A couple of rough nights

Asher has had a few rough nights this week. On Wednesday we put him to bed after he was super fussy and totally not interested in eating dinner - which is really rare! He woke himself up and had gotten sick. Knowing it was probably going to be a rough night Heath had made a deal with me that he'd get up with him throughout the night if I would get up with him in the morning. So luckily Heath was the one who went upstairs and discovered the situation. This is definitely a case of God giving you what you can handle! Had I gone up there I probably would've passed out! Having been a mommy for over a year I'm OK with dirty diapers and food messes but The Throw Ups is a little more than I can handle.

Normally when Asher's ready to go in the morning he's happy and excited. Unfortunately, his rough nights have affected his mornings a little too. And to top it all off his two front teeth are finally coming in. The picture above is how I discovered him this morning. Someone is clearly not a very happy camper.

I felt the earth move under my feet

Last Tuesday Virginia had a 5.8 earthquake!This is definitely not a regular occurrence for the east coast so it took us all by surprise. Asher was at daycare, and apparently the only baby in the center not sleeping so he got to experience the earthquake first hand. He was just pacing around like they say he always does and when the earthquake started it knocked him right on his rear-end! Don't you just wonder what he was thinking!

Keeping us on our toes!

Every day more and more of Asher's personality is coming out - good and bad! It also seems like every day he's learning something new. Two recent developments clapping and peek-a-boo. Asher LOVES to play peek-a-boo by covering his eyes and waiting for someone to call his name. I'm pretty sure he could play it for hours. Asher has also figured out how to clap and know the difference between clapping and signing "more."

Myrtle Beach 2011

I have definitely gotten behind on my blog posting, once again! Last week we had a great vacation in Myrtle Beach with the Ewing family. Funny how times have changed! It had been two years since we last went but we had been going in May to enjoy bike week (at least Heath's dad enjoyed those festivities!) We'd spend the whole day on the beach and stay out late doing different activities and enjoying the local restaurants. This time the week seemed to be dictated more by nap and bedtime schedules and kid-friendly activities! But that's OK - times change and it was so much fun to see Asher experience the beach for the first time. Plus even more of the Ewing clan were able to come.

Asher discovered a lot during his week at the beach:
1.) He LOVES popcorn shrimp
2.) He can get his grandpa to chase him anywhere while walking on the beach
3.) He actually does not turn in to a pumpkin if up later than 8:30 p.m. - although he can get pretty grouchy!
4.) His cousin does just as good a superman as his daddy
5.)Sand just gives his goldfish a little extra crunch
6.) Cheering from the audience, dark rooms, and big horses may be fun for some but not for him!
7.) Grandma makes a mean goulash.
8.) Sunscreen is never fun to put on even if it means you're going to the beach
9.) Sand is fun no matter what - the fluffy kind, the wet kind, the kind you eat, the kind that runs through your toes in the ocean - well, maybe not the kind you find in your diaper
10.) Outlet malls are not nearly as exciting as mom says they are - even when it's shopping for him. Especially when it's shoe shopping for him.

Our Daredevil?

Super Man!

One of Asher's favorite things to do is play superman! He wraps his legs around your waist and sticks his arms out and just giggles and giggles.

Gettin' Around!

Now that Asher is pretty mobile and walking everywhere he has definitely taken over the house! He loves to get in all the cabinets and pull everything out. He can't get enough climbing up the stairs and he even enjoys taking over Peyton's home!

Milestones

Asher now weighs 25 1/2 lbs and is 31 1/4 inches long! In the 90th percentile for height and 75th for weight. Hard to believe a year ago he was just under 7 lbs. Aside from his tearducts he has been perfect and hit every milestone right on target. On his birthday he was able to take 4 or 5 steps at a time, just a week later he's probably up to 12-15 and can walk halfway across the room - if there is something exciting enough to walk toward! Asher may or may not have said his first word depending on who you ask! He may not have it perfectly but he's definitely working on "dog," "ball," "no," "dada," and "uh-oh." For awhile I really wasn't sure I'd see the day when Asher slept through the night be he's actually been doing it for probably about six weeks now. He typically takes a morning nap and afternoon nap and sleeps from 7:30 p.m. - 6:30 a.m.

Park, playground and presents

Asher's 2nd first birthday party was in Lynchburg. Heath and I felt like it was really meant to be more of a celebration of our survival of Asher's first year! With so many of our friends having babies just a little older than Asher it's been wonderful to rely on them for support and advice.
While it was over 90 degrees and all of the cupcakes and cookies melted, I think a good time was had by all. If you can measure the success of the party by the mess that was made it was very successful. Only time will tell if the sidewalk chalk, dirt from crawling around the cement, cupcake icing, watermelon, and mud from the water balloons will come out of Asher's birthday outfit.

Leaving on a jet plane

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to get any easier leaving our family in Indiana. However, this time I think Asher and I were so distracted with his first plane ride it at least gave us something else to think about.

Checking in and going through security went great. But then we got delayed in Indy, which messed up our connection. We did end up spending the majority of the day in airports but Asher was a champ. His favorite parts were definitely the moving walkways (we probably did that about 20 times will in Indy) and taxi-ing in the airplane. And I can certainly say our investment in a portable DVD player was worth it.

After our long trip I think Asher was excited to see his daddy, especially because he was holding balloons for him and I was pretty happy to come home to flowers and a home-cooked meal!

Birthday Boy

Asher didn't just celebrate his birthday on July 3rd. He instead had a three week birthday season starting with a pool party at his grandparents house, a plane ride home on his birthday and a cookout at the park with all of his Lynchburg buddies.

Asher loved getting to go swimming with his grandpas in Shelbyville. Heath and I have tried to take him to the pool regularly and really want him to enjoy being in the water. So far he seems to love it.

He also really enjoyed the cake his NeeNee made for him and really went to town on it. Thank goodness he ate it outside. He got everywhere included in the cracks of his tennis shoes! And I don't think he could appreciate all the effort his grandma Jane went to make his party beautiful his parents certainly could!

First Father's Day

Asher gave his dad matching red polo shirts for his first father's day. Heath also recieved a shadow puppet book and DVD. I got him a baby-sitter - so we can celebrate a little time away from Asher!

Cousins!

Growing up I didn't have any cousins, so I feel especially thankful that Asher has seven awesome cousins from 16years old to 3weeks to get enjoy hanging out with. I'm sure as he gets older he'll get into lots of trouble with them.

Happy Birthday - early!

Asher enjoyed spending his friend Olivia's second birthday at a pool party. I think his favorite party of the party was the . . . watermelon!!

I love you daddy. Happy Father's Day!!