Party on!

Jayci turned two last week so we threw her a party last night. It was lots of fun. Chad's parents were nice enough to let us have it at their house, since ours is so far out of everyone's way. We had sort of a birthday/Halloween party since they're pretty close together. It was a simple party, since she's only 2 and really doesn't know much about birthdays yet. In fact, I think everyone really enjoyed it except her. She was having some emotional issues (I think it must have been the crowd. She's not a big fan of lots of people, even if it was just family.). We decorated pumpkin cupcakes (as you can see it was not just a hit with the little kids, but the big ones as well.), had cake and ice cream, opened presents, played a few games, and carved pumpkins. Thanks to all who came, it was a blast. And Jayci did warm up and enjoy most of her party, too!

Chad's mom, Leslie, made this cute ghost cake. It's eyes (the two egg shell candles) were on fire

yum, cupcakes!

We had some skilled cupcake decorators, as you can see

Opening presents- she understood a little better this year, but still wasn't overly excited yet

Everyone enjoyed this gift

Playing Halloween bean bag tick tack toe

Pumpkin carving fest

3 weeks and counting...

A little pregnancy update

I'm 36 weeks along now, only 4 weeks to go.. or less, I hope. Yesterday I went to the doctor and I'm now dilated to a 2 and 50% effaced. Which basically means my body is getting ready. This gets me excited because I think, maybe it'll be pretty soon. But I knew I was dilated for quite a while before Jayci was born so I looked in my journal last night and it said that I was dilated to a 2 and 50% effaced for about 3 weeks before she was born, so I might not be too early, but maybe a week early, that would be nice. With Jayci I was 4 days early. I am feeling ready, though. I'm getting excited, not only to have my body back, but also to have this precious little baby here. I am hoping to hold out for the new Riverton hospital which will be done Nov 2. With Jayci I missed the new IMC hospital by a week, so hopefully I'll make it to the Riverton one. It could be a little scary delivering that first week it opens, though. We'll see. Hopefully it'll be ready for patients when it opens. I've really been feeling quite good, just really tired. I just want to sit around all day. Plus, Jayci still wants me to hold her a lot, so that wears me out. But really, I have great pregnancies and all is really good. I am getting nervous about labor and just hope it goes as smoothly as it did with Jayci.

Some simple tasks, that I take for granted when I'm not pregnant, that are HARD to do now:

• put on socks
• put on shoes
• shave my legs
• paint my toenails
• fit between small spaces
• bend down
• tumbling stretches with my preschoolers
• demonstrating small jumps with my preschoolers
• sitting Jayci on my lap (where did it go? She gets so annoyed by it)
• kneeling by my bed to say a prayer
• dishes (my belly hits right at the counter. If only I were a little taller...)
• leaning against the tub to bathe Jayci
• picking things up off the floor
• etc, etc, etc

Soon it will be all over and I'll have my belly back. I remember how much I LOVED that after Jayci was born! But soon I will probably wish the baby was back in my belly again (like 2 am when he's screaming in the night). Oh the joys of motherhood! :)

Jayci's growing up

One week from today Jayci will be two! I can't believe how much she's grown up. But she acts more like a two year old these days. She just thinks she is such a big girl and loves to do things that older kids and adults do. I finally got a new purse, (50 cents from a yard sale!) so my old purse went to Jayci. She thinks it is so great to finally be able to play in mommy's purse without me getting after her for it. She puts her things in it and carries it around all day. One day I found her all dressed up to go, I don't know where, so I had to take pics.

Come on, Mom! Let's go shopping!

I just think she looks so grown up these days (although, the binky kind of keeps her baby look. She doesn't go far without it)

This is her all too often position, sitting on the couch, watching a favorite Barney video. She likes to lay her blanket underneath her and sit on it.

She found her dad's cowboy hat and my head band and decided to make a fashion statement

two binkies are better than one, right?

Some facts about Jayci at almost 2 years old:

• She loves to watch Barney, Curious George, Little Rascals, High School Musicals





• Having her binky and blankie everywhere she goes is a necessity these days





• She talks and talks and talks (not always understandable, but she likes to go on about who knows what) She imitates everything we say and can say lots of words and a few discernible sentences of 3-4 words. I love to hear her talk, I think it's the best thing in the world! I think she's going to be social like her dad, although she's got some of my shyness in her.





• She is quite cooperative if I take the time to explain the reason why to her. She'll just say "okay!"





• She gets very excited over things, and can be rather hyper at times





• She loves to jump, climb, do somersaults, etc





• She is very afraid of strangers. Whenever someone says "Hi Jayci" and she doesn't know who they are, she breaks down crying, which can be really annoying when I go places. But once she warms up to someone, she'll follow them around and play like they're best friends.





• She loves to play with her cousins and other little kids that she knows. She's starting to really enjoy playing with the kids in my preschool and just thinks she's one of them.





• She still loves to play with our animals. When we let the goats out she follows them all around. The other day one of the goats got leery of her and dropped his head and butted her to the ground. She was very upset, but the next time we were out with them she was back to following them around again. It makes me nervous, they are so big compared to her, but she's really not fazed. She also loves to try and keep up with our dog, Hank, as he runs around the yard.





• She loves purses, cameras, necklaces, shoes, jackets, hats, bows (for a short amount of time in her hair). Kind of a girly girl.





• She like to draw circles and little squiggles, and color pictures. Loves drawing on her hands and feet with pens, so I have to watch her carefully. (only one drawing on the wall so far)





• She loves to sing and dance and read books





• She can count to ten with a little help, and knows a few basic shapes like circle, star, heart





• She is the joy of her parents life!
  
  

Annual Smith Labor Day hike

The last 18 years or so my family has had a tradition of going on a Labor Day hike. Most of the time we go up to a ski resort and hike a small, simple trail, since we often have little kids along. This year we went to Alta ski resort up Little Cottonwood canyon. It was beautiful and fun like always. Jayci even did really well as a hiker. She loves the outdoors, and loves walking on her own, like a big girl. Here are some highlights from the hike this year.

Sweet ride on daddy's shoulders

Most of the bunch

Chad and Jayci making the climb together (Chad's got Jayci's blanket around his neck for safe keeping)

This is another tradition, to climb the pole to the top (I used to do it in my younger years, but being 7 months pregnant, wasn't quite up for the challenge. Us girls let the boys take it on this year. As you can tell, Jer was struggling at the top, which caused quite the struggle for them all)

Jayci's favorite "cheese" smile (about the only way to get a smile out of her for a picture)

Jeremy, making his way out of a water pipe under the ground. This is an old challenge of ours, to straddle the water all the way through the pipe to the other side. Jer and his friend, Ben, were the only ones that took it on this year.

I love this cute little picture. She sure loves her Daddy!

How did they get way up there? (It might not look very high, but it was above their heads and took some effort for them to climb up)

Just taking time to smell the flowers

Jayci was very worn out by the end of the hike and almost fell asleep on Chad's head