One Year Ago Today...

On January 31, 2013, we discovered that we had finally received our miracle. For over a year we had prayed, struggled, and really lost hope. I was unsure if it would be possible for us to have a baby as it seemed that so many issues stood in our way. But God knows all and wrote a pretty amazing story for us. It was in His perfect timing that we'd have this beautiful baby. And we couldn't be more thankful for it. This year has truly changed our lives, and we couldn't imagine it any other way. It will be so crazy to think what this next year will hold. So here's to the next 365 days and all the twists and turns along the way.

Splish Splash... Aubrey in Her Big Girl Bath

Splish Splash, Aubrey's in the bath. Last Saturday there was surely a party going on. We decided to pull out baby girl's big bath tub. Since she was born, we used the bathing "nest" method that was discussed in our baby basics class. We were so curious as to how little girl would do in her big girl bath. She was such a happy girl, with her big and beautiful smile. As soon as she got in the water she was so indifferent to this bath... very low key. We are absolutely hoping that one day she'll love splishing and splashing with her sweet duckie friend.

Sunday Soup: January 26, 2014

This Sunday's soup is seasoned with a sick baby, a day off, some tummy time, space travel, a date night, and a trip to the park. This week was filled with its ups and downs and everything in between. So sit back and take in this week's Sunday Soup: January 26, 2014.

1. The Thursday before, our baby was diagnosed with RSV. Daddy stayed home Thursday and Friday. With Monday being a day off with MLK day, mommy stayed home Monday as well.
2. With a sick baby, we made sure she had lots of rest.

 

3. Baby says she's only a little bit sick as she plays with her new dolly, baby Lucy. 

4. As our baby got a bit healthier, she enjoyed some good play and tummy time. Aubrey says, "Hey, I think this thing is supposed to play music. I'm a little bit confused.

5. Daddy enjoyed a day off and tried a water deprivation chamber. Daddy's "space ship travel" was amazingly fun, but as he said was basically an expensive nap. The night before was a bad sleep night with baby and instead of enjoying the dark pod filled with salt water, he fell asleep instead. 

6. Friday night, I enjoyed a night with my two greatest loves. I couldn't be a happier mama and wife! I love these two more than words.

7. After days of frozen temperatures, Sunday provided a gorgeous day of playtime at the park.

8. Sunday night, we met with our ABF for a leadership and planning meeting.

 After much prayer, we are excited about our new Engage Initiative, The GROW Initiative: Giving Riches in Other Ways. It will be a wonderful way to serve others and show God's love to all people.

This week has surely been a week of ups and downs. Our sweet girl being sick, sleepless nights, the craziness of school and going back to work, trying to fit in a new work out schedule, and being mommy.wifey.andteacher has been a true challenge. While I have been met by many days of exhaustion and tears, I am thankful for the privilege of being all three and know that a balance will soon find me. So here's to next week and to the smiles, the snuggles, and the blessings in between.

Ella-V-E

Ella LOVE! I cannot say how much baby girl LOVES her crinkle toys. She loves her Ella Elephant and Georgie Giraffe. Anything that makes noise she's typically a fan of. Aubs has gotten so much better at holding toys in her hands. Now anything that goes in her hands, will typically go toward her mouth or her face. When she gets frustrated, she'll let out a cry and then push the toy to her face as she pouts her bottom lip. Good thing we've got a happy and healthy baby on our hands:) We love you sweet girl and love watching you grow!

Auby Letters: 1-20-14

It's 4:08AM and I just laid you down after a bottle. Your hands immediately positioned behind your head as always. You are becoming such a big girl. Tonight, I took an extra few minutes with our cuddles. I watched you as you lay across my chest, your legs longer now not curled up like a little newborn. Your hands were wrapped around your bottle. Still left hand is dominant. I'm not sure if that will mean anything later. I notice that your night time onesies are getting a little snugger as well as your size one diapers. I'm not ready for you to move up in sizes yet even if you are. I cried the last two times we packed away your clothes. Last night daddy and mommy talked about your accomplishments, your firsts. It has been amazing to watch you grow. To watch that little personality shine. To see that gorgeous little smile or the perfected little pout where you stick out your bottom lip, from rolling over, sitting up, finding your tongue, holding your rattle, and laughing with mommy and daddy, life couldn't be more sweet. Yesterday I watched you explore like you never have and I saw my little girl, my precious miracle, and I couldn't have been happier. You both are the absolute love of my life and are growing up so quickly. We cannot wait to share your firsts this year...From big belly laughs, to crawling to sharing your first birthday and walking. We are so excited. But I don't want you to grow up too fast sweet angel. There's plenty of time for it all. So for now I'm going to take a little more time with our cuddles, get a little less sleep, take a few extra pictures (if that's possible) be in those moments, and love you with everything I've got. Because time doesn't always stand still and I want to cherish these first moments for a lifetime!

Love, 

Mommy

Interview with Daddy
Random Questions. Found online
1. Favorite Auby/Daddy Moment: I love the "I love you" moment and anytime she smiles.
2. Funniest Moment: When she almost pooped on me from across the room.
3. Hardest Moment: Being at work and looking at pictures because it makes my heart ache for missing her.
4. Describe her personality: She is so smiley. I think she is going to be really good natured. She is a happy baby, not fussy and really lovey. 
5. What are you most excited about in the future? Her talking
6. What do you wish for her? To be a sweet girl.
7. What would you say to the first boy she dates? Hell no.. Are you a Christian?
8. What would you say to the person she is going to marry? I would tell him that he's got big shoes to fill because I"m her first love, but obviously if she chooses him, he would be good enough to take my place.
9. What would you say to her? Love him with everything you go. Treat him like a king and he your queen.
10. Your favorite toy of hers: Our face. I sing Penelope Pup's song in my sleep.
11. Favorite outfit: teddy bear onesie (from the Fants)
12. Favorite book to read to her: Moo Baa La La La!

Sunday Soup: January 19, 2014

So I thought it would be fun to do a Sunday Soup. When I think of soup, I think of all the ingredients put together to make something super tasty or at least pretty interesting. While I'm not exactly speaking of food in this case, I'd love to put all my thoughts or the weeks tidbits in a post to remind myself of all that is going on in the Zellner home that has made up our week! This Sunday, I'm going to dish about home, school, health, job, and of course follow it up with a few pictures. I mean what's more delicious than that? Anyway, sit back, relax, and enjoy a good tasting of this week's Sunday Soup!

1. I started back at the gym this past Tuesday. I actually surprised myself and ran a bit (ok run is a tricky term but definitely jogged). It went pretty well but boy did I pay for it the next day.

2. Our sweet babe tested positive for RSV (a respiratory infection or cold for babies). Let's just say that it is not fun and we have definitely done our best to kick that RSV bug to the curb. We can't wait to get our baby back to normal.

3. I have spent some time this week reviewing materials off of teacherspayteachers.com. There is such a wealth of information. If you're a teacher, I would also highly recommend http://firstgradealacarte.blogspot.com/ I just love this blog as well as all the great teaching tips and printables she provides. She is amazing! I can't wait to share some of these activities with my team and kiddos.

4. This weekend we shared our story of Christ with the Heights Baptist Church. Sadly baby and I were unable to attend, but the husband was there to pray over the church. What an amazing journey God has lead us through. We are truly thankful for Him and for our Fant friends who lead us to The Heights. 

5. My week at school was great and challenging. I have 17 wonderful kiddos. I love being a teacher. I simply wish my brain would work as quickly as my mouth. I cannot tell you how many times I've called a child the wrong name, forgotten a child's name all together, had to stop in mid sentence and figure out where I was going with it, and my favorite forgotten the word and had to play a quick "game" with my kids to figure it out. Mommy brain and lack of sleep sure is tough.

6. It has been tricky to balance my OCD about cleaning and being a new mommy. I of course choose spending time with my daughter but then once she's asleep, I want to sleep and soon realize the house is a mess. I'm really trying to be "ok" with mess. 

7. Limiting sweet tea and sweets in general is such a challenge. With girl scout cookie season and two frozen thin mint cookie boxes sitting in my freezer, I am so tempted. Plus Ray has given up sweets so when those boxes are empty... I have no one to blame but me :(

8. Little lady has had to wear hand sockies or socks on her hands because she will continue to nom on them until they are raw. I'm not sure if we are teething or about to or are just chewing on our hands for no reason... but they do seem to help.

9. Poor Auby hates the nose frieda or the bulb or anything dealing with her nose these days. Having to clear it every hour or so has gotten to where she will break down every time we "assume the position" to clear her nose. It's so sad. She's also perfected the bottom lip pout. Talk about break a mommy and daddy's heart.

10. We have been discussing but are pretty sure we'll be traveling for the weekend come this Spring Break to be with our families.

11. I have gotten back into watching The Biggest Loser. Talk about motivating. I do have to be honest and say though that I totally ate pizza on Friday while watching. I did feel guilty. BUT I ate so well during the week.

12. I lost 1.6 pounds this week. Could it have been water weight? I'm sure it could but regardless I felt great about eating salads, soups, and healthy sandwhiches all week with good portioned healthy snacks. My goal again is to lose 10 pounds by Spring Break. I have about 15 pounds to go until I'm back to my prebaby weight.

13. My favorite part of the day is tummy/play time with my daughter and husband.

14. Taking a shower has been such a challenge these days. As I have been going to bed between 7:30 and 8. Wow! But I've also been waking up at midnight and then getting up every hour or two. 

15. I love that my sweet girl has found her tongue. It is so cute to watch her copy us and stick it out. As Ray says, "we've created a monster." It may also be one of her favorite things, next to smiling and playing with her crinkle toys. 

16. With a sick baby at home and no sick days left, I couldn't be more thankful for this long, extended weekend. 

17. We enjoyed a classroom election. Would pizza or ice cream reign supreme? Ice cream won with a landslide!

Well that's all in the soup this week. I wish you a wonderful week and as promised here are a few pictures from this week.

  Look who found her tongue! Fun time with mommy!

 Our beautiful baby

 Sleepy Baby

 Daddy Daughter play time melts my heart!

 Eating my non-ster crinkle book

 A Healthier Lifestyle

 Playing with Ella in our Bumbo

Day 2 of RSV and sick baby. Hoping we are on the mend.

 Auby LOVES music!

  January Memory Verse

 Cutest Bumb that I ever did see.

 Election Day in Mrs. Zellner's Class.

If you'd like to link up or join in on Sunday Soup.... I'd love to hear from you! What's in your soup this Sunday?

Post Pregnancy Baby Bump: January

I thought doing a Post Pregnancy Baby Bump entry would be fun as well as an interesting way to see how life has changed since pregnancy. It will also be a good way to hold myself accountable for the healthier lifestyle and weight loss that I'm hoping to achieve in the next coming months. So feel free to leave comments and advice for any assistance you may have to get this new mama back on track after pregnancy. 

Number of months: It has been 3 months since baby girl was born.
Total Weight Loss: I have lost about 17 pounds since her birth date and have about 15 plus pounds to go to get back to my pre-baby weight. Sadly it's not coming off like I had originally thought. Since I am unable to breast feed, I'm trying to continue to drink as much water, eat healthier, and continue my work out regimen. And when I say my "work out regimen" I mean the one that was started at the beginning of this week before my baby came down with RSV. So hopefully I can jump back into the swing of things.
Clothes: I am all over the place in regards to clothes. While I think many things should fit, I am sadly mistaken. I am no longer in maternity, as I have given back all of my borrowed pieces, but am still in that in between phase. I have one pair of jeans that fit, some skirts, and some leggings. Thank goodness we do a lot of laundry these days or I would be without options. ha. Plus it is winter so I can layer.
Tiger Stripes: I still have my linea nigra line, the dark line under the belly button and quite a few stretchmarks. I like how I say a few... I have quite a bit but am told these may disappear or will fade. To be honest, I'm not too concerned. I just find it funny that they are mainly on my left side which not the side that Aubrey stayed for many of her weeks.
Symptoms: new mama brain, clumsiness, lack of sleep, head aches... wow, so many similar symptoms ha! I do love that I don't have to get up to go to the bathroom at all hours of the night as well as difficulty rolling over.
Sleep:  Baby girl had done so well at two months, but due to changes in schedule, holidays, and sickness she's not sleeping. If she's not sleeping, mommy's not sleeping. I am exhausted. I do figure this is the new mama norm though. I know it will only get better with time.
Most Memorable Moment: Over the past three months, I have to say I love my baby girl's smile. She seems to recognize my voice and making noises as if she's trying to laugh. I have loved all of her firsts. They are all so very memorable.
Cravings: Sweets and cold drinks. Yep! My cravings haven't changed much since pregnancy. The main thing that has is that I'm no longer eating for two. Now I have less time so making enough time to eat will be key in my weight loss success. I'm not cutting all sweets from my diet, but definitely think limiting my intake will do my body good. Angry fist girl scout cookie season. It's like you knew you were my weakness.
What I Miss: My baby is worth everything I miss. I do want to note what are some things that I do miss since pregnancy and prior... It includes eating for two, baby kicks inside my tummy, naps, restful sleep, and being able to pick up and leave at a moment's notice.
What I look forward to: spending time with my little and husband, growing out my hair, working out, and setting up a schedule for our growing family.

Happy Post Pregnancy Baby Bump post in the works. Let's see how things change next month! 

The RSV Baby Blues

We've got the RSV Baby Blues...
The respiratory infection, cough and congestion, no fun, baby tears, saline solution, tears of frustration, nose Frieda perfection, temperature, fussy time, my baby can't breath, no sleep, absolutely breaks my heart, RSV baby blues.This picture was taken Thursday morning, and by Thursday afternoon this beautiful baby was at the doctor's office with a positive test for RSV.

Thursday afternoon, I received a text from my husband asking if I could talk. A few texts later when I read, baby girl's having difficulty breathing, you better believe I asked a teacher to watch my class and I ran out to get further details. Then it was explained that little one, being the three month old child that she was, would wake up frantically as she couldn't breath from her nose and didn't know to breath out of her mouth. She also came down with a fever. So at this point, Ray took her to the doctor. I of course went into full new mommy no sleep  break down mode. I questioned if it was the flu. All I could thing was to blame the daycare or of course maybe something that mommy brought home from school. Once my clear headed mind prevailed, I reminded myself that she's just building her immune system and babies in daycare get sick all.the.time. It's going to happen. Plus it's the cold season. Then
it was determined that she did have a minor case of RSV, a viral infection that would just have to work it's way out.

That night poor baby was in tears from saline solution, the nose freida, not being able to breath, chest congestion, and continued fever. Her temp was high but we were told to just watch it and if it got any higher to go back to the doctor. That night with humidifier running, baby propped in her bouncer, she slept pretty well. Mama did not. I continued to wake up worrying if she could breath. Let's just say I was a super hot mess when I returned to school on Friday. Thank goodness that daddy could work from home as I have absolutely no days left. I was super thankful when Ray kept me up to speed on our little patient. Friday night still wasn't fun. We were told it may take a few weeks for her to get back to her normal, happy self. Let's just say many tears have been shed over this, and Aubrey has been pretty upset too. But on a positive note, I do love these baby snuggles. I love how she places her head under my chin and wraps her little hands around my arms. Having a sick baby is never fun but I'm glad that we have an extra long weekend to get her better. Thanks again for all of the prayers. It is so nice to have the sweet encouragement. We can't wait for our little girl to be back to her happy baby self and to rid this house of the RSV Baby Blues!

Bryson's 4 and Baby Bounce House!

The first Saturday of January, we joined our friends and some pretty adorable kiddos at Jump Mania in celebration of Bryson's fourth birthday party.

 {My gorgeous gal pals, Kristin, me, baby Aubrey, Steph, and baby Haley expected to come April 2014)

I'm truthfully not sure who had more fun, the children or the adults. I will have to say the kiddos definitely had more energy than us and as I always say, if I could just bottle it up... I'd be a millionaire. I just loved Bryson's little face. He was on the move the whole time, bouncing, and smiling. Seriously this could not have been a better birthday. This place was absolutely perfect. They rented out the whole room, children (of all ages) joined in on the fun. The bounce inflatables filled the entire room as well as obstacle courses, air hockey tables, and even a little jump place and toys for the littles. At one point, Bryson told me that I could come into the little kids play place so Aubrey could jump. I couldn't make this stuff up. He's just that darn adorable.

Of course we couldn't leave without our little getting in on the bouncing fun.

Doesn't she look so big in these pictures? I love those little piggies so very much. It will be so crazy to imagine her one day running around with the big kids and bouncing off the walls.

And look at these adorable cuties. Jacob who will be celebrating his third birthday this month and the twin fantlets will be celebrating their first birthday next month. Time sure does fly when you're having fun! So glad we aren't missing a minute of it!

From cake, candles, birthday treats and goodies, this party was surely a hit. We just love these little families and are so happy to celebrate with them. As the hopeful in-laws of this little man, (I can definitely set aside age), I have to say he is surely a cutie! We love you sweet boy. Happy fourth birthday Bryson!