Candy from Strangers

It's the very way Asher came to love Santa as a 1-year-old. The bearded giant handed the boy a miniature candy cane, we credited him with a few gifts, and old Saint Nick was in like Flynn!

...We should probably brush up on strager danger.

 

And while Santa isn't at all who this season is about, he sure is fun to believe in for a few years.

Wishing you and yours joy and peace as we reflect on the miracle of our Savior's birth. So eternally grateful for his life, example, atonement and resurrection.

Oh, and enough of all this "Happy Holidays." Merry CHRISTMAS, by golly!

Preston Churchill

I was looking over this year's Christmas card, and had a funny realization.

Our sweet Preston looks a lot like Winston Churchill.

A fat, bald, old man.

 

Don't you think? I don't mind too much - Winston Churchill has long been a huge hero of mine. But still...hopefully as little man grows he'll trade Winston's looks for his wit and wisdom. 

Hopefully. :) 

How Global Warming is Making Me a Better Mom

Good thing I couldn't find one of Asher's trustee tennis shoes today. Otherwise, I wouldn't have thought to put his boots on for our walk. We couldn't waste a 63-degree day in December (sorry polar ice caps, but global warming has been good to us), though I hadn't realized how much water had pooled from last night's rain. 

So there we were, babe bundled in stroller, toddler following dutifully alongside, when Asher notices a puddle and looks at me to gauge my response to the idea we both knew he had. I'm not always the best about letting him get messy. It was 12:30, and he was already on his third clean outfit (due to the dismantling of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and "accidentally" jumping into his little brother's bathwater)... but since he'd donned boots, I smiled, nodded, and the boy went charging. What a sight. A little boy gleefully being a little boy. 

I am always amazed at the way he beelines for the puddles I do my best to avoid. I'm too quick to scold him for the childhood crimes of curiosity, over-excitement and mess making. Armed with my good intentions for firmly raising the boy right, I sometimes forget he's just a boy.

I drew the line when Asher started dragging his fingers through the stagnant water, topped with oily rainbows. No sense in my child getting sepsis on my first day of enlightenment. He needed yet another pair of clean pants by the time we returned home, but it was a very small price to pay. He had such a good time.

Blessing Preston

We blessed baby Preston last weekend in Andrew's home ward. He's already 3 months old, but we wanted to wait until both our immediate families could both be there, and I'm glad we did - it was a really special day. Andrew gave a beautiful blessing, and I felt so proud to be momma to that obese healthy baby boy.

Here are some pics of the day:

    Sweet face! 

Ready to have the rolls unleashed on you?

Boom! Don't his arms look like Popeye's? ....If Popeye seriously let himself go? Andrew's wonderful Aunt Suzie made this little blessing gown, and it does a great job masking his enormous thighs. She should start a plus size baby line.

We love you so, handsome little man! Intensely grateful to call you our own.

My Thoughts on Thanks

Lately, when I feel discouraged or inadequate, I've found the quickest cure is to kneel and thank Heavenly Father for all He's given me. So simple. And it always works. I come to Him down, and in seconds, feel my heart bubble over with gratitude, peace and love. In a world that loves a quick-fix, it's a wonder this isn't a more common practice.

Aren't we all after happiness? I've learned gratitude is the fastest route. Gratitude coupled with humility. I'm a mighty proud woman (don't ask me why); but, when I humble myself and see the hand of God in my life, I can't help but be overcome with profound gratitude. It's a really, overwhelmingly good feeling.

So last week as we all celebrated Thanksgiving, I made an extra effort to mentally keep counting my blessings. It wasn't hard...and it made me feel so consistently happy. At the top of my list was family - and I was glad to be able to spend the holiday in Kentucky with Andrew's family, who I LOVE. And I've never been one to throw around that word (Clip from home video of my dad interviewing me at age 5: Dad: "Who's your boyfriend, Sarah?" Me: "Patrick." Dad: "Do you love him?" Me: [stone-faced] "LIKE, not love."), but I really do. Awesome in-laws: Blessing number 52,801.

Anyway, we had so much fun hanging out together for 5 whole days, celebrating what is really a perfect holiday, and ushering in the season of the only one that trumps it.

 All the boys sporting their plaid

Joey has a tradition of lifting the kids up while they hang their "Baby's First Christmas" ornament.

 

Joey and Kim hanging the 1978 ornament from their first Christmas together

Chewing the imaginary gum Asher had just offered him

Everyone together 

This time of year is special, and it's easy to think about how richly blessed we are when there's a national holiday set aside for the sole purpose. But I move we cease to reserve Thanksgiving for November. Maintaining an ever-grateful heart will bring us happiness and draw us nearer to our Father. 

The oh-so-simple bottom line: when it comes to thanks, give it. :)

Asher the Kid

Asher is wearing me out. Usually, I refer to him as my "child." My "buddy." My "little first-born." But I've found these terms are subject to change.

When the boy finds time to smear toothpaste and vaseline all over our bathroom, paint the couch with yogurt, color the computer with sharpie, all while communicating exclusively through fit and whine, my maternal scales are involuntarily tipped, and Asher becomes my "KID." 

Kid. It's a moderately harsh term reserved for the harried parents of misbehaving children. Which lately, I am. Maybe the unauthorized artwork of a fussy, disobedient toddler doesn't seem criminal, but I've certainly been robbed of my patience from time to time. And "Asher the Kid" is a pretty fitting name for a future outlaw. Or inmate.

Our last week or two have been "Kid" weeks. Ash man has been extra sneaky, defiant and whiny. He seems to be regressing, which may be expected with a new baby around. It still stinks. I do feel terrible about being less available...but the toddler is certainly making me pay for it. Every day upon witnessing his newest scene of destruction, I utter the same phrase: "Are you kidding me?!"

Well....turns out that's exactly what he's doing.

Anyway, Asher certainly senses and responds to my dissatisfaction. There's definitely some tension between us at times. Here's proof:

His bedtime prayers: "Dear Heathery Father, we're thankful for Daddy, and thankful for Preston, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Asher: "Daddy says 'Just a minute,' and Asher says 'Just a second'.

Me: "Oh, really? What does mommy say?"

Asher: "'Dang it!'"

Haha, thanks for reminding me of how short I fall, you little stinker! I need to be a more patient, loving mommy. And you need to stop kidding me. :)

Happy Halloween!

Asher was a cowboy, Andrew, Preston and I were babies.

Special thanks to Preston for taking the pictures. 

Happy Halloween!

Our Boys at Bedtime

Here's a little video we took of the boys a couple weeks ago before bedtime. Nothing too special happens...Asher wallows around on our bed and says his favorite word a few times, Preston just looks cute. At almost 8 minutes, it's a little long for regular people to watch... grandparent length, really, but I know someday it will be so fun for us to revisit these sweet few moments in time when our boys were still small.

Party's Over

My sister Christina flew home last week, marking the very end of our family visitors. A little offended everyone chose to return home to their own lives instead of moving in with us like I begged. They'll regret it...once you've known the luxury of our basement air mattress, you're spoiled for life.

Thanks to Preston, we were able to see nearly every member of our immediate families over the last two months. What a blessing! My appreciation for family has intensified now that we're far away. I live for the times we're all together...almost willing to have another baby if it means getting everyone back up here. Almost.

Anyway, here is a random assortment of bad photos from the visits that occurred post-Labor day. First my mom came, followed by my sister Liz and nephew Wesley, then my sisters Christina, Hannah and Amy.

While my mom was here, we took a little picnic to the temple grounds and enjoyed the beautiful day. Really missing her and the mid-September weather!

Asher and Grandma Suzie

 

And then our "oops, time to go to the airport, and we forgot to take pictures" pictures.

 

When Liz and Wes visited, we put all the fun outing pictures on her camera, so all I have are the aforementioned pre-airport sort. Can I just tell you - I love this girl. We totally get each other, and she is my favorite person to talk to. Plus, we operate under some sort of enchantment which makes us both believe the other is incredibly hilarious. So when we're together, we are completely dumb and laugh nonstop like the silly little girls we used to be.

 

Anyway, we got ONE good picture, and 30 bad ones...but they kind of capture our relationship.

 

 

Love her. Then Christina came to call! She took a week off from her newlywed life in Texas to spend a with us, helping and hanging out. Then Hannah and Amy drove up from Kentucky for a long weekend to make it a party. Four of us together? Dream come true.

Zoo with Aunt Christina (not pictured...oops)

Hannah


Amy

So I would tell you about all the amazing things we did and saw around the city, but I can't, because we basically stayed home in scrubby clothes, knit and watched Downton Abbey. Zero regrets.

Anyway, everyone's gone for now. No more sad drives home from the airport, blubbering all the way. The party was fun while it lasted!

 

Sure do love my sisters :)

 

 

 

So deeply thankful for people in my life worth missing this badly! How did we get so blessed?

These Boys

Preston is 6 weeks old today! Thought it was high time for an update on both our little boys. They are still getting along famously. And by "getting along," I mean Asher still loves his brother, and Preston is tolerant of Asher's messy, wild ways. We are really getting the hang of two, and I'm almost enjoying the challenge of getting out with them together...although nothing beats getting out alone!

Preston looks a lot like Asher did as a baby...It's hard to prove with our pictures, but here are a couple shots of them both around this age:

A lot of the resemblance is in the little faces they make. Here's Asher's "small mouth" face...we haven't quite captured Preston's yet, but you can tell they're brothers for sure.

 

Preston is getting big too fast. At his 1 month check-up he was already 10 pounds...it's amazing to think he's gained half his birth weight in just 4 weeks. I am (*sob*) putting away all his newborn and 0-3 outfits. He's giving us 6-7 hour stretches of sleep at night, so we can't complain! Real smiles (in lieu of the "You-probably-just-have-gas-but-this-sure-is-cute" smiles) began this past week, and he rolled from belly to back today!

Preston loves the sound of running water, nursing, being held with his head thrown back, using his grasping reflex on mommy's hair, and emptying his bladder the moment his diaper is removed. He is so full of sweetness and we are all just in love with him.

Asher boy has become a total clown. He loves to make us laugh and is always doing and saying silly things to get our attention (OR diffuse our anger when he's done something naughty; i.e. throwing little toys in the diaper champ we then have to rifle through damp filth to find, then asking, "Does Jesus give people spankings?"). I'd say his speech has become more sophisticated, but that would be misleading, as lately his favorite word is "poopy". He tries to work it into every conversation, every book reading, even prayers, and continues to be under the false impression it is humorous.

Here's a sweet action shot of Asher and Daddy playing a couple weeks ago.

 

This child loves his father. Sunday night he awoke in a panic, and for the first time ever, articulated a dream to us. "My daddy not fall down the stairs! Daddy don't fall down the basement stairs! 'Member my daddy slipped down the stairs? That was not a good choice, daddy...". Poor little guy! So I guess it was a nightmare, but it was sweet to see how concerned he was about Andrew.

Asher loves to sing (favorites include "This Old Man" and "Popcorn Popping"), go for outings, quote movies (He'll say things like, "'You tore down a building?!?' That's from the Incredibles!"), jump off of things, read books (current favorites: "Love You Forever", "The Giving Tree," and "Where the Wild Things Are") eat, and entertain. He is such a talkative, energetic, silly little boy.

 

Love these boys and our family of four!