Elena Lynn and Gage Paul February 2, 2012

Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park

What is in a name you ask? Well, in our kids’ case, the Big Bend area. As several of you following the blog may recall, Ryan and I took a trip out to West Texas in April of 2010 (before our kids were on the way). We started out at the Gage Hotel in Marathon, stayed in Big Bend National Park the next night and in Fort Davis the last night of our trip.

The Gage Hotel is a wonderful historic hotel which transports you from the middle of the desert into a magical wonderland of history and beauty. Ryan and I both fell in love with it when we stayed there.

The next day in the park we took several hikes…one of them being down into the Santa Elena Canyon. It is the canyon formed by the Rio Grande at the West end of the park. It is beautiful, majestic, and breathtaking. If you go to Big Bend, the likelihood is that you will leave with the Santa Elena Canyon being one highlights of your trip.

As we drove out of the park headed up River Road to Presidio, Ryan and I decided if we had a boy, his name would be Gage and if a girl, her name Elena. They are named after two of our favorite places in Texas.

As for their middle names, that is quite easy. Paul is after Ryan (and Ryan’s dad) and Lynn is after Dayna (and Dayna’s great grandmother).

Johnny Carino’s January 6, 2012

I break my blog silence after a wonderful dinner with my little family at Johnny Carino’s.  As I sat there at the table eating my salad as quickly as possible so I could relieve Ryan so he could eat his, I looked up to see the most amazing husband and most beautiful baby smiling at me from across the restaurant. An instant smile came across my face, my eyes welled up with tears, my heart started to flutter and my cheeks warmed.  How in the world am I so lucky!  God has blessed me with Ryan…with Gage…and soon with the fourth member of our little family.

I have had a few people ask me “do you miss it?”  Well…how can I possibly answer that?  Sure, I enjoyed Ryan and I’s dinners, trips to movies, trips to listen to live music, or goodness, even a full night’s sleep.  But what people don’t realize is what I WILL miss.  Soon Gage will sleep through the night…not need a bottle and be able to feed himself…go to the bathroom alone (okay maybe we won’t miss changing diapers)…walk across the room without needing my hands to support him…and the new baby will be right behind him.  I will miss those middle of the night coos and kisses.  Those smiles between bites of sweet potatoes that seem to say “how did mommy know I liked these so much.”  I’ll miss seeing little toy cars on the floor and finding baby socks, bibs and pacifiers at the bottom of my purse.  Shortly after we had Gage, I overheard Ryan telling a friend of ours, ‘no one ever told me how much fun it is to be a parent!’ Which I had not thought about…but no one does tell you about the fun stuff…which is the mass majority! Ryan and I have our whole lives together.  There will always be a new restaurant to try, a new movie to see, a new musician to tune into.  But these moments I have with my children…they are fleeting.  Before we were parents, the parents we knew always talked about how time flies.  My day literally crawls until the second I get to see Gage and it is like someone hits fast forward.  This past year has easily been the most amazing we have ever had. So to anyone that asks, I miss you and our conversations my friend…but these experiences I am having right now fill my heart with a joy I never knew possible.

Walt wrote a song called “One of Those Moments.” It is on his album Rivertown. Go buy it.  Listen to it, and thank me later.  Tonight, in the middle of a restaurant full of people…while others all over the world were at movies, the Cotton Bowl, at a concert, in a play, or stuck somewhere they really didn’t want to be, I was lucky.  I had as Walt says one of those moments I will keep for the rest of my life.  The two most important men in my life smiling at me from across the room.

Getting Settled September 23, 2011

We’re here! We closed on the sale and purchase of the houses on August 31st, we put new floors in the new house the week after Labor Day and starting camping in the house that weekend.
We are so grateful for our families for putting up with us for two weeks while we were without a home!
Gage did so awesome. We stayed in six different places in two weeks. He is such an amazingly sweet baby. It wasn’t until we got to the new house when he started getting sick…and has remained congested the two weeks we’ve been in the house. Tuesday morning his cough was just “different.” It also just so happened to be the morning Ryan had to go out of town for several days. After talking to the pediatrician, I decided to take him in…and discovered he had his first ear infection! Sweet little man never has run a high fever, nor fussed about it either. He’s on an antibiotic now (which he hates) so hopefully he’ll be better soon. Pictures will come soon.

Down the Track August 15, 2011

Well folks, it’s for reals.  We’ve sold our house!  Our Mayflower United storage pods are delivered on Friday and we start loading.  We close on the 26th and have to be out that morning.  We have been trying to get out of this house for five years now…and now that the time is finally here to leave, I find myself sad.  What a bittersweet time.  Our first home…the only home Gage has ever known.  The place where we grew from a couple into a family…planted trees, sowed bluebonnets, painted…many times.  The list of firsts goes on and on.  I can’t help but sing to myself the words to one of Walt’s songs called “Down the Track” which he wrote when he and Tina moved from Nashville to Texas.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/walt-wilkins/tracks/down-the-track–45211776

I couldn’t find a you tube video of it, so go buy it…you’ll understand the greatness.

One of my favorite lines…

“We left some nails in the wall and some marks on the floor.  Looks like we’re taking everything, but we are leaving a whole lot more when we go, down the track.”

Just go listen.

“Take one more look, leave a tear, say a prayer, bless the key.”

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Time for some music… July 21, 2011

How Romantic Is That-Lori Mckenna
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FbU8Kd4CHs

But I haven’t forgotten about Paris or the Pacific Ocean…not yet at least. I’m creating a big o spreadsheet of the places I want to go, the years I want to go and the money we need to save to get to said places. You should come with us…on the schedule…Greece, Italy, Alaska, Hawaii…

4th of July 2011 July 9, 2011

Ryan and I went our first roadtrip with Gage to Fredericksburg/Luckenbach for the 4th of July.  Car ride there took seven hours, but the ride home only took 4 1/2!  I think it was mostly because he was exhausted from the weekend.  We feel so blessed to have such an amazing group of people to run around with.  We come from all over Texas several times a year to meet in the hill country. 

We left the house about 9, stopped in Hillsboro to feed Gage, Waco to feed mom and dad, Georgetown to feed Gage, then booked it on to our home away from home, the Fredericksburg Inn and Suites.  Gage cried from Georgetown until Johnson City when he became fascinated with my water bottle.  Our friends were already by the pool and saw us coming in…Gary even brought Ryan a cold Negro Modelo to cool him off before we unloaded the car!  Melinda Ann held Gage (while Cherron took pictures of him) while Ryan and I unloaded the car.  I almost immediately hit the grocery store for picnic items, water and cash.  That evening Gage went swimming for the first time.  He didn’t seem to think much of it…didn’t smile, didn’t cry, didn’t splash, just kinda looked around like “what are they doing to me now?”

Sunday was nice.  After breakfast at the Inn we made sandwiches and headed out to Luckenbach.  It was a nice day, but hot so we only stayed a couple hours (plus we knew we would be back the next day for the 4th).  After resting in the room for a bit, we went down to the conference room where our friend Cherron had bought  food for like 100 people…20 steaks, pork chops, shrimp, vegetables, salad, a TON of fruit, cookies, cakes, smoked sausage and cheeses…not to mention ARRIBA salsas and chips (you can find then in the grocery stores and I HIGHLY recommend them)!  We helped as much as we could, trying not to get in the way.  JoAnne had decorated the room adorably in all sorts of festive 4th of July decor.  Not to mention the variety of beverages available…from Sangria with fresh fruit, to ice chests upon ice chests full of any beer or soda you can name. Gage did extremely well, but as the room filled, he started to lose patience.  I took him upstairs to feed him, then Ryan and I took shifts in the room to go visit with our friends downstairs. 

On the 4th we woke up ready for breakfast at the Rather Sweet Bakery and Cafe.  We dressed quickly after Gage woke up and hustled out the door.  People had already begun to line the street for the parade which was about to begin…not us, we just kept truckin.  After a peach scone, peach muffin, ham and cheese omelette and and a bacon and cheddar scone (don’t forget the coffee…ooooooo the coffee), we headed back out to the street to catch the end of the parade.  There is a new pie place on Main Street on our way back to the hotel so I made Ryan and Gage stop with me while I got a slice of apple and peach pie to go (they ended up being okay, but nothing too special).  We visited with friends by the pool for a while before making sandwiches and once again heading out to Luckenbach.  We setup camp in the shade next to a group of friends.  We laughed, listened and showed off Gage all day!  He was wonderful.  I kept him cool with a little handy dandy invention of my own which kept him quite happy. 

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We left Luckenbach about 6:00 and headed back into Fredericksburg.  For those of you familiar with the road between 290 and Luckenbach, you’ll be sad to know (thanks to Neal Brown and Clay Wilkins’ explanation for me) that two things are killing the oak trees along the road!  Oak decline and oak wilt.  Hundreds of dead oaks which broke my heart!  Anywho, we stopped to get Ryan something to eat on our way back to the Inn.  We got mommy and Gage bathed and cooled down, then all went back down to the conference room to see what everyone was up to.  Cherron had once again outdone herself!  She had bought hot dogs and burgers and was grilling once again.  What an amazing lady.  After Ryan and I visited for a while, we went to bed rather early that evening (prepping ourselves for another long drive the next morning). 

Tuesday we woke up late…9:00 late!  I don’t remember when Gage has EVER slept that late, but we were thankful he did.  After loading up the Nissan, we hit Rather Sweet Bakery to load up on peach muffins and scones.  The drive home went much smoother than the drive there.  Gage slept most of the drive…only woke up once so we stopped and fed him in Georgetown…not long after that, back to sleep he went. 

So his first road trip went very well…he made a ton of new friends (which all love him) and Ryan and I are learning how to travel with a baby. 

Love and hugs to all!

 

A few pictures June 12, 2011

I apologize for not keeping the blog as up to date as I would like. I have been back at work now for almost a month and have been adjusting.  Therefore, in lieu of telling you about all the wonderful things Gage is doing these days, I thought I would just upload a few pictures for ya.  Have a great week everyone!

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I will survive May 20, 2011

It has been a stressful week in the Smith household. I went back to work this week. Granted, I eased myself in by only working half days, but we started dropping him off at daycare. As I loaded him in the car on Monday morning, I started the car and Brandon Rhyder’s Freeze Frame Time was playing. It was like the driver’s seat had an eject button in it…I immediately got back out of the car went to the backseat and cried as I kissed and kissed on Gage. When I hear that song from now on, it is all I can think about…that stinging pain I felt on Monday, May 16th, 2011 at 7:45 am.

At baby school (which is how I plan to refer to it from now on) it did not get any easier. Text messages from friends and loved ones telling me they were praying and thinking of us helped tremendously.

Each day has gotten a little more bearable. Still not happy about leaving him, but I have sooooo treasured the time I have had with Gage. In the past three months I have learned more about what it is to love than I could ever imagined. God is so amazing and having Gage has taught me so much about what the words “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son…” mean.

So as we adjust to this new stage of parenthood…the “baby school” phase, I ask for your continued prayers and support. We will survive…

We’re friends right? April 27, 2011

First of all, if you are reading this…I probably think you are my friend..and would pick you up from the airport…take you to lunch…or if I had your address, send you a card…or Gage’s birth announcement.  Since I have had Gage, I have come to be sooo thankful for the large numbers of friends we have…and realizing that most of our family isn’t only family, but I consider to be friends. And before I begin…this is more of a dialog, pondering how people define friendship.

How do you define a “friend?”  Is it someone you talk to regularly on the phone?  Or maybe someone you make a point to see on a regular basis?  Or maybe it is someone who’s phone number you have in your phone…or even further, maybe it’s someone’s number in your phone, that when they call, you always answer.  Or maybe it is someone who you may only speak to every year or two, but when you do, the conversations are meaningful and real…or maybe completely goofy and fun. To me it is funny how we define friends.  Within the past year, I have come to redefine my definition of “friend.”  I have found that in my opinion, I think I am “friends” with quite a few more people than I truly am.  For example, I would do things for this person…pick them up at the airport, send them a get well/birthday/sympathy card, invite them out to concerts etc. But when that person never reciprocates those actions….does that just make me naive to the fact that they really do not want my friendship…does friendship require give and take on both sides?   When does my kindness or all-inclusive style turn into “not catching the drift.” Maybe the reason they decided not to come to XYZ event nor respond really is  their polite way of saying, no offense, but we aren’t friends.  I still think we should all be good Christians to one another, but maybe the word “friend” is too powerful.  After all…even from the time we are kids we make friend distinctions.

Best Friend – first person you call with exciting/heartbreaking news; can be yourself, say anything to them and they love you regardless

Close Friend – one whom you would ask to be in your wedding; see at least once a month

Childhood Friend – those friends with whom you have all your school memories; probably see at weddings, reunions, and showers, but may not have their phone numbers

College Friend – those with whom you have your most memorable moments in your late teens and early twenties

Lifelong Friend – those friends who you have such a tight bond with, you can go months, sometimes years without speaking, but it doesn’t matter…you are forever intertwined

Funny Friend – self explanatory

Distant Friend – two fold…may be literally living far away or one that you are friends with through another friend

Work Friend – someone you may go to lunch with or take breaks with at work, but rarely see one another outside of the office

And here lately…Facebook Friend – anyone you have ever heard the name of or think you might have gone to school with…or might have see on an escalator at the mall once…

Please note there are many combinations…lifelong funny best friend, lifelong college best friend, lifelong best childhood friend…

So while I may be naive, does it really hurt for me to “pretend” we are friends?  Am I hurting anyone’s feelings by thinking we are friends when we are not?  If anything, it hurts me more than that person because I might get taken advantage of.  I’m just sayin’…

Two Months Already! April 15, 2011

Hard to believe just two short months ago today was my due date…that I was pregnant, couldn’t ride in the car very well, nor sit on the couch.  Hard to believe when I look at our little guy to remember how little he was when he came.  I have never had two months of my life go by so quickly.  Especially when I think that I have been literally at home the mass majority of the time.  I only have four short weeks left at home with my little boy.  He changes so much each day and consistently smiles and giggles at me.  Some days I just hold him and love on him.  I guess that is why they call it family bonding time.  I am getting better at taking him out places.  I never really felt nervous about taking him places, but I dreaded packing everything up and getting going…so I’ve gotten a little better at knowing what I need to throw in the car “just in case” and what can just sit at home for our 30 minute outing.  From what I have been reading, it is time to start working him into a bedtime routine and getting him adjusted to falling asleep on his own.  Sadly, it wasn’t something I conscientiously have paid attention to at night.  Seemed most nights he just kinda fell asleep somewhere in the four hour span of eight to midnight. So I started last night in with a little bedtime routine of sorts.  Went pretty well on night one.  We’ll see how it goes.  Doesn’t it take 21 days to create a habit?  Doubt that rule holds true for babies though huh. Oh well.

Something else I have done quite a bit of while at home is watch television.  I’ve starting limiting myself because it had gotten so out of hand.  Seemed like the television was on almost 20 hours of the day early on.  I watch the news in the morning now, usually a little around lunch, then none really until the evening news …and instead of having the TV on all night, I set the sleep timer anytime we turn it on.  One show I had forgotten the greatness of is The Cosby Show.  How long has it been since you have seen an episode?  It had been more than ten years for me.  There isn’t another show on television right now that reaches the ENTIRE family.  Appealing to kids and adults.  I find myself laughing outloud at things that I guess didn’t make much sense to me growing up, but now for some reason are crystal clear.  Anywho, I encourage you all to keep it on next time you are flipping channels…I doubt you will regret it.

Not sure if it can be labeled as a rite of passage or anything, but Gage had his pictures taken in the bluebonnets.  Ryan mapped out a drive through Ennis like he planned last year and we set out one afternoon.  The crop is not as full as it was last year, but there were still plenty to see and sniff.  The wind was CRAZY so the pictures of us with him did not turn out too well…maybe next year.  I’ll post pictures later.

Can you believe Easter is almost here…this will mark the Easter Bunny’s first official visit to the Smith household.  Looks like we need to go find some long carrots.  I found Gage an Easter basket at Walmart.  What ever happened to the plastic ones we used to have as kids…now they are all tricked out…baseballs, footballs, covered in bunnies…I mean, I loved my plastic multi-colored sturdy one that lasted ten years.  Oh well.  Guess I need to hunt a little more.  I finally settled on a solid light blue one without a handle.  Since he won’t be able to carry it around this year, it’s more of the put him in it and take a picture variety.  Also bought dye to color eggs.  I have to say that is purely for mommy though…I have always loved coloring Easter eggs!  Now to find an Easter outfit.  I had one picked out at the mall the other day, but after waiting ten minutes in line at the Gap and the checkout girl clearly not caring about the long line, but more about flirting with the current guy in line, I put it back and walked out.  Maybe Ryan will go with me to the stand alone store by our house with me this weekend to get the outfit…plus he’ll get a say so if he likes it or not.

Love and joy to all!