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5/31/2015

5 Year Anniversary

I really had no idea what Jared had up his sleeve for this year's anniversary. We switch off planning each year, so it was his turn, and man did he deliver!
Jared took Friday, our actual anniversary, off from work, and told me to pack a bag for me and Colton. We left around noon and headed to Shea's house where Jared said they would be taking Colton for the night (woo hoo!!! You guys are the best!!) Then we headed out to Park City sans baby for an awesome day walking around the shops. Our favorite was a place called the Olive Oil company where we got to taste tons of olive oils and vinegars and honeys and spices. We spent over an hour in there! It was such a fun date and we laughed and talked. Then we had a light lunch of yummy shrimp before getting back in the car.
We drove about 10 minutes before Jared pulled up to the Stein Eriksen lodge and I literally squealed. They are doing a huge blogging retreat at that lodge that I have been following on instagram so I knew all about it, and just about died. It is absolutely AMAZING!!




The service was incredible and our room was so beautiful. We had our own hot tub on the balcony where I got to use my new Albion suit (Thanks Good Morning Utah!)
After we settled in and got ready, we headed to the lodge restaurant, called Glitretend (don't ask me how to say that...) where we proceeded to have the best dinner we have ever had.
 
We started with the best asiago bread. Oh man, it was the best bread I had ever tasted! I wanted to sleep on it it was so soft! Then we had a brie cheese plate and a mushroom platter. For the main course, Jared had a tenderloin that cut like butter, and I got a lamb t-bone and sausages. Then for dessert Jared got this neopolitan parfait and I got this chocolate cake with peanut brittle, truffes, and peanut butter gelato.

I could have died and gone to heaven this meal was so darn good, and it was a wonderful way to celebrate the day. We talked about the past 5 years. Our favorite moments, what we have accomplished, and the goals we have for the next 5 years. We have been so blessed and are so grateful for so many things, especially our beautiful son.
I love being married to Jared. Sometimes it blows my mind how awesome our life is. He makes me so happy, and I'm so glad we took the plunge 5 years ago!


5/30/2015

Shenanigans

Fun fun always fun
This picture happened. He knows he's not supposed to get into the bookcase, and he was caught.
We went and saw Daniel Tiger with Shea, McKay, Penny, and Declan. Colton was fascinated
Jared and I went to a Salt Lake Bees game and left Colton with a paid babysitter for the first time. We had so much fun!
Colton came with me on a super long walk around the neighborhood to take visiting teaching assignments, and it was bright, and there was pollen flying everywhere, and I made him keep his hat on.
We went to Dan and Michelle's son Shep's first birthday party! It was fiesta themed and Colton got a mustache. He looked much more Italian than Mexican haha


 

5/25/2015

Uncle Lance's Graduation

Colton and I flew out to Colorado to see Uncle Lance graduate high school!
He did awesome on the flight there. He was the only baby, and literally everyone asked his name, and knew him, and was loving on him. He was like a celebrity, and he absolutely loved it.
Sunday night we went to Lance's seminary graduation, and Colton was soooo tired, but he was a trooper!
We went to Damon's school to visit his class Monday morning, and all of his friends loved Colton, of course. Then we went out shopping with Grandma and got some new clothes. The graduation was on Tuesday morning. It was raining and freezing, and we were bundled up like crazy! We made it all the way up until they called Lance's name, then Colton and I went to the car to get warm and take a nap while the graduation finished.


Then, in Bunch fashion, we went to The White Chocolate Grill for lunch. That's where all of us kids have requested after graduation, and of course, it was delicious. Colton was introduced to the french fry there and it changed his life forever.
Wednesday my mom, dad, and Lance flew out to New York City for a fun trip, so Colton and I hung out with uncle Damon for the rest of the week.
We did a lot of relaxing, and playing inside, especially since it was raining the whole time! But it was so nice, and Colton loved all the room to crawl around in, we even practiced going up the stairs, which he got the hang of in no time.
Mom, dad, and Lance got back Sunday, and we had a great time sitting around and talking about their super cool trip. Then Colton and I flew home on Monday, and once again he was awesome.
It is so nice living pretty close to my family, and we are so grateful we get to see them!

5/14/2015

9 Months Old

We just had his 9 month check up, and here are the stats:
Weight: 19 lbs-22%
Height: 27"-9%
Head: 45.2 cm-44%
Size 3 diapers, just moving into 12 month clothes.
Crawling, cruising along furniture, pushing his walker everywhere. Starting to stand on his own.
Says: mama, dada (and knows who we are), "mo" (more) "bubba" (?) "aahh-maaa" (kiss noise-accompanied with slobbery kisses), "mmmmm" (what does a cow say?)
Likes: Walks in the stroller, dancing, Uptown Funk, eating, drinking water from his sippy cup, bottles at naptime, binky, feeding himself baby food pouches, singing, figuring out how to replicate noises he hears
Dislikes: slimy/squishy food, when meals are over, when mom doesn't share her dr. pepper, when mom takes too many pictures...

mean muggin'
Colton is down to waking just about once a night for a bottle, then goes right back to sleep. He usually goes down at 6:45, and sleeps until 6:30 the next morning. We are also down to two naps a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
It is amazing how much more Colton is understanding. He is our little engineer, he loves to figure out how things work, how they make noise, how they move, how he can manipulate them, and how he can make the same noise. He looks for his binky when I ask him to find it, he hides from me when I'm "looking" for him, every time he hears a crinkle of a bag he knows there are snacks and he wants em, and we are just about to start clapping! He loves to eat grass...and will bypass his hands and just lean down with a wide open mouth to get a taste, just like a goat. (eating of said grass has only happened once, but that doesn't stop him from trying!)
We sure love our little guy!

5/13/2015

First Mother's Day

I had an awesome first Mother's day. It started with breakfast in bed and a handwritten note from Jared and Colton, Colton even drew a little picture! Jared took good care of Colton while I got to relax.
We got some pictures before church, though of course Colton was much more interested in eating my necklace than cooperating for pictures.
 
I love being a mom, Some days are hard, some days are busy, some days are boring, some days are sad or joyful or exciting. Some days are all of those things all at once. I constantly lay in bed at night and wonder what I can do to be a better mom. I worry about what Colton's learning, eating, saying, doing, etc. etc. etc.
I got my first "day off" since Colton was born yesterday. Jared's work pays for 20 days of "back up care" per year, where they will send in a nanny during the day. I have been looking forward to this day for two weeks. I had a doctor appointment, I went out to a cheat lunch, saw Insurgent, went shopping at Sally's, and went to get my hair done.

But all day I felt guilty for leaving Colton and missed him like crazy. I felt so alone! Then when I got home he didn't even want the nanny to leave he loved her so much and the surge of jealously I felt was totally irrational, and as I laid in bed last night I just felt sad about the whole day.
That, to me, is what motherhood is though. I can't just get a "day off" from being a mom, it's not a job, it's an identity. I WISH that I could take a day and only think about myself and what I want to do, but I think those days are behind me, and I am so grateful for it.
I now have only slept through the night once in about 15 months. I get my hair pulled and my face scratched constantly, I get my necklaces chewed on, I get slobber stains on all my clothes, spit up in my mouth, and snot streaks on my fake tan. I get big wet kisses 100 times a day. I get a few minutes of cuddles where Colton slows down long enough to rest his head on my shoulder, just for a second. I get to hear "Mamamamama" all day long. I get to find little socks in my dryer, and I get to comb his baby hair and make him look so handsome, Colton sings at the top of his lungs with me in the car, and I get to reach back and tickle his face and hear him squeal with laughter. He is a part of me that walks around outside my body, and I have never in my life felt so right as I do being his mom.
I can't wait for more kiddos that I get to feel this way about. I can't even fathom that my heart could be filled with more love, or sorrow, or guilt, or joy. But recognizing all of these things, that is what Mother's day is all about.

5/03/2015

Exploring our backyard part 3

Salt Lake has been keeping us so busy!
Colton and I have been able to go to the zoo with Shea, and her kids Penny and Declan. This is the only picture we got, but that gorilla was so funny.
Then we got to go to the huge aquarium with Emmie and Lucy and her sister Lily! We had so much fun. I missed Emmie so much!
Later that week we went to Salt Lake Fitcon down in Sandy. Of course Colton was everyone's favorite attraction in his muscle tank. We got to see some bodybuilders lift some crazy heavy weights and got a ton of samples. It was so fun and inspiring to be surrounded by these people who were so strong!
Also we have been having so much fun just taking drives. We like to explore potential places to live, but mostly drive around and see some ridiculously extravagant homes. This weekend our car was in the shop and the dealer gave us a brand new Acadia with all the upgrades to borrow until our car was ready.
We drove around all weekend. First we drove up behind the capitol to hike Ensign peak. This was the place where the initial pioneers, including Brigham Young, surveyed the valley and decided where everything was going to be.
Colton loved the hike and sang the whole way up and down. He looked so cute on our backs with his little hat!
Later that day we drove all around Bountiful, and eventually decided on our dream home. What this picture doesn't show is the breathtaking view it has from the back!


For now we will keep dreaming. We got our little Vibe back, and came home to our little apartment, and for now that is good enough for us!