Santa!

Asher got to meet Santa this morning during his daycare's Breakfast with Santa! They've tried to make the whole week fun for the kiddos and yesterday was jammies day. Asher wasn't quite sure what to think of Santa but didn't seem to mind sitting on his lap and while he can't talk yet her certainly looked like he knew he was suppose to tell him what he wanted for Christmas!

Rice Cereal and Oatmeal . . . Yummmy!

At Asher's 4 month appointment the doctor said it would be alright to let Asher starting trying some solid foods, but then he had his first ear infection and we were off to Indiana for Thanksgiving. So finally, at closer to five months old, Asher got the chance to try out a spoon! He started with just a teaspoon of rice cereal and loved it! Of course it made a pretty big mess but he is really getting the hang of it now and we see butternut squash in his future soon (Heath and I are just glad he's the one eating it and not us, yuck!).

Getting Ready for Christmas!

Since we've been back in VA from our whirlwind trip to Indiana for Thanksgiving we've been hard at work getting ready for Christmas. We spent an entire day baking goodies for the neighbors, we went to Mistletoe Market and had our picture taken with The Grinch and we've spent lots of time shopping and wrapping presents!

Buddies

Asher met his cousin Sam when he was only 5weeks old but at 5 months Asher realized just how good of buddies he and his cousin are going to be. They had a great time sharing toys, decorating Christmas cookies and listening to stories together! Boy, they sure are going to get in to a lot of trouble together when they get older!

Blessed

While in Indiana, Asher also got baptized at St. John's in Tipton. It was a great opportunity to have family and friends be a part of this special occasion. Then NeeNee and Papaw hosted an open house so they could do a little more showing off!

1st Thanksgiving

It's been a BUSY few weeks! Asher had his first long car trip and did great. Of course we left at 2:00 a.m. so he spent the majority of the trip sleeping. We had a fun-filled holiday weekend getting to see lots of family and eat lots of great food. Asher got to meet more of cousins and his uncle and lots of extended family from IL.

Grape flavoring

Last weekend Asher made his first trip to the doctor for something other than a wellness visit. It took 19 weeks but Asher got his first ear infection. He was quite a trooper about it though! We picked the poor little guy up for daycare on Wednesday and it actually sounded like he'd lost his voice. After just learning how to squeal the weekend before we really just thought he'd been talking too much. But his lost voice turned in to congestion which turned in to an ear infection - which eventually turned in to his first taste of something other than milk - grape flavored medicine! He actually doesn't seem to mind the taste too much. It's the getting him to swallow it that's been a bit of a challenge! And by Monday he was back to his noisy self!

Asher is now finally beginning to enjoy his baths. So we've started introducing some bath toys. It turns out Asher's favorite animal just might be an octopus? "Oliver" the Octopus has been his best friend since he was only a week or two old and he was was mesmerized looking up at him on his play mat. Now they play together all the time as Asher reaches for him and shakes him. During bath time Asher has a bag full of ocean animals to play with and we thought he might go for his cousin's favorite "crabby" and "snappy" but looks like Oliver the Octopus bath toy wins out again!

Not quite six months!

Asher went for his 4 month check up on Friday and he weighed 15 lbs 10 oz and was 26 inches long. The nurse told us he was in the 25% of weight and head circumference and 50% on height. Feeling a little disappointed because he'd been measuring higher than that at his previous doctor's appointments the doctor came in and started telling us how well he was doing and growing. He's grown 3 lbs since his two month appointment and grew 2 inches! Turns out the nurse had measured his on the 6 month chart instead of the 4 month chart! Our little guy is actually measuring in the 75% on weight and 90% on height. He's acting like a little six month old sometimes though! Above he's sitting in his bouncy, but he hates putting his head back and always has to lift it up - looks like he's going to have some great stomach muscles doing all those crunches!

"Stand Up Please"

A few weeks ago Asher's cousin, Sam, came for a visit. During the visit, Sam very politely asked Asher to "Stand Up Please" while Asher was hanging out in his bouncy seat. At six weeks old, unfortunately, Asher was just a little too young and couldn't fulfill the command. But . . . who would've guessed Sam knew exactly what he was talking about and just needed to give Asher a few more weeks! Now, Asher LOVES to stand up and will pretty much push off against anything!

He loves pushing his feet into your legs, the couch or even your arm while you're standing up if he has to! He is definitely building up those leg muscles. He's also working on his next muscles and now is no longer content just relaxing riding in his car seat- he always wants to be able to see what is going on. Even if that means raising his head up and keeping it up.

Mr. Bones standing up!
Standing up talking to daddy!
Standing up even when there is nothing to stand on!

Christmas in October

Christmas came early in the Ewing household this year. With NeeNee and Papaw in town Asher got his Christmas present a few months in advance. Asher got an activity center to grow in to over the next few months, and already mesmerized by the iguana.

I think the present already gave Heath a taste of what his Christmases as a dad are going to be like! Hours and hours putting hundreds and hundreds of pieces of presents together - one piece at a time (thank goodness this time he had PaPaw to help!)

Belaying, Birthday and BBQ!

Asher celebrated being 16 weeks old with is Grandma, Papa and cousin Maddie visit! Maddie was nice enough to spend her birthday making the nine hour trek down to central VA. We enjoyed a great week and tried several new things from indoor rock climbing to skiing on fake snow to a hibachi grill with everything on it from sweet and sour chicken and pizza! Above Asher is just hanging out with his visitors after enjoying some chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.

You might get different stories from Maddie and Heath about who was the better rock climber! Although I'm sure everyone would agree Papa worked the hardest "belaying" and making sure everyone stayed safe!

During the weekend Asher got his Halloween pictures taken in his puppy costume. And Heath and Maddie enjoyed several late nights (probably from all the sugar in the candy bouquet) while Asher and mommy hit the hay early! Asher LOVED playing with his cousin! Can't wait to see you for Thanksgiving!

. . . "thank you for being a friend"

This weekend my college roomie, Julie, came and visited us! Julie and I met our first week at Franklin College 12 years ago! We've celebrated marriages, promotions, buying houses and now it was great to get to introduce her to Asher (at 15 weeks old!). Unfortunately, Julie seemed to be a pretty good target for Asher's "leaking" but she was a really good sport about it!

We enjoyed a great weekend with some pretty good weather and went to multiple wineries, an apple festival and to the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We even got to see Heath get dunked (not by me, although I tried) at Kid's Day with the Emergency Department.

We ended the weekend with a toast and a great dinner!

My Little Pumpkin

While the day turned out to feel more like a summer day than a fall one we still enjoyed a day at the pumpkin patch and apple orchard (Asher's 14 week birthday). Asher enjoyed looking at all of the pumpkins and I think it's clear that he found the perfect one for himself. He did decide to let daddy carry it out for him though!

Asher wasn't exactly much help in picking apples - we forgot the carrier and mommy had to carry him the whole time, and then he fell asleep half way through. He did enjoy sampling the fruits of daddy's labor though!

Nature vs. Nurture

I'm not 100% sure but I think in this picture Asher is sucking his index finger and fell asleep. He's not too picky and likes sticking all his fingers in his both and would get his entire hand in there if he could. He's also quite content to have a pacifier in his mouth too. But if he's anything like his mom he may decide that his index finger is his favorite! After all, he already has crooked pinky fingers.

13 weeks

Asher at 13 weeks! He's not rolling over yet but definitely on his way! He did try out is Bumbo seat for the first time this weekend and definitely enjoyed sitting up on his own - if only for a couple of minutes.