Deep Thoughts

Some recent stuff

We're all doing just hunky-dory. I'm back in school again after about a month break between terms. Just 3 more semesters including this one to go... YAY! (Or as Brennan would say, "Tip tip, uh-rraaaaay")

Brennan has been doing pretty good with the potty-training, plus we're about to run out of nice days before the fall/winter/spring rainy season. Soooo, I got Brennan his promised bike. It wasn't my first choice color/style-wise, but I went with the one on clearence. (Normally all the bikes run $80 and up, this one rang up at $35. A steal for sure, which is my favorite price, after free of course.) Anyway, he L-O-V-E-S it! From Wednesday thru Friday the kids and I stayed at a beachhouse with our friends, and although Brennan had a blast there, he mentioned several times that he wanted to go home to ride his new bike.

Asher turned 8 months old yesterday. He makes me and Brian laugh the way he's constantly on us. I had to get some pictures today when Brian was attempting to work on the church bulletin/program for tomorrow, but finding it difficult because Asher was trying to grab the mouse, among other things. Later, as I tried to make dinner, besides that when I'm standing in one spot Asher is using me to also stand, every time I bent down to get something from a cupboard Asher was immediately on me again, and I couldn't get back up myself without finding a way to help him gently down (all the while trying to juggle the item I'd bent down to get to begin with). It's cute to boot, though admittedly gets a little old when you're just trying to cook.

I'm attaching some video shot mostly today, plus one from a week or so ago. It includes Asher doing a little cruising & crawling. I came upon Brennan today encouraging Asher to climb up the stairs (uh, not a good idea Brennan. Asher did make it up two stairs at my parent's house already). Then, I couldn't help but try to record some of Brennan playing with his dollhouse. I wasn't recording at first, but much of the conversation his characters were having was so funny.

New Arrival

Brian and Heather are pleased to announce the arrival of their new baby. "Spin" arrived after some labor on Brian's part, weighing in at many lbs and measuring about yay high. Brennan is quite taken with this new addition to the family. He's geared up and ready to play.


But in all seriousness, we're pretty excited about this recent purchase from craigslist. I'm just not resigned to the idea of these extra lbs from each baby sticking to me forever. Ever notice that I don't usually post pictures of myself on here? Those extra lbs are the reason. Brennan loves to have his turn. Last night I exercised while he was up, so when I finished he took a turn for a few minutes, then joined me on the floor and mimicked my stretches. It was the cutest thing EVER!

And yes, he is wearing his backpack. (Much of the last several days in fact) and yes his pockets are inside out, his shirt's on backwards, and his clothes clash. When I get up in the mornings these days I'm finding him already dressed. Why not, I say... saves me the hassle.

Asher is standing pretty good now. The last two mornings he's been standing in his crib when I've gone to get him up. It's a pretty funny sight actually - I hear Brennan and get up, open their door, and see Brennan dressed in who knows what, sitting on his bed playing quietly with his toys, while Asher's standing in his crib just watching him. I have no idea how long this goes on before I actually wake up... but I'm certainly not complaining.

I always like to see Brennan "reading" books.

"Uh oh, caught me red-handed!" Asher is a scavenger, searching for anything he can possibly stick in his mouth. (I'm still searching his poop for the door stop cap he swallowed a few days ago - we've had to make sure all the others are stuck on or take them off ourselves.)

"I'll smile for the camera, Mom, but seriously, I'm stuck!"

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We're all doing really well. Asher is getting super fast and I'm having to get used to him being constantly under my feet. My entire day is constant re-child proofing which means picking up every last little rock or dirt clump that's fallen off a shoe, scoping for Brennan's toys that aren't baby-friendly, finding all the food pieces that have dropped off the highchair or that Brennan's managed to leave in another room, and so forth. It was never this much work with Brennan, but it's certainly WAY more work now BECAUSE of Brennan. I don't even remember Brennan following me around like this. He was pretty content sticking to the living room. Then again, when he was a baby I didn't have as many reasons to wander around myself - I saved most housework for his naps. Either way, Asher is keeping pretty good pace with me, which means that I walk into a new room, quickly scope for any hazards on the floor while Asher catches up, and then I do what I've gone into the room to do while Asher climbs up my legs.

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I love my life! My family is awesome!

This kid is growing up like a human whirlwind! Now Asher can get himself into standing position. He usually uses a person sitting on the floor (I spend a lot of time on the floor playing with Brennan while Asher climbs all over me). I think he's used the couch to get up once. It lasted about a second before he toppled over, but still...

So, he's not cruising yet because he can't stay standing on his own, but at the rate he's teaching himself these tricks, I'm sure it's coming much sooner than I originally expected. Yikes!

Pictures of crawling/climbing to come soon, I hope. Although he can crawl all over, he spends much time just sitting - at least he does whevener I pull out the camera. Babies never perform when you actually want them to.