Three Months

Kenneth was three months old on Saturday. He is currently 25" long and weighs in at 15 lbs 8 oz. Quite the big guy!

We spent the day with my college roomie, Rachel, and her son Micah. Micah didn't really know what to think of the little person invading his home. By the end of the visit, he was getting more brave.

We also got to see Aunt Stefani. She tends to spoil little Kenneth. :)
Another embarrassing picture that Kenneth will eventually want to kick me for. Notice the fingers are still in the mouth.

Thumbs

Almost, almost......
There it is!! Kenneth has discovered that he thinks his thumbs taste really good. Sometimes it's the whole fist, sometimes just a couple fingers.

My Little Buckeye

This was the Saturday attire. We were kinda surprised that this fit so well already, since it's 3-6 months clothing. What can I say, we're growing a linebacker. :)

Random Pictures

Kenneth and his cousin Noah on Labor Day.

Not happy with me. :)

My little man!

He loves his baths, but sometimes makes it hard to get his clothes off.

A good friend, Alaina. She's six months old, Kenneth is a little over two months.

2 Months

Kenneth is two months old today. He's really growing, and each day brings something new. He's "talking" more and has discovered his hands, which he's always sucking on. His two month checkup was good. He is 13 lb 3.6 oz and 24" long. Quite the big man!

What a cutie.

Kenneth is really starting to show his personality these days. He's smiling at us more and more, and let's us know when he's mad. Each day is a new adventure, and I'm lovin' every minute.

Sleeping Patterns

Kenneth has taken to some weird sleeping positions. Here are a few examples.

Kenneth and Daddy napping.

How in the world can this be comfortable????? We kept trying to straighten his head, but it kept migrating back.
Relaxed.
Scrunched.

Sprawled.

One Month Old

Kenneth is one month old today! It doesn't seem possible that it's been a month already, but yet it seems like ages ago. He's doing very well, and is very alert quite a bit. He is very strong! When he gets mad, he really stiffens up, and will stand up on our legs. He's getting the neck control thing down better, but still has a long way to go. Eric is calling him Mini-me, since he looks so much like him.

As for us, we're slowly adjusting to parent life. It's a little difficult for me not to be able to just go and do like I had before, but I'm learning. Eric is so great with Kenneth! It's so cute to watch them together. Eric adores him, and it's fun to see.

Just a Few More Pictures

He's Here!!

Kenneth arrived on June 29, and we sure are glad to have him! These are some of the best pictures, but he's a pretty photogenic little man.

The Waiting

The countdown continues. I have less than two weeks until my due date, and this has to be the worst part. :) Eric and I are both just ready to meet this little guy, and are getting pretty antsy. Every time I make a funny noise or say something like "Oh great," he immediately asks if my water broke. We talk on the phone, and the first thing he asks is if I'm in labor. It's kind of funny, yet it's also gettting to be too much. Since I'm just as excited, always commenting about when it will happen makes it seem even more like it will never happen. We tend to think about it all the time, which doesn't help.

I am staying pretty active over the next couple weeks though. That will make the time pass more quickly. Plus I've heard that the more you stay active, the more likely you are to begin labor. We are going on a field trip for work on Thursday, going to the zoo on Saturday, a large family get together on Sunday, and a Mud Hens game on Monday. I figure if I haven't walked him out by then, he is just too stubborn. :)

As far as our house goes, we're pretty much prepared. I still have a few last minute things I want to get taken care of, but my mom and dad are coming out tomorrow, and Mom is staying until the baby is born, so I can put her to work helping me! I want to clean out my cupboards and do a thorough sweep/dust/bathroom cleaning yet.

One day at a time.....

The Latest

We had our last ultrasound yesterday. Our technician says that my placenta has finally moved up out of the way. That's quite a relief. No confirmation from the doctor yet, but I have an appointment tomorrow so she will likely just tell me tomorrow. I should be into the every-week appointments now. It just seems so hard to believe that I have only four weeks left.

Baby Smeltz also weighs 5 lb 10 oz right now. Eric and I had to laugh, because that is the exact weight that Noah (Baby's cousin) weighed when he was born, and Baby would be a week ahead of him in the timeline. Eric was rubbing it in that if he continues to gain at this rate, I could very easily have an over 8 lb baby! I didn't think that was all that funny.

This picture is his foot. She had a harder time getting good pictures this time because he's so much bigger. And he was definitely active. I keep getting the question of what happens if it is a girl, and I can honestly tell you, there is no possible way! I think the child would need psychology for a lifetime if so, because she would be equipped with the wrong parts.

5 Weeks and counting.........

My New Nephew

I'm an aunt!
Eric's brother Corey and his wife had their baby on Tuesday. What an anniversary gift to us! She went four weeks early, but he is doing really well. They said there was no doubt that his lungs were developed, he came out crying. :)
So here's a picture of Noah Quinn.

Utter Nonsense

One more day! My mom, dad and little sister will be here in one more day!!! I haven't seen them since February, which isn't all that long, but with all that's going on, it seems like forever. Megan is actually living with my older sister in Perrysburg for the summer, so that should be great times. I'm so blessed to be able to spend this mother's day with my mom.
Weekends are pretty full for me. In the next four Saturdays, I will be attending three baby showers. Then somewhere in that fourth weekend will be lamaze. I guess having the weekends packed just makes the weeks go more quickly. I have something to look forward to, so the week seems to speed along. Good thing!
Tuesday night was the first church league softball game. Julie, ask me some time how we ended up leaving the field. It's quite a story. :) It's nice to be going to games again. Makes it feel like summer has arrived.
Enough rambling.

Where Did April Go?

Time is flying! It doesn't help that work is crazy busy. It makes the weeks go by quickly, which is nice. I am training the woman who will be doing my work while I'm gone, which is challenging. It is nice that she has an idea of what I do, and it's nice that she already works here, but it's hard to coordinate time to train when we both have too many things to do. I dread coming back to work after Baby Smeltz is born. They have decided that it would be a great idea to get me a laptop to be able to check in from home every once in a while. That could be very nice, or very annoying. :) I'm sure I'll like to be able to keep my email clear from all the buildup, but I don't want it to seem like I'm "on call."
Time will tell. I am just enjoying each day I'm still at work (yeah right) and anxiously awaiting our new little life. He's quite the active booger. That movement feeling will never get old. I've been warned that getting kicked in the ribs is a pain, but I don't mind. Each kick or jab or jump on the bladder is one more reminder just what part of a miracle I get to participate in. It never gets old! Truly a miracle!!

Belly Update

Alright Rae, you asked for it. :) Here's a picture of my expanding waistline. I think this picture makes me look small, but who knows.

We had the second ultrasound yesterday. Our boy is such a cutie! He's 1 lb 11 oz. As it stands right now, the tech said my placenta is still low and that I'd probably have to have another ultrasound, but I haven't heard anything from my doctor yet.

I also couldn't believe that they had 3-D. My cousin thinks he has my nose and Eric's mouth. It's amazing what they can do now!!!

Attitude

These couples days of beautiful weather have been fantastic! Eric and I went on a walk last night just to be outside. I've been making some changes in my life lately, and I fully realized how much I just need to enjoy each moment, each day and take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.
Maybe it was pregnancy hormones, maybe the weather, I don't know, but lately I had the attitude that I was mad at the world. The littlest thing would irk me off. God has just opened my eyes to see that no matter what anyone else does, I choose my attitude and how I deal with situations that arise. I am thankful for such a patient Father who waits on my thick headedness and keeps revealing Himself to me. He sure is patient with my density!

Superbowl Party

It's a little late in getting here, but we had a great time at our small group Superbowl party. Here are pictures of the adorable kids in attendance.

The Little Punk

I finally figured it out! Here's our first picture of our little one! I think he (yes, that's right - he) has Eric's nose. :)

Updates

Eric finally is working again! He got the Treasurer position at North Central School, where he graduated. So far it's going well, he's enjoying what he's learning, and has started one of the classes he needs to get licensed. Praise the Lord!

In other news, we had our ultrasound yesterday. It is just so amazing what God has created. We saw the heart beating, and the spine, and so many other organs so clearly! Baby weighs 7 oz. right now. An active little booger!

I finally got a digital camera, so my post won't be as boring anymore. I'll try to start adding pictures from now on.

More soon!

December

I was looking back over my calendar for the month of December and noticed something. So far, every day of December, I have had something written in on my calendar that I had to do. Today is the 13th, so that is 13 days in a row that I have had something going on. I'm tired. :)
As Christmas approaches, I'm reminded just how blessed I am. Eric and I are still waiting to hear on a job, but God has not failed us at all. He has provided for us in many ways, ways I cannot count. And I'm going to be a Mom! What more blessing could I ask for????? I have a wonderful family - both sides - and will get to spend the holidays with both.
Most years I am anxiously waiting for Christmas to get here, only to regret wishing the time away once it's gone. This year, I'm trying to just take each day and enjoy it - enjoy the season and why we even celebrate this holiday.
Merry Christmas!

Me in All My Weird Glory

I've been tagged by Julie to list six weird things about myself. I'm not sure she knew what she was getting into when she asked that. :)

1. Even though I love sleep and hate getting up in the morning, I still wake up almost a half hour before I have to so that I don't have to rush at all in the morning. I'm usually ready and sitting around waiting til it's time to leave. Dumb, I know.

2. When I eat Cap'n Crunch w/ Berries cereal, I always eat all the berries first. I don't really like them, so I save the rest for last.

3. I have a bad habit of never folding laundry. I will get it washed and dried, and then leave it set in baskets for weeks, until I run out of baskets.

4. Rarely does a day go by that I don't talk to someone on the phone on my way home from work. I get bored while driving and have to talk to someone. I guess it's the big mouth factor. :)

5. I really can't stand for my food to mix on my plate. I don't like mixed flavors, and as much as people tell me that it all mixes in my stomach anyway, my taste buds are not in my stomach!!!

6. I will not eat most vegetables. I don't like the texture of most, and the taste of others. Including lettuce. And I'm not a big fan of condiments. Give me barbecue sauce, and that's about it. No mayo, no ketchup, no mustard.

Now you know how truly weird I am. I'm tagging Meri, Meggie Poo, and Roommate!

Rivalries

Today is the one day of the year we get to wear unprofessional clothes to work. I'm in tennis shoes y'all! :) The rivalry is rampant here in our office. I am thoroughly shocked at how mean people are getting over a slight disagreement in loyalties over a GAME. The front office is a war zone, and I think it's going a little too far. I mean, come on. We're picking sides over watching 20 year olds go ram into each other, hop up, and do it again. They are still kids!! Life will go on whether "my team" wins or loses. The world will not end, and those kids will go back to class. Heaven forbid someone not like the same team. That's like getting offended and bent out of shape if someone doesn't like the same kind of pizza!! I will never speak to them again if they don't like sausage and hate green peppers. Sounds ridiculous doesn't it! That's because IT IS!
On that note, Go Bucks! :)

God's Timing

Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again, rejoice! I can't even tell you how hard that is at times. This past two months have been really difficult, and I can honestly say that there have been times I have not been rejoicing. Eric and I have really struggled with wanting to understand and to have answers while trying to be patient and to know that God is in complete control of this whole situation. God has a plan for us, and His timing is perfect. As much as I am ready for results, I have to keep believing that I can rejoice because God's best for us is yet to come.
We want to be open for anything He has for us, whether that be here or somewhere else. We don't know what will come, but it sure will be great!