If this doesn't melt your heart, I don't know what will.

our first summer as a family of three

To be honest, I thought my glorious summers would end once Max started med school and I became a mom... but I can add that to the list of the things I was definitely wrong about. Whether it's baseball games, drive-in movies, quick weekend trips, hiking (not my favorite - nor will it ever be), and lots of swimming in our free time, it has surprisingly all been sweeter with our Charlie and the time I do get to spend with Max. Yes, he's busy. And yes, leaving the house requires way more effort than I thought it would with a baby in tow. But now that summer is slowing down, I realized I am sure going to love the memories of our first summer as a family of three.

Below are a few of the random pictures I still had saved on my phone. If I get around to finding my hard drive I will add more soon. Better to post late than never!

Lots of JW trips

FINALLY MADE A WATERMELON SHARK FOR SHARK WEEK

The aforementioned hike in the arctic tundra... misery.

Diet Coke is my love language and Max put my birthday fridge collage to shame.

Seeing Ed Sheeran was hands down one of the best concerts of all time. He's incredible live.

So long softball games, so long summer. See you next year!

Charlie's first haircut

Who would have thought a haircut could make me emotional?

(actually, just kidding. i've had several bad haircuts that have definitely made me cry. 

this one was happy tears)

what i've been reading lately

I don't have any good quotes to pull from this book, but it still deserves a shoutout. Erik Larson is incredible at bringing history to life. Every time I read his books I think, How have I not heard about this before!? I'm going to read In the Garden of Beasts next, but if you are new to Larson, put Devil in the White City and Isaac's Storm on the top of your reading list too.


--
“But you can’t have yes without no. Another way to say it: if you’re not careful with your yeses, you start to say no to some very important things without even realizing it. In my rampant yes-yes-yes-ing, I said no, without intending to, to rest, to peace, to groundedness, to listening, to deep and slow connection, built over years instead of moments."

“And so one of the tiny little things I'm learning to do is play. To purposely waste time, to strategically avoid strategy, for five minutes at a time. Intentionally not be intentional about every second. Have no purpose on purpose.”  -Present Over Perfect, Shauna Niequist
--



“If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: in love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.”  -The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah

the one and only wallowa lake

You just can't beat a week at Wallowa Lake. Bear Lake, Lake Powell, I've heard all the reasons why they're the best, but I don't think anyone can convince me there is anywhere on earth as special as Wallowa Lake.

 

I've been going to the lake for 23 summers, and for 23 summers we've done pretty much the same thing while we're there (if you've read my blog through the years, you've already heard it all before). And to a lot of people that might sound like it could get old or boring doing the same thing summer after summer, but it's one of the few places on earth I feel close to heaven. I love that lake, I love the sea monster myths, I love star gazing on the back deck and telling scary stories on the dock with a bag of sweedish fish; but even more, I love the people I spend my time with there. So as I watch a documentary right now on Netflix about an inevitable earthquake that is going to destroy the Wasatch Front, perhaps I just might move there one day too.

Ciao.

a few facts about charlie

Just a few pictures of the cutest baby boy I've ever laid eyes on.

A few facts about Charlie:

1. Charlie is SO HAPPY. All the time. I googled about it once to see if this was normal, and then was introduced to about a million possible syndromes he could technically have. Word to the wise: DON'T GOOGLE. Anyway, he's teething right now and you'd hardly be able to tell because he is always smiling (and allllways drooling).

2. He loves when Max plays the guitar. He bounces and giggles and it's making me slightly jealous that I have no musical talent to contribute to this family.

3. Charlie loves to fake cough to get our attention. We like to call him the black lung baby. He won't cry in the morning when he wakes up and wants someone to holds him, he fakes a cough and I love it.

4. He has a huge teddy bear we believe he thinks is his little friend. He would chat and giggle with the teddy bear all day long in his crib if we let him.

5. Charlie does NOT like Gerber's ham and gravy baby food. Literally makes him shudder.

6. He also does not like when Max meows like a cat. He must love dogs like his mama.

7. I am 99% sure Charlie never has a dry diaper. I think I could change his diaper every seven seconds and it would be wet every time.

8. Charlie has no interest in crawling, and will keep his legs stiff as a board when we set him down because he prefers to stand. He'll be walking before he ever crawls.

9. On average, Charlie is sleeping 9 hours through the night right now with an early morning feed before he goes back down for another 2 hours. Knock on wood. It's made everything so much easier.

10. I don't know how Max and I will ever be able to love another human being as much as Charlie, but he makes me want to have a million more babies because this has been the best thing that's ever happened to me. He has brought so much happiness in just seven months.

who more than self their country loved

Oh how I love the Fourth of July, and oh how I love this country. There are so many political opinions I often express (especially these days) because if you know me, you know I have a lot of them. Maybe too many of them in fact. However, if there is any day to put differences aside and recognize all the amazing things about this country and its people, for me that day is going to be on the Fourth of July. I'm grateful for those "who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life." I'm grateful for President's like John F. Kennedy, whose presidential plea in 1961 is more necessary than ever:

So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

--

My fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. 

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. 

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

five years

In a special blessing I received when I was fifteen years old, (you can read more about them here) I was promised that one day I would marry in the temple and share with my husband many things, the first being unity. I'll keep the rest private, but I always thought that unity was such a peculiar word to use, (and frankly was maybe hoping for something a little bit more romantic sounding at the time) - that is until years later, I read the following definition:

u·ni·ty

ˈyo͞onədē/

Unity: Integrity: an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting.

Isn't that beautiful? I've loved the word ever since.

Now, with that being said, I won't pretend that everything has been roses and cherry blossoms these last five years. I know blogs can get a bad rap for being too glossy and sweet and shiny. Marriage has taken a lot of learning and growth and sacrifice which has included plenty of tears and disagreements and frustration. However, it has truly brought me more happiness than I could have ever imagined, and has been the most beautiful five years of my life, this last year especially. There is no one else on earth I would rather share unity with than with my high school sweetheart and Laurie Lawrence, Max Bingham. I love you forever.

a few more family pictures

These were the first professional pictures Max and I had taken since our wedding. This is 100% because of the fact I am the least photogenic human being that has ever lived. However, Jessica Janae Photography was amazing, and I'd recommend anyone to them in a heart beat. Also, look no further than Sundance for your next photo shoot location. Sometimes I forget how beautiful Utah really is. And last but not least, these pictures make my heart melt for a million and one reasons, but mostly because of that little blonde haired, blue eyed boy. I really don't know if there is a happier baby on earth, or anything on earth that could make me happier. I feel so blessed.

fathers day

Max can be described in a lot of ways. He's really funny and really smart. Like, extremely, unbelievably smart. Max is kind. My grandpa says Max is the kind of person whose never met a stranger. He's personable and inviting. Someone also once said that Max is the kind of person who can find happiness in a mud puddle. And it's true, he's the eternal optimist and is always looking for the best in any situation and in everyone around him. And he's cute. I love his round cheeks and his cheerful countenance and the freckles he gets in the summer.

I fell in love with Max years ago for all of the above and more, but something new I've witnessed and love with all my heart is the way Max has taken on the role of dad. I could go on and on about it. He fell in love with Charlie as fast and as hard as I did. The moment he walks in the door from work or school, Charlie will turn his head and smile his gummy smile because he knows just like I do, Max loves him like crazy. Max is so many things to me, but he's been the most incredible father, and I love him more than ever for it.