The Family Reacts to a New Baby...

Jacob is the family protector and continues in his role of captain safety, always reminding us to wash Eliza's binky, and to hold her head just so...He brought a stuffed kangaroo to the hospital to give to baby Eliza, but he saw how tiny she was and he was goihg to take it home with him. He looked at Eliza again and handed the kangaroo back to me and said, "You had better keep it for her, in case she grows up while I'm gone."

Miriam is in heaven, with a little baby to hold, love and watch. She always asks, "Can I hold her?" Then she will just sit with Eliza on her lap and smile.

Hazel, her first reaction was, "Can I hit the baby? Please?" but she has calmed down and never hit the baby, and she loves to find her fingers and toes. Now she is just looking for love. When Mommy told her she can't carry her, Hazel said, "Mommy can't hold me again." wimper wimper

Daddy has a new working buddy. Eliza sits on his pillow and works with him for at least a few hours a day, for which mommy is grateful.

Mommy is enjoying having a little slug around again, even if she is losing sleep...

Something that has touched us both on understanding trials better, and how the atonement of Jesus Christ can take affect in our lives: (video embedded below, or copy link in internet browser):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7zwQ_7q-fU

Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light

Little Eliza Jane....

7 lbs 14 ounces
Cheryl and I did a photo shoot today. We had more fun than little Eliza I'm afraid:)

She is here! Little Eliza Jane has made it safe and sound. Other than her cord wrapped around her neck, which is a story I'm sure we'll share with you, she was a good-colored as you want your baby to be. We again, didn't know quite what to think when the nurses didn't rush her to the ICU... but instead put her in daddy's arms to stay with us...

We feel extremely blessed to have this special little one with us. We feel so blessed to have family who has also helped us along the way. I'm sure Kathleen will write more than I will, but I promised to get these photos up before I head back to the hospital to wrestle with the nurses and doctors until they let us go home... Jacob, Miriam, and Hazel have been sweet little troopers according to Grandma and Grandpa Bentley who have been so kind to watch them for us along with Cheryl, Jared, Jenny, and others...

Without further adieu... photos and videos...

Pioneer Day...some cute photos

I'm not sure if this post will fall out of order, but these pics were so cute we had to post them!
Sure is a bunch of cute kids...

24th of July - Pioneer Day 2010 - Smith Grandma

What a fun time to see the kids get together and just play. Here are some photos of the happenings...

The three little princesses all in a row... soon to be more we are sure... (Madilyn, Ava, Miriam)


Fireworks... the Kids loved it... Thanks Grandma Sarah! We love you...

Save the Baby Eagle!

Jared and I spoke in church this past Suday and Hazel was the star of Jared's talk...

Our little Hazel… who will be 2 in September… has made up a game… in which she puts herself in a dangerous position (like climbing up on the dinner table, on the edge of a couch arm, hanging from a counter-top, or in the smallest or most dangerous spots her little mind can conceive and find…

Once she has achieved this dangerous condition, she will call out to her 2 older siblings saying…

A baby eagle… help her… the baby eagle needs help… help help… the baby eagle is dangerous… help the baby eagle… rescue the baby eagle…

To which her siblings quickly respond, rush to her dangerous situation, often with mom and dad right behind them, to then rescue the little baby eagle.. to which she often smiles with satisfaction and says, “Thank you… you saved the baby eagle… from dangerous… do it again… to which she again repeats this activity, against her parents wishes…

Our Little Artist

Jared always tells Jacob about when he was a little boy and won a trophy in a reflections art contest. This has inspired Jacob to enter the "Friend" child art exhibit. He really taking his time on his picture and we were quite impressed! It is all of Heavenly Father's creations, with him and Miriam going fishing, giving the fish a package of flies to eat as bait.

Pick Me...I'm Sweet

Miriam Loves her strawberry pajamas., in fact as you can see from the pictures, it is the middle of the day and she is still wearing them.

Sometimes we all feel like this...

Hazel asking to get out of the swing so she can climb up on the dangerous chair, just like her older siblings...

Baptism and Remembering Jesus

Well, Kathleen finally convinced me to give the book a try using computer skills, and wallah! Our first girl finished, done from scratch for our 1st children book we hope to have published within 1 month. And yes, this image is now copyrighted...

Jacob says, "Now dad, that is perfect and cute!"

Miriam, "She is sooo modest and cute!"

Hazel, "I want that, can I have it please?"

Baby Girl Names...the battle continues

The Family Favorites are:
Emma Jane (Jared's very favorite)
Eliza Jane(this is our middle ground name) Emmeline (Miriam, Hazel, and Mommy's favorite)
Flower Daisy (By far Jacob's favorite pick)
Feel free to add suggestions or vote in the comments :)

6 years and counting...Almost

Jared and I have been married 6 years this August. Just thought I would post some fun facts about our time together :). Every year has brought us closer to the Lord and to each other.

3.9 kids
14 moves
1 purchased house
4+ businesses started
3 businesses sold
10 cars (3 don't really count though...)
1 official out of state vacation (2 if you count our honeymoon)
4.5 tons of laundry (a rough estimate)
1,000's of US dollars spent on diapers

Hazel Elisabeth

Hazel is our little sunshine, in Jacob's words, "She throws things and wrecks towers" She always wakes up happy. We hear a cute little voice from under her covers in the morning that says, "Where's Hazel....Here I am" giggle giggle. She loves dollies, balls, lots and lots of attention, slides, swings, and her sippity-dippity. We love our happy Hazel.

Miriam Elise

Miriam is our little girly girl. She loves pink, princesses, nail polish, dollies, lip gloss, and anything that sparkles. She is learning to be a "real princess" which means it is not the gorgeous frilly dress that matters, but that the girl inside the dress has a kind heart and a happy smile. She is soooooo excited to be a big sister again to our new baby. We love her little mother's heart!

Jacob Nathan

Jacob will be 5 in September. He loves to build things. We call him our little engineer. He loves learning about black holes and planets. He has begun reading since he got his glasses a few weeks back. His comment about being able to see better was, "Wow! Hair is so fun!" We love him and he is great leader in our family.