Today, Sergeant Mitchell Holt came home after a month of serving in the National Guard. He was in Death Valley, California in the Mohave Desert. He was not allowed to text or call for a majority of the training. In California, they simulated combat as if they were in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Zane and I could not be more excited for him to be home. It has been a long month, especially with a newborn. However, we count our blessings because this training means that under contract, Mitch cannot be deployed for four years. I am so grateful for the military and the inspiration it has been to Mitch, but hot dang am I glad he is back!
Please excuse us while we make up for lost time.
This little guy had his two month shots today! I can't believe he is already two months old! He handled the shots like a champ and only cried for a teensy weensy second before sighing and giving up the good fight. Everyone told me to experience some water works so I had mentally prepared myself while we waited for the doctor to come in: 'I will not cry... I will not cry... I will not cry' was my 'big mommy' chant.
Sufficient to say, he didn't really cry so I had no reason to!
Thankful for modern medicine and the knowledge that Zane won't be getting polio anytime soon!
Mitch's grandfather is 94 years old and full of the best stories. When he recounts the time he spent with his sweetheart, Mabel, it literally sounds like he has memorized a Nicholas Sparks novel. Let's just say, Keith was classy as can be as a young man!
Lately, I've felt very prompted to ask him questions about his life for family history work. His memory is slowly starting to fade away and he has begun telling the same stories because he can't remember already telling them to you a few minutes before. What he can remember, though, is every single name, date, location and directions on how to get there!
He has shared with me how when he was a little boy, he used to have to tromp down sheep wool into bags. How he met his wife in a Sunday School class and thought he "might like to get to know her." How there weren't tractors when he was a young man! He even shared with me how he wished he would have taught in Elementary School rather than Middle School because those kids were so much better behaved.
While some of his stories may seem inconsequential now, I am so grateful that one day Zane and all of his cousins will be able to read them and get to know who their Great-Grandfather was. I already feel extremely blessed just learning these tiny snippets of his life. He is an extraordinary man and I am so grateful that we have gotten to spend this one on one time together, even if I don't understand even a fourth of the farm lingo he uses!
Grandpa Keith, I can't wait to learn more about your ewes, horse pulls, and dance lessons!
Zane is one month old and growing every day! He's been a wonderful helper as we have been moving. In his short little lifetime, he has already taken two 28 hour round-trip car rides as we've moved back and forth from Washington! Not many newborns can say that they still love their carseat after being subjected to that!
At one month old, Zane is 23 inches long and weighs around 10 pounds. He loves to suck on his fingers, is just barely beginning to smile socially, and is absolutely terrified of stuffed animals. He loves long naps, rides in his carseat, and giggles from mom. He hates getting dressed and gets a very serious face whenever I pull out a camera.
Zane is still wearing newborn clothing and newborn diapers. His tongue-tie is proving difficult, but he is slowly starting to get his chunk on! He is the best little alarm clock: I know exactly when it is 11:00 am, 3:00 am, and 6:00 am because that is when he wakes up demanding food. This kid doesn't mess around when it comes to eating. He is like a grumpy diner that just wants his food this instant!!!
Aside from that, Zane hardly ever cries, has the most serious eyebrows, and the longest legs. We are still absolutely in love. Less hygienic and more tired, but absolutely in love. Thank you for teaching me that I can be patient even at the butt-crack of dawn and that showers don't really matter as much as my mom said they did when I was little.
