Mara's Baby Shower

My friend Mara is having a baby!

I hadn't seen her since her bridal shower when I was7 months pregnant and now she is 7 months pregnant and having a boy.

They asked for contributions to a jogging stroller but I didn't want to just show up with a card so I came up with this cute packaging.

It was great to see her again!

We are the kind of friends who don't see each other often but can pick right up again when we do see each other.

Potty Training

Max is potty trained!!! It took three different tries and various charts, incentives, motivations and full-out bribery. But much to my relief it is done! The first time we tried a train chart with a Bob The Builder doll as incentive. The first few days he was excited but lost it very quickly. I was struggling with my wrists and a new baby and just couldn't keep pushing it when he didn't care. We tried one other time but it only lasted a day, mostly because it was between surgeries and I just couldn't do it. The third time I just decided to stick with it until it stuck; and use bribery. Every time he peed he got a treat and every time he pooped he got to pick something from my "treasure box" full of fun little things from the dollar store. Max again started with enthusiasm and again hit a spot of just not caring but we got through that and he is doing great!

Here he is doing a little light reading.

I have had laugh out loud moments at some of the things he has said during the process...

"Come out poop, Don't stay in!"

"Mommy, I need a yummy breakfast to push the poop out."

While patting and pushing on his tummy he says, "Mommy, will you help me push the poop out?" I tried to explain that his body needs to be ready and he should relax. He didn't buy that explanation. He looks at me and says, "Oh, you can't help me push the poop out because it would hurt your wrists."

"Mommy, I peed SO much! I am peeing for you!"

"Mommy, I just had a GIANT poop!"

"Mommy, My poop just made a funny sound. Come and see!"

"Mommy, do you have a penis?"

"Planes can't go potty because they don't have a penis...or a bum."

Zane Crawling (9 Months)

On Jan 25 our baby Zane started to crawl. Now he is so speedy and we have to contain him with gates and watch where we put things. It seemed that in a matter of just a few days he went from sitting in one place to moving all over the house.

The Hair!

Christmas At Home

The major Christmas fun took place at the Hill Christmas party on the 10th. Our Christmas was very low key and simple.

We didn't open presents until 3:00 in the afternoon. Max wanted to play and then had a nap before he showed any interest in presents.

As always the boys loved their books from Grandma and Grandpa Fullmer...

"Llama Llama Red Pajama" and "The House That Jack Built." for Max and "I Love Mommy" for Zane.

We gave Max the Old Testament Scripture Scouts and a set of dry erase writing workbooks.

For Zane we had a farm toy and a family picture book.

James and I didn't do much but I did frame a pictures of each of the boys for us.

Christmas Eve

The Harrisons came over for a fun night together...

We decorated cookies with the boys and the boys played together while we watched "Love Actually" (edited.) Mom and Dad stopped by to visit for a bit and open their gifts.
I am so grateful to have such fun friends and cousins close!

Merry Christmas Surgeries

"De Quervain's, also known as Mommy's thumb, is a painful inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist which causes discomfort or pain every time you turn your wrist, grasp anything or make a fist. The pain can extend into the lower arm. It affects woman 8 - 10 times more than men" 


I had trouble with this when Max was born but it was controlled with an extremely painful shot in the wrist and wearing splints. This time around the shots had no affect and it continued to become more and more painful as Zane grew and surgery was the final option. My first surgery (on the left wrist) was on December 2nd. Typically the other wrist is done 4 to 6 weeks later. However, our deductible had been met for the year and James was going to be home for the last two weeks of the year. So two weeks after the first surgery I had the stitches taken out of the left wrist and surgery done on the right wrist. The anesthesiologist the second time around had trouble getting the IV in thus the bruise on my forearm.


It was slightly crazy to do both so closely together but we made it work. Mostly due to the awesomeness of my James...He is my hero! He has taken on so much, including all the laundry, the dishes, cooking, changing all the diapers (including the ones in the middle of the night) and being a full time Dad to both boys and babying me at the same time.


The original symptoms are gone and now there is just the painful healing from surgery. The most noticeable difficulties I have are picking up Zane, opening jars and holding a book to read. After a month of healing I am able to carefully hold Zane as long as I avoid the actual wound. I have adjusted to reading a book without actually holding it and James still has to open all cans and jars. I am grateful for pain pills and grateful that I am a month into the healing process rather than still just feeling the pain with no end in sight. I have not held my baby Zane without pain since he was born and I am hoping that by the time he is 9 months old I will be able to hold, cuddle, nurse and dance with him without pain.