gift of the year

Every year there seems to be some hot gift of the season - remember Tickle Me, Elmo? 

Well, look no further, because I've got the scoop. 

Want to make your baby/toddler belly laugh with joy this Christmas?

It's easy.

Step 1:  Go to your paper recycling pile
Step 2:  Extract an empty diaper/toy/Amazon.com box
Step 3:  Insert baby
Step 4:  Surround with toys {particularly soft friends, like Teddy, for cushion}
Step 5:  Swing your partner round and round - or 'drive' along the floor

Drew turned this empty diaper box into a car for Asher the other day and he loves it!!

He giggles and giggles when we cruise him around the living room in it.  Even when we're too exhausted to push and pull anymore Ash is happy to just sit and play in his box.  Actually, when I try to take him out he cries and clings to the sides.

 
He still like to play with us, just from within his box.

Yesterday Asher was being really whiny for some reason and I kept offering different things to do.  Blocks?  Snack?  Sophie?  No.  No.  No.

Finally I asked if he wanted to get in his box and he smiled and started to clap!  Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

People have been asking us what we're getting Asher for Christmas this year and I answer with a very honest - "we're giving him the box that your gift comes in.  Make it a big one - he's about 25 pounds now."  :o)

asher's visitor

Last weekend we got a surprise visit from Asher's Uncle Jared!

He was in DC for a medical conference and came over to see us and spend the night on Saturday.  Asher loves visitors - especially when they are willing to play with him!

It was a quick 1-night visit, but we had a great time seeing Jared and getting caught up on all the happenings in Maine.

After Jared left, Asher decided that he needed some quiet time.  As much fun as it is to have your uncle around, a weekend of attention sometimes leaves a boy needing a little time alone.

Asher crawled under the music table with his book and proceeded to read it for almost 10 minutes.  Too funny!  He came back out refreshed and ready to play again. 

Thanks for visiting, Uncle Jared!

eleven months old

Asher, you are 11 months old!

This past month has been your most active yet.  You are constantly learning to do new things!  Daddy and I joke about this being your 'Renaissance.'  It seems like you surprise us with a new ability each day.

You are moving so much, it's hard to get a good photo!  It was nearly impossible to get a shot of you with Ellie {the elephant} - you do not like to share the spotlight and kept shoving her aside!

Once again, I have to say that I can't believe how fast this year is going.  How is it possible that in just 1 month you will be a whole year old?!  That honestly baffles my mind.  It seems like just yesterday you were a tiny baby who did nothing but eat, sleep, and poo.  Now you are moving everywhere, jibber-jabber up a storm, and, well, still poo-ing quite a bit.  :o)

At 11 months, Asher:

• nurses once a day and drinks 3, 7oz bottles
• eats baby food twice a day 
• gobbles up Puffs, but won't eat many other finger foods
• sleeps from 7p-7a
• naps 2x per day at 9a and 1p
• wears size 3 diapers
• wears size 9-12mo clothes and size 5 shoe
• loves bath time!  You are starting to play with some bath toys now.
• does 'so big' and 'where's Asher?' all the time
• gives kisses and high fives
• loves to snuggle and play in Mommy and Daddy's bed on Saturday mornings
• stands up and cruises around the furniture
• can't yet get down from a standing position - that's a problem
• is super ticklish under his chin
• talks and talks and talks {but I can't understand it}
• says 'Dada' and 'Dad' {but doesn't seem to associate it with Daddy yet}
• loves to ride in the swing at the playground
• sits up on his own!

Asher Thomas, we love you so much.  You bring smiles to our faces every single day.  Thanks for being our little boy.

we're back!

Hi everyone!

Thanks for all of your sweet comments supporting my computer break.  It really was one of my better ideas {if I do say so myself}.  This past week gave me a much needed breather.  As nice as that was, I missed you all and am more than ready to come back!

Asher has been so busy this week.  He is getting into more and more and surprising me every day with the things that he can do.  Just yesterday I handed him his hairbrush as a distraction on the changing table, told him to "brush his hair" - and he did!  It was too funny!  He just put the brush up to his hair {bristle side up, but let's not get technical} and started stroking back and forth.  What a smartie!

There are lots of fun stories from this week coming soon and tomorrow is Asher's 11 month birthday - wow!  It will take me a little while to get caught up on all of your adventures, but look for some comments soon!

In the meantime, I need to get someone his breakfast.

Happy Friday!

favorite thing friday - christmas cards!

Can I just start out by saying that I love Christmas.  Like really, really love it!  I'm the person who starts playing Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving.  That's me with the Christmas tree up from December 5th until New Years.

Making 6 different kinds of cookies and 2 kinds of candy?  Yeah, that's me.

Watching It's a Wonderful Life while in labor with Asher last year?  Me again.

I love Christmas - and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

One of my favorite Christmas-y things?  Sending and receiving cards!  It all starts about this time of year.  I get going by searching for the perfect card to frame our family photo.  As much as we'd like to do better, the fact is that a lot of people on our card list only 'see' us this time of year.  That's a lot of pressure to look good and catch the eye of people who already have their mantle stuffed with cards!  Ha!

Last year I actually skipped sending a card {shock!} because Asher's arrival was imminent.  Instead of sending Christmas cards I waited and just sent everyone a birth announcement in mid-January.  Not very holiday spirited - now I have to make up for it!

For Christmas 2008 I ordered a card from Shutterfly.  It was a hit!  Check out Drew and I on our summer vacation to Maine.

I'm definitely going with Shutterfly for a photo card again this year.  They have so many new designs that I love.  The hard part will be picking one.

On one hand, I love a card that features one great photo, a la:

But...on the other hand, there has been so much going on this year that a card like this might be more fun!  I love the  idea of showing how Asher has grown from newborn to first birthday.

Any suggestions?  What are your favorite designs?

The other thing I'm in love with this year are these cool gift tags.  I always end up using the boring sticky kind, but these are so neat.  Who knows, maybe I'll treat myself this year and grab some!

Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly, go to http://bit.ly/sfly2010

emily, unplugged

Since you all are my friends I wanted to give you a little heads up as to what is happening this week.

I am taking a computer break.

That's right.  A break.  As in, not using it.  For 7 days.

I can't really explain how this came about except to say that I feel prompted to unplug for awhile.  I've been feeling out of sorts recently and need some time to reflect and redirect my efforts.  The thing is - I love to blog!  And I love to read blogs!  The problem is that recently, every time I have some down time I find myself drifting over to the computer and all of the sudden POOF my whole evening is gone.   

How does that happen?

Instead of doing that {or checking Facebook, my other major time hog} I want to spend my free time serving my family, praying, writing in my journal, etc.  I couldn't make it forever {hey - I'm not going Amish here people}, but for an intentional, dedicated block of time I want to be without my computer.

Since my email comes through on my phone I'll still be checking all of that, so if you want to chat send me a note or give me a call.  I'm not trying to be isolated here - just taking a break from the internet at large!

All this to say, I'll miss you, but will most definitely be back!  In fact, I'll be back next Friday - you can set your watches by it.  There's no way I'll last longer than 7 days.  HA!  See you all on the flip side!  :o)

{Sorry especially to the grandparents, aunts, and uncles who look for Asher each day - thanks for understanding}

proud to be an american

On the first Tuesday of November Asher learned about a very important civic responsibility.  He went with me to vote!

This was the first election that I went to vote in since he was born.  {In Cleveland we had a great absentee-style option so I could mail my ballot in from home - very handy with a tiny baby}  Ash loves to go on adventures these days, so this was a must-do. 

Unfortunately we had a paper ballot {waaay old school!} so there wasn't much for Asher to see, but I showed him each step regardless and explained what was going on.  The senior citizens running the polling place were so excited to talk with and fuss over Asher.  To be honest, I think that was his favorite part.

After we sent our ballot into the giant collection box we got a sticker!  Score!  Voting is so fabulous!

In an interesting twist, by the time we got home Asher's sticker had completely vanished.  It wasn't anywhere on his coat, clothes, or car seat.  I've been checking his poo - but really, how can someone eat a sticker without it getting, well, stuck in his mouth??  I don't think he ate it - mystery!

Asher {and I} voted - did YOU?

wordless wednesday - {upcoming}

I was at the mall today and saw that Christmas has exploded everywhere!  The stores have all of their decorations up and Jingle Bells is piping through the sound system.  Now, I adore Christmas - but really.  It's still WAY too early for me to get in the mood. 

There is, however, one little stocking stuffer that I can get excited about anytime of year.

fall fun

This post is for Carl.  Our friend and ex-pat who first told us about "his park" where we had so much fun.  Come back from Egypt soon, Uncle Carl!

---------------------------------------

At work last week Drew heard about a fall festival that was happening over the weekend, so we packed Asher into the car on Saturday afternoon and headed over.  As it turns out we'd heard about this park before {from Carl, see above} but didn't realize until later that it was the same place!

This park has a cute little train that runs a 10 minute loop.  They had people dressed in costumes all along the route, so it was the 'Ghost Train.'  Since it was the middle of the day {and geared towards kids} it was all funny scary, not scary-scary.  Perfect!  I hate scary stuff and really didn't want to scar Asher!  HA!

While we were there I took Asher on his first-ever carousel ride.  So fun!  He was very intrigued by the fact that we were going both up and down and in a circle.  His serious face means he is contemplating the whole scenario - but is still having fun.  :o)

There were tons of families enjoying the perfect fall day.  It was so fun to go with Asher - next year he'll be able to run around!  Wow!

{Drew was trying to get Asher to smile by blowing his lips.  Of course, this was the best photo of Ash and the worst of Drew.  Sorry, D}

R-E-L-A-X

Sometimes you just need a break from it all.

That's when Asher goes to his happy place - sleeping in the Jumparoo - ahhh....