9 week Asher

Hey Guys! It's me, Asher Clark and I'm nine weeks (and a few hours) old now!  I'm coming at ya all snuggled up, warm and cozy here inside by my Christmas tree.  I really have no choice, 'cuz Mom and Dad can't take me anywhere because of this massive snowstorm we got.  When I woke up this morning it was -1 degrees (whatever that is), but it's the coldest I've ever felt. I've also never seen this much snow in my WHOLE life! Mom said we got around 15" and at the MSP airport 17.1"! That's the 5th largest snowstorm on record since 1891! Daddy and I can't even cheer on the vikings this afternoon because the Metrodome roof collapsed! Here's a video of it happening!

See this picture- my daddy is out clearing the driveway, you can see just how blizzardy it is. 15 inches in 24 hours is rather epic, if I do say so myself. (Mom said I could go for a short ride in my new red sled from Grammy and Papa- I'll post a picture of me doing that in a sec)...

I stayed inside with mommy, and worked on my new passi while daddy was out.

...But first, I want to show you my big strong muscles! 

I'm getting SO BIG! SEE!!!

Nine month photo shoot

As I promised- my sledding escapade pictures:

Um yes, I was super cold, so the sledding was short. But I'm officially a Minnesota Boy now!

shwew! I'm getting sleepy, this blogging thing is a lot of work!

But hey- before I go, I want to say thank you to you guys for praying me through my "inside mom" days.  I love you guys lots, and really appreciate the time you took to petition Jesus for me!

***
peace out- love,
asher

Little Mr. Asher is two months old

Mr. White Bear and you on your 2 month birthday!

Getting checked out at Dr. Miller's office

At your 2 month check up on 12/09/10, your stats were:

• 14 pounds, 14 ounces (97%) -they say 'normally' a two month old is 3-4 pounds over their birth weight, you were 8lbs when you were born by the way...) We love every bit of your baby blubber! 
• 24 inches long (75-90%) With two giant parents, you really have no options. But you still fit in many of your 0-3 month size pants, so that's good. 'Cuz we think your tiny jeans are super studly.  
• Head circumference 16" (50-75%) 

Mommy calls you her Little Happiness

Snuggling Mr. White Bear, Great Nana Mulligan gave you.

Daddy calls you his Baby Bluvo

• Eating- you never skip a meal, and it doesn't matter where we are Little Mr. Chubbers. Enough said. The pictures do all the explaining. 
• Sizes- Well you now have NO newborn outfits that fit you. And even some of your 0-3 months clothes have had to be stored away. For the most part you're a solid 3 month size, and we've snuck a couple 3-6-ers in the line up the last few days. We need to go shopping! :-) You are still wearing a size 1 diaper- but that's mostly because mommy wants to use them all up-they work, but barely, you'll be moving up to the size 2's real soon big boy. 

You lift your head for long periods of time

• You're definitely a victim of evening fussiness.  (on and off from 5-9pm) You throw in a good evening every now and then, but it doesn't seem to be your favorite time of day. You're most happy in the mornings I think.
• When you cry, it means something- you have a very distinct loud 'angry/frustrated' cry, a 'Im sleepy' and 'hungry' cry; we like that you're starting to communicate.  And when you're content my Love- you are irresistible with all your cooing, smiling and small giggles. We even hear you get all excited and happy when you're sleeping sometimes.  Pretty darn cute sir.  Daddy talks to you all the time, about all kinds of things and you stare and him carefully.  He loves you so much!

We text pictures to our extended family all the time, they love to see how you're growing.

• Your sleeping has become even more predictable and long.  You go to bed about 9:30pm (mostly because Mommy can't keep her eye's open much later than that!) and sleep until 4:30 or 5am and go back to sleep again.  Once in a while mommy brings you into bed to eat and snuggle and sleep until about 8:30 or 9am.  You enjoy snuggles in the morning.

Your face is quite expressive lately

• If we put blankie's or objects in your fists, you grasp them tight for a little while. In your room you coo and smile and talk while looking at the black framed mirror above your changing area for 10-20 minutes. It's your "happy place".
• You are a troooper -mommies little errand and outing buddy.  I just pack you up in your car seat and cover you in it and off we go.  You sleep, or just look around the whole time. You go to Bible studies, grocery/target shopping, well, pretty much anywhere.  And everywhere we go people stop and oogle over you- and I proudly let them.  We all think you're pretty handsome and cute!

Asher you have added so much joy to our family, and we are so thankful the Lord has given you to us. We sure are honored and pleased to love on you, pray for you, care for you, and kiss you up son. You're our answered prayer, and such a blessing to us.  We pray you will love Jesus at a very young age.

All our love always son.

week 8 emerging emotions and super sleeping

Litte Man, this past week has been among the most fun for mommy and daddy. You are giving smiles more and more freely. And along with that you're starting to coo with your voice, just a little bit each day. You smile at different people too.  The most precious thing this week was while you were nursing you were looking up at mommy and first your eyes started to sparkle, then you started to grin, and you intentionally pulled away to shine a huge smile right up at me.  This has happened a few times this week.  I just melt like butter, you little charmer. 

You've become more interactive this past week. Really soaking in your surroundings, listening carefully when we talk to you. Obviously, responding to our cooing over you with smiling. You seem to be aware of, and really enjoy music. You relax when we play spa radio or classical music. (But lately we have Christmas music playing and you like that too).

The second theme for this past week has been S.L.E.E.P.  

You've been sleeping like it's going out of style son! These are a few of the spots and positions we find you sleeping in. A few days this week you were only up a few hours, and snoozed the day away!  At night you like to be in your 'woombie' (it's stretchy and lets your arms move a little bit still compared to a swaddle) and a blanket around your legs.

We think you must be going through some sort of growth spurt; extra eating and sleeping, and more cranky evenings. Daddy has found that you like to be held in this position. (see picture above).  You also like your vibrating bouncer quite a bit. *A huge step forward this week is that you've decided to sleep from 9:30pm - until about 4 or 5am!  Mommy LOVES this! And then most days you'll go back to sleep and eat around 7:30am and back to sleep until 9am! I'll take the little bit more fussy evenings in turn for an full night of sleep.  What a special gift baby!

These are a few of your favorite "perches" around the house. In the morning you like to be in your "nap nanny" in the kitchen and you watch mommy make coffee and have breakfast, and then gaze outside at the trees and snow.  You also do a lot of smiling and talking from here in the mornings.

You spend at least half the day on your tummy (& often in the 'boppy pillow'-you love that), sometimes awake but mostly snoozing. We think it makes your tummy feel good, and when you sleep your body weight keeps your arms from startling awake. This has also made you super strong in your neck and back. You're such a big boy honey!

Mommy bought you "baby legs" this week. I think they're so cute and comfy.  You can hang out in your onsie and keep your legs warm too.  Auntie Cally bought you a super cute navy and gold pair too- but they're in the wash right now. Thanks Auntie Cal!

This past weekend Grammy and Papa and Auntie Cally and Anna came up to visit. And they watched you for about four hours. You continue to take a bottle pretty well.  Mommy and Daddy got to go on a date (Christmas shopping and dinner- it was wonderful to be 'just us' again) but we missed you Little Buddy! 

You've started to handle the 'over supply' of mommy's milk better.  You don't choke as often, and your clicking/smacking is ever so slightly decreasing. I think I might see a glimmer of nursing hope in the distance.  The lactation consultant said (in addition to the tricks we're already doing to fix this problem-only one side per feeding, expressing fore-milk, and two feedings in a row on the same side) that you will probably get better and better with the clicking as you get older and will be able to handle the fast flow more easily.  But it already seems that you may not feel like you're drinking from the Neptune Fountain (Fontana di Nettuno) in Bologna, Italy anymore!  :-) lol! 

things Asher does video

This video is clips from the last 3 or 4 weeks.  It includes the sound of his baby cry (which is starting to change), hiccups, sleepiness, sneezing and the best is towards the end- the smiles, little bit of cooing and excitedness!  It's about 3 minutes long if you care to take a peek.

unpredictable me

5.19.11- Edit Update: this is a great post to ponder about Bible reading! "Do I have to read my Bible?"

Admission: This year I have been (unfortunately, sadly and self-destructingly) unpredictable and not faithful to be in the Word daily- or (*embarrassed) even weeks on end, for months now.

Shock, gasp and dismay-        I know.

I have no excuses good enough. I know I need more than to be fed from weekly Bible studies or listening to online sermons (which is as far as I've gotten). I mean, for heaven's sake Amanda- you're (I'm) studying HEBREW'S of all books! Doesn't this sound familiar? ---"you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:11-14 ESV) Interestingly this week, more than once, God has prompted me to get back into the Bible so I can hear from him. Most often it's been while I'm feeding my little man his milk.  Because he's a baby, he's new and young, that's what he needs, for me to feed him milk. But what am I sustaining my spiritual self with?! milk? really? Why not the whole Thanksgiving meal- Turkey and all!?

Hummmm.  God called me to Himself at a very young age and I have grown in the knowledge of my Abba (Father) since then.  I should be a mature believer. Has the business of life, (and all of my *good* excuses- bed rest, hospital, new baby, feeling yucky, family, facebook, entertainment, holidays, attender of small group and Bible studies, etc) made me dull in hearing?! Have I become immature?  a drinker of milk?   I am out of constant practice.

So today I couldn't resist his call anymore; done with this milk phase. Back to the solid food! I'm sooo grateful my salvation doesn't depend on me, my faithfulness, my works, or my own desires, I'd be ruined for sure- but it's God's constant faithfulness and mercy and grace, calling me back to himself, having written my name in His book of life, and compelling and causing my desire to know him, hear from him, and become like him, and creating a longing to live with him forever. His steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 118).

Amen and Amen.

That still doesn't excuse my responsibility to hear from him in the Bible.


So, I've found I'm an auditory learner.  I often am more helped and encouraged when I listen to the Bible spoken.  Often when I sit to read the Bible (which I still do, most often when I'm really doing a study or something) I get distracted.  So I've found this great website that allows me to listen on my iPod, or iPhone or iMac. and there's lots of different devotional guides for daily use. ESV Reading Plans. Last year I was using the chronological guide.  This really helped me to stay faithful in my quest to daily hear from the Lord. I would listen while I drove, or cleaned, or laid in bed.

Today I clicked my iPhone on to listen to today's reading while I was napping/resting.  It was 1 Corinthians 12-14.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Stood out to me. It's talking about one God being over all people and all their very different and unique and special giftings.  This became so real to Charlie and I over the past couple of years.  There were so many times that God sent just the right person for the right day.  Some days it was a meal, some days it was someone talking about their life and not mine, others it was serving us by cleaning, or listening, or a hug, or crying with us, or laughing or rejoicing with us.  The way God has designed the body of Christ is absolutely amazing, and I have chills right now just thinking about how real it has become to us personally. We are all empowered by the same Spirit! Awesome! (12:11) And all those many different members were arranged by God to form His body! We need each other. 12:21-22) indispensable is the word used.  And we're to suffer, be honored, and rejoice all together. But yet he allows us to remain individuals who must LOVE on each other.  With these things in mind, 1 Corinthians 13 reads in a different light.

OK.  I'm done with my devotional.  But just had to share in my weakness, and God's greatness and mercy and faithfulness.  I hope you too are called closer to our Abba today, don't only drink milk, scavenger for the solid food. Hone your 'powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil'.

an iowan thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year took us home to our families (both sides) in Iowa. It was so fun to have Asher spend time with all his cousins and extended family. Here are the highlights.

My sister Bridget's little boy, Landon, was in awe and quite curious of Asher.  He wanted to touch his hands and hair, and was very pleased when he did so. Here are some cute pictures of them together, giving loves.

Charlie, Asher and I stayed at my parents house this trip. It was fun to spend time with Grammy and Papa and the Aunties. On Thanksgiving morning Bridget and I and all of our boys ate breakfast while we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  (Bird and I have done this since we were little, and have been missing watching it together- although this year we seemed slightly preoccupied with our Little's). And you'll also spot Daddy, showing off Asher's tiny turkey bum.  :-) We spent Thanksgiving supper with the Bohlen side at Aunt Lynn's and Uncle Doug's, but I forgot to get my camera out... I know Auntie Sandy had her iPhone out snapping pictures, so Sandy if you're reading this, could you zip a few of those pics to me?! (or anyone else who was snapping) It was a nice night of food and games and family.

We headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's for Thanksgiving lunch.  Beverley put on quite the feast! (As she always does). I told her this year, I hope I never inherit her job, because I'd never be able to do as good of a job as she does filling our tummies with yumminess!

Uncle Andrew (Uncle the FoCack to Asher) came home, and was promptly bombarded with attention vying nieces and nephew's, and he was amazing- all day- every day.  Every little boy should have an Uncle FoCack I think.

Auntie Ruth and Uncle Andrew Morgan and their kids came from Atlanta too! We always enjoy seeing them, and I was wondering why I didn't have picture's of them- well it's because they're the photographers of the family and were always behind the camera.  But thanks to them we got some great family shots- as good as family shots with 5 kiddo's under 4 can get...

And speaking of kiddo's, the Caven's rounded out their family by adding precious little Henry (pictured with Asher and is the baby on the bottom row, second from right). He was only 4 days old when they arrived in Waterloo! It was so fun to spend time with him/them.  We were amazed at the difference just 6 weeks makes for tiny babies. 

But our baby has never been very tiny...

• 12.1.10-Little Buddy, when we went to the lactation consultant today (7 weeks, 3 days old) you weighed 13lbs 15.2 ounces! (nearly 14 pounds). She thought that was quite a bit to weigh for such a young man like yourself.  Mommy still needs to tame down the milk supply for you- before you completely ROLL off the charts.  While we were there, you smiled at a stranger for the first time.
• You are using your voice a lot now, especially in the morning, just about a coo-ing sound. So cute.

As much fun as it was to see everyone and have extra hands around, I must say- It's really good to be home again. I'm not sure why I find it slightly stressful still to get out and about and be around people much. Perhaps I'm not fully recovered yet.  Maybe it's leftover stress and anxiety from our past two years.  I haven't figured it out.  Poor Charlie has had to put up with me wanting to be at home most of the time. He's so gracious and patient, I know it's getting old for him. It is (I am) getting better though, slowly.  I want to get back to "my old self"- but I'm not sure I will ever be fully like my old self.  My life is now new, and different, and changed.  So I guess "new self" is better and for my good.  It's just taking some time to adjust and combine the two.

Hummm, wasn't planning on going there.  Oh well, you get what you get these days.

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!