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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Smith ·

13.


You guys…

…today my boy is THIRTEEN YEARS OLD!

I literally cannot believe it.  A TEENAGER! (By the way, those dimples kill me.)

I’ve told this story a million times and shown Smith this picture a million more…BUT…it bears repeating on his 13th birthday.

Sweet Smith William Shull is without a doubt the biggest, best surprise of my entire life.  I prayed and prayed and prayed for his three sisters.  I thought about them more times than I can count.  Smith?  I was not expecting being pregnant AT ALL and not the least bit interested in having a boy.  We didn’t find out our babies’ genders until they were born, so I remember Andrew saying “it’s a boy” in the delivery room and me thinking “well okay…I guess” and then approximately 60 seconds went by and then…

…this happened, and I was a puddle of “boy mom” mush.  I legit think I said something like “Oh my gosh, he’s going to be the love of my life”.  Ha!  I LOVED THAT BABY BOY SO BIG!  Who knew?!  I thought boys were loud, stinky, gross and messy (which he is), but I wasn’t counting on the fact that they also held the key to their mama’s hearts.

Smith has been nothing but one big amazing surprise since day one.

He’s so smart, so funny, so easy to be around.  He’s sweet, he’s thoughtful, he’s kind, he’s sarcastic, he’s hard working, he’s overachieving…he loves the Lord and his family.

Andrew and I are so blessed to have this kiddo.

He loves his sisters big time.  I can’t imagine any boy more suited to be squeezed between three big, bold and bossy ladies more than Smith.  He handles them all like a champ…and they all love him for it.

 

Smith has always marched to his own drum.  He knows what he likes, what he wants to do and what he wants out of life.  Where I often struggle and just look at “today”, he’s looking years ahead with wisdom that far outweighs his age.

I’m all mushy that my baby boy is officially a teenager.

I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for him this year and the years to come.  This kid is going to do big things…and I’m so excited and honored to watch.

Happy birthday, Smith William Shull!

You’ll always be the best thing I never knew I always needed.  Love you. xx

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Comments

  1. Beth Knecht says

    Happy Birthday, Smith! It’s so fun to watch your kids grow up through your blog. He’s so big now! I hope you have a great day celebrating another teenager in the house!

  3. Laura says

    I say it all the time. Boys are just what Mamas of daughters need. I absolutely love rearing my own best friends in my girls…but the boys…they melt me.

  4. Bev says

    Happy Birthday to Smith! He sure sounds like a great kid!!! I have one son, too, (and a beautiful daughter) and it’s so true what you said. Those boys hold the key to their momma’s hearts! 💙 Hope he has the best day!

  8. Sheaffer says

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SMITH!!! Thirteen. How in the world?!? Hope y’all spoil him rotten today!

  10. Erika Slaughter says

    Happy Happy Birthday to that TEENAGER of yours!!!! He’s literally growing right before our eyes and getting so tall! I love Smith’s sense of humor and his one-liners the VERY most! Hope he has the best day!! We love you, SMITH!

  11. sandi says

    Gosh what a sweet birthday post for Smith. Happy Birthday! I too have a son surrounded by three sisters, but he is the first born. Sam was an in vitro baby after three and a half years of infertility treatments. As difficult as it was to get him here, Meredith surprised us and was born 18 months later… we call her our buy one get one free girl. His sisters all adore him. It is surprising the relationships they have developed over the years. Have I mentioned I have three kids in college 🙂 🙂 :-). My husband called our son one afternoon and he didn’t pick up. A few seconds later one daughter called back and all three of them had been on facetime and we discovered that they do that frequently. Our son calls his youngest sister (still in high school) several times a week to see how school and swim team are going. Makes my momma heart proud and happy. Don’t get me wrong though… he is the one that can make me the most frustrated too! Hold on tight these next few years, I don’t have to tell you how quickly this will go by.

  13. MelanieL says

    Happy birthday to Smith! Oh Shay, I’m a boy (& girl!) mom too and I feel everything you said, my baby boy is 16 and he’s totally the love of my life. Hugs to you!

  14. SS says

    Happy Birthday 13th Smith!!! As you go through your teen years, please listen to your Momma & Daddy. They know you will want to spread your wings, but listen to their advice (they do know a few things). I am only telling you this as a Momma of 2 boys that have gone through/almost through their teens. They have learned that we were right about some things. 😉
    Have the BEST day today!!! Shay & Andrew hugs to your both as you navigate through boy teen years!!!

  15. Kristen says

    Happy Birthday to Smith!
    Quick question.. in the cruise pic can you link K’s sneakers for me.. are those converse? Thanks so much.. they would be perfect for my 12 yr old!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      They are Converse buuuut we bought them there in France, so I don’t know if they’re available here or not?

  16. Shelby says

    Awww happy birthday Smith! I use to think he looked JUST like Andrew, but y’all look like twins in some of these pictures 🥰

  17. Anneka says

    Aw, Happy Birthday Smith! My baby boy is turning 6 next week and just that has me all mushy. 😂

  18. Melanie M says

    Happy Birthday, Smith! Did living with Sean give you this impression about boys? LOL…just kidding!

  19. Robin Lewis says

    Happy happy day to that grinning beautiful TEENAGER!!!!!
    *I chuckled all day the day you posted his cereal eating back and he said he has never looked better😂😉

  21. Debbie C says

    Happy Birthday, Smith! Love reading about you from your mama’s heart! You are indeed a gift from God!

  22. Deena says

    Happy 13th Birthday to Smith! I hope he has a great day! I love how he is with his sisters. I’m a boy mom and a Gigi to a granddaughter (and another on the way) and it’s fun to see the differences.

  25. Alison says

    Happy Birthday, Smith! What an extraordinary golden birthday he’ll have in 5 years!

    And you’re right, boys ARE loud, stinky, gross, and messy but oh my goodness, do they ever have an extra tight grip on a mother’s heart. My oldest will be 18 in a couple of months and just like you, I was a little flat lined when I learned I’d be a boy mom but it has been a pure blessing. Wishing your handsome kid the best kind of day!

  26. Darcy Sexson says

    Happy birthday! What a nice post – it’s so fun to see kids who are doing great things with their time and talents.

  27. Laura says

    Omgosh this made me so teary! How sweet. And how beautifully honest you were about finding out your baby is a boy! lol I was like that too when I found out our son’s gender…I was like, um sorry but I thought I was having a girl??!! And then my baby boy melted my heart instantly too. Bless your momma heart on this special day! And Smith too! Sounds like he’s following in his Papa’s footsteps of making this world a more caring, loving place 🙂

  28. Danna F says

    Happy Birthday to Smith! What a joy & a blessing! I love to read that he is his own person and can handle 3 sisters! Hope he has a great day!
    I have 1 daughter and 1 boy and my son is a lot like me. We are naturally close. When he was born, I was worried I wouldn’t know how to be a “boy” mom but it all worked out & then some.

  29. Stephanie Snyder says

    Tearing up! As a mom of two boys, it is so true that the stereotypical boy is exactly what every mama heart needs, even when the dreams were for girls. They ARE smelly, funny, sarcastic, dirty, sometimes just gross, but the best snugglers, hand holders, loving, caring and affectionate humans. Happy birthday to your sweet Smith! 13!

  30. Tara says

    Happy Birthday Smith! I feel this post so deeply as I have 2 daughters and 1 son and he is just the love of my life. I love having girls and never cared to even have a boy and now that I have one omg it’s so different and a different special! Hope your handsome boy has the best day!

  33. Barb says

    Happy Birthday Smith. I have a son and two girls.

    I can’t believe how tall the two older ones
    have become.

  34. Amie says

    I just can’t believe how he got big so fast!! Happy Birthday to Smith!! I have my 2 boys and they are the very best!

  37. Laura says

    We’ve been a family of girls until our grandson entered our lives through marriage. He has been the best addition!

  39. Traci B says

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY SMITH!!!
    I have been following along for such a long time that I remember when Smith was younger and would fall asleep at the drop of a hat anywhere he could!! How times have changed! Ha!!! What a blessing that boy is to you and your family!!

  40. Shelby says

    Happy Birthday Smith! I’ve noticed he’s been growing his hair out in your pictures recently, is he going for a new look? 🙂 Always fun to see kids grow & make their own decisions!

  42. Bailey says

    What a sweet day for your family –– and yet, all I can think about is that gold sports car…. and how the license plate says “POO.” I mean… imagine spending whatever he spent on that car. And then his license plate was “poo.” And with that, I will promptly see myself back to middle school.

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