Swimming!!

Asher and I attend swimming lessons (really more of an intro to enjoying water) every Wednesday.  Hubbard offers it free for babies 8 weeks to 6 months.  It's so cute!
Memaw was able to come and snap a few pics of us in the pool.

And since we have a pool at home, we might as well use our new skills. Great job Asher!!

Asher- 2 months old

On August 11th, Asher turned 2 months old!

(Better posting late than never!)

Couldn't get any smiles from Mr. Handsome,
but he was sure talking up a storm!

Here are some things Ash is up to.
At 7 weeks Asher moved into Carter’s 3-month clothes.  Other brands are still 0-3 months.
I started putting him in his crib for the early morning “nap.”
On August 5^th I went back to work 2 days a week.  While it is tough being away, I really like what I do and I missed my coworkers.  It wouldn’t be as easy going back if I didn’t know that he was in the best hands in the world with Memaw watching him on Mondays and G-ma on Tuesdays.  So thankful!!
We took out the infant insert of the car seat.
Asher makes noises all the time- when he eats, sleeps, etc. Just a very noisy kid. :-)
2 very exciting words:  Swim Lessons!!
He developed cradle cap- poor guy.  We are mainly trying coconut oil to get rid of it- it's amazing stuff and seems to be helping.
He struggled with sleeping in the swing as he would shimmy down and his feet would hang over the edge.  We tried the bassinet from Auntie Jen instead.
He seems to have added a nighttime wake up around 1-2am.  I have been able to shush him back to sleep for a few hours without getting him “up”.
I had to order diapers for the first time!  Thank you friends and family for giving us enough for 2 whole months!! (There are still some size 2, but he’s not quite big enough for them yet.)
By around 9 weeks he is really starting to smile more.  He even does what is almost like a little laugh.  He is so adorable!!  Sometimes it seems that he is responding to things around him.  He has greeted me with smiles when he wakes up.  It’s awesome!
Drooling has become an issue- holy cow!!  This kid is just oozing drool for a good part of the day.

I am starting to try to write down some dates of when significant things happen (or what seems significant in the life of an infant)- mainly for me to look back and "remember when".  

On August 17^th he had some great smiley moments, and one time when we swear he did his version of a laugh!  He is also starting to do his “coo-ing/talking” so much more!!

Aug 21- he would watch his hand and repeatedly hit the toys hanging in his mat.  So coordinated. :-)

And now the fun stuff- pictures/videos!!

Talking to Daddy.

Cousin time with Nolan.

He did a shout out to Uncle Ryan who was stationed out of
state at wildfires for a few weeks. 

He is losing a bit of his hair on the sides,
but boy is he working the faux hawk!!

Morning Stretch

Our little man sure loves to stretch!  He is always stretching with his arms over his head- so adorable!  I finally thought to take a video of him when I got him out of bed one morning about a month ago.  (He was about a month and a half old.)  We still swaddle him since he has that whole crazy arm startle reflex going on, but he loves when we "free" him.  He had been stirring for some time, so don't think that I woke him up- you'll see what I mean LOL!

Family Resemblance

Although it was one of the happiest days of my life, right after Asher was born, I was convinced he didn't look like either one of us.  My joy was slightly taken down a notch.  Don't get me wrong, to me he is the cutest thing, but I didn't see any resemblance at all.  So I finally asked our moms to get us newborn pictures in order to compare.

Amanda

Brandon

Both pictures are a little tough to see as they are faded and actually the one B's mom had access to out of storage is on/around a candle and even harder to see clearly.  

The verdict of "who does Asher look like"??

This is the most "newborn" shot of Asher that shows his hair.

Not sure why but I can't get this one to show vertically.

This one is the most recent shot- 9 weeks.  It was just too cute not to post!!

B says he is a "dead ringer" for me.  While I do see a resemblance, I think it's the hair.  (I tried to find shots of him that really show his hair.)  Mine does look pretty red in the picture.  Yet my mom swears it was just an auburn tint.  I feel it's brown and I still sport my natural color, so you can be the judge of that. :-)

As far as Brandon's pic...have you seen my nephew Braylen??  I think they look a LOT alike.  

Check out my sister-in-laws website 

(yes Adrianne, I feel it's WAY more than a blog).

http://www.dreambookdesign.com

Don't you just love how genes work!!

Asher- 6 weeks old

While I normally won't do a mid-month update, I feel that 6-weeks is a big deal for a little guy!!  

Here are some things Ash is up to.

For the most part he is sleeping for 7 hours in a row at night!!  Praise God!!

He also moved in to size 1 diapers.  Big boy!

While he is still fussy, there are more times he could be awake and not fuss and/or asleep more.  Either way, the fussiness is waiting until later in the day.  We even had some smiley times- even though I know the “real” smiles won’t come for a couple of weeks. (I still think there are some real ones in there now and then.)

His standard sleeping position.  So cute!

There seems to be a bit of an eating pattern developing (roughly every 2 hours during the day).  Great for my type A personality.

He clasps hands in front of his chest while nursing/eating- very cute!  So wish I could get a picture of this!!

He escaped from the swaddle for the first time (and hopefully last time). 

He discovered lights and fans overhead and loves staring at them.  Seriously is mesmerized by them!

We started more activity mat time and tummy time.  He does ok sometimes, but often doesn’t enjoy tummy time yet.  He loves looking at and "talking to" the little star that lights up and plays music on his mat though.  (See the videos below.)

He now follows things/people with his eyes. 

Almost every day Asher and I have a daytime Dance party.  He loves it I swear!!

He likes when we bounce on the exercise ball while holding him- sometimes its one of the only things that calms him down.

I started styling his hair in a faux-hawk; poor dude.  Also some of his hair seems to be rubbing out on the sides from the way he moves his head while sleeping.  Could start to look interesting!

He still doesn't like baths much, but it is getting better. 

He now likes to be held semi-sitting up; he loves looking around the room. Such a big boy!

I know, I went a little crazy on videos. :-)

Asher's Newborn Photos

I am finally getting these posted!!  Asher was 16 days old when these were taken- which is older than the max 10 days that are for normal "newborn" shots.  I was in the hospital for the first 5, so I figure we did pretty good. :-)
I had no idea how they would turn out as they were all taken in our bedroom.  The lighting was good and poor kid was born during a super hot time, so outdoor shots didn't quite happen.
He did a great job (and of course so did our photographer Briana)!
Proud Mommy and Daddy!

And baby makes 3...

Thank you Diane for the personalized blanket!

The following were taken in a cradle that my grandfather (Lloyd- yes Asher's middle name) made before I was born.  It has been in our family since then and used by me, my sister Jen, my cousins Lauren and Lindsay, Jen's kids Kaylee, Alexa and Nolan and now Asher! So special!!

Memaw had this sign waiting for us when we came home from the hospital.