ABCs

I won tickets last week to see the Nile Rodeo here in town. That was the Smith's christening into Billings, MT, to see if we have what it really takes to live here. We absolutely loved it. We all got in jeans, flannels, cowboy boots and were ready for the "bunking bronco" as Bowen kept saying. I was gearing him up that morning watching a video of cowboys riding "rough stock" what I later learned; Which are untrained horses and bulls usually bred and raised for rodeos. Bowen on our way to the rodeo in Chris's arms with the biggest grin said, "Excited!" He loved watching the Booms or Fireworks. There was so much happening in the stadium he was for once sitting still and quiet. On the way home from the Rodeo, Bowen surprised Chris and I. He started singing ABCs? I didn't even know he knew how to sing it. He started out of no where abcde and then Chris and I looked at each other what in the world? He knew a good 60% of the song but it completely blew my mind.

Bowen's favorite word right now. "Excited". This week has been gorgeous! We decided to seize the day and get chipotle and bring it to Chris's work. There is a park across the street where we had lunch. On the way to lunch Bowen repeated Daddy's park, excited! That kid has the happiest smile and the saddest frown. He knows how to wear his emotions well on his sleeve. He is my little buddy and I love it when he says Mommy bath, Mommy sing, Mommy hand. Oh I just love this stage right now. He is testing us to see how far he can go from getting into trouble. Today he was coloring in his coloring book and Chris and I were finishing dinner. I soon saw him sneaky come up to the table and start using the crayons in the grooves of the chair. Bowen...we don't draw on the chair, he looked up at me smiled, he knew exactly what I meant. He then started to do it again until Chris said Bowen, no we don't draw on furniture. He smiles and now more then ever starts going at it.

This week was the illness from HE double hockey sticks. My nanny last week said on Friday that she wasn't feeling good, then she missed Monday work when I was supposed to do a procedure with my preceptor. I was pretty bugged because I have been wanting to get more experience with skin procedures. Of course I tried to be sympathetic but deep down inside I really wanted to just bring Bowen with me to work for an hour. That night it hit me... yes the ultimate wipe out. I will let you interpret what that means. Let's just say I didn't leave the garbage can and toilet all night. Anyways, Chris looked at me with sympathetic eyes but also saying I love you but not going to touch you.

 I then stayed home again the next day from work, I told my preceptor I had the stomach flu. Skipping two days of work, although she understood. Chris got back from work and we of course did our tradition of going to Taco Tuesday. Chris was especially hungry because he has been into swimming a lot more, swimming makes you hungry! So instead of ordering his regular two tacos he ordered three. After dinner, Chris started to make me worry. Not feeling great we went home and I took over Bowen duty. Chris then got the same symptoms I had the previous day. He was up ALL night. He didn't sleep, nor I didn't sleep, although Bowen slept like a baby. We both sucked it up and went to work the next day on five hours of sleep probably three for Chris. Bowen had some of the runs but luckily nothing hit him! I was supposed to go to Mutual on Wednesday and had to bail. They were thankful for me staying away :)/
Luckily, we have gotten over that awful stomach flu it has somewhat affected the rest of the week because we have been super lazy trying to get over it and get some of our energy back. Seems to be getting better and we plan on going for a nice little walk/hike tomorrow in the nice weather. Who knows how many more of these we have.

love you all,

Cameryn

Bowen Likes to Poop

Today I changed two big poops from Bowen. Chris changed three. As little as this kid eats he sure knows how to poop. He gets a big bowl of oatmeal in the morning. That gets his bowels going. Hopefully no one is eating their breakfast while reading this. They stank too.. whew. We went to a fireside tonight called Fight The New Drug. It is about a fairly new organization and how they help with addictions such as pornography. I get a whiff from Bowen half way through the presentation. Oh it's rank and it fills the aroma in the air. I see people look around. Ah again! 5! Five times. Maybe we need to switch his breakfast routine.

I think Billings is more bipolar than Utah. Yesterday I went on a run. Then today it snows!! We even built a snowman in our front yard.  It really was the most gorgeous run I have ever been on. I went at 6 pm  after work while Chris took Bowen to the park. The big sky along with the fiery pinks oranges and reds. I have never seen anything like it before. The clouds were illuminated and it looked like a sky God would come when it is the second coming. Nothing could be more gorgeous. As I was thinking these beautiful thoughts and having my serotonin high, a bug flies right in my mouth and another after hits my eye! Ahh buzz kill...

This week I worked a solid over thirty hours. I also in that time learned the new teen slang. That's meta! What in the world is meta? I feel so old. Especially with my lack of skills of Snapchat.

Bowen is so much fun right now. Chris and I agree this is one of our favorite stages with him. Although, really every stage is fun. He is learning so much. He counts 1-5 then 7, 9, 10, 11, 12! Just two more numbers Bowen!!! We take him to this park that has the alphabet scattered and he loves showing off he knows the letters to Chris. After he says them he goes in for the high five! He also says Daddy Daddy or Mommy Mommy Race!!! He likes to race down the slide. This kid has SOOO much energy. If only I can have a little bit of that and bundle it up for later.

Chris went to Portland for a two days. Checking out the different lasers. He came back upset saying that the surgeons he was with solely have sold there soul as well as their ophthalmology skills to doing lasik. They do hard core sales of getting everyone to do Lasik. How do we compete with that?

Every day I call doctors to see if they will take a student. I literally am begging people. With the cost of tuition plus nanny it is hard for me to see our finally pay check from Chris's work. Just got to make it to May.

I want different specialties to give me exposure to different cases I will run into. Next week I am in the Emergency Room. That should be telling! Especially since a nurse I ran into there says there are a lot of Indian Americans who are homeless who come in. They are alcoholics and are having withdrawals then they drink the hand sanitizer and poison themselves. Oh what has our world come to????

Can't we do two hour church now? I just got called to Miamaids advisor. I love YW:)

Love you all!

Cameryn Smith

Week of August 27th

My mom celebrated her birthday this week. Us Call’s have week long birthdays it is not a day. I planned a Gem Studio fun with Heather and her girls, Sabrina, and Michelle, and Brittney. It was a lot of fun but took about three hours. I love my ring and Sabrina wanted me to send a picture to her of it because she thought it was so pretty and to show it off. I told Chris, you know I do have some style that is inborn perhaps my mom’s inherited interior design skills. We also went to Top Golf with the Call family. We handed off Bowen as we took turns hitting. I am sort of getting into golf, I really enjoy it. I am trying to get Chris more interested, but I don’t know how much that will help. Bowen finally got over his sickness at the end of the week, right when his daddy got home. He was so excited when I said Bowen guess who we get to see tonight, Daddy! All throughout the car ride he kept saying daddy, daddy! My heart ached for him, we haven’t seen Chris in a month and man does this boy love his daddy. We picked up Chris and they babbled and talked the whole way home about what Bowen was wearing, what he did with Mom that day, what was in his bottle oh the little conversations with Bowen. I am starting to see that Bowen is putting 2-3-word sentences. He is saying I love you, of course not clearly, what’s that what this, Bowen high, hike water. I can pretty much understand this kid. I got his little toddler language down… most of the time. The next day we packed the rest of our things and took Bowen to the park. Later that afternoon we went to Grandma Rita’s party getting everything ready when that means really playing with balls and making messes for Grandma Smith. Grandma even admitted that “Here is her favorite grandson!” haha! I said we have it recorded! We picked beans of course and Bowen was so happy of his accomplishments showing his beans with a big cheesy smile. Bowen and Chris sang Old McDonald on the piano as Bowen tried to say EiEi. We celebrated Grandma Rita’s 91^st birthday while she showed us her hula dances from her time in Hawaii. Of course, Chris came in with his interpretive dance skills and almost made Ellie pee her pants. Bowen was happy running around screaming bouncing the ball with his hands. He wanted to see what the rope was all about when he saw the jump ropes. We had fun and played all night. The little boy fell asleep and we quickly tried to transition him home. The next day was Blake’s farewell and Chris had to take Bowen out during the sacrament to have a chance to listen to Blake’s talk. He did a great job and taught about a few personal stories of conversion and ended it with a few notes of why he loved each person in his family. There is a sweetness about Blake, a little innocence and pure love. Pretty unusual for graduated high school boys nowadays. We went home and had breakfast burritos my mom slaved over the night before. They were the best missionary farewell I’ve had. Although, I haven’t remembered many I will remember these. It was fun to see extended family make the journey up the Alpine or down to Alpine. We enjoyed our last day in Utah before our big move to Billings. I start work this Wednesday. Bowen is staying with grandparents until my mom comes out next week. This will give me some time to hire a nanny and find out where everything is and somewhat get our stuff in order in our new duplex. Brand new. I am excited for that. And little Maggie waiting for us!