4 month Asher

"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him." 1 Samuel 1:27

Four Month Stats: (at your well check on 2.7.11)
You Weigh 18lbs 12 oz (97%+)
You're 26 3/8" tall (90-97%)
And your head in 17 1/4" around (75-90%)
You've been in size 3 diapers not for about 3-4 weeks!

Baby boy (who's getting to be not so baby-like), we are completely in love with you. You're adorable, well-natured and fun to be around. You're such a gift to us! When we hold you and pray we thank Jesus for giving you to us, we pray that you will love Jesus with your whole heart Little Love. You bring so much joy and change to our home.

Mommy calls you: Tiny Muffin, Sugar Muffin, Little Lover, Sweetness and Happiness, Tiny Friend
Daddy calls you: Baby Bluvo, which has turned into "Shmaby Shmuvo" which turned into "Shmuvs or Shmuvo", Friend, Captain Cute (and I think one more smile- you'll be promoted to "colonel cute").
You often hear: Mommy loves you or Daddy loves you. Patty cake. My God is so BIG. Mousey's gonna get you. ABC's. Day By Day.  "Uhg or Uf-da"-as we pick you up (you're SUCH a chubber-bubbers!)
Noises you make: You have found your voice, and you make "brrrrrrr-ing, gooooo-ing, and ehhhhhh-ing" sounds ALL day long. You squeal. You giggle a little; I wouldn't call it all out laughing yet. You can cry like nobody's business (but you don't do it often). Once in a while you are also making more of a very loud, angry-ish cry. Not sure what that's all about.

You Can: Sit when propped up in your bumbo or with pillows for long periods of time (15-25 minutes). You also like to be pulled into a sitting position from your back, you think you're big stuff. Play with your hands and fingers. Study the room and people and things around you. You try to grasp toys, if we put them in your hand you hold them and chew on them. You grab and most of the time grasp the toys above you on the bouncer. You love to stand (with lots of help). You chew and chew and suck on your fingers (mostly the pointer and middle two on your left hand, pictured above).

Tid-bits:
The day before you turned 4 months and the week after you've been sleeping extra; it must be another growth spurt. (and had cranky spells and wanted to eat more).

We went to your 4 month well-check a few days early. We arrived, got checked in, and while waiting you had a monumental blowout. When mommy picked you up to change you it was all over you, your clothes, your car seat, and came dripping out your pants onto mommy's pants!  WOW- thanks for that lovely experience. The nurse called us into a room and we both worked on getting you and everything else cleaned and under control!  The rest of the appointment went well.  You even smiled at Dr. Miller.

One virus strain down- millions to go. You had the croup this past month, followed by a yucky cold.

Feb. 5, You went to church with mommy and daddy for the first time, you were amused by the singing, and people around you.

You stayed with a babysitter twice this past month and did great!
You give your smiles and coo-ings freely and frequently.
You also have more distinct solemn times- nothing will crack that gorgeous grin.
You received lots of fun Valentine's in the mail, you have many admirer's.

Feb. 19, 2011 you will be dedicated at Bethlehem Baptist Church, during Saturday night service. This is what we will be praying/promising: Asher together with your parents who love you dearly and this people who care about the outcome of your faith, I dedicate you to God, surrendering together  them all worldly claim upon your life in hope that you will belong wholly to Jesus Christ, forever.

whirling and swirling

I've had lots on my mind lately
I have a bunch of posts started and not finished
I keep dreaming about real life things- putting outfits together, lists, wording for new posts, new room arrangements, etc-weird (and I always forge exactly how it goes when I wake)
I'm not sure what, how or if to communicate these whirling thoughts
My mind is slightly fuzzy from a week of yucky sick nights with my little Asher-man (I wouldn't trade the moments though)
I desperately need to go for a run to clear my head
Found out that although 3/4ths of my clothes fit once again-I still have no dress clothes that do -I tried them all on last night -depressing

I'll get it all sorted in (and out of) my head soon- I always feel better when i type or write it out, so it must be done.

Stand by

I'm going to take a nap

Asher highlights (weeks 14 & 15)

Week 14

Week 14

Week 14

Highlights from your 14th week of life (1.16. - 1.22.11)

• Wednesday (19th) we went to Bible study at Bethlehem and you went to the nursery for the first time.  They didn't even call me out!  Good work little man.
• Saturday (22nd) you stay with your first babysitter! Lauren Ellringer came to our house to play with you while we went to daddy's work party/supper. We had a nice time and Lauren said you were good (except the major blow-out, causing two baths in one night! -that's ok though, you like bath time). I think leaving you was MUCH harder on mommy than it was on you. I was actually rather nervous both Wed. and Sat. but both times went well.  This is good practice for us both.  I'm glad you like to be with different people. (Grammy and Aunties had watched you a couple of hours when they were up to visit a few months ago, but they are family).

Highlights from your 15th week of life (1.23. - 1.29.11)

• On Sunday the 23rd we were playing with you on the couch making silly faces (grumpy face, happy face, surprise face). Well you decided you really like the "surprise face" and when we did it- raising our eyebrows and making our mouth into a big O- you tried it out several times (not the eyebrow part yet, just the mouth). It was SO CUTE! And you've done it a few times since then too.  
• Monday we went to a the Wells house to visit and you loved watching and listening to the kids play and listen to them make noise. Sometimes you tried to join in. You seem fascinated by new places.
• At Bible study this Wednesday you didn't quite make it the whole time, but when I brought you up you were quiet enough for mommy to finish listening.
• Tummy time has improved a little.  We put colorful books and a couple toys out in front of you and it seems to work like an incentive for you to keep your head up. You are more entertained having them there, and you study each object closely. You love looking at your Freight Train book and eating your rings.
• We've been spending time iChatting with Grammy and Aunties and Landon, all at the same time some days. Grammy talks to you guys and reads you stories, and you love looking at them, it's better than TV! 



Week 15

• Thursday the 27th you woke up with a stuffy/clear runny nose and a small cough, later got diarrhea and very acidy vomit. :-(  This made mommy and daddy feel so bad for you.  We cuddled you and gave you baths and snuggles.  And then Friday you woke up with your first fever (low-grade, 100.0).  Since your nose is super stuffy/runny and you can't blow it mommy ordered a "Nosefrida The Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator" hopefully it will come soon so we can hep you out a little. 
• Friday and Saturday you came down with a super yucky croup. Mommy took you to the Dr Friday after you woke with a seal-like cough from your morning nap. You were having lots of trouble breathing. The Dr. thought the worst of it should be over soon... We spent most of Friday and all that night in the steamy bathroom and then bundled up out into the cold (to help the inner throat swelling go down). You were miserable Baby Bluvo. Your crying made it worse so when you cried, it got pretty scary for mommy and daddy. We felt terrible for you and wanted to take the hurt away. Daddy felt especially tender towards your pain. He loved up on you while holding you in the steam and cold night air. We came very close to going to the ER that night. You finally slept a couple hours on mommies chest. We ended up going back to the Dr. Sat. morning, and she gave you a steroid shot that helped tame everything down within 4-5 hours, so by the time evening rolled around the croup had dissipated and turned into a really yucky cold/cough. Phew. The worst was over.  

manda's favorite things -kitchen list

I'm not too much a of a "kitcheny" person. So if I really like something from that room- that's saying something. Cooking and baking are not my forte; but I've mastered the art of consumption. These are the products I find myself using everyday. (along with my dishwasher, obviously).

Bodum French Coffee Press

OXO Grip Plastic Bowls

Nonstick 12-Inch Open Skillet

Food thermometer digital

Aroma water kettle

13 weeks down 14 and counting

Highlights from your week 12th of life (1.2.11 - 1.8.11)

• Asher, you've definitely found your voice. The sound and volume that comes from your little body and mouth is rather remarkable when you are complaining or angry. (Which honestly is not that often, you're a good boy). And yes, there's noticeable difference in your crying between complaining and madness. It's also a big production when you are going potty; the grunting and arm pumping makes us laugh. 
• Chewing and sucking on fist like crazy.
• You and mommy are on different pages sometimes when it comes to changing your diaper. One day we were on different planet: you went potty-so much that it was all over your PJ's, I start to change you, I grab a wipe, you pee on me, I get the dirty diaper off and your go again on your table, I get the diaper on, and guess what you did? go potty. It went on like this for most of the day. Phew.
• Your super excited giggle is something like and inverted laugh, you suck air in and use your voice at the same time, several (inward) gasps in a row. :-)
• You've noticed the toys hanging from your bouncer.
• You LOVE being in the Maya sling. And often will fall asleep in it.
• You discovered your tongue.  You twist it, chew it, and stick it out. You have also started to drool more.

What we've learned about you so far:

• You aren't shy. You smile and coo at strangers. When we were shopping at Target an (mommy) employee stopped to talk and coo at you and you just smiled and cooed right back. 
• You laugh to "happy" classical music. - unprompted. (mommy lays you on the living room floor and you look out the window and at our Christmas tree -yes it's still up, oops- and you just coo and squeal and "giggle")
• You like the mornings, and are quite happy.  You sometimes just lay in your bed and talk and squeak contentedly while waiting for mommy to come get you. You don't even demand to be fed right away, you easily wait 20-30 minutes before making sure we know you're hungry.

Here are some pictures from this week:

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Highlights from your 13th week of life (1.9.11 - 1.15.11)

• Several times you've grabbed the little blankie/burp cloth we lay on top of your feet with both hands and bring it to your mouth. Your hands are actually making rather coordinated movements. All of your movements are more deliberate than they used to be, from kicking, to batting, to sucking.
• You enjoy hitting the toys hanging in front of you in your bouncer. And then carefully study them.
• Your head is very steady now when you're upright.
• You found your hands, they are often clasped together or you're rubbing fists and fingers together. You like to hold them just below your chin. They are often in your mouth. Mmmmm, yum, yum! (apparently). 
• You like to watch things that move, mobiles, people, TV, etc. We find it incredible that no matter what position we put you in you soon find a way to get the TV into your line of sight.  And (this is bad) when you were crying one time, Mommy couldn't get you to stop, so turned the TV on and what do you think happened?...  You stopped, right away.  (Mommy is rolling her eyes right now).  
• 
• For about 3 days early this week you had quite the fussy spell. I mean it was all out screaming (once to the point of losing your poor little voice!), it made mommy and daddy feel baffled, and sad. But you've gotten better- except you remember that when you do cry that you have found this "nice" loud voice of yours, and use it.

• Sometimes when you smile when we're talking to you you get so happy and excited that you put your head down (kinda like you're being shy) and then look back up at us with your little eyes sparkling and a big toothless grin. -We melt.
• During tummy time I laid you one direction and about 10 minutes later you had scooted your little tiny self all the way around to the opposite direction. Oh dear, mommy hopes this doesn't mean you'll be an early crawler! (In the picture below, I started you straight up and down-head towards camera and you turned yourself the other direction, head away from camera).
• 
• The past two weeks it's been harder to catch your smiles on camera- it's like you know we're trying to take a picture or something and stop smiling and just stare. (or it could be that the camera is bright orange...and you're fascinated by it). 
• You basically asked to be put to bed earlier this week. So we've moved your bedtime to about 8:30 or 8:45pm and you sleep soundly until anywhere between 7:30-9am.  And you take two solid naps during the day too! 
• This week you turned 3 months old. (mommy will post your three month pictures soon).
• You sat completely amused and awe-struck for like 20+ minutes while daddy played the guitar and sang.  And when he started to play Dave Matthews songs you got all excited and laughed. (When you were inside whenever you heard DMB songs you would ALWAYS start kicking and fluttering around).  So crazy. You must really like the beat or his songs or something. He also gave you your first guitar leasson, going through the strings and different chords.  You were taking it all in. Sometimes it's like we can see the little gears in your brain turning at full speed!

Wow... on Sunday (1.16.11) you'll be a WHOLE 14 weeks buddy! Man we love you SO much, it's truly indescribable Baby Bluvo.

manda's favorite things -baby list

Manda's Favorite Things

(New Baby/Mommy List)

I just thought I'd post a list of my favorite things that get nearly daily (some multiple times daily) use.  Some I've found the hard way, trial and error, or highly recommended from friends. 

• Dermaplast, and epsom salt - These two things were a life saver in my healing/recovery process.  My Dr. said the dermaplast was not widely known among OB's and told me to use it. Can we just say "Ahhhhh, relief!" 
• Mary kay under eye brightener, those first couple of weeks the suitcases and black circles under my eyes were quite the sight.  So this handy little product and lots of sleep are my secret weapon. And LOTS of water!
• Woombie- Asher LOVES his. I like it because he's never gotten out (like he would in multiple different swaddlers).  It's also made of t-shirt material with a zipper, this allows his body to breath and his arms to wiggle just a little into a comfy position. (not so much like a medical straight jacket or something!)
• Fold and go bouncer - I like this because it's colors go with our house more, could be used for boy or girl, it's vibration is quiet, and the best part- it folds up for storage or travel. I'm not into baby clutter all over.
• Burp cloths by dana- These burp cloths are the most absorbent of all that I've tried. And the best part, they're made with love by my friend, Dana.  
• Target nursing bra's- I know this says it's for sleeping, but i where these all the time comfy and easy one hand snaps. And also I finally broke down and bought a glamour mom tank- SO worth it. I wear it as many days in a row as I can get away with. (It's a bra/tank, it keeps your tummy covered during feedings). I should really buy another.
• Belly Band- you can wear this during pregnancy to keep your tummy covered and after I love how it keeps my tummy sucked in a little bit, and provides tummy coverage when I'm not wearing my GM tank, I can lift my shirt and still stay covered.  Handy. Warm. 
• Mam Paci's
• Gap Baby Socks (or old navy)- They actually STAY ON.
• Maya Wrap & Ergo Sport carrier. Asher loves these. I have reasons for liking the maya best with babies under 6-7 months. It's easy, provides perfect support, and is small. The ergo (VERY COMFORTABLE) works too, but will be even better when he's a little bigger.
• Peg Perego Si Stroller. I really like this stroller. it's light, easy, tall, sturdy, well-made, and it fits with chicco car seats. Fabulous.
• Oh and the Boppy- I use it multiple times per day.

• Asher and I love to have this radio station playing all day long. "Classical Minnesota Public Radio". It's just relaxing, and I think I've read somewhere classical music help baby brain development.  I just found iTunes Radio (never used it before), this station is in the classical section under that title. It streams live all day from my Mac. (I don't think we even own a single radio anymore)! But I always have them on in my car (that or Citie's 97)

What are your favorites? Please tell me!

it came out of the closet

I'll hide nothing from you, and spare no dignity. My room was a bona fide disaster area on Monday morning. (See mom, my house isn't always perfect)! My closet was a wreck from three months of neglect, trying on clothes (to find they didn't fit yet -post baby), thrown onto the floor until I found one article that would.  In recent days, to my pleasure, more and more pieces actually did fit so I decided it was time to do another (3-4x's per year) closet clean out. 

I had to work at it all day, when Asher was napping.

My sisters love it when I do this. They usually get to go home with a bag of new to them clothes. And it makes me feel less guilty for throwing out things I don't wear. I have a peculiar way of cleaning- it gets worse before it gets better.  When organizing, I start fresh. 

I pull everything out onto a pile on my bed. (start with bare shelves, etc) -I should've taken a picture of that, it was quite the sight.

As I pick up each piece I evaluate when was the last time I wore it, does it fit perfectly, can I re-purpose/sew it into something I will wear, do I love it, does Charlie find it sexy? (I strive to keep only clothes, etc I will really wear, and feel good about wearing; but must admit I also kept a couple that aren't Charlie's favorites). I tried on the (many) fashion/fit-questionable pieces on to evaluate. 

PART WITH WHAT YOU DON'T LOVE!!! (I've never looked back -but if I do, i just have to raid Cally's closet, LOL!)

I put all the short sleeve (long sleeve, 3/4, tank, etc) T's each in their own pile, by color (usually- I didn't get to that this time, maybe today).

I also like to make sure all the clothes are hanging in the same direction, by type, color, etc.

I store one box of really off season stuff (summer- shorts, and only summer type things, and winter- sweaters and really heavy chunky items). This frees up some space.

As you may have seen on facebook, I loath shoe shopping (how ungirly of me, huh?). It's not so much i hate the fashions, or looking cute when i have them- it's finding cute/comfortable one's in a size 10, that don't look like a granny and aren't like $100+.  (see my embarrassing (mostly) target collection below):

---ENTER, my virtual trip to DSW, they even had free shipping, and the store is close in case I must return any. I had fun yesterday trying to shop for my kind of (NEEDED) shoes online.  We'll see how that went when the packages arrive. (*fingers crossed*)

This is close to the finished product.

I'm a much happier girl when I know everything in my closet is as it should be, tidy, organized, and "gone through".  It always helps me to think clearer and free-er and feel better if my closets (and drawers, and cupboards, and papers, and storage room-etc) are sorted and organized. Life is too short to clutter and weigh it down with unneeded stuff to trap and suffocate me.

Ahhhhhh.

I really do enjoy sorting, cleaning and organizing. -honestly.  My neighbors always tells me I should start a business. -My mom might feel differently- one time when she let me clean/sort out her basement we ended up with an entire 3/4 garage that went to good will, etc. I may even sort to a fault (shhhhh!).  ;-)

Now, onto Asher's room. It has MAJOR issues. 

(most of which stem from not having the proper furniture and storage, etc)

I never made a 'nursery' or prepared a cute little room for him. (multiple reasons)- and he hasn't noticed so far, but he will, and I DO. We'll just say this is the "before" picture. One day I hope for him to have a cute, and special learning and sleeping and playing environment to live in...

obviously a few things must happen first.