a super 7 weeks with our little man

Asher, you turned 7 weeks old on November 28th! Time has gone so fast, and yet slow (only during the fussy times) all at once.  We are so stunned lately at just how much and how fast you've changed. You're getting to be such a big boy, and like daddy says, that's a very good thing.  (But a little sad that our little man is growing so quickly, a common parenting dilemma I think).

Highlights from week six:

• Your Auntie Cal and Auntie Nan were still here at the beginning of your week six,  I call them your "Baby Fairie's"! The whole time you hardly got a cry in edgewise! 
• When Auntie Cal was vacuuming, you were sleeping on the couch sleeping, not bothered by the noise or commotion.  You're a sound sleeper baby boy.
• They were the first people to babysit you (besides daddy). They watched you while mommy went and got her nails and hair done.  It was really great, and you were very happy with them, they even fed you a bottle, and got you to take a passi a couple of times. (you don't usually take the passi very easily, but we're working on it).

Asher, these are your baby fairie's! -They love you bunches my dear.

• You're still a smile'n! Your eyes light up first and then a big grin. It's been tough to get the camera in hand when the happy mood strikes, but you have been giving a few smiles to daddy, mommy, Auntie's, & Grammy's daily since Nov 20.  It's been SO FUN!

Sorry these are so fuzzy, but it was a dark room, and I only had my iPhone with me...

• Around November 27 you have started to use your voice more. (Not just to cry). You are adding coo's in once in a while, mostly when you're agitated and talking... but today, Nov. 30, you were laying on your changing table looking at your mirror and you were just cooing and talking. Your voice is just precious Little Buddy! I hope that continues to become more frequent.
• In the evenings (like 5:30-9:45pm) this week especially, you seemed to be a little more fussy and grumpy. We're not real sure as to why. But you're still sleeping really well, going to bed at 10-ish, only getting up once around 4:30 to eat, sometimes sleeping until 9 or 10am! -We like that a lot!
• You're still LOVING your bath time and the water, you don't cry much when you get out anymore. The whole thing is fun for you now.  Mommy and Daddy love to kiss up on your fresh and clean, soft little baby skin.
• According to Grandma's home scale this past week- you were weighing nearly 14lbs! You grow ever more handsome son!
• We had a little open house/shower for you in Waterloo Wednesday. It was so fun to have you meet many friends and family who are very special to mommy and daddy. They also prayed a lot for you while you were growing inside me. 

Fun during your sixth week

• This past week was also Thanksgiving, it was a big week for you in Waterloo Iowa. (Mommy will write a post about our trip after this).  We went to Waterloo, and you got to meet your new baby cousin, Henry Xavier Caven; he was born on Sunday November 21. You guys are exactly 6 weeks apart. We stayed at Grammy and Pappa's and you got to play with cousin Landon and your older Caven cousin's thought you were pretty cute and were always kissing you up. 
• The last three days or so it seems like your tummy has really been hurting.  We're not sure why or how to help.  And you're having a tougher time nursing.  You're tummy gurgles and your kinda gag and spit-up a lot. Daddy and Mommy hope that all gets better soon. (Daddy bought you some gripe water to try, and it seems to make it a little better). Yesterday and today you've been sleeping a TON. Maybe it's just a growth spurt.  
• You like to grasp our fingers tightly. -Especially when you nurse. 
• When you're awake, you're very alert, taking in everything that's around you. We talk to you and sing while you look around.  
• You really like being in the ergo and the sling while mommy does stuff around the house. You seem very happy to be home from vacation and at ease and relaxed.

This is how big you've grown!

In other news, Charlie is loving his new job at Prime Therapeutics.  The people he works with have created an atmosphere of collegiality, which Charlie enjoys a lot. He's really enjoying fatherhood, and is very loving and attentive to me and his little "Baby Bluvo".  I'm enjoying being a mom, trying to figure out a good daytime schedule, since our nights are more predictable now. I'm feeling much more like myself again. It's time to start cooking suppers again, it's been so nice to have friends take care of our meals until right before Thanksgiving! Thank you guys! 

Winter has come early in the north. About three weeks ago we got 10" of snow and it stuck around, melting a little. And then we've had bouts of ice and rain, and today, snow again. I think it'll be along cold winter around here.  That gives us lots of extra snuggle time together!

not a lone tree

Something I have learned during pregnancy and motherhood thus far:  I am not a lone tree.

While Asher was growing inside, there were many opportunities for my questions to arise.  Multiple times veteran mommies came to my aid.  -Anything from weird queasiness, and birth plans- to what should I use to catch my babies poop (cloth diapers, ec-ing, etc) and what I can use to make his clothes fit longer (...onsie extender snaps, btw).  Also got tips on good books to read, how to make baby food, and advice on how to get through breastfeeding successfully. Among MANY other topics. 

All I've had to do is post anything from one little sentence on facebook (which could gather upwards of 30 responses of loving, caring, experienced moms with 1-7 Littles), to texting dear friends late in the evening (who immediately respond with what's worked for them and their baby). Or my mom, charlie's mom or our sisters are always there with a wealth of wisdom and lots of love.  My dear husband Charlie, there with an outside (often clearer) perspective and fresh viewpoint for loving encouragement or a strong pair of arms to take over when I grow weary.

I am not alone in this mothering venture. (and we are not alone in our parenting journey).

I'm so thankful for the depth of resources and friends available to help me through. But most of all I'm thankful that as I sit nursing by the nightlight, in the darkness in Asher's room in the middle of the night, (or any other time) I can talk to my Father, Creator, Wisdom and Knowledge and Understanding Himself.  He is faithful to give mercy and grace for each moment and each trauma/problem/query/drama I encounter as a mommy. I wouldn't survive without Him by my side and as my Lord.

Thank you Lord for bringing me/us this far and for Your promises to keep leading and loving. 

Thank you friends for caring and offering advice on what has been working for your families.

Thank you family for being there for us, whether a phone call or short drive away always available to love and help.

What sweet treasures I have around me.

6 whole weeks Little Mister Asher!

Six week highlights:

• Saturday, November 20, 2010 you smiled deliberately at mommy.  We were in your room, just after you ate breakfast.  I was talking/cooing to you because you were so alert and three separate times you smiled right at me.  :-)  Your little eyes lit up and everything.  It was absolutely adorable.  Later that day daddy and I were talking to you and you used your voice a little, and then smiled a few times right at daddy.  -We melted, just like everyone says we would.  
• Friday we went to a lactation consultant. (at 5 weeks, 5 days you weighed 13.6 lbs) Found out mommy was making plenty of (too much) milk for you (to handle).  So we learned a few tricks and it seems to have helped, 'cuz already we've noticed a difference, especially at night- Sat. and Sun you went to bed at 10pm & only got up at 3am to eat & went right back to sleep until 7:15 or so.  - We are SO very pleased about this development!
• Daddy mentioned just this morning how you seem much more mature this weekend that last. We can tell when you're uncomfortable and something is hurting (like you need to burp, etc). You're alert a little more often. Something about you just seems a little older.  
• You still grunt- nearly all the time. 
• Your rolls are ever expanding. You're getting rubber-band wrists. At the Dr. on Friday you weighed 13.6 lbs!!! Our little chuncka-lunck. You're so very kissable!
• Your Auntie Anna and Auntie Cally came on Thursday and are staying until Tuesday when we go home to Waterloo for Thanksgiving. They've been playing with you, cuddling you, comforting you.  And helping out around the house a TON! It's awesome to have them here. 
• You've found your hands in just the last few days and you study them, and you munch on them and suck on them. (it's pretty cute to watch).  ;-)

You were looking especially dapper the other day in your plaid pants and b-bop hat.

Little Buddy, you're the bestest little present that's ever been under our Christmas tree! We are so thankful for you with each passing day.  

Fun to have around- indeed!

Just now while I'm writing this post, you've been sleeping on your daddy's chest (you love listening to the heart beat and listen to our breathing). And he's holding you looking at the Christmas tree, and you smiled write at him while he was asking you to smile.  Baby he loves you so much. WE love you so much Honey!!!

5 week Asher

Asher, On your fifth week birthday, Auntie Anna and Uncle Paul came to visit.  They arrived just before we got a giant snow storm- which kept us all snowed in and cuddled up the whole weekend.  We got about 10 inches of snow, and it was only November 13-14! (That's an early storm for even Minnesota!) You didn't mind at all, more time for all of us to hug and hold you my little tiny sugar muffin.

You also started to smile quite a bit- in your sleep... We can't wait to have you smile in response to us. But we LOVE the smiles any way they come! You still spend most of the time sleeping, and from the look of things(your cheeks and tummy) it's not cutting in on your eating or growth in any way.  ;-)  You're chub'n up! You seem to do this (cute) little thing with your tongue when you're mad or frustrated with us, it sort of sticks out and hits your top gum and sounds like "p-th-d-d-d-d-d-d-d" and then a tiny whiny voice. It's pretty funny, sorry mommy laughs at you...

Little Mr. Asher is one month

Well my dearest bloggy friends/readers thank you for putting up with all my recent writing laziness and all the photo's of my (adorable) son.  Nearly all of our family lives out of town and so this is for the Grammy's and Aunties, etc... We don't want them to fall behind.  ;-) 

November 10, 2010

Asher, you are one month old today. This month has gone really fast. We're most stunned at how much you have grown in just a short amount of time.  Someone asked me a few days ago what we know about you so far; it's a good question, worth answering.

You are a content little baby. (EXCEPT when your diaper is dirty, you're hungry, or you need to burp-which daddy can remedy ultra fast!) You haven't truly smiled yet- like on purpose, or in response to us.  Bath time is a favorite of yours, you seem to find the warm water and sounds very soothing.  (I'm happy you seem to be a "water baby").  We know in the morning (or in the early evening) you impossible to wake.  We try to be very gentle and wake you like we would want to be woke- gentle nature sounds, then a dim light, then talking, then windows/light... But it takes you a while to be fully awake, and normally you're not fully awake until after a diaper change.

Little one, you grunt ALL the time, usually for no reason. And you also make this sound that makes daddy say you sound like his little velociraptor dinosaur. (It's true).  You also, just today, have made a few noises with only your voice, very small cooing sounds- we love to hear your little voice.  And when you eat, especially when your concentrating hard on only that, you 'sing/coo' between every suck.  You sound quite happy. When you're not happy, you now have tiny little tears when you cry. 

You love the Ergo carrier (thank you to all of you who encouraged me to get one right away, and to Aunty Mandy for getting it for us). On your one month birthday you and mommy enjoyed a 20 minute walk in the warm weather, and you fell asleep in it while we walked.  We're trying to figure out what your day looks like, when you normally sleep and eat, etc. You still mostly just sleep, but we've noticed you're awake a little more.

Asher, we're excited to get to know you better with each new day.  we daily pray that God would call you to Himself, and that you will see your need for Him at a very early age.

We love you more than yesterday!! 

Hugs and kisses, mommy and daddy

4th week birthday activities

Hi it's me, Little Mr. Asher.  This was me on my fourth week of life on the outside with my new parents. I thought you may wanna see some pictures of what I did that day.

If you think I'm looking a little chunky, it's cuz I AM!

Sleeping is still my most favorite activity so far.

But Mommy and Daddy still bundle me and we all do things together...

Like this, we took a walk on my 4 week birthday...

Daddy pushed me in my new stroller.

It's been really nice outside, so I've got to be out there more, I like it.  -But I still mostly sleep there too.

Today (Tuesday) I helped mommy put up Christmas lights outside.

But it was a lot of work, I had to rest.

I like 70 degree fall days I decided.

Peace out everybody!

stunning 3-yr-old ability!

I don't usually forward you to other people's blogs, but this is one you'll wanna take the time to check out... all the way to the finally. -this kid made me laugh and my jaw hang open.  Nose wiping and all.

http://twentytwowords.com/2010/11/09/3-year-old-passionately-conducting-a-symphony/
(22 words blog often has really unique and interesting stuff on it).

or you can watch it here: