out once. Luckily her face stopped her from hurting any other part of her body :) Fortunately she now agrees to wear the seat belt!

5 Years Old!!!

2010-11-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

On September 14, Avery turned 5! I cant believe how old and beautiful she is. Avery is a loving, friendly, spirited, and perfect little lady who brings such spunk and personality into everything she does. For her birthday she wanted a strawberry coconut cake and I think it turned out pretty good!

Soccer Star

2010-11-10T15:12:00.000-08:00

Avery started her first soccer season this August and I was thrilled! I got finagled into being the assistant coach and we had such a fun time at practice and at the games. Avery's team was pretty horrible, but Avery ended the season with 3 goals and the belief that her team won every game. :) She was randomly assigned the number 2 jersey, which was always my number growing up. I was so proud!

Rodeo

2010-11-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

We went to Texas at the end of July and Avery got to ride in her first rodeo. She rode Bo and Aunt Lexi ran with the lead line to make sure Bo behaved himself. Avery was on cloud nine, especially when Grandma told her she had won the rodeo and gave her an extra ribbon :)

Nauvoo

2010-11-10T14:31:00.000-08:00

In July, we drove up to Nauvoo to see the pageant. We LOVE Nauvoo and had a blast. Before the pageant, they have pioneer games set up and Avery had the time of her life. I think she won 15 sack races in a row!

We cut a log with a saw

My sack race star!

Even Berkley wanted in on the sack race action!

We made rope

Berkley took good care of the pioneer babies at the pioneer living center

Berkley also loved smelling all of the flowers at the Nauvoo temple.

Catch Up

2010-11-10T14:29:00.000-08:00

So after 5 months, I finally sat down at the computer and figured out our new camera and how to upload pictures onto Ian's laptop from it. Therefore, I am attempting to play catch up and review all of the fun things we did this summer and fall. Hopefully I never fall this far behind again!

Family Pictures!

2010-09-03T19:19:00.001-07:00

We had a good friend Emily take our family pictures a couple months ago. She did an amazing job and we are in LOVE with all of them!

Happy Birthday Andi!

2010-07-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

While you may be getting older, you're only getting better with age! We all know that the fireworks this weekend are really for you. We (me and the girls) love you and hope you have a great birthday.

13.1

2010-05-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

On May 8th, I ran my first half marathon. It was the Bridge the Gap to Health race in Quincy, Illinois. It was so exhausting and amazing all at the same time. My 3 friends and I drove up to Quincy the night before and partied all night in a hotel while Ian and the girls drove up the next morning. When the race started, it was 45 degrees and we were freezing. We had to run across a bridge at the beginning and the wind was so cold. Fortunately the wind subsided and we were able to hang in there for the rest of the race. I fully intended on walking some of the race but my adrenaline got the better of me and I ended up running the whole thing. I also trained running around 10 minute miles but I finished the race with an average of 8:52 minute miles. I was shocked and so excited. My final time was 1 hour, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. Ian and the girls were right there at the finish line cheering me on with a "Go Mom" sign. It was the best ending! We also got to meet Jackie Joyner Kersee which was pretty neat as well. I was pretty beat up for the rest of the day but I am so glad that I ran this race and I hope to do one again very soon!

Total Miles Ran (including training): 177.6

Here we are with the dang cold bridge we ran over in the background. Soooo glad to be done!!!

Shaw Nature Reserve

2010-05-01T20:41:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago we went to the Shaw Nature Reserve about an hour outside of St. Louis. It was an easy 3 mile hike and the girls loved picking the wildflowers and catching butterflies with nets. It was beautiful and we had a great time!

Berkley

2010-05-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

Berkley is in the best stage ever! She is so much fun and we all cant get enough of her little spunky personality!

Berkley loves animals. Her favorites are dogs, "meows", and penguins. Cosmo unfortunately doesn't always return that affection :) Berkley also loves books. Her favorites are anything with animals and Elmo, which she pronounces "Melmo". She walks through the house and the library calling for "Melmo" until I find an Elmo book and read it to her.

She also loves her "quack" jammies which have little ducks on them. Whenever she sees them she says "quack, quack, quack."

Best Swimsuit Ever!!!

Finally her hair is somewhat long enough for pigtails!!! Man does anything get cuter that that! I LOVE my girl!

Easter

2010-05-01T20:22:00.001-07:00

Easter morning!

Matching Easter dresses!

Sisters!!!Isn't my big girl beautiful!!

Pre-Easter

2010-05-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

Prior to Easter this year we did our traditional Easter egg dying and Saint Louis University Easter egg hunt. Avery, Berkley, and I also went to Purina Farms and took part in their Easter village where they have tons of baby animals out that you can pet. They had a blast and we had a great time getting ready for Easter!

Berkley was DEATHLY afraid of the Easter bunny so here is Avery solo.
Swinging in the hayloft at the farm.

Texas Safari

2010-04-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

We visited Texas way back in February while Ian was studying for the bar and I am finally getting pictures up! We went to a barrel racing competition in Glen Rose, Texas for my sister to compete. While we were there, we went to a drive through safari where you can feed the animals from your car. The girls had a blast and we saw tons of animals from the bed of my Dad's truck.

Here is Berkley trying to feed the zebra.

Avery loved the baby zebra but it was too scared to come close.

This was a VERY aggressive ostrich!!! I got bit several times. Berkley was terrified of it. As was my 16 year old sister ;)

Please excuse the attractive man sunglasses I have on. I forgot mine and had to borrow some from my sister's boyfriend. I look hot in them, I know ;)

LAWYER!!

2010-04-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

This handsome stud is now an official lawyer! He passed the bar and is done with law school! We are sooooo proud of him and love him to death! Yeaaaaa Ian!!!

New House!!!

2010-03-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

Our New House!
We were discouraged looking at houses last week and then finally this week we found, decided on, and entered into a contract for this house. We LOVE it!!! Avery said "I've waited my whole life for a house!" It is brand new because a family built it and then got transferred so their loss is our gain. Ian is in love with the 3 car garage and I am in love with the wood floors and walk in closets, not to mention the HUGE bathtub!! We will be closing on April 27 and will move in mid-May. The house is located in the Lake St. Louis, MO area and a brand new elementary school is opening right up the street!! This house is an answer to prayer and we feel very blessed to have it and for the process to have run so smoothly.

Sorry for the poor picture quality. I forgot my camera so they are from my phone. Next time we go we will take pics with a real camera and post them. Enjoy!!
The builder will sod the front and back yards for us before we move in.

Love the floors and the island!

The girls are picking out their own rooms here and where they want their beds to go.

Avery is ready for a bath in her new tub!

Smith Family Rules

2010-02-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

I finally finished my family rules canvas I found here. It took forever and it is far from perfect but I still LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

The bubbling is from the mod podge and couldn't be helped, but I think it adds character :)

In case you can't read the rules here they are:

Forgiveness is Mandatory

Have Fun, Be Kind, Ask First, No Fussing, No Whining

RETURN WITH HONOR

Encourage Your Siblings...Share in Their JOY

DAD-HUG MOM DAILY & MOM- ALWAYS BE ON HIS SIDE

USE KIND WORDS- OBEY- ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH

never leave angry

sing silly, dance crazy, hug often, snuggle often, say I LOVE you

BE FIERCLY LOYAL

Use Your Manners- Yes and Thank You

too much TV is bad...too much READING is good

HANDS ARE FOR HUGGING, NOT HITTING

BE YOUR OWN KIND OF BEAUTIFUL

SHARE EVERYTHING, EXCEPT BAD IDEAS

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE- A CHILD OF GOD

Be Grateful, Be Smart, Be Clean, Be True, Be Humble, Be Prayerful

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

BEST. CAT. EVER.

2010-02-11T08:17:00.001-08:00

In case you were wondering, yes that is 2 bows, a dress, and a ribbon leash on our wonderful cat Cosmo.

happy valentine's day!

2010-02-11T07:58:00.000-08:00

With the weather being so freezing lately, I have taken up crafting to save my sanity. Here are my Valentine's Day creations...

I am so in LOVE with my felt wreath. Sorry for the picture quality, iphones aren't known for their pictures...

It's amazing what a little glittery scrapbook paper, a frame, and scrabble tiles can do to get into the Valentine's mood!

Feliz Navidad

2010-01-17T18:45:00.000-08:00

For Christmas this year we got to go to Mexico for a whole week and party!!! My family met us down in Playa Del Carmen (an hour South of Cancun) and we stayed in an AMAZING resort. Avery spent her time at the swim up bar ordering strawberry daiquiris and pina coladas :) It was such an perfect vacation and we will never forget Mexico Christmas 2009!!

Avery in front of our resortBerkley with sunscreen in her eyes

Beautiful beach! I miss it sooo much!

The family ;)

Ian volunteered to watch Berkley while my family, Avery, and I got to swim with the dolphins. I have a fascination with dolphins and this was one of the coolest things I have ever done!

Avery and my Mom

From right to left, sister Lexi, brother Barrett, sister Abby, sister Maddie, Avery, and screaming Berkley. We were all together except for Emily who was in Hawaii at the time. Im sure she was having fun there too ;)

The Chichen Itza pyramid which Ian and I got to climb on our honeymoon but was closed to climbers this time.

Lexi, Berkley, and I in front of a Mayan steambath.

My mom stayed with the three little girls while my Dad, Ian, Lexi, Barrett, Berkley, and I went to Chichen Itza. Here we are in front of the temple to the rain God.

Mayan Next Top Model

Mayan ball court where the players had to get a ball through the hoops on the side of the court without using their hands or feet. The winning team would then be sacrificed. Seems like there would be no incentive to win!

The sacred cenote where we got to jump in and swim.

Maddie and Avery

The girls and I at Tulum

Ian and Berk at the beach

Christmas Eve dinner was FANTASTIC!!! They had every type of food imaginable including a Christmas tree made out of chocolate dipped strawberries. It was magical.

Aves with Barrett and Lexi

This trip was simply perfect. We had a blast and loved spending Christmas somewhere warm! We also loved spending time with my family and just relaxing! Man, I already want to go back!

Pre- Christmas

2009-12-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

In keeping with my late blogging tradition, here are some pre-Christmas pictures of Avery's preschool Christmas party...

Avery's class

The nativity cast. Avery was one adorable angel!

Christmas for Girls

2009-12-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when your house is full of girls (and when Dad is studying when you go pick out a tree)!

You have to dress up in a princess costume when you decorate a purple and pink tree!
Soooooooo excited to take off pink sparkle ornaments right after they are put on. Little rascal!

Beautiful purple and pink tree!

Taking off more ornaments...

Avery: "This is the best day of my life!!!" She said that while we were decorating!

When You Have Spaghetti for Dinner...

2009-12-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

You get a bath!!!

Theme Song

2009-11-21T20:05:00.000-08:00

Avery and Berkley, knocking on the St. Louis arch :)

"There's a carrot top who can barely walk
With a sippy cup of milk
A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong
'Cause she likes to dress herself."
My Front Porch Looking In- Lonestar

How amazing is it that this song fits my girls so perfectly!
Although Berkley isnt a complete carrot top, she is a strawberry blonde who did just learn to walk and does carry around her sippy cup of milk (however she doesnt like regular milk so it is actually chocolate milk, dont tell the pediatrician).

Berkley love animals! Especially penguins and monkeys and doggies.

Berks wanted to get closer to her toys so she hopped right into the toy box. Smart girl!

Avery on the other hand is definintely a blue eyed blonde who fights with me daily over what she wants to wear to school. I panic when she tells me that she has picked out her own outfit and laugh when she comes up with a new creation to wear to school. I also get asked the question, "is this the right foot?" in reference to her shoes at least 5 times a day.

Here is the dress Avery designed and made all by herself using tape and leftover fabric. She was DEVASTATED when I told her she couldn’t wear it to church. I am such a mean Mom!

Man big hair dude!

So this is our family's theme song. I have had it as my ring tone for awhile now and am constantly getting comments in stores when people hear it and see how it fits my kids so perfectly. Im pretty sure this song was written especially for us in mind ;)

The Daddle

2009-11-07T09:55:00.001-08:00

So Avery and I thought we would take advantage of the fact that Ian was at school this morning studying and post pictures of the "Daddle". Ian got this gift for Christmas last year from my parents and it was by far his favorite gift. Look at his realistic horse faces he has perfected! Who needs to spend thousands of dollars on a horse when you can get a daddle instead!

P.S. Lexi, the first picture is Ian practicing his best "Bo" face :)

Deja Vu

2009-11-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

Berkley- Halloween 2009

Avery - Halloween 2006

Pony and Fish

2009-10-31T19:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween from our resident My Little Pony and Nemo

Being A Mom

2009-10-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been in a somewhat introspective mood and have been questioning if I am living up to my potential. I think this is because I spend my days seeped in diapers, binkies, nursing, zoo trips, preschool, and "kid" stuff and I rarely get time for myself. As much as I love my daughters, and as much as I love being a mom, I sometimes wonder if that is it for me in life. Don't get me wrong, I know that being a mom is the most important job, but I will also admit that it wasnt the only thing I dreamed I would do in life. Have my political science degree and my dreams of being the next great thing just gone to waste along with my waistline and sanity? Well, then I read this poem on a blog and it made me feel better, because it is exactly how I feel.

“She came tonight as I sat alone, the girl I used to be…
And she gazed at me with her earnest eye and questioned reproachfully;

Have you forgotten the many plans and hopes that I had for you?
The career, the splendid fame, and all the wonderful things to do?
Where is the mansion of stately height with all of its gardens rare?
The silken robes that I dreamed for you and the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad for I wanted her pleased with me…
This slender girl from the shadowy past the girl that I used to be
So gently rising, I took her hand, and guided her up the stair
Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay innocent, sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems, and precious they are to me;
That silken robe is my motherhood of costly simplicity.
And my mansion of stately height is love, and the only career I know
Is serving each day in these sheltered walls for the dear ones who come and go.

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest, she smiled through her tears at me.
And I saw that the woman that I am now, pleased the girl I used to be.

- Author Unknown

So someday I may be able to live out my dreams and become what I "thought" I would become when I was younger, and maybe I wont. But I do know that as I kiss my girls goodnight and put them in bed that I am doing something important and unique because no one else can be as good of a mom to my girls as I can. And as I toil through the trenches of motherhood, I also get to experience the highs of loving two people so completely and unconditionally it amazes me. And that, to me, is enough.

I'm a Big Girl Now

2009-10-11T19:12:00.000-07:00

So I have been putting off posting about Berkley's birthday because I am in denial. She is still my little baby and not a 1 year old!!! She is too small to be 1 already! Im not ready for her to be 1. She needs to stop growing. I cant lose my little tiny baby!

Well in spite of my pleadings, she turned 1 anyway and we got some pictures of her in her birthday dress.

So here is her cake story. She looks teary eyed because right before we started singing to her, she accidentally grabbed her candle and burned her finger (not bad). She was so upset we almost couldnt get her to eat her cake. We had to lift the cake up to her face because she was too afraid to touch it because she thought she would get burned again. However, in the end all was well and she devoured the cake like a true 1 year old :)

Happy Birthday Berkley!

Happy (belated) Birthday DaddyO!!

2009-10-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

I am way behind here with my blog posting! Ian had his birthday on the 18th and we had a very fun night. We decided to go to the annual St. Louis hot air balloon glow where about 50 hot air balloons camp out on a field and let people get close to them and watch them glow up the night sky. We had a blast! Avery and Berkley were a little scared at first because the flames get quite intense but they soon got used to them and loved getting close to the balloons. It was an amazing experience and we plan on going every year from now on!

The happy birthday balloon was perfect for Ian's birthday night! They must have brought it just for Ian's special day ;)

We love the picture because it looks like fire is coming out of Avery's head. For any of you who know Avery, fire does come out of her head at least 3.35 times a day :)

A is for Avery

2009-09-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

It only took a blink of an eye for this tiny angel to grow into...
This big angel who is absolutely, undeniably, irrisistably perfect in every way :)

Happy Birthday Avery!!

Magic House

2009-08-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

We have a local childrens museum called the Magic House nearby that we are absolutely in LOVE with! There is stuff for Berkley, Avery, and even myself to enjoy. Here are some pictures of my little princesses getting their play on :)

And after all that playing, Berkley needed a good dinner to make her happy!

Peaches and Blackberries

2009-08-31T20:35:00.001-07:00

So our Berkley LOVES peaches and blackberries!! We have lately been going crazy at a local farm here and have been picking and eating our weight in blackberries and peaches! Man there are nothing like tree ripened peaches!

Yummy Food- Berkley

2009-08-08T20:21:00.001-07:00

So for our second daughter Berkley, we decided to save money on baby food and have taken to feeding her this new cheap food...

In case you couldnt tell that was cat food ewwwwwww!!! Berkley finally found the cat food and loves to scamper down the hallway to eat it! Gross! Luckily it has only happened once or maybe twice :)

Yummy Food- Avery

2009-08-08T20:10:00.001-07:00

So this Avery's self titled super duper yummy cake. She "learned" the recipe from her best imaginary friend "Clue"'s Mom and made it for us the other day. It included eggs, cinnamon, sugar, flour, marshmallows, and lots and lots of sprinkles. We even baked it and tasted a little bit of it. It tasted like cinnamon and marshmallows, sort of. She was sooooo proud of her cake and we loved how creative she was as she showed us step by step how to make it. Such an adorable and fun little girl!

5 Wonderful Years!!

2009-07-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

Today is Ian and my 5th wedding anniversary. I cant believe how lucky I am to have such a great husband, father, and best friend in my life! Ian always makes me laugh and has made me happier then I could have ever imagined. I fall in love with him a little more each day and I consider myself the luckiest girl in the world to be with him forever :) Here are some pictures of us from the last 5 years of our perfect life together!

Fabulous Mom #2

2009-07-16T20:29:00.000-07:00

To make Mia feel better after this post, I decided to post this story.

Yesterday Avery came up to me and Ian and said, hey guys did you know that the Oxiclean guy died? He did, and now they have an Oxiclean girl. She is really good!

She watches way too much tv!

happy fathers day daddio!

2009-06-20T10:18:00.001-07:00

We have a super special Daddio! He is the best ever and we love him so much!

We love how our dad carries us when we dont want to walk in the water...

We love going to see the Cardinals with Daddio...

We love snuggling with Dad and getting loves from him...

We absolutely LOVE dressing up with Dad. This was his idea...

We love how Dad is a good sport when we do funny things to him...

We love how Dad is also scared of silly things like sea gulls just like we are...

We love everything about our Dad and hope he has a super duper great Fathers Day!!!

San Diego and Disneyland

2009-06-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago we took a family vacation to San Diego and then to Disneyland. While in San Diego we hung out at the beach and hit up some great food joints in Poway. We then went to Disneyland with Grandma and Grandpa Smith, Justin, Jill, and Jill's fiance Joe. A great time was had by all. Avery's favorite ride was Thunder Mountain. She was barely tall enough to get on and then she screamed her lungs out the entire way. The whole vacation was a blast.

Yes we let Berkley eat sand...and yes she was pooping out sand for a week afterwards :)

Berk Photos

2009-05-21T20:03:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago our friend Emily who took Berkley's newborn photos asked if she could take some practice shots of a infant sitting up with some of her props. We went to a park and plopped Berk into a basket and Emily started doing her thing. The photos turned out great.
Check them out.

Sisters are for having fun!

2009-04-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

So I meant to give Berkley a bath in her blowup bathtub all by herself... But she needed a sister to help show her how it's done!

(And in case you were wondering, that is spaghetti sauce all over Avery's face. She likes to get the spaghetti ALL over her face when she eats!)

Crazy smile!

These moments are what being sisters is all about!

Easter Fun

2009-04-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

This year was a great Easter! We went on 4 Easter egg hunts, decorated eggs, received Easter baskets from the Easter bunny, and had a great Easter dinner with some friends. Here are lots of pictures of our Easter weekend.

Berkley and mommy :)

Avery and Berkley at the Saint Louis University egg hunt. There were sooo many eggs!

Avery and Daddy decorating eggs!

SLU mascot, the Billikin (or quasi-troll/monster/bat)

Easter morning girls

Happy family

Growing

2009-03-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

6 Month Stats

Berkley had her 6 month checkup yesterday. She did great and was perfectly healthy. (Except for an eye infection that causes her eyes to be glued shut when she wakes up, but she got medicine for that :) She is a perfect, big, and healthy 6 month old!

Growth stats:

Weight: 18 lbs 5 oz 95 percentile
Height: 26.4 5 in. 70 percentile
Head size: I don't remember but it was in the 90 percentile

For comparisons sake
Avery at 6 months:

Weight: 16lbs 6 oz 58 percentile
Height: 26.3 in 69 percentile
Head Size: 68 percentile

Berkley is already kicking Avery's booty in the growing department!

Shabby Baby Contest

2009-03-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

Shabby Baby
Picture Princess Contest

Avery is the ultimate Shabby Baby picture princess. Not only does she have the ultimate photogenic looks, but she has the most spirited, vivacious personality. Avery is not afraid to try new things and shines whenever she is in the spotlight. One of her best attributes is her humor. She loves to laugh and make other people laugh making her the life of the party. This playfulness, humor, and spirit, would make Avery the perfect picture princess and would make Shabby Baby look its best!

Of all the beautiful Shabby Baby dresses, Avery would shine in the Gumball dress. Its bright colors and fun pattern match her bright and playful personality.

Little girls and girls dresses from Shabby Baby:
http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-345-gumballs.aspx

6 Months

2009-03-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

My little baby is already six months old!! I hate how fast she is growing but it is fun to see how cute she gets with each passing day.

Here are some things I love about my big 6 month old:
* I love how chubby she is! Her thunder thighs are pretty incredible!
* I love how she calms down when she lays on her back and sticks her feet in her mouth.
* I love how she grabs my face and puts my chin in her mouth to let me know shes hungry.
* I love the little kick dance she does when she gets excited.
* I love how much she completely adores her sister
* I love her hugs and cuddles
* I love how she loves to take baths with me
* I actually love her explosive poops because they make me laugh
* I love how she sleeps best snuggled close to me on my arm
* I love how she has become the drama queen when she wants something
* I love how she flirts with everyone she sees
* I love how easygoing she is, especially when we are on the go and she has to nap in her carseat
* I LOVE everything about my Berkley and wouldnt change anything about her!

Photoshoot with Aves and Berks

2009-03-04T21:07:00.000-08:00

So I know we take way too many pictures of our girls and post them but I just cant help it. Although I am biased, I just think they are too beautiful to not let everyone see them :) The other day we had a little photo shoot with the girls wearing their big sister little sister shirts. They turned out really cute!

And then Berkley found her toes!

Man I love this girl!

A Valentine Comparison

2009-02-16T14:40:00.000-08:00

I decided to take pictures of Berkley that would match similar pictures I took of Avery at the same age to see if they look alike. I can use the same day because their birthdays are five days apart so they were both 5 months old on Valentines Day.

Here are the pictures of Avery on Valentines Day 2006....

And here is Berkley on Valentines Day 2009

You think they're related? :)

Happy Valentines Day!!

2009-02-14T08:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!!
Love, Ian, Andi, Avery, and Berkley

Break Time!

2009-02-12T17:23:00.001-08:00

So I finally got an hour of free time at home yesterday!!

One little girl was doing this...

While the other one was playing/screaming in her room due to her attitude problem and this incredible invention...

Man Vs. Food

2009-02-08T14:24:00.000-08:00

About two months ago we went out to one of our favorite BBQ places here in town to celebrate the end of finals when we got interviewed by "Adam" from Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel. When we entered Pappy's we noticed that there was a camera crew filming the ins and outs of the place but didn't really try to get into any shots. As we sat down along with some of my school friends one of the camera crew came over and asked us if they could talk to and film us. Of course we didn't mind but then the host decided to grill Andi and I for the next 15 minutes. Andi was charming like usual but I was a bit grumpy because 1) Pappy's already ran out of my favorite ribs so I had to settle with brisket (also good but ribs are the best), and 2) I was hungry and just wanted to eat.

Anyways, the episode that we MIGHT be in will be airing on Wednesday, Feb. 25th at 10 p.m EASTERN TIME (9 p.m. St. Louis time) on the Travel Channel. We are eagerly anticipating some classic shots of us stuffing our faces.

For those that live in St. Louis and want the best (and affordable) BBQ ribs in town we highly recommend Pappy's. Its on Olive between the Wachovia complex and SLU.

New Dress

2009-02-02T20:14:00.000-08:00

So Avery and I started a new project this last week because we were stuck inside due to the snow. Avery picked a fabric and pattern and I sewed her this beautiful dress fit for a princess. It was my first time using a pattern and I made a lot of mistakes, but luckily, Avery doesnt mind :)

(marshmallow neck!)

Our Week

2009-02-02T19:59:00.000-08:00

We had a very uneventful week last week but here it is in pictures anyway...

We had several snow days so Avery and Berkley went camping in Avery's princess tent in the living room.

All bundled up and happy to go the doctor to get shots. My chunky girl is 16lbs 9oz, 95% for height and weight!!

At the zoo on the one warmish day of the week.

Avery loves the penguins.

My little butterball!!

Christmas, etc...

2009-01-19T07:05:00.000-08:00

We are finally back into the blogging thing. For the last several weeks we have been in Texas visiting family for Christmas and the New Year. We had a wonderful time. Here is a photo tour of what we did.

Christmas morning at Andi's family's place.

Because all of the family was together, we took family photos. Here are some photos taken by the extra camera during the "shoot."

Avery and Berk with their Grandma and Aunts

Bowling Fun!

Home!!!

What We've Been Up To...

2008-12-20T06:48:00.000-08:00

(The shaving cream bottle exploded in her face :)

Helping little sister play with her new toy

Panty head

Chubbs

Santa!

Christmas cookies

Doing Avery's hair for her to sing in sacrament meeting with the primary

Beautiful girls!

Baby Berks

Berkley's Announcement

2008-11-24T19:39:00.000-08:00

Here is Berkley's birth announcement (thanks sarah!) that I will try to send out sometime before she turns 1 ;). I just couldnt wait to show you how cute it turned out!

2 Months!

2008-11-23T18:51:00.000-08:00

We are so thankful for our beautiful 2 month old baby Berks. Here are some things I love about Berkley:

She is such a calm sweet addition to our family. Berkley loves to smile and coo and snuggle up and go to sleep in someones arms.
She is the complete opposite baby from Avery who never slept because Berks sleeps all the time. The first night home from the hospital she slept for 6 hour stretches at a time and has only rarely woken up more then once a night. She started sleeping through the night at about 7 weeks and will sleep from 11 until 8 and then go back to sleep in bed snuggled up next to me until 10 or 11. I love sleep and so I feel so blessed and just a little spoiled that I get so much sleep with a newborn!
Berkley rarely cries and loves to be held by her helper big sister Avery.
Berks loves the shower and will curl up like a little frog against me and relax.
I love that Berkley gets good use of her clothes because she poops through at least 2 outfits a day :)
I love how good of an eater Berkley is and how nursing her has been so easy. As opposed to nursing Avery which I didnt really enjoy, I love nursing Berkley and spending that sweet alone time with her.
I really love Berkleys perfect little round head. Her hair is growing but I enjoy the round baldness.
I love how Berkley knows who I am and will turn her head to see me whenever she hears my voice.
I love how Berkley likes to suck on my chin to let me know shes hungry.
I especially love how when she wakes up early and Im still tired and I roll over to grab her and she gives me the biggest smile and coo and keeps "talking" to me until she starts nursing.
I adore everything about my sweet girl and I just love her to pieces!

Berkley's Blessing

2008-11-23T18:00:00.000-08:00

Berkley was blessed on Sunday, November 2. She looked sooo cute in the same beautiful white dress that Avery wore for her blessing. Uncle Forrest, Aunt Mia, and cousins Zoey and Reed came to visit for the blessing and we were so excited that they could make it. Berkley was an angel and just laid there while Daddy gave her a pretty special blessing. It is kind of funny, she was blessed to be a peacemaker in our home, which if you know Avery at all, you know that it what our home needs! It was a great day and we just love our little Berkley!

Avery was a little jealous of Berkley because she wasnt the center of attention so she acted out a little bit. She would not look at the camera and refused to let me do her hair. All well, at least one of my daughters would take some cute pictures :)

Berkley

2008-11-15T18:33:00.001-08:00

Random pictures of baby Berks

Halloween Time

2008-10-31T21:50:00.001-07:00

We had a great Halloween with a Princess (Avery) and a beautiful baby (Berkley).

Here is Avery in all her Princess glory. And yes, I did put makeup on her. Its Halloween!

Daddy's three girls!

Yes, its tough being this beautiful!

Trick or treating gets tiring!

Pumpkin Picking

2008-10-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went pumpkin picking at a local farm. We had a great time and Avery picked out the perfect family pumpkin as well as a baby pumpkin for her and Berkley.

Daddy and Avery hunting for the perfect pumpkin

Found it Mom!Riding the hay wagon to the pumpkin patch

Eating the good pumpkin patch food!

Happy pumpkin picking day!

Look Alike?

2008-10-31T21:36:00.000-07:00

We think they look alike, but do you?

Disregard the hair of course :)

Berkley

Avery

Berkley's Baby Photos

2008-10-08T21:47:00.000-07:00

The other day we had Berkley's photo taken as we had done with Avery soon after she was born. We could not be happier with how they turned out! The following is a link to the proofs (click on the individual photos to make them larger):

http://emilyphotography.typepad.com/photos/berkeley/

Please also visit Emily's website (the great photographer) at:

http://www.emilyphotography.typepad.com/

2 girls in the bath

2008-10-06T18:45:00.001-07:00

You cant take your first bath without your big sister there to keep you company!

Berkley and Avery

2008-10-02T12:35:00.000-07:00

Some random pictures during our fun week with Ian's mom, Suzanne.

Avery wanted to read to Berkley :)

A Baby Story

2008-09-26T12:38:00.001-07:00

So I know everybody was waiting for more pictures of Berkley and to hear her birth story so here goes.
We decided to be induced on Thursday because it was the best time for my mom and us and because it looked like I would never go into labor on my own. Plus it was Ian's birthday and I hadn't gotten him a present yet ;) At my Wednesday appointment my doctor said that I was a 3 and so that my induction should go pretty smoothly. So bright and early Thursday morning we headed to the hospital. Just before they started the pitocin, they checked me and determined that my doctor was overly optimistic in calling me 3 centimeters dilated and said that I was really barely a 2. Nevertheless they started the pitocin at 10 and things were underway. My mom was able to get to the hospital by 3 (she flew in from Texas that morning) and I was still not really feeling any contractions. By 6 though I was not feeling great. My contractions were so close together and so strong due to the pitocin that I was in a lot of pain. After 2 1/2 hours of this, my nurse felt so bad for me that they decided to check me again to see if I could get an epidural. I was barely a 3!! I almost asked for the c-section right then and there!
A little while later I felt like I was dying so they decided I could get my epidural. As opposed to the epidural I had with Avery which didnt work, this one worked beautifully and I couldnt feel a thing. Finally at 12:30, they came to check me and I was sure that it was close to being time. I was between a 3 and 4! I was not a happy girl. I wanted them to break my water to speed things up but they wouldnt listen to me. I was sure i wouldnt have the baby until sometime in October. So we tried to sleep but who can sleep when you are in labor. Finally at around 2 they came in to check me again. The doctor did the exam and then said well, you arent a 3 anymore. I was like oh great, now Im a 4 right. He laughed and said nope, you are a 9 1/2 so get ready to go. I was shocked.
Pushing was much better this time around because I had great doctors, residents, and med students cheering me on. One of the residents told me that it was National pirate day and that I should push while Arrrrring like a pirate. Ya, at the time I was not too amused. Finally after only an hour of pushing, Berkley Alexis Smith was born at exactly 3:33 am. I endured17 1/2 hours of labor which is exactly how long I was in labor with Avery. She looked just like Avery and barely cried at all. She just laid under the warmer and looked around until I could hold her.
Berkley is such a peaceful baby who sleeps a ton and only cries when she is hungry and when her diaper is being changed. The first night home she slept for 5 hours at night! Avery loves being a big sister and does a great job helping. We love our little girls and we are so lucky to be blessed with such adorable and perfect kids :)

Happy dance for Berkley!

Berkley Alexis Smith

2008-09-20T12:02:00.001-07:00

Berkley Alexis Smith was born Sept. 19, 2008 at 3:33 am--she was 8lbs exactly and 20 inches long. Both Mom and baby are doing great. Berkley is a very peaceful baby and we are very excited about this new addition to our family!!! More details will come.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2008-09-17T15:38:00.001-07:00

Our Super Daddy is turning 27 tomorrow! We figured that we would get him another beautiful little girl for his birthday because he is such a good daddy. We love our daddy so much and we are so lucky to have him leading our family. We love you daddy!
Love, Avery, Mommy, and Berkley (almost)

Isnt he so handsome!

Tomorrows the Day!!!

2008-09-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

So because I am past my due date and because I cant wait to meet my little girl, I talked the doctor into inducing me tomorrow!! I was already a 3 today at my appointment so I may go into labor tonight on my own but in case this baby is in for the long hall at least I get some peace and comfort in knowing I will kick her out tomorrow! Wish me luck!

Happy 3rd Birthday Avery!

2008-09-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

As we get ready to welcome another sweet little girl to our family, I cant help but reminisce about my first little angel who turns 3 tomorrow. Avery is so perfect and beautiful I cant even believe it. I am such a lucky mommy to have such a sweet little princess and I love her more and more every day :)

Happy Birthday Avery!

39 Weeks

2008-09-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

No explanation necessary for this picture. I'm ginormous! Im very curious to see how big baby is!

Eckerts Farm

2008-09-07T15:04:00.000-07:00

For Labor Day we went to a place in Illinois called Eckerts Farm. We picked blackberries and apples and had a great time. Although it was super hot and humid, we had a blast. We ate as many berries and apples as we picked! Avery had the cutest berry face and loved stuffing berries into her mouth.

On the wagon heading to the berry patch Blackberry face girl!

Just ignore my prego belly and thighs here ;)

Boating

2008-09-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

So in our down time in Texas from the wedding festivities, we went out on the boat a lot. I tried to strap on the wakeboard and wakesurf board and show everyone up but they wouldnt let me ;) However, Ian was awesome at both wakeboarding and wakesurfing and I was so proud of him! He is such a stud!

From left to right, Ian, me, my sister Emily, my brother Barrett, and my new brother in law, Alex.

Wakesurfing was so awesome! Ian would get his balance using the rope, and then let go of the rope and coast behind the boat. It was so fun to watch and he did so great even though it was his first time trying!

Wakeboarding

Another one bites the dust!

37 Weeks!!

2008-08-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

Three weeks to go and Im feeling great. I know Im insane for saying this but I actually wouldnt mind waiting another 5, 6, 7 weeks or so because I feel so good and Im not quite ready to give up my sleep to a newborn ;)

Emily's Wedding

2008-08-20T09:22:00.001-07:00

So this last week we were in Texas for my sisters wedding. We had a blast hanging out with my family and celebrating with Emily and Alex. Here are some pictures but there will be more coming, dont you worry ;)

Avery and mommy at the Dallas Texas Temple

Kissing Berkley

Avery thought she was Alex's nieces mother and followed her around everywhere. The little girl hated it but Avery just wanted to help ;)

Random Pictures I Was Too Lazy to Post Earlier

2008-08-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

So I figured that it was finally time to do a mass post of the last few weeks that I have neglected to blog about. I just have a lot to do lately and I am too tired to blog so here you go, enjoy!

This is how we found Avery sleeping the other night. Strange girl :)

When Uncle Seth came into town a few weeks ago he took Ian and Avery to a Cardinals game and I got to relax at home. Thanks Uncle Seth!

Im not sure if Avery liked the game or the cotton candy better.

Several weeks ago we went to a local National forest and played in the river. It was so fun and refreshing on a very HOT day. We brought a picnic and relaxed all day.

Avery and DaddyO

Avery loved making a sand castle!

Big belly Mommy lying in the water

The river really tired Avery out and we found her asleep at the computer in the middle of playing her My Little Pony game :)

Avery and Daddy at the fountains in Forest park

31 Weeks

2008-07-15T08:44:00.002-07:00

9 more weeks of being pregnant! This pregnancy has been soooo much better then the last one. I feel really great. The only bad thing is that I am having early contractions again just like I did with Avery. On some days I get them every 3 minutes and they actually hurt! However unlike last time, my doctor has just decided to put me on medicine to stop them and just monitor me closely instead of putting me on bed rest. Woo hoo! So far I am not dilating at all so she thinks that my body just decides that its fun to contract when I'm pregnant but that I am in no real danger of preterm labor. Dont you wish you could have contractions for 15 weeks?

Belated 4th

2008-07-15T08:31:00.001-07:00

Avery, Ian, my sister Emily, and I went down to the arch to see the fireworks on the fourth. It was so fun and the fireworks were amazing. We especially loved how we just walked there from our apartment and didn't have to deal with the horrific traffic!

The arch framed the fireworks for us!

Avery was in awe the entire show!

Avery and Aunt Emmy!

The fam

Dress up and markers :)

2008-07-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

This is what Avery did while I was on the phone the other day. Yes that is marker all over her entire body. When I asked her why she drew on herself she told me that her body wanted to look colorful and beautiful!

Andi's Birthday

2008-07-04T22:04:00.000-07:00

So I surprised Andi for her birthday and took her up to Chicago for a night to see Wicked. We had never been to Chicago before and were extremely impressed with how great a city it was. We stayed on the Magnificent Mile in downtown. I would highly recommend going to both Chicago and Wicked for all those who have yet to be. There is so much to do and such great food.

We ate at a great deep dish pizza place before the show. The pizza was about two-inches thick, full of great toppings and worth going back.

This isn't the theater we went to but it was right next door. I took a picture because I thought it was cool.

Wicked was awesome.

The morning after the show we walked around the shops and did some site seeing. This is Andi on the Chicago River not too far from our hotel.

View from our hotel room.

This was our favorite stop. Ok, maybe not. After exiting Wicked our car was no longer on the street...actually none of the other 10 cars that I parked with were there either. Yes, it was towed. Apparently we parked in a loading zone. In any case, we got a nice walking tour of downtown Chicago at 11pm trying to find the impound. It was awesome.

We Love Texas!

2008-06-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

Avery and I just got back from a wonderful and relaxing trip to Texas. We really missed Ian but we managed to have fun anyways :) Avery had so much fun with Abby and Maddie and I really appreciated the break!

Here is Avery on Lexi's horse Bo. She was such a good horse rider! The best part was that Bo just stood there with Avery on his back so I didn't have to hold her.

Avery and Grandpa on the lawn mower. She lasted on it for about 5 minutes when she got too hot and needed to go swimming.

Abby and Maddie went ice skating and it was all I could do to stop Avery from trying. She has become very brave and wanted to skate soooo bad! So I let her step on the ice and she had fun slipping and sliding :) She was very proud of herself in this picture!

Here is Avery's new face when I ask her to smile. And just so you know, Avery doesn't have brownie batter all over her face because Avery and Mommy were NOT eating the batter before the brownies were cooked.

Avery, mommy, and Maddie on the tube behind Grandpas new boat. Avery LOVED it so much! She kept standing up and laughing and trying to get Grandpa to go faster. Unfortunately for her Grandpa wouldnt go fast in order to protect baby sister. I tried my best to convince him that with 3 life jackets on, me wake boarding would be perfectly fine for the baby but being the good doctor he is, he wouldnt relent. This baby owes me big time!

Bad picture of mommy but cute picture of Avery swimming in the lake.Avery and Grandpa driving the boat. She was tired and lasted about 5 minutes before she fell asleep while driving.

Ok here was Avery's favorite part of the trip. After much crying and screaming, Avery learned how to swim like a "Big Girl". She wears a floaty thing but she can swim all around the pool all by herself. I am so glad that I made her try, pool time is so much nicer now that I dont have to hold her! She was so proud of herself. She kept asking people to watch her and clap for her. She even told me that "George" (the pool snake filter nicknamed George by my siblings) was probably really proud of her! Hooray for Avery!

Here is where Avery got too excited for her own good and wanted her floaty on before I could get her swimsuit on. Pretty sure that doesnt look too comfortable but oh man it is soooo cute!