Seven Months

"Wait, Mom, you gotta hear the punchline...."

At seven months, Hudson has become a successful sitter and a mobile mover and shaker (if not a proficient crawler quite yet), has gotten his first tooth, and has begun to learn sign language and babble a few words (blue, good, and book among the easiest to discern). And his adorable sense of humor? Blooming!

Christmas 2009

For once, I'm just going to shut my mouth and let the photographs do the talking (except to say that we had a magical Christmas, of course!).

The Best Christmas Gift

Of all the holiday-themed gifts my children have received, one of my favorites has to be this Fisher Price nativity scene. Papaw and Mimi got it for Ava a few years ago, and she LOVED it! In fact, we have used this set many times to teach and reenact the true story of Christmas. Ava always refers to Jesus as the baby Jesus, mainly because of this gift. She plays with it year-round; it’s always in the playroom.

This year, Hudson has also been playing with it, and even though he’s not old enough to appreciate the story behind it, it truly seems like he understands the underlying importance. Then again, I may be reading too much into the fact that he likes to gum the characters and hit the angel on top of the manger to make the song play.

At any rate, I am very thankful for the person who created this meaningful toy. It has taught my children that the best Christmas gift isn't something that can be bought or wrapped. It's never too early to celebrate the reason for the season.

Making Waves

Last night, we did some Smith family Christmas shopping at Jasper—all four of us. Our trip started with a stop at Noble Romans for pizza. Not my personal favorite, but Erik and Ava talked me into it. And Hudson? For some reason, he LOVED Noble Romans. Sitting at the table was a thrill for him. He enjoyed grabbing at all items within his reach. He laughed. He banged silverware. He tried to shove a napkin, a straw, and a pepperoni in his mouth, respectively. Obviously we don’t get him out enough.

But the best part of our trip was the waving. Lately, Hudson has discovered both the purpose and the joy of waving at others. At first, he saved his performances solely for family members, but now he has apparently branched out to include total and utter strangers.

At Noble Romans, he furiously waved at the teenager who brought us our pizza. I watched hopefully for some interaction, but this boy never lifted his eyes to notice. A few minutes later, an older gentleman bussed the table next to ours. Again, Hudson’s little hand waved happily. No response. Okay, I may be a borderline overprotective mother, because I had to fight the urge to jump up and shout SOMEBODY PLEASE WAVE AT MY KID! HE’S F-ING ADORABLE!

Luckily, by the time we ended up at Kmart later that evening, Hudson received the lavish attention he so desperately desired. Several people returned his enthusiastic waves; a few even stopped to chat.

There’s nothing like a baby at Christmastime!

Six Months

Hudson at six months—sweet, silly, seriously interested in the workings of every item he comes across. A strengthening sitter. A determined-to-be-crawler. I can't be sure, but I'm pretty confident this is a little Rich Thyen in training.

The Princess and the Frog

On Saturday, Ava and I enjoyed a girls-only trip to the movie theater to see Disney's newest princess, Tiana. We were both equally excited and thrilled about the movie; indeed, it was a full experience. While there, between the two of us, we spilled a drink (Ava), tripped over a seat (Lori), hacked on a popcorn kernel (Ava), trembled at the scary parts (Lori), took a mid-movie bathroom break (Ava), and cried during a particular moment (Lori) that we won't mention here so as not to ruin the ending for any readers.

The verdict?

Lori: Loved it! Another hand-drawn Disney classic that took me back to my own childhood.

Ava: It was wonderful. It was so magical.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Disney princesses, Tiana!

Haircut

Yes, she did it! Riding on a mixture of bravery and grown-up-ism (yes, that's a word!), Ava got her hair cut on Friday. It only took a few minutes, but I swear this child transformed into a little lady by the time the final golden strands hit the floor. Oh my, what a beauty!

Of course, this is the only pic I currently have of her new haircut, so I will try to get one tonight with open eyes and a smile.

In honor of today's first holiday snowfall....

Christmas Light Parade

Once again, good ‘ole Huntingburg provided quality holiday activities for the whole family over the weekend, and naturally the Smith women took advantage of it. Along with my mother, aunt, cousin, and some friends, Ava and I attended Saturday night’s Parade of Lights on Fourth Street. This included the Southridge Raider marching band, which provided Christmas music, Santa and Mrs. Claus, a live walking Nativity scene, and various lighted floats. Plus, everyone carried candles and enjoyed refreshments at Salem Church afterward.

Even though it was a bit cold, everyone was pleased that at least it finally felt like winter!

My New Favorite Green Beans

For my first foray into blogging recipes, I am sharing one for green beans that I found in a random magazine while at the library. Of course, I didn’t copy it down and instead relied on my mad mental skills to remember it. Yes, I should have known better. So this is my own version, a combination of memory and winging-it. Why did I choose this particular recipe to share with everyone? Two reasons. (1) I absolutely LOVE this side dish! (2) No one else in my family enjoys it AT ALL—and I’m determined to find someone who agrees with me. So if anyone actually likes to eat green beans, please try this recipe and tell me if it really is that good!

1 lb. green beans
1 tomato, diced
1 onion, chopped
5 slices turkey bacon
½ c. chicken broth
1 tsp. EVOO

Fry the turkey bacon according to package directions. Crumble into pan and add chopped onion. Cook on medium heat for 2-3 minutes.

Add green beans, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and EVOO to pan. Stir and cook covered on medium-high heat 2-3 minutes. Then uncover, stir, and cook another 2-3 minutes.

So easy! So delicious! So healthy!
So enjoy!

The Best $30 I Ever Spent

I know, I know, it doesn’t seem like much. But after a REALLY LONG DAY, it truly feels like stepping into the rainforest. Even if my particular rainforest includes adult animals that pee three feet from the waterfall, small friendly creatures that like to hold animated conversations mid-shower, and tiny yet surprisingly loud babes that sometimes screech throughout the entire experience.

You know what? For $30, it’s still a brief tropical escape. I’ll take it!

Holiday Singing Debut

Look closely—Ava is the center one in the red dress

Last night, Ava debuted her singing talent to the world (or at least a large part of the greater Huntingburg community). Her preschool put on its annual Christmas program, and this was her first year participating. Although she was admittedly nervous, she put forth a spectacular performance. She knew all the words and motions to all the songs. Even if her smile was fleeting, her professionalism was applaud-worthy.

And the best part? (Besides her beautiful singing voice, which DOES NOT come from me.) Her wardrobe! After dressing in her Christmas dress, tights, and ballet flats, she informed me that she still wasn't ready. I added a red hair bow. Still not ready! Briefly, Ava disappeared into the bathroom. When she reemerged, it was in all her fashionable glory. She had added a sparkly festive scarf around her neck. (Believe it or not, it actually matched her dress quite well!). On each wrist was a colorful ponytail holder, one red, one green. On the top of one hand was a glittery princess sticker. Now she was ready!

In all, it was a debut to remember. Way to go, Ava! Or should I say, the Divine Miss A!

P.S. Yes, I know the picture is poor-quality. My camera doesn't approve of low-lighted situations. Plus, I had to stand in my seat, swerve dangerously sideways, and anger a few people seated behind me just to get this single shot. Yes, I was one of THOSE mothers.

Telling It Like It Is

One of my many favorite things about my daughter is her ability to cut through bullshit and get right to the heart of a matter. She may be only three years old, but believe me, she’s got your number! This approach especially applies to her father. Yes, I suppose they’re too much alike for a calm, peaceful relationship. At least their fireworks keep our household interesting.

Take last night. Ava wanted something. Erik denied her. She asked. He denied. And on and on and on. Until…..

Ava: Please?

Erik: NO!

Ava: But I promise I’ll….

Erik: NO!

Ava: You’re not listening to me….

Erik: NO!

Ava: OK! You know what Daddy? (A finger drills into his chest). I hate to tell you, but YOU’RE ON THE NAUGHTY LIST!

Would this have been a good time to tell her that my personal nickname for her father during the holiday season is Scrooge? Nah, probably not.

Here Comes Santa Claus

This year, while a multitude of adventurous souls braved the shopping craze that comes with Thanksgiving, the Smiths snuggled into Christmas decorating. A feat which took several days, mainly because Mommy was lugging all the decorations down from the attic ALL BY HERSELF, thank you very much. Also, the long process may have had something to do with the fact that the playroom (which is where we christen our tree) was in and of itself a total mess. I wish I'd taken a picture of THAT!

Of course, I needn't have worried, as Miss Ava plunged whole-heartedly into the decorating fiasco. If you need a bit of history on her holiday enthusiasm, see last year's post about this time (It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas). Surrounded by boxes and with Christmas music blaring, we transformed our humble abode into a veritable holiday castle. I'd love to take all the credit, but Ava honestly did as much work as I did. Did I mention how much I LOVE my daughter!?!

My favorite moment with Ava came shortly after we had assembled the tree. Indeed, it nearly brought tears to my eyes! I was explaining the importance of "fluffing" out the boughs before adding decorations (as any of you with artificial trees can understand). Yet little miss impatient could hardly wait to unpack the tools of the trade. Before I was able to finish properly "fluffing" the tree, I had to go into the kitchen to make Hudson a bottle. This took only a few minutes, mind you, but by the time I had returned, the entire bottom half of the tree was covered with ribbon and ornaments. ADORABLE! If you look closely at our tree, you'll notice how the ribbon is crisscrossed around the boughs in a rather haphazard pattern, all thanks to my little decorator! It was so precious I didn't have the heart to redo it, so I simply mimicked her style on the top half of the tree with a little help from her. Then we ran out of ribbon at one point, so I simply added red bows to the very top. In all honesty, it's my favorite Christmas tree so far.

Lastly, we added the Christmas train, and this was my favorite moment with Hudson. He was a rather casual observer during most of this, but as soon as we turned on the train, he was HOOKED! In true little boy fashion, he had to sit down and watch that train with real gusto. He giggled, goggle-eyed, kicked his feet, and even waved as it passed by! What a sweetheart!

Finally, Ava had to pose with the finished product. This year, per her request, we put the tree in the corner of the playroom. Personally, I love it because it's more out of the way and leaves extra room for playing! There's something about a lighted tree that makes imagination even better, don't you think?

More holiday stories to come. Stay tuned!

Thanksgiving Recap

Yes, I know I posted this Thanksgiving clipart last year, but I can't help it! It's as true in 2009 as it was in 2008. I have so many, many things to be thankful for in my life, and trying to list them all would be a disservice to everyone involved. So let me simply say THANK YOU for all that I have been given. It is my daily goal to be appreciative and grateful for these myriad blessings.

Although, as usual, our Thanksgiving day was a busy one, we nonetheless enjoyed every minute of it. Family, food, and fun! You can't ask for more than that. Ava and Hudson weathered the travel rather well, and even though I wasn't pregnant this year, I managed to eat a fair portion of my meals. It was a simple day with simple blessings.

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was a joy to them as well.

Couple of Cuties Part III

My cuties getting into the Christmas spirit at Mimi & Papaw's house

Now that Mimi has decorated for Christmas, the countdown has begun for our own holiday home-trimming. Just a few more days! Of course, with all this warm weather, it's hard to imagine my favorite wintry holiday is just around the corner. Oh, well, I'm still going to drive Erik crazy by playing as much Christmas music as I possibly can for the next month or so.

Raising a Picky Eater

Each week, I try to make one new food item for my family to taste-test. Most of the time, unfortunately, someone functions as a critic and gives it the thumbs-down. Believe me, living with two picky eaters isn’t always a pleasure. At least Hudson is still in the stage where everything that he can put in his mouth, chew, and swallow is AWESOME. It’ll take him a few years before he reaches the point where he can provide running commentary on what he doesn’t like, what he won’t try, and what you shouldn’t even bother mentioning at the dinner table.

Which brings me to Erik and Ava. Erik isn’t picky so much as he likes what he likes, and he rarely tries anything new. If I stuck to a regime of about five selected meals, I’d be golden in his eyes. Which I did for the first couple of years of marriage, but then the inner cook in me opened wide her mouth and SCREAMED. With Ava, as a toddler, she loved trying new things. Some she liked, some she didn’t, but the journey of discovery was a fun one for her.

Now not so much.

Each day, I offer enticing foods. I suggest. I provide. I persuade. I ask politely. I toughen my voice. I offer again. I sample it myself. I demand. I pop the tabletop with my fist. I argue.

Sometimes, I even convince my daughter to try a bite. Maybe two. Is mealtime a battlefield in other families? A few months of this pattern and I’ve come to realize how easy we had it during the toddler years. Yes, despite repeated warnings about those toddler years, they were actually just peachy in the eating department. For a few blissful weeks, Ava’s favorite food was even asparagus. I DO NOT LIE! My child adored asparagus. Can you even imagine? Then the preschool years hit us smack in the face, and suddenly my three-year-old refuses to eat as often as she nibbles.

One night, Erik even found himself battling Ava about eating her French fries. At one point, he glanced over at me and asked, “How many kids have to be ordered to eat French fries?!?” Apparently, OURS.

Then we drew new battle lines. If she didn’t finish most of her plate of food, we would save said plate for when she inevitably became hungry at a later time. No snacks would be issued; instead, we would reheat her meal and she could eat that. This worked for awhile, but eventually she just stopped asking for a snack. Which means she ate NOTHING for that evening.

And the pattern continues.

Of course, I recently saw a ray of hope. On Saturday morning, Erik fulfilled my love of fast food and drove through Grandy’s to get biscuits and gravy for us. For some reason, he returned with a large order for me, and although I hugely enjoyed the fatty, unhealthy wonderfulness of it all, I was unable to eat a large portion of food. I sighed heavily and leaned back in my chair to breathe. It was then I realized Ava was studying me closely.

Ava: What’s wrong?

Lori: Nothing—I’m wonderfully full.

Ava: But you didn’t finish your biscuits and gravy. There’s a bunch left on your plate.

Lori: Yeah, I know.

Ava: Well, you know what that means, Mom. If you get hungry later, you have to eat those biscuits and gravy. I guess Daddy will just have to reheat them for you.

Oh, the joys of raising a picky eater! Check back later for recipe posts where I share some food that dazzled my picky eaters, and some that did not.

Christmas Stroll

This weekend, for the fifth year, I attended the Huntingburg Christmas Stroll with my mother. One of my favorite holiday traditions, the stroll is touted as a Victorian Christmas experience in a charming, turn-of-the-century, and historic downtown area. To me, it's simply a fun way to herald the holiday season. Plus spend time with my mom! (Not that I don't see her practically every day anyway, but this was her birthday week, so it was even more special. Happy Birthday, Mom!) In fact, the stroll lasted all weekend with a plethora of activities. Oh, a brief run-down? I thought you'd never ask!

1. Friday night we kicked off the stroll by eating at Fat 'n' Sassy's restaurant. Delicious! This wonderful meal was followed by the Home Tour. Luckily, all the homes this year were within walking distance of Fourth Street, so it was quick and easy. Two of them were local businesses, which was interesting, but I still preferred the two private homes that were included on the tour. Mom and I both got some great decorating ideas from them.

2. We also partook of the shopping opportunities, although neither one of us spent much money. Personally, I already own so many Christmas decorations that it's difficult to justify another holiday purchase, at least in the decorating department. But I bought a few gifts, at least.

3. On Sunday, we had pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Chase Studio. Ava had already picked out her red Christmas dress, and Hudson wore an adorable little ski outfit. Both were excited about meeting the royal couple of Christmas (this was the third time for Ava), and although Hudson didn't smile, at least he looked at the camera! And he didn't cry! Hopefully they will turn out well.

4. Lastly, after Santa pics, our crew ended the stroll with a horse-drawn carriage ride. We in the Smith family have gotten pretty close the older couple that runs the carriage rides, plus their horses. They come for every major event on Fourth Street, and of course we ride every time as well. This particular time was Hudson's first ride, however, and he seemed to enjoy it as well. Of course, he spent most of the time playing with the reindeer toy that Santa had given him, but my motherly instincts tell me we've added another little fan of the Huntingburg Christmas Stroll to our family.

Well, I've rambled enough about the stroll. On to the holiday season!

A Halloween Conversation

Well, I’m late in posting this little nugget from our Halloween repertoire, but I believe it is well worth it. Our scene: the kitchen table at my parents' house during their Halloween party. Everyone (mainly adults) is dressed in costume, stuffing their faces from Halloween-themed plates, surrounded by Halloween decorations. Understandably, we’re on the topic of fright, sharing stories about alarming things that have happened to us recently.

Karen: You wouldn’t believe what happened to me in the store today….

She proceeds to tell a story about a strange man who followed her through the aisles, making rather unusual remarks and causing her to worry about her subsequent trip to the parking lot.

Lori: Speaking of scary people, you won’t believe who was on my porch this evening….

She relates an incident about a neighbor on her front porch, making eerie sounds in the dark and causing some amount of alarm.

Briefly, the conversation lulls at this point as everyone chews their food and considers the stories at hand. Then—out of nowhere—comes a dramatic little voice to fill the void, serious and thoughtful and ready to share its own story. Mind you, this is the only child at the table.

Ava: This one time, I was at my sister’s house, and there was a HUGE SNAKE there. It was a REALLY HUGE SNAKE. We were chasing it, trying to catch it, but it was SO HUGE. We just kept trying and trying and trying. And then we finally got it.

Jenny: Wow! A HUGE SNAKE! Then what did you do?

Ava: We ate it.

I’m not sure what impressed me more: the fact that she was trying to participate in a very adult-like conversation, the fact that she came up with this story out of the blue, or the fact that she told it in such a theatrical manner. I suppose it’s one of those situations where you just had to be there. But take it from those of us who were there: PRICELESS!

P.S. On a side note, I feel compelled to inform everyone that many of Ava's fictional stories begin with the phrase This one time at my sister's house.... I'm quite certain you'll be hearing that little opener again sometime. Poor child, her mother only provided her with an adorable baby brother, so out of necessity she had to create a pretend sister with whom to have adventures. There's nothing else to say, except PRICELESS!

Baby Chloe

Congratulations to Nick and April on their beautiful baby girl, Chloe Evelyn, who arrived on November 11th! We're so excited to add another little one to the next generation of our extended family. Plus, Ava and Hudson have been anxious to have a playmate at our family functions. Enjoy the journey of parenthood!

Five Months

At five months, Hudson has mastered holding up his head, rolling over, sitting up (with assistance), performing a slow army crawl, protecting himself from his sister, patting loved ones, and executing an awkward, Tarzan-like wave.

Up next? Becoming a Baby Mozart, of course!

Halloween Pics

Hudson & Ava in costume

(His face is red from nonstop antics)

(Her mouth is chocolately from constant nibbling)

The girls in costume

Sorry about the close-ups. Apparently I forgot to get any decent shots of the full costumes. Chalk it up to having too much fun, I guess. Also, Erik respectfully declined from being included on the blog in his costume. Am I disappointed? Of course. Do I understand why? Of course.

Happy Halloween!

from the Smith family!

Looking back, we had quite a jam-packed Halloween week. As usual, Ava had trouble choosing just one costume, so she fluctuated back and forth between Sleeping Beauty and a ballerina for our various activities. Hudson was content with his adorable little pumpkin costume (selected by Ava, back when she considered being Cinderella and thought they could match). Erik even surprised me by volunteering to wear his authentic Notre Dame leatherhead helmet, thereby dressing as a Notre Dame football player. And me? Well, I first planned to dress as a harried mom (robe, slipper, teased hair, etc.), but according to my daughter, That’s not pretty! You need a pretty costume! So I drew inspiration from my kitchen and created a last-minute costume as Rachael Ray, my favorite cook! I wore an apron and a black wig and carried a wooden spoon, a bottle of EVOO, and a Rachael Ray cookbook to flash whenever no one recognized me.

Here’s a rundown of our Halloween:

1. We began our festivities with a Halloween party at The Gaslight (my favorite pizza place, remember) last Tuesday night. Erik had a game that night, so my aunt Sandy watched Hudson while Ava and I attended along with my parents. We enjoyed a pizza buffet and a magic show while there.

2. On Thursday night (after her usual music class), Ava was off to the Huntingburg Public Library for a “haunted” house where fairy tales came to life! Once again, Erik had a game, so my aunt Sandy and aunt Jenny entertained Hudson while Ava and I braved the spooks at the library. She LOVED it, although there was a witch that frazzled her a bit. According to Ava, She got up in my face too much! Which was absolutely true. She loomed so close you could practically smell the onions on her breath!

3. Finally, our fun culminated in the Halloween party my parents throw every year at their house. As usual, we had excellent food, breathtaking costumes, and more tricks and treats than ever. In fact, as we drove away after 10:00 with both kids still awake, Ava informed us that it was the best party she’d ever been to in her whole life. Yeah, it was that fun.

P.S. Thanks again to everyone who blessed my family, particularly my children, with treats and love.

P.S.S. I forgot my camera today, so I will upload pics tomorrow!

Pumpkins 2009

Over fall break, Ava and I laid integral plans for our Halloween preparations. We shopped for costumes, created goodie bags for her preschool party, and prepared to carve pumpkins. This year, instead of creating our own designs, we opted to buy templates from Wal-Mart, along with carving tools. I personally preferred this method, since we were able to carve without the use of knives. Last year, Ava was very respectful of the dangerous tools of pumpkin-carving, but I didn’t want to push my luck again.

Together, we chose two templates to carve: a wicked witch and a demon face peeking through blinds. Because the witch was listed as a difficult design, I convinced Ava to begin with the demon face. Luckily, the day we chose to carve was beautiful and crisp—perfect for the task at hand. We moved Ava’s picnic table onto the front porch and arranged our tools. She was in charge of de-gutting, which she loved, while I tried to figure out the new carving methods. Hudson watched through the screen door from his bouncy seat, surprisingly interested in our goings-on.

Almost two hours later, we finished our first pumpkin. This explains why the other one has yet to be carved. If the easy pattern took two hours, I can only imagine how long the witch would take. Hopefully we can manage to finish that one before Halloween actually arrives. Keep your fingers crossed!

More Halloween magic to come in a later post….

Oz Pause

Lately, Ava has been very into The Wizard of Oz. It has always been a family favorite, and recently an updated version of the movie was released on DVD. So of course we bought it! Since then, Ava has been quoting and reenacting various moments from the film. Mamaw Karen even bought her some sparkly red "Dorothy shoes!"

To highlight her new obsession with all things Oz, take a recent interaction between Ava and Erik. He was pestering her (as usual). Her response? She paused dramatically and replied:

I'll get you, my handsome, and your little dog too!

Snippets

Here are a couple of snippets from this past week's fun:

Hudson tried an Exersaucer for the first time—and LOVED IT!
(Trust me, that serious stare means he's filled with excitement.)

At Hunter's birthday party, Ava played with her "cousins."
She even wrestled with little Rueger, giving her a glimpse
into her future with a rough-and-tumble brother!

U-Turn

Usually Erik and I carpool together to and from work each day, but now that his sports coordinating and coaching positions have kicked in, there are several days we drive separate. This fact alone has made me realize how truly spoiled I am—it’s no fun driving all by yourself! Not only that, but sometimes a solo driver finds himself (or herself in this case) in a precarious decision-making situation. Take yesterday, for example. I was happily driving home in the good ‘ole mini-van, cruising to 80's music, when I made my first bad decision and took a back-road-short-cut. This is in Pike County, remember.

As I crested a hill on this remarkably narrow country road, I saw the flashing brake lights of the large truck in front of me, which was carrying a fully-loaded trailer as well. This explains why my vision was partially impeded, but it became increasingly obvious that there was a block in the road ahead. No traffic was coming from the other direction, and the driver in front of me seemed to be getting comfortable for the long haul. He removed his hat, rested his arm along the seat, and settled down to wait.

If you know me at all, you know that I do not wait well. At least in traffic.

Five minutes passed. Ten. Fifteen. Frustrated, I fished my cell phone out of my purse and called my mother, who was at home watching the kids. I may be a little late.

You see, the idea of an illegal U-turn had already occurred to me, and I would’ve been footloose and fancyfree if not for the size of my vehicle in relation to the width of the road. Uneasily, I glanced to my left and to my right, realizing there was a sharp drop-off both ways. A U-turn might free me from this interminable torture, but it could also turn nasty and plunge me into an even worse situation. As I gritted my teeth and tried to make a decision (another weakness of mine), two more cars appeared behind me. I grunted. This would only make a U-turn more difficult. I should’ve been brave and tried it while I had the chance!

I looked forward. No movement. Just the flicker of flashing lights—maybe police, maybe the department of transportation. What was going on?

I looked behind me. Three more cars had joined our caravan. Great! It was then I noticed a flash of movement. A man in an SUV behind me was growing impatient. Wildly, he hung his head, neck, and shoulders from the window to try and see the cause of everyone’s mounting irritation. He mirrored my earlier actions, looking left and right, forward and behind. Aha, I thought! He’s considering a U-turn! If he tries it, then I’m right behind him.

Expertly, he slid his vehicle from the line of traffic and executed a perfect three-point turn. As I watched—impressed—I couldn’t help but notice that he drove a rather compact SUV and that his portion of the road was markedly wider than mine. Did I dare to follow him?

I took a deep breath. I was either going to go down in the Guinness Book of World Records for performing the first successful U-turn in an unwieldy mini-van on an undeniably narrow Pike County road, or I was going to lodge a tire off the edge, trapping my vehicle and providing utter embarrassment to me and added frustration to my fellow drivers. I glanced at the clock. We were nearing a nearly twenty minute wait.

With renewed determination, I blared my 80’s music and pressed down on the gas. I inched forward, blocking the entire road. I could see at least seven cars behind me now, all of their drivers keenly focused on my progression. I reversed, inched backward, delicately balancing on the edge of the road. Forward. Backward. Forward. Backward. No, this was not the textbook three-point turn of my predecessor, but by some miracle I suddenly found myself pointing in the opposite direction. I had done it!

As I drove proudly away from the still-waiting line of traffic, a random woman waiting in a red car caught my attention. She was giving me the thumbs-up sign! Shaking off a mixture of annoyance, relief, and amusement, I had one lingering thought as I took an alternate route home.

I miss my co-pilot.

Gratitude Attitude

This week, I was reading my newest addition of Reader's Digest (yes, it is one of several mags I receive—do NOT laugh). Inside there was an article on the art of living with a gratitude attitude, and this completely struck a chord with me! Lately, it seems everyone around me, myself included, has been complaining about myriad items. It's so easy to fall into that trap, and so I've been actively trying to escape from it. Then at church on Sunday we talked about finding Jesus in our lives and living a joyful existence through Him. That really cemented my desire to overcome this obstacle of complaining.

Well, I found my answer! GRATITUDE ATTITUDE!

Being a self-proclaimed writer, I have decided to write down something I am grateful for every single day. That way, instead of drowning in a sea of complaints, I can instead float on the warm waves of gratitude.

I thought I'd share a few things I am grateful for here:

1. God's blessing of a family
2. Ava's smile
3. The way Hudson reaches up and touches my face
4. Erik's sense of humor
5. The fact that The Gaslight (my favorite pizza place) has returned in Huntingburg, after fire damage, bigger and better than ever

Take Me Out to the....

.....WEEKEND!

Each week, I eagerly anticipate the weekend and an extended opportunity to spend time with my family. With a smile like that to look forward to, it's no wonder!

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing?
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Excerpted from The Swing by Robert Louis Stevenson

Yum! Yum!

A promised pic of Hudson enjoying one of his first meals. You'll notice he's holding the spoon, because apparently in his world he's big enough to feed himself.

Exs-s-s-s-scuse me, but what is that?

Little Miss Ava went on another walk with her Papaw Rich. She came back bubbly and excited as usual. Grinning, she marched toward me carrying a long stick. Again, not unusual for her. Then she giggled uncontrollably. As I was processing this, beginning to realize something might be amiss, she flicked the stick ever so expertly, and my thoughts were suddenly interrupted....AS A BABY SNAKE CAME FLYING RIGHT AT ME!

Yes, they found it. Yes, she flung it directly on me. Lucky for everyone, it was rather small and also no longer alive. But my heart is still pounding, thank you very much. Look closely at the end of her stick and you'll see what I mean.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Last weekend, Ava and I attended a baby shower for my cousin Nick and his wife April. They are expecting a baby girl next month (although I think April is willing to negotiate for the end of October!). We are all excited to meet little Chloe Evelyn. Currently, my two little ones are the only next-generation children in our family, so we're hoping to add many more little friends for them in the future.

As for Ava, not only was she excited to learn another girl was on the way, but she enjoyed playing with two of her own friends, Kiera and Ella, at the shower. Aren't they adorable? Little girls are so sweet!

A Lingering Question

You know, I consider myself a fairly intelligent person. I was valedictorian of my high school. At college, I was a full-ride Presidential Scholar.

SO WHY, FOR SMARTY PANTS SAKES, CAN I NOT PUT A PROPER PONYTAIL IN MY DAUGHTER'S BEAUTIFUL HAIR?!?

Joy of Eating

As many of you know, eating remains a central pastime for us in the Smith family. We love to eat at restaurants, cook our own elaborate meals (well, at least we try!), and experiment with new recipes. Although Ava has recently become somewhat of a picky eater (more posts about THAT later), she too enjoys both cooking and eating. Her specialty is homemade pizza. I provide her with the dough and the ingredients, and she assembles pizzas for everyone. Adorable!

Even Hudson has recently discovered the joy of eating. Within the past week, he has tried rice cereal, sweet potatoes, and squash. And—let me tell you—he appears to follow in our family footsteps in the eating department. My little man LOVES to eat! Until recently, his only source of nutrition was breast milk. As many of you know, I have been very blessed to be able to successfully nurse both my children. In fact, I am a huge supporter of breastfeeding; if possible, I would nurse exclusively for a year.

Of course, that’s not always possible. With Ava, I had several months of exclusive nursing before I had to return to work, at which point we switched her over to formula. With Hudson, I started school when he was only a few months old, so I have been toting the ‘ol breast pump with me every day to school. Still, it was hard to keep up with the demand, so he is currently on half breast milk, half formula bottles. And now, of course, he is beginning to try baby food!

Soon, I’ll try and post some pics of his adventures with eating! First rice cereal. Then sweet potatoes and squash. What will it be next?!?

Couple of Cuties Part II

Plus a big, hairy man-hand, but we had to do something to keep Hudson from cliff-diving off the couch, right?

Four Months

Hudson at four months: more interaction! more skills! more personality! (And if you look closely, you'll notice he's turning the pages of his book! Yes, he can. And does. Frequently. Could I be so lucky to raise two voracious readers!?!)

Herbstfest 2009

Ava playing princess in the park

Despite the looming threat of rain, this year’s Herbstfest emerged as an enjoyable experience for everyone, at least in the Smith family. In fact, I’d venture to say even Erik had a smidgen of fun himself. Per tradition (which—as many know—Ava and I hold very dear), we ate food and Ava bounced on Friday night. Hudson made his first Herbstfest appearance, smiling, schmoozing, and otherwise being adorable. Then on Saturday Ava and I returned with my parents for more food, more bouncing, park play, and the now-famous purchasing of pumpkins. Finally, on Sunday, Ava and I attended the parade with the usual gang of friends and family.

What a fest! What a time! Here are some additional photos to commemorate our memories:

Bouncing confidently this year!

Observing the parade in all its glory

Hudson laughing with Jill & Sandy