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.

We had been discussing the upcoming baseball season and how much fun it was going to be with our little guy this year. You know, after the whole World Series thing and all. Well, I had this brilliant idea that I would see to it that my son never ever missed a Cardinals home opener.

Well, that idea went up in smoke almost immediately when I had to be at church the morning tickets went on sale and Mommy was unable to get through to purchase any, much less any for the home opener. So, I resolved that he would only miss one home opener.

Then, the week before the game, we got tickets. He had fun. And so it begins.

As always, there are more pictures here.

Today Asher got his first taste of semi-solid food. I say semi-solid because it was that baby rice stuff mixed with milk. It wasn’t solid, believe me.

Anyway, we got the highchair set up, I made sure the camera had an empty card and plenty of batteries and Mommy commenced the feeding. Asher calmly ate his food, not caring much at all that this was a momentous occasion in his life. Be sure to click the pictures over on the right to see this not-very-exciting event. Yes, it was exciting for us as parents, but it sure didn’t give us any material for a creative writing exercise.

And so explains the lack of material on this blog. We really wanted to make this a place where we wrote about all of the hilarities and struggles that came with parenthood, but there really haven’t been any to speak of. Sure, he was diagnosed with a mild case of acid reflux which caused him to spit up a lot (but not a lot compared to some friends’ kids, so it didn’t really matter) and not sleep more than a couple hours at a time. But, for about 90% of his awake time, he’s definitely his Daddy’s son. Laid back, easy-going, only fussy when he’s hungry (if I’m hungry, I’m cranky). According to Mommy (Daddy had to work), he didn’t even go that crazy after getting four shots in his legs. We think he figured it out the first time and this last time he was prepared so the whole thing was smooth sailing.

However, we have definitely been noticing a ton more expression lately. He laughs a lot. He talks a lot. He loves his dog/”brother”. Here’s to hoping our kid gives us some material to write about here so we can keep you entertained.

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!!!!