A few funny face pictures...

Sunday afternoon walks...

Asher got to be a big boy on Sunday and ride in his stroller sitting up rather than strapped into his carseat.

I really enjoy where we live. The apartments have lots of green grass and big trees around to look at.

Asher loves to touch the leaves. We hold him close so he can feel the different textures and some times he manages to pull a few off. Yesterday on our walk he grabbed some and of course they went straight into his mouth. He pulled a disapproving face and actually made an audible "Uggh!" sound. It really surprised us, but it was so funny. I guess that is how he learns!

This is my family! I love to spend little moments like this with them!!

Oh, the smiles!

If this face doesn't make you feel happy,
I don't know what will!

Asher says "Thanks" for his toys :)

It's starting to get more exciting for Asher now that he enjoys playing with toys. Today he played for almost an hour with this play gym that was a gift from his Great Aunts and I think he has really found a new friend in his "Whoozit" buddy.

I had such a great time playing with him. He is also starting to like games like "peek-a-boo" and "where's asher?". He is also great at honking my nose, which is always a much more pleasent game after I cut his finger nails. I love to tickle him and get him laughing. Yesterday I had him laughing so hard that tiny little tears where coming down his cheeks.

Asher is my best friend!

Time for a nap...

We just got Asher a doorway jumper and he is really good at it - although in this picture he was more interested in eating the edge of the seat then jumping.

Also, I have always loved watching little kids when they get so sleepy that they have a hard time keeping their face out of their mashed potatoes or something equally adorable. Today Asher was doing that in his jumper. He was having a great time jumping one second and then the next he could hardly keep his head up. Enjoy!

Nighty Night

While Asher does still sometimes end up tangled in the crib slats, I think he has found his preferred way of sleeping (pictured below). Half tummy/half side with his hands up by his face (usually sucking his thumb). As I go to lay him in his crib he turns and twists into that position before he even hits the mattress. Sleep tight Asher man ; )

Big boy

My son is getting so big. This picture makes him look like a little boy instead of my baby : (

This could be a problem...

Asher rolls over in his crib like a crazy man these days. When I put him to sleep he is on his back in the middle. When I get him in the morning he is on his tummy in the corner. It's amazing. Last night he got himself stuck in the bars. He was struggling a little but wasn't too upset. I had to snap some pictures before I set him free. What a wiggle worm!!

3 months and counting...

One month, two months, three months...

Asher is another month older, and that means time for another face picture. I picked this picture for his 3 month picture even though his hands are in his mouth because that totally shows what he was like this month. He is all about his hands in his mouth!

One day I went to check on him in his crib after he woke up and he was just playing with his hands, but he hadn't learned to bring his hands to his mouth, rather he was struggling to lift his head to his hands and then he would flop back down for a minute and then bring his head to his hands again.

It's great to watch him learn and get better and better at things everyday!

Fin, Noggin, Dude!

We got Asher this little Squirt stuffed animal from Finding Nemo when he was born and now they are buddies. Now that Asher can grab and hold on to him it's pretty cute to watch them play, or rather watch Asher slobber all over Squirt.

Blessing Day

We blessed Asher on June 10th, 2007. Justin did a beautiful job and we were happy to have so much of our family there. Asher's Grandma Carrier made his blessing outfit and did a wonderful job! Thanks Joyce!! What a handsome boy.

Our little contest winner

Justin and I decided to enter Asher in the Orem Summerfest Baby Contest. I don't think we would ever do it again, but we sure had a fun day. The theme was "Dancing Stars" so I thought of a little ballroom dancer. The only tux small enough was at Build-A-Bear Workshop, and yes I did it. I put my son in a stuffed animal outfit! He looked adorable. I even made a little ballroom dancer sign for his back. He was in a great mood when it was his turn to see the judges and they loved him. He won third place in his age group and he really...couldn't care less.

Playtime with Mom

When Asher and I play he gets really excited and makes all sorts of funny faces and sweet laughs and giggles...then he gets worn out and "powers down" for a few seconds with a blank stare on his face.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

This is Asher in action. He learned to roll from tummy to back first and did it a few times, then all at once he could roll from back to tummy also and does it all the time! Mostly in his crib. I think he is trying to find a way to escape.

Hello Blogger, my old friend!

Well, I'm back. I've missed my blog! Justin, Asher and I are now living in Salt Lake. It's been a really great and really busy few weeks. First, I had my friend Stacy and her little boy in town which was so fun. I am so excited to live closer to them soon! Then we made the big move up to SLC. Thanks to those who helped us. We couldn't have done it without you!! Now we are getting used to things up here and still trying to get settled in. It is taking me forever to get unpacked.

We have been having a lot of fun, and Asher is developing more and more sweet skills everyday like sleeping in his crib, grabbing and holding onto toys, jumping, rolling over from tummy to back and back to tummy, making spit bubbles, sucking his thumb, laughing, and flirting with all the ladies at church. I love being a Mom! I don't have long before his nap is over... so I am going to try and just quickly post some of my favorite pictures from the last few weeks.

That face totally shows how he feels about Binky's

Sleeping on Uncle Spencer

Our little family at the Zoo

Asher in his little church outfit

Asher's First Giggle

Asher let out a little squeak the other day that I thought might have been a laugh, but today there was no denying it! My little boy giggled!! We were sitting outside in the shade of a big tree at our new apartment in Salt Lake and I just wanted to make him smile so I tickled him... (he smiles all the time - he is so happy!) but I got more then a smile, I got some giggles. I grabbed the camera to record it for Justin and caught just a little bit of our fun. I even thought it was fitting that I decided to put him in his "Giggle Saurus" onesie today.

This is music to my ears. I'm so happy this is just the beginning of the giggles. I hope Asher is always laughing! Enjoy!

I'm so lucky, she's my sister!

I love it when I pick up my phone and see "Hannah Crossett" on the caller ID, and get so excited when I drive up to my parents house and see her car parked in the driveway. You just can't ask for a better sister or friend than Hannah!

I joke that I am lucky that she still likes me after the things I used to do to her when we were younger (I did like to "trick" her and I was always playing with her toys...but, really nothing too mean...) Hopefully I have made up for it by now. I really am so lucky that she is my friend!

It's a funny thing with sisters, as we got older I always thought that she was the coolest and I wanted to be more like her. I remember talking to her once and she said that she always felt the same way towards me. Hannah is soooo fun to be around! Sometimes I'm sad that I missed some fun times in her life while I was away at college, but I am so glad that we will be friends and sisters forever. Hannah is so thoughtful and kind, she is good and always tries to do the right thing, she is smart, spiritual, and talented...she is Hannah!

I think there are a few people who would agree with me that we have some PRICELESS memories from our childhood because of this girl. Oh, I love her and I can't tell you how thankful I am to have her in my family. All I can say is... I'm so lucky, she's my sister!

Some thoughts from the husband and father...

Hi all, this is Justin. I just wanted to post this picture of my wonderful wife and beautiful little boy. This is a rare picture; for some reason we have more pictures of Asher and Dad than Asher and Mom.

I just want my little family to know how grateful I am for them. I occasionally had to remind myself that this Father's Day was different than any other Father's Day in my life to date, because now I am a father. This little boy will look up to me the same way I looked up to and learned from my father. Was my father perfect? No, and he'd probably be the first to admit that. But he did his best, and I love him and am grateful for his efforts and examples. I'm grateful he's taught me how to be a dad, and what it means to support and love your children. I would like to be the perfect dad, but since that's not possible I'm definitely going to do my best. During my Mother's Day talk, I played on a comment by the youth speaker and joked that when you have to get up in the middle of the night to help change a diaper that your love can be somewhat conditional. I take it back; my love has never been and never will be conditional. I love my little Asher boy so much, and I hope my words and actions always show him that. It's also amazing to me how much he's done for our relationship as a married couple. Life has definitely changed, but I couldn't think of a better way for it to.

Abby, I know I'm busy and hopefully I'm doing my fair share to help when I can. Thank you for your support and confidence. I know you know this, but it's because of the two (and however many may come down the road) of you that I'm doing what I'm doing. Am I excited about my future career? Absolutely; I love PT school and the privilege I will have at the end of 3 years to be a professional, a doctor of physical therapy. I'm also excited that we have and will have the opportunity to talk about and work together in this field. I guess I'm lucky, blessed really. I am going into a profession I love, and I have a family that I love even more. I'm grateful for the blessings and opportunities which have been and will be presented to me to take care of and ultimate be with my family. Thanks for sticking with me, encouraging me, and loving me. I really do have the greatest family in the world.

I wish I could take his pain away...

Asher had his 2 month shots today. He also has a little cold that he caught from his daddy. He really did have a rough day, but he was still such a good little boy. This picture was taken right after I finished giving him a bath. I massaged him with baby lotion and got him dressed and we sat down with the boppy pillow in the big red chair - and then he gave me those eyes. They seemed to say "Momma, I'm sick. I need you. I wanna snuggle."

I loved every minute of it!

Man, I love that face!

I never thought that I could love a face this much. This is Asher Mckay Carrier when he was one day old, one month old and two months old.

Happy 2 months little man. I am honored to be your momma.

My blissful evening

Wow, tonight was wonderful. Justin, Asher and I all enjoyed Family Home Evening in the park. Asher slept the whole time in the Lucky Baby sling (Asher and I love it), all the while grunting and snoring which kept making us laugh while we were trying to talk about the lesson. We read the conference talk by Bonnie D. Parkin entitled Gratitude: A Path to Happiness.

We sure love to talk about Asher and focus on him all the time, and who wouldn't - have you seen the kid?... but it was nice to talk just to my husband about things that are important to us.

Well, here's the thing...we have not been great at having Family Home Evening over the past 3 and a half years. It was always hard to make it official FHE time since we spent so much time together anyway. But, we know that the way to make it stick is to get into the habit now so that when we are busier with a bigger family we will already have it down. So, no point in being discouraged by our terrible track record. We'll just pick up from here and move forward.
It was also fun to be watching Super Nanny earlier this evening and see Jo talk to the family about having one night a week where they spend time together enjoying positive activities and building each other up.

No matter what you call it I think this could be the key to a strong and happy family.