5/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

Peyton: I'm quite certain I can stop him from becoming a teenager… *sigh*
Lia: quite the personality, this one.
Austyn: such a beautiful spirit.
Tayt: pure boy. caught him playing p-i-g with dad, probably discussing 'rules' here.
Nash: see camera. look in the opposite direction. child!
Drew: freshly done nails. fresh out of real smiles.  ;)
Meg: I got nothin. Apparently we're raising pure wild animals around here. She does this a.lot!

fishy, fishy

Saturday we left all but Peyton and headed north to ice fish. The weather was above zero so we were pretty tickled to get outside. Dave has a new fetish with ice fishing, and he was happy I could tag along. 

There was absolutely no one on this secluded lake.

Bad: No restroom other than a bucket.
Good: No audience to use the restroom.

Pride swallowed. Not the easiest thing I've done at 32 weeks pregnant… 

Quite a bit of our time was spent in the jeep warming up. Watching Dave from a distance checking his tip ups. Eating chips and sammiches. Some bonding with the oldest. Fun times!

rare photo of the two of us… thanks to Peyton! :)

My attire for the day as described by Dave was of someone just coming in from the barn after doing chores… pretty accurate, although I smelled a smidge better… just a smidge!

Days away like this are few and far between, but they are still my favorite. Looking forward to spring when we can spend some time outside with all the kids just relaxing. It's long overdue! :)

Unfortunately, I hear 6 more weeks of winter… eek!

week 31 photo (32 weeks 2 days real life)

baby Smith #8

due date: March 30 (probably before Casey)

weight gain: *gasp* just did the math… 40.5 pounds (according to my last weigh-in)

Let's just get this out of the way and talk about that weight gain. I did the math and have impressed even myself. I have less than 8 weeks until this baby comes, and at this rate… it better not be a 10-pound baby! I'm 5 pounds heavier with this baby than I was with Meg at this same time. While I never worry about my weight, I can definitely tell things are a little tighter different this time around. Hoping breastfeeding goes well with this baby as it has with all the rest and I'm down to pre-baby weight in no time. It may be a scary summer if anything goes astray :|

I'm a little sad I haven't done a pregnancy post since week eighteen, but I don't leave the house much and trying to get a photo of a photographer… hard. I'm my worst critic. Thank you Casey for doing the best with the subject you had ;)

A little (or very large) side by side, and apparently I have grown  ;)

Also because my blogging is behind (as usual), today I'm actually 32 weeks 2 days. Nothing much to report. Household chores are becoming difficult… sweeping up messes, bending down to pick up anything, moving in general… difficult. I'm out of breath a LOT. If I don't answer your phone call, chances are I had to run waddle briskly to get the phone and had to catch my breath and return your call or just didn't make it in time.

Let's see… what else to report… we have possiblyyyy decided on a girls name. Boys name… can't agree! Sometimes I think boy, and then sometimes I think girl because my sister, Mallory, found out they were having their third boy so our odds are probably less of having a boy. Intelligent reasoning, I know.  ;)  

All in all, aside from wanting to nap daily and minor back/hip pain, I'm feeling great. I have always said and will always say, I love pregnancy and wouldn't wish any of the time away. I don't want it to go any faster. I don't want to be ungrateful - I'm so, SO very thankful for 8… EIGHT… (wow! still blows my mind) healthy pregnancies, mostly easy deliveries, and healthy, beautiful, easy going babies... God is good to us! and we are again, so thankful and excited to introduce another Smith baby in 8(ish) weeks!!!

4/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

Peyton: complete teenager. 

Lia: this was all she could give me…

Austyn: the painting continues.

Tayt: mesmerized with the television lately.

Nash: how he sometimes eats his breakfast.

Drew: rowdy.

Meg: a little too much like her sister.

and just like that, I'm back on last years track… oops! The kids were home for a couple snow days and instead of catching up on things… we just maintained. I'll take it, but now to catch up on the weekly photos in just a few days so I'm back on track... :)