Tampa Aquarium

Friday July 3rd (yes, I'm still quite behind on blogging but am trying to catch up!) We went to the Tampa Aquarium. Finley loved looking at all the fish and even got to see a penguin and owl up close. Chris and I loved it too. I think Chris and Finley had similar expressions as my cute husband looked like he might run to grab a fishing pole at any second...

Surgery

On June 16th Finley went in for a Probe and Irrigation of both eyes due to blocked tear ducts. We had hoped for a long time that as she grew, it would resolve on its own, but it didn't. Her eye(s), especially the left one would constantly water and have goopey discharge and we started having more issues with infection. These pictures are from when we were in Holding waiting to talk to anesthesia and our opthamologist. When we were in the waiting room prior to this I was reading her a book about a ladybug. As soon as I read the word "bug" she started saying "Eeeewwwww" "Eeeeeewwww" really dramatically. We cracked up. It was the perfect diversion for our nerves.
As for the surgery, she did absolutely awesome and it only took about 15 minutes from the time they took her away until they were saying she was headed back to us. They wheeled her back to us with her screaming but she went away with the Anesthesiologist no problem (which shocked me). Her eyes have been great since the surgery-- no crusted over eyelids when she wakes up, no more red circles under her eyes and excessive tearing. You can see in the picture below the watery haziness especially in the left one.

Everyone was great and since we had it done at All Childrens (where I work), I was comforted by knowing our anesthesia and nursing team really well. One of my colleagues (Sybil) also came down to visit at the exact right time (when the anesthesiologist was taking her from Chris) and distracted us during the procedure and even went in to check on her once. My dad and step-mom Jody also came up to sit with us which was awesome. Add to that, that the day before I got the idea (through some friends at work) that I should ask our Opthamologist if he'd put Finley's earrings back in while she was under anesthesia. They were only out a few days (after one of them was lost at daycare) before the holes had grown over too much to put them back in. We were looking at having to repierce them which really upset me. I think I put all my anxiety about the anesthesia into being anxious about having to take her back to pierce her ears! So... our doc was AWESOME... he put our new screw-back pair in while she was under and she came out (screaming) with pierced ears and open tear ducts. :) Yay! It was a stressful morning for all of us but it went great and I'm so happy we did it.

Sprinkler Fun

Prior to his 2nd birthday celebration, Grandma brought out this early present...
They had so much fun playing in the water and squirting each other (and themselves!)

Mattison, Mason and Finley enjoying themselves, but the water was cold!

I love to vacuum!

Sweet girl loves when we take the vacuum out-- so when I saw this one just her size at the store, I had to get it. It even has the appropriate sound effects. She loves it!!

And of course, Brady trails behind making sure to leave more hair to vacuum up!

Mason is 2!

Family and friends at the Burriss house to celebrate Mason's 2nd birthday!! Finley loved watching him open his gifts and all his fun toys!

The day of Mason's birthday celebration I picked her up from baby school with her first "up-do"! She was outside playing with her back to me and I didn't even recognize her with her big-girl pigtails. One of her teachers put her hair up and it was so cute. I added the ribbons when we got home...

Father's Day

Above are my dad and I on Father's Day. We stopped by to visit before Finley and I took Chris to Jackson's for Brunch as a surprise to meet up with Rachel, Mike, and Koen...

We planned to surprise the daddy's with a nice bruch-- but didn't plan for the kids to be in coordinating outfits. They were so good... I think Finley was so hungry she was going to try to eat her arm off...

After brunch the kids were loving all over each other, giving kisses and hugs. It was really sweet...

Long Time No Post

Wow... so its been a while since I've posted an update. A couple of months have gone by-- which means lots of changes in the world of a one-year-old. I realized the other day that I also haven't picked up the camera but once or twice in the past month. We've been trying to video a bit more and if I figure out how to post video-- I've got a great one for you.
These photos are back from the beginning of June... my grandma ("Granny" to Finley), Aunt Shelli, Uncle Scott, and cousin Andrew came to visit from WV. My grandma had not visited Florida since about 15 years ago so it was such a treat!! Above is the first day they arrived. My mom is reading Finley a book she bought for her for her baptism. It has the "I love you Stinky Face" story in it... one of Finley's favorites.
Also, I should point out that I picked her up from baby school the day my family flew in and noticed one of her earrings was gone. There was a note that they found the back but not the earring itself, so not wanting her to be lop-sided, I took the other one out when I got home (more on that later). Hence, she's earring-less in these photos....

Below is Finley and Aunt Shelli (my mom's sister)... Aunt Shelli is crazy fun and her and Finley always get each other cracking up...

Here's Granny and her Finnie...

This one is a little out of order... but this was Finley's face when Nana brought her out from her nap to show her everyone was here...

Finley playing peek-a-boo with Granny...

Below Finney got her first taste of custard-- and many more tastes after that :)

We all spent a day at the beach... we had a blast. This photo is after we took her water-logged diaper off because I didn't put the swim diaper on... She's getting so tan even with her baby SPF 50 sunscreen. Her Aunt Shelli is very jealous.

Out of order again... interrupting the beach photos for some photos of Finney and her presents from her Aunt Shelli and Granny. Aunt Shelli got her this tent "salon"... so cute!

Here Aunt Shelli and Finley in the tent reading the Nursery Rhymes book from Granny.

Grandma and I at Bradenton Beach

Finley and Aunt Shelli loving the sand, the sun and especially the surf!

We loved having them here and looking forward to heading their way for a visit and family reunion in October!