"There is no way this winter is ever going to end...

(as long as the groundhog keeps seeing his shadow...)"

The snow just keeps falling here in the city of salt. It has been the snowiest and coldest winter that I can remember in the 14 years I have lived here. Has it really been that long? Wow. But life and work continue to move forward even with the crazy weather. Bailey had her first ear infection and after more than a week on her antibiotic she thought it would be fun to get hives everywhere. She did not seem to mind them, but they looked awful. She has my ridiculously fair and sensitive skin - sorry Miss Bailey. No more amoxicillin for you I guess. She also loves her new babysitter and the other kids. Apparently my now 14 month old loves having her hair brushed and plays fabulously with the other kids. She continues to make us laugh on a daily basis. Her new favorite trick is crawling backwards. We say, "Back it up..." and she does and laughs and laughs, she thinks she is pretty hilarious. Bailey is also really amazing at peek-a-boo - I think she could probably go professional. :-) She is using more words (well sounds that could be words) and continues to love and read her books to herself. We did have a fun adventure this past week. We took Bailey to Costco and put her in the cart like a big kid. She loved it. Seriously, it was probably the best day of her life. She loves shopping carts and all the people watching for sure. We took her to Target and she enjoyed herself there as well – so it must not have been a fluke. This bodes well for our future shopping outings.

The big news in our household is that Trevor has rejoined the workforce. He is working for a company called Business Promotion. He is doing something similar to what he was doing before - Website sales and marketing. Kind of funny that this new job is right by his old job. So the commute is the same. This is his second week and he is enjoying it. I hope he continues to enjoy it and is successful. Clearly Bailey I and I have some shopping to do - ha!

Happy Groundhog Day and Super Bowl adventurers.

Sick, but still pretty happy



Grown up lady!

Playing on the toys is as much fun as playing with the toys..

Costco is Amazing!

Shopping and Makeup - Two of her favorite things

Singing fun with daddy

Snuggle time is even better

 

Reading Fun

 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

A fun and fabulous December was had by everyone in the Smith household. Our little one-year-old is really cruising and growing up too fast, but it is pretty fun watching her figure things out. She is now crawling more "normally" ...with a Bailey twist. She is on her knees, but puts her hands down very assuredly and loudly - I find it pretty funny. I definitely need to get it on film before she graduates to walking. Speaking of which she is almost there. Bailey is walking all along the furniture and using her new stroller/walker and making excellent progress around the kitchen island and all around our downstairs. She also has become quite the dancer. She loves music whether from her toys, TV, or her crazy singing parents. 

We had a fabulous time in sunny Arizona for Christmas. The weather was pretty amazing and was greatly enjoyed by everyone. Flip-flops and playing outside can hardly be beat in December. We arrived home to a freezing City of Salt where I don't think the temperature has risen above 30 degrees since we have been home. I think this week might warm up to 40 which will be great. While in Arizona, we took Bailey to the Mesa Temple to see the Christmas lights and she had fun even if the pictures do not showcase her excitement. Thank you Booth family for the fun. We had a fun Christmas morning with Trevor's parents, and Bailey was ridiculously spoiled by her grandparents and Santa. Grammy went a little crazy, but it was highly enjoyable and appreciated. Bailey now has some silver leggings for next fall - get excited. :-) One of my favorite gifts Bailey received is a Mr. Potato Head quiet book (I am sure both she and Trevor are really going to enjoy that). I am in love with her newest board book, "Pride and Prejudice: A Counting Primer". We got a seriously amazing Mr. Potato quilt from my Aunt Lynell - it is ridiculously awesome. It was great to be able to spend Christmas with Trevor's parents after 5 years. Bailey was also able to spend a lot of time time with her cousins and is definitely a very loved girl. (sometimes maybe a little too loved - ha) We did have an unexpected car repair while we were there - we needed a new gasket of some sort. Luckily it was only several hundred dollars and not more as Trevor is still on the hunt for a new job. Things on that front are progressing well and we will have some great news to share soon. 

We also went on a beautiful drive to Tortilla Flats with Trevor's parents which is about an hour outside Mesa. It was perfect weather for a drive and was really beautiful. The scenery really made me want to watch a few westerns. We headed home the following day and had an uneventful trip home. We had a great time with family, but it was nice to get home. Miss Storm was very happy we had returned. I think she felt a little abandoned and has been sticking very close ever since. We did have to find a new babysitter for Bailey as our old (literally) sitter hurt her hip and isn't able to take care of her anymore. This has caused me a little stress, but after a lot of research we found a great new lady - Rachel. She watches a few other kids as well and I think Bailey will love it. This is her first week - I will let you know how she and I do. :-)  

Happy New Year to everyone. I think 2013 is going to be an amazing year. I am sure there will be continued fun with our Miss Bailey and hopefully less medical drama for me. Until next time adventurers. 

A Funny Scrunchy Christmas Face

O Christmas Tree,,,

A Mr. Potato Head Quilt - what what?!

Bailey and her Santa sack

"I love peeps just like my mom...please can I have some?!"

Enjoying the aftermath

What a bunch of Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins

Arizona Christmas

Bailey enthralled with the Lost Dutchman

Tortilla Flat Fun!

Grandpa and Bailey having a serious discussion

Happy New Year from the Smith's

Stationery card

Wishing Holly Jolly Christmas Card

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Happy Birthday to you!

Bailey is one! Where has the time gone? It is definitely true what people say - time really does fly by...especially that first year. I also feel like it flew by even more with all the medical drama we went through. 

But I wouldn't change anything (well, maybe the whole ICU/sepsis/almost dying thing) since we got 

Miss Bailey O'Quinn Smith out of it. 

We were lucky enough to have a family party up in Idaho last week for her where her cousins sang, danced, and played songs all for her. She wasn't quite sure what to do with the cake we gave her, but definitely enjoyed all the attention. It has been an amazing year full of laughs. While I am little more tired these days I am so grateful to finally have Bailey. Trevor and I waited a long time, but since she is practically perfect in every way - it was well worth the wait. 

We love you Bailey! Happy Birthday! 

November 29, 2011 - 5 lbs 14oz ; 18.5 in

November 29, 2012 - 22 lbs 2 oz ; 29.5 in

Family Photo

Ladybug themed birthday party

She had a great time!

She didn't quite know what to do with the cake...

...but she figured it out

Don't worry, we went out for ice cream on her actual birthday

Gobble, Gobble...

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! 

We had an adventure up in Idaho with all Granat kids and cousins together for the first time ever. I don't think all the Granat siblings had been together for at least 3 years. It was fun and really loud. But what do you expect?! 

There was lots of food and, if I am not mistaken, 13 pies. The weather was great and even enabled us to take family pictures for the first time in probably 6+ years. Bailey also learned how to climb stairs with the "help" and encouragement of several of her cousins. Thanks so much kids. :-) So the final baby gate went up as soon as we got home at the bottom of our stairs. She can still climb, just while under supervision. 

Bailey is all over the place and is on the cusp of walking (if she could just figure out the whole "balance" thing). She continues to be one of the happiest, easiest and funniest kids around. I am not biased...just honest. 

Happy almost Birthday Miss Bailey! We are so thankful you finally joined our family a year ago!

"Look what I can do!"

Just chillin'

Happy Thanksgiving Girl

Sisters!

Granat Fam 2012

Thanksgiving Miracle: All 15 grandkids posing perfectly!

What a bunch of goofs

"This is Halloween, This is Halloween..."

Well, it was a successful, fun, and cute first Halloween for Miss Bailey. She was so excited to be Princess (Bai)Leia. She wasn't smiling a lot that night, but she was probably just taking her job to defend and lead the rebels very seriously. Ha! We started with a party at church and a trunk or treat - which I am not a huge fan of, but it was the day before Halloween, so it was just another opportunity to show off the Smith family and its fabulous attire... well, mostly Bailey and Trevor, I apparently waited too long figuring out my costume and it was not nearly as impressive at Trevor's Captain Mal. So we were a family of geek chic - at least that is what I am going with. Trevor and I were characters from a brilliant but cancelled-too-soon television series called "Firefly". On Halloween we trick or treated at a couple of houses and then headed home so we could treat the neighborhood kids. I think we may have even watched a scary movie or two. 

We went to Idaho for a few days last week and had a fun time with Grammy. Bailey loves all the open space and carpet at the Granat house. She is standing and pulling herself up everywhere. She doesn't seem to be a fan of snow - as she put her hand on some snow and immediately burst into tears... must be the Arizona side of Trevor coming out in her. I personally love the snow, at least watching it from the comfort of my warm house with nowhere to go. We are getting excited for family Thanksgiving fun and Bailey's first birthday. Just a few weeks away - which is crazy, but I love it. Bailey is phenomenal and super fun and we truly are thankful for her everyday. 

Be thankful for the big and small stuff. 

Happy Holidays!

Happy Halloween from Captain Mal, Inara, and (Bai)Leia!

Closeup of (Bai)Leia

Bailey-Boo

Even her passifier is Halloween-y

Stay classy!

Sometimes we just stare at each other all day.

Thriller Night...

“You hear the door slam and realize there's nowhere left to run -

You feel the cold hand and wonder if you'll ever see the sun…”

It’s been a thriller of a few weeks in the Smith Household. We spent some time with Trevor’s parents again as they descended to the City of Salt for conference weekend and to attend Trevor’s cousin’s wedding. A grand time was had by all. Bailey enjoyed all the attention and it is a shame she is such an underprivileged, unwanted child who never gets any attention normally. Ha! Seriously it was pretty fabulous and helped remind me what is important in life.

Trevor is currently on the hunt for a new job as he joined the ranks of the unemployed last month. All will be well and I am sure that he will get a new job where he is happy and can excel. But, in the meantime we would appreciate happy thoughts and prayers sent out way. I was also fortunate to head up  to Idaho for about a week with my sister, McKenna, where we helped my mom remodel her bedroom while my dad was out of town for work. Welcome new large screen television and cable and even more importantly a second DVR. Sorry dad, but you are very welcome mom.

The weather is changing and we had probably the last nice weekend before the snow and cold descend to this mountainous desert. We took Bailey to Wheeler Farm and saw all the animals and were able to take the absolutely necessary (yes Trevor) picture of her among the pumpkins and hay. She loved it – we all did. So that is what has been happening in Smithtown – we will be in touch soon with some fabulous Halloween pictures. Get excited for Princess BaiLeia, Captain Malcolm Reynolds and Inara. Happy Halloween!

“Cause this is thriller, thriller night -

And no one's gonna save you from the beast about strike.

You know it's thriller, thriller night…..”

Cutest...Baby...Ever!

Bailey thought the debates were hilarious!

Movin and Groovin at Grammys.

Beautiful afternoon at Wheeler Farm.

Happy Halloween!