BIG Sister

Now that Elijah has joined our family, Katelyn just seems so big!  She continues to enjoy spying her letters wherever we are and loves to play ABC school in the bathtub!!  Bath-time has never been so much fun!  She got the foam letters and numbers for her b-day.  The other day, she put all her letters in a row, told me what they all were, then pointed under them and said "Helicopter"!  "I read, Mommy!  I read!"

Elijah Making Friends

              Elijah and Daniel Erdmann getting to know one another
               Sweet Sam Hondorp showing some love to little E-man

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Smiles, Smiles Everywhere!!!

Elijah has stolen our hearts with his contagious smiles!!!  We love our little man :)

Snow Day!

Katelyn and her cousins, Isabel, Alyssa, and Emma had a blast building a snow fort and snowman on the first Snow Day of the year!!! Aunt Jeanne was in charge of all the kiddos :)

Few Favorite December Pics!

Unfortunately, Katelyn refuses to hold Baby Elijah...this is as close as it gets!  (She does love him very much, but is limited to kisses and rubbing his fuzzy hair!)

Baby Elijah Growing and Changing!

                                 Our handsome VERY LONG little man!
This is a fuzzy picture, BUT one of Elijah's first smiles :)....he started smiling one week ago at 4 1/2 weeks.......after reading Katelyn's baby book, she started smiling at the exact same time!
Nothing cuter than a cozy baby with his warm little hat and BIG pacifer (that takes up 1/3 of his face :)
One of my favorite things about watching Elijah sleep is seeing where he places his hands....folded like he's praying, covering his little eyes, resting under his chin like the "perfect innocent child" that he is :) or cuddled up by his face like this.

E.W.S

   Elijah  Wayne  Smith

  November 1, 2009

           8 lbs. 3 oz.

     22 inches long 

                                                   

Praising God for His Protection

Friday was one of those days I will never want to relive!  A couple days prior, Katelyn came down with a typical cold (although her cough always sounded a little "barky"....little did we know that was our first sign of what was to come).  Craig and I both received a call at work from his parents, who were graciously baby-sitting that day, saying they were really worried about her.  Katelyn woke up from her nap wheezing and lethargic.  Craig raced to meet them, and I made a call to her pediatrician who informed me that we needed to go straight to Urgent Care since her breathing was compromised.  When I met up with Craig and Katelyn, I almost broke down.  She was so emotional (scared because she couldn't catch her breath), drenched in sweat and the most clingy I had ever seen her.  We spent the next three hours there, which consisted of a breathing treatment, a liquid steroid, and much observation.  She never "got over the hump", although was showing signs of improvement.  Unfortunately, she had a rebound affect to the medications she had taken and was worse than ever.  She was gasping for breath, experiencing retraction in her chest (majorly caving in with every breath), and scared to death.  In tears I had Craig run for help, and instantly we knew the staff was as afraid for her as we were.  They called an ambulance to transport her downtown to Devos Children's, started an IV in her little arm taped to a board for stabilization, and put her on oxygen.  I took my first ambulance ride, and couldn't stop praying and singing/humming "Jesus Loves Me".  We were so impressed with all of our staff/doctors that day, but especially with the ones assigned to us at Children's.  We were escorted to the "Elmo" room and had people constantly coming to see us so they could help our little one.  An incredible peace joined us there (thanks to so many who knew the situation and were already praying), and Craig and I both knew things were going to be okay.  Katelyn calmed down, was  given another breathing treatment and was spoiled with slurpies, and Sesame Street movies.  By 12 am, the doctor requested Katelyn take a walk around the hospital in her little gown, while her pulse-ox was monitored.  She did great, waving and saying hi to those who passed by.  We were released by 12:30 and home by 1am thanking the Lord for how the night had turned out.  It's moments like these when you realize that your children are not your own, you cannot be in control of all things, and that God created them and loves them and is the only one who in in charge in a moment like that.  We are thankful that he heard our prayers and provided such a quick healing for her.  She's been resting all weekend and every day is more herself.  That was a day we hope to never relive, but one that we will always remember.  We don't want to forget the reminders God spoke to both of us that day.      

Fall is Here and Baby #2 on the Way!!!!

We can't believe how big Katelyn is looking and acting this fall---she's going to be a wonderful big sister!
Katelyn LOVED her very first cousin sleep-over with Emma, Isabel and Alyssa (Emma and Katelyn slept in the same room....AND made it through the night!)  Isabel and Alyssa camped out in the family room
Bath time is so much more fun with cousin Emma (is what Katelyn is thinking, I'm sure!)
Before heading in for a night of pizza, games and a movie, all of us had a blast outside (playing and then going for a nice walk)
                                     Alyssa and Isabel are so good to Katelyn :)
Friday of the big sleep-over, Grandpa Adams took Auntie Kristy, Emma, Mommy and Katelyn  out to breakfast at Wealthy Street Bakery before we went to the Farmer's Market downtown 
A few weeks ago, our small group girls had a girlie day of shopping, eating, talking, eating, relaxing, eating, walking, eating....(you may be able to read between the lines to see what consumed most of our time :)    THANK YOU, Jenny, for hosting us!!
                Fun time looking at Jenny Girl's wedding pics! Bradi, Melissa, Brenda, Jenny and I were in attendance (Deb was missing this time around :(
                                                                    My hip friends :)
Katelyn with her cousin Regan
Katelyn building forts and sandcastles with her cousins Justine and Regan
Katelyn showing how much she loves her Grandma Smith
Katelyn having a ball on Uncle Jeff and Auntie Susan's boat!  What a great time of boating, tubing and water skiing (the latter two for those who weren't pregnant!)

It's been a great transition into fall.  I finally got the spring cleaning done that didn't happen in the spring or summer (ha...ha...ha!)---thanks to my current nesting state!  School is off to a terrific start!  I have a wonderful class and continue to count it a blessing to be serving at The Potter's House for another year!  At this time, we are most excited about the arrival of our newest addition.....baby boy Smith due Nov. 6 (or sooner, if I have anything to say about it!). We are counting our blessing's yet again.  We tried to include some recent pics of what's been happening with our family since our last post!

Smith Family Summer Fun!

Katelyn made a smooth transition from crib to toddler bed this summer (the crib is now freed up for Baby Boy Smith!)   Two musts....LOTS of stuffed animals and blankets.
Since Katelyn was little-little she's LOVED sleeping with stuffed animals on her head (this use to make me nervous, but now it's just humorous!).  When I see her doing this, I think of my friend Bradi, who loves to sleep the same way :)-----girl weekends reveal all kinds of secrets :)
Katelyn with her sunglasses and a book!  Some of her favorite things in the world :)
Whitecaps Game with our Small Group-----Katelyn with "Auntie Jenny"
One of our favorite garage-sale finds this summer!  Katelyn LOVES her kitchen!
Our kiddie pool with our slide (which was one of Mom Smith's best garage-sale finds for us this summer!!!!!!)

Smith Family Camp Trip in the UP! (Indian Lake State Park/Hiking at Pictured Rocks---40 min. from our campground)

                One amazing view we saw on our days hike at Pictured Rocks
          After 3 hours of hiking, we made it to Lake Superior!  What a sight!
                  Daddy and Katelyn Hiking by the waterfalls
Katelyn admiring the water and ducks while with her cousins while we set up camp
One view of our camp-sights (right on the water with its own private small beach)---this is where we set up camp for the week
The other view of our camp-sights where Jeanne's brother/sister and families stayed
Katelyn passing by time on a cooler afternoon reading her little heart out! (We brought an expandable playpen.....AWESOME when you have small kiddos!
                     Katelyn with Cousin Isabel
             Sunset on the water right beside our camp-sights
Cutie Babies!  Katelyn with Cousin Emma playing in the water on our camp-sight
Katelyn's Four Oldest cousins on Mommy's side (Billy, Becca, Isabel and Alyssa)