Happy New Year! 2020 Recap

Happy New Year! 2020 Recap

12.31.2020

The year 2020 definitely took a few unexpected turns. It's been a stressful and emotionally taxing year.  And strangely, a very lonely feeling year. I do NOT recommend having a baby, selling a house and building a home all amidst a global pandemic and political/civil unrest. 

I feel like my head is on a swivel from being pulled in so many directions at once. My time is not my own. My plans get derailed nearly daily. Four boys = noisy crazy town. 

Ironically, most of these challenges can be pointed back to myself or humanity in general. In other words, 2020 was a man made problem! Lol. Everything from choosing to build a home while pregnant, to the lockdowns that had dire economic effects, to the protests and destruction of cities, to protocols in the health field that are making the jobs of doctors and nurses feel insurmountable, and to a presidential election that was just plain awful.

Wow. I'm glad we're in the home stretch of the year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that many of our problems will resolve in 2021. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to moving in to our new home in just a few short weeks!

But for all that went wrong, so much went right too. Everything has its opposite and I would be ungrateful if I did not recognize the mountains of blessings that Heavenly Father bestowed upon our family this year... beginning with the most smiley and squishy baby named Ezra who joined our family! 

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Six and Seven Months with Ezra

Six and Seven Months with Ezra

12.22.2020

Some things I want to remember about Ezra halfway through his first year on earth:

::  Ezra is a solid food eating pro. He enjoys snacking on bits and pieces of my meals throughout the day when appropriate and eats one bigger meal of veggies and sometimes oatmeal in the afternoon or evening.

::  He is learning to feed himself!  The first time I gave him some rice crackers was a riot.  He wasn't quite sure what to do!  Rolls from back to front and front to back like it's his job.

::  Ezra has begun sleeping on his stomach and moving around his crib.  Gone are the days when I can come into his room and know which side (breast left or right) I last fed him on!  Lol.

::  Baby Boy still prefers to sleep in his "wing suit" with his hands covered. It must feel comforting to him. Naps without the suit don't last long! So I will gladly fork over $30 for another sleep sack like it.

::  Ezra found his toes!  It's one of my favorite baby phases.  He loves to grab and play with them on the changing table especially.

::  Sitting up to play! But sometimes that heavy head still pulls him to the ground.

::  He played in the snow for the first time! From the deadpan serious looks on his face, he seemed unimpressed -- even as Conrad pulled him through the snow on his sled. It was so funny!

::  He is content to play on the living room floor for at least 10 (sometimes 20!) minutes at a time, especially when his brothers are in the room.

::  Baby Boy survived his first couple of colds.  I often bring him into a steamy shower with me before bedtime to help clear his nose. Ezra loves to hold his hands out in the spray and try to catch the water. It's the cutest thing! I delight in watching him explore the world for the first time.

::  Ezra has found his voice!  It often sounds like a big bird or raptor with his high pitched screams.

::  He was up about twice a night (1AM and 5AM) until Dad decided that Mom could use a full night's sleep and took over night duty one evening. Ezra was pretty mad about skipping his midnight snack! But he now sleeps a solid 12 hours straight through the night.  Hooray!  

::  Ezra admires Conrad and laughs at everything he does.  Conrad is such a distraction from nursing. Haha.

::  Baby Boy weighed over 20 pounds at his six month doctor's appointment. I can no longer zip him into 9 month clothes because his thighs are too chunky! He's also wearing size 4 diapers. It blows my mind how fast he's growing!

::  This mama is very proud of Ezra's squishy rolls, from his wrists to his tummy to his thighs to his ankles. They make me laugh and want to squeeze him. I have never had such a bald or fat baby. Ezra sure loves his mama's milk!

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A Video of Ezra at 6 Months

A Video of Ezra at 6 Months

12.10.2020

I promised myself I'd take some more video of Ezra at 6 months old, so here it is!  It's precious footage of my last baby sleeping in his crib (the lip sucking!), discovering his feet, and showing off his new trick: rolling over.  I love this little guy so much!!!

Ezra 6 Months from Jessie Nelson on Vimeo.

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