Our Sweet Baby Boy!

Our sweet baby Isac Brandon Smith is finally here!

Born on Monday August 29th, 2011

Time: 6:06 PM

Weight: 8 lbs 0 oz

Length: 20 & 1/2 inches



We are so excited to have our handsome baby boy here safe and sound. I have plenty more to say, but life as a mommy is quite exhausting already! More to come. :)

Pregnant For Far Too Long!

I understand that I'm not even 40 weeks yet, but I have been pregnant for 276 days!! I think it's quite obvious that I'm feeling very over it by now. I am more ready than I ever thought I'd be to go into labor. Brandon is dying with anticipation too! Each time we talk on the phone throughout the day, he has looked up something new about labor and asks me questions about if I'm feeling this yet, or if I've experienced that. He's pretty confident with all the research he has done that he could deliver this baby at home! Let's just say that won't be happening, because Mama wants an epidural!

I have a doctors appointment this afternoon and I will be getting my membranes stripped. We are hoping that I will go into labor today or tomorrow! Just in case I don't.... I am scheduling an induction for Monday August 29th! (My original due date). We are definitely feeling a mix of emotions in our home right now. Everything from excitement beyond belief, to anxiousness, to nervousness, to pure joy in knowing we'll have a baby here in less than a week! We are so ready for the birth of our son, now it's just up to him to decide to be born! :)

Baby Isac Guessing Game!

At my appointment on Thursday (8/18/11), I was dialated to 3cm, and 50% effaced! I have been having plenty of Braxton Hicks contractions and a few real contractions as well. We decided to go into the hospital last night, hoping that they wouldn't send me home.... But they did. Although I am considered to be in "early labor", I am still only 3cm dialated and 60-70% effaced. The doctor says I can labor at home until either my water breaks, or my contractions are stronger, closer together, and at regular intervals, at which time I'll be considered in "active labor". I guess even though Brandon and I are more than ready to meet little Isac, he's simply not ready to be born yet. Dang!

We did think that it would be fun to have everyone guess what Baby Isac's birth date, time, weight, and length would be. We set up a little poll online for the guessing! Please, feel free to join in on the fun! To enter your guess go to the website: http://www.expectnet.com/ and on the lefthand side under "Invited Guests" enter the gamename: IsacBrandonSmith :)

Too Busy To Cook

Just more to show that I am definitely in the "nesting stage", this week I decided that it would be a great idea to do a bunch of cooking, and make freezer meals for after the baby is born! I called up my sister and she came into town on Tuesday so we could cook up a storm.

The "Too Busy To Cook" comes from a cookbook that my mom wrote and promoted when I was a little girl. I wish I had a picture of it, because it's awesome, but I sadly don't. Anyway, this cookbook just has a great way of dealing with everyday life and situations where people really are too busy to cook. I figure that once I have a baby, I will definitely fall into that category. Or rather I'll fall into the "Too Lazy To Cook" category, but I don't think that title would've sold as well. ;)

After a long, full day of cooking we were able to make just over 50 freezer meals, for under $130. Not only am I very surprised at how cheaply we were able to accomplish our task, but I am so happy that I will have yummy meals to eat for the next little while!

My freezer is now well stocked with delicious and healthy meals!

Brandon Proposed!

I know that it seems weird to say, but Brandon proposed! Again! I absolutely have the sweetest husband in the whole world. We spent yesterday afternoon with my brother Jake. We worked out (I did the stair master because I'm trying to go into labor!), we swam, and we went out to dinner. After we dropped Jake off at home for the evening, we stopped at Fry's because Brandon "needed to get something".

We went into the store and headed straight to the floral section. My sweet husband grabbed a white rose and got down on one knee. As he knelt in front of me he said, "This white rose represents the purity that we have been working towards, and will both have in just a few months. I know you've married me before, but will you marry me again? This time in the temple, for time and all eternity?"

I, of course, said, "Yes!"

Not only are we so eager for our baby boy to be born, but we anxiously await the day that we can be sealed together for time and all eternity! We plan to be sealed on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 in the San Diego, California LDS temple. We can't wait!

Getting Ready For Baby

I am apparently in what is called the "nesting stage". With the arrival of Baby Isac right around the corner, it has felt like Brandon and I have had a lot of preparing to do. I have been wanting to be more creative and crafty for a while, I figure that's what you're supposed to do when you become a Mormon housewife! With access to an awesome new sewing machine that once belonged to Brandon's grandma Charline, I decided to try my hand at sewing and make some curtains for Isac's room. My sister did a lot of teaching and helped quite a bit, because I am still very new at the whole sewing thing! But I am very proud of the way that they turned out!

Brandon being very handy with the power drill and hanging up the curtain rods!

The big window.

The matching little window.

A fun thing that happened this week was that Brandon's coworkers threw him a surprise baby shower! All the members of his team including his supervisor, as well as a few members from his old team, and his old supervisor were there. They decorated the breakroom with streamers and balloons and brought in gifts and cards, and red velvet cake with creamcheese frosting! (Brandon's favorite!) Everyone got to take an hour out of their work day to celebrate the upcoming birth of Isac. Brandon took a break to call and tell me about the party and when he got back inside his coworkers had decorated his desk with all the streamers and balloons! We are truly blessed that Brandon has such a great job, with wonderful colleagues.

Brandon's desk decorated.

The wonderful gifts we got from Brandon's coworkers!

We are starting to feel more prepared for our little one, and are truly ready for him any time! Only three more weeks until my due date, but I have to admit that I hope we don't have to wait that long! And not just because I am so over being pregnant, but because we're ready to be a family NOW. :)

Busy, Busy Weekend

This last weekend was very bittersweet for our family. My sister, Rebecca, found out on Wednesday July 27, 2011, that the baby she was carrying was no longer alive. She hadn't yet miscarried, and so in order to not be alone she, Justin, and Carrie drove in from Maricopa and stayed with my parents. Although the circumstances weren't favorable, we loved getting to spend so much time with the Greer Family. On Thursday after work, Brandon and Justin decided to go to the driving range and hit some golf balls. We are so thankful for the relationship and friendship that Brandon has been able to develop with Justin, they love being brothers-in-law, and are a great support system for each other.

On Saturday morning, Brandon, Justin, and Kevin went and played 18 holes of golf. It was a new experience for Kevin, because he's never been golfing before! It was great bonding time, and all three of them sure seemed to enjoy themselves. By having that early Saturday morning tee-time, those three boys missed participating in Tanner Beeson's Eagle project. With my Dad and Jake both out of town, it was just the girls that went! My mom, Rebecca, Carrie, and I went to the Mesa cemetary and helped clean off headstones and take pictures of them. The cemetary will now be able to log all the pictures of headstones and have not only written, but visual records. A lot of people showed up to help and the project was overall very successful.

On Saturday afternoon Brandon and I were able to go out to a late lunch/early dinner with Shari, Smitty, and Austin to celebrate Smitty's birthday (which is August 1st)! We went to Olive Garden, and had a great time catching up with the Smith's. Brandon and Austin got their dad the same birthday card! The card was a perfect fit for Smitty, with him being such an avid golfer, but it was still very funny.

A few months ago Brandon was ordained an Elder and received the Melchizedek priesthood. On Saturday he had the opportunity to exercise it for the first time. He was able to anoint Rebecca for a blessing of the healing of the sick. It was such an awesome experience and he did a wonderful job. I am so proud of him and his worthiness to hold the priesthood, and I am so thankful for the blessing that it is in my life, and the lives of those around us. In addition to being able to anoint Rebecca on Saturday, Justin asked Brandon if he would give him a comfort blessing on Sunday. Brandon was a little bit nervous, with it being his first time saying the blessing, but he was truly an instrument for our Heavenly Father. Being in such a spiritual mood, I also received a blessing from Brandon on Sunday, to help me have a feeling of peace and calm throughout these last few weeks of pregnancy. Again, he did a great job.

Sunday was a very full day! We were able to attend my parents Sacrament Meeting in order to see Christopher Beeson gave his "farewell" talk, and it was phenominal. Sunday night we also attended an "open house" of sorts, at the Beeson home where we got to spend some more time with Chris. It was a great time that he was able to spend with a lot of friends and family. We were so happy to be a part of it!

Christopher has grown into quite an exceptional young man, and his dedication and desire to serve the Lord on a mission is inspiring. He is a great example and we love him very much. Christopher will report to the Provo MTC next Wednesday August 10, 2011. He will stay in the MTC for 8 weeks, learning and studying the Gospel in the Spanish language. He will then be going to Santiago, Chile, where he will serve for a period of two years! We could not be more proud of you, Elder Beeson! We'll see you "soon". ;)

On Monday evening we were able to participate in a wonderful service project for Family Night. We went to the cemetary where our sweet nephew, Brigham, is buried, and cleaned up the area called "Babyland". We swept and wiped the headstones down, fluffed out stuffed animals, wiped off toys that were sitting on the graves, picked up trash, and swept up all the pine needles. It was a great feeling of accomplishment and peace to see Babyland all clean and beautiful.

Justin and Rebeccas went home on Tuesday afternoon. Brandon and I had also spent several nights at my parents house, and so we made our way home too. This weekend was very eventful and busy, but we are grateful for the time we were able to spend with our family and friends! We feel so lucky and truly blessed to have such great people in our lives.