Asher is 15 Months!

First, when do we stop saying how many months old the kid is? Like, I feel if I say he's one...then it will be assumed he is 12 months old. On the flip side, if I say he's 15 months old...I feel like I'm saying I'm 31 and a half, you get what I mean? Whatever. He's actually almost 16 months old, but, for all intents and purposes, lets say he's 15 months old.

This kid has a solid 12 teeth with 2 to 3 more lightly puncturing his gums. I'm expecting him to be at 16 super soon. I don't even know whats next...four more in the second round of molars and he's good until adult teeth? No idea. But maybe it'll all be over with soon and we can definitely rule out teeth being a factor in his crappy sleep ability.

Let's mention that. I've been hearing (though no one really told me this when planning and baking Asher) that you either get a baby who sleeps well or one who doesn't. Asher slept like a champ for say...three months or so. I was amazed! At around 2 weeks old he would sleep 5 hours in a row! (which is freaking amazing because at that age no one sleeps for that long in a row) Well, whatever corner we turned, we turned it and never looked back because he hasn't slept well since. He wakes easily and, if he's by himself, has a total melt down. If someone is with him, just a little shush-ing, usually, gets him right back to sleep. So, thank God we have a king sized bed. It's the only way I get a nice night's worth of mostly restful sleep. No way could I work 12 hours in an ICU and not screw up if he wasn't sleeping with us. This is survival, people!

The kid loves his veggies right now. Would you believe it?!?!? He doesn't even want to eat his fruit, usually. And he'll eat almost everything you hand to him. Give him something you're eating, he'll put it straight in his mouth. He's also doing a pretty decent job using a fork! I'm very proud of him for that, and he feels like a big boy with it.

His speech is "a little" delayed. He jibber-jabbers like crazy, but doesn't speak English. Just speaks Asher. Since he understands lots of things, no one is really worried about it right now. Like if you tell Asher, "Up?" then he'll raise his arms up so you can pick him up. You can tell him to turn a light on or off and help him reach it and he will, and definitely understands "No," but just doesn't really say words. Because of that, we're working even harder on giving everything a name, reading a crap ton to him (he likes books...but he prefers short books), and things like that. In everything he's been asked to do, he usually comes through and makes us super proud to be his parents...but sometimes he makes us sweat it out...like this. Thanks, Ash.

Did I mention he's huge? 33.5 inches tall and 28lbs 14oz at the last check up. The doc said that was 97ish percentile or more...or something. Either way, he's stayed a big guy at every check up. Now I sorta worry if he doesn't rock those big numbers! I don't want to think I didn't feed him enough or something! But, alas, he keeps eating and pooping and growing bigger and bigger. I feel a bit cheated out of having a baby and now have a little kid, but, such is life. And he completely makes up for it by wanting to cuddle in my lap during story time. 

With that being said, I'll just give you some cutie-patootie pictures and move on. Enjoy!

What Santa got him.

At Gammy and Pawpaw's for Christmas.

Looking at the trains at the Trains at Northpark.

Looking outside.

Sleeping on my lap.

Enjoying his quad he got from Nana at Christmas.

SPAGHETTI! We LOVES it!

"Don't mind me. I'm just taking a nap in the grocery cart because I skipped my nap earlier."

State Fair of Texas!

Of course I'll start off by saying how sorry I am that I've gotten so lax about posting. But you deal with a baby who hardly naps and, when he does, requires it to be ON you. You find a way to blog then (as well as all the other stuff you're supposed to do) and then teach me, please.

Moving on. Asher is now a few days away from 11 months old. He is an expert crawler, pulls himself up on things, "cruises" on the furniture, eats everything he finds on the floor just like a goat, eats mostly green beans and black beans if he's in his high chair and supposed to be eating, babbles incessantly (it is cute, really), says Dada (we think on purpose), Mama (again, we think on purpose), Uh-oh!, and working on bye-bye. He can clap and we're working on our wave. He's a curious little guy, getting into EVERYTHING. LOVES water...and especially playing in the dog bowls (yes, he has more than once dumped the water on himself) if we forget to pick them up before letting him lose. He shows a touch of shyness but so far no real separation anxiety or stranger danger. He uses his straw sippy cups now instead of bottles, oh, and only feeds himself. You are NOT allowed to feed him. 

But we went to the State Fair of Texas yesterday. I love going and I hope he does, too. He seemed to enjoy some of my favorite parts:

Teeth and 4 Month Sleep Regression

We'll start with what happened first, the horrid four month sleep regression. Asher has actually slept pretty well from the get go...until he hit four months old. From some of the reading that I've done, there is a four month sleep regression or a four month wakeful period. What I understand is there really isn't much of a difference. Just in the wakeful period, the baby wakes up and wants to talk or play and such. The regression is the same thing, but the baby will go back to sleep. That is Asher. He has been waking up ALL THE TIME during the night. Some nights every 30min to one hour. O.M.G. I know I was tired when he was first born, but I had NO CLUE what was coming. Especially after the tease of getting maybe 3-5 hour stretches of sleep (which, lets be honest, I haven't had since MAYBE early 2nd trimester, because waking up to pee or being just purely uncomfortable being pregnant and sleeping never lent to the best, continuous sleep), being made to wake up all the time is enough to drive one mad. 


Maybe this is why we all think our mothers are a little crazy sometimes...because they are! We made them that way through sleep deprivation, teasing sleep, and purely annoying sleeping habits. They never could catch a break back then, altering their perfect and pure logic they once had. To top it off, they didn't even have smart phones or DVRs to entertain them when they were forced to be awake. Think of our grandparents and great grandparents, when there wasn't anything on the TV (or even the existence of one) or radio to entertain them. They had to sit there and deal with us waking up at God awful hours by themselves!!! They sat alone, sleep deprived, with their thoughts. I don't know about you, but that can be scary sometimes! My, where can our minds lead us at times! Of course books are helpful, but if you can read in the near blackness that you're sitting in with the hopes of the baby to go back to sleep faster, I doubt you'll be able to see the book much (assuming you're conscious enough to even realize you're reading!) 


I guess if you're one of the lucky ones who can sleep sitting up, good for you. I can't. I wake myself snoring when I do that (which is why I'm hoping to train Asher NOT to be a light sleeper because it totally blows). I know those that bed share may feel that have it a bit easier, too, because side lying breast feeding means you can go to back to sleep and make the baby fall asleep eating, but you're still getting awakened often (and if you like to sleep with tons of blankets, bed sharers can't do that without putting the baby at risk of SIDs or suffocation, and, God help you, if sleeping on your side for a long time makes your hips hurt, like mine, then bed sharing gets old super fast. Not dissing bed sharing, just saying I think no matter you're style, sleep regression sucks butt).


Anyways, now that Asher is fast approaching 5 months old (he was 20 weeks this week, but not officially 5 months) I THINK he may be starting to get the hang of real sleep. Out of the past 4 nights, 2 have sucked butt and 2 have been Heavenly. 50% isn't that bad. One can mostly function on 50%, yes?


So, there you have it. A "milestone" for Asher. One I was neither looking forward to and will be quite excited to see pass.


Other milestones you ask? He's found his feet, and, I can proudly attest to, is very proficient at sticking them in his mouth to suck on. He likes to squeal and scream now. He has really gotten fun. There is no rough housing yet, but getting him to smile, squeal, talk, play, reach, bat, or shove things in his mouth has gotten easy and is so much fun. I know playing like that is actually super lame, but what makes it fun is watching him develop the abilities and interest to do all of these things. He is now playing with the duckies I put in the bath with him. Granted, it is mostly reaching, batting, and grabbing to put in his mouth, but he's playing with them nonetheless. 


Oh, and he has teeth now! Yes, teeth. Not a tooth, but TEETH. Sigh. I wasn't ready for that. I might have to confess to sorta crying on the way to work the day after he cut his first tooth because I just wasn't ready for his toothless smiles and grins to go away yet. They were so cute! He does still look mostly toothless, as he only has 2 and those 2 are only barely cut through the gums, but they're there. And, it seems everyone wants to know, so far, breastfeeding is still a breeze. He doesn't hurt me anymore with teeth than he did without teeth. Those "gums" he has have serious bone behind them, so, if he wanted to chomp for some reason he would still send me screaming (of course this did not happen often, or we'd have a problem, but like if he choked, he might chomp to try to help control his cough and unfortunately my anatomy was in the way). 


It's a little fuzzy...but there are his 2 teeth. He wasn't pleased having to have his picture taken for this.

Other than that, we're still waiting on rolling over. He hates tummy time, but we're making him do it more and trying to trick it up more to make him like it better. He really likes the toys he plays in where he's upright and bouncing and such. I think he just really hates feeling like the world is happening around him and he's not part of it. Lying on your stomach, or even your back, sorta limits your view. His other toys (his exersaucer and jumper) allow him 360° views, which, of course, are far superior. We'll see what happens. I might have to just lie to the pediatrician because I really think nothing is wrong with him if he doesn't roll. He is hitting other milestones and can move his body extremely well. He just doesn't care for this rolling business right now.

Just getting comfortable since he's forced to be down there.

He is also watching us eat and reaching for things now. We tried to give him some rice "cereal" mixed with breast milk, but he was NOT having it. I wasn't a big fan of starting with rice cereal, but Brandon really wanted to try it because someone he works with said it helped his kid sleep. (I'm not a fan because I just don't see the point of feeding him something that is tasteless, has little to no nutrition, and seems like 50/50 on whether it helps the baby sleep through the night). Either way, Asher is slowly becoming more interested in food. I'm hoping to cut up some avocado soon, sprinkle it with some mashed up Cheerios or something, and see if he is interested in grabbing it and feeding himself with it. He's getting close to that age where babies are often doing that for themselves. 

Ok, well, I think I've ranted enough. those are the Asher updates!

Some tummy time

Playing in his jumper

Being cute, he likes his high chair

Fell asleep playing in his jumper! (I was right next to him, one minute he was spinning around...next he was out like a light!) 

A video of him squealing and playing

He's 4 Months!

What the heck! This growing up thing happens too fast. I know 4 months versus 18 years or something isn't much...but he has so many discoveries every week! 


Well, he basically is the size of a 6 month old at 4 months. No one is surprised as both his Daddy and I are tall people, so everyone expects him to be a big guy. He is meeting his milestones just about right on. He's been a tad slow on the rolling over milestone, but what I hear is that big babies are slower on that one. His pediatrician says he isn't worried but I have to actually do tummy time (I'd been slacking off! Bad me, but Asher hates it!).


Anyways, his favorite things: a Pooh bear toy his Nana gave him, his swing his Grammy gave him, Pawpaw (in general he thinks Pawpaw is super), his piano play mat, his snail, his hands, his exersaucer, NickJr on tv, baseballs, dance, and his stroller. He has some other things he likes, but those things seem to just really make him happy or sleepy lol.  

Dancing baby!

Chillin' in the exersaucer

Piano play mat he kicks the eve-livin' crap out of

Stroller that puts him to sleep...SCORE!

Baseball Daddy was tossing

Sigh...watching tv

Trying to pull his snail closer

What my little buddy can do now: he's working on sitting up (he hates not being able to see everything), make lots of different sounds, giggle, squeal, reach and grab for things purposefully, manipulate toys, he's found his feet and tries to put those in his mouth, and recognizes boobs and milk bottles (see picture below of him trying to get the milk bottle from his Pawpaw).

Oh! And we're signed up for water babies swimming "lessons." This will be so fun! Brandon wants to take him on his days off! I'll have to take pictures of that, of course!


Ok, off to play with him. He's just OVER the jumperoo right now (though he enjoyed his time there until all of a sudden, of course). See you later for more Asher news!

Asher Updates

Sorry that posting blog updates have been so few and far between, but I have been trying to manage this little dude we call Asher. Things are getting better...which is good since I start school and work again this week! (omg omg omg I'm totally freaking out!)


Difficulties: Asher ended up with some reflux! Around 4 weeks or so he just became inconsolable all the time. I emailed the pediatrician and they had us come in and got Asher started on Prevacid. Oh my gosh, that made a huge difference. All of a sudden we were getting baby coos, smiles, and naps! (and less crying!) I feel bad he felt bad, but I'm so happy I talked to his doc about it and we got it taken care of, and fast!




Thanksgiving was half good, half bad. That was right around when his reflux was starting to be bad, but I assumed it was something I ate at Thanksgiving that was not sitting well with him. At the first dinner we went to, he slept like an angel. However, he has quickly decided he hates his car seat. He does NOT like being in it any longer than he has to. The next 2 dinners were iffy, since he was getting fussy and upset. 


Things that started making our life wonderful...bottles. Pumping and letting other people feed them (omg they really want that chance! Who'd have known!?) has been wonderful. I love feeding my baby, but it is nice to have a break from holding him sometimes, and that is a wonderful chance to let others take. My Mawmaw loves it!


Christmas was wonderful. At my Granddaddy's, he was the perfect baby! He like never cried and sat in mine or my mom's arms the whole time just either sleeping  or looking around. We were so shocked with that performance of his! And, since the only other time my Granddaddy saw him, Asher was crying his little head off, it was really nice that he got to see the sweet baby we usually see at home.


The other Christmas dinners were great, too. I saw our future, though. We will most likely need to bring 2 cars for future Christmases because all the crap Asher will get. It isn't even that he gets a lot of things...but some of the things he got, and will be getting in the form of toys in the future, take up so much room! That was interesting loading up the trucks, especially since we'd taken the dogs to spend the day at the parent's house on Christmas day!


At his 2 month appointment, he is a monster! He was 26 inches (which actually put him above the 97th percentile...the tech said he was off the charts! He's super long for his age!), 14 pounds, 8.5 ounces (95th percentile) and his head size was in the 90th percentile! So, I take that as a big boy who is pretty proportionate. He's a cute baby boy doll!


Ok, tidbits about being a parent so far:

• Smart phones are life savers. How in God's name did anyone function without them ever??? The WhiteNoise Lite application, the YouTube high contrast baby videos, and access to the real world wherever you are are wonderful things.
• I should have introduced a pacifier and bottle WAY earlier. I still don't think he's a fan of either, but he seems to tolerate both of them for short amounts of time right now. I'm proud of being able to exclusively breast feed him so far (as not everyone is able to do it), so don't get me wrong. But being able to soothe him when he's just fussy and doesn't need anything would be great, as well as taking a break and letting Daddy feed him or something would be wonderful, too. My first day back at work will be a real interesting day for Brandon, I tell ya.
• A good swing/bouncer is awesome. The first swing we got he sorta liked...but not for long. My mom found another swing she swore he'd like, and he loves! It doesn't work magic...if he's pissed, he's pissed. But he does love sitting in it and swinging, listening to the classical music, and looking at his toys.
• The Fischer Price Newborn Rock and Play Sleeper is seriously a God send. He loves sleeping in it, I think he feels cuddled in it, he has always slept well in it, keeps him inclined (good for reflux), is rated up to 25 pounds, is portable, and just perfect! Yellow may be gender neutral, but I soooo ignore that for the wonderful sleep Asher gets at night. Saves my sanity, I tell ya! (Thank you, mom, for insisting I need this, and thank you, Candy, for getting it for Asher!)
• I do love my cloth diapers. They're SO EASY. They may be a tad on the expensive side of cloth diapers, and possibly need an extra 20 minutes drying in the dryer, but they've contained everything (fine, there was one pee mishap, but that could have been my fault!) and are so easy to use, just like disposables. I got the BumGenius Elemental All-In-Ones (with the snaps, not the velcro stuff). Less trash...less money in the long run. Just think, you never have to buy diapers! (Although, I have to give serious props to the Pampers Swaddlers with the indicator line. They have been AMAZING diapers for him when we use disposables...and dummy proof to boot). 

Picture time!

Picture with Santa!

Found his thumb (with the help of Daddy)

Sleeping with his Christmas teddy bear

Our little tree, me and a sleepy Asher

Happy in Grammy's lap

Just finished a nice lunch

Omg, maybe he looks a little like me now!

From happy...

to serious/sad in seconds!

Asher-zilla!!!

Getting our shots

Playing with Grammy

I like to sleep and think