Walk around the Temple

My baby turned 1

Sabrina had a birthday.

Wow. Where did time go? It seems like yesterday that I was just coming home with her from the hospital. She is not a baby anymore, but she is also not quite a toddler. She is in that crazy in-between stage when little babies learn quickly how to walk and get into all sorts of trouble. Oh, what fun.

I tried really hard keeping track of all the little milestones Sabrina accomplished in her first year. This is what I got:

5 months - 1st pair of teeth (bottom)

7-8 months - army crawling

8 months - pull up to sitting

late 8 months - real crawling and pull up to standing

9 months - 4 top teeth and 2 bottom

Sabrina, you are huge!...well compared to when you were a baby, anyway. You are just under 20 lbs, but you are long, girl! You are in the 95th percentile for height. You are getting really close to walking. For now, you really like the one-handed Mommy hold while toddling around. You've got a total of 8 teeth with one more poking through. You love to jabber to yourself every morning when you wake up. You LOVE your daddy. You light up any time he walks into the room, especially when he comes home from work. You and Sophie get along real well and I'm so glad that you two speak the same screaming/squealing language. My, you definetly can be very opinionated at times. Whenever you are done with whatever is in your hand, you have no trouble with chucking it to the ground.
We sure love you, little Sabrina. We're glad you are part of our family. Happy Birthday!

Sabrina's last few days as a baby.

She is turning ONE in just about a week. I cannot believe it.

Everything you wanted to know about Celiac Disease

I am diseased.

This is what I say to Dave now every time I need a quick excuse for getting away with something.

I can't do the dishes, Dave. I'm diseased.

I need a foot rub, babe. I'm diseased. 

I need to buy this new camera. I'm diseased.

It doesn't always seem to work the way I imagine it should. Fancy that.

This post is dedicated to educating you about Celiac Disease

because I know you really want to know all about it!

I found out I had it about 2 months ago. I was completely cool with it.

I said, Okay. No more gluten, I guess.

And that was that.

The hard part is researching every. single. product. I still need to improve in this area.

So what is Celiac Disease?


Celiac disease is when the immune system attacks my small intestine every time I eat something containing gluten. Celiac disease does not mean I have a gluten intolerance or allergy. When I eat gluten, this damages the villi that line the intestine. The villi are what absorb nutrients from the food you eat. When the villi are damaged this results in all kinds of digestive problems and other issues too.

The goal of being gluten free is NOT to be symptom-free, it's to prevent more issues from coming on down the road such as lymphoma and other serious health problems.

(Possible) Symptoms that I had:

GI problems -- You name it. I had it! The list goes on and on here and I don't want to get too detailed here. :)
Iron Deficiency
Miscarriages
Numb/Pins and Needles Hands and Feet
Headaches
Heartburn
Low Energy

What can I eat? 

I wish I had a short, simple answer to that. Oh wait, I do! I can't eat anything with gluten in it! :)

Gluten is found in anything made from wheat, barley or rye.

Wheat is one of those allergy foods that should be labeled on every product, but barley and rye don't have to be listed. What's more, is I have to worry about if the food I eat was manufactured in the same facility that produces gluten-filled food. Because that means my food might be contaminated too.

So here's what I do. 

1. Does it say "gluten free" on the package? Then it's most likely safe. Certified GF foods are the prime candidates for safety.

2. Then I search for the obvious. Wheat, barley, rye. I also look for the "was manufactured in a facility that also manufactures..." thing below the ingredients.

3. I look for hidden gluten in the ingredients. See here and here.  I am wary of anything with ambiguous ingredients such as "natural flavor" because it may or may not have ingredients derived from wheat, barley, or rye.

4. I call the manufacturer, check the website, etc. Every package has a number on it and some companies are really good at relaying the information you are seeking.

That's what I do.

This is Pamela's GF pizza crust (raw). Uncooked, the dough is a lot like cookie dough. But I think it turns out pretty well.

I love like being gluten free!

So this whole new diet has worked wonders, so far, for my health. I am really grateful for it! Not only has it stopped my symptoms, but it also has made me more aware of what I put into my body. I actually quite enjoy being gluten-free (though I don't recommend it unless you actually need to be GF). Yes, I've had to give up some delicious foods, but don't pity me! I can still eat most dairy products and I can eat GF chocolates. I've come across some delicious recipes, so I don't feel left out at all. The main downside is the cost of buying all the special brands. No more cheap generic stuff for me.

So there you go. Now you know.

Summer Vacation #4: Duvall Family Reunion in Bear Lake, UT

I'm in love with Bear Lake. I actually didn't want to leave which is really unusual with me and vacations. Usually I am done with the "fun" of vacationing after two, maybe three days. But Bear Lake was so pretty. The weather was gorgeous. And it's pretty much impossible to take a bad photo because everywhere you look it's beautiful. It was great to chill and enjoy the natural beauty found there.

This was the first opportunity I've had of meeting Dave's extended family on his mom's side (excluding the grandparents). They were all very easy going and fun. I learned quite a lot of interesting things about the Duvall side of the family!

One evening, we went on a walk. This is just up the road from the house. We met a farmer.

Sophie had lots of fun with her cousins. I think the main activity that all the little kids kept gravitating to was the sticky ball game (pictured below). And then there was the beautiful beach, of course. You could wade into it for quite awhile before it got knee deep. Sabrina loved splashing in the water. And eating sand.

Dave and Sophie playing the catch-sticky ball thing while Uncle Mike carries Lowe and Caleb on his back. And that's Sammy on the ground.

Sophie, Lowe, Dave, and portions of Sammy's body.

Soph and Lowe.

Digging in the dirt with Caleb and Jakey.


Abram, Sabrina, and Rebecca chillin'.

We drove all the way up with Mike and Lori in their van and made a few little stops along the way. I was a little nervous about driving all the way up to North Utah with all those kids, but they did so well! Sophie, Caleb, and Jakey played together most of the time and occupied themselves with their Nooks. Sabrina did well too, though I have to admit that now she has a huge fit every time I try to wrangle her into her car seat to go to the grocery store!

Sabrina being so comfy. Just look at that little finger holding on to her binky!

Me and the girls in the Tabernacle in SLC. One of our stops was at Temple Square.

Salt Lake City Temple

 
 Oh. And I have a hot husband. Want to see? Look at that smolder.

Dear Fry's Cranberry Orange Cookie,

This goodbye must come very abruptly to you, and I am sorry that I must do this through a letter. We never had a proper goodbye, but I think it's better we stay apart lest we are tempted beyond what we can handle.

It was just a few weeks ago when I learned that I must say goodbye to you --that now I must only partake of things that say "gluten-free" on them. I must admit, I didn't instantly realize that meant you, too. When it dawned on me, a profound sadness enveloped me and I questioned my will to live...gluten-free.

They say that you were no good for me, that those short few years we were together were a waste, but I don't care! I don't regret a single moment we had together. You were always there for me--in times of happiness and sadness. No matter the circumstances, I could always depend on you to make my life better.

I admit that there were times I tried to replace you with something less expensive and more homemade. But I kept coming back to you. You always knew I would.

I remember the last time we were together. I think I came back for more of your sweetness three or four times without ever telling my husband. He still doesn't know.

Alas, it is time for us both to move on. There will be others that will partake of your cake-like flesh. I hope they realize how thick and moist your texture is. I hope they realize that your flavor is full of rich, creamy, orange dreaminess. I hope they realize that you always have the perfect amount of cranberries in every bite.

I will meet new cookies. I will learn to like cookies made with rice and almond flour. I might even fall in love again. But I will never forget you.

Don't think that this goodbye means forever. One day, I will have a perfected body. My small intestine will welcome you into it's world again and this time gladly. You, too, will be perfected. Someday you will have zero calories and no fat and yet retain your perfect sweetness and fluffy texture. We will make the perfect companionship. You will make me look and feel good.

Until that day, I wish you every bit of happiness. I hope you discover the joy there is in sharing your goodness with others.

Goodbye for now.

I remain yours always,
Lindsey

Faces

Sabrina: 10 months old

Happy   Curious   Hungry   Inquisitive   Chill

Sophie: 4 years old

Thoughtful   Silly   Mischievous   Kind  Imaginative

Summer Vacation #3: Family Reunion in Kaibab Forest

Annual Hancock Family Reunion. Most of us all gathered together in a giant cabin.


Me (while snuggling on the veranda under the moonlight): "I love being out here in the forest, but at night it's kind of creepy. In the horror movies, there's always some freak emerging out of the woods heading towards a house."

Dave: "Well, I think that this time all the freaks are inside the house."

Sometimes it takes an outsider to see us how we really are.
And sometimes not.

The little kids:

 Cherece took some fake engagement photos for us. Thanks, Cherece!

Dave is so handsome.

The quad. Probably Sophie's favorite part.

Weston, Miles, Sophie

 Weston and Miles doing what they're doing.

Laura took this one on my camera and I love it.

You see that little speck in the window?

That is a water balloon on target on getting my brother-in-law David who was reading just inside that window.

Good stuff.

The Sleeping Pose.

Stephanie, Brayden, Kiersten

 And a sleepy Sabrina.

Little Sabrina slept a lot on this trip.
She had a slight teething fever accompanied with a lot of drool and bit of a runny nose.

But who doesn't love them some sleepy eyes?

Father's Day Interview

Sophie's thoughts on her Dad

What do you like about Daddy?

When I play with him. I like to play Barbies with him.

What does Daddy look like?

He looks nice.

What does Daddy do at work?

He works on buildings.

What is Daddy's favorite show to watch?

He likes watching Star Trek. He likes watching it with me.

What does Daddy like to do?

Well, maybe he likes going to the park with me?

What do you like to do with Daddy?

Sometimes he takes me to the park.

Fill in the blank:

Daddy is: happy!

Daddy smells like: clean!

I love my Daddy because: he is nice.

*****

I often tell Dave that I'm the luckiest woman in the world, and a lot of people say stuff like that. But I really, really, really believe it. Every woman should be intensely jealous of me because I seriously have the best husband in the whole world. 

He gives me back massages and (my favorite) foot massages. He makes me laugh. He lets me get away with a lot! Is that even a good thing? I dunno....

Sophie and Sabrina are two lucky girls as well. Dave will take his girls to movies in the park, on ice cream dates, and trips to the Home Depot! 

He is my life saver at the end of the day when I am tired and when my patience is running thin. Dave will spend time with the girls and will have more compassion on them when I am losing mine.

You are awesome, Dave.

Summer Vacation #2: GFR 2013 in Oceanside, CA

These are my friends from childhood (except for Nicole. I met her in middle school). Most of them live far away, but I get to see them every year. I never realized how unusual it was to keep up friendships since elementary school until a few people told me so. I am very lucky blessed.

Brityn: AKA "Mother Brityn"

Jael: World Traveler

Lecia: Pam from The Office.

Nicole: The Photogenic One.

I look forward to this each year! I stress out about it before hand with arranging babysitting and what-not, but it is always worth it. Plus, I honestly believe I come back a better Mom. And that's because I am hanging with some very wise, funny, and beautiful women! I think we should rename it The Better Mother's Convention since we pretty much talk about our kids the whole time.

Speaking of kids, I thought I was going to return home with Sophie and Sabrina clinging to me saying "Never leave me again, Mommy!!!" But much to my surprise and pleasure, I returned home and it was as if nothing had happened. They were like, "Hey, Mom." and then went on with their business. That means, they must have been very well cared for while I was away.

My favorite moment of this GFR is this: I woke up one morning and saw that Brityn and Nicole were already up. I wave to them and then head for the obligatory bathroom, but Brityn stops me. "Don't wake up Lecia! She is sleeping on the bathroom floor."
Then I hear a groggy Lecia voice, "I'm awake."
I open the bathroom door and sure enough, Lecia is lying in a blanket heap with her sunburned legs outstretched on the tile. Lecia got a sever sunburn and was cooling her legs off by sleeping on the tile.

And here are a few photos just to prove that I actually was there myself:

 (Above photo credit: Jael)

 (Above Photo Credit: Lecia)

Now I have to think of a way to repay both my mother and mother-in-law for watching Sophie and Sabrina (and feeding Dave) while I was away. Thanks to the both of you for caring and loving my little girls!