This past weekend, August 2-6, we traveled to Idaho Falls for the Smith Family Reunion. The weekend turned out to be more of adventure than we could have expected. We combined the reunion with Hailey's baby blessing because all of Joel's family could be there and Idaho Falls was a central location for my family to come up. We had Hailey's baby shower at the Friday night BBQ and it turned out better than I could have ever expected. I didn't have a bridal shower and I haven't been to many baby showers. It was getting late when we started and I had hoped to get Hailey to bed by 9... yeah it wasn't happening since we started at 8 and I was having a great time. Selfish I know, but ??? The shower was perfect. There wasn't a lot of hoopla, fancy, frilly, games. There were lots of people that I didn't know. For introductions each person said their name and gave one piece of advice for parenting or having a new baby. Feel free to comment and add your two cents.
Brandee: Enjoy them while they're little.
Abby: Get them a real Zebra.
Crazy Aunt Donna (according to Stacia): Have a sense of humor.
Laura: 20 bucks and hour for babysitting... okay $5. (Side comment from Stacia, I'll do it for free!)
Heidi: keep an old recipe box and write down the cute things your kids do so you don't forget and have proof when they try to argue with you about how it really happened. Also, "Never let a problem to be solved be more important than a person to be loved." President Thomas S. Monson.
Sarah: It's okay to make mistakes.
Tess: You only have 18 summers with your kids, enjoy them.
Stacia: Babysitting, I'm your gal.
Janice: love them unconditionally. Be careful what you imprint on your child in what you say every day.
Carina: Have patience.
Denise: Don't ever pray for patience. Let them dress themselves if they are girls.
Tana: Read the book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy child."
Stacie: Grumpy, not sleeping? It's teething!
Sherri: Start with three, then have the first. You can't parent each child the same.
Bobbie Rae: Love em, Squeeze em, Feed em, Belch em.
Mary Alice: Red to them and they will be a genius.
Robyn: Love em, spoil em.
Whitney: Give them a pony.
Mckenna: Cuddle with them.
Dondee: Call me when you have a problem. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Don't shake the baby!
Erin: Always have socks on your baby no matter what or else the old people will tell you their feet will freeze.
Sharon and Talli: walk and hold your baby because they grow up so fast.
Mallory: Have extra clothes for both of you.
Britnay: Adopt them after they sleep through the night!
Kyra: Sign them up for cool stuff early in life.
Carin: Have an extra set of kids clothes in a ziplock bag in the back of the car for emergencies during road trips. Also the boom spoon is a must!
Jan: Have a sense of humor. Don't hurt their feelings.
Connie: Love the teenagers. They are fun times.
Jenni: I want the baby.
Nancy: Pictures. Take lots of pictures. Then have one album for you and one album for them to play with and look through.
Diana: Love them for who they are. They are all different.
Lynda: Listen! Stop and Listen. Most of the time problematic kids are because we simply didn't take the time to listen to what they wanted or needed because we were too busy.
After everyone went around and shared their piece of advice I opened gifts. Jaime was brilliant and suggested that instead of a card--which I never know what to do with after the fact--each person should bring a book. That way Hailey could start building up her reading collections. She got lots and lots of books. There are books in there that I read when I was young but also lots that I've never read. It will make things entertaining for both of us. Some even had textures or pop out things to make the read more interesting. Thank you all!!!
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