Happy First Year, Asher!

Happy first birthday to my sweet, sweet boy. We were able to celebrate today by going to Asher's favorite, swimming class, in the the morning. We then had lunch with Papa at Cora's (ok so maybe I swayed that decision a bit) and supper with Nana, Grampa and Uncle Matthew. We also had some friends visit today, and all of that made for a super fun (and super tiring, first birthday)!

In celebration of this year, I thought I'd show you a picture a month for the first year of Asher's life. Here goes!

Birth

First few weeks, not quite at the one month mark yet


One month old

Two month's old

Three month's old

Four month's old

Five month's old

Six month's old

Seven month's old

Eight month's old

Nine month's old

Ten month's old

Eleven month's old

One year old!!!

It has been such a blessing to watch you grow and love you this year Asher. I will always love the baby you, but can't wait to see who you grow and develop into this year!

Another first

Asher received his first birthday card this week,

from the YMCA! How is it possible that my baby is going to be 1 years old in 2 days?

My belated Earth Day resolution

I've known for a while about how damaging the use of plastic bags are on our world. This slide show really opened my eyes to it about a year ago; you should check it out:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3482299/The-Dangers-of-Plastic-Bags

Our family has been using re-usable bags for our groceries for quite some time now. I rarely forget these, and actually like them a lot better than plastic. I have also on and off committed to bringing my re-usable bags shopping to other stores and the mall, but I haven't always remembered.

I also watched the Earth Day special on Oprah this week and it dawned on me that, although I've really reduced our use of plastic shopping bags, I still use the resealable plastic baggies for little things all the time. I just checked my fridge and cupboards, and I have about 7 on the go this very moment. I hadn't originally thought of this as part of the plastic bag problem until the Oprah show this week (see friends, Oprah can do good in my life!). I could easily use reusable containers or mason jars instead of the plastic bags I'm using, or at minimum, wash and re-use my plastic baggies, which I rarely do.

Then I also started thinking about my use of plastic wrap (i.e. saran wrap), and my use of the little plastic baggies at the grocery store that I put my fresh produce in. I'm not sure I've really thought of a solution to all of this yet, but I really want to be more diligent this year about using less and less plastic. Do any of you have helpful ideas on reducing the use of these items?

So here's my practical and belated Earth Day resolution:

- to put a re-usable bag in my purse to use when I'm out shopping at stores and the mall

- to try to have a plastic-free day in our life atleast once a week (maybe this will be easy, maybe hard; I'll let you know!)

- to use more re-usable containers instead of plastic baggies and saran wrap

- to be more and more diligent about the negative impact of how I live can effect the world


PS - I'm dying to see the new Earth movie that came out this Earth Day. I know I'm going to cry at the Polar Bears, I just know it! They have a special place in my heart. Has anyone seen it yet?

my observational senses have come back to life!

A few observational updates about what's been going on in our world:

~ I love many fruits, but some of them I cannot have for breakfast and some of them I only like to eat at breakfast. Grapes, those are NOT a breakfast fruit. Neither are watermelon, or apples really. Bananas though, they totally go with breakfast.

~ I hurt my knee a week ago during a practice run for my new Learn to Run clinic adventure. It sucked and I was in pain most of last week. I took the week off to rest my knee so it could heal and oddly enough, I've missed running! I saw my doctor yesterday and he thinks it was probably just a sprain. I'm going back for my first run tonight and I'm nervous that a) I will hurt my knee again or b) that I won't be able to keep up with the clinic program now that I've missed a week. This could be interesting.

~ Asher is totally encouraging the "boy-ness" in me, or what little there is atleast. Lately I've loved being outside with him blowing bubbles, playing on the swings and pushing him around in the wagon. We haven't reached the interest in bugs phase yet, and I'm not sure how I'll handle that, but all this outside-ness is growing on me. Baby steps.

~ It sucks when your baby has a fever. Asher is teething, I'm sure of it, and has had a moderate fever for just over a day now. Poor guy.

~ I'm actually really excited that in May I will be taking care of a little girl part-time in my home who is just 4 days older than Asher. So basically, it'll be like having twins for the month. I'm sure it will be a juggle to figure out how to manage both of them, and our first practice day is tomorrow, but I'm excited about the challenge! I'm hoping that this experience is not intended to prepare me for anything in the future (why on earth did I ever think I wanted twins?)

the past week in photo's

I just took the pictures off of our camera from the past week or so, and here's what you can tell we've been up to by checking them out:

Asher got a fun little basket of goodies for his first Easter from us (and he also got spoiled a whole lot more from the rest of the family!)

I've been working on planning Asher's first birthday party. How is it possible that this has come up already?

We've been hanging out outside a lot lately when the weather has been nice. Asher's enjoyed hanging out in our in-law's wagon (thankfully we live next door and get "custody" of it from time to time).

We also got a rare family shot (thanks Ange!)

From this photo you can tell, not only that my boys love each other, but also that Asher is teething due to the amount of drool collecting on his jacket.


Asher is getting good at walking with only holding on to one hand, but he also always has to put his other hand up by his ear when he does this.


Asher has really cute after-bath hair.

Now that Asher is mobile, he follows me everywhere in the house.

I got a new slider phone with a full qwerty (I love that word) keyboard and I love it. I am the new text messaging queen!

crawling, Asher style

A lot of people have been asking me lately how Asher is doing with crawling. I guess on my little hiatus, I forgot to tell you all about his bum scoot. A day or two after Asher started doing the army crawl, he started doing a version of this bum scoot. Over the weeks he has certainly perfected it, and uses it all the time (read: the kid does not sit still!). Although he has a little trouble on carpet, I think he is a lot more content to be able to get around on his own now. I'm glad he found his own way of "crawling", and I think it's super cute. Check it out!

Will the pictures make up for the fact that I've been a negligent blogger?

Hi friends! I haven't posted in a while, I know. We've had a lot going on! Here's why:

Asher and I travelled the 6.5 hour drive (it's more like 5 hours without a baby) to visit family a couple of weeks ago. Luckily my mom accompanied me, or I wouldn't have survived! Asher did not do so well in the car, not napping at all on the drive down (unless you count falling asleep 10 minutes before we arrive a nap). He had a difficult time settling in for the night and even woke up one night (something that hasn't happened in like 6 months, except for the one time he was sick). He did get to catch up with some pretty cool people though, check it out!

My dad (aka "Pops"):

His Great-Nanny M:

My cousin Erica (aka the world's best babysitter - if only she lived here!):

His Great-Nanny A:

His cousin Brody:

During said vacation Asher also tried chocolate cake for the first time (thanks to my Nanny who snuck him a bite when I wasn't looking), figured out how to get the circle block into his shape sorter, and got a wicked pair of DC sneakers (that are just a tad too big for him, but we're hoping to wear them soon anyways).

I promise more regular posts to come, I just had to get the "where the heck have you been?" one done first!