With as nice as the weather has been, this really can’t be a brag. BUT we are off to Florida tomorrow. Asher and I that is. We are heading down a day after Aunt Heather to surprise some extended family. No one but Heather knows we are coming. I am really looking forward to seeing friends and family, and the chance it gives us to get away. This post is more for people who may check it semi-often to say “Keep checking back for pics and stories of our little trip.” Then again this post may be null and void cuz I’m not sure if anyone checks this blog.

So here it is. My ten month old has been saying “Da-da” since he was 6 months old. Not once to this day has he uttered “Ma-ma.” He “mmmmms” when we are eating so the M sound is there. He calls for daddy all the time. Yes, even now, he has started saying “daddy” when Daddy walks out of the room. There is always a certain inflection like he is asking him why he is leaving. My sweet husband likes to tell me that he calls me too, just he doesn’t say mama. Apparently I am any consonant vowel combination he hollers when I leave the room.

This may seem like I am whining or even complaining that my son doesn’t call me by name at his age. However that’s not it. What I want to share is that even though the words are not there, he knows. He knows when I leave a room, so he’ll crawl after to find me. He is aware when I come to pick him up from his Nana’s or the nursery at church; his huge smile screams “Ma-ma.” He needs me to comfort him after he falls and snuggle him before he goes to sleep. Who knows when he will say those precious syllables, but for now, he knows I’m da Momma!

You would think that living in St. Louis our first trip to Grant’s Farm would be before our son was 10 months old. However if you think that, you are wrong. Today was our first visit to the “Farm.” Asher loved looking at the animals. I am sure to him they were all puppies of various shapes and sizes.

Nana and I took Asher and his cousin TJ. He giggled as we fed the goats, except at the moment when their hooves caught his leg. He sat like such a big boy as we watched the creature show. I’m pretty sure his favorite part of the day was eating pieces of a snocone.

In retrospect you have to laugh…10 months old and my little boy had not been to any of our local attractions, and trust me St. Louis has plenty for children and families to do…BUT at barely 6 months old we had dragged him all over Orlando (Sea World and day after day at Disney World). Oh the irony!

It is interesting that little ones can go weeks doing the same old thing and then one day everything is new! My little man has just really started hands and knees crawling. For the last few months, he has done the army crawl. With one leg dragging behind him, he got the nickname “the wounded soldier”. Anyway…..

Today he started wowing me left and right. I go in to get him this morning and am greeted by the biggest smile. There in his hands are his PJ pants. When did he start undressing himself? We go through our morning routine which involves going to get our puppy. I place him on the floor, normally routine has him crawling to the crate and waiting as I unlock it and let the puppy out. Today he crawls over, unlocks it, and lets the puppy out himself.

The day goes on as normal, him crawling and getting into things, me chasing and getting him out of them. This afternoon, as I let the dog out to potty, Asher goes to the sliding glass door and climbs to his feet to lean against it and look out. So I take pictures. A little bit later, my same little mover, climbs his first stair. He is all over the place.

I realize these all seem like little things, but to any mother out there I am sure you understand. Their littlest accomplishment is a HUGE thing to us.

We have been home almost a week from a whirlwind vacation with my side of the family. Last Sunday we got up at 4AM, yes that’s right, and got ready to head to the airport. Asher was a great traveller. No crying during the ascent or decent. We arrived in Orlando Florida and headed to our condo. (Thanks, Aunt Carol). The day was anti-climatic and good thing because the rest of the trip flew by.

Monday was Animal Kingdom/evening-Magic Kingdom, Tuesday-Magic Kingdom, Wednesday-Epcot, Thursday-Sea World (thanks to dan for hooking us up), Friday- MGM, Saturday- Magic Kingdom one more time. We took time in between and afternoons off to go to the pool and enjoy some naps. All three kids were close to perfectly behaved. Taylor was a trooper and walked every day without a word of complaint while the boys (TJ and Asher) rode in strollers. As a treat, Friday and Saturday a stroller was rented for her.

Nana and Papa (my parents) had a great time sharing with their grandchildren all the same things they did with us as kids. My Nana and Papa (my mom’s parents) used to take us to Magic Kingdom over Christmases. It was fun building new memories. Now there are so many more places to go and things to see. Disney is always growing.

We got great photos. You can check out the right side of this page and click to go to Flicker where Lance posts pictures and later I plan to add a few to the website. It was one of those vacations where you need a vacation from your vacation, but worth it. After another 4AM alarm to head to the airport, we were home in St. Louis with the full Sunday ahead of us. We slept!!!

Tomorrow we celebrate the day that our Savior rose from the grave. Yesterday we celebrated (yes, celebrate) the day He was hung from the cross. As I fed you tonight, I looked down and wondered how God gave up His one and only Son. Right now you are my one and only, and I can’t even begin to fathom giving you up for anyone, especially a world full of people who wouldn’t begin to love you as much as I do. Understand, Asher, that the Lord loved you enough that He did send His precious little boy to die so that we could be saved through him. I pray that you will know these truths and grasp them tightly to your heart and the truths will then help you to grow in Him so that you may bring glory to Him. Happy first Easter!

Wow, mommy and daddy aren’t very good at posting as often as we like. You are very much the reason for that..you keep us hopping. Tonight I started a habit I hope not to break. Every day I pray for you, for the little man you are and the not-so little man you will grow-up to be. Tonight however as I laid you in your crib and your eyes sought out mine as though asking if I truly was going to leave you, I prayed. I stood over your tiny 14 (or so) pound figure, with your 10 fingers and 10 toes, and I touched your super soft skin and I prayed:

Lord, watch over him while he sleeps. Protect him through the night. Lord, please cure his little sniffles and for my sake allow him to sleep until morning. Give him true wisdom as he grows in your Word, give his Daddy and I the wisdom to teach him the truths of your Word. Thank you, Lord, for this gift I am leaning over. Only You truly know how perfect and precious he is for he is made in your image. Lord, I praise You for the blessing You have bestowed on us in the form of our very own son. May He grow to bring you glory.

I kissed your sweet little head and walked from the room wondering why I hadn’t thought to do that sooner. So here tonight I hope to start the habit of praying over your crib as you lay there staring up at me…no doubt hoping I will pick you back up….and I know the Lord will truly bless us both.

Well you are 3 months old now, and I am finally getting around to posting. Right now, you are sound asleep in your swing, your favorite place. Tonight is a BIG night. You have been sleeping in a basket in Mommy and Daddy’s room. If I don’t chicken out, I plan to put you to sleep in your crib tonight. You have grown up so fast.

Flashback to almost a year ago: You are a dream and a constant prayer. We’ve waited one and a half years for you, and it is worth the wait. February 26, I tell your Daddy you are on the way. You are nothing more than a tiny seed beginning to grow in my belly. But you are LOVED. I am sick and food is the last thing I want to think about. I eat so you will grow. You are LOVED. We watch your tiny heartbeat on the screen at the doctor’s office. You look like a peanut (Daddy says you look like Casper the Ghost). You are LOVED. June 1, we wait as the doctor places the wand on my growing stomach; your Daddy squeezes my hand, and I know without looking you are a boy. Little boy, you are LOVED. We talk to you as you continue to grow. You make Mommy look like a whale, but you are LOVED!!! I sit on the floor, too big to stand, as Daddy works tirelessly painting your room, and we talk names. Asher is the favorite, so I run (ok waddled) to get my Bible and look it up. Asher means happy; blessed;it is perfect. Asher, you are LOVED. At each doctor’s appointment, I cross my fingers hoping you are on your way. October 25, the doctor sends me to the hospital. I am nervous, scared, and so very ready. You are LOVED. 5:42 a.m., October 26, you break my heart as I hear you cry for the first time. They lay you on my stomach, and I see your ten little fingers and toes. The next moments drag on forever as they clean you up and give you back to me. FINALLY you are here, and you are LOVED!!!

My darling little one, since you were born we have slept only inches apart. Tonight you will sleep in your room, but remember YOU ARE LOVED!!!!