Goals for the New Year

Last year's Goals were simple:

1. Grow and Strengthen my Testimony

2. Read at least one education book for every "fun" book

3. Learn to drive in the snow/stop being scared to drive in the snow

Let, I will tell you that I still HATE driving in the snow, so...
I have picked up reading again, and joined a book club with some ladies from church.
As for my Testimony, it is definitely in a different place than it was last year, and it is a much better happier place.


For 2014 my Goals are this:

1. Let people know how I feel, instead of letting them walk all over me.
2. Run a marathon
3. Weigh under 180#
4. Laugh more, and enjoy the time I have with the two best guys on Earth!

February

It is February! I am excited and nervous at the same time. in 12 days Zelner will be ONE YEAR OLD!

It has gone so fast!

A year ago today, I was "officially" on "maternity leave" (It isn't really official leave if you basically quit your job...) and we installed the carseat to get ready.

I am sad that my baby will be considered a toddler now.

This year has been an interesting one, a roller coaster of emotions.

I have 12 days left to enjoy my baby, and I am trying to suck up every moment, good, bad, and anything between.

Before get look to the future, let us look at the past.

These last few months have been challenging. Zelner didn't gain much weight at his 9 month appointment and the Doctor wasn't too concerned. But things after that got a little strange. Zelner stopped pooping regularly and then around Thanksgiving, started to throw up randomly. When he did finally poo (it was like once a week if that), he would have an extremely hard time and his whole bum was raw and would bleed. Then around Christmas he got this awful rash on his whole face and his back.

We stopped offering him solids, and I went on the elimination diet. We took him into the doctor and she confirmed it was a food allergy, but what, we had know idea and needed to keep him off solids for 3 weeks and then slowly start introducing them back. Most likely it would be gluten, wheat or dairy.

I am really grateful we were, and still are breast feeding. We didn't have to get anything fancy or expensive, and he healed fast.

After a few weeks of figuring out what his food allergy is, it turns out I have it too.

After delaying as long as possible, we are now a gluten and dairy free house.

Luckily, it is gluten and not wheat and we have been able to work out a way to make our own fermented breads, and other baked goods. We are experimenting and enjoying most of the fruits of our labors.

A Love Letter

Dear Zelner,

I really should be cleaning the kitchen or doing laundry, but I thought I would just take a moment to write you a little letter.

I am not the best mom at getting the dates written down of when you first smiled or laughed. Some days, I just want to be away from you.

Today, right now, I can not get enough of you!

Your smile and laugh, I want to hear all day long.

That little mischievous laugh you get when you figure something out, melts me. 

This morning, you woke up grumpy. Maybe it is because you are getting another tooth, maybe you just didn't get enough sleep.

Today, we took a shower together and you loved it. You loved playing in the water and trying to catch the water falling from the shower head. Watching your face as you are trying to understand what is going on, made me stop to think, what were you thinking.

We also made a trip down to Costco, in Clarkston. You fell asleep on the way down, and I kind of hoped maybe you would sleep as I shopped. But, a rude lady, had to loudly exclaim, as I pulled your sleeping body out of the car.

Your were happy, and it was alright. I put you in the Tula and off we went. I changed your diaper and I put you on my back to make shopping easier. I think we startled a few elderly as I was talking to you. Then we loaded up and headed home.

You were so cute in your car seat playing with a toy. You decided you were done and thew it. Then you started to play Peek-a-Boo by yourself with your blanket. It was so precious! I wish I could recorded you.

You are such a happy baby. Right now, you are wrapped up in our Kokadi Firescales wrap on my back so I could put the groceries away and unload and load the dishwasher. You quickly settled in and fell asleep. No fussing, no screaming, just snuggled in and sleep.

Zelner, I love you. I have loved you since before you were born. I am so grateful for the love you show and teach me. I don't think I truly felt a love this strong for anyone in my life. The love for you and your father, grows everyday. That moment when you hear him walk through the door and you smile and bounce. That smile, emanates  peace and love, pure perfect love.

I can not imagine life without. You are healing a very broken heart, every day, and for that I want to be there for you.

Always.

Love,
Your Mother

9 Months

I can not believe it has been 9 months! Some days I feel like it was just the other day we finally met him, and no this little bugger is trying to WALK!!

 He is also 17 pounds, we will get his official 9 month stats on the 20th.

In his car seat (14.11.2013)

In his car seat, on the way home from the Hospital (15.02.2013)

Enjoying a bowl of chili...

 Here is a little photo progression of  Zelner the other day.  

Mr. Z can:

crawl

pull himself up

walk around holding onto the furniture

loves to read books

wants to eat everything!

loves to play with his food

he loves to eat:

HUMMUS

CARROTS

APPLES (Dried and fresh)

RED PEPPERS

DRIED MANGO

Croup

Zelner has Croup.

Actually, this is the fourth time he has had it.

This time is was really bad, and we had to take him in.

Brody and I actually got into a good argument about taking him in. Let's just say saying "I would rather pay $20 for an office visit than $250 for the ER", was not the right thing to say. Especially, after trying to calm down your infant for two and a half hours!

We did go into the ready care, and got a nebulizer and now are armed for the next attack.

I just hope it isn't anytime soon.

In good news, Zelner got his first tooth on Oct 21, and in the last 3 weeks has gotten 4 more for a total of 5 teeth. Here is the order: upper left incisor, bottom right center incisor, upper left center incisor, upper right incisor, and bottom left center incisor.

Look at all those teeth!

3 Months

So I am not a super parent and do not get Zelner weighed monthly nor do we take monthly pictures inteh same spot...

This month has been a busy month for this little guy!

We made out first trip to the Westside since Christmas. The reason for the trip was for a funeral, but it was great to see friends I had not see in a while.

Since we were over the mountains, we made a stop and visited my Grandma Betty (my dad's mom).

Grandma had a broken arm, she was hiding. Grandma needs to stop falling!

Driving through the mountains.

A little while after we got back, Zelner had a really bad cold, and we took him to the doctor on the 22nd 12.7 pounds!

The doctor originally thought Zelner had RSV. He had all the classic symptoms. We were very concerned, especially after being up all night with a baby having difficulty breathing.

The test came back negative, and he was fine in a few days.

But, very scarey.

I am so grateful for Brody and his preisthood. The first night, before we took him to the doctor, Brody gave him a blessing in the middle of the night. We were scared, but we didn't want to go to the ER. The blessing, I believe did more for my nerves, but we were able to get some sleep that night.

The next morning we debated about taking him into the walk in clinic. He was doing much better. I took him in, and we were super lucky to see our regular doctor! Knowing the doctor, and knowing that she knows me and my natural approach health was a great relief. It was also great to know that my doctor trust me and gave me a single dose of steroids to give Zelner if he got worse during the day, so he could sleep that night. After a few rough nights, Zelner was fine. Then we got word from the doctor, that is was not RSV and therefore shouldn't return. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

We got a jogging stroller! But we will have to wait a few more months before we can jog, we will just walk a lot for now.

Stoic, post bath.

Sleepy boy.

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Easter

My favorite part about Easter is the clothes! I love an excuse for a new outfit, and this year I had a reason to get all of use something matching. As it is, in good ole Southern tradition to have new outfits and to be matching. I tried and tried to convince Brody to let me go all out, but he resisted. I did convince him to do matching bow ties.

I looked and looked, but couldn't find bow ties in our budget, so I made some. I also got bit by a sewing bug and ended up sewing a pair of shoes for Zelner (I actually made two right shoes, but for my first pair of shoe I think I did all right.) and a skirt for me (which I made a completely from scratch! It turned out all right, but was too big come the day to wear it!)