Ascher's 2nd Birthday!

Back at the end of March my little man turned TWO years old!! We didn't have a party this year for a number of reasons but two of the big ones were 1. We just moved here so we don't have that many friends close by yet and 2. We had the gender reveal two weeks prior to his birthday and everyone that came to that would have come to his birthday and most everyone here for gender reveal had to travel at least an hour.  Plus almost everyone I talked to was busy/had plans that weekend so instead we decided to have a fun family birthday and have a family day soaking in the moments we have as a family of three. 

However, on Thursday night we had a little fun because Mom was in town to watch Ascher for MOPS on Friday morning so I decorated a fold out table with race car tablecloth and hung racing flags from the chandelier in the dining room.I got some cupcakes from Target and got him his own big cupcake. Even though he wans't having a party I still wanted to make it fun. Dad happened to be in the area for a meeting so he stopped by on his way home as well. I put all his presents in bags and set them up on the table and made it a little birthday party set up. Once Justin got home, we ate pizza (Ascher's favorite), sang Happy Birthday, & let the little rascal open presents. He had a blast- as soon as he opened one he wanted to open the next. 

He got monster trucks, play doh, play doh garbage truck, ball pit balls, a new set of kid table and chairs and some other little things. His favorite of course was the monster trucks. He lines them all up in a row and then zooms them away one at a time.

On his real birthday, Saturday, we got up and went to eat breakfast at his favorite place...DONUTS!!! He is my child- that is for sure. He was so excited we were going to get donuts for breakfast. My orginal plan was to go get donuts then take them to playground and eat and let him play however it was a little chilly so we just ate our donuts at the donut shop. He thought he was so cool sitting on the bar stool and watching all the kids and parents come get donuts on Saturday morning. He was so sweet. He wanted to hold my hand the whole time he was eating. I may or may not have cried. (just a little)

After breakfast we came home and he was in such a good mood. It was like he knew today was special. He ran around the house running back and forth down our long hallway for a good little while. Then we got out the computer and watched his videos of him being born (first cries) and right afterwards. It is so sweet. I love that we have those videos to watch. Again- I may or may not have cried. Ascher wanted to watch and kept saying BABY! 

 I hate that his face is blurry but I love this photo. He is SOOO happy.

Watching the videos requires snuggles with Mommy

After videos and playing, Uncle Daniel & Aunt Megan stopped by to wish Ascher a Happy Birthday! They had to take a class and were in the area for the afternoon so they came by and hung out for a little while. We played in the backyard and just enjoyed each others company. Before long it was lunch time so we had Aschers favorite...again...pizza. He could eat pizza every day of the week I swear! After lunch it was nap time because even birthday boys need naps. While Ascher was sleeping, I snuck away to buy him a picnic table for the backyard. (I got one from my friend and we re-did it but between the move and it being old its not strudy and looks trashy). We thought about getting him a powerwheel but decided to wait and get him one of the BIG ones maybe at Christmas time so Justin tinkered with a Handy Manny powerwheel my friend passed down to us and got it working so we saved lots of money there. So once Ascher woke up he played the rest of the afternoon at his new table and riding his "new" Handy Manny powerwheel. Boy was in heaven!! Oh boo- I apparently only took video of him on Handy Manny- no photos. : ( 

After an afternoon of fun we had his second favorite meal for dinner, chicken, sweet potato fries & strawberries and then sang Happy Birthday & let him tear into his cupcake. When he was 6 months old, he threw up all the frosting (couldn’t have milk apparently), then when he was a year I guess he was traumatized and didn’t want anything to do with cupcakes so I was so happy to see him get excited about tearing it up. Granted- he didn’t want the frosting- just the cake & the sprinkles.  But none the less he had fun.

Happy 2nd Birthday Ascher!! 

We may not have thrown a crazy decorated party or had tons of family & friends over to celebrate but we celebrated as our little family of three and I wouldn't have wanted it any different. It was a fabulous fun day and one I will never forget. My babies last birthday being the only baby. I can't believe he is TWO years old. 

He brings us so much joy and laughter every day. 

My heart is so full. 

P.S. Sorry this got crazy long!! Lots of fun & lots of memories : ) 

Week 28: Bump Update

Week 28

April 28, 2014

size of baby: iceberg lettuce, 14.8 inches, 2.2 lbs

total weight gain/loss: doctor appointment this week was +7

maternity clothes: Medium shirts & running shorts/pjs that aren't maternity but if go anywhere then maternity clothes it is. People who don't wear maternity are so weird to me. I saw a girl at the doctors office and she was wearing regular pants and a regular shirt in the size she wore BEFORE she got pregnant. (she is like 34 weeks) It just didn't look good. If you can fit into it then go for it but if you looked like a squished sausage...it looks better to just wear maternity. Sorry- my rant is over.  : ) 

gender: It's a GIRL! She has a first name finalized for a couple of weeks now. We basically have her whole name but just can't commit to her middle name. Any day now. I told myself by the middle of May/beginning of June- so hopefully soon. 

movement: She has been rather quiet this week. I wont notice her moving and so then I start to worry and then she will give me a quick little kick and dissipate my fear. Plus they said when I went to ER they said as long as she moves 7 times in 1 hr its ok so since she has been so quiet I sometimes stop and make sure I can count 7 and she always moves 7 times in less than 30 minutes so shes good just getting big and sleepy. : ) 

sleep: still no sleep. hmph. I forgot how miserable no sleep is. Preparing me for baby, I suppose. Its much easier though to get up when a baby is crying for you to feed it than to get a big ol belly out of bed to go pee!!

cravings: whole milk, snickers ice cream bars, Oreos, orange cream popsicle, 

what I miss: picking up Ascher and it not being painful, Ascher leaning back onto my lap (now he wants to sit next to me...tear!)

symptoms: HOT FLASHES!!!!! (middle of the night I wake up soaking wet I am so hot yet its on 70!), not being able to sleep, heartburn, backache, tightness, uncomfortable, HAPPY then totally MOODY at the drop of hat

thoughts: 

• Monday I had my doctors appointment and sugar test. She is only measuring 26 weeks even though Im 28 weeks. He said he isn't worried though because I am so little and he would be worried if I had a huge baby inside me. He also asked me again how much Ascher weighed (7lb 9 oz) and said that is a big baby for my size person. 
• They called me later this week and told me WOOHOO I PASSED SUGAR TEST!! 
• Her heart rate was 161 and he told me that at my next appointment I get my 30 week ultrasound. I also start going every two weeks! WHAT!!! 
• Tuesday I got my hair cut. Never let a hormonal woman get her hair cut. I told her I wanted 2-3 inches somehow I ended up with 4 inches off and all kinds of layers. : ( Thank goodness vitamins make hair grow fast! Mom thinks it looks fabulous but my hair hasn't been this short since before Ascher and I just know it will make me look 10 lbs heavier in my face! I think I would be ok if I hadn't gotten so many layers. 
• Picked out knobs for her dresser and I love them. I only bought one and tried it out but have decided that I'm gonna go back and get the rest of them so Justin can put them all on. They are light pink. Love them!

Big Brother (Ascher) news:

• yikes. this week Ascher decided that every day he needed to get up earlier and earlier. Finally when he woke up at 5:15, I pulled out the baby medicine and drugged him up. He has been back to my sleeping prince ever since. Those 2 year old molars are killing him. Poor bubby.
• Still doing fabulous on getting rid of paci but I just let him have it sometimes during the day when he just wants to chew

Weekly Photo

Week 27: Bump Update

Week 27

April 21, 2014

size of baby: cauliflower, 14.4 inches, 2 lbs

total weight gain/loss: scale at home says, +5

maternity clothes: mostly hung out in tshirts and running shorts all week and by tshirts, I mean Justin's

gender: It's a GIRL! 

movement: She loves to hang out on my right side- like her entire body is on my right side so when she kicks over there its rather painful but every kick makes me giggle with excitement she is getting so big!

sleep: hmmm not so much. I can NOT sleep for the life of me. I don't know how people do it. I need my sleep. I am so crabby when I don't sleep good. About every 3rd day I sleep better than usual but still have to get up at some point to pee and then I'm up. 

cravings: crushed ice, oreos with milk, whole chocolate milk, snowcones, breakfast food

what I miss: being able to breathe, eating and not feeling like I'm on fire, sitting on couch with my feet up, being comfortable

symptoms: heartburn, backache, tightness, uncomfortable, HAPPY then totally MOODY in drop of hat

thoughts: 

• took it easy this week per doctors orders- by Wednesday I was stir crazy so Ascher and I went on a lunch date together and then to Micheal's where he proceeded to throw a huge fit so we came home.  : ) 
• Thursday night Justin and I went furniture shopping and found baby girls dresser!! Its an adult dresser we are just gonna take the legs off to make it shorter. I LOVE IT! It got delivered on Friday and it looks so good in her room!! EEK! I finally feel like I can start decorating her room now! WOOHOO BABY GIRL!! No more furniture left to purchase!!
• Friday I had MOPS. I am really enjoying it and am so glad I was able to get in before the year was up. 

Big Brother (Ascher) news:

• teething mess. that is all.  

Weekly Photo

Week 26: Bump Update

Week 26

April 14 , 2014

size of baby: eggplant, 14 inches, a little less than 2 lbs

total weight gain/loss: scale at home says, +4

maternity clothes: yeah- we had a busy week so I got to "look cute" (as in put on clothes other than pjs pants every day). Ive started sleeping in Justins undershirts though because none of my pjs tops button anymore

gender: It's a GIRL! 

movement: We had a little scare with movement this week. (keep reading) But overall she is still moving away. She is painful with her movements. I don't remember Ascher being so painful when he kicked.

sleep: Worst week yet. I think I slept maybe 2 nights. YUCK!

cravings: crushed ice

what I miss: being able to breathe

symptoms: can't catch my breath, painful to take deep breath, heartburn, back pain, uncomfortable tightness, tired easily,

thoughts: 

• Well on Thursday night I woke up at 2 am and thought I was having a heart attack. No lie. It was miserable. I sat up, drank water, walked around, moved around. Everything I did caused more pain. By 5 am I was crying and woke Justin up. We watched tv for a little while then tried to sleep again but before long Ascher woke up and Justin got up for work. Once Ascher and I got up, I still felt terrible and she wasnt moving near as much as usual. I called doctor and they said to go to urgent care and see what they said. Justin came home at lunch so I could go. I ran to urgent care and they freaked me out. The doctor was like Im not gonna lie to you and say that these symptoms aren't alarming. You need to go to ER. So I went back home so Justin & Ascher could come with me but Ascher was still sleeping so I headed up by myself to get started. However, when you walk into an ER and tell them you are 26 week pregnant, short of breath and the baby isn't moving as much they don't even let you sit down. They moved me to room, started baby checks and mommy checks. Monitored baby for awhile. She was moving but they said she was having a "lazy day". Her heartrate was 140- the lowest its ever been but still ok. They said it could be that since I was up all night, she was up all night too so she was resting. They also took blood, fluid IVS, EKGs & a CT of my lungs. The main thing they were worried about is a blood clot. He wasn't worried about my heart because when he pushed on my chest it was painful and he said that if it was my heart that it wouldn't be painful to the touch.

• So after all the tests and 7.5 hours later it was determined that PRAISE JESUS I don't have a blood clot. I do however have costochondritis. Taken from Mayo Clinic:
• Costochondritis (kos-toe-KHON-dri-tis) is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum) — a junction known as the costosternal joint. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.
• I obviously cant take an anti-inflammatory so there isnt much I can do to help. He told me to take Tylenol during the day (which would be great if Tylenol worked!) and then gave me something stronger for sleep. I have been suffering thru night time rather than take it every night. I was instructed to not lift anything over 10 lbs and rest (without the bed confines). Of course, now I want to do all sort of things now that I'm supposed to be resting. 
• The hardest part so far has been not picking Ascher up but I do notice a major change and when I do break the rule and pick him up (I mean I have to get him out of crib, into high chair, etc.) I can totally feel the pain. Justin has been fabulous and carries him, puts him in and out of car, picks him up, does whatever I need when he is home. I am just supposed to follow up with my OB which my appt is next Monday. Everything I have read says it may or may not go away until I give birth!!! Gonna be a long 3 months if I have this pain/unable to breath sensation!
• Other than that scare we had a busy week. We had a playdate, craft night, finally got my snowcone I've been wanting, went to the mall & Target.
• We had a wonderful Easter weekend with family. (separate post) HE IS RISEN!!! Regardless of how we spend our Easter, the bottom line is the same. Christ DIED, SUFFERED on a cross for US so we could spend ETERNITY with HIM! OH how sweet! THE TOMB IS EMPTY!

Big Brother (Ascher) news: 

• He is getting one of his two year old molars which has caused for a whiny baby when he is in pain. But most of the time he doesn't miss a beat and is still his happy little self. 
• LOVES hunting for Easter Eggs

Weekly Photo

Strawberry Picking

Last Thursday Ascher and I sat out for Blessington Farms to pick strawberries with our friend Colleen and her kids, Ava & Will. We started our morning at Shipleys (Aschers favorite) where he counted sprinkles & told me the color of ever sprinkle he ate. I just love spending time together like that. The little moments.

After breakfast we met up with Colleen at the farm. We started picking immediately.

However, before long Ascher realized that in between all the rows of strawberries was all sorts of ROCKS. Ascher LOVES rocks. So I lost him quickly to the rock hunt. He kept trying to put his rocks into my strawberry basket. Had to cut that out real quick since they weigh your strawberries at the end.

I got him back on track by letting him cut (with my help) the strawberries off the vine and then he really wanted to eat them. I let him try one or two. ; )

But before long I lost him again to the rocks & stream. I gave up at this point...just let him play.

After we had filled our buckets with strawberries we walked over to the play area. Ava & Ascher played in the giant sand pile. Ascher was in heaven. It was sand with tons of different size tractors/trucks that he could play and fill up.

It was getting close to lunch time though so we got on the hay/tractor ride. Ascher was so excited that he was riding a tractor. He kept talking about it the rest of the day. "Ride TRACTOR!"

After the tractor ride he was ready to go back to the sand...however this preggers was hungry and it was getting close to nap time. Colleen and I decided next time we would pack lunches then they would be able to play for at least 30 more minutes before crashing. So despite a screaming 2 year old we packed up and headed to the car. He was passed out before we even got off the dirt road. It was a great day and I can't wait to go back and pick some more strawberries and play again!

Week 25: Bump Updates

Week 25

April 7 , 2014

size of baby: zucchini, 13.6 inches, 1.5 pounds

total weight gain/loss: scale at home says, +3

maternity clothes: yup. Got some new shirts & my Easter dress off Zulilly awhile back and they came in. They are fabulous quality and super cute & I got them on a deal! Can't beat it! 

gender: It's a GIRL! 

movement: I definitely can tell when she is sleeping and awake. She makes very distinct movements. Slow moving and quick hard kicks. She does it all. I wish she would get out of my ribs/diaphragm- I constantly feel like I can't breathe!

sleep: This week was rough. I feel like I cant catch my breath ever. On my back- no way. On my left side is painful and my right side I'll get comfortable and then a few hours in I'm miserable again. I can't explain it. Its such a weird tingly feeling. I have to get up and walk around.

cravings: crushed ice, ice cream with strawberries, chocolate & caramel sauce, strawberries, snowcones (which I still haven't gotten)

what I miss: being able to breathe

symptoms: heartburn, back pain, uncomfortable tightness, tired easily, can't stand up for long periods of time, painful when Ascher does "dead weight" (like doesn't want to be picked up)- I started changing him on the floor so I dont have to pick him up and put him on changing table

thoughts: 

• Justin put the crib together!! Its beautiful!!
• Still searching for a white dresser. I found a vintage dresser that someone had re-done in a light pink that I LOVE but Justin isnt sure about it. 
• Best DEAL of the Week! I found and purchased the double stroller I wanted!! It was fabulous and included way more than I could have imagined. My friend sent me pic of a resale picture and said is this the stroller you wanted!? And low and behold it was!! Granted it was still pretty pricey but I saved so much money and got WAY more than we would have if bought brand new! Its the city select double with 2 seats, car seat adapter, glider board, mommy hooks & cup holder!! I've already been using it as a single stroller. Here are some of the ways it can be used as a double with car seat. And then an extra of Ascher playing on the glider board just for fun

• We also got together the baby things. We decided we should go ahead and put together some stuff and make sure we have all the parts/screws so that we don't end up at the last minute not having everything. Well so far we haven't had good luck. Our swing fabric wound up in the attic so it was quite gross. I'm washing it and hoping it will come clean. However, I added one to our registry just in case it wont come clean.  Also, I can't find the bouncer fabric. Still searching. I was so careful how I packed up baby stuff but with the move everything got moved all over the place. 
• I also got two little girl paintings I LOVE! These little girls were in my mom & aunt's bedroom their whole lives and then they somehow ended up above my Granny's bed. I was determined that I would one day have a girl and they would be in her nursery. And turns out they match what I'm doing and I am just so happy. They are still in their wrappers! Why? We don't know! But they are perfect! (excuse the phone pic)

• Justin turned 32 this week! : ) We had a fun day as a little family and spent 95% of the day playing outside!

Big Brother (Ascher) news: 

• Thursday we went and picked strawberries. It was so much fun! (separate post on this)
• Slowly but surely giving up his paci- he only has it now for car rides, naps & night time. 

Weekly Photo (real photo this week- in my pj pants- hair dirty- natural)

Backyard Fun

With all this pretty weather we have had (other than allergies) we have been living outside. Ascher loves it and it feels so good to get some vitamin D after being stuffed up all rainy winter. Our new backyard is smaller than our old house but Ascher doesn't seem to even notice. He loves running around, playing in his water table or with the hose, pushing his cars and trucks around the yard and his newest love is a slide. Here are some pictures of our recent adventures. 

the energy of a boy

getting his hands wet then putting his wet hands in his hair

helping Daddy with the hose (his pants are a little too large) ; )

coming to get Mommy wet

"sit down Daddy!" 

he likes to push the trucks off the patio

my heart. 

Too cute!! 

This was just one particular day I went inside and got my good camera. I realized lately that all my photos have been on my phone and while that is super convenient the quality is just not as good as when I use my good camera. Time to pull the sucker back out and start snapping away again! Here are some photos (from my phone) of some more time we have spent playing at the park/backyard since it has been pretty outside

I started writing his "One Line A Day" journal and almost EVERY day it says we spent the majority of the afternoon outside (probably why my nose has been crazy!). He loves it and I love it and we are both happy! : ) Plus, on the weekends Justin loves to putter around outside so it helps that he now has a little helper. ; )