Let's play pretend!

I've come to learn that raising a child includes many different phases. Right now Talent is in one of my very favorite phases....playing pretend! I love watching his little imagination grow! 

This phase started taking shape a few weeks ago at church. In our church nursery we have a tea set. Talent would get the cups and pour tea for whoever was in there with him and he would "drink" his tea and pour more for the guest at the party. He would do this over and over again. It was one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Tea parties turned into putting his stuffed animals down for a nap and dressing them. He has even put his Daddy and me down for a nap. I love it! 

Seeing his imagination develop is so fun! It makes me want to go out and buy him a trunk full of costumes to play dress up. In today's world full of electronic games and gadgets, kids don't get out and use their imaginations like they did when we were little. So I feel it is important to nurture his imagination. 

I hope this phase lasts quite a while. I look forward to more of his exciting phases. I love having a front row seat to all of the changes he goes through. 

Putting a sucker in Piggy's mouth so he can nap. 

Allergies....UGH!

Everyone knows by now that Talent has many allergies. So, I have a question. When you think of food allergies, do you think people get sick to their stomach? Do you think they get a rash? Or do you think that they could possibly die? Well, I'd like to take a minute and educate people just a little bit because I get asked questions all of the time.

Talent is allergic to the following:
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Fish
Potatoes
Strawberries
Grapes
Wheat
Soy
Egg Whites
Milk
Cats
Dogs
Alternaria

I've had so many people come to me over the last year and ask me questions about food allergies. I have to really read what is in everything we eat, buy, and come in contact with. I don't allow anything into our home with nuts of any kind in it. This means we no longer have peanut butter or nutella in our home. When I bake I don't use nuts in recipes. We don't use generic cooking oils because they have nut warnings on them. When we are with other people, I do police what they have around him or within his reach. I was once a little soft spoken about certain things but after seeing his reaction to nuts and fish, anytime we are around someone who is eating something he is allergic to, I make sure to tell them that they can not touch him until they have washed their hands. I also ask that they don't share drinks with him or try to kiss on him. I know it sounds like I'm just being hateful, but what most people don't realize is that this is something that could save his life. Food allergies are a scary thing. At two years old, Talent can't tell me what is wrong in detail. I have to watch for signs of an allergic reaction. Hives, wheezing, rashes, whelps. Sometimes those things show up immediately, sometimes it's a few hours. A lot of people get really offended when I ask them not to touch him until they have scrubbed up. But, he is the only kiddo I have. I get to be protective. And honestly, I'm not trying to offend anyone. I'm trying to keep him safe. I'm trying to do the best job I can to keep him from having a fatal reaction to something.

A lot of people don't realize what anaphylaxis is. Most people don't realize that it can be fatal. I wish more people were educated about food allergies. I hope that some day I will be able to help educate people about the dangers of exposure to these allergens. Here's hoping.