Corneal Ulcer

In the end of June I had some issues with my right eye. It was just SO painful, red and extremely sensitive to light.

Dallin finally convinced me to go into Instacare.  The doctor that saw me immediately sent me to the hospital. I was diagnosed with a corneal ulcer right in the center of my eyeball. 

The eye specialist prescribed me some VERY expensive eye drops that I was to put in my eye every hour.  Even through the night.  It was so brutal!  I also had to go back in to see him every day for 5 days.  I had the pleasure of wearing a very attractive visor behind my glasses for weeks, when I went outside.

The doctor said he was taking such drastic measures because if he didn't see progress, I might have permanent scarring and even vision loss in my right eye! Um wow, so glad I went in.  I guess this can occur with contact users and they can't really determine why it happened.

Well I have good news.  I recently had an eye exam and they said the ulcer is completely healed with zero scarring!

Can't mess with the eye balls!

I loathe wearing glasses.  So basically a month straight, was my own personal torture. 

Above mentioned visor. I look ecstatic.

Evil drops. Such a small bottle of the most expensive liquid. I guess they were worth it!

Finn's 2nd birthday

I am feeling super relieved that I recently wrote a massive update on Finn.  So I am just going to share what we did on his actual birthday!  We went bananas and bought an awesome ride-on train for him this year.  My little brothers actually had this exact train when they were Finn's age.  My mom brought it up to us one night and once Dallin saw it, he was dead set on it :)

D and I were so excited to see his reaction.

Wouldn't you know, it kinda scared him.

Ha ha. He eventually got over it and rides on it non stop!

No party this year. Decided to keep it nice and low key.

We spent our morning at the zoo with my sweet mother-in-law, Mama and Jackson. 

After the zoo, we just let Finn nap and play with his new toys.

You know we had a donut cake and maybe some number 2 shaped donuts.  I mean come on?

I'll probably do it every year now!

It was a hit. 

I'd like to think Finn had a great day. Can't believe that as I write this, he will be 2 1/2 this week. Holy Hannah, where did my baby go?

Just a little frightened.

Nice timing see lion!

Grandma party!

I guess he was scared of this statue too. We are phenomenal parents.

I had to add this video, so I don't forget to later.  He was in the middle of eating a chicken nugget and just fell straight to sleep.  I turned around at a stop light and managed to get some of it on video.

We sure adore this little guy and can't wait to see him grown and learn!

Fair

We hit up the Saratoga Springs Fair this summer, as you do!

Phil, Lacey and the kids met us there and Finn loved every minute of it. 

He struggled with the rides concept. 

A bit frightened when we put him on them, and left.

Loved it once they got going and was ticked when it was time to get off.

He is a rather emotional toddler. 

I can't wait till he is older and understands. Don't even get me started on waiting in line. 

Just kill me now!

the newest high school grad

Ryker graduated from high school this summer!

I can't believe it! The brother that was born when I was nine is now technically a man!

He truly is so ambitious, hard working, innovative, driven and smart! He surprises me constantly with a new skill he has learned and a new tool he has purchased and using to fix and replace something. 

He has helped us with so many jobs around our house. He changes oil, tunes up lawn mowers, washes windows, hangs Christmas lights, trims high bushes and hedges.
Ryker is literally the Jack of ALL trades. The list continues. 

He is also the most chill person with the driest sense of humor. 

I just love him and can't wait to see the amazing things he accomplishes in his life.

Speaking of: Ryker just received his mission call! He is going to OK, Oklahoma City mission! I am so excited for him. We will miss him to death but I know it is where he needs to be.

The night he opened his call.

Love you little but not so little brother!

Mother's Day and a baby shower

I sure enjoy the day set aside to celebrate my own mother and all of the mom examples in my life.

My boys made sure to make me feel extra loved and appreciated.

Motherhood is like nothing I ever dreamt.  It is so much better. I do have mom guilt almost daily for one thing or another.
I need to let a lot of things go and just cherish this very little time I have with Finn while he is young.

It's crazy what the world and our own warped expectations can do to our happiness.

I feel so blessed and try to quickly snap myself out of the wallowing and doubting of my ability as a mother.

Just a little blurb out of my thoughts tonight. 

 Being this little boy's "Mama" has been the most wonderful experience of my life. 

Thankfully I have a village around me to help shape him into a good man.

I got real serious for a minute. 

Speaking of mothers.

A dear friend of mine just became a first time mom to a beautiful baby girl. 

So of course, we saw it fitting to throw a baby shower. 

I say this every time but I'll say it again.  I just love catching up and reconnecting with friends at these gatherings.

I take great strength watching these women become mothers and parent their little ones.  I love the idea that we are cheering each other on. We all know it ain't easy! Am I even making sense? It is late and my midnight oil is burning and almost gone :)

4 people at the baby shower were pregnant, so you know I took the opportunity to document such an occasion ;)

We love you Sharesa and Hazel!

Beautiful Mama-to-be.

All the glowing expectant mothers :)

With her 2nd, 2nd, 1st and 4th. Wowza, don't they look amazing??

I used all the crafty juice I had in me and came up with these decorations from an old book.

Tried and true selfie stick coming through for us!

I love the little kids who joined in on the group shot! The most beautiful friends and women!

Mommy and Me swim lessons

I personally think Finn is too young for swim lessons. 

However, I wanted him to have a little bit more exposure and some guidelines to follow, when in a pool.

Also, I sort of loved an activity for me and him to have together.

I found some Mommy and Me swim courses at the Herriman Rec Center and enrolled him. 

It was just a small course of 4 lessons on Saturday mornings.

We were only able to attend 3/4 but the price could not be beat!

I consider the process a success with a few bumps.

I am pretty sure the 3rd lesson borderline traumatized him. 

It was a dunking session, and they kept encouraging us to splash them and dunk them. Quickly of course.

But the swim lesson instructor and Mama in me kept pushing back.

Dangit, I am still mad I didn't listen to my instincts.

He was not harmed in any way, I just think it was too much, too fast, for his age.

Plus other kids crying scared him.

Mom fail. I guess you live and learn? Ah. Slow and Steady always wins the race!

I will be taking the swim lesson reigns from here on out. 

I did learn some things to work on with him. I have never taught younger than 4 years old.

He enjoyed it 85% of the time and I sure loved the bonding. 

Bikes

Since the beginning of our marriage, D and I have wanted bikes. 

This spring, we finally bit the bullet and purchased our very own road racers!

I completely over-estimated the price of bikes.

When we first started looking, almost every single bike was between $500-$1000. A piece.

Um. Yeah no. We even looked at Walmart. Yes they were cheaper but didn't have a very good selection.

We finally found our bikes at Target. I should have known! My favorite place.

We also picked up a kid's seat for the back of D's bike for Finn. 

Let's be honest, me in charge of a 35 lb toddler on my unstable bike, that I can barely manuever?

Just an accident waiting to happen.

We hid the road riding!! Ha ha I am so lame.

Our favorite path of choice is the Jordan River Trail between our house and my parent's. 

Reason being, it is mostly flat.

We aren't professionals. Even though D is way faster than me, with Finn!

I think one of my favorite things to witness on our family rides is Finn occasionally rubbing or patting D's back. It is amazing.

Oh and the fact that he has started calling Dallin "D". 

Woopsies. It is the cutest. 

R2 D2

A few months ago, I came home from mutual to a rip roaring R2 D2 robot in my living room.

Finn and D made a trip to the toy store and R2 D2 was the result.

Not sure if D or Finn were more excited about it. 

To say Finn was/is obsessed is a LARGE understatement.

What is so funny about his fascination is that he is also scared to death of it. 

R2 D2 will randomly move or speak when he is in a certain mode and Finn will come running, screaming at the top of his lungs.

It is so sad and hilarious bundled into one. 

He calls his friend "D2."

Anytime he sees anything resembling D2 he loses his mind.

Stars Wars coming back is really affording more opportunities of spotting him in the store. 

He has quite the merchandise collection at this point. 

I definitely enable it.

Pictures for reference. I wasn't joking. 

I mean come on with the shoes! They were on sale! They were meant to be.

The culprit himself.

On cloud nine.

I may have gotten an ornament for our Christmas tree..... I have not an ounce of self control.

Kisses?? I just can't. 

Jammies from Grandma.

We threatened to take D2 away. This look could slaughter.

That one time I tucked D2 into bed to bug Finn. That's it. I am a child.

Glamour shots.

Ok, admitting you have a problem is the first step.