May 12, 2008 | Mama Smith
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Category : kiddos
May 10, 2008 | Mama Smith
the task list vs. offspring
What is it about the process of moving that suddenly makes all house rules go out the window? The boys now assume that electrical sockets are fair game for finger exploration and open doors mean the otherwise off limits backyard and... Keep Reading...May 6, 2008 | Mama Smith
warm weather eating
Matthew has a thing for gazpacho. I have a thing against gazpacho, namely due to my repulsion towards anything cold and chunky involving tomatoes. But I try to be a loving, serving wife (ha) and prepare his favorite warm weather... Keep Reading...April 22, 2008 | Mama Smith
evenings at the park
We’re making the most of this gorgeous southern weather and spending as many weeknight evenings as possible outdoors. Cleveland Park offers vast stretches of romping room for the boys and grassy spots by the river for Matthew and I on... Keep Reading...April 18, 2008 | Mama Smith
the whirlwind
With this rainstorm of events swirling around us, I couldn’t for the life of me remember where I had last left off in the blogging world. Once I double checked my last post, I realized quite a bit has occurred... Keep Reading...April 9, 2008 | Mama Smith
we thought it couldn't get any worse...
...after a weekend that began with Brighton vomiting down my back and all over our couch, Matthew being summoned home from work early, Levi catching a 104 fever that refused to budge for a full 24 hours, sitting in a... Keep Reading...March 23, 2008 | Mama Smith
the fallout
After a basket full of Easter egg candy, a sunny afternoon of running around the backyard with friends, and a skipped nap, this is what you get at 4pm. A conked out toddler. Who is promptly force-fed dinner at 5pm... Keep Reading...February 28, 2008 | Mama Smith
vegan mania
The vegan fever has been unleashed in our kitchen. The past few days I have been churning out obscene amounts of food, all in the name of “practice”. I thought I’d need need an army of hungry vegans to help... Keep Reading...February 21, 2008 | Mama Smith
charming mold
When we began our search for the first owned Smith home, we knew we wanted two things in particular. An older home with character and room to grow. After spending an entire morning with our realtor, we began to feel... Keep Reading...February 15, 2008 | Mama Smith
not quite sure...
...how THIS happened… Brighton emerged from his bedroom this morning with an interesting new take on his pajama attire. How he managed to get his arm out the neck of his top, twist the sleeve, then reinsert his arm…well, we’ll just... Keep Reading...February 10, 2008 | Mama Smith
the birthday festivities
It was a gorgeous day for celebrating the lives of these two little kiddos. The adorable birthday girl, Ella, with her glowing mom. And the bleary, wonky-eyed Levi who was forced to join the party instead of napping it away. The french... Keep Reading...February 7, 2008 | Mama Smith
the silent toddler
The counterintuitive rule of thumb in parenting is that when all becomes still and quiet in the household, you know something is going down. Mischief is being carried out somewhere. One would like to think that silence mean the opposite.... Keep Reading...February 4, 2008 | Mama Smith
happy birthday to wee-why
Who arrived at 2pm a year ago. To a tentative threesome, having no clue just how much their world would be rocked by the little 8 pound bundle. With a mere 18 months after Brighton’s arrival , we were completely... Keep Reading...January 24, 2008 | Mama Smith
the failed attempt
Thankfully, up until recently, Brighton has been unable to figure out the mysterious invention, known as the doorknob. This has offered us the luxury of a late 8am start most mornings, and for himself, the opportunity to read his beloved... Keep Reading...January 17, 2008 | Mama Smith
welcome home
Matthew snapped a shot of the kind welcome home gift I left for him at our back door. I know he had to have missed the lovely fragrance of our children’s morning dump while he was gone on a men’s... Keep Reading...January 7, 2008 | Mama Smith
recovery
We survived the whirlwind of Christmas and the illness that swept through the house claiming 8 of the 9 family members as victims. The highly anticipated restful, relaxing holiday with my family was anything but that. Our first night away... Keep Reading...December 19, 2007 | Mama Smith
Philly-born
One would never guess that our bundled Brighton was actually born in the frigid state of PA, where we trudged through snow daily to get groceries, go to the park, or meet with friends for quite a few weeks out... Keep Reading...December 14, 2007 | Mama Smith
around the house
As Brighton and I lay on the playroom floor this afternoon watching the clouds move across the sky, with Levi walking back and forth along the couch collecting toys and dirty diapers and whatever else I’d left up there, I... Keep Reading...December 12, 2007 | Mama Smith
december highlights
Here Baby Jesus is resting among our dishes. Finally out of Brighton’s reach, who was using his head as a spoon to scoop up his cereal this morning. Our sacrilegious little boy. The same boy who will only let me... Keep Reading...November 19, 2007 | Mama Smith
our "thanksgiving"
We just returned from our “pre-thanksgiving” celebration with Matthew’s family in Colorado. But since the boys are peacefully snoozing and my computer has just returned to me from the Apple shop, I think I’ll be spending the evening catching up... Keep Reading...November 7, 2007 | Mama Smith
a tender brother moment...
Driving home from errands in the car today, the following conversation ensued as Levi began hacking wildly in the back seat… “Levi, are you okay, buddy? Brighton, is Levi okay?” Brighton glances over and replies enthusiastically, “Yeah! S’okay, Mama.” “What’s he doing?” “Choking. Levi’s... Keep Reading...November 1, 2007 | Mama Smith
counting his loot
Little does he know his stash would be trashed the next morning. Thankfully we didn’t go to enough houses for me to feel guilty about tossing the handful of gobstoppers, taffy and otherwise inappropriate-for-a-two-year-old candy we had collected. And amazingly... Keep Reading...October 31, 2007 | Mama Smith
halloween montage
Despite appearances, Brighton was not a cowboy, but rather a Shark Hunter. Here he is attacking his prey… We had a fun evening, joining a group of friends at Natalee and Wes’ house for chili, homemade cornbread and sangria before the... Keep Reading...October 29, 2007 | Mama Smith
old friends
Our former Philly-turned-Louisville friends, the Deebs, made the six hour trek to visit us here in Greenville this past weekend. Despite the initial dreary weather, we managed to enjoy the great outdoors with our three (almost four, with Anne due... Keep Reading...October 8, 2007 | Mama Smith
change of plans
We’d anticipated a weekend full of conquering the ever-growing list of household tasks…until we realized we all needed a break. The half-built porch rail still lays on the porch waiting to be completed. The junk from our storage shed we... Keep Reading...September 30, 2007 | Mama Smith
the clearing
Our jungle of a backyard is no more. Four hours and one hefty skid steer was all it took to reduce our knotted bramble and dilapidated storage shed to a pile of wood and red dirt. I am still in... Keep Reading...September 20, 2007 | Mama Smith
a drop in
I keep waiting for a moment to sit down and write. Share the pictures from the week. Talk about the the spots we’re finding. But alas…the house is constantly pestering us to transform it into a home, the boys have... Keep Reading...September 16, 2007 | Mama Smith
the effects of the move
The first time I realized the dramatic difference between how Matthew and I handle change was during our move from Colorado to Philadelphia. Weeks before we left Fort Collins, I would obsessively ask Matthew, “Aren’t you going to miss this... Keep Reading...September 12, 2007 | Mama Smith
our hamster cage
This morning I lay in bed, staring out our second floor window at the walnut trees huddled together in our backyard. My mom said you feel as if you’re walking through a tree house stepping in to our bedroom. I... Keep Reading...August 11, 2007 | Mama Smith
august showers
Despite the rain-filled clouds that never officially decided whether to drench us or keep us dry, we ended up having a sweet time celebrating B with our friends yesterday. The drizzle came and went, driving us indoors, then back out,... Keep Reading...August 7, 2007 | Mama Smith
one more week
Until our little B turns two. He’s transformed over the last few months into a high-energy, talking, running, 100% boy. He refuses to pee on his potty sitting down, but demands to stand like his dad. He has surprisingly good... Keep Reading...July 29, 2007 | Mama Smith
happy day levi
Happy Day. Brighton had this phrase stuck in his head after celebrating Marcy’s birthday a few months back. We sang Happy Birthday, which he had never partook in singing until that evening. The following weeks prompted many attempts at singing... Keep Reading...July 21, 2007 | Mama Smith
road kill
The other morning, Brighton had his first experience with loosing a friend after finding him smashed in the alleyway behind our house. Trevor the Tractor. His little pocket buddy. He used to carry him everywhere. Somehow he’d been left behind... Keep Reading...July 17, 2007 | Mama Smith
mom's little helper
It was a deceiving morning. Levi slept peacefully. Brighton romped around boy-style in his boots, smashing ants and throwing dirt. I sat on the steps perusing my favorite cookbooks for tasty kale recipes, thanks to a massive bag full of... Keep Reading...July 11, 2007 | Mama Smith
more summer snippets
waiting The past few days we’ve sat inside with the shades drawn, drenched in sweat, with the poor little window a/c unit coughing out the coolest air it could muster, which was a little less than the draft you get from... Keep Reading...June 26, 2007 | Mama Smith
more adventures in mothering advice
I just returned from Target with the boys where I picked up a few exciting items like nursing pads, toilet paper and tissues. Dutifully but bitterly avoiding the tempting items like cute flip-flops, funky jewelry, and a fun kid’s eating... Keep Reading...June 24, 2007 | Mama Smith
open season
Our favorite orchard opened it’s gates this weekend and we wasted no time making our way up the winding roads out of Philly towards Bucks County to enjoy a Saturday in the fields. We dragged along the Braud clan this... Keep Reading...June 6, 2007 | Mama Smith
home on the range
A quote from my first week in Colorado and the beginning of our four month engagement: A (staring out the window of Matthew’s truck on I-25): What are those things leaping around out there? M: Antelopes. A: Oh right, this is where the... Keep Reading...May 27, 2007 | Mama Smith
water weather
Our week flew by, thus the lack of posting done in minismith land. Despite our flurry of activities, Brighton did manage to coerce me into dragging the pool out of the basement, heralding the beginning of water-play weather. Now he... Keep Reading...May 20, 2007 | Mama Smith
fridays after 7
Our new date night. Hallelujah. We have arrived. With both our boys in bed by 6ish these days, an awesome babysitter lined up and our budget set for these four nights out a month, we have returned to the realm... Keep Reading...May 16, 2007 | Mama Smith
beer-stained napkin
The Blue Comet. A total dive we used to frequent pre-kiddos. We’d meet there after work and enjoy the free wings and dollar drafts. We haven’t been back together since Brighton arrived. The smoke cloud that envelopes you on... Keep Reading...May 9, 2007 | Mama Smith
chubby feet
Matthew has just left for our home meeting. I opted to stay home and tend to our sick little boy, Levi. Just as I’d settled him down for the evening, I hear cries from Brighton’s room. Somewhat unusual for the... Keep Reading...May 2, 2007 | Mama Smith
reader discretion is advised
If you’re a fish lover, you may not want to read this. If you want to continue thinking of me as a semi-decent person, you may also not want to read this. Let me preface this by saying, I did... Keep Reading...April 29, 2007 | Mama Smith
i am a lucky, lucky gal...
...my three handsome men… This may go on the books as the shortest post ever, but typing one handed with Levi occupying the other arm, exempts me from any wordiness. I added these pictures yesterday, but forgot to upload them to the... Keep Reading...April 25, 2007 | Mama Smith
crepe weather
Crepes have once again invaded our table. Last night it was ham, swiss, sun-dried tomato & spinach crepes with salad. This morning we topped them with strawberry, cottage cheese, and powdered sugar. Then for lunch this afternoon, we proceeded to... Keep Reading...April 21, 2007 | Mama Smith
hotel smith
Actually, we’d probably rank more along the lines of a motel with the lame couch we have to offer as a bed and the mouse issue we can’t seem to get rid of. But at least we don’t have cockroaches. Guest... Keep Reading...April 18, 2007 | Mama Smith
the amazon
As you might have guessed from Matthew’s previous post, we’re all a little wiped out around here. Poor Levi has had this wretched stuffy nose for over a month now, causing him to be subject to a tri-nightly saline drops... Keep Reading...April 16, 2007 | Mama Smith
april showers
Snow showers, to be exact. Who would have guessed mid-April we’d get dumped like this. A view from our side door this morning. A total shock to us all…mainly because we never watch the news or track the weather. I’m... Keep Reading...April 3, 2007 | Mama Smith
snippets #2
I should be paying bills. But who wants to pay bills on a Monday night? I’d rather drink my cup of decaf and share a few more recent snippets from the Smith homestead. Store Boughts I was on the phone the... Keep Reading...March 21, 2007 | Mama Smith
a few rare sightings
Yes, it’s true. There have been a few Bigfoot sightings in our house lately. Or at least a risen Bigfoot. We’ve seen plenty of the Bigfoot in hibernation. I tried to capture a smile from him, per requests, but all... Keep Reading...March 20, 2007 | Mama Smith
as promised
...pictures of us making due with this snowy weather… Of course, there has been lots of book reading, lots of bubble baths… What else beats a tub of warm water and bubbles on a cold day? Lots of food play… How do you get... Keep Reading...March 10, 2007 | Mama Smith
jail break
Thanks to some sunshine and temps that weren’t subzero, Brighton finally escaped the confines of our tiny home and was able to run until his heart’s content today at not just one, but two different parks. We headed home after... Keep Reading...March 8, 2007 | Mama Smith
change of scenery...
...you know you need one when you spend the morning drawing faces on your belly buttons and playing dodgeball with Levi’s wet, balled up diapers. This is how Brighton and I passed the morning hours. Matthew is home working today... Keep Reading...March 6, 2007 | Mama Smith
when fresh air is a wistful memory...
...and you’ve been stuck indoors for two days, with no hope of escape until the arctic temperatures and bitter winds leave us alone…what is one left to do?! Well, from the perspective of Levi: 1. lay on belly to get gas patted... Keep Reading...March 4, 2007 | Mama Smith
look of determination
Not something I have right now. We’re in the process of switching minismith over to a new web host. Of which has become quite a convoluted mess, involving a defunked email account and a deleted post that had been temporarily... Keep Reading...March 1, 2007 | Mama Smith
what a little sleep can do
Levi emerged from his 3 week growth spurt, chunkier and sleepier. Thank the Lord. We actually got a normal dose of sleep last night, which was much needed for this wiped-out mom. It’s one thing having a newborn keeping you... Keep Reading...February 26, 2007 | Mama Smith
secrets
The brothers conspiring together this morning on how to coordinate their crying spells, hunger panges and diaper explosions throughout the day to see if their mom is really up to standards with this whole Mommy Job thing. I think she gets... Keep Reading...February 24, 2007 | Mama Smith
window time
Last night we had probably only the third rough night with Levi since his arrival 3 weeks ago. For the most part, he’s an extremely predictable and easy baby. But there are always those nights with a newborn. Ones where... Keep Reading...February 22, 2007 | Mama Smith
little moments of respite
Tonight Matthew headed out with his guys after both our boys fell soundly asleep at 6pm. I was left with a gloriously quiet house and a full 3 hours (before Levi’s next meal) all to myself. I didn’t think I’d... Keep Reading...February 21, 2007 | Mama Smith
more of the first week
Mom and Dad returned safely to London and passed on a few more pictures to us of their time here. We’re missing them already and musing over just how grown-up our boys will be when they see their Mimi and... Keep Reading...February 19, 2007 | Mama Smith
nap time
...glorious nap time. I have been counting down the minutes for this tiny break in our day since 6am this morning. Today we began our first day as a “mom & sons trio”. So far…well, we’re surviving. Brighton spent the morning... Keep Reading...February 16, 2007 | Mama Smith
mom & me time
Taking full advantage of this last week of Matthew being home, Brighton and I decided to head out for some Mom & B time. His playgroup normally meets up on Fridays and happened to be hanging out at the Smith... Keep Reading...February 14, 2007 | Mama Smith
welcome new husband
When sharing our sadness over B’s struggle with Levi’s arrival, our midwife said the best way she could describe it to us would be if I had the following conversation with Matthew… You know, Matthew. I absolutely love being married to... Keep Reading...February 12, 2007 | Mama Smith
wawa subs
If you’ve ever been to Philly, you have most definitely passed a Wawa and maybe partaken of one of their famous subs. My dad can’t visit without having at least one or two during his stay. So yesterday afternoon we... Keep Reading...February 11, 2007 | Mama Smith
lazy sunday
My dad joined the Cirque du Smith yesterday evening after the WHM conference he was attending drew to a close. We’ve spent the day today lounging around doing a whole lot of nothing. Matthew, B and I were able to... Keep Reading...February 9, 2007 | Mama Smith
one of those
Hard days and good days. There’s bound to be a hefty mix of both in the coming months. Today was one of the hard ones. Right now, Brighton is screaming – and I means screaming – in his crib. He... Keep Reading...February 8, 2007 | Mama Smith
build, build, build
Brighton finally lost himself in something yesterday afternoon instead of just running around the house, frantically trying to gain attention in whatever way possible. He hadn’t really lost himself in anything since Levi arrived. His normal habit of entertaining himself... Keep Reading...February 7, 2007 | Mama Smith
bye-bye baby
This morning I went in to get Brighton up, trying to maintain some sense of normalcy in his life…like seeing his mom without the baby every now and then, doing things she used to do, like getting him up in... Keep Reading...February 6, 2007 | Papa Smith
All Things Will be New
Somewhere around 779,040 minutes ago, our sweet firstborn Brighton tumbled into life. Why minutes? Because for better and for worse, I’ve felt the longevity or the brevity of every one of those minutes. When he was fussing and wouldn’t sleep... Keep Reading...February 5, 2007 | Mama Smith
levi quinn
As Matthew wrote yesterday evening, our newest boy has arrived. He surprised us coming 7 days early, exactly the same early arrival timing Brighton made, and also on a Sunday. The rest of the pieces of the story will follow,... Keep Reading...February 4, 2007 | Papa Smith
Levi the Vernix King
Emerging from the womb of the Queen Bee herself, our son Levi Quinn Smith was born at 2:30pm (EST), on February 4th, 2007. He weighs in at a healthy 7lbs 12oz. (plus 10lbs of that white gummy stuff – vernix... Keep Reading...January 30, 2007 | Mama Smith
a day of errands
Matthew worked from home today, which translates into FREEDOM for me and B. We’re usually the “walking side of the family” with Matthew taking our car to work, but today the cranky Brighton and myself were offered some much needed... Keep Reading...January 29, 2007 | Mama Smith
a bluesy monday
Brighton’s sixteeth tooth is putting up quite a fight as it attempts to make it’s way up through the gums. After a day full of tears and general whininess, I took a look inside and noticed the swollen blue gums... Keep Reading...January 28, 2007 | Mama Smith
cleaning him out of me
I wish it worked like that. The more active you were, the sooner your baby would decide to vacate your belly for the more spacious and exciting atmosphere of your home. But washing dishes for the hundredth time, rescrubbing the... Keep Reading...January 26, 2007 | Mama Smith
countdown
And thus it begins. I’m remembering it all like it was yesterday. Those last few days/weeks leading up to Brighton’s arrival, my whole body started shifting and aching in preparation for his eviction from his current rental space. The same... Keep Reading...January 24, 2007 | Mama Smith
i think he knows...
Something is definitely going on. Mom is definitely up to something that will involve less of me-time and more of something or someone else time. I do not approve. This has seemingly been Brighton’s general attitude (and his general facial... Keep Reading...January 22, 2007 | Mama Smith
snow day
...if an inch or two really qualifies. At least, growing up in the south, that would have been enough to shut down the whole town. We don’t stay on top of the weather, so this morning we were surprised to... Keep Reading...January 21, 2007 | Mama Smith
three down...
Despite our highest hopes and greatest attempts to keep our hands washed, water bottles refilled and the house wiped down constantly with Lysol, the Smith fort is fully under seige. Brighton’s snotty nose and cough is still hanging on for... Keep Reading...January 17, 2007 | Mama Smith
braving the cold
We can’t complain. This is the first real evidence that it’s actually January in Philadelphia that we’ve had so far this year. But still, today was pretty brutal. And of course, with Brighton starting to feel a little bit better,... Keep Reading...January 16, 2007 | Mama Smith
passing time
I think B’s finally on the upswing. Even amidst coughing/sneezing fits, he was able to exhibit some more spunk today. Instead of lounging around on the couch and floor, he began pacing his domain again – pulling books off the... Keep Reading...January 15, 2007 | Mama Smith
you psychiatrists out there
See if you can interpret this one. My dreams always lean on the vivid/extreme side, with pregnancy only heightening that bizarre factor. I groggily woke up this morning trying to explain the panic I felt about my most recent dream... Keep Reading...January 15, 2007 | Mama Smith
the running theme
...in our household this fall/winter has been sickness. Quite literally, “running”. Running noses, running faucets of water refilling those water bottles to keep flushing out the nasty germs, running bathtubs and showers to soothe colicky coughs and aching little bodies.... Keep Reading...January 14, 2007 | Mama Smith
brighton's hopes
Even if he doesn’t know it quite yet. If he were six years old, he’d probably be up to the same thing as this kid. Every little guy wants a brother that badly, right? I know I just posted, but Matthew... Keep Reading...January 2, 2007 | Mama Smith
rest has arrived
Our last houseguest – out of four over the past few days- my sister, has bid farewell and here Matthew and I sit. Alone. Breathing a sigh of relief. It has been one wild week. Within the past week, we... Keep Reading...December 26, 2006 | Mama Smith
