Sun Flare

This week at I Heart Faces, the challenge is to capture a sun flare. I am terrible at this. However, I did once catch an accidental one that turned out surprisingly good. Here's my cousin's daughter waiting for Fourth of July fireworks to begin:

Numchucking Skills...Computer Hacking Skills...

Okay, so Asher doesn't have any of those kinds of skills yet. But he does have a lot of others.

Lately, he's been doing a lot of this:

My absolute favorite is when he looks up at me and smiles just because I'm there.

He's also trying to get the hang of this:

He can't really sit up on his own yet, but he REALLY wants to! He constantly tries to sit himself up when I prop him up on the boppy, and will grab my hands and pull himself to a sitting position. He's also quite fond of standing up (with help, of course), though I don't have a picture of that yet.

He's also growing fonder of this:

His baby seat is actually his swing-- it detaches, which I think is awesome. He's growing very fond of it all of a sudden. Probably because he can now sit in the kitchen while I make dinner and watch every move I make.

However, we're still working on getting used to this:

Bathtime is Asher's least favorite part of the day. He screams the second I start lowering his little naked butt into the water. Temperature doesn't seem to matter; I've tried colder and hotter and lukewarm, but he still screams. I've tried a fuller tub and an emptier tub, but he still screams. I think there's been one time when I managed to get the temperature and water level to his liking, and he didn't squeal at all. Picky-picky. Today, he was so mad about it, he promptly peed all over the chair the moment this picture was taken.

Other skills, which I have yet to catch on camera, include noisemaking, nearly laughing, blowing spit bubbles, and playing Bonsai and So Big. He's also practicing grabbing his rattle, and enjoys when he manages to do it so he can shake-shake-shake to his heart's content!

And finally, he's mastering the art of the blowout. Daddy reports that he had a fantastic one today after mom left for work, and apparently cared so little, he went on quietly observing the closet while dad slept for who knows how long. That's my little man.

Fact: I Rule

Today, my philosophy is that I am, basically, amazing.

I woke up at five-thirty to Asher fussing next to me. I sleepily began to nurse him until he fell asleep again. I, however, could sleep no more, and so at 6 I sneaked out of bed to exercise. I heart my hula workout video. Yeah, hula. 'Cause I rock like that.

After getting ready and having some snuggle/nursing time with my baby and kissing my husband goodbye, I headed out to work and brought home the bacon. 'Cause I'm amazing like that.

On arriving home, I kissed a sleeping son and talked with a handsome husband until he left for work. Asher woke up, and I fed him. Have I mentioned lately that I find nursing to be so awesome? My body makes food for my son. 'Cause I'm awesome like that.

Asher and I had some good playtime-- you know, smiling and cooing at each other, making funny noises, tickling, pretending he's an airplane, playing with danglies and watching Pooh bear spin. 'Cause I'm fun like that.

I put Asher in his baby seat and did the dishes and some laundry. 'Cause I'm cool like that.

Asher started fussing, so I put him in his wrap while I made scrumptious scalloped potatoes and pork chops for dinner. 'Cause I rule like that.

Asher thinks so too.

For Your Entertainment

If you're a Pride and Prejudice fan, check this out. I about died.

Daily Blessings of Mommyhood

This blog has been completely hijacked by Asher. Really, though, is it that strange? It is, after all, about my life, and he is the main star of my life right now. I work for Asher, I play with Asher, I stare in exhausted incomprehension at Asher's ability to poop up to his shoulders at midnight, the cleaning up of which makes him all ready to play right when I need sleep most. Being a mother has not changed me, it has become me.

I wake up at 6:30 every morning and get ready for work. I get to spend several precious minutes nursing my little man before I head off. I find extreme comfort in knowing that he is with his daddy while I work to make sure we can take care of ourselves, and so that his daddy can get the education he needs to take care of us in the future. I have been surprised at how easily my transition to a working mom has been. I have only cried once, on my first day back. Once I get there, I've found that I can throw myself into the work so that before I know it, it's time to go. Honestly, this has surprised me considering how much I want to be a stay at home mom, and I'm grateful for it. I come home at 2 pm every day, and promptly forget work exists. That's when my day really begins.

We have tummy time, where the lovely Bernard can coax Asher to lift his head clear off the floor.

We play with his "danglies," which can keep him entertained for over half an hour while he bats at them and even occasionally manages to grab one.

We dance around the living room to Snow Patrol when he decides absolutely nothing can make him happy except bouncing.

I put him in his wrap and do dishes, laundry, and other chores.

I play the piano while he's wrapped up against me, and watch as he falls asleep to the songs I played while he was wrapped up inside me.

He smiles at me for no other reason than that I'm smiling at him.

I tickle his belly, tease his mouth, and make his feet dance, all of which makes him smile.

He makes me smile when he coos and flails in happiness at his mobile and fiercely concentrates on his crib light.

We attempt to enjoy bathtime despite the cold. A fuller tub makes a happier Asher.

We lay on the bed with dad when he gets home from school or work and talk and play. Asher gives daddy I'm-happy-to-see-you smiles.

We read Winnie-the-Pooh, which mommy and daddy enjoy much more than Asher.

I still miss my boy while I work, and wish I didn't have to. But when I look at the way things are working out (me being able to cut back at work, our schedules working so we never need a babysitter, my ability to somehow get all the things done I need to while still having plenty of time with my baby and husband), I have to thank God every night for these amazing blessings.

Just Kidding...

So you know the whole teething thing? Yeah, kinda jumped the gun on that one...

Asher had his two month appointment today. The doctor checked his mouth right off, dubious about my claims of canines popping out. Turns out those hard little white bumps surrounded by a bit of red gums are not teeth. They're harmless little Bohn's nodules-- little cysts that will go away in the next month or so. I feel just a teensy bit stupid, I'll admit.

In my defense, though, even my mom thought they were teeth. Besides, my baby suddenly got slobbery, crabby, disinterested in eating, and very interested in his hands all at the same time. How was I supposed to know he actually has a virus giving him a minor sore throat? Still, my mommy-ego took a little hit until my doctor praised my boy's stats. He's now 11 pounds, 8 ounces (25th percentile) and 22 and 3/4 inches (22nd percentile). While he's on the smaller end of average, he's following his own growth curve very well.

Then came the shots. I was not looking forward to them on his behalf, but he did surprisingly well. I held his little hands and rubbed his head, and with the first one, he just got this shocked look on his face. The next two pokes made him wail, but he calmed right down once I rocked him a bit. In fact, I think he screamed louder when I undressed him for the doctor-- this kid does not like being cold!

Two Months!

Asher had his two month pictures today. Since we can't afford a photographer quite that often, mommy had a little practice session. Please ignore the bad lighting and composition and just pay attention to the cute boy. Can I say I'm kinda lovin' the Pooh bear duds?