big brother, meet little brother...

Today we found out that we're going to have another boy!! I love finding out the gender and seeing the baby. It was great to hear that everything looks healthy and whole.

Right before we went to the hospital for our ultrasound appointment.

A blurry little profile of baby boy #2

It was funny because we kept saying "see the baby?" to Asher today at the appointment, but he is too young to understand that I am pregnant and he just kept giving us confused looks because as far as he is concerned he is "baby".

I know that having babies just 16 months apart will be a handful...(or a couple of handfuls) but I am so excited! It is just right for our family, but I still do reserve the right to feel overwhelmed and scared some of the time, just so you know.

And I know that Asher will be a fantastic big brother!!

Asher at his very first Easter Egg hunt. Thanks for putting it all together Emily! We had lots of fun!!

Grass roots...

With it being an election year, and specifically a presidential election year, Abby and I have decided that we need to be more politically involved. We have always voted (except this last November when we registered late at our new address), but we haven't always been the most informed. So that has also become a goal. I mean come on, we can't just go vote for the next ruler of the free world just because we've heard they could do a good job, right? Well I guess we can, but I'm not really a huge fan of just doing something because everyone else is.

Anyway, I never have been a huge fan of politics but my political awareness and interest have peaked as of late. When we heard that the caucuses were going to happen this past week, we decided it was something that we should go to. We didn't really understand what exactly a caucus was so we figured the next logical step would be to get involved in the "grass roots politics" as they kept calling it. After spending half an hour on the phone with three different offices (our addresses here in the "Village" are weird and the county clerk website didn't want to work with me) I finally figured out what precinct we were in and where our caucus was. Given it was right around Asher's bedtime we decided I would go and fill Abby in, so as 7:00 rolled around off I went to the caucus meeting.

It was held in a home just down the street from our house and as I walked in, there were a handful of people in the living room. An old man greeted me and asked my precinct; as I told him he said, "well great, that makes two!" and motioned to another kid my age sitting in a chair. I'll save some time for all of us and just say that in the end four, yes, four of us ended up going down to the basement of this nice man's house with the task of electing a caucus chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer as well as two state delegates and three county delegates...have you done the math yet? Apparently our precinct is pretty much the village and needless to say we didn't have much of a showing. Luckily the kid who was there before me had plenty of experience being involved in caucuses so he ran the show. So the four of us participated in this grass roots process and then went on our way.

The moral of the story: be careful when you decide to become more involved, you might get more than you bargained for. I showed up to the caucus simply with the intent of seeing what it was all about and needless to say I found out; we are now home to the caucus treasurer, a state delegate, and a county delegate. No, I didn't take all three. Abby wasn't even there and was elected as a county delegate, after a phone call of course. I guess there's no doubt about it - we have become more involved...wish us luck.

Little talker...

Sorry that this video is sideways, but I am feeling to lazy too remember how to flip it. Asher is our little talker these days! He says way more words than he signs now. He is really great at imitating what we say. Like the other day, I asked him if my earrings were pretty and he said "pretty". I get the biggest kick out of when we ask him a question and he knows the answer... like when we say "What do you say on the phone?" and he says "hi" or "ok, bye." Or lately we'll ask him "What does a car say?" and he answers "vroom." I love this kid.

Justin's Reading Woes

I used to be a reader.  I read all the time; my school teacher would suggest a book, and when I finished that one I would read another.  I remember reading Jurassic Park when I was about 11 or 12 (I don't remember exactly when I read it, but I know I had read it before the movie came out...at least before I saw the movie and I was 11 1/2 when it came out).  One list I found said it was a 9-12 grade reading level, so I guess a good read for kid that age.  My friend Jay read it before me and I was amazed that he read it in 2 days.  I was never a fast reader, but I liked reading.  I can remember reading such books in my youth as The Cay, Number the Stars, Superfudge, A Wrinkle in Time, Bridge to Terabithia, The Black Cauldron, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, and Maniac Magee (my first "favorite" book - I think it was the first book I read multiple times) just to name a few.   

As I got older, my reading habits began to wane...in 9th grade english class one of the assigned readings was To Kill a Mockingbird, which I didn't read (and is now on my list, don't you worry); I think that was to in part to the fact that the teacher and I didn't get along very well, at least not initially.  Anyway, by the time I entered high school I was a big Star Wars fan (a fact to which some of my friends - and wife - can attest) and as sophomore english began I was on somewhat of a Star Wars kick, trying to read all the novels that picked up where the last movie, Return of the Jedi, left off.  I did my first book report on one of the books and began reading another.  I don't remember exactly how it came about, whether it was after the next book report or before it was due but the teacher, who will remain unnamed (she was formerly married to a somewhat well known musical talent) and who I also very much didn't get along with, told me I couldn't do any more book reports on Star Wars books and that I had to read something else.  Of course I took that to mean that she was forbidding me to continue reading such mindless rubbish, and in rebellion I just stopped reading; not just assigned reading but also most of my recreational reading, and that rebellion continued on through high school.  For example, in 11th grade english class we were supposed to read The Last of the Mohicans.  I read the CliffsNotes (and those only partially) then enjoyed the movie when we watched it in class.  Needless to say I haven't recovered much from my rebellion in the years since.  School takes half the blame simply due to the fact that any "free" reading time I've had in the last five years has been (or should have been) spent reading textbooks or research articles; the other half can just be attributed to me I guess.  Sometimes I have a hard time staying awake when I read, but mostly I just don't make the time - my rebellion effectively broke my reading habits.

This is already turning into a long post, and I'm sure you'd much rather be reading about and looking at cute pictures of Asher (and I don't blame you), so I won't go into much more detail.  I still enjoy reading, it's just hard to find the time.  I also seem to be somewhat limited in my reading interests as of late.  In the last few years I have read the Harry Potter books; Eragon and Eldest; The Magician's Nephew, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and half of The Horse and His Boy.  I've listened to the other half of The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The DaVinci Code.  I think that's about it, do you see a pattern?  (Oh, I also read The Giver with Abby over Christmas break.) 

And here's where you, the faithful readers of this wonderful blog (if you're still reading) come in.  I need some suggestions.  I need suggestions about not only what but when.  When do the rest of you find time to read?  I do have my own list of books I'd like to read and I should probably start there, but I'd like some suggestions.  I'll put my list in the comments to save space here, but it's a good mix: some fiction, a few leadership/self-improvement books, and a little non-fiction - though most of those are church books which would probably also go in the self-improvement category.  So anywho, if you've made it here and care to make a few suggestions I'd much appreciate it.  I'll add them to my list and squeeze them in between reading about therapeutic exercise and neuroanatomy.  Ahh, the life of a grad student!

On a more encouraging note, my almost 1 year old son already seems to be picking up on reading.  It's very fun to not hear any noise from him, and when you look he's sitting on the floor flipping the pages of one of his board books. Hopefully he won't fall into the same trap his dad has!  (There, I made it worth your while and included a picture of and story about Asher, so you can now say you've gotten your Asher fix for the day!  You're welcome!)

Children's Museum!

We had a great time again this week at the Discovery Gateway museum with our friends! Each time we go there Asher seems a little older and able to enjoy more things. This time he especially liked the construction zone and the garden area. I am always amazed at how brave and independent he is. (and tough! he got stepped on a few times...) He just takes off and goes out to discover the world! Eventually, if I'm lucky he'll start to look around for me to show me something fun that he has found.

It's kind of funny how unaware kids are of how much time and energy mom's spend making the way clear and safe for them to just go out and do what they want to do. I know that watching and making sure that he is safe and helping him get unstuck when he finds a tight spot at the children's museum is a small thing, but it makes me think about and feel very thankful for a mom (and dad...) who did those small and big things for me. When you're the kid you're often too busy learning, and doing, and pushing your way though obstacles to see who is making it all possible for you in the first place.

Thanks Mom.

big boy jammies...

Asher in his new pajamas. Man, where did my baby go? All I see is this big boy!





















Asher has been a fantastic sleeper lately!

new do...

Bath time is fun and all, but lately I've needed to find new ways to amuse myself while Asher plays in the tub. Today I had fun making soapy new hairstyles. Asher was busy screaming "BABY!" to his reflection in the metal spout so he didn't even notice what I was doing until I showed him a mirror.

jungle fun...

Asher picked his big stuffed tiger and elephant to play with this morning, and of course he had his favorite jungle blanket too!

So we went out to the living room to play with them and I asked Asher if these guys were his buddies and this is what he did.

I bet it's pretty fun when your toys are as big as you are!

Sweet Asher giving the tiger hugs and kisses. While we were playing I started telling Asher what sounds the animals made and asked him if he could do it too, but I didn't really expect him to be able to do it yet. He surprised me with the cutest little tiger growl and elephant sound I have EVER heard, and then we were doing them for the rest of the day! So fun.

a little bit of baby sign...

Asher is getting fantastic with his baby sign. It's fun to be able to have him tell us what he wants at least some of the time. He is such a quick learner. I also really love to see the way his little hands do the signs because it's not quite like we show him, but it is so cute to watch! Some words that he signs are: More, Food, Please, All Done/Finished, Change (when he is dirty), and Bedtime/Nap time.

Free Zoo Day...

Asher didn't so much care to see the animals at the zoo, but he really enjoyed being outside in the beautiful weather and eating his goldfish crackers!

"Look at what animals mom? Can I have some more crackers?"

Silly Asher playing games with me while I was taking pictures.

Goofy face for the camera. Thanks everyone, We had a great time!!

such a big boy...

Happy 11 months Asher! We can't believe that you are getting so big and strong. I had so much fun with you today!!

Asher did some great things today! He can walk (when he feels like it...) and today he took lots of great steps. He walked all the way to me which was probably 6 or 7 feet away. He is so little it is hilarious to see him walking!!