second trimester. time, slow down!

something about pregnancy makes the time go quicker for me. while I don't know what the future holds, and I really shouldn't say things out loud ...mostly for fear of everyone in our small town repeating them back to me a million times... "you like even numbers, right?!"   

I feel pretty content preparing myself with the idea of this being The Final Smith (not enough to use it as a blog post title though;). it better be a good one ;) all joking aside, we've been blessed. healthy pregnancies. smooth pregnancies. smooth deliveries. and healthy babies. I really couldn't ask for more! maybe more Starbucks while in the hospital... *wink*wink* sistasssss ;)

so here we are... half way through my second trimester and wishing time would slow down. although, it doesn't take a pregnancy for me to wish for that.

I don't get in front of the camera often so have to make it a point to have one of the kids or one of the sisters snap just a few quick photos of me. it also has to coincide with when I've showered... so Sundays for sure ;)

I'm a fairly boring pregnant woman. No complaints really... only to Dave ;) apparently pregnancy is good to me :) not really craving anything extraordinary. I like food. I like cookies. and ice cream. and Starbucks. I frequent the chiropractor often. Varicose veins have snuck up on me. My sisters like to point out my age so that's catching up with me as well. There was mention of AMA at one of my initial OB appointments. but there is no talk of that or my weight since ;) 

we don't share the gender, nor do we find out. and we don't share any names, although we've nearly run out of names... feel free to send any this way! the kids are pretty excited, kissing my belly often. Will asks if it's coming out... today... right now... ;)

mostly feeling tired and large and grateful I get to do this again. praying for a healthy baby!

many thanks to my photographer, Lia. who claimed to be James 2.0 and reminded me a lot of this popular video ;)

photos taken at 25wks. currently 26wks... give or take ;)

a complete softball team

post by Courtney

surprise!!!

just kidding ;)

photo courtesy of Dave

sharing this news isn't much of a surprise to anyone (except the dentist and his hygienist who I saw early this pregnancy. he asked me if this was my first: nope. then asked how many this was: our tenth... he was speechless. literally. and I am well aware how TEN sounds ;)

well before Coy celebrated his first birthday, we were being asked when the next one would be coming along. repeatedly.

so for everyone who has been so patient, baby Smith #10 is expected mid-October!

photo courtesy of Lia

my mood is better than when I wrote this post (you're welcome!) while pregnant with Will, but most of the questions you may have can be answered there. a couple extras/modifications I thought of: 

Q: Haven't you run out of names? 

A: Yes. Yes we have. Throw some letters at me. 

It may be a one syllable, two letter name this go around.

Q: Is this it for you guys then?

A: I am more receptive to more babies than Dave, but my body (and maybe mind) are receptive to no more babies. that doesn't really answer the question well... this is my second pregnancy holding the title of advanced maternal age {insert eye roll}  and I can't be sure when I earned the titles of multigravida and grand multiparity. I just like to think those titles make me extra special ;)

and what does one do after they find out they're pregnant. indeeeeed. online shop ;)

1 + 2
I've got a slight obsession with boat neck tops. yet I have not a single one in my wardrobe. why not get some maternity tops that I'll wear only a hot second. doh.

3
am I ready to wear a form-fittingish dress with my tenth pregnancy? we shall see. but this wouuuuulllllddd look adorable with my red Toms!

4
if you see me in this very outfit from August until the end of October... I'm not sorry ;)

5
I may or may not have eyed this up for each one of my October babies and never pulled the trigger. it's currently on sale and calling my name yet again! 
although, a friend's beautiful daughter had this one on and it's pretty dang adorable. 
wish I wasn't obsessed with hoods!

6 + 7
baby sandals are always adorable.

8
we're leaning toward girl over here. which means, in Casey's experience, it's a boy. 
but good golly, how cute is this romper!

***

let the online shopping continue! 
and the mint bonbon
:)

52?

post by Courtney

officially the.worst.blogger.ever.

the end.

but for real, where is our summer going? it should be easier to take photos of each of the kids all summer long. we're outside all the time. it's mostly nice out. but they're not often all at the same place at the same time. 

rewind...where is our summer going? feeling the need to slowwww down. might need to cancel some 'plans' and decide what is actually important to our family. maybe all these 'plans' really aren't necessary... rambling... buttt food for thought ;) 

on to our week 25, 26, 27... or maybe it's week 28 already. 

no one even kkkknnnnnows (or cares really) ;)

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

stopping looking old, son.

he still comes home and plays with the kids, and it might be my most favorite thing.

hates having her photo taken, just like her mother.

baby blues. or maybe more green. depends on her mood. and the moon ;)

just finished cleaning the garage. again. resting.

pure joy.

losing those baby teeth like a pro.

wind blown.

intense concentration here.

dude has been looking rough. had/has some sort of upper respiratory crap. 

happy as a clam through it all though. classic Smith baby.

lost count of 52

post by Courtney

lots of life happening around here since school let out. this summer we're trying to get a better routine down. so far, not too bad. we're working on it. but my camera use has been slacking. jumping back on the train. so here's weeks 22 through 24... I think ;)

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

their help is the only way I get a shower some days 

(every third or fourth day if you talk to my bestie...you know who you are) ;)

come fall, we'll have two in high school. not processing that until I neeeeeed to :(

she's been helping out a lot more with the littles. and I'm not complaining.

excited. gassy. nervous. really, all the same face with this child.

pure joy on that face. gosh, I love that smile.

those chiclet teeth (see:Dennis the Menace) just make that excited smile all kinds of wonderful.

photo speaks for itself

exploring

all of my babies have crawled before they sat. 

this dude is following right along like the rest of his siblings. 

(started sitting over 3wks ago at about 7-1/2 months) 

he's still the happiest little dude. he has been messing with our nap time lately :( 

I think he's cutting three teeth at once. poor dude. but he's handling it like a champ!

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20/21 of 52

post by Courtney

playing catch up. once again. Casey is wayyy more interesting, but maybe one of these days I'll post something worth reading.

20 of 52

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

the three oldest helped at Smith Bros (our family owned business) customer appreciation

pizzas on the grill. yum!

avoiding candid photos is her job

pretty preteen

that one on the left is a lover

when they sit in the pretty light to play

another artist

chicken face. literally sucked the chicken wing bones clean.

he woke up that way

still smiling

anddd 21 of 52!

looking less and less like a boy and more and more like a handsome young man

participate or else

over dramatic about something life altering. 

like not getting up by 6 am. or having to clean the entryway before the bus.

eating like a man.

when your baby looks huge!

she came home "sick" twice last week. I think she just needed a nap ;)

contemplating life. looking at a spider. who knows.

always with the tongue

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19 of 52

post by Courtney

these photos were ready for posting by Thursday, but then I caught whatever stomach bug the kids were passing around. feeling better and took yesterday off so playing some catch up today!

a portrait of my children, once a week(ish), every week(ish), in 2017

the only homework we see is his hands-on work

he's the first thing they play with after school

current obsession

caught off guard

refuses to read. then proceeds to read for an extended amount of time...

surprised by something while in deep conversation with Meg

culprit for my stomach bug

another one obsessed with matchbox cars

for a little over a month now, he's been army crawling everywhere. stinker.

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