Daisy

As many who have suffered through infertility know, our pets are our first babies. Our first baby, Daisy, is very sick. Please pray for her. She had diarrhea and started vomiting yesterday afternoon. Through the night the diarrhea turned to just liquid, mostly blood. I took her to the vet this morning. They admitted her and started her on IV fluids and antibiotics.

Daisy & Leland @ Christmas

They say it is some type of extreme gastrointestinal upset, but it’s impossible to know for sure what is wrong without lots of expensive tests. For now we are treating with the fluids and antibiotic. If she hasn’t improved some by tomorrow we will run a few tests. Please keep her in your prayers!

Gluten Free, etc

Three weeks ago I started on a Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Caffeine Free, Refined Sugar Free diet. It’s similar to the yeast free diet I did last summer, but not as restrictive. I had been wanting to go back on the yeast free diet or at least a gluten free diet for a few weeks, but have been putting it off for some time now.

Robert suggested I do the diet through Lent and offered to join me. I don’t really think of this as having given something up "for Lent" but we are using Lent as our timetable. Mostly I was just thankful that Robert was going to join me. So far in three weeks I have lost 6.5 lbs (Robert has lost about 10 lbs). I don’t talk much about weight on my blog because although I try to be as healthy as possible I also try not to fixate on my weight.

A little history...I started having trouble with my weight as a child when I was diagnosis with hypothyroidism at age 9. I was never obese, but consistently a little overweight. When I was 16 I joined we*ght w@atchers. With a lot of hard work I lost about 15-20 lbs, achieving a goal weight of about 135 lbs - not skinny, but no longer overweight. As a teenager I really struggled with why it was so much harder for me to loose weight than it was for my friends. It just didn’t make sense. I now understand that having essentially been in (hormone wise) menopause since about 15 years of age, losing weight for me is like a 50 year old woman trying to loose weight.

In college I gained all of the weight I had lost, plus some. Since college I have fluctuated anywhere from 145 - 170 lbs. (Except while pregnant when I topped just over 200). During college I had an epiphany...I was packing up some old clothes when I came across a pair of size 2 jeans. I remembered wearing them and I remembered still not feeling pretty enough or thin enough. It was then that I swore to embrace myself and love myself no matter my size. Yes, I still delete unflattering bathing suit pictures of myself form the camera and cringe when I see a bad photo of me posted to Fac*book, but I don’t stress over my weight.

Sometimes it’s hard, especially being around my mother. After some reflection it is clear to me that she is a main source of my weight-related insecurities. Even recently she commented that she was happy to see me on this diet because I had been looking so great last fall and seemed to have put back on some of the weight (I’ve gained 4 lbs total in the last nine months). I recognize that her comments are a product of her own insecurities and I really believe that she doesn’t understand or recognize their affect on me, but still it affects me.

So back to the diet....I have wanted to go back to Gluten free because I am almost certain that Gluten gives me headaches. I have no other signs of a Gluten allergy or intolerance, and I have been tested for Celiac, so I am not really sure what to make of it - any thoughts??? Tomorrow marks the halfway point of my diet. I will keep you posted!

Twenty Months

Leland’s personality is really exploding. He is discovering his ability to express opinions and preferences. And, although I don’t have the actual measurements, he is growing like crazy!

New Table from the Consignment Sale

Leland continues to say new words every day. He has learned to say "side" and uses it to tell me he wants to switch sides while nursing. He says "wash" - meaning he want to wash his hands ... or play in the water in the sink! He is also overflowing with lots of "yes, please" (sounds like "es peeze") and "more, please" because he has cleverly discovered that I have a hard time resisting him when he is so polite and just so cute.

Watching TV with Granddaddy

Leland is wearing mostly 18 month pants and a mix of 18-24 month tops. He is working on lots of teeth right now. He has been getting four new molars for the past few weeks. One is finally in, two are mostly there, and one is just peaking trough. Then I noticed yesterday that he is getting one more tooth on the top in addition to the molars. I guess he is finally playing catch up in the teeth department.

Diaper Cutie...with the Ipad

One of the fun sides of the increased desire for independence is Leland’s love of helping. He takes thing to the trash for me (papers, etc.); he helps clean up his toys; and he loves to help feed our dog Daisy. Of course the reverse side of the independence streak is mini-meltdowns through out the day. But thankfully they are infrequent and short in duration.

Another new development this month is the addition of a teddy bear to his crib. Leland has always been very attached to his blanket; it's a great source of security for him. About two weeks ago my mom was laying him down for a nap and he asked for a teddy bear out of the bin of stuffed animals in his room. He pointed to a specific bear and snuggled it close. He has been sleeping with the bear ever since, an occasionally taking it out of the crib too. I have been calling him "Teddy" but just this week he corrected me an called him "Bear".

After his Bath

As every month passes I feel a small ache for just how much and how fast my baby boy has grown up. But mostly, I am really, really loving how much fun it is to explore the word with him and though his eyes. The more he grows and learns, the more we can do and see together.

Happy Valentine's Day

Our Valentine's Day this year was mostly routine, but still very special. We got out of bed a little early so we could all have a hot breakfast together. After Robert left for work Leland and I climbed back in bed to snuggle, nurse, and watch some cartoons. I left work a little early to have some extra time with Leland in the afternoon. We colored and played....and busted his head open on the driveway. When Robert got home he grilled steaks for dinner - yum!

Here's the valentine cards I sent to school with Leland:

I hope you all had a blessed Valentine's day. Even if you are in the thick of it and struggling day-by-day, I hope you found some small joys to celebrate! 

19 Months & First Hair Cut

Sunday marked 19 months for Leland. He continues to delight and entertain us. He talks more every day. Just this morning he started saying "Yes please" and "More please". So cute! He loves to read and he love to eat. His favorite foods are fruit, cheese, and olives.

Helping with laundry

Leland is wearing mostly 18 month clothes, but has started wearing some 24 month clothes. He wears 5.5 shoes and size 4 diapers. We still nurse several times a day - usually 4-6 times per day (sometimes more on weekends).

Out for a ride

Leland's big milestones this month have been mastering the use of a real fork and working on four new molars. After no new teeth in almost 5 months I think we are ready. His top two molars are really cutting through, but the bottom ones are just causing the gums to be inflamed.

Lazy PJ Day

And the biggest change....Leland had his first haircut yesterday at 19 months, 2 days! I managed not to cry, but the night before I did stand over his crib for quite a while, running my fingers though his long, soft baby hair. We just trimmed up the back, at the ears and neck. We left the top long and untouched.

Before

First Snip

Very Serious!

After

AN UPDATE: 30 Before 30

Back in May of 2012, I turned 28. I made a list of 30 things I wanted to try to accomplish before my 30th birthday. Most of these are not major life goals, but rather simple things I've wanted to try or small changes that I think will improve my quality of life.

Here is the update. So far I have completed 8 things on my list. I've crossed it out if I consider it done. I have made a comment below if it is done or if it is something I have made progress on but have not yet completed. Also, if there is a corresponding blog post about it, I have linked you to that as well.

1. Live close to work
We Moved in September 2012. I now live about 2 miles from work and I love, love, love it. Leland’s new school is actually on my route to work and only about a mile from our new home.

2. Take a week long family vacation
We took a cruse in December 2012. We had a great time. (I am still planning a whole post on cruising with a toddler)

3. Get my legs waxed
Done. I took the plunge in July 2012. To my surprise it really did not hurt, but I was sadly underwhelmed with the results.

4. Join a mom’s group
Still a work in progress. Though I have been "kicked-out" / rejected from a mom’s group...but that’s a story for another day.

5. Go to the gym 8 times in 4 weeks
I’ve made the first step on this goal. I joined a gym and have been going about once a week for a few weeks now.

6. Take a gun safety class

7. Get my carry permit

8. Buy a gun (& gun box with fingerprint lock)

9. Subscribe to the newspaper

10. Go to the races (horses, dogs, etc.)

11. Go for a walk / go to the park with Leland when I pick him up from daycare
I’ve actually done this a few times now - mostly back in August and September when the weather was nice.

12. Submit something for publication

13. Finish my wedding album

14. Take a golf lesson

15. Write a "where I came from" book for Leland

16. Learn to make Mema’s strawberry cake and icing

17. Take Leland to a Georgia Tech game
In October 2012 we went to the Georgia Tech Homecoming game!

18. Learn to ice a cake / cupcakes with an icing bag

19. Visit the Atlanta History Center
In November 2012, by best friend met up in Atlanta for a girls day and spent the morning wandering through the Atlanta History Center

20. Plant an herb garden (or just an herb box)

21. Read a classic book

22. Take Leland to the beach
In December 2012, we finally made it to the beach. Leland’s first ever beach day was in Haiti. We also spent time walking along the beach in Florida on the day we got off the ship.

23. Meet a blog friend in person

24. Have a blog makeover
Done!!! And I love it!

25. Drive a stick shift without stalling out

26. Get highlights

27. Make deviled eggs

28. Go to a drive-in movie

29. Find a good bible study group
I tried attending a lunch time bible study group last fall. Unfortunately I wasn't able to commit to every week because of some work conflicts, sickness, etc. And although I was really hopeful, the group just wasn’t a great fit for me.

30. Make a decision about baby #2 
We’ve begun discussing this...and making some tentative time tables. I feel like God is starting to plant a seed, but no final plans yet.

Play Day

Leland fell and bumped his head at school this morning, resulting in a large black and blue goose egg. I took the afternoon off work to keep an eye on him. After a long nap he was feeling much better and we headed for the playground.