The Velveeta Box

I got one of the best presents ever last night.

From my best sister. Well, she's my only sister. But I bet if I had more than one, she'd still be the best.

This is what was wrapped up, under the tree, just for me!

You're probably wondering why a loaf of processed "cheese" product is one of the best Christmas presents ever. Actually, there wasn't even a loaf of Velveeta IN the box, so perhaps some of you would think I got stiffed. But no.

Our family, especially dad, is big into recycling. Here in Iowa, beverage cans and bottles are recyclable, and each comes with a 5 cent refund if you turn them in. For people like my dad, he just cannot contain himself. He doesn't see cans on the side of the road, he sees nickles! When I was about 8 or 9 years old, they began construction on new houses just behind our house, and so every night we'd take a walk with a bag and pick up the nickel cans and turn them in for cash. We took our first trip to Disney World on the funds we raised from picking up pop bottles & cans!

Sometimes it would get embarassing. As in, when my dad would actually pull the car over & make Jake, who was "new" to the family, jump out and pick up a bottle laying on the side of the road. But seriously, my dad just cannot pass that sort of thing up. He used to ride his bike and pick up more, and my mom takes a bag when she jogs or walks the dog. But, it's mostly just become a way of life. Those cans and bottles look like nickels now, and knowing that they add up quickly, it's easy to just reach down & pick it up.

In high school, my dad made donations to Show Choir kids' funds, so that they could be a part of the program and take the trips, too, and he's also funded numerous trips to the National Catholic Youth Conference as well. This past summer, some of the money went to my mom & sister making a pilgrimage to Medjugorjie. He puts a lot of work into his "labor of love" and I'm sure if he ever retires, he'll become a full-time recycler.

When the cans and bottles get turned in, the store gives you cash. That money usually goes toward whatever the next trip or project is at my parents' house, and for whatever reason, it's stored in a Velveeta box.

So this year, when I opened up my very own Velveeta box, I was touched. Inside there was no processed cheese product, but a starter kitty from my dear sister.

And I know JUST what we're going to save our pennies and nickels for....a new baby brother or sister for Asher! Thanks, Sissy!

Notice anything strange here?

If you answered, there's a large pink pig in the middle of the nativity, you would be incorrect.

The correct answer is: the drummer boy is missing.

Good Little Catholic Boy

Since Asher was just two weeks old, we began taking him to Mass. Often people comment on his good behavior when we attend weddings at different churches, but he's used to being a good boy in church, so we nod and say "mmmm hmmm!" as if to say "of course!"

At 22 months now, he will say "Father, Son, AMEN!" and do the sign of the cross. One of these days, I'm sure he'll recognize the importance of the Holy Spirit, too...for instance, whom I credit to him running headlong into tables only 1 out of 10 times. If only he wouldn't "feel the spirit" to do the sign of the cross when his fingers are covered in applesauce or yogurt!

He enjoys holding hands and praying before we eat, and he participates in the sign of peace during Mass by saying "Peace, mommy," "Peace, daddy," "Peace, grandma..."

There is a picture collage of our church in our office, made up of hundreds of smaller photos of the parishioners who are in the last church photo directory. Oftentimes adults will come into our office and not be able to recognize what the picture is of, or they are very intrigued by how the photo collage was made. One day Asher was in the office and looking at the picture, he pointed out to my colleague, "Church!" She was stunned that he could recognize our beautiful church!

When the priest was walking up the aisle one day on his way to the back of the church to begin Mass, I asked Asher "Who is that?" and he replied, "Father!"

He also recently began participating in the children's offertory of Time, Talent & Treasure as his gift to God. We will out his envelope weekly with "good deeds" such as "Helped pick up my toys" or "Was a good listener for Nana & Pop." He gets let out of the pew to approach the priest when he invites the children up to the altar, but I just can't get over it when every time he drops his envelope in the basket, he looks up at the priest, claps his hands & says "Yeah!" so proud of himself!

As we approach our church, Asher knows where we are, and he will say "Hi, Jesus!" And now that Christmas is approaching, he enjoys looking at and playing with our nativity scene. He especially loves the little drummer boy! He can point out Baby Jesus, and now identifies Mary & Joseph by name, too. However, since he can say Joseph, we tried to explain to him that his name is Asher Joseph Leo. Only problem is....now he identifies, "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Leo!"

Hindsight.

Tonight I left my house around 5:30....with the mere intention of picking up a $5 Little Caesar's pizza.

I wish I had done more.

I picked up the pizza, and remembered we needed milk, so I stopped off at the Walgreens on the corner. As I was paying for the milk, a young woman came inside, visibly upset. Soon following her was a...loser....who was screaming at her. She mentioned loud enough for others to hear that the cops had been called. She was frightened, and was loudly telling him to get away from her and to leave her alone. Some patrons and employees sort of made a "circle" around the woman and after he yelled and cursed at her some more, he did leave the store...only bothering to say he was going to "kick in her window."

She asked if we, the folks standing near her, would come outside to be witnesses for her, so that when he did kick in her window, we could all say that we had seen him do it.

Dear God...

I walked outside and I stood at her side while this...loser...kicked at her window four times.

By now a crowd has gathered...she is nervous and shaking. Others begin to ask "What's going on? Did someone call the police?" I am sure her shame and embarassment are growing. I urge her to stay....I ask her if he has any weapons on him. Another woman asks if she has someone safe and that she trusts to talk to when she gets home. She says she just wants to get to her car...but it's in the middle of the parking lot.

The...loser...has since walked out of our sight, but she is still afraid to walk to her vehicle no more than 100 yards away.

A kind man offers to walk her there when he is done making his purchases. I tell her the police will be on their way. I stand there with her for minutes...talking and trying to help her stay calm and rational. I imagine that she just wants to get away at this point, because the police are not responding as quickly as she'd like and this has now "made a scene."

Soon the kind man is ready to walk her to her vehicle. And she walks away with him.

* * *

We just had a woman speak to our bible study group about her domestic violence shelter for women and children. I wrote her a $50 check for her cause.

And yet, out of all the things I could have said and done tonight, why didn't I just tell this woman "You're worth it"?

Team Stroller Strides: Marathon (Relay) Mamas!

Well....we survived!

Sorry to leave you all hanging with the results...it's been crazy around here...teething 20 month old, husband going to drill, working full time, yadda yadda...

So, here it is! The Stroller Strides Marathon Relay Mamas DID IT! Our 26.2 was done in 4 hours and 43 minutes. Not bad for a couple novices and a few who knew what they were doing!


This is Heather, Julaine & I of Team Stroller Strides. Heather had just finished 7.3 miles and it was about 8:20 AM. And, did I mention, she was running with a "Baby on board?"! Doesn't she look so gorgeous & perky for having just done that?! Julaine hopped all around, since she was the 5th leg, to cheer on not only our team, but her husband who did his first full marathon! My mom & sister created the signs (such as this) that they held to support us along the way! (By the way, that's my sister in the background on "Asher duty!")


Here I am...leg 4 of the relay...coming off the bridge. This course is so beautiful and this is one of 3 bridges that the marathoners run on (or off in this case!) This was the first time my "cheering squad" had seen me running! While on the island, I passed a man, probably in his upper 60's, whose shirt said "Completed a marathon in each of the 50 states, including D.C." I told him, "What an accomplishment!" and he thanked me...to which I pointed at my shirt that said "Rookie" & told him, "This is my first race!" He replied with, "Way to go!"


Here's me & my main man....I couldn't have done it without his help & encouragement. He got me through many of my training runs, and he got me through about 2 miles that day! Love you, baby...couldn't have done it without you!


As we were running out to make the final hand-off to my teammate, we saw Sara, my training rock, who was the one who invited and inspired me to join the relay team in the first place! She was amazing and she qualified for the Boston Marathon in this race! Isn't she beautiful?! GOOOOOO, Sara!



Here's our team, sprinting toward the finish line together....it was an awesome ending to a very exciting day!

And here are the happy Mamas post-race...flashing our smiles and our Team Stroller Strides t-shirts, which delightfully matched our medals!


Abbie, me, Susan, Heather & Julaine
Way to go, beautiful, fabulous Moms!
(Photos courtesy of the talented Abbie from Team SS and her husband Conrad, also a relay-er!)

Happy Almostiversary

Today I wished my husband a "Happy Almostiversary."

5 years ago today we would have been married. 9.25.04 was our original wedding date. But today we've been married for 5 years and almost 8 months.

We chose the 25th as our special day for somewhat sentimental reasons. As kids, we began dating on November 25, 1997, less than a week from when we first met each other. So, the 25th seemed like a perfect date for us. Furthermore, we chose September as I have always loved Fall and figured that an autumn themed wedding would be even more beautiful.

We were engaged shortly after 9.11 happened, but we had planned to wait until after I graduated in 2004 before we took the long walk down the aisle. Still, I searched and planned and prepared for one of the biggest days of our lives. What a dreamer I was! I found the perfect dress for me, a beautiful shade of aubergine (eggplant for those of you "regular" folks out there!) for the bridesmaids to pick out their own style, and wished for some gorgeous oranges and golds in the floral creations to compliment the purple hues already selected. The dresses were ordered in late fall 2003 and we expected it would take some time for their arrival.

And then a huge wrench was thrown in our "plans." I laugh to even say that now.

Jake was called up to be deployed to Afghanistan. He got the call on Friday, January 30th, just a few days after my final semester in college had begun. We had plans to go to a wrestling meet that night with friends, and I had forgotten a few things back at home, so called him in hopes that he could swing by my parents' house and pick them up for me. When I called him he told me he was already on his way...and I could just tell that something was wrong. Jake never just showed up without calling to let me know he was on his way. I knew something was up, and I just had a feeling it wasn't good. In fact, I think I knew what he was going to say before he even arrived and shut my ever-open RA dorm room door.

He made me come sit on his lap, and he held me tight while he delivered the blow that he was being deployed. All our "plans" were shattered! After we sobbed, we had to make a new plan...we made phone calls to our parents, siblings, the church, and finally to our friends. We met up at with a bunch of those friends at a bar that afternoon for what we called our "last supper" as we chided that we would not eat the rest of the week to fit into our dresses. The priest had given us some options and we agreed to be married in a week, on the 7th of February at 7 PM. After a blustery week of winter, and preparations amid doctors visits for Billy the Kid(ney), college classes, work, etc. we were married amongst our closest family and friends.

Now I have been married to my best friend for almost 6 years. And every day of that has been an adventure. Not always good, but never constantly awful, the years have brought us to our highest peaks and lowest valleys together...even when we were apart. This man who has brought me so much joy still makes my heart flutter. I tell him constantly how sad that it makes me that we only get just this one lifetime together. But it's my ever-present reminder to seize each day and love without abandon.

Happy almostiversary, baby.

Final Countdown

Well...the marathon relay is in less than a week. At this point I am thinking, "What was I thinking?!"

I was so naively agreeable to this when it was presented to me.

"Who wants to run the marathon relay?"
"Oh...me! Oh wait, I don't run. I probably don't even know how to start...Can I learn how to run 3.2 miles in 9 weeks?"
"Sure."
"OK!"

Seriously. What was I thinking?

Last week Jake & I ran 2.75 miles...before that my longest run was 2 miles. So, the natural progression was to go for 3, which I attempted on Saturday.

It was AWFUL. Let me repeat. AWFUL.

I've considered why it was such a horrible experience. Here are some of the reasons I've come up with:

~ I had just done my hour-long Stroller Strides workout prior.
~ I was alone...usually I run with a partner (a friend or Jake, the baby & the dog).
~ TMI: I had my period.
~ I had only ingested coffee and water that day.

OK...so I feel lke I have some pretty valid "excuses," but this time I don't want excuses. I want results. I want success. And that "run" was a colossal failure. It put me in a really bad mood, too, for much fo the rest of the day.

So...I need to move past that. And...run 3.2 miles on Sunday! I don't think I'm going to make any sort of great time...in fact, I've had nightmarish moments where I believe that the actual marathoners are going to scream things at me, such as "Get out of my marathon!" Let's just hope that doesn't happen!

I did it!

So, the Couch to 5K program is kind of changing my life.

When I started, I just began. On a whim I said "yes" to being on a marathon relay team, and I had to figure out how I could go from basically the couch to running on this team! Yeah...crazy, I know!

I began the first day with a 5 minute "warm-up" walk, and then alternated 60 seconds jogging to 90 second walking for 20 minutes. That was the most running I had done in probably 13 years!

And today, I just ran 2 miles. That's what it said to do today...a 5 minute "warm-up" walk, then "run 2 miles, or 20 minutes." Hmmm....well, apparently it was more like 12 minute miles...but I DID IT! I DID IT!

Marketing Genius?

I seriously saw this today and just had to share with all of you...

I was driving on a busy street and stopped at the intersection where a large grocery store sits. As I pull to a stop, I notice one of those motorized carts that folks can use inside the store...being driven by a large chicken. Well...not a chicken, per say, but a person in a chicken costume. Oddly enough, it was a well-made, non- freaky chicken costume, if I might say so myself. So, the chicken is driving the "hover-round" and waving at passing vehicles. Upon closer inspection, there are cooked rotisserie chickens just chillin in the basket of the hover-round, and on the basket is a sign for $3.99 rotisserie chickens.

Seriously. Marketing genius?!

I had to shake my head and laugh. I actually saw a woman, mid-turn who was talking on her cell phone, pause to wave at the hover-round rotisserie chicken. It was hilarious.

In other news, our fun tonight included wearing a collander on our heads with a very-pregnant friend. Guess whose idea it was to put a collander on our heads?

Training Update

I'm about a week behind in my training. When I started this marathon relay training, I had 9 weeks to prepare before race day. I should currently be on week 6. I am just going to be on week 5. Uh, oh....

Overall, I've been really proud of myself. Never before have I had the drive...the determination, to get up off my bum & do it. For instance, one day I was to go out & do my workout. It was a hot, humid day and I could have stayed inside in the A/C...especially after the rain came. It rained right before I was going to go out...I even had my tennis shoes on and was ready to go. I could have called it quits right then & there. But then the rain cleared, it had cooled off just a tad, and I said "Let's do this!" And I did.

Then I have the days where I think, "What the heck did I get myself into? Why did I ever agree to this?!" It's scary. Sure, I think, "What if race day jitters have me in the porta-potty all morning?" Lord, I hope that doesn't happen! But then I pull myself back to reality and say "Look, self. You have already come this far. A few short weeks ago you were barely walking the dog around the block. Now you are able to RUN! That's fabulous...GO YOU!" As one fellow Team Stroller Strides marathon relay mama Abbie said, "It's not about how fast you do the marathon...it's about the fact that you are doing it." Such truth. I definitely cannot claim that I am a "fast" runner at all...in fact, sometimes I feel as if I am merely shuffling...but I am out there and I'm trying, and most days it feels pretty good....once I'm done.

I certainly haven't had the experience, yet, when it feels good TO run. In fact, my last workout I set out on the bike path with my husband, baby, and the dog. I just couldn't regulate my breathing...my first steps into the jog, I just felt it wasn't going to be a good run...and it wasn't. I felt tired, sluggish, heavy, and grumpy during and I felt the same way after. I tried coming up with a rhythm to breathe, I tried listening to the creek rushing by, the crickets chirping, and the birds calling to each other...and it did get me through, but I still felt like crap during and afterwards. I guess some days are just going to be like that.

But then there was the day I did two workouts in one day. First I went and did an hour-long workout with my Stroller Strides friends...and then I came home and did workout #11 with ERin. It's OK...I thought that was a little crazy, too! 2 workouts in one day?! I know...but honestly, I felt AWESOME the rest of the day! And I rewarded myself, not with a DQ Turtle Oreo Blizzard (but OMG seriously those are to die for) but with an awesome pair of workout pants from New York & Co. Nothing like a hot-mama to hit the trail! I found out that day that I can run a non-consecutive mile in about 10 minutes & 40 seconds. Not bad for someone who was doing almost nothing just a few short months ago...

So...that's what's been going on...training, chasing a very busy 19 month old, and trying to snuggle my husband any chance I get. And tomorrow is a new day...

And then he kissed me...

Tonight was one of the best nights of my life.

You know when you have your first kiss and it's completely memorable because you're excited and shocked and you feel like you're floating on a cloud?! That was me. Tonight.

First kiss. He kissed me.

My boy walked up to me and put his hands on my shoulders and leaned in and smacked his little lips right onto mine.

Twice.

*SIGH* It was SO adorable.

This is what it feels like to be totally and ridiculously in love with two...a man, and our boy.

Oh, POOP.

On Wednesday we had dinner with K, Asher's birthmom. She's had a busy summer post-graduation with working lots to save for a car and getting ready for her first semester of college, so we hadn't seen her since her graduation party in June. We had a fun dinner at Red Robin (on the suggestion of many of my dear mommy friends in Stroller Strides), complete with kid-friendly fare and a red and green helium baloon for the road.

After dinner we decided to go play on the playground at one of our favorite parks since it was such a gorgeous night. When we got there Asher threw a bit of a fit, as his daddy wouldn't let him jump into the duck pond, so we quickly headed toward the playground area. The play area is complete with 2 sets of swings and two separate playgrounds for big and little kids. Asher had such a fun time climbing the stairs, crossing the bridge, exploring, and zipping down the slides. K's parents and brother joined us after awhile, and they, too, enjoyed watching him at play. They all especially enjoyed how he turns himself around to go down the slide (similar to how we have taught him to go downstairs!) Even with the tube slide, which he had to be lifted up into, he would turn himself around mid-slide! He is such a funny kid.

He played nice, and he played hard. By the time we were winding things up at the park, it was getting close to Asher's bedtime and he was exhausted. Just before we were saying our goodbyes, he biffed on the mulch and got a faceful of dirt and woodchips. We brushed him off and he shook it off like a good sport, then offered some "hand-blown kisses" to all and his sweet "Byyyyyyyye!"

It was bath night anyway, but there was no way I could put him to bed as filthy as he was. His dirty little fingers even had remnants of blue fingerpaint under the nails from an art project he had finished earlier in the day at the sitter's. So into the tub with my little muchkin to scrub and soak. Asher just loves bathtime, and he loves, too, when we wrap him up in his towel to be "Stork Baby." Lately, though, he loves running around sans diaper in his room after his bath, and since this is the only time he gets to be without a diaper, I oblige his spirit of fun and freedom for a few minutes. That particular night my mom called and we were chatting as he had his streak fest around his bedroom. I told her I needed to get off the phone, however, as I didn't want him to pee in his closet, so she soon let me go.

Another favorite game of Asher's is "hide in the closet." Any closet will do, whether it's a regular door or a sliding one. He loves hiding inside and emerging with a "Peekaboo!" or a "Rawr!" to scare you! He had been running back and forth around his room in and out of the closet, but nearing the end of my mom's phone conversation, he hadn't popped his little head out. When I finished the call I went over to the closet door, telling Asher it was time to come out and get his diaper & "Shark jams" on. Upon opening the door I was met with the darkness and a stinky smell. My little man was standing there looking down and then he looked up at me with a look of confusion and disgust.

He was standing in a pile of poop. I gasped, and grabbed him by one arm, sweeping him up across my belly, with the other hand poised under his rump to catch anymore emerging poo. He, of course, thought this was hilarious. I rushed him to the bathroom to clean him off a second time. It was laughable and totally gross all at the same time. Such is the life of a mom - hilarious and ridiculously nasty at times!

Yes, No & #2

Asher doesn’t say “yes.” Perhaps he can’t say the word yet, or he hasn’t learned it, but so far he does know the word “no.” Imagine that. He’s 18 months old!

This has gotten entertaining, such as when we ask him funny questions and he responds with “no” (see "Hilarious" post). Recently on a family trip to Ohio, to entertain us all, I asked Asher, “Do you want a baby sister?” and he responded with a long “Nooooooo…..” So I asked, “Do you want a baby brother?” which was met with a flat “No.” OK. Such is life.

Last night my sister was visiting and she, Asher & I were busy playing in his room before bedtime. She taught him a funny trick with the hamper, he showed his “hide & seek” skills in the closet, and we all had a few good laughs. His vocabulary is ever-expanding with things like “ball,” “water,” “bubbles,” and he loves to point and “show” us new things. I thought I would demonstrate to my sister how funny he could be by expressing his feelings about wanting a brother or sister. So, again I asked “Asher, do you want a sister?” to which he replied again, “Noooooooo…..” Ashley and I both laughed at that, so onto the next question. “Asher, do you want a brother?”

And then he shocked me. “Brother,” he said clearly. Hmmmm...interesting...

Workouts #2 & 3

Well, I did it. I was brave today. I wore a tank top while working out.

Granted, I should NOT wear a tank top. My arms are all jiggly. They are not tan. They are gross. But, it was hot, and I went outside to work out, so I got all gutsy and decided to wear one. No one yelled nasty things out their car windows at me and my "flags" so I guess that's a good thing. Perhaps someday I will have amazingly sinewy, strong arms like my Stroller Strides leader. That girl has ARMS. I should hate her, but I don't. I love her because she has awesome arms and because she is ever encouraging, even when I don't believe in myself.

Another good thing I did today was my Couch to 5K workout #3. It was to be a brisk 5 minute walk, followed by 60 seconds of jogging, followed by 90 seconds walking (AKA recovery) for 20 minutes. Today was the first workout where I didn't feel like I was dying. I even kind of enjoy the way my abs hurt after jogging. This is good stuff, people.

Workout #2 was while we were in Colorado. The air up there is THIN. My mom joined me again as a "guest trainer" on #2 and she heard me say a lot of naughty words like $#*&! but she just kept me going. We did more than the suggested 25 minutes, and I did a little more walking than I was supposed to, but I still was out there busting my butt to try. That post-workout didn't feel as good as the first. I was sore for 2-3 days after, so I skipped workout #3 for the week and decided I'd be a tough mom and do 4 workouts this week. Yes, I think I've ingested the crazy.

So, workout #3 was tonight. It was a humid evening, and post dinner, plus a headache, but I knew I had to do it. I took a few Ibuprofen and filled my Stroller Strides water bottle. Asked the hubby for some help in getting me, Sadie, & Asher out the door & onto a leash and into a stroller, respectively. Waterbottles, stop watch/cell phone, and poop patrol bag in hand, we set out to meet my sister at the bike path. She has a shorter distance to the park than we do, so she met us around the school and we continued our brisk walk together to the bike path. I asked her if she thought she could do the workout, and ever up for the challenge, she said yes on the spot to being my 3rd "guest trainer." GO SISTERS! I was on stop watch/dog duty, and she pushed Asher in the stroller. When we got 11 minutes out we switched roles with her taking Sadie & me taking the stroller & Asher, and we turned around and finished the workout 10 minutes later back where we had started. I think my boobs actually hit me in the chin at one point during the workout, which caused my sister to snort in disgust at me, but gave me a bit of a chuckle. Next thing on my list, invest in a few more Title 9 five dumbell sports bras!

Marathon Mama?

You all know that I am not a runner.

A few times in my life I have "tried" but I am always very ambitious & then fail, after a mere 1 or 2 attempts. However, through Stroller Strides, the new group I've been working out with locally on Tuesdays & Saturdays (with Asher!), I've been offered an opportunity to try again.

There is a marathon here in the Quad Cities the last weekend of September. The leader of SS, Sara, has asked if any of the "running mamas" would like to put together a relay team to complete the marathon. Ever ambitious, I responded to the post, and was encouraged by another (thanks, Abbie!) to look into the Couch to 5K program. What was I thinking?!

The marathon is 9 weeks away. I realize this is a huge attempt. There are some longer "legs" of the relay, but the 4th leg (running off of Arsenal Island into Moline for the hand-off) is 3.2 miles, and that seems a much more "tackleable" number for me. Am I crazy?

I officially started my "training" this morning at 7:30 AM with my mom, her running partner Cindy, Husker, Sadie, & Asher in the jogging stroller. I did ask them, "Do you usually run at this pace, or are you doing this on my benefit?" They laughed & said they are slowing down now in their "old age" but maybe just a little faster. Hell. I was just proud of myself for getting out there. From my point of view, I was running with the pros here. These ladies have run marathons, by themselves, so for them to ask me to join them on a Saturday morning was pretty cool.

It was a nice 76 degrees, but the sun was out in full force. At one point I told my mom I felt like my face was "on fire." Yes. On. Fire. She said, "You're sweating the toxins out." EW. I can tolerate being a Sweaty Betty, but ew.

I'm already thinking frightening thoughts about September 27th. Everyone has different responses to nervousness. I already feel like I'm going to pee, poop & puke. All at the same time. (Hey, I'm a mom, we talk about that sort of thing on this blog.) Ugh. Race day jitters & I'm not even sure I'll make it to my 2nd workout!

Speaking of which, I need help, motivation, some pushes in the right direction to get me, and the 4 other gals across the finish line! So, here's a shout out for assistance.

If you are a runner, a jogger, a motivator, or even a biker or walker...I'd love to have "guest trainers" along my 9 weeks of training for my 3.2 leg of the marathon. Look, my mom & Cindy were the first...I can't stop now! Wouldn't that be awesome to have a different guest trainer for every work out?! Feel free to email me or post a response & we'll schedule you as a guest trainer!

All consuming

My life is consumed by so many little details lately....things that make me feel truly "mom-ish."

Like the fact that my hair looks like shit.

I'm not saying that moms have to look terrible...but now, I do realize how moms can get so disheveled looking. I was trying to think of my last cut & color. I can't. If I didn't write it on the calendar, I can't even look it up. I just know that my hair used to be cute and easy to manage, and all of a sudden it's sort of shaped like a mushroom and my roots are showing hardcore.

Another thing is that my house is in constant disarray.

I digress. I've never been one to be so fabulous at managing at house. However, now I yearn to keep a nice house...but I just don't have the energy or hours in the day. I now KNOW for a fact that my mom was and still is SuperMom...because she truly does it all. I'm still in training. I'm not that good yet. Not even close. No matter if I vacuumed 2 seconds ago, there is already dog hair on the floor. No matter if I just wiped up water on the floor, it's there again because my son likes to play in the dog's water bowl. No matter if I pick up all the toys and put them neatly in the basket. Asher loves to play and discover and pulling the toys out of the basket and taking out all of the books is more fun than neat and tidy.

I ran into a friends' mom the other day at Sam's Club on a diaper run (which ended $96 later with more than diapers in my cart). She said, "You know...if I had to do it again, I'd spend less time cleaning & more time playing!" Amen. Amen.

My life is consumed now by things that feel quite normal, but just a few years ago were totally foreign. The turmoil of having to leave work to take your baby to the doctor for yet ANOTHER ear infection. The stress of having to finally have tubes surgically put into your baby's ears after months of those ear infections. The pure joy you feel in the morning when you hear him wake up and begin talking. The heart-leap when he gets excited every morning to see you and the way he smells like fruit when he first wakes up. The way he says "Mama...mama...." and he means me. The feel of his breath against my neck and the weight of his little body on my chest as we rock before bedtime. The smell of his shampoo lingering in the bath...The way that my refrigerator is begin taken over by fingerpaintings and letter magnets...

There's no place else I'd rather be.

Oh, Sit.

Well....today is one of those "milestones" that I knew we'd eventually hit, but that I was cringing about doing so.

Asher said his first "bad word" this morning.

For awhile now, he has been saying "Sit" when he is supposed to "sit down." His babysitter informed me that it doesn't always sound like "sit" but a "naughty word" that is very similar. I was aware of this, and have heard him say it a few times, only in relation to his actions (for instance, when he was sitting himself down on a chair).

This morning, Asher was eating his breakfast & Jake & I were trying to get out the door to work on time. For some reason, Jake utters "$#!+"

And, out of the mouth of my dear boy...he repeats.... "$#!+"

I'm pretty sure that time he didn't mean "Sit."

Hilarious.

A recent exchange at our house during dinner.


Asher: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (*LOUD SCREAM)

Me: (a la Austin Powers) Asher, are you having trouble controlling THE VOLUME OF YOUR VOICE?

Asher: No.

"Drama Like Your Mama"

I've never tried to hide the fact that I am quite dramatic. I can remember going to see the musical Cats with my parents when I was probably about 6 years old. My mom & dad bought me the double cassette tape of the music from Cats, and every day my mom would turn on my tape recorder to wake me up with that music. By the time it came to be the evening of the performance my mom had to remind me that it was the actors & actresses' "turn" to sing the songs. So, although I did not get to perform them that night, I would be happy to "perform" for any family or friends at a social gathering. I clearly remember gathering some family around in the living room at my grandparents' house, and then monologuing "Announcing, the cat, who can now be reborn....and come back....to a different...Jellicle life. FOR WAITING UP THERE IS THE HEAVYSIDE LAYER, with wonders...one Jellicle...only can see. And Jellicles ask. Because Jellicles dare. WHO. WILL IT BE?!" I know. I was probably an annoying child.

Anyway, Asher has a bit of a flair for the dramatic as well. My mom loves to say "Drama like your mama!" when he does something particularly fantastic. I could just hear my mom's voice the other day when he did something quite hilarious, but oh so dramatic.

Sadie dog is a very sloppy drinker. She slops water all around her bowl, and all across the floor. We love her just the same, but we are constantly mopping up puddles.

The other day Asher slipped on some water that was about 10 feet from Sadie's bowl (I told you she's sloppy!). He fell on his back and hit his head and began crying. I rushed over to him and picked him up and held him. Once I had soothed him, I put him down on the floor. He quickly rushed back to the spot where he had fallen. I followed him over there so that he wouldn't fall again. What I saw just made me want to laugh. He moved his foot back & forth over the water on the floor. Then he sat down easily, layed down, and began "crying." I picked him up again and cuddled him, while I mopped up the water with a towel. When the floor was dry, I put Asher down again, and guess what he did? Went to the same spot, "fell down" and began to "cry" again. This time I just had to ignore him, leave the room, and laugh to myself "Drama like your mama!"

The Simple Things

There’ve been some simple things lately that have been bringing me joy in the midst of a difficult/stressful few weeks.

• Sleeping with the windows open on cool nights
• Watching Asher stretch in the morning
• Lunch and laughter with a dear friend
• Sister hugs
• Cheering for my brother at his baseball games
• Sadie snuggles
• Seeing children playing “Ring-around the Rosie”
• Help offered from loved ones when I need it most
• Asher laughing and cheering for me while I workout
• K’s graduation from high school
• Pandora.com
• Losing myself in books
• Hot showers

Hmmm....

I've seen this bumper sticker two days in a row...on my way to work.

Do you think it's an omen?

Should I be worried?!

Chatterbox

Asher is a chatterbox. I don’t know where he gets it…honestly!

He’s been saying “da-da” for a long time, but just recently it seems his language has exploded. He is now almost 16 months old. The word of the week seems to be “Sadie dog”…but sometimes it’s “daddy.” “Mama” comes out when he’s in distress or upset…but of course! Our last visit to the Dr. showed him at 25 pounds! He seems to enjoy most foods, but he has gotten a little bit picky about vegetables. Typical kid!

We recently moved my sister into her first house (yeah for homeownership, I’m SO proud of you, Ash!). We (well…Ashley mostly) was busily painting her new bedroom a bright green color, and so she had an exposed bulb in a lamp for better light. Of course, with Asher toddling around everywhere, he was really interested in that light bulb at his level! We rushed quickly to him as we watched him approaching the lamp, and said “Ouch! Hot!” So, as you might guess…he now enjoys saying, “Ouch…hot!” Just yesterday we were in the car and he was saying “Ouch….hot….dillil (Dylan)!” It truly is glorious to hear. The only thing that DOESN'T sound so sweet is the word "No" which he finally said for the first time yesterday....UH OH!

When I pick him up from the sitter’s, lately she’s said he has talked all day long…and I don’t doubt it! He jabbers to himself constantly, but he also responds to verbal interaction. For instance, if we attempt to redirect him to a more suitable activity (than sticking his hand in the dog’s water dish) he will say “Thank you!” And though we’ve been trying to teach him to sign for quite some time, just recently he’s really begun signing “Eat” when he wants to be fed, “More” when he would like more food/drink, and “Please” when he is requesting something. Just the other day I picked him up from my sister’s place where he was hanging for about an hour, and she said “One….” and he followed with an emphatic “Two!”

He loves to play hide and seek…and just rolls with laughter when anyone will play with him. He thinks Uncle Dylan is especially silly…and even if Dylan just walks into the room, Asher squeals with delight. He is very good at waving & saying “Byebye” now, and if you’re lucky, he might even blow you a kiss! Every day is a new adventure with him.

He still loves to drum on anything....I'm not surprised one bit. Asher's birthdad, A, is a drummer, and so is Uncle Dylan. He has had lots of exposure to instruments and music in his young life, and always relishes a chance to tap on his own special drum, pots and pans with a wooden spoon, or Uncle D's very own "real" sticks! Playing the piano, whether toy or real, always elicits a huge smile, too.

We've gotten so many comments lately on how big he's gotten...how much he's changed, what a beautiful child he is. His big blue eyes and long eyelashes, his blonde curls, his flirtatious little grin (with 4 teeth in front & 3 more making their way into his mouth), and his inquisitive and determined nature seem to endear him to everyone he meets.

Can you tell I'm such a proud mommy?!

Our Beautiful Boy

Asher is now 14 months old. He is walking and VERY busy! He loves to figure out how things work. He likes to say "Go!" "Sadie dog" "Daddy" "Mommy" "E I E I O" "Thank You" "Byebye" & "Baby." He has 4 teeth. He is a very determined little boy he loves to laugh. Here is a picture update so you can see what's been keeping me so busy from blogging!

Playing the piano on Easter Sunday.

Hunting for Easter eggs with dad. "Like my cool shades?"

Random funny picture.
Look at that face...

Hanging with Aunt Ash...

"Aren't me & my daddy handsome guys?"

Funny face...

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in style! "Here's me & mommy!"

Uncle D & I practice piano & drums together...

"I'm always on the go at Grandma & Papa Bear's house..."

BEEP BEEP!

Too fabulous not to share...

This is the delightful Roquefort Pear Salad recipe I found at AllRecipes.com. At Christmas time I was looking for a recipe that contained pears, as we had a bunch sent to us at work and we needed to use them up before they went bad. So, for our staff luncheon, I made this. Most recently, as pictured here, I made it again for Easter lunch, and today I'm making it to take to a friend's 30th birthday party.

It's too fabulous not to share with all of you. The only changes I've made to the recipe are to use a spring mix variety of lettuce and balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar. It's sweet with the candied pecans and pears, and tangy with the dressing and bleu cheese.

I hope you'll try it & let me know what you think!




Courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Happy Belated Easter!

A bit late, but this gives you a little peek into how big our boy is getting! :) More pictures to come soon!

Quiet Moment

Well, I've been doing this mom thing for over 14 months now. You'd think I'd be better at it.

Some things I'm pretty good at. Playing, laughing, reading stories, singing songs, entertaining...giving my kid things he likes, such as mandarin oranges, chicken nuggets, and ravioli.

Other things...I'm not so good at....

For instance, I get really nervous about hanging out with other moms & their kids. I feel like they will judge me, will see how incompetent I really am, will realize that I am really a fraud or something. I mean, I didn't even send Christmas cards this year...my kid's first Christmas, and I didn't even send photo cards. As every other friend (with or without kids) sent us a beautiful, festive Christmas card, the 5 booklets of "Baby Jesus & Madonna" stamps sit idle in my wallet, 3 months later. What kind of great mommy is that?

And I don't always have a lot of patience....I sometimes get short with Asher, or annoyed that he doesn't "listen," and then I realize I am expecting way too much from this little, tiny person. I'm sure every mom has her moments, but I feel guilty about that, too.

And let's not even talk about the state of my house. Um...yeah...lets just not.

Lately I've been tired. I think Asher is getting ready to cut some more teeth, and every night for the past week he's woken up screaming, and it's sometimes difficult to get him settled down.

The other night was no exception....he was screaming his little head off, and I went into his room to comfort him. I picked him up and crawled back into our bed, and once I had soothed him a little, I began to rock him.

And then I had this "moment." A moment, in the quiet, dark night, mid-week, sometime in the middle of the night....I surprised myself at having such a coherent thought at such a ridiculous hour. I sat there, rocking my precious son, and I thought of K. The words just popped into my head... "She chose me for this."

Yes, K had chosen me to be Asher's mommy. She had picked me to enjoy the fun & wonderful parts, and she had picked me for the difficult and tiresome moments, too. And here we were, when the rest of the neighborhood was sleeping, and K probably was, too, but I was not.
"She chose me for this," I said to myself. I took that quiet moment to hold him a little tighter, to smell his hair, to kiss his cheeks, and just relish the moment. I thanked God that she had seen something in me...certainly not perfection or claiming to be a pro, but someone that she could trust, and it just humbled me so much.

Ridiculous Snapshot

Picture this.

Roly poly Asher. He doesn't sit still...he is a constant blur of motion around our house, and he's not even walking yet.

Then picture this.

The need to cut his fingernails.

Seriously. I know God has a sense of humor when I must undertake this task.

So....to provide you with a mental ridiculous snapshot, the scene goes like this:

Asher & I, both in pajamas, both with bare feet. He's wearing Christmas PJs...3 months after Christmas. We are in the bathroom of our house and I have set him into his empty plastic bathtub on the floor to "confine" him just a little. I know that Eric Carle's The Very Busy Spider that is within arms' reach will not be enough to keep him busy while I snip, so, I grab him his green Blue's Clues toothbrush. He's enamored with that thing while I have a tight hold & attempt to clip his tiny little sharp claws...er...nails.

Good thing I had bare feet....the better to grip the floor as I wrestled my kid!

Have a little lemonade...

I recently received a blog award from my friend Cortney. She passed it along to me, letting me know that she thinks my blog is pretty sweet...Essentially, in a "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" kind of way.

Cortney and I live in the same city & met each other when we were planning our weddings. In our married lives, we've both battled infertility. She has always been compassionate and hopeful about our road to parenthood through adoption, and I am SO excited for her & her husband, as they have recently become pregnant after 4 years of infertility!

I think, for the most part, I'm a glass half full kind of gal. But honestly, there are days when I really have to be conscious about choosing to be positive. Some things that help me right myself when I'm having a rough day include: listening to music (K-Love or other uplifting radio stations), something tasty to drink or eat like good coffee or ice cream, taking a walk with my dog & my boys, and laughing with people I love. Another way to express all that I feel is to write this blog. I am so blessed to be able to share our story in this manner, and I have gained a lot of support and encouragement from this avenue for my thoughts.

So, in the spirit of hope, encouragement, and positive attitude, I nominate the following friends:

Joy, Anita, Angie, & Nia!

The rules are easy........

1. Put the logo on your blog.

2. Nominate blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.

3. Link to your nominees within your post.

4. Share the love......link to the person from who you received your award.

I had to laugh...

I ran out to Aldi's tonight for milk...(Shhh...don't tell my husband I went to Aldi's after dark!) and ended up with an entire large canvas bag filled with groceries (I must have needed it, otherwise I wouldn't have purchased it, right?!)

My dear husband requested just one item...Bud Light, so I knew I'd have to make a trip to another store to oblige him. You see, he has given up pop for Lent, so of course, replacing it with beer just makes sense! (?)

Anyway, I stopped at a CVS on the way home with the singular purpose of picking up some Bud Light for my beloved. I swear I have NO idea how those Starburst Jellybeans made it into my hand, as well....

As I was standing in line, two college students were in front of me. The first was buying those green headbands with the sparkly springy shamrocks. The clerk asked if she wanted all of them, as she had brought up an entire plastic package of them. She turned to her friend who was waiting ahead of me to purchase her box o' wine, and asked if they needed all 6 of the springy shamrock headbands. "Oh yeah...get them all." "Ok, we want them all. How much are they?" The clerk tells her $2.99 each. Shamrock headband girl seems like maybe that wasn't such a great idea. Boxed wine girl tells her they definitely need 6 sparkly shamrock headbands, naming who all would be the recipients of the headbands, and that she'd be sure to pay her back.

I wanted to laugh. It didn't bother me that there was a line & that my arm was falling asleep from holding the big-ass carton of beer. I was simply amused at the ridiculousness of the conversation...how their most difficult decision today just may have been how many $2.99 springy shamrock headbands to buy.

And then, boxed wine girl said, "Oh, look! Bird whistles...2 for $3. Do you need one?" Shamrock headband girl turns to look and says "Oh, yeah! Definitely" like this was boxed wine girl's best idea so far.

The funny thing is, I was those girls....about 7 years ago! Maybe they needed a diversion from studying....perhaps they had a singular intention like me, of just going in for the wine, but the bird-shaped whistle & sparkly shamrock headbands were just too fun to pass up. Normally these days I would have been at CVS picking up yet ANOTHER amoxicillan prescription for dear Asher (3 ear infections in 3 months), or grabbing a gallon of milk on my lunch hour. When did I get so OLD? Is it scary or sad to know that I graduated from college almost 5 years ago?

The Notebook

I am not often speechless.

But I was.

I even knew of this gift...before it was given, yet still, holding it's soft, recycled paper cover in my hands, I was overwhelmed.

It wasn't heavy. In fact, it was very light...but the immensity of what an amazingly gracious gift it was grounded me...excited me.

Jake and I were to be the keepers of this gift. To keep it safe until it's time. Whenever he's ready or whenever he's needing it.

It was Asher's first birthday party and there was a flurry of wrapping paper, relatives, laughter, noise. In a quiet moment in my parent's dining room, she pulled the notebook from a simple plastic grocery bag and said she wanted us to have it. She pushed it into my hands.

I knew what it was. It was spiral bound, and the cover had leaves imprinted in green ink. Some of them colored in with the green printing ink, but others in her own hand....purple and orange marker, a black pen...

I thanked her. Silly it seems now...inadequate words for such a gift. I mean, how do you truly express how thankful you are for something so personal, heartfelt, and treasured?

She had to leave soon after. I asked if she was sure...sure about giving it to us...sure it was for us to have. She smiled & said "Of course!" in her way...and told me that it was always meant for him. Always meant for him. My hands must have been shaking as I accepting it from her...

Later that evening, Jake & I opened it together. I read, but I could hardly speak. I was awash with tears...overwhelmed with feelings of sadness, hopefulness, happiness, and humbleness. She tore my heart and she lifted it high. The words I read were broken with sobs and sniffles, my face was blotchy and runny, and yet a smile on my face. I was so moved I clasped at my heart in both anguish and joy.

Asher's beloved birthmom had given him a most precious gift that only she could give him. She gave him the gift of her words...from the day she visited the Doctor and learned of him and saw him growing inside of her, to days after his first birthday. Over a year's worth of entries to him. She wrote a letter to "us"...before she even knew who we were. The original "list" she created to help her to choose the best family for her baby is there. She poured out her heart....her sadness, her happiness, her hopes and fears, and her messages to him inside this simple notebook. If he ever wonders, doubts, or otherwise second-guesses, the answers are there to reassure him.

I just cannot put into words how meaningful that is to Jake & I, as Asher's parents, to possess for him. It's overwhelming to understand how blessed we are with K in our lives.

Oh, Billy (the Kid(ney))...

I wish this blog wasn't so neglected.

There are many times throughout my day when I think I'd love to blog about something....but I just never have the time at that moment, or when I DO have a spare moment, I am just too exhausted to write coherently enough to please/entertain all of you dear readers!


Anyway....life has been busy between surgery, a non-stop baby, a messy house, a visiting grandma, and general stuff like work, laundry, and sleep.

On January 27 I had an endopyelotomy scheduled at the University Hospital. The plan was to go into the ureter, find any blockages and cut them out, and remove the stent that's been in since October & replace it with another one. When I arrived at the hospital, the person in front of me asked when he'd be called because they'd been waiting an hour & 45 minutes since the time they were SUPPOSED to be called! Needless to say, we sat around & waited until after 3:15 to even be taken back to get prepped! We busied ourselves with books, DVDs and knitting/crocheting prayer shawls.

Leave it to my husband to say something goofy...when the resident was letting me know the risks of being under anaesthesia & they needed me to sign the paper authorizing it, Jake says, "Sign your life away!" Thanks, honey...for those "words of wisdom?!" Oh....DEAR!

They believe the stent that was put in place in October may have "opened" things up because no blockages needed to be excised, and I came out of the anasthesia easily. I was lucky to come home that evening to be well taken care of by my family.

This stent is working out much better for me. It's been in almost a month and I rarely have pain. Once it's out, I'll have another kidney functioning test, but I expect no problems with the results. Thanks for all your prayers for Billy the Kid(ney) and me!

Birthday Cake!

Proof! Daddy tries his hand at decorating cupcakes - it was a success!
Mmmmm....Mommy doesn't look very happy. She thinks she got herself in over her head with this "fabulous" idea to make Asher his own monkey birthday cake & decorate it.

Frustrated.

OK. Let's do this. (My lovely sister begins her "paparazzi photos.")

Lookin' good & cheering up!

Look at that concentration....

Cracking up at Ashley...enough, paparazzi!

OK, that's it...my pastry bag is down....

I SAID! Drop the camera, paparazzi!

TA-DA! Monkey cupcakes awaiting their "big reveal."

Aren't they cute?!

Here's the monkey...he was pretty naked at this point.

Starting to look a little better...

A party animal?

My masterpiece...I think there's a reason parents usually only do this once.

My hand was TIRED!

Happy First Birthday, Asher Joseph Leo!

A Year Ago Today...

A year ago today we got the call that changed our lives. We got the call saying we had been chosen.

Chosen to be parents.

One moment I was simply emailing with a a dear friend who was also a waiting and hopeful adoptive mom, "When will our babies come?" and moments later, my phone was ringing with our social worker's good news on the other end.

It was my dad's 55th birthday. My dad is a big man...quite imposing and sometimes "scary" looking. But he's such a tender-hearted, softy on the inside...don't tell him I told you, but he cries at TV commercials sometimes...My mom's nickname for him is "Bear" and it's a suitable moniker.

Anyway, what an exciting phone call to tell him, on his birthday, that we were heading to the hospital because we had been picked to be parents of a little boy who had been born two days before. We were cautiously optimistic that this little boy could be his grandson, and now, a year later, looking back, today was the day that my dad did become a grandpa for the first time. We now affectionately call him "Papa Bear."

Asher's birthday this year was another one of those days where I was feeling numerous emotions. Additionally, I wasn't feeling well at all, so I was feeling a lot of other things that day, too (I lost both my lunch AND my dinner & so missed out on a lot of our special boy's special day). It was, of course, a day to celebrate...but it still makes me think about the fact that we were busy making a big purchase at Best Buy on February 2nd, Groundhogs Day, instead of being there for our son's first breaths.

Then, he was 7 pounds 15 ounces and 19 inches long. He had dark blue eyes and black hair.

Today, he is 23 pounds 3 ounces and 29 inches long. Now he has bright blue eyes and precious blonde, curls.

He has grown SO much. He DOES so much! He is moving non-stop...cruising the furniture, crawling so quickly, and even climbing stairs. He still loves every food that he's tried, and now if he can feed it to himself, he doesn't want anything to do with the pureed stuff we try to give him. We continue to try to teach him baby signs, and he is getting the hang of it, slowly but surely. He loves to jabber and say "dadadada" and sometimes "Sa-die da" and every once in awhile "mama." He amazes us (and exhausts us) every moment of every day.

Every day we experience the amazing love and joy of our son and I thank God that we have been blessed with the gift of life that we were offered a year ago today.

More FROZEN Fun...

So, remember this past summer when I had bronchitis & an ear infection & we had so much rain my husband got called to flood duty with the National Guard? Then remember how OUR basement flooded?

Fast forward to present day. Jake is on his way to be to Washington, D.C. to be security for the inauguration of Barack Obama. It's freezing outside...well, BELOW freezing...super cold...currently -26 degrees F. This morning I take a nice, very hot shower...flush the toilet...try to brush my teeth...NO cold water comes out of the tap.

Upon some inspection, I learn my cold water pipe is FROZEN. This can be terribly damaging, as the pipe can burst, and then I'd REALLY have a mess on my hands. It's just me, Sadie & Asher...*HELP*

I can't get a hold of my dad...he's in a meeting, my mom is at work, my sister is in a teacher's inservice, no answer from my in-laws...so I call my coworker's husband (the one who put in our sump pump). Thank goodness he came & RESCUED us this morning...he brought an industrial strength hair drier, found the pipe in the basement (which is on an outside wall with no isulation between the boards of the house & the bricks of the house!) & thawed us out. We now have cold water again! I have to leave the tap dripping to keep the water moving, and I also have a fan running to keep the warm air circulating...

*SIGH* The JOYS of homeownership...but seriously...why does this never happen when Jake is around?!

Lesson Learned

As I was loading Asher into the car yesterday morning, I see ice all over the seat next to him...I am standing there wondering if it's actually broken glass (it's not) or if it fell off my ice scraper (it didn't) when I realize it is a FROZEN POP that exploded all over the inside of my car! I come to this realization as I looked up (cue Hollywood movie pan with my face looking up to the ceiling with a reaction of horror). I accidentally left a few cans in the trunk for a few days and the remnants of one exploded pop were even clinging to the ceiling... I do think it's a saving grace that most of the "particles" were frozen, because it made for easier cleanup. My car even has the delightful aroma of Diet Cherry Pepsi now...Thank goodness for 9 degree Fahrenheit weather (I don't often say that!), my ice scraper brush & some clean up wipes (and the advice of a few good friends)!

So for all you folks who live in places where it gets cold enough to freeze, heed my advice: Don't leave full pop (soda, cokes, or cold drinks for all you folks who don't call carbonated beverages "pop") cans in your vehicle overnight. Lesson learned!

Asher's New Moves

The past few weeks have been very busy (obviously!) I apologize for my lack of blogging...and thank you to those of you who have asked where I was or said you were glad I'm "back!" I appreciate all those who "follow" along this crazy adventure!

On 12/29 we took Asher to a new babysitter. We had talked to her the day before & I informed her of all that Asher does/doesn't do. That evening at home after his first day hanging with new friends, I was cleaning his room and he was playing. All of a sudden he put the arm and leg motions together to equal a CRAWL! I was so excited that I got down on the floor with him and began clapping & saying "Yeah!" He looked at me like I had lost my mind...but it was a very proud mommy moment!

Considering he was just 4 days from being 11 months old, Jake & I were beginning to wonder if he was ever going to "get it." Now that he has, we're yearning for those days when he'd stay where we left him! Not only has he learned to crawl, but he began going from a prone position to a sitting position by himself, as well as pulling up on ANYTHING he can get his little hands on...all at the same time. It's true what they say...that things change overnight!

The next day when I took Asher back to the new sitter's I said, "Asher crawled for the first time last night!" Then I realized. He had probably not done it for the first time in my sight. I caught what I had said, and remarked, "Oh....I bet he crawled at your house yesterday, didn't he?" She turned away & gave the best babysitter answer: "No...of course not!" She DID find it humorous that I had just told her the day before that he didn't crawl and now he was.


Jake & I are taking a crash course in babyproofing and I don't think I've said "no no" & "no, please" more than I have in the past week. To top it off, this is exhausting! With all these new stunts, Asher has revealed to us a new part of his personality...his unrelenting determination.

Going to bed and taking naps has become a battle. He has no time to slow down now, and he doesn't want to miss out on any action. Therefore, on top of his exhausting new tricks, we're getting little sleep. And, although we're worn out, I can truly say it is a joy to be a parent! Asher's new stunts may give us some gray hairs, though...or rather, me some gray hairs, and Jake a few more! ;)