Days of Diapering

My Girls....Aren't they adorable!!!!

I was sitting with Scott the other night and we figured out how many diapers I had changed since becoming a mother. It was one of those days were it didn't seem to stop. Kayt and Ella, Ella then Kayt. It caused me to stop and count. We concluded that I had changed roughly 5,000 diapers in 2.5 years. That is a lot of diapers I tell you what. I don't even want to calculate the cost on those. I wish I could be one of those really eco-friendly people that use the cloth diapers but I think my days of changing those as a child traumatized me enough that the convenience of disposable far out weighs the cost.

But...enough about diapers. How about something a little more exciting...we got a new sprinkler and mini shop vac so I can clean out my car. I know you are all amazed at the excitement in the Smith house but this was major. My life was just made ten hundred times easier and that is definitely worth making note of.

Other big news, we found a place to live in Columbus!!! I am very excited about it. It is right by a park and a walking/jogging/biking path. It is in a very good neighborhood and is not costing us a fortune. It makes me a little more excited to be heading out there. WE still haven't nailed down the logistics of actually getting out there but we have a few months.

The biggest news however was that we blessed Ella. It was very crazy once again to think that I was responsible for doing the whole family dinner after the baby blessing thing but there I was. I got really creative and did the same thing I did for Kayt's. I know I know. I did however throw in a different kind of filling for the stuffed french toast. (if you have never had stuffed french toast with homemade butter pecan dressing you are missing out on the finer things in life and should consider attending the blessing of the next Smith baby!!) I have to give props to my Aunt Traci for turning us onto the stuffed french toast. I really can't take any credit for it. Anyway, Ella was very lucky to be able to have all grandpas and great grandpas there for her blessing. I guess that is one of the perks to being an older child in a family. Your children get to know their great grandparents. There are so many things they can teach them, even when they are still little. Scott and I felt so loved on Ella's special day. We so appreciated the support of our families. That is what it's all about.

Kayt and Ella are getting cuter and cuter everyday. Kayt is such a little mommy. She comes running whenever Ella cries, gets her blankets and binkies and picks out stories to read to her. The other day she found a picture of Jesus and started telling Ella all that she knew about him. It was so precious. It was fun to be a fly on the wall and hear the truth about Jesus from a two year old. It is all just so simple for her. I learn from her every day.

I love being a mom. It's not the easiest thing but definitely the most worthwhile for me.

It's been awhile

Alright- I am back. I realized just how pathetic my updating has been when my grandma called me out. Grandparents are always so kind and understanding but I guess one blog every 10 months is not exceptable even to them. So here it goes. The update on the Smith family.

Life has been one big whirlwind. Scott was so crazy busy with school his last two semesters I was lucky to be coherent enough to give him a grunt when he came to bed in the early hours of the morning. He was usually up and out the door before I was up. It was nuts. All the while I was busy being pregnant and raising a two year old. For 9 long months we looked forward to April. I have to admit the birth of our daughter this month was not the complete reason for excitement. April meant the end of Scotts school at BYU-Idaho. He graduated Cum Laude with two bachelors degrees, one in Accounting and one in Business Management. We started our marraige with 12 credits and he graduated with 167. It has been a busy four years but if anyone could do it, Scott is the one.

April also meant acceptance and scholarship offers to graduate schools. We finally found out where we are going to be the next year of our lives. For those who don't know, we are moving to Columbus, Ohio. Scott was offered a fellowship there for the Masters of Accounting program. As hard as it will be to move almost completely across the country, we know it is the right decision and are excited for our adventure. (As I try to keep this more updated, I may have to read that last sentence to remind myself why we are so far away?!)

April also meant The END OF TAX SEASON!!!!!!! If I could shoot off fireworks with this sentence I would. Kayt and I did what we could to keep ourselves occupied. And looking back, it was probably good Scott wasn't home so much. I had nesting instincts like I never had before...Scott described it best, "you couldn't even finish dinner before she was cleaning up your plate."

Which brings us to the last of our big events, Ella K. Smith. Our beautiful baby girl. What would we do without her. Ella was due on the 25th of April but mad her appearance on the 18th. After she was here and health I just kept saying to everybody in the room, "its' over, it's done, our baby is here. That's it. I'm finished." I know that sounds crazy but with how crazy everything was, the baby growing in my belly was really an afterthought. I don't think I ever really had time to process that reality of the event and then she was here. Thank goodness though. Ella has truly been a blessing in our home.

I was afraid, like most moms I think, that I wouldn't have the bond with her like I did with Kayt. But that was not the case. From the minute I held her I wondered what we ever did without her. She was a missing peice to a puzzle. We have spent the last two months getting to know each other and readjusting our family dynamics.

Being a mother of two is definately harder than I imagined but more worth it than I imagined as well. As the end of the day I evaluate the ups and downs of the day and commit to doing better the next. It is a constant challenge to be the mom that I feel like my girls deserve. But, nothing worthwhile is easy.

Kayt and Ella are the greatest joy. I laugh outloud all the time as Kayt becomes easier to converse with. She is such a smart little girl and has the best timing. She picks up on everything, good and bad. THe other day she was helping Scott with the dishes and saw the stuff for my pump. She started lifting up her shirt and Scott quickly asked what she was doing. Kayt anounced that she needed to "milk her elbows" There is never a dull moment! Ella began smiling the other day and there is nothing better. She coos and smiles all the time. Her whole face lights up. I am one lucky mamma.

My little brother Jared got engaged a couple weeks ago. We are super excited for him. The wedding is August and then we head out.

We are now planning out the rest of our summer, hoping that the weather cooperates. What a crazy summer so far?! I will keep you posted.