“And bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success” (Book of Mormon: Alma 26:27)... This has been a hard road and a very long journey, but finally our patience has paid off and we are proud new homeowners. Over a year ago we started looking to purchase a house in Arizona. Everyone kept saying “it’s a buyers market” but clearly they were mistaken. We looked at thousands of houses online, hundreds of houses on foot (with baby in tow) and placed more than 15 offers until we were finally blessed with a home to call our own. We spent all of our free time over the last year and a half invested in the home search and it was exhausting. It was such a roller coaster of emotions each time we thought we might get a house and it wasn’t the one. Our house was a short sale and we have waited 6 long months alone for this one house and we are so happy to call it home. I feel so blessed that the Lord saw us fit to endure this trial of patience and know that it is faith that brought us through. We are so grateful to all the many prayers in our behalf and look forward to sharing our guest room with you!! Come see our new house in a few weeks when the many “before” pictures, soon to be revealed, become beautiful “afters”!!

{insert mental picture here}

The other day at the park while I was watching Dallen play all by himself on the playground I looked around at our beautiful surroundings. We were the only ones there and there was a beautiful lake in the background and I just kept thinking what gorgeous pictures I could be taking. So many times I was tempted to go all the way back to car to get my camera but I decided to just enjoy the moment for myself. I love THIS John Mayer song and was reminded of it while thinking of how selfish I was that day. I am just so happy to have Dallen all to myself right now, we are really the best of friends and I love our days together. However, for those of you who are far away and crave pictures, here’s a couple from the other day just for you:

It is time to retire the red vans. These great shoes, a gift from Auntie Aubrey, lasted a wonderful nine months. We loved these shoes and he was always complimented on them. So sad to see them outgrown. Thanks to Mimi for taking Dallen to the Vans store while she was here, he will be sporting some blue checkered slip-ons for the next few months! But the way this kid grows, I know there will be another retirement day in the future.

I know it was forever ago but I totally let this post get away from me. For Christmas '09 I gave away a few homemade gifts and I think they may have been my favorite ever. I made this "D is for Dallen" shadow box for my parents, complete with a cast of his hand made on his first birthday. We also got a hand made for Mark's parents. If you’re interested in getting one made for yourself or someone you love, visit the Circle of Life Impressions blog HERE.

Dallen has been practicing his baseball skills. He is getting really good too! He can catch, throw and hit the ball :) Last week we decided to take him to the ASU baseball game. All day he was so ready to go...

The BYU cougars came to town and although they left without a victory, Dallen had a ball at the game. We sat in the field area (the cheap seats) and Dallen loved that he could run around, but he would stop and clap when the crowds cheered. We had so much fun!!

Motherhood has brought on this sort of tunnel vision. Sometimes I feel like my peripheral vision is gone and all I can see is the little man in front of me. Sometimes I see things I probably never would have noticed before: things that are dirty that Dallen shouldn't touch, something small that Dallen might put in his mouth, etc. Sometimes I don't see things I would have noticed before, like a cute dress in the store or a great pair of shoes because I am focused on D. Sometimes I feel like I am a bad friend cause my mind is so preoccupied with my son. Sometimes I feel like a bad wife or daughter or sister cause I am so focused on being a good Mom. It is amazing how motherhood takes over your mind, body and soul and you are completely consumed with love for that little one you created. I love being a Mommy and I am so happy to be caught in this tunnel of love.

You may remember THIS post back from September about me feeling really tired and fatigued. At the time I kind of diagnosed myself with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I didn’t really take it too seriously and just dismissed it as part of being a new Mom :) Over the next few months I started having more weird symptoms and things were only getting worse not better. In December I discovered a lump in my neck that was believed to be a tumor but turned out to be a swollen salivary gland. After running all kinds of tests and several different doctors visits, doctors thought that I might have Rhuematoid Arthritis. Turns out it’s not THAT either. About a month ago I learned that I am likely suffering from what is called sjogrens (SHOW-grins) syndrome. Sjogrens, like RA, is an auto-immune disorder, which means the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues as though they were foreign substances. This particular disorder attacks the body’s moisture-producing glands, such as tear and saliva glands, hence the lump in my neck from December. Sjogrens can also cause pain in the joints and fatigue, hence the thoughts of RA and CFS. In rare cases, Sjogrens can cause problems with the function of vital organs like the kidneys, lungs and nerves. So far for me, it has only affected my salivary and tear glands. My eyes have been severely dry for months now. If you’ve looked closely you’ve probably noticed how red they are, or maybe you’ve seen me sporting these:As of now, it is not severe. In fact only one of the two tests for SS came back positive so I’m not too worried. I have to re-visit my doctor every few months to monitor the glands and make sure they don’t swell again. I have my good days and my bad days but I am so lucky that it is something manageable and still allows me to function and be a Mommy. Thank you to everyone who kept me in your prayers over the last LONG 7 months. I appreciate your continued love and support always. As long as I have enough energy to keep up with this little monkey, I can’t complain.

Happy Mother's Day to me because of you...

Dearest Dallen- I truly feel blessed on days like these to be the Mother of an angel like you. I love you. Thanks for coming down from heaven to be my baby and letting me be your Mommy.
Thanks for coming to teach me things I never could have learned without you.
Thanks for coming to share your smiles with me.
Thanks for coming so I can kiss you whenever I want.


And a special thanks for coming to Mimi for sharing Mother's day with us. We sure had fun with you and miss you already!! Thanks for being an awesome Mother and a great Mimi. You are beautiful and I love you :)

Happy Mother's Day to me because of you...and Happy Mother's Day to all of you too!!

Don't worry Daddy, I didn't put a wig on your son...that's me :) I stumbled upon this picture the other day and saw so much of my son in that face. I am always hearing how much Dallen looks "just like his Daddy" but if you ask me, he's a Momma's boy!!

The other night just before dinner time, Dallen was playing with his letters. He would pick one out and show me. I would tell him what letter it was, the sound it made and a few words he knew that started with that letter. He handed me a "W" and I said wwwa-wwwwa-wwwaffles. From that moment on, Dallen INSISTED on having waffles for dinner and he was happy to assist :)

THE ZOO!!

Yes, the weather was perfect the day we went back to the zoo. It's a tricky thing the spring weather here, it is somewhat phenomenal. In just 2 days the temperature can spike or plummet by 30 degrees. I think its just a friendly reminder to not get to comfortable, summer is around the corner!! Luckily, the day our group of girls picked for the zoo, turned out to be the PERFECT day. We had lots and LOTS of fun, as always :) All geared up and ready to go. Pausing to look at the giraffes, Mommy's favorite. Monkey kisses. Swinging with the monkeys. Be careful not to leave your goldfish crumb infested stroller unattended. Ride 'em cowboy. Taking a break.

Today one of my best friends is moving away and It's Not OK!! I can't believe it came so fast, what am I gonna do?Dear Lyndsie,
It's OK that you are moving on to pursue bigger and better things. It's OK that we will have to watch each others lives through our blogs. And its OK that you will only be 2 1/2 hours away and will visit often, at least It's Not OK...I am so glad you didn't move to Oklahoma months ago because these last few months with you have been sooo fun!! Have so much fun on your new adventures and don't forget about all the good times we had :)We love you and miss you already!!