Birthday on the way

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Hunter turns 3 on Tuesday. I'm so grateful we've been able to spend another year with him.

I'm glad I took the time to put this video together for his birthday again. It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day blah of life. But when I take the time to step back and absorb everything in perspective, singular days come together to form a very special whole. It is gratifying to see what I've been "doing" with my life and know that it is good. Of course, I can't claim all of the credit on this front. Bryson is in the trenches with me day after day and I couldn't ask for a better companion.

I can't really explain my feelings about the song I used in this video. All I know is it is quintessentially Hunter.

Our little vampire baby

I love Eleyna's smile right now. Her two bottom teethies came in first and I just assumed that the next ones to arrive would be her front two. This was not the case. She got her upper lateral incisors-the two teeth on either side of where her front teeth will eventually be-instead. She looks kind of like a little vampire. It is pretty cute and funny.
Our other big news is, she's walking! Granted she only manages a couple of very wobbly steps at a time, but it is still totally thrilling. She is only 10 months old too. Yea yea yea for 'Leyna!

Eleyna and Bry playing/taking pictures. I love her smile in the last one. Such a happy girl!

Snowboarding = torture?

Bry and I have been planning to go snowboarding together for a long time. For those of you who don't know my husband, snowboarding is one of his passions. After a big snow storm, all I want to do is crawl back in bed and sleep until the snow is gone. Bryson is generally there when the lifts open (8:30 AM!) on a good powder day. Because of pregnancies and babies, we've never been snowboarding together in our married life. I've only gone once in my lifetime. On Saturday I went for my second time with Bryson. We went to Brighton. It was the perfect day for me-nice and warm even in the mountains.

I have to admit I was pretty nervous. I'm fairly athletic, but new stuff is always intimidating. Also, I really wanted to impress Bryson since I'm sure one or two old girlfriends were snowboarder chicks. All in all, I think I surpassed his expectations. As for my expectations, nothing could have prepared me for how sore my body is today. I feel like I've been in a car accident or something. If muscles could scream, mine would.

After four (punishing) runs, we called it quits. Bryson was an incredible teacher! He was so patient and he really explained everything clearly. Riding the lift and admiring the beauty of the mountains, with the sun on my face, was heavenly. It was so fun to finally get to do this together! On the way home, Bry got us lunch at the yummiest Mexican spot-Lonestar Taqueria. It was such a fun day!

The beginning of this month brought the 4A boy's state basketball tournament. We spent the better part of a week at the E Center watching my brother Ryan and his Bulldogs play all the way to the championship. It was so exciting. Can't wait for next year when the Bulldogs take it all.

Besties

Recently, much to my excitement, I found out that one of my best friends from high school is getting married next month. Even better, she's getting married in San Diego so now I have a perfectly legitimate excuse for a little vacation to Cali. We went to dinner with her and her fiance this past weekend and it was lots of fun. They are such a cute couple! We took this picture together at her bridal shower a few weeks ago. Congrats Shan-I love ya!

On a related note, during dinner with Shannon and Cole (the fiance), Shan told me while she was home for the shower she overheard an old ward member make a comment to another man along the lines of, "Yeah, remember Emily Bennett? She got married really young. I think she was 17 or something."

For the record, I was TWENTY. 2-0. Sheesh!

The great outdoors

Having a nine month old helps you see the world for the first time again. We were out working in the yard a couple of Saturdays ago and Eleyna loved every minute. She was picking up leaves and grass and examining-and then tasting of course! She was fascinated by the trees and the sky. It was really neat to watch.

Isn't she adorable in that little pink coat? :)

Nothing like having a sick baby in the hospital to ruin your week...

On Monday afternoon I took Hunter to the doctor's. He had been running a high fever since Sunday evening and was looking worse by the minute. Thankfully, our new pediatrician really listened (what a novel concept) to our summary of his symptoms and took the concern we expressed seriously. After only a couple of hours in the ER, fast-tracked thanks to a call from our pediatrician, blood had been drawn and a chest x-ray taken. The diagnosis was pneumonia--a scary word in our house. Hunter was admitted to American Fork Hospital that night.

When I got back to the hospital after putting Eleyna to bed, Hunter was still as pale as a sheet. He looked so defenseless and miserable. My dad and Bryson gave him a priesthood blessing. I felt comforted after that. He fell asleep around 8:30 Monday evening and slept through the night and the entire next day with only a few minutes of wakefulness here and there. Our doctor was concerned by his lethargy and was considering a lumbar puncture to check for meningitis. Thankfully, Tuesday evening he woke up and was alert for a couple of hours, so we didn't have to do the test. By Wednesday morning things were looking up. The doctors told us if Hunter tolerated his normal feed amounts for 24 hours that he could go home on Thursday. The pneumonia was responding well to the antibiotics and his blood work reflected the improvement.

Thursday we got to bring him home, and I took a big sigh of relief.

Thank you to the following individuals: Mom/Heather for watching Eleyna everyday so I could be at the hospital with Hunter, Janeen for coming to sit with Hunter so Bry and I could eat/shower/take a break, Jocelyn for babysitting Eleyna, Dad for helping Bryson give the blessing, my friend Sara and Sis. Hood for bringing dinner over after we got home, and Heavenly Father for prompting me to change doctors.

They smell as yummy as they look

We were down in St. George with family over Valentine's so nothing really special occurred on the big day. Yesterday these beauties were delivered right to my door, courtesy of my husband. I feel spoiled to be married to such an awesome guy. Love you babe.