put a fork in him

I don't know if you noticed, but Asher got some special utensils in his Easter basket.

He has shown some interest in using a spoon as I feed him so I decided to get a few spoons and forks that would be easier for little hands to hold.

Yesterday I gave Asher a spoon and let him do what he would to his yogurt.

He was very intentional about trying to get the yogurt into his mouth, but had varying degrees of success.

How cute is this creamy goatee?!  Love it!

After a few minutes, Asher decided enough was enough and handed the whole mess over to me.  I probably scooped 3 spoonfuls off of his face.  ha!

Today we decided to tackle the fork.  Ash doesn't really have much experience with forks at all since {until recently} he refused to eat foods that weren't pureed or eaten with fingers.  Because of this I wasn't sure if he'd know what to do, but never fear - some things are just natural.  He was stabbing and scooping like a champ.

More often than not the macaroni wouldn't come off of the fork so Asher would pull it off and move mac, fork, and fingers into his mouth.  Hey - you gotta do what it takes folks.

I grabbed the video camera and taped a bit of the action. 

My favorite is when Asher drops a few pieces and goes after them with the fork.  This boy cracks me up!



He's getting so big! 

asher walks!

My little guy has decided that walking is for the birds.  While all of his friends {bloggy and real-life} were cruising past him, he was happy to crawl around.

Drew and I have been encouraging him to walk and Ash will usually take a few steps before diving into our arms.  I think that was his favorite part.

The boy totally CAN walk, he just doesn't want to.  Little stinker!

Anyway, over the past few days A has started walking much, much better.  He still doesn't take off on his own, but there is less diving and more controlled steps.  Asher even changed directions the other day - wow!

Tonight I got some video of his walking - just in case it never happens again.  He still looks a little, um, Frankenstein in his gait, but let's not split hairs.  Walking is walking.

{Hope you don't get too seasick watching this - sorry.  It's really hard to take video of someone who's walking towards you, plus I was trying to be ready to catch in case of a fall!}

Without further ado, my little walker!

sympathy symptoms

Asher started doing this really hilarious fake cough the other week.  I don't know where it came from, but one time I coughed and he did too.  Now he does it every time anyone coughs.  So darn adorable.

I've been wanting to record him doing it, but just never got around to it.  Then this morning he started doing this funny trick with his lips {any one know what it's called??} and I knew a video was in order pronto.


So, for all you who demanded more videos on the blog - here you go! 

{and yes, he is in Christmas pajamas...in March.  I just can't justify buying him new ones when these still fit!  Note to self: next year buy Winter pjs, rather than Christmas ones} 

animal impressions

Asher loves to read books about animals.  He has books about pets, farm animals and world animals.  As we read, of course, I have to make the noises so Asher can learn what the animals "say."

Over the past week Asher has really caught on to what the elephant says.  Probably because throwing his arm trunk in the air and trumpeting is Drew's favorite past time.  What boy doesn't want to be like their daddy?  The thing is, Ash doesn't just hang with your normal elephant crowd.  His favorite buddy is a handi-capable elephant who is tons of fun, but also is {as far as any of us can tell} completely mute.

You may recognize her from Asher's first year monthly posts.  Hello, Ellie.

Ellie doesn't make any noise, so neither does Asher.  He does, however, have a pretty wicked trunk toss.  Here, let him show you.



Beyond the elephant, I find some of the animals more challenging to voice than others.

For instance, the goat.

The story suggests that the goat says bleat, bleat.  But every time I say that it just sounds like the goat has been saying something naughty that the censors had to bleep out.  Oops, sorry goats.

Or how do you differentiate between the house cat, kitten, lion, and leopard.  In my house the small cats meow and the big cats all roooar!  I guess there's plenty of time for Ash to learn all the different species.

The hardest ones for me are those that aren't typically associated with sounds at all - a la the penguin.  What sound does a penguin make?  Well, here they say Brrr and shiver because they live in the snow {obviously}.

Don't take my word for it - Asher will show you.

{He was a little busy when I took this video, but willing to indulge me nonetheless - thanks A}

wordless wednesday

Today we got back home from our Christmas trip - yay!  I'm squeezing this post in because it's so heartwarming I just had to share.

Yesterday morning Asher's Aunt Ali was playing with him and we suddenly heard these really loud baby giggles erupting.  Ali was playing peek-a-boo with this plastic sheet and Asher thought it was hilarious.  Seriously, it was the hardest I've ever heard him laugh.  I grabbed the video camera and started rolling.

If you need a laugh - watch along!  It would take a pretty hard person not to smile along with him.

so big on 10.10.10

Asher has started doing some really cute things recently.

He now gives 'high fives', kisses, and will show you just how big he is.

The thing is, when you ask him, "How big is Asher?" he responds quickly.  He just throws his arms up and down so quick you miss it if you aren't watching closely!  See for yourself...



Drew took some video of Asher and I trying to get him to do it again.  He's a little distracted, but you do get a high five on the sly.



We're still working on it.  :o)

crawling and cuteness

Drew and I realized the other day that we haven't been taking nearly enough videos of Asher.

Thus, all the film that I'm inflicting on you all.  Sorry.  Well, I'm sure the grandparents and aunts/uncles appreciate it!

Asher is doing so much these days we have to capture it all!!

He is currently doing this adorable crawl / scoot / army crawl move to get around.  It's so deliberate - I love watching him see something, decide that he wants it, and do what is necessary to get over there.  He just started moving like this a few days ago.



I know it won't be long before he gets his belly off the ground and is moving even faster.

Oh my.

Then I was recording him playing with his truck and he morphed into this little cutey telling me stories and playing games.  Love him!



Oh, and for everyone who asked about the farm toy - it came to Asher from my parents.  I believe they found it in the Kohl's toy section. {Correct me if I'm wrong here, Mom}  It really is such a fun toy - I hope you all can find one too!!

dancing king

You can dance...

You can jive...

Having the time of your life.

See that boy...

Watch that scene...

Dig in the dancing king!



Once again Asher collapses after having too much fun!  He loves, loves to dance every time his toys play songs - which, if you know baby toys, is all the time.  Adorable!

what goes up...

On Sunday Drew encouraged me to get out and have some "me" time.  Last week was really crazy at Drew's work and he didn't get to see Asher at all from Tuesday to Friday.  This not only meant that Drew missed Ash, but also that I had baby duty 100% of the time, for 4 days straight.

{major props to the single moms right now - I don't know how you do it!}

This combo equaled Drew missing A and me really needing a break from drool and diapers -  an afternoon off sounded perfect!  It had been approximately 9 months since I bought myself any new clothes, so I headed to the mall to find some fall staples.

I had no clue what the boys would do while I was gone, but figured it would involve some toys, teethers, baby food, and naps.  Oh yeah, and football.  Of course.  What I didn't anticipate was that Drew would make a little video showing Asher's major accomplishment that I would miss!

Wait, before you watch I need to warn you about something.  Those of you with little ones will realize that a baby's first time standing solo isn't all that stable.  Drew thought this was a possibility, but couldn't zoom out far enough if he remained close enough to catch a falling baby.

This, I believe, is the main difference between moms and dads.  If it had been me I would have stayed close and just not had a video.  Drew really wanted to record this moment for me since I was missing it.  I appreciate that - I guess.  ha!

Let me just emphasize that Drew shouldn't be villianized here.  He's a great Dad and would never put Asher in danger.  That said, I did almost have a heart attack the first time I watched this.  I grew all of those little parts from scratch - let's keep them intact!

By the way, how tough is my little guy?!  So chill, so calm.   :o)

{oh, keep your sound on - Drew incorporates some pretty priceless commentary}

if i can't win mother of the year

then I'm totally going for "most posts in one day."

Not really, but I just had to post once more because Asher did something hilarious and amazing today.  It's been one of those days that I'm having so much fun with him.  He cracks me up constantly and never ceases to amaze me with what he can just do all of the sudden.

Mr A started blowing raspberries!!

Sooo funny!

He just started making this funny noise and when I looked over I saw his little lips vibrating and all of this drool flying around.  So, of course, I blew back at him.  That really got him going!  He thought that was hilarious and would make noise back whenever I did it at him.

I assumed he wouldn't let me get it on video because he totally clams up everytime the camera comes out, but he didn't stop this time.  The action was way better before the camera turned on, but you'll get the idea. 

Watch and see!

funny daddy

I could listen to him laugh all day long.

above the pearls, below the crown

Asher was practicing his "queen wave" with Sophie the Giraffe the other day.

They are totally ready for a parade any day now.

where's asher?

Asher has a new favorite game.  Recently, every time I give him a blanket he puts it over his face until I ask "Where's Asher?" then he whips it down to reveal himself!  At first I thought it was a random coincidence, but now he does it all the time. 

I love it!

take that mr. parrot

Over the past week Asher has really mastered the art of grabbing the toys on his bouncy chair activity bar to make the lights and sound go. It still takes him a few minutes to get warmed up to it each morning, but once he gets going look out!

He gets so excited that his arms and legs start flapping out of control, which just makes the noise and lights go more frequently. It's a slippery slope, just he loves it!

daddy is so fun!

Yesterday Asher's Daddy was entertaining him while I started cooking dinner. Drew had him in the bouncy seat and thought he might be cold, so he grabbed a blanket to tuck in around him.

Being a fun Daddy, rather than simply placing it around Asher, Drew decided to flick it up in the air and let it float down around him.

Asher loved, loved it! I don't know what made it such a thrill. Something about the air the blanket made on his face, or the shadows it created, or maybe the funny faces Daddy made behind it -- whatever the formula, the blanket game was created and was a huge success!

We'll definitely be bringing this one out in the future!

i could just eat him up

Couldn't you?



Sometimes I really do have to focus on not squeezing him too tight when I give hugs. He's just so delicious!



I love this little guy!

you asked for it

I've had a request for more Asher videos, so here you go Grandparents!

watch me!

Here are some new random Asher videos for his grandparents, aunts, and uncles!









Happy Weekend!

kickin' up a storm

Asher just started kicking his legs recently and realized today that doing so will move his bouncy chair!

After this he immediately fell asleep. So much exercise is exhausting!

tummy time

Ever since people realized that sleeping on their backs helps prevent babies from dying of SIDS newborns have needed parent supervised tummy time during the day.

And they hate it.

Tummy time is just what it sounds like. Short bursts {5 minutes or so at first} of time spent with the baby on his tummy. This helps him strengthen his neck and shoulder muscles to increase head control. Babies spend tons of time on their backs, so we have to be purposeful about giving their necks a workout.

Asher has been doing great! He usually screams when I put him on his belly, but just the other day he laid peacefully while cranning his neck to see what was happening {for a little while at least, the cries came eventually}.

He actually managed to turn his head from one side to the other, yay! Check it out - yes, that's me encouraging him like a moron in the background. Keep the volume low people, it's for your own good.