Summertime Fun

Jason and I had the opportunity to head home, to Missouri, for a 3 week vacation. We truly miss family and love for Eliana to get to spend time with them. Although, it ended with a tragedy, we made some great memories and Eliana had more fun than she could handle!


Making ice cream with PaPa. I don't know how much help she was sitting right in front of the handle!




Eliana and Gma Hayes. We had such a great time at Houston, MO with Gma. I think Eliana collected a lot more bruises and scrapes to add to her collection. She even got her first band aid.


PaPa and Eliana. Eliana had PaPa running all over the place at Gma's. She wanted to explore everything and everywhere.


Being nosy. Eliana loves to be nosy and look out the window. Eliana and Gma Hayes were checking to see what Gma and PaPa were doing.




Eliana, Gma Judy and Jason. It was so nice to see Eliana warm up to everyone so quickly. Especially with as little time as she gets to spend with them.


Gma Melissa's house. She got to go swimming everyday! It was easier to just put her swimsuit on when we let her outside.



4th of July. We had a wonderful 4th of July grilling and chilling. Eliana loved the fireworks. She would point to my nephew, who was lighting them, and then point to the sky. That was his cue it was time to light another one. Then she would get the biggest smile on her face.


Fun with snaps! Eliana got introduced to snaps by my sister, Penny and niece, Joy. We tried to teach her to step on them. When she did on accident she would laugh. She was pretty good at throwing them down, too.







Eliana, her cousin Joy and a flower necklace. What kid doesn't prance around wearing a beautiful one of a kind weed necklace.


Juice boxes! Eliana got to have her first juice box at Gma Melissa's and I must say it turned into an addiction. She could down those puppies in less than a minute!


Eliana got to go to the zoo for the first time, in KC. She loved it! It was so fun to see her face light up at every animal. She was so stinkin' excited.




As for the loss of our baby. I ended up passing the baby after a lot of heavy pain and bleeding, the night before I flew home. We almost had to rush me to the ER. The baby came out whole and intact and in my hand. Jason and I decided that when the time came, we would want to bury it. We were able to do that at a family cemetary. My dad does all things well, with such care and precision and honor. He mad a small white box for it with the baby's name engraved on the top. Since we didn't know the sex of the baby, Jason and I decided on a boy and girl's name. We named the baby, Tristan Natia Smith, meaning "Full of sorrow with hope".

July 5, 2009

Yesterday evening Jason and I had to head to the ER. We were shopping with my parents and Eliana and I decided to go to the bathroom. There was bleeding. We headed to the ER, conveniently on the way home to my parents. I called my doctor. He said light to moderate was normal and I could wait for my appointment in a week. I would say moderate, but I don't think I could wait and not know. I got checked in quickly. They gave me an IV and a catheter. Oh, so painful. The hardest thing was not knowing what was going on with the baby. They finally took me back for the sonogram. I should be almost 11 weeks. She did an external and couldn't see anything. She did an internal. She saw the baby, but it measured the same as it did on our last sonogram, over 3 weeks ago. She couldn't get a heartbeat.

We went back to my room to wait for the doctor to release me. Jason went to get Eliana from my parents in the waiting room. She did wonderful, even though it was so late. She didn't fuss once. He brought her back and she smiled when she saw me. No matter how sad I was, that helped. She wanted me. He put her on the bed. She came right up to me and placed her head on my chest and patted me. How did she know that is exactly what I needed. She would lift her head, point to the iv and then back to my chest.

I have to go back Wednesday for blood work to confirm nothing is growing. I didn't sleep last night. I am so tired. I cry a lot. The hardest thing now is knowing that the baby is still in there, but is not alive. I still have my appointment next Monday. I will probably have to get a D&C since it has been so long and I haven't passed anything. I didn't bleed again after that small amount before the ER.

No matter how small, this was my baby and it is hard knowing that we won't get to meet him or her. As a parent you want to protect, but there wasn't anything I could do. We are traveling back at the end of the week. We were going to drive home on Thursday, for two days. Since we don't know what will happen with my bleeding, I am going to fly. Pray that either I will pass this pregnancy smoothly or that everything will hold off until I see the doctor.

Patty Smith Photography

I am so excited to be starting a new adventure. I had a degree in Photography from college, but was too chicken to do anything with it. But I recently decided to start my own photography business to go along with my graphic design business. The website isn't up yet, but a temporary one will be up soon. I recently had the honor of photographing our dear friends, during their labor and delivery. What an amazing opportunity. I also had the privilege of photographing their newborn and family photos a week later. Here are a some of my favorites.

Smith #2

Last Friday, we got to see baby #2. We even got to hear the heartbeat. Although the baby is measuring smaller than 7 weeks, the doctor is going to keep our due date the same. Smith #2 should be here around January 28. We are super excited. Eliana was more interested in watching the sono tech, than see the jelly bean blob on the screen. Baby is doing well, Eliana is doing great, and Jason and I are truly blessed.

How big is she?

Big enough to be a Big Sis!


Yes, Jason and I have been blessed with a little brother or sister for Eliana. We are due January 27 and are extremely excited. When I got pregnant with Eliana I thought it was one of the most exciting days of my life and finding out about a second child would be exciting, but not as. Not true. I am totally elated. The kind where all you want to do is smile and think you are going to explode at any minute with excitement.

I visited a new doctor a few months ago. He had me do blood tests each month to see if I was ovulating. I wasn't. So, he decided that because of my age (I would be 35 in September) he would put me on the same treatment I had for Eliana, immediately. I did that for the first month this month and it worked! Just like Eliana! I go to the doctor on Thursday for the first time.





Pray that we will have a safe pregnancy and that God will grow this little one up healthy and strong.

Eliana's Spring Photos

These are Eliana's spring pictures in her Easter dress. These were taken at Harper's Ferry.

A beautiful, big day

We had such a great day today. We went to Harpers Ferry for some pictures of Eliana and had a family picnic. I could never tire of going there, it is just so beautiful! Eliana is big enough to hold your hand and walk, so that is what she did! I will post pictures of that later.

After a LONG nap, she went to a neighborhood Easter egg hunt. It got cancelled last weekend, because of rain. She had fun, mostly flirting with the little boys. And when she came up on an egg, she would point to it and expect us to pick it up and put it in her basket.

Two Tails Thursday

My big girl was sporting some big girl pony tails today. With two crowns, one being in the middle of the back of her head, it proved challenging. But we got it all up!

So Thankful... Easter 2009

This weekend we reflected on how much we are thankful. For without the birth of Christ, we would not have had all that is Easter. We are so thankful that God sent us a Savior. For only that, we should wake up each day thankful. And even though, we may experience much pain in our life, God also sends us little blessings. Even more ways to be thankful to a loving God. Blessings, such as spending Easter with a beautiful little girl.

Coring Easter Eggs...
Eliana wasn't really that interested in the whole decorating thing. She was mostly interested in the little medal hooks you use to get the eggs out of the dye. She would much rather grab the egg out of the dye with her hands.


The Easter Dress...
Okay, so this is the best picture I could get. We went to a friends house after church for lunch and she never stopped. She was on the go the whole time. We are hoping to get some pictures of her in it this week. Wish us luck on that one, kids are wiggly. Yeah, and notice the white tights with the cute canvas slip-ons? It was a little chilly when we woke up and a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do!


The Hunt...
This was cute. Eliana took a nap when the other kids, 12 in total, hunted for eggs. The little kids saved some for Eliana to hunt when she woke up. She had a little entourage helping her the whole time. She didn't have to lift a finger, they put them in the basket for her!






Her sights are set high for that future spouse. See how she tries to hide her amazement.


She loved the trampoline. It was funny to watch her walk around on it.


The Easter Basket...
She was so excited when she turned the corner. Look how she stands, surveying the goods.






What a wonderful Easter for the Smith family. We hope yours was just as special and that you found many things to be thankful for.