Our little love bug

So I wrote this post on Valentine's Day last week, but didn't get the pics and videos uploaded until now... so sorry, we went a whole month again before posting.  Disregard most of the next paragraph, Asher is in fact 15 months today.  Woo hoo! :)  Here's his pic in the yellow chair - 
 

And a couple more crazy shots for good measure! :) 

Here's Asher learning to surf. :) 



I know it's still a week away from Asher's 15 month update, but he's just in such a fun stage right now, I can't wait to share what he's been up to lately! :)  Besides, for those who follow, grandmas and what not, I suppose we should blog more than once a month anyway... :)   (Well, sorry, I didn't!)

Asher now walks more than he crawls.  He still has to pull up on something to get into a standing position but I don't think that'll last much longer.  (He just started standing up on his own in the middle of the room.)  It is still sooo much fun to see him come toddling around the corner.  :)   He's getting sturdier and faster on his two feet everyday!  And can FINALLY get himself safely down the stairs and off furniture without trying to head dive (most of the time!).

Case in point.


 
 

 Man, is getting a picture in the yellow chair getting hard! 

These past few weeks, neurons have been connecting like crazy, I think, because something in that little head just started to click with understanding and responding to language.  He loves books in a whole new way.  He's started bringing us books and crawling up in our laps for us to read them to him... all the time!  He's able to point to a number of familiar objects now in books when asked, such as: banana, ball, doggie, hat, shoes, etc.  Actions that I do with him when reading a specific book, he's started doing independently at the right time when daddy's reading that same book to him!  :)  Sooo cute! :)  He's able to respond to and follow through on some very simply commands - go get your shoes (he'll walk to where we keep them), let's get some milk - he'll head to the kitchen, and twice now, he's followed through when asked to put something in the garbage can, even from the other room!  (We have to watch really closely now though, because he's started throwing away everything!  How do you teach your kid what is and is not acceptable to put in the garbage can?) :)

He knows many of his body parts and will point to them when asked.  He has started "reading" books to himself - not just looking at them, but babbling as he turns each page.

He's also entered the stage of immitation, BIG time.  He'd much rather be following me around doing what I'm doing than playing by himself... which can be difficult at times, because he'll break down crying ALOT when I don't let him help me with something (like washing the knives, or straighten my hair. :) )  Though I recently discovered that that crying decreases dramatically if I pull over a chair or step stool and let him be up with me at my level, so he can see counter height and be a part of what I'm doing.  He had quite a blast up at the counter with the q-tips this morning, and it was the first time in weeks that I'd been able to fix my hair without a crying boy clinging to my legs!  Success! :)   The cutest part was that he watched me intently while I used one to clean out my ears, and two seconds later, what do you know, but he's jamming a q-tip in his own ear... oops.... really gotta be careful now with what he sees me do!  :)  

One of our new faves in the realm of imitation:

So helpful in the kitchen too! :)  (Only way I can get anything done!)  Love our new smock from IKEA!  Though it should fit until he's 6 or 7! :) 



He also started playing differently with a little more imagination.   Stuffed animals now get hugged and squealed over and all are affectionately called "doggie."  He's sooo sweet and loving.  :)    We put a blanket over the new kids table grandma and grandpa Anderson gave us for his birthday, and he's been having a blast playing fort under it!  Drags toys in and sits under there playing! :)   A couple of times when the blanket has been off he's crawled over to it, and tried to lift it up, asking for us to put it back on. :) 

Note his sudden change at the end of the video and his sudden motivation to go go go... daddy just walked in the door from work. :) 

Like I said, just a super fun stage right now!  Even though half our days are full of tearful breakdowns because he'll get frustrated he can't do something, reach something, move something, etc, or because I won't let him do what he wants (walk down the stairs, play in the cupboard with glass), or because I won't give him another graham cracker, or make him stop playing to take a nap or stop playing to change a poopy diaper, etc, etc, etc.  :)   I'm afraid we're going to have a tantrum thrower on our hands before too many more months have passed. Prayers, please, as we proceed with that! But who knows, he's still a super super sweet little guy.  He just has a new awareness of his wants, desires, and abilities.  Of course there's still the super fun other half the day, full of his laughter and amazement.  :)  

And can we just take a moment to rejoice in the fact that he is now consistently (finally!) sleeping a full 12 hours every night without a peep! :)  If only nap time was so nice... I'll occassionally get a 2-3 hour nap, but more often than not, I'm fighting tooth and nail to get him to take more than one 45 minute nap a day.  I always try for a second nap if it's not at least an hour, but nap time has been the toughest, not ever feeling like I really get much of a break to get anything done!  45 minutes a day doesn't really cut it. 

Anyway, this has become ridiculously long!  Thanks to those of you who've stuck with me till the end!  :)   I'll work on making it more shorter posts this upcoming month.  



Wishing you a wonderful day! And may your children nap longer than mine. :) 

#Meagan

Did you just do that?

This evening I was hanging out with Asher while Meagan was at a meeting.  I was sitting on the couch, with Asher standing to the side drinking some water from his sippy cup.  He dropped his sippy on the couch, leaving a nickel-sized wet spot. It was no big deal to me, but it caught his attention.  He started to vocalize and motion toward the kitchen.  I didn't know exactly what he was motioning to, but I figured I'd assume, so I said "don't worry, it's small, we don't need a towel".  He then stepped away, walking to the backside of our kitchen counter, directly under the paper towels.  He continued to vocalize and point toward the paper towels.  Already baffled, I stepped up and ripped him off a piece of paper towel to see what he'd do with it.  I retook my place on the couch, and watched as he toddled back over to the couch and began to wipe at the wet spot with the paper towel! 

I guess it just goes to show how much this little guy is watching us.  And of course, it only helped to reinforce the thought that every parent has - my kid is a genius!  True or not, I was pretty impressed tonight.  And Meagan didn't believe me when she got home.

Photo Dump

Hey all,

So it's been very busy around these parts in the new year, so we haven't been the greatest at getting things put on the blog.  There have been a bunch of pictures that we've wanted to get up, but never did, so I'm now taking the time to throw them all up here.  Enjoy :)

 

 

It took a few tries to get a decent pic with Santa...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a good weekend!

 

#Eric 

That's right folks, he's walking!

Sorry this took us a while to get up.  Like I said, life's been crazy as of late.  :)  This was a week or two ago now.  He's 13 1/2 months in this video.  It's worth watching to the end.    Enjoy!

Life just got a little more interesting!  :)



~Meagan

14 months

I know, I know, it's been a really long time since we've posted. Our little guy really has been keeping us busy!  But... here we are today!  :)  Can you believe Asher is 14 months old already?!

Have you missed his pics in the yellow chair? The long wait is over. Feast your eyes on our cutey pie.

 

Did you note all the teeth above?! :)  Here he is with a little more normalish face. :)    

 

And, the yellow chair pics are getting a little more dangerous than they used to be, as you can see below.

 

Well the biggest news, I guess, is that our little guy is finally on the go.  He started walking about 2 weeks ago, and is getting braver every day.  Walking a little farther before falling, stepping out more often of his own initiative from the furniture and what not.  It's a lot of fun to see him toddling into the kitchen to find me.  It surprises me everytime, because it's still so new, and because more often than not, he still chooses to crawl.  But, man, is he a super fast crawler!  :)   We'll post a video tomorrow of him walking! ( I was going to post it tonight but it's too late to wait on the download.) So check back then!

 

He's climbing the scale, weighing in at 23.5 lbs at his last Dr's visit a couple weeks ago.

 

He still jabbers ALL the time.   But he now is attempting real words... emphasis on attempting.  "Da" now stands for light, ball, and sock.  We only know what he's referring to by looking at what he's pointing at.  His favorite activity these days is turning light switches on and off, so when I'm carrying him up and down the stairs its a constant string of "da, da, da" and straining to reach the light.  He would do it all day if I'd let him.    He tries to put on his own socks and shoes, without much success but he at least knows where they go.  He understands soo much these days.  When I'm talking about his pjs, he grabs them and looks down at them.  Our fave is when we say "your hair looks sooo nice," he runs his hand across his head.  So cute! :)

 

I think I mentioned that he now feeds himself most everything, he keeps getting better and better with his spoon.  He eats about anything and everything!  He's a great little eater.  He's been weaned since Christmas and it was super smooth and easy for him.  He LOVES his whole milk! :) 

 

Anyway,  Eric's dragging me off to bed. ;)  Sooo, if there's anything I've forgotten I'll finish up tomorrow with the walking video. 

 

#Meagan

What a Christmas!

Just about everyone on both sides of the family that we visited either came sick or got sick over Christmas, New Years, or both... and with all different kinds of things.  Some had the flu, others colds and sinus infections, others fevers or diarrhea. Lots of "sharing" and cross-contamination. Both grandmas were bedridden at one point on their respective "Christmas" days.   I think I had it all, and still have it... as do both Asher's grandmas.  :(  Yuck. Sorry to our moms.  Asher's on an antibiotic for an ear infection in both ears, and I'm on one for a sinus infection, but I think I'm in the middle of a stomach flu to top it all off.  We really had a blast. :)   My sister in law's blog post last week was titled "Merry Sickness."   I thought that summed it up pretty well.

We really did have a good time, though, all things considered.  Time with family is just never quite long enough. (Though they might have wished our germs hadn't stayed so long.)  Since Asher was born, I can't count the number of times I've wished we lived nearer to one of the grandparents!   What a blessing to spend time with everyone, and to be so richly blessed by their generosity on top of it.  Asher's had an absolute blast with all of his new gifts since we've been home. Not a moment of boredom out of him yet.  I've been curled up with a new book late into the night (which is probably not helping the health)  and Eric's been gaming it up with a new card game, x-box game, and r/c helicopter.   Enjoying a little, I think, the fact that I've not been feeling up to hanging out together in the evenings and he can do whatever he wants without having to ask me what I'd like to, or feel we need to, do.  It's nice once in a while to give each other the freedom to play independently in the evenings, especially right after Christmas before normal life picks back up fully!   

Asher got his wish for his two front teeth... or seven.   We left home with just his two bottom teeth showing, and literally came home with seven a week later!  He's now the proud owner (?) of four top teeth and three bottom ones. :D  Rather looks like a different kid when he smiles!  He's also gained the skill of feeding himself with a spoon at 13.5 months!  What an awesome kid.  Maybe he'll walk one of these days, too....

Anyway,  I'll post a more pictoral post of the Christmas holidays here soon, but I've got some major sifting to do first.  Eric and I received a brand new spiffy camera from my parents, and I wouldn't be surprised if my hubby took a thousand pics over the holidays.   Many of this sweet little face...

So see you soon!  Hope you're all enjoying the respite after Christmas and are not feeling too under the weather yourself from everything going around! 

The Dobbs

          

13 months!

Yesterday, we celebrated 13 months with Asher. I knew I wouldn't get our post up yesterday because we were on the plane to Rapid City for Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Dobbs' so I had intended to write our post on Friday.  Unfortunately Friday was INSANE!  :) 

First of all, Asher decided to wake up a toddler.  No he's not yet walking, but in every other sense of the word he wasn't my little baby anymore.  :)   He woke up and decided to get into EVERYTHING, pull out EVERYTHING, climb up on EVERYTHING, and generally just make it impossible for me to pack.  Perhaps it just seemed more extreme because I was trying to get packed and cleaned for our "tour of the grandparents", I don't know, but we got out of town  two hours after we'd intended to because I pretty much gave up trying until Eric got home.  I didn't really, but I might as well have done so, because that's about how productive I was. :) 

I'd put one thing in the suitcase and Asher would pull 5 things out.  I'd distract him while I worked on someting and turn around to find him having pulled every pair of pants I own out of my drawer and onto the floor.  He pretty much whipped around the room like a little tornado.   (Sorry the pics are so bad. I took them on my phone.)

At lunch, I left him unattended for 10 seconds in his high chair and came back to him having pulled a plate of cookies off the counter, onto his tray, and stuffed an entire gingerbread cookie in his mouth.

When I was changing his diaper, I took a second to refill the wipes container and as I expected, he crawled off, but what I didn't expect was for him to climb up his brand new slide from grandma and grandpa all by himself and hang out up there pantless. :)

Needless to say, I love this stage, he's an absolute blast, but there is NO getting anything done when he's awake. :)


Secondly, it's worth mentioning that the drive to my parents Friday night was ridiculous.  Wednesday night we got 13 inches of snow, and the normally three hour drive took us five, on top of the two hours later that we got away, most of the extra time was just trying to get through Des Moines.  The cleanup of snow was horrendous around the city.  All to say, I sure didn't get this post done Friday, so here we are a day late again. :) 

Asher did awesome on the plane though yesterday.

So let's talk about Asher, since this is his monthly update.  :)   Our little guy is pretty much awesome.  :)  About 10 days ago, Asher finally started consistantly sleeping all through the night.  woo woo!  He also simultaneously decided that one nap a day was good.  I'm still adjusting to that one.  He's been sleeping from about 11 to 1:30 so we're also still working on when's the best time to eat lunch, and the afternoon gets very long while we wait for Daddy to come home.

Umm, let's see,  he still adores music and loves to dance.  His dancing looks mostly like a mix between a fist pump and a bicep curl.  It's pretty much HILARIOUS.  We adore watching him dance.  He says Daddy, doggie, yes, and a WHOLE bunch of other words that are unintelligible.  It seems as though he calls me daggy, but we've never reinforced it.  I have no idea where that one came from.  He pretty much never stops jabbering.  He gives high fives, climbs with the best of them, and I often find him laughing at himself when he's off playing.  He's the sweetest little guy.   

Well, this post is getting long, so I guess we'll leave it at that.  We're unfortunately not at home today to take a pic in the yellow chair.  But we'll try and post again soon about our Christmas celebrations, and keep you updated.  Thankfully separation anxiety seems to be gone.  Everyone is a fun new person to play with, which I'm extremely grateful for as we enter the holiday season with all kinds of new people around.  He meets his cousins on the Dobbs' side for the first time tonight and we couldn't be more excited.  :) 

Merry Christmas everyone!  Enjoy your own celebrations with family and friends!

#Meagan