The Eczema Experience

{Source}

Since last June, we have been trying to clear up Branner's eczema. We have consulted with his pediatrician's office and an allergist on multiple occasions. We have tried several different prescription drugs. We have applied countless lotions to find the best and our favorite. For the record, we like Eucerin's Aquafor and CeraVe. In our experience with this, all of the prescriptions we have tried have worked...for a little while. After a few weeks or months, though, the scaly red patches have been coming back. We thought we had hit the eczema jackpot with the last prescription--an oil--from our pediatrician, but it stopped working after a couple of months.

Our next step? To see a dermatologist. I just went in for a mole scan (and anti-aging consult--hey, I'm almost 30) at Darst Dermatology, and now Branner has become a patient there, too. We are on a two week regimen of Triamcinolone Acetonide cream and will use Elidel cream from here on out. Dr. Darst is confident that this approach will finally rid B of his problem--which he called, "The worst case of eczema we've ever seen on a Caucasian child," once and for all. Cross your fingers for us!

15 Month Pics

I just got the pics from Branner's 15 month shoot back, and I am SO HAPPY with them. Not that I'm surprised, because Angie at AC Studios always does a wonderful job (and brings great props/bribes)! Click here if you're interested in seeing them!

Editor's note: I was just looking through again, and I totally look pregnant in some of the early family shots even though I definitely am NOT. Lesson learned on wearing a flowy top in pics!!!!

Beach Bound!

We are in the process of packing to celebrate Easter at Holden Beach! While I was just there three weeks ago, this will be Barry and Branner's first trip of the season. It will also be the first time we put our new boat in the water :).

We are so excited, because in addition to my parents, Barry's brother, Jason, and his family will be joining us for the holiday. YAY! We leave early tomorrow morning. Can't wait to have our toes in the sand and the beach breeze in our hair! Happy Early Easter, y'all!

15 Months

Fifteen months old on the 15th--Branner is another month older! I am amazed at how much he is learning literally every single day! He can now tell me if he needs his diaper changed when asked, is responding to simple questions/commands and can do a whole host of things when Barry or I ask him to. We have been enjoying as much time outside as possible and are very thankful for sunny days, nice weather, walks and trips to the park. B is already in LOVE with the outdoors! He is becoming such a big boy, and new aspects of his personality continue to shine through a little more every day! He is a happy, social, strong-willed and independent boy. We continue to enjoy him more and more as time goes by and we feel so grateful and blessed by his presence in our family, home and lives.

Likes: Walking, running, walking backwards (he has become REALLY into it these past couple of weeks), dancing, "singing," TALKING (dada, daddy, mama, baba, cat, dog, that?!, Dirk--which is one of our friend's names, uh huh, cracker, etc., etc.), imitating noises, giving hugs and kisses, "cheers"-ing with his sippy cup, exploring the yard, doing puzzles, reading books, wagon rides, Cozy Coupe rides, bike rides with Barry, baths, Little People toys, being outside, playing with Bailey, going to the park, other children and people, asking "That?!," pointing, Gigi's Pig, cars (he can make a vroom-vroom sound now while playing with them), balls, trains, balloons, cookies, figuring out how things work, blocks, "driving" the boat, dogs and cats (he loves pointing them out when we see one), greenway walks and visits with Gigi and Big Papa.

Dislikes: Having his hair washed, not being able to stand on his table and chairs, trips to the mall, being told no.

Food: His current favorites include popcorn shrimp, chicken, fish sticks, hot dogs, meatballs, ham, turkey, whole wheat crackers (??!!), squeezable fruit/veggie mixes, broccoli, peas and carrots, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, apples, french fries (on the rare occasion he gets them), yogurt, Boursin cheese on crackers, pancakes and Nilla Wafers.

Clothing Sizes: 12-18 months in shirts/tops, 9-12 months in pants/shorts, 4.5-5 in shoes (just bought him 3 new pairs in the last week including a pair of TOMS, which are SO CUTE. I have a problem).

Kids in Motion

This afternoon, we took Branner to Kids in Motion, which is a festival centered around automobiles and vehicles (which B LOVES) and all kinds of activities and games that the Junior League puts on. As a League member, of course I wanted to attend to support our Healthy Child Initiative, and it was a major plus that Branner could have some fun and we could eat some delicious food, too!

We walked around and saw some really cool cars and trucks--police cars, fire trucks, motorcycles and even a SWAT van! Branner really enjoyed exploring all the different vehicles and running around. Barry and I enjoyed some delicious Mac's BBQ, and of course we always love to watch our precious boy have a good time! He really wore himself out, because here's what happened on the way home:

We will definitely be attending Kids in Motion again next year, and we can't wait!!!

"That?!"

Along with pointing, Branner has developed an insatiable appetite for knowledge...in the form of asking, "That??!!" He points to people, toys, pictures, fans, anything you can imagine, and wants to know exactly who or what it is. He is learning SO MUCH these days! I am so amazed at how much little minds can absorb and I love watching him think through things! Barry and I really don't mind answering the, "That??!!," question constantly (yet) because we, of course, find it adorable that B is inquisitive! This age is SO FUN!!!!

Point Blank

Branner's new obsession? Pointing. He's been doing it for a long time, but this week he has decided to really love it. He does it all the time. He points to things he wants. He points to things he likes. He points at EVERYTHING these days. Of course, Barry and I think it's adorable and hilarious!

Guest Blog--Momsie

I was asked a few weeks ago to do a guest post for my favorite local mommy blog, Momsie. It's up today! Hope you enjoy it!

Tables + Tantrums = Trip to the Mall

I wasn't going to write about this. But, the whole point of my blog is to document Branner's life so we can look back on this random/funny/mundane/crazy collection of moments one day and laugh together about them. I also like to keep it real, and this is as real as it gets.

My mom came down on Sunday to spend the night so that we could take Branner shopping for a few things to add to his spring/summer wardrobe and to look at a table and chair set from Pottery Barn Kids. The set being for his playroom from my parents for his birthday (which I have been putting off getting because I haven't really started the room, but if this isn't motivation, I don't know what is). We had a normal morning and left for the mall a little before 11.

We started at Ann Taylor Loft. My mom and I had looked around for about 2 minutes when things started to go south. Branner started getting rambunctious in his stroller. I told my mom to go ahead and try on the two pairs of pants she wanted to, and that I would walk him around outside the store while she did, but she decided to wait. We (nervously on my part), proceeded to Pottery Barn Kids. They didn't have the table/chair set I wanted in stock, so we were on to our next stop, Janie and Jack (my favorite!). Branner was really on a tear. We barely had time to look/decide on sizes before he was screaming to get out of the stroller. Luckily, the saleslady was super nice and did not make me feel bad for his behavior. I let him out and tried to walk around the store with him, but he wanted down and kept running away from me into the middle of the mall. After chasing him down a couple of times, I got him back in the stroller and we left for Pottery Barn. He lasted about 2.5 seconds in that store. I took him to a seat grouping in the middle of the mall and planned to let him wander around, so I put my purse down in a chair. He got me so flustered, that I walked off with my purse still on the chair. We made it all the way out to the car (with Branner walking, NOT in the stroller), and I had to turn around and basically run back into and through the mall because I was in a panic over my purse. Luckily, it was still in the chair I left it in with everything including cash and my iphone still in it. WHEW!!!! I don't think I'll be attempting a mall trip again with B in the near future!