party for the lumberjack

We like birthdays. Naturally we had to make a big deal out of his FIRST birthday. Many family members took time out of their holiday to celebrate our little guy. Who wouldn't want to get together to eat food and watch a cute baby eat chocolate cake for the first time?

His birthday should have fallen on Thanksgiving but because of the leap year, he skipped it! Fun fact: Atticus celebrated two Thanksgivings before his 1st birthday. Not many can say that! Anyways, the party. Due to the fall season, Tanner's beard (for the record, no he did not grow it for the party. He started growing that thing waay before we picked the theme), and the 50 cent shirt I got at Savers...a lumberjack was born. Lots of good ideas floating around and this is what we ended up with. Chili & cornbread, red & black buffalo plaid, gummy fried eggs, and a smash cake that looked like a log. Loved that most everyone came dressed in plaid. Hello mini costume party.

Many thoughtful presents were gifted to that little guy. I want to spotlight two in particular. When Tanner found out we were pregnant, he started carving a little wooden bear. He spent the next year carving four other little animals to complete the set (with only one trip to insta-care, tee hee). He didn't stop there. He made Atticus his very own wooden stacking tower (similar to the one from Land of Nod). Many hours were spent in making these toys for his son. What a good daddy. So adorable they are!

Now I've seen a few smash cakes (mostly from the nephews and nieces) and most leave me wanting. Babies just never seem to get into them quite like the crowd wants. I am not saying this because I'm his mom but, he smashed that thing. Started out casually dipping his finger in frosting and then would look at me for approval. Then he'd go back and get some more, and more, and more. When he realized neither Tanner or I were gonna stop him, this kid went head first into that cake. I've never seen his mouth open so wide. That little nugget, he'd clap in between each bite and make sure everyone was cheering for him. So he likes chocolate cake.

It wasn't until we were putting him down for bed that I realized we didn't sing "Happy Birthday" to him. So plaid to everyone that came!

(Sorry DaBell's for not getting your picture, I'm sure G was so sad)

he is one

This post has taken me awhile. I've had to leave and come back because the emotion that sets in. I like to think back to this time a year ago. He came into our family at just the right time. Babies don't make a marriage complete but they add so, so much to them.

At the hospital little Atticus was only a few hours old. We had been asleep for maybe 2 hours when he was brought in for our first ever early morning feeding. The room was dark and it took a second for me to wake up. I remember seeing him all wrapped up and his dark beady eyes looking up at me. In that moment I wanted so many things for him. I wanted him to be happy. To feel safe with Tanner and I. I wanted him to feel loved. I wanted him to feel protected. I wanted him to be kind. I wanted him to succeed. I wanted him to live a fulfilling life. I wanted him to learn. I wanted him to be healthy. I wanted him to be an example to others. I wanted him to do great things.

Since that time, I've only wanted more and more for him. Over this year I've been blessed to watch him grow daily. There were good days and bad ones. Long ones and frustrating ones. Days I didn't want to end. So often I wanted to just freeze the moment and stay there forever. Now here we are. He is O.N.E. As cliche as it is, where did the time go?!

We got fairly lucky with this little baby. From his very first moments he was just so chill (we were spoiled and now a little nervous for future babies). The newborn stage is so nice. Sleepy and cuddly all the time. Then over time their personalities start to surface and there is no going back. Let me tell you, this kid is such a ham. Loves to put on a show for those watching. Has eight (sharp) teeth. He loves being tickled and will get baby goosebumps. If music is playing you can guarantee his arms will be dancing. When he sees something across the room he wants he will crawl oh so quickly and giggles the whole way over. If you see him he is either giving you a blank stare that is borderline a glare OR will give you half moon eyes with the most crookedly happy grin. He loves to bring home a baby bumblebee and twinkle stars. Hates wearing hats (kinda stressed about how to keep him warm outside). Loves his push walker but don't think he will being doing it by himself for awhile longer. His hair is finally coming back after starting out so thick and dark, looking like he will be a mini Tanner. Loved to eat anything and everything. After every bite he would go, "mmmm." Then one day that all changed. It's a guessing game every meal. Thinks he's the funniest when he squishes said food out of his lips and lets it drip down his chin. Has to have shoes on or the socks come off in a matter of seconds. Knows Daddy's ringtone and gets pretty impatient if he can't hold the phone during facetime. Oh next time you see him ask him to do the "Atti salute" (it's the cutest thing ever). Overall he is still a really happy, chill baby.

I will be forever grateful to my little man. He made me a mother. A title I wonder if I truly deserve but want to do my absolute best because of him. I am most happy when the three of us are together.

in seattle

Atti's favorite things to play with currently are the bowl of dog food, Grandma J's stereo, plug in scent warmers, and the toilet. Lately he likes to climb the stairs and clap his hands hooray after each one. No falls yet but the odds are against me. I've found my days consist largely of convincing little man to play with something other than the used knife (don't worry, a bread knife people) he just pulled out of the dishwasher or to not eat the ball of dog fur he found on the carpet.

So when an opportunity presented itself for us to travel, I was all for it. None of us had ever been to Seattle so it was decided. Supposedly rains all the time there. Not convinced. We enjoyed sunny 60 degree weather the entire time we were there. Seriously, it maybe sprinkled for like 5 minutes the first night. So many moments that made this vacation. Washington, you've done good.

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-Tanner playing the drums on the plane tray only to have the guy in front angrily turn around to say, "Would you stop!" and then discover a baby behind him. He casually went from super angry to replying casually, "Oh a baby...(paused awkwardly)...how old is he?" He quickly turned around without waiting for a response. Thank goodness for the baby buffer.

-"You're baby's got swag." Just waiting at a crosswalk when the guy next to us looked at Atticus all chill in his stroller. He did a double look, whispered to his girlfriend and then leaned back and told us A had swag. If anyone is gonna say that about my son, that guy was all swag himself. So I believed him.

-Clam chowder and mac n' cheese. After a childhood incident (thanks Grandma H), clam chowder is just one of those things I cannot bring myself to eat ever again. Tanner had the chowder and I opted for Beechers cheese instead.

-Conversing with a couple from Newport Beach about Mormon temples and who the angel Moroni was.

-Being tourists to the max. Doing all the "typical" things one does in Seattle. Namely the gum wall, putting pennies in the pig, eating Piroshky Piroshky, pictures at Kerry Park, seeing the Fremont Troll, using the CityPass to get into all the museums, and watching the fish get tossed around.

-Sampling Theo's chocolates. We probably had at least 3 bars worth of free chocolate by the time we were done.

-Archie McPhees. This store has everything and nothing at all. Picked up some strawberry flavored gummy candy that looks like bacon and finger hands. That sums up what the store sold pretty accurately.

-Finding out we got to go up the Space Needle twice and being able to skip the huuuge wait that night since it was our second time up. It was the equivalent of walking past the grumpy looking line of people waiting to ride Indy at Disneyland while you flash your fast pass.

-Ordering one gyro to split only to realize we were both hungrier than we had thought so we ended up ordering a second one. To split, again.

-Every Sunday is a struggle to get A to nap in church. But when you put him in a stadium of 50,000+ screaming Sounders fans, fireworks, and drums he was out hard core. We are talking floppy arms and all.

-Never had I wanted a bouquet of fresh flowers more than walking through the market. Not only for the price but these bouquets were gorgeous. I had to stop my self multiple times knowing I wouldn't be able to take them home.

-Driving 40 minutes out to Snoqualimie Falls and then back again. Just because we could. Thanks for the recommendation from my aunt!

-Almost missing our flight home because (long story short) the employee was grumpy and wanted to bump us to a flight 4 hours later. We ran through the terminal to get to our gate (which had been closed moments before we got there). I felt like the scene in Home Alone.

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one dollar, bob.

Our kid loves The Price is Right theme song. Like love, loves it. Puts his hands in the air and just shakes around. He would go from crying to complete happiness when it would come on. Seemed like a natural fit for our costume theme this year. Plus I've got to take advantage of choosing his costume before he's old enough to protest the things I pick. Am I right?

How people come up with so many original ideas each year is just one reason why I like this holiday so much. People are just so dang creative and I love it. With just a little planning and some extra time, costumes don't have to cost hardly anything. Cardboard, tape and paint go a long way. Proud to say all parts of our costumes this year (with the exception of my wig and suit) were made by us. Nailed it! Fingers crossed we win the VidAngel Halloween contest...cause every weekend will be movies (or tv shows) with the Smedleys!

Thanks to my mama for taking the pictures and letting us block her garage with curtains for the afternoon. It was only stressful when 50% everything we had just spent an hour putting up got blown off in a matter of seconds. But we pulled through for Bob. Happy Halloween from Bob, Plinko, and the Showcase contestant!

punkin picking (with my punkins)

I finally understand what people mean when they say, "my baby is teething." That stuff has got to be brutal. Add a cold on top of that with mom wiping your nose all day, makes for one very long week (for all parties involved). What seemed like out of nowhere 4 bottom teeth made their appearance. Woo hoo! It's really cute that they are all different lengths so he is like our little real life jack-o-lantern.

Date night was spent in with take-out and a movie. I think we ended up watching 3 movies this past week alone. It was one of those weeks. We will be really sad if VidAngel doesn't stay in business (if you haven't tried them you should now). Anywho, we went punkin' picking as we promised we would from last year's experience. Little man wasn't sure about the goats but went nuts over the pumpkins. I'm already excited to take him again next year. The carving will have to wait until we get home from our much needed vacation in a few days. First time to the Evergreen State!

#pinterestfail

Ugghhh. Ever wish you could rewind like 2 seconds and not do what you are about to do because immediately after you will regret it? Ya, that's me.

Somehow I deleted an entire BOARD on Pinterest. I don't even know how it happened but one minute I was looking for a pin I had saved and the next thing I knew the entire board was gone. I'm slightly embarassed at how frustrated I am about the whole situation. Like is it ridiculous to feel this way about it all? It's been like a week and I'm still working through my emotions from the loss. I've googled around and it seems there is no way to recover it. Booo.

At least this picture makes me feel better.

Rivalry Relay

As the tagline reads, "1 day, 6 friends, 60 miles. Salt Lake City to Provo."  Close enough. This year it was more like, "9 hours 58 minutes, 6 family members (who are consequently also my friends), and 63.5 miles (the route had a bit of an adjustment thanks to Udot construction).

This is our second  relay (you can read about the first one here) this summer and I love it. Our team, the Relay-ted Comrades ran in style with our Hawaiian shirts. Oh and you can't forget the pom-pom hat! The weather was hotter than desirable but what can you expect at the end of August in Utah? The race started at the U and ended at Kiwanis park across from the Y, hence the "rivalry" relay.

The most stunning feat was Tanner running up Suncrest. If any have you have ever driven that you know really what it means. Basically 1200 feet + 11% grade for 3.3 miles, just to give you an idea. Though he wasn't the official race "King of the Mountain," he might as well be in my eyes. He killed it. Proud moment for me.

Running behind Hogle Zoo in the pitch dark and hearing rustling // Jason tripping on a tree root // Tanner taking a selfie with a goat // Bailing water out of the back of the van // "Squeeze the pom-pom" // Spelling comrades wrong, ended up com"rads"...just go with it // Sleeping in accidentally 7 minutes before we had to leave // So many honey buckets // Jessica going mama bear when looking for her hubby // PR in the mile and 5k // Chocolate milk // Ending the race with creamies

My sisters (and their misters) killed it. I think we all had pre-race jitters but everyone ran well. We finished in 16th place overall.

If you were wondering, my quads are still sore. Can't wait for the next race.

 Just look behind him, still had about a mile left to go...