Keeping Up...

You may be able to keep up with the Joneses... Maybe even the Kardashians... But the Smiths? 

Good luck!

You know we like to keep things interesting, so let me give you the Reader's Digest version of our lives up to this point.

We moved to Ft. Lauderdale with the intention of Taylor doing summer sales with Vivint. Things didn't quite work out the way we planned and we left after about a month. We thought we'd take our chances in New Jersey to spend the summer working and saving up for our move to Utah... After about 2 weeks, Taylor got offered his old job back in Orlando so he headed home to Florida while Bentley and I stayed with Mimi and Pop-Pop for a few more weeks. So back to Orlando we went until we could save up enough money to move out west. Then... finally... drum roll please... we moved to Utah!

All caught up on our travels? Let's press on...

Since we arrived in Utah a month ago, Taylor has started back up at Stevens Henager College working towards his degree in Computer Science. My rockstar husband has also secured a job at Mozy in their technical support department. And, to top it all off, we found the perfect 2-bedroom townhome for our little family in American Fork! After over a year of living like nomads with all of our belongings in a storage unit--a place to call our own!!!

I cannot even begin to explain to you all how stressful the last few months have been on all of us. Let me just say that pregnancy is hard enough, but it is definitely not meant to be mixed with lots of moves, new jobs, and living in other people's homes. I feel like I have stretched myself well beyond my capacity (and I'm not just talking about my belly). But, through it all, I have had the Lord on my side. This whole experience has been a huge lesson in faith, humility, and obedience--and one I will never forget. This has strengthened my testimony, my marriage, and my resolve to do what is best for my family at any cost. I can honestly say that the Lord has a plan for me and for my family, and while I don't always know what that plan entails, I trust that it is the best plan--much better than anything I could have worked out on my own. 

So, in a nutshell, we are getting ready to finally settle down and move into our new place in a couple weeks. Bentley is a busy busy boy--learning and growing each and every day. Baby S is doing great--getting ready to make his debut in early November. And mommy and daddy are doing everything in their power to keep calm and take this crazy life day by day. What more can you do, right?

Party Like a Rockstar

I had the pleasure of planning and executing not one, but two birthday parties in the same week! I was in charge of our ward's Relief Society Birthday activity and a very special Cookie Monster birthday party for my favorite little 1-year-old! I'm not gonna lie, I am pretty proud of how both of them turned out and wanted to make a separate post so I could show you all the fantastic details. :) Enjoy!

So, for our Relief Society Birthday celebration, I chose the theme "Sweet is the Work". So, all the decor was focused around bright, fun candy! I made lollipop topiaries for the tables (thank you, Pinterest) which I think came out adorable! We also collected quotes from the sisters about what Relief Society means to them. So I painted some frames I got from Dollar Tree to match the centerpieces and printed the quotes in cute, colorful fonts. Finally, for party favors, my wonderful husband helped me design these cute candy bar wrappers to put around Hershey bars for everyone to take home! The activity was a huge success!

Smal lollipop topiaries for centerpieces

Candy Bar Favors

Table all set up with topiaires and framed quotes

Why spend money on a banner when there's already a chalkboard available?!

Another completed table

Quote from the ever-wise Rachel McMurtrey 

Sister Reynolds putting the finishing touches on her fantastic dessert treat!

 OK, so a couple days later, we celebrated Mister B's 1st birthday!! The celebration was a but of a bummer, since a random tornado decided to blow through and keep most of our party guests at bay. But those of us who were there had a great time. :) I chose a Cookie Monster theme because from the time Bentley started eating solid foods, he was addicted to those Gerber cookies so we nicknamed him Cookie Monster. haha It made for some very festive decor!!

Cake Table

Food table

I thought the adults would appreciate a little Cookie humor.
It says "I don't always eat cookies, but when I do I eat them in a horrifyingly violent manner"

More food table decor

Decorated the mantle

Pictures of Bentley throughout the year. :)

There were, of course, plenty of COOKIES!

Smash cake

Party favors table

Cookie Favors--Look Who's ONE!

Our guests took home a little bag of yummy cookies with a balloon with these cute tags that Taylor designed!

Bentley's AMAZING cake courtesy of Miss Leah!!!

Baby Cookie Monster on the cake!

It took a minute to get into it, but once he did--watch out!

Cake Face!!

I had so much fun planning these parties!! I always forget how much I enjoy party planning until I have an excuse to do it. Only problem is... Now I have to out-do myself next year!

Ch ch ch ch changes!

Gosh, the last time I updated this

• We lived in Orlando
• Bentley was an immobile 9-month-old
• We were a family of three

Oh how things have changed! Get a glass of lemonade and a comfy chair--you're in for a massive update.

This little stud is now 13 months old! (I hope to find the time to do a separate post about his birthday party, it deserves it) Mister B is walking--make that running--all over the place. He eats like he's about to go to the electric chair. He loves Elmo and Super Why and he is the most loving, compassionate child I have ever met. He is learning new things everyday and he never ceases to amaze me with some new skill he's mastered. He loves to give hugs and "kisses" and is very good at sharing. More than anything, he loves playtime with his Daddy. He is truly Taylor's mini-me. It's so cute.

Speaking of mini: here's a sneak peek at our new little peanut! This was taken at 6 weeks, I'm now 12 weeks along. (Hallelujah for the end of the first trimester! The light at the end of a very nauseous tunnel!) My pregnancy has been very similar to the first one: nausea, exhaustion, insomnia, and lots of food aversions. But, with one minor difference: NO TIME TO REST! I have had multiple experiences where I'd have to hold Bentley in one arm and barf in the sink, all while trying to talk/sing to him because he was crying. It's been rough, I'm not even gonna lie (especially with Taylor gone all day at work). But I know it'll be worth it at the end. November 11th--get here faster!

This is the biggest change in our little family right now. Taylor's spending the summer working for Vivint. So at the beginning of April, we packed up our necessities and moved to Ft. Lauderdale! So far it's been wonderful getting to know new people and a new area. There have definitely been some bumps in the road (having your husband come home after 9pm every night definitely takes some adjusting to; and a completely commission-based income can be stressful), but we are determined to do everything we can to make this a positive, prosperous experience. 

So, overall, the Smiths are doing well. We're growing and changing in every imaginable way and looking forward to the future and all it holds for us.

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree...

Bentley is finally napping so I am going to do everything in my power to update this blog inthe next 5.2 seconds...

Ready, go!

Last time I updated, little man was--well--little. Now he's a monster!

Exhibit A: This is how he greets me in the morning. Like "Hey Mom! You're just in time! I was just about to climb out to come get your lazy butt out of bed!"

Exhibit B: He is eating me out of house and home! Baby food, table food, dog food--you name it! He is going to be a freakin linebacker by the time he's a year old.

Speaking of tragedies... My son will be 9 months old on the 21st of this month. This is jarring news to his mother who almost cries every time he grows out of another pair of jammies (which he's wearing in the 12-month variety these days and it's KILLING ME!) Where did my itty bitty little boy go?! This kid is crawling up a storm, cruising around on the furniture, giving high fives, and being all-around adorable everyday. I love watching him learn new things, but its hard to see him mature so much so fast! 

OK, so with my mommy meltdown over, I will proceed. Basically, things are good. Taylor LOVES his new job with Panda Security... and so do I. They had a fantastic Christmas party at Universal City Walk and put us up in the Hard Rock Hotel for the night! Can you say: PERKS?! We're still living at his parents' house while we look for a place, which I definitely trying, but we are so blessed to have a place to stay right now... and live-in babysitters don't hurt either. :)

On that note, from my family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!

Picture Perfect

I have taken, been in, and collected many a photo in my 24 years on this planet. But these are, by far, my favorites.

Now, instead of having you scroll through photo after photo after photo, I've complied a few collages for your viewing pleasure. And to accompany said collages, an update on your favorite little model. Enjoy!

At four months old, Bentley likes:

• Being naked
• Getting his diaper changed (see above)
• Bath time (again, above)
• Peek-A-Boo, Patty Cake, & Airplane (or, as we call it in our house, Iron Baby
• Snuggling
• Smiling

He very much dislikes:

• Teething
• Having a wet face (drool or spit up)
• Being cold
• President Obama

He's very good at:

• Sleeping
• Pushing himself up off his belly
• Holding onto rattles & toys
• Telling stories... constantly
• Kicking his legs
• Pulling Mommy's hair
• Making everyone smile

He's still working on:

• Holding his bottle
• Sitting up without support
• Rolling over consistently

Needless to say we're pretty fond of this kid. He is such a happy, smart, adorable baby. I still can't believe how lucky we are. It makes me scared to see what his siblings will be like...