all about asher: three years old

There is so much I want to remember about Asher on his 3rd birthday!

The first thing that comes to mind is that he is such a funny guy.  The things he says cracks me up every single day.  Just today at lunch he was eating an apple and noticed that the stem was gone.  He says "Mommy, stem broken.  Need tape."  ha ha - we use a lot of tape around here.

Asher loves music and loves to sing and dance.  Any time a song comes on, whether the tv, radio, or just a silly jingle on a toy he starts dancing and wants to know the words.  I make up a lot of songs.  :-)

He sang "Happy Birthday" to himself on Thursday - and loves credit for his effort {check out that look he gave us at the end - haha!}



I'm constantly amazed at his memory.  He has memorized a lot of books we read and remembers stuff anyone says.  Here is he reciting the 10 commandments...



The other day we were having a little, um disciple moment and I was asking him how he needs to obey {we say that he always needs to obey "right away, all the way, and with a happy heart"} - he said "happy heart. And be slow to speak, slow to get angry"  That's from James 1 and is a memory verse we read in his "ABC Memory Verse" flash cards.  We've been reading those cards for a few months and I had no idea he was actually learning them!

I am trying to be SO careful about how I speak around Asher and what I pour into his little mind.  Even when it seems like he isn't paying attention, I know that he is.  Read valuable things to your children - even the littlest kids can learn!  They are listening!

{Hadley is learning them too now.  It's never too early to hear God's word.}

Asher is the most polite little guy.  He almost always says "please" and "thank you" and somehow picked up strongly on "excuse me" when he wants to move past someone.  It melts my heart to feel a little nudge from behind and hear "oh, 'scuse me mommy".  So precious.  :-)

Of course, that's just when I don't want to tie him to a chair.  ha ha - just kidding {kind of}.  Being 3 means Asher is testing boundaries, learning who's in charge, and exerting his independence.  We are learning together how Asher can be independent, but also obey and respect Drew and I.  It's a bumpy road sometimes, but such is life with a toddler.  All I can do is keep pouring God's word and instructions into Asher.  And pray.  Lots and lots of praying.  ha!

At 3 years old, Asher...

• weighs 30.8 pounds {40th percentile}
• stands 39.4" high {90th percentile - really??}
• has a heart rate of 110 and blood pressure of 77/54
• has excellent hearing 
• loves to run, kick balls, wrestle with Daddy, and jump on the trampoline
• loves to go to the park or do anything outside
• can name dozens of animals and dinosaurs
• sleeps from 7:30pm-7am; takes 1 nap in the afternoon
• is so loving - he gives lots of hugs, kisses, and holds hands without reserve
• is a super picky eater.  He likes what he likes and that. is. it.
• is still learning to love his baby sister.  More on that later...
• would play on the iPad all day, if I let him.  He's got that thing mastered!!

Asher Thomas, you are such an amazing boy.  On December 13, 2009 your Daddy and I welcomed you into our lives, but we had no idea how much your presence would change and shape us.  We love you to the moon and back little man!

teacher gifts

We had a really fun weekend here full of birthday cake, presents, and visits from grandparents.  Sadly all the grandparents are gone now, so I probably won't have time to blog about all we did - ha!

I did want to post about the gifts that I made for Asher's preschool teachers.  I actually did these way long ago before Hadley was born.  It was the one gift I had totally done before she arrived and I'm so glad I did {otherwise they probably would have gotten...um, nothing.  Have I mentioned that life is crazy here??}.

One of my favorite embroidery sites designed these tags and I thought they would be so cute on jars for the teachers.  I made the tags on my embroidery machine, put their initials on the tag and attached it to a small jar.

I figured they could use the jar for candy, pens, whatever later on!

Inside I tucked a Dunkin' Donuts gift card because what person who spends hours each day with 15, 2 and 3 year olds doesn't need a coffee and sweet treat?  :-)

I hope they like them!  We love Miss Amanda, Miss Karen, and Miss Kelly!  They are such wonderful women and love on Asher just like I hoped he would be outside of my care.

Merry Christmas to all the teachers out there!

happy birthday asher!

Asher Thomas, you are 3 years old!

I can't believe it's been 3 years since you came into our family.

Look how you've grown!

birth day:

1st birthday:

2nd birthday:

3rd birthday!

We thank God every day for you, Asher.  You are such an amazing boy and we can't wait to see what comes next!

More on Asher's birthday coming soon!

hadley's newborn photos

I realized that I never posted these newborn photos of Hadley after we got them.  They are too sweet not to share!

Thank you Stephanie at Shutterbug NC for the wonderful images of our newest bundle!

{and some of her reluctant big brother - ha!}

Now I just have to decide which one I want printed on the canvas I bought with a super Black Friday deal...any votes??  :-)

it's beginning to look a lot like pinterest

I saw this fun felt Christmas tree idea on Pinterest and decided to make one for Asher.  Keep in mind that I did this super quickly during one of Hadley's cat naps, so both the tree and ornaments are rather, um, juvenile looking.  ha!

He really likes putting the ornaments on to decorate "Asher's tree" so I'll pretty up the tree et al for next year.  I'm sure by then Hadley will like decorating along the bottom too!

Star on top!

Happy Christmas {tree}!

snoozin' with daddy

I love seeing them together.

So, so sweet.

{phone dump friday}

Between my surgery last Saturday and trying to recover while simultaneously preparing for Asher's birthday and Christmas there haven't been many photos taken around here.  We've mostly been laying low and doing stuff around the house {or not doing stuff}.

Hadley missed me so much she smiled when I saw her.  Who couldn't grin right back at this face?  love

Since I'm not allowed to lift more than 10 pounds and Asher can't/won't climb in and out of his crib we were forced to do an unexpected toddler bed upgrade for him on Sunday.

It's kind of good this surgery happened otherwise I would have never taken the plunge.  A full post on this huge milestone is coming!

Asher also got some Christmas jammies from his grandparents and has been loving them!

Miss H is clearly afraid I'll skip out on her again because she is rarely willing to be further away from me than this.

I don't mind.  :-)

In fact, Asher also seems nervous that I'll vanish because he's been sticking close too.  Poor sister is just trying to get some lunch!

Happy Friday, friends!

baby bug

My dear friend Emily sent Hadley a couple ladybug outfits before she was born and Miss H is big enough to wear one now!

We had a little fashion shoot here yesterday.

Best model ever.  :-)

{Hadley is getting so chubby all the sudden - her double chin slays me. ha ha, bless her heart}

thanksgiving wrap up

I posted a little about Thanksgiving when it happened, but need to finish up before Christmas is here!  The day before Thanksgiving Drew's brother and his wife arrived for a visit.  They are expecting their first baby in February and were anxious to get in some newborn practice.  They are pros already.  :-)

Guess who went trick or treating while the Macy's parade was on?  That's right - a certain cowboy and his horse rode into town demanding candy from the locals {and wanting to show his aunt and uncle his costume}.  Hey - when your family lives out of town you celebrate what you can, when you can.

With the new baby and all we decided to keep things simple and ordered our dinner from Fresh Market this year.  Best. Plan. Ever.  It was delicious and so easy to prep {um, re-heat :-)}.  Drew was in charge of carving the turkey and wielded the knives like an Iron Chef.

Not our fanciest Thanksgiving, but it was great nonetheless.  Our first as a family of 4!

the first meeting

After posting about The Hug here the other week I realized I never shared about the first time Asher met Hadley.  On the day she was born Asher and my Dad came by the hospital to meet Miss H.  Asher was predictably a little nervous in the hospital setting and didn't want to sit with me.  The only way we got him to sit for a photo was by bribing him with chips - ha!

Was this the beautiful sibling introduction I had dreamed of?  Well, no.

Is it a big deal in the long run?  No.

I know that someday Hadley and Asher will be close, but October 27th was not that day.  I feel like I always read blog posts about these amazing hellos that new sibs have in the hospital and I just want to share a piece from our reality!  Look at that little bugger with his legs crossed, chip in hand.  Stinker.  ha!