This evening I said "Asher, say cheese!" wanting him to smile for the picture, but instead he did the baby sign language for Cheese (the food). What a smarty pants!
We saw this cool Batman mask at the store today, and I couldn't help but put it on Asher. He tolerated it for about 10 seconds before he pulled it off, but then started pointing at it while signing hat and touching his face so we put it back on long enough to take this picture. Didn't know Batman could be so cute, did ya?
Wow, we did it! I was so nervous to cut Asher's hair. I was too sad that he was going to look like a big boy and wouldn't be my baby anymore. But as you can see his comb-over was getting a little out of control. Before picture #1.
And what can I say about the back... Before picture #2.
Yes, he cried the whole time! It was heartbreaking!! Look how sad he is...and they haven't even started yet.
Even though he was screaming the whole time he sat really still and did a great job (as long as he was touching me).
So sad!!
Still crying...
All done, but still offended that we just did that. And, of course they spiked it.
Much happier now that we left that place!
What a cute boy! After picture #1.
After picture #2.
Now that we were feeling better we went to the Children's Museum again. This is Asher with his little friend Jane. I love watching them play together!
Asher was getting a little cranky (he missed his nap), and he was starting to feel sick. He didn't so much care for his cake; the previous two factors combined with the fact that he doesn't like gooey stuff on his hands made it so he didn't much like the experience. We neglected to bring a bib of any kind so we took his shirt off to avoid any major messes.
Asher and I have been sick with nasty colds for about a week. Asher's little nose was so sore and chapped it was bleeding, but other than that he has been his fun and happy self.
...at the Children's Museum! Now that Asher can walk his world at the Children's Museum just got a whole lot bigger.
...but, by morning he usually ends up with his little backside in the air. Funny baby!
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.
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".
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.
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!)
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.
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.
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.
