More allergy testing

When Cohen was tested for food allergies a month ago, the allergist said we definitely should test him for environmental allergies too. We made the drive in last week to get the second round of allergy testing done. 

There was one really big red dot: feathers. The dude is allergic to feathers in a big way. We came home and bagged up all our pillows and cushions and the duster. I am feeling so grateful I never decided to buy one of the ubiquitous Canada Goose jackets, because I definitely would not be able to wear it now.

Some things we are figuring out about allergies:

- The allergy testing doesn't tell you what kind of allergic reaction you will have. They scale the reactions from zero to four. Cohen was a four for peanuts, walnuts, wheat, feathers. But only the nuts are anaphylactic for him. He would not need an epipen if he was exposed to wheat or feathers even though he is super allergic to them.

- Cohen is allergic to eggs (he scored a two for eggs), but he is able to eat them without us noticing much of a reaction sometimes. But then sometimes he gets all red and puffy. Allergies are super confusing.

- The allergist tells us that Cohen will likely grow out of almost all of the allergies eventually. The only one that may be for life is the walnuts. I dunno why.

- Cohen reacted less than one to dust and hamsters, but the allergist recommended we never own a hamster. No problem. He is also allergic to dandelions.

- Gluten free baking with no eggs is challenging, but not impossible. I am slowly trying to get into it.

On the weekend

(drinking creamers, as usual) 

(he spent 30 minutes on this, and still cried when we forcefully removed him) 

(enjoying some water with a straw) 

(first time on the ice) 

(loved getting pulled around on his sled-last year he was so tiny!) 

I may have mentioned a few times (or a million times) that our town is small, and sometimes it is a struggle to find things to do. We have our usual weekend errands/fun things we do like go to the grocery store, go for a walk, go get a coffee. So it's kinda thrilling when there is something new to do. This weekend it was skating around on the accidentally flooded ball diamond by our house. The weather lately has resulted in a pretty smooth surface. We haven't sprung for skates for Cohen yet, though we are told that 18 months is a pretty typical starting age for ice skating. For now, Cohen loves getting pulled in last year's red sled.

Some holiday pics

I was phone-less for the whole entire holiday, so I stole some pictures from J's phone. We travelled to NB for Christmas, which included a lot of driving, 4 flights, two hotel stays, and no delays!! Our first time ever with no flight cancellations or delays. 

We spent Christmas Eve eating burgers and fries at Wendy's. We were not the only ones there! Later, we watched a marathon of Fresh Prince Christmas episodes. Actually pretty perfect night. 

On Christmas morning we woke up in the hotel room at 5 am and watched cartoons in the big bed.

Dude got his first haircut from his Aunt Kiki on Christmas. The new haircut has reduced people mistaking him for a girl by at least 75%. 

Cohen loved his daily sink bath at my parent's. 

He really wasn't into sharing the sink with his cousin. He was grateful Nanny DD has a double basin. 

When we got back to NL, we went to this little coffee shop in a church basement, where Cohen tried hot chocolate for the first time. Here, he is drinking the cream for my coffee. 

Here, he is in heaven with his hot chocolate. 

This was my favorite Christmas ever. Mostly because having our little guy makes each day more exciting, especially holidays. But also because we kept things really low-key. For presents, we exchange names at Thanksgiving among the eight adults, so we each only buy one gift. We also do a gift swap where the only rule is that you aren't allowed to spend money on the gift, and I really think my family enjoys that gift swap more. I got a sweet jean button-up shirt with my brother-in-law's company name on it, and Jon got a sailor's hat that was previously owned by my brother (who is in the navy). We play a lot of board games (this year it was scattergories and 5 second rule, but other years we have been all about monopoly), and do puzzles like it's our job. This year we completed three huge ones. Best Christmas ever.

We are learning about baby eczema and wheat allergies

(Cohen at 5 months) 

Cohen has had these super red cheeks since forever. We are trying to figure them out (read on for more than you ever wanted to know about baby allergies and baby eczema)...

My iPhone died over the holidays...

(from Christmas 2013. I can't believe how small he is!)

Around December 21st, my phone started to get a little funny, but by the time we were ready to head to New Brunswick on Christmas Eve, the phone was totally broken. I didn't think I would mind being phone-less, but I have to say, it was hard. I missed the camera most of all, but also google maps, passbook, wifi, texting, and even the actual phone. We spent Christmas at my parent's house in NB, which felt pretty relaxing since we have done two-province Christmas holidays since we started dating. 

Holiday highlights/stuff:

- Traveling on Christmas day is awesome. The airports are pretty deserted, which makes it ok for Cohen to run around wildly. 

- When we visit my parents, Cohen sleeps in my mom's walk-in closet. Cohen sleeps really well in there, I think because it's so dark. The best part of it, though, is that Jon and I got to sleep in every morning. My parents would get up with Cohen at 5 am, and we would sleep another hour or two. Seriously, the best thing ever. I am going to be sad the day that Cohen can no longer sleep in the closet. 

- And Cohen takes his baths in the kitchen sink at my parent's. His favorite time to do so is when we are making supper. He just sits in the sink for ages, playing with a spoon and a cup. 

- Jon and I spent an overnight alone at a nearby hotel. So great. I would recommend taking advantage of sweet grandparent babysitting opportunities to all parents. We did some leisurely downtown shopping, lingered for half an hour at a magazine store, went for a beer in the hotel bar. Cohen barely looked up from his toys when we got back the next day. 

- We did our first professional family pictures in at least 8 years. It was so cold, we all had to wear our less-than-stylish winter jackets. Professional group pictures with a 1.5 year old? Not my idea of a good time. But so happy we did it. 

- We were all asleep by 10 pm on NYE. My sister and I ended our night drinking tea and chatting. Not sorry.