This post was created in a facility that also produces sarcasm and may be extremely random.

As some of you may already know, we recently discovered that Zoe has a milk allergy. Well, I say "we" discovered - that means my husband and myself. We have yet to confirm it with an allergist, but are about 98% sure. I am the type of person who loves information. A lot of it. So, this revelation has sent me on a mission to gather as much milk-related knowledge as I possibly can. I've learned a lot, but I still don't feel satisfied. Eventually, we're just going to have to bite the financial bullet and take poor Zoe to the allergist. I can see the dollar signs in Nathan's eyes already, and I think his wallet is whimpering.

My job, as Zoe's worrisome mother, is to see that my child has all her basic needs met. She's got clothing, a comfortable place to live, and people that love her dearly, so that just leaves us with nutrition. I know that she doesn't require dairy products to live and be healthy, I just need to figure out how to appropriately substitute other things into her diet. This, coupled with the fact that I will most likely have to do some of our grocery shopping at Central Market or Whole Foods (not exactly down the street), is stressing me out a little. Also, what is the deal with food labels?! If something doesn't actually contain milk, the label says that it "may have come in contact" with milk, or that it was made in a facility that also processes milk products. How am I supposed to know whether or not that particular food is going to make my kid start puking and break out in hives? Avoid it completely? Poor Zoe is going to starve to death! I need to chill out, I know. Don't tell me. We'll just take it one day (and one meal) at a time. She's healthy and happy, she's gaining weight, and she's very smart. That's all I really need to focus on.

In other news, Bastrop somehow managed to have a mini-blizzard two days ago. I know, I know...amazing, right?! We very rarely get to see snow flurries falling from our sky, but it was pretty spectacular.

 

Pretty, isn't it? I did take the kids outside (bravely) for a few minutes. I was in such a hurry to get them out the door in case it stopped snowing that I forgot to put my coat on. Everyone was warm but Mom. I slowly froze to death while watching them frolic amongst the snowflakes and trying to take a few pictures. It was a lot of fun, though. Our yard was mostly white for about three hours, and then it all melted away. Less than 24 hours later, you never would have known that it even snowed at all.

Well, now that the week is winding down, I have to say that I have never been so happy to see the end of a month before. February has not been good to us this year, and I'm looking forward to March. Next Monday is going to be a great day...I'm determined. Not only is it the first of a brand new month, but it's my little Zoe's first birthday! 

 

I can't believe how quickly the time goes by. I remember the day she was born so vividly, I would swear it was just a few weeks ago. She is so beautiful, and so sweet...my little ZuZu. I don't want her to get any older. She needs to stay just the way she is for a while, because it's happening way too fast for me.

We're having her birthday party this weekend at my parents' house. Nothing spectacular, just family and cake. I'm going to make her cake from scratch, using a dairy-free, egg-free recipe I found that sounds really yummy. This will be my first attempt at a tiered cake, so wish me luck! I'm also making the icing. I hope it works out for decorating purposes, but I think I have a few tricks up my sleeve. We'll see, I suppose. I'm sure it will still be edible.

I'm going to spend the kids' nap time today catching up on my Bible study, I hope. I'm so behind, it's not even right. My ladies' group is doing Beth Moore's "The Patriarchs" study right now, and it is so interesting and wonderful. 

 

I just don't have enough time to sit down and study in-depth like I need to in order to really benefit. I also keep missing weekly study time because of sick kids (and sick ME). I hope Zoe is better by tomorrow, or I'm going to miss this week, too! I want to go!

Hope you all have a great Thursday!