I’m a wife and a mom who’s overcome a lot to get where she is. Now living life for my family with a prayer of gratitude on my lips! Here to learn more? Stop in and say hi.
Max really enjoyed the GWL this past Sunday and Monday! We had a great time at the water park, which is open all day and til 8 pm, playing in the arcade, and doing dance and story time in the lobby with all the other kids and families! We stayed overnight in the family suite with two Queen beds, a TV, minifridge, and great view of the manmade lake and wolf statue. It was actually really nice because everything is still relatively brand new since the Lodge only opened this year or last. Fireside is a halfway decent restaurant and refills were free on all nonalcoholic beverages. Max had the best time running around the elevators, to and from the arcade, and all around the water park! He went down both toddler water slides by himself multiple times!
I’ve enclosed some photos for good measure! If I’m in any of them, please ignore me!
Ham.Max Attax!Max with DadGetting out of the Wave PoolMy “Pack”
Now we are home and reeling, that is, trying to slow down and get back into the swing of things. Thanks so much to Great Wolf for a great time! Max took home so many prizes from the arcade but the biggest prize by far is all the memories!
It has been a whirlwind of fun, anxiety, and joy since March 12 until now. We just got back from an AMAZING vacation at Walt Disney World where we visited all four Disney Parks and stayed at a Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge! If it sounds incredible, that’s because it was! It was Max’s first time at Disney and our first time as a family of three, and also our first time back since the pandemic, which was so stressful! Max was obsessed (and still is) with Mickey Mouse, especially getting to meet the Mouse and his wife himself! He kept saying to me, leaning in really close to my face, “Mama, I meet Mickey Mouse!” which was so cute. The animals came right up to our balcony as we had a savanna view room, and included zebra, giraffes, wildebeasts, and wild birds. Nothing like coming back to that after a long day at parks!
George the GiraffeHaving a little rollUs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
We took full advantage of the Lightning Lane Multipass system and were able to do about 3 attractions per afternoon (due to naps, our days would start at lunchtime). He loved Prince Charming’s Carousel, Dumbo’s Flying Circus, and the Avatar dark ride in Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. He also enjoyed The Journey of Water with Moana (EPCOT—it was so cool, you could control the movement of the water!), the Sea adventure with Nemo, Kilimanjaro Safaris (we saw so many animals and Max really enjoyed this), and the Little Mermaid dark ride, just to name some. Sometimes he would take a stroller nap or nurse in between rides, which was really nice, because you can do that all over the park NOT just at the designated Baby Care Centers!
The Journey of Water inspired by Moana at EPCOTAt EPCOT in front of Woody and Bo Peep
We also took full advantage of Photo Pass while we were there which was a little bit steep but made it easy to get photos of all three of us without relying on the random generosity of strangers (there were a few of those!). This was all-encompassing and covered our meet and greets with Disney Characters and some fun shots like a neat video from Galaxy’s Edge and some AI inspired shots that were Moana and Ratatouille themed.
We saw LOTS of characters this time around, which was great for Max. We saw Toy Soldiers, Woody, Pooh and Tigger, Belle, Rapunzel, Peter Pan and Hook, Mickey and Minnie, Donald, Maleficent’s dragon, Buzz Lightyear, and more!
Dining was one of the best aspects of our trip, from Boma to Tony’s Town Square to Oga’s Cantina to Be Our Guest with a wonderful Prix Fixe menu (and a sizeable mousse cake for Max!)
Steak Frite at Be Our Guest at Magic KingdomSpice Road Table in Morocco at EPCOT
Once we got back from our very comfortable stay, it was up and at ‘em all over again as we had to get geared up for Max’s birthday party at the Little Gym! It was phenomenal and I cannot say enough about their staff and how easy they made everything from entertainment to cake cutting to setting up every last decoration! We had family and friends there and it was really a positive experience for all of us.
A few days prior Max had his first gymnastics class and it was quite an experience for him. He just wanted to run around and play and while it was a little hard to get his focus, the following week he definitely started listening and following commands more easily. I really love the sense of community that I find there and it is good to be back in the gym after 26 (😵) years!
Spring really is the most active and ebullient time for us, fitting that Max is a spring baby in keeping with that theme. Everything is buzzing and blooming and our days are spent in a kind of dream state between sleeping and waking with lots of play, both indoor and out.
There really are no words to describe how special the bond is that is created between my son and I when he breastfeeds. It is the only time I am totally at peace with him, with my purpose, and feel one with God. It is pure, real, deeply loving, honest, and I feel a fulfilment of my life’s purpose in motherhood. We had some hiccups in the beginning, Max was triple feeding at first for about three weeks to a month, and despite the exhaustion and functionality of the triple feeding, I am grateful he finally learned to latch on and I got over my desperation. Since that day, the bottles have been on the shelf collecting dust as it were until the next baby or…we have never looked back. Now it is a definite “nap nap boo boos!” Or an “other boob!” that he will exclaim with gusto when he wants what he wants!
As I write this I am tiptoeing around the fact that he will be two soon and I set a minimum of two years for his breastfeeding journey, because of the AAP’s recommendation of a two year minimum. This is perhaps coming to an end soonish, though I won’t quit cold turkey. He still needs me and though I am not offering often, I am also not refusing him.
Being aware of an end in sight makes me wistful and misty. But I will always have those countless hours of him gazing up into my eyes lovingly, needing me. Forever.
I got a great deal on the sweetest sweaters for M! They are by a brand that’s new to me called Colored Organics. They come in lots of different colors, as their name would suggest, however I opted for a neutral earth tone and a cream color. They are SO SOFT, and their material makes them perfect for every kind of weather, even as it starts to get warmer here in Houston. Just check out this beautiful fabric, which is organic cotton, sustainably made, and ethically produced:
After going to a Blueberry pediatrics virtual checkup for my 22-month-old son upon him dropping a vase on his left big toe, causing a hematoma and a lot of pain, I realized my personal philosophies do not align with modern medicine by any stretch. The doctor with whom we spoke suggested we take him to an urgent care to have them “drill a small hole in the nail to drain the blood.” Not only would this prove traumatic for my son but also for me, as I cannot even imagine him sitting still let alone surviving emotionally such a procedure.
I decided to try more holistic options with the doctor’s OK, offering to watch the wound and give it time to see if the nail would fall off on its own or the bleeding would subside. We waited a few days and since Max didn’t seem in any kind of pain, we decided to continue watching the hematoma. I wish I had taken a picture of the before and after putting the helichrysum salve on there! Overnight, the pooled blood under his nail disappeared and the nail, though a little beaten up, looks mostly as good as new! I really couldn’t believe my eyes.
I am now a HUGE advocate for giving small injuries like this time to heal, gentle remedies like epsom salt soaks, and helichrysum balm/salve. Helichrysum is inexpensive to purchase compared to Western medications, and works on bruises, hematomas, irritated skin, rashes, eczema, stretch marks, scrapes, acne, wounds, scars, and the list goes on.
The one in the picture is the actual brand we used. Get some and get healing today!
I scour the internet for recipes for my family when I just can’t find inspiration at home and I came across a great and simple one for sweet potato pancakes! The recipe couldn’t be easier with three ingredients. As you know, sweet potatoes are a superfood and are good for the whole family (even your canine friends)!
Start by getting 3-4 medium or large sweet potatoes, 3 eggs, and ground cinnamon. Bake the sweet potatoes for 45 minutes to an hour. If you have less time, you can bake them skin on in the microwave for ten minutes at a time and check for softness with a fork. Peel and mash then add the eggs, and sprinkle mixture generously with cinnamon. Scoop out 3-4 tbsps or a ladleful onto a cast iron or nonstick ceramic skillet on medium heat and flip when top begins to settle, about 3-4 minutes. Cook on other side for about 2-3 minutes. Serve with Irish butter and maple syrup, and enjoy!
My family loved these and they’re so easy and good for you. We had tons of energy all day.
Childhood is the most beautiful time of life for all of us, whether you’re a child, a parent, or a grandparent. And the cycle continues with each new generation. It is truly beautiful! As I watch my son grow and learn I am absolutely floored and humbled by the person he is becoming.
It’s the littlest things, from his voice saying “Thank you, Mama,” to the way he wails like a little dinosaur when he is scared of something or tearing something down…or faced with his nemesis: ice cream cones! Being an avid supporter of cosleeping, it is also his voice first thing when he wakes up. He is just a marvel.
Then there’s the BIG things, the milestones he is hitting super early: the way he just drops parts of the ABC’s song when I’m humming it to myself, like he’s always known the words. This kid is not even 22 months! Or counting to five or ten. There’s watching him bond with the animals, Lola and Bean, and even the cat: just the patience he exhibits with them when giving them a snack, for example.
How generous this kid is—always offering others, human or animal, the best of his favorite foods—it just blows my mind!
And then there are the beautiful things I’m privy to as his mom and nurturer, like how he asks to nurse, or for the “other boob.”
Yes I’ve been breastfeeding this baby since he was just out of the womb, minus about a month of triple feeding (pump, bottle feed breastmilk and I can’t remember the rest, it was kind of a sleepless blur) when he was first born, and there has been nothing more gratifying or that has contributed more to our bond. I’ve always just gone by the AAP’s recommendation to breastfeed a “minimum of two years” for maximum benefits to baby and mom, as well as the notion that I was breastfed for my first few years of life, and the notion that he will stop whenever he’s ready…kind of like with cosleeping. I don’t offer, but I also don’t refuse. And so far, he still has great interest.
These are simple times, and I am holding on, as more complexity is inevitable…someday…holding on tight to this beauty and force of nature with whom we’ve been entrusted.
This recipe will surely knock out any inklings of illness you’ve got and send them packing. For extra kick, I add green tabasco sauce at the last step (after the croutons) and you best believe those germs hate the vinegar and lemon content of that spicy stuff!
Add 3 tbps olive oil to a large soup pot and allow to heat on medium high.
Chop up very finely the white and light green parts of one leek, 4-5 cloves of garlic, and one large potato. Add three teaspoons of Thyme. Salt to taste. Black pepper. Mix together. Allow to sautee for about 8 minutes.
Add One large head of broccoli, chopped into very fine pieces, along with two boxes of organic chicken broth and a cup of water.
Add 1/2 a finely chopped cabbage head to the soup and allow to simmer for 15 minutes to an hour.
Add a generous amount of organic lemon juice (the more you can tolerate, the better it will be for your cold!) while simmering.
Heat oven to 400 F. Cube some crusty sourdough into small cubes and toss in a sheet pan with olive oil, salt and black pepper to coat. Cook for 10 minutes in the oven until croutons are golden and crunchy.
Ladle soup into a bowl and top with croutons. Hot sauce optional for extra curative zing! Serve and enjoy many bowls!
We picked something up at the airport on our way to Georgia or on the way back. It’s lingered for a week, but something that’s made the endurance lesser and not quite as strong is homemade elderberry syrup. We use a mix of elderberry syrup, Rescue Tincture, echinacea, zinc, and a special soup to knock out disease. The syrup is super easy to make and really not that pricey if you buy dried organic elderberries by the pound on Amazon. Check your local grocer, but I know that our Sprouts has them for like $40 a pound, which is almost twice as much as I found them for on Amazon. Here’s the recipe:
Erika‘s Homemade Elderberry Syrup
(keeps for up to two months)
Start with about half a pound of dried organic elderberries. Raw elderberries are toxic, but the fumes when you’re cooking them are not toxic so everything should be totally safe for you and your family ages one and up, if you cook the elderberries before consuming.
Add enough water to fill the pot you’re using, 3 to 4 cups. You can use less or more depending on how concentrated you want it to be and how much you want to make.
Cook covered, undisturbed on medium high heat for 45 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. It should be a deep blackish purple color.
Add sweetener of choice, something syrupy works best here so of course, if you’ve got little ones, be careful with using honey as it can cause botulism for babies under a year old. However, if everyone in your household is over one, you can use as much honey as you’d like to make the consistency you want. I like to use blue agave, which is natural and organic. I had just enough to cover about an inch of the container I’m putting elderberry syrup in and then pour the elderberry juice on top after straining it and squeezing out all of the excess juice out of the berries.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two months.
The servings for elderberry syrup are as follows: one to two years old, half a teaspoon of syrup four times daily acutely. 2 to 5 years old 1 teaspoon of syrup four times daily acutely. five years and up 2 teaspoons of syrup four times daily acutely.
That’s it! Nice and simple ingredients, totally clean, and nothing you don’t know about or want in your medicine. Taking this tincture four times daily during the duration of your illness, i.e. colds or flus, will greatly lessen the impact of coughs, sneezing, congestion, and general malaise and fatigue.
I’ll soon be posting my recipe for a nice garlic soup with tons of veggies and greens that makes your cold go over a lot faster as well with some tips from my grandma. The secret? Lemon juice… And green Tabasco.
We’ve been contemplating our homeschool options as Max is approaching two and we are coming up on some available AMAZING discounts for students and teachers at SeaWorld San Antonio! Nothing to put you in an educational decision-making mood like the world of theme park discounts!
I was able to obtain both student and teacher ID’s using my membership at HSLDA (hslda.org), the Homeschool Legal Defense Association for myself and my son and soon I will get one for my husband who is at the very least an associate teacher (if you don’t mind my saying so). This way I can go online and purchase SeaWorld’s free preschooler and teacher tickets for 2025! I feel so privileged to have found this out and so I am sharing it here with you! Check out the offer under “tickets” drop-down menu at seaworld.com.
We are planning to go to San Antonio hopefully this spring where we can enjoy SeaWorld! Just have to find the time in between every-day activities and a long-postponed trip to Walt Disney World! And hubby’s work of course. I am thinking we could maybe go for Max’s second birthday as a celebration instead of a traditional party.
We rounded out the New Year with a trip visiting Max’s Aunt and Uncle, and cousins, and it was indeed a full house! My niece Evelyn just wrapped a movie with Kevin Sorbo and is the face of the Bippity Boppidy Boutique on the latest Walt Disney World Commercial and she is nothing short of adorable! Check out her profile—and the commercial— at evelyngkite_official on Instagram. My nephew Andrew and niece Shealyn are also playing small roles as twins in a major motion picture that wrapped in 2024. It was still good to go back and see them all (all six of them) being normal, humble kids. They truly are so sweet and loving. Watching my son bond with his cousins is incomparable as far as things to witness go, and he learned to dance, fish, and climb up and down stairs just in one week! Imagine what he’d learn playing with six older cousins on a regular basis! Unfortunately, we usually only go to Georgia once or twice a year, but the visits are always well worth the wait.
Max is progressing at swimming and returns from his winter break tomorrow. How does he swim in winter? We swim at a heated indoor pool! So far he can reach up to eight seconds in his underwater submersions. Underwater safety has always been of an utmost priority as parents, so M has been swimming since he was two months old! And little known fact, I didn’t go into labor until the evening after I finished a CPR class held by Houston Methodist The Woodlands!
The Sweet Life with The Zuckeros 