Monday Sloan got her very first taste of solids.  For the past couple of weeks she hasn’t been sleeping her usual 8 hour stretch – but rather getting up two or three times a night.  I figured it all meant she was going through a growth spurt, but after talking to my pediatrician, he recommended I start her on solids to help her sleep a little longer at night and get back to her regular routine.

She was elated to get her first taste of oatmeal baby cereal…

…until it hit her tongue.  She was not impressed.

Tuesday I got hit with another cold.  Round two of sickness.  I find it ironic that I haven’t been sick for 11 months before this first cold, and then I get sick twice in two weeks.  I guess I deserved it.  I had been too lucky for almost a year.  So, like the week before, we laid low again.  I basically tried to get healthy and keep Sloan from getting infected.  We did venture out of the house – once to get more Diet Coke and banana bread bagels and the other to drop off a “get well” gift to my sister-in-law who had surgery this week.

On a brighter note, my project down in Orem is starting to take shape.  Carpet, paint, and a few other finishes were completed this week. I can’t wait to see the wood wall treatment when we get the custom signage installed..

We kept up with the solids – as each day went by she got more and more comfortable with the whole concept.

Wednesday [Earth Day] was my worst day – in terms of my cold.  I felt pretty miserable and had Activity Days later in the evening and when I got home around 6:00 – Zach had a bath running and waiting for me.  Complete with a candle, a good book, and a Diet Coke.  He just gets me.

Unfortunately, starting solids didn’t help Sloan’s sleeping situation.  I am convinced she is teething.  The restless nights, the slobber…

I have a feeling a tooth or two will be making an appearance some time soon.

Friday, considering I was still ill, I convinced Zach to get take-out from Brio and watch the Bruce Jenner interview with Diane Sawyer once Sloan got to sleep.  I’ll keep my comments to myself on the whole situation, but it was very entertaining to two very big Kardashian fans.  We’re still guessing what Bruce’s new female name is going to be.  Bets are on for Brenda and Brittney.  Maybe Britney [one T – like Ms. Spears].

Saturday the three of us went out to lunch for some Mexican food and did some chores around the house.  Zach had a late hockey game – so Sloan and I partied hard until her bed time.

Sunday, after our brief church visit…

 We had dinner at my aunt and uncle’s house down in South Jordan.  Clam chowder – perfect for a rainy Sunday dinner.

These last two weeks have made me extremely grateful for my health.  I totally take good health for granted and feel so lucky I have avoided sickness until recently.  I haven’t been able to exercise or have a solid night’s sleep in a while – I can’t believe the difference those make in my daily routine.

I am also grateful for a husband, and very best friend, who suffers through a week of last minute meals and a wife on low battery power.  And also…the bag of forgotten Mini Cadbury Eggs I found in my pantry this week.

This week was pretty low key.  We spent the majority of our days cleaning, working during naptime, and running out errands.  Monday we took a walk around our neighborhood for family night.  It was the perfect weather – and considering Wednesday was bringing us snow, we thought we would enjoy the sunshine while it lasted.  Sloan was in her zone, staring at every cloud and tree.

Tuesday we celebrated Gina and my birthdays at Tona in Ogden with the Hendo ladies.  It was so great to catch up and the sushi never disappoints.  Wednesday the snow showed up.  Sloan has a new fascination with looking out of windows.  Every morning when she wakes up I take her downstairs and let her look out the windows into our backyard.  Her eyes grew huge when she saw all the snow so I decided to take her out in it.  She was in heaven.  She laid in the same spot for almost 20 minutes just smiling.  I taught her the motions of a snow angel and she caught on [with the arm motions] pretty fast.  We only stayed out for 30 minutes or so, but it is so fun to watch her experience things for the first time. Friday we left for the Hendo cabin with my high school friends and their spouses.  Zach, Sloan, and I left a little early so we could get up there before Sloan’s bedtime.  Almost as soon as we put her down to sleep my friends arrived.

The weekend was full of good food, a dance party, long conversations, hikes, ATV and Ranger rides, hot tub time, and watching sports.  Sloan was spoiled rotten – held and cuddle with everyone all weekend.  I’m sad to say that I only took one single picture the entire weekend…

The Sloan Ranger [nicknamed by her Papa] on her first Ranger ride.

We are so grateful to Zach’s generous parents for letting us use their cabin.  The weather was a dream and we enjoyed a few days away with some of my favorite people. 

Then we made our way to Ogden to visit family.

When we came home Sunday evening we all were exhausted.  Zach held Sloan for over an hour while she and I took a nap.  

Weekends like these make me appreciate Zach so much.  Sloan gets her mellow personality from him.  He is so easy going and up for anything.  I always thought Zach and I were so alike, and we are in many ways, but in this aspect we are polar opposites.  I am learning (and working towards) being more mellow, less OCD, and spontaneous.  I hope Sloan grows to be more like her Dad.  All her good qualities already come from him.  

This week my cold stuck around for a bit longer than I was hoping it would.  By Wednesday I started to feel better.  I can honestly say that my saving grace was our humidifier.  I didn’t realize your options for medicine are very limited while nursing.  Not much more variety than when you are pregnant, actually.  So that dang humidifier [that I always tell Zach is a bunch of hocus pocus] totally saved me.  If you don’t have a Crane Humidifier – go buy yourself one.  Best purchase ever.  Luckily, Sloan didn’t really get sick.  She had a runny nose for a bit and a tiny cough for 24 hours, but that was it!  Nursing really is magic.  I never thought I would be one of those breast-feeding nuts, but the more we continue – the more I appreciate it.

Monday was probably my worst day in terms of being sick.  That morning I met my cousin at her house in Bountiful to help her pick out some finishes for her remodel.  Afterwards the NCAA championship game was on and we had plans to watch it.  So I ran to Papa Murphy’s and grabbed a pepperoni for Zach and a chicken artichoke for myself.  A perfect game-time meal.   Obviously, my bracket was toast long before the championship game.  In fact, thanks to Notre Dame, by bracket went downhill rather rapidly.  Zach beat me by 10 points.  So a visit to Leatherby’s is not in my future, unfortunately.

Tuesday I had a client meet me at my house for a wedding invitation consult.  I haven’t done too many wedding invitations lately because of my project down in Orem.  Sloan, again my design assistant, watched patiently as I met with this soon-to-be bride.  I think new people are her favorite thing.

Wednesday we had Activity Days.  We had a service project planned outside, but the weather was awful.  So we improvised and tie-dyed pillowcases at the church instead.  Sharpie markers + rubbing alcohol.  Who knew?  The girls had a good time [and not because they were a little hopped up on Sharpie fumes] and we called it a successful last-minute project.

Thursday I still wasn’t feeling 100% and my mom had the day off.  She convinced me to drive to her house, even though I warned her I would infect her.  My mom had my brother’s old walker ready for Sloan when we arrived.Even though her feet barely touch the ground, she loved it.

Friday, Sloan turned 5 months old.  Her face says it all.  Say whaaaat?!

She celebrated by taking a THREE HOUR NAP in the afternoon.  I couldn’t believe it.  My angel baby.  I finished all my work projects and didn’t know what to do with all my free time!  Later, the three of us celebrated some more when Zach got home by driving down to Fashion Place Mall to see the new Apple Watch.  Zach’s been pining for one for as long as he heard they were creating one.  After we tried them on we went to Hot Dog on a Stick for dinner.

Really, the limeade is the only thing I like at that joint.  I did make Zach stop at Mrs. Fields on our way out, though.

Later that night Sloan and I went to my friend [and former roommate] Kelli’s baby shower.  She is expecting a baby boy at the beginning of May.  It was fun to catch up with some of my old high school friends.

Saturday Zach and I went into spring cleaning mode.  Zach did a handful of chores outside and I cleaned out our closet.  Later that afternoon I went for a run and Zach watched Sloan.  When I came back, he had her in her Megablocks wagon again.

Zach thinks it is hilarious that she can fit so perfectly inside this wagon.  It’s not meant to hold more than blocks, but Sloan doesn’t seem to mind.

We had Cheesecake Factory to go later that night and rented a Red Box.

Sunday, after church, we went to Ogden to have dinner with Zach’s parents.

We ate, watched the Masters [and my boyfriends Rickie and Rory], and visited until it was time for Sloan’s bedtime.  By Sunday night I felt 100 percent cured of my cold.  I’ve never been more excited for a Monday – cold free is da way to be!