It's been awhile :)

Sorry that I haven't posted in awhile, there has been a lot going on in the Smith family! First and foremost, my nephew was born on August 7th, and he's just about as sweet as can be :) His name is Alexander Jakson Diaz, and even though Harrison wasn't able to see him because he had a temperature (his first one ever!), it was special that he was there to celebrate. Congrats Jason and Mandy!

We are doing great, as usual! Harrison is being a little wild man, and is definitely starting to test his limits with his Mom and Dad. He's such a good boy though, but man, once you say the word "No", he think's it's hilarious and tries again. It's really tough, but if I say "No" really loud, he gets the point and starts crying, and it takes everything in me not to pick him up and tell him it's okay. I hate disciplining him, but I know it has to happen so he can learn right from wrong.

He's has been having a great time recently with both sets of grandparents :) I'm so lucky to have so many family members that want to watch him all the time. Last Saturday, I had my first "Mommy Day" in a long time. I dropped him off with his grandma Carol, and did exactly what I wanted to do....watch a movie, and have Subway. Before Harrison was born, i was quite the movie buff, there still is nothing better to me, than curling up on the couch, under covers, watching movies. I can't wait for him to be big enough to want to curl up with me and do that, but right now, he just wants to go go go!

We've been running about 3-4 times a week now for a few months, and I think he really enjoys it! He puts his little hands on the tray, and sits up really straight, like he wants to feel the wind in his hair :0) When Mommy stops for water, Harrison gets some, and now when we are at home, I see him "stretching" like I do before we run. It's so cute! We go running on the trails, and my stroller is definitely starting to show it's wear, but I'm hoping that one will go on sale soon, so we can wear that one out too :) I never thought in a million years that I would like running as much as I do, and I don't even bring my iPod with me. It's a nice release and seems to be helping with my stress. Look at me, I can officially call myself "athletic"....wow, there's a first!

Well, here is some of things that the wild man is doing now:

• Pulling up on EVERYTHING
• Pushes and pulls all the big things in our "playroom", his horsey, a chair, the ottoman.
• Cruising still, but soon enough he'll be really on the move
• Will walk when I hold on to his hands
• Stands for a minute without holding on to anything
• Kenney told me today that he climbed up on the ottoman to the couch, I didn't witness it, but whoa, that scares me!
• His 2 bottom teeth have really pushed up, and I think he's working on his top.
• Offers things now, like Cheerios, and toys, I LOVE it!
• When he hugs me, he says "mmmmm"
• Has made it up 4 stairs at his grammy and popi's house
• Still LOVES any dog he sees, and I think I hear him say "Og"...but I'm not sure.
• My dad says that he says something for phone too, so he's definitely starting to vocalize more.
• Likes to crawl over everything and everyone :)
• Hooked on Very Vanilla Soymilk, and Soy Chicken Patties....is he not his daddy's son or what?

Here's some recent pics of Harrison...being silly, eating a Club Cracker for the first time, etc. Hope all is well with everyone and I will post again soon, hopefully with pics of Alexander!

Harrison is 1!

Well, last weekend went great! Harrison had a blast at his party, even though he slept through most of it :) He was really tired for some reason, I guess all the growing will get to you. Everyone came, and it really meant a lot that so many people did show up for his party. I mean, it takes a lot for people to come to a kids party, and to stick around. But it was great! He got LOTS of toys, so much that I put half of them in his closet and when he's losing interest in some, I'll pull out a new one! His closet got packed full of clothes, hopefully to last him until the fall. We got some great pictures as you will see, and I just couldn't ask for a better way to celebrate my little one's birthday. I have truely been blessed with wonderful friends and family.

Hope everyone is well, and I'll post again soon. Have a good one!

Memories :)

I'm sitting here on July 23rd, and I am just overwhelmed with memories of where I was last year at this exact time. I remember vividly when my water broke at 6:00 pm, Kenney, was getting ready to go ride his bike and I remembered saying to him before he left "I'll call you if my water breaks!". Little did we know that that would actually happen. It was hilarious, I was calling him non stop, he couldn't hear anything since he was cycling on Mann Rd., then when he got home he came to a house full of people waiting on him to get there. It was scary, exciting and very funny. When we got to the hospital, I called my mom (who lived in Ohio at the time) to start heading over here. So they did the test to see if my water broke and said "Nope, you just had a bladder spasm, go walk for a half hour and we'll re-check you", well, I was so upset because I kept telling the nurse, I'm sure my water broke, I think I'd know if I peed myself! So, I had to call my mom back and say, "Nevermind, it's just a bladder spasm". So she turned around and went home. Well, after I walked for a little while they checked me again, and Voila! I was right, I had broken my water, so I had to call my mom again (who had JUST gotten home), and tell her to come back again! I felt so bad, but it was well worth it. After 43 hours of labor, most of which didnt hurt at all, because he was wedged somewhere, little Harrison was delivered via C-Section into this world, and we fell in love instantly. It's amazing what the last year has brought. Harrison is such a blessing. He makes every day and every moment in my life special. Just the smallest things that he does, it just melts my heart. He started recently making this noise with his mouth, I'm not sure where he got it from, or if it's like a kissy noise, but he does it all the time, and it's just precious. I just find it so amazing how fast this last year went. I remember thinking, man, how are we going to do this? And trust me, we've had our ups and our downs, but having Harrison has brought Kenney and I closer than we ever have been before.

He's just the greatest little guy ever made, not that I'm bias whatsoever :) Well, that's really it, I just was drifiting down memory lane, and wanted to tell Harrison's labor story over again because it was hilarious how he came into the world. Hope everyone is well, and I'll post pictures from his birthday this weekend!

P.S. Here are some pictures from this past weekend of my brother and his wife Mandy (who's due August 8th), and some of Harrison at the arts garden. Have a good one!

Long one!

Well, it's been awhile since I've posted, so even though I don't have any pictures, I'll keep you updated on what's going on with me. Unfortunately, every time we've gone out somewhere fun, or done something new, I never have the camera with me, so every picture is on Kenney's iPhone. Soon enough, I'll have my own iPhone to put pics on here from. So, it's been almost a month since I've posted, and as usual, everything in little Harrison's life has changed. He's gone from crawling everywhere, to "cruising" everywhere. He's gone from just standing a little, to pulling up on anything that can hold him. It's amazing! Everyday we are learning more from him, and I hope he's learning a lot from us....most recently, the word "no". :)
Not to discredit my child, or put any other child down, but having a child, to me at least, is a lot like having a puppy. You have to constantly watch them because they are getting into everything, you have to "puppy proof", for those instances when your eyes wander, they "mouth" you because they are teething, and they think that "no", is hilarious :) So, the only comfort that I have some days is that, if I can survive having 8 12 week old puppies in my house at one time, having Marley (my foster who's crazy), and training the rest of my dogs, then I think I can handle Harrison! But, really, everyday he grows and grows, and watching his little mind go, it's amazing to me, I'm so curious what he's going to be like when he's older. I go into a grocery store and see these crazy kids pulling stuff off of shelves, running around nuts, nagging their parents for whatever they want, etc., and I always think...."Please Lord, don't let Harrison be like that"...I'm sure it will happen at some point that he will throw a tantrum in the middle of the store, or cry for something that he wants, or be a brat at some point, I just hope that I can use that experience as an adventure and lesson, and stay cool, calm, and collected and not freak out as I see so many parents do in Meijer. Thank God for my iPod, I dont' know how else I'd get through a shopping trip.
We've been doing so much lately. Harrison and I have recently taking up running. I know, can you believe it? I could hardly believe that I actually like something that was athletic, but I absolutely am addicted, I run everyday for at least a half hour. It's very theraputic for me. Harrison seems to like it too, and he doesn't seem to mind the Haz Mat looking "SPF 50" onesie that he has to wear :) Plus, he gets a big sippy cup full of his favorite Strawberry Banana Juicy Juice when we're done as a reward for being so patient with Mommy. It's awesome though. Sometimes Harrison gets to go twice a day, since Kenney is working nights, he'll take him sometimes in the morning, and I'll take him again in the afternoon. Who knows what we'll do when he starts walking. Hopefully he'll still like the stroller and taking a ride with Mommy or Daddy.
Last weekend we went to Michigan for a long weekend, which it was nice to get away, even though I missed my doggies horribly. We went to Lexington Michigan on Friday, and walked around Port Huron, and even saw a Beatles Tribute band in a park that evening. It was great, the guys were in wigs and costumes and even did the accents. Harrison liked it too, we were clapping and dancing with the music, plus they had programs which he really liked the paper (of course), but it kept him occupied! It was great though to get away, and spend time with just Kenney, Harrison and I, it seems we are always on the go, and never get a chance to just chill. On that Saturday, we had a wedding for Kenney's side of the family, then on Sunday we went to a place called Greenfield Village. Now the way I understand it, is that Henry Ford, when he was alive, collected houses. Yes, houses. He would buy people's houses and put them on this land, and it's now used as like a Connor Prarie and you can look around them and see what it was like. He has, the courthouse that Abe Lincoln was in, Robert Frost's house, Thomas Edison's lab, etc. But they also have people walking around in period clothing, and driving Model T's everywhere. We went with Kenney's Mom, Step Dad, Uncle, Aunt and Grandpa, so it was fun for them to do something with Harrison and showing him all different stuff. They had a part where it was toys that kids had from back then, like stilts, and this ring game, where you had 2 drumstick looking things and a ring, and you would pass it back and forth. I don't know why, but for some reason, Harrison thought that was the funniest thing he'd ever seen! He was cracking up so loud, I swear the whole park heard him! It was super cute though.
Wow, this is a long post. I will end with an update on what Harrison's up to now:

• Pulling himself up on everything
• Cruising from couch to Mommy
• Totally off of baby food
• LOVES Very Vanilla soymilk, and fake chicken patties
• Has had meat, (turkey and a little chicken)...seems to like the soy stuff better, just like daddy! Still LOVES veggies, but not too keen on zucchini.
• Talking all the time, says Momma and I've heard a Da Da in there a few times. Just waiting until he says "dog" :)
• Speaking of which, still loves every dog he comes in contact with, and knows to put his head down when by their mouth b/c they lick all over him.
• Plays Peek A Boo on his own
• Knows when I say "Who's that baby" to look for a mirror around
• Knows his Grammy (my mom) and looks for her if I ask where she is.
• Feeds the dogs when he's in the high chair...we're working on it :)
• Being the cutest boy ever made :)

Sorry for such a long post, Harrison's in bed, and I finally got a chance to chill :) Hope everyone is doing well, and the next post will be all about Harrison's 1st birthday on July 25th!

Peace and love.

Mauria

11 months!

It's so hard to believe that Harrison is 11 months old! It's UNBELIEVEABLE how time flies! He's doing soon good, and it seems that every day he's doing something new :) My parents have a sunken living room, and for the past few weeks Harrison has kind of been standing up on the step, usually with his little booty sticking out and swaying back and forth, but when I came to their house on Monday to pick him up, he was on the top level, crawling everywhere! I couldn't believe it! We set him back down "in" the living room, and within seconds, he was standing up on it, and lifted his leg on it, and boosted himself up! So, my poor dad is going to have to chase him around the house now, since he's not confined to one room anymore! He's also clapping! We play music here all the time, I have this old RCA record player/radio in my living room and I put on the classical/jazz station at night so I can relax and Harrison can hear some good music and he started clapping to a song! Just to think 11 short months ago he was so little, couldn't roll, couldn't really do anything but sleep and eat and poop!

He's completely off of baby food, he's been off for a few weeks now, and is eating his veggies all the time! I am still a little afraid to try chicken with him because I'm always afraid he's going to choke, so I'll save that for another time....whenever I get the courage. So he's eating veggies, wheat bread, brown rice, and of course his Vanilla Soymilk :) I can tell this boy is going to be a tree hugger just like his daddy.

I have started running recently, not a lot, but just enough to get my stress under control, so Harrison comes with Kenney and I almost everyday and get's to feel the breeze through his hair. I think he likes it, we go trail running so he gets to see the woods, and stuff. A funny thing, Kenney got him this SPF 50 onesie, that helps with the sun and bugs, and the poor kid is soo cute in it, he looks like a HAZ MAT guy, I have to get a picture!

Here's a little more of what he's up to:
Gets up on his knees, grabs the ottoman, and walks on his knees towards it.

Doesn't wave when you say "bye bye", only when you say "See ya later"

Goes "Mmmmm" when he's eating.

Loves to chase, not just my dogs, but any dogs he's close to :)

Still into the water bowls, we are working on that :)

Hates it when you put a shirt and his hand gets stuck in the sleeve, he cries and cries.

We are going to Michigan next weekend for a little vacation and we are hoping to get his little feet in the water if it's warm enough! Hope everyone is well! Here are some pictures of my little cutie!

He officially found the water bowls!

Oh no, look what I witnessed the other day! He was just having such a blast splashing around the water bowls with Gladys. What a crazy kid. He also was looking in Daisy's food bowl....check out her face, priceless :) Harrison's crawling everywhere now, he's getting into everything, thank God we childproofed the other day! He's trying to open the cabinets, and he's chasing after the dogs, and whew, he goes a mile a minute! I think he's going to be a runner just like his daddy :) He also started standing up the other day! My parents have a sunken living room and he just stood up on the step like it was no big deal. Of course his little booty was swaying back and forth, it was hilarious. I just can't believe how big he's gotten! I remember the days when I could hold him and he fit just perfectly on my chest, now he's got these big arms and legs flayling around :)

We went to the zoo last weekend and had a blast, we were just waiting for the right time where he could see the animals and really be interested. He made it to the "Plains" and knocked out. I think his favorite part was seeing his Aunt Kate in the Desert :) She was feeding worms to nasty lizards, but he loves her, so he let that go :) Kenney and I got to pet the sharks, and really spend some quality time together as a family. I cherish those times together because it doesn't really happen that often.

We've also been preparing for my nephew's arrival! He is due on August 8th, in which I was due on August 11th with Harrison, so they boys are going to be really close in age! We had the baby shower last weekend with my sister in law, and we've been getting everything together to hand down to baby Alexander. I can't wait until he comes into this world, he and Harrison are going to be running around like crazy here in a few years. I hope they are as close and my brother and I are :)

Tomorrow we are off to the Indiana Dunes :) Kenney and I have been up there once before and it was a great time, and we are so excited to bring Harrison along with us on our excursions now. Before he wasn't really into anything, but now he wants to grab everything, I can't wait to see what he does in the sand!

He's on the move!

Well, Harrison is officially crawling! He's no longer army crawling anywhere, he's really crawling! And boy is he fast! If you turn your back for a minute, woosh! He's gone! It's definitely so different around here now, since our baby gate has been broken for a while, thanks to Marley, our foster beagle, we've been taking it down and letting Harrison crawl everywhere, which means, we are cleaning all the time. We have 4 dogs in our house, so you can just imagine how much dog hair and dirt is on our floors. So, we've come with a routine of sweeping and mopping everyday, plus wiping the dogs paws off as they come in from outside. My friends have always told me that whenever Harrison would start crawling, that I would get a lot of exercise because I'd be chasing after him everywhere, and they were right!

I must admit when he started crawling, I got scared, well, I'm still scared. It seems for every milestone I am always nervous about what to do next. Now that he's crawling, I'm thinking, man, now what? No more sitting him on the floor and going and folding laundry, no more playing on the laptop while he plays at my feet. It's just scary. I'm sure with our next child, these stages will be a lot easier, but I hate not knowing what I'm doing, and I feel like I'm in that "place" all the time.

Ooooo, I forgot to mention that he's getting up on his knees now too! I'm sure it's any day now and he'll be standing on his own, then soon walking...Yikes! I'll be chasing him everywhere! I can't wait to see what the dogs are going to do when he's running after then, he already freaks them out when he's crawling towards them! :)

Work is going okay, I know my last few posts have been bitchy about work, but it's been going pretty well now, not too much drama anymore. My boss has been taking a few days off lately, which is great because she NEVER takes days off, and this week she's had 2. I love that she trusts me to take over the place when she's gone, but I'm definitely not alone. We have some really great girls there. To top it all off, I've started Weight Watcher's this week and I've already lost 6 lbs, just since last Sunday! Go me :) Only 20 lbs more to go and I'll be a happy camper :) I'll keep everyone updated.