Christmas with the Grizzles

Ben's parents and his brother and family came to visit us the weekend of the 17th for Ben's graduation and to do Christmas. We had a great time with them as always.

I got Ben a Nook for his graduation gift. He opened it while everyone else was opening Christmas gifts. I think he thanks me for this gift about once a day now. He really likes it.

 Poor Asher never got any attention that weekend...

 Poor Asher never got any attention that weekend...

 I love these boys.

Bob & Elaine kept Asher for us on Sunday while we enjoyed watching Beauty & the Beast on Broadway. Thanks, Gigi & Papa!!!

Dad the Grad

Ben graduated with accounting honors on Saturday. We are so proud of him. He has worked so hard. Working and going to school full time while still maintaining to be a wonderful husband and now father. He had a bunch of balls in the air for the past few years and never let one of them fall. He made a 4.0 nearly every semester (I think he might have made ONE B) and continued to be a good employee, even earning an award that no one in his department had ever won before. All while, being an AMAZING husband, taking care of his pregnant wife and doting on his precious newborn son. Asher and I are so blessed to have him as the head of our household.

Asher - 2 Months

At two months old, Asher just continues to get sweeter and sweeter. Fatter and fatter too. His cheeks are the cutest, most kissable things and his smiles drives me crazy. He is so much fun and we feel more and more blessed to be his parents with each passing day. 

He weighs 14 lbs and is 25 inches long (by my measurements).He has had to move up to 3-6 month clothing to accommodate his long torso.

He is getting pretty good at supporting himself with his core muscles and is improving on holding his own head up. He converses in his own way by taking turns talking cooing with anyone that will talk to him. You can say something to him and he will coo in reply. He will continue with this exchange for quite some time, smiling all the while. He will return a smile almost immediately.

He is still sleeping through the night and takes 4-5 oz every 3 hours. He has set his own schedule and pretty much insists on keeping it. He still takes his last bottle at 10 and sleeps till around 6:30. Although he has learned to fight sleep and sometimes likes to do that at night. Other times I can lay him down in his pack and play with no problems. He still sleeps in his Moses basket but is about to have be moved out of it and straight into the pack and play because he is getting too long for it. We are trying to transition out of his swaddle. He doesn't mind not having it on, but he startles himself awake a lot more easily without it.

He is most alert in the evenings and loves to hang out with his Daddy when he gets home from work. We have a blast making him smile and watching him react to our silly faces and voices.

His coordination is improving and he seems to have better control of his hands. He keeps a good grip on my shirt when I cradle him, holds onto my hands when I feed him a bottle and will try to grab his paci when it is falling out of his mouth. Speaking of his paci - he definitely has a fondness for it. I'm not sure that he will keep it for long (by his own choice) but for now we take advantage of its soothing affects.

He doesn't much care for tummy time. He tends to just lay down and fall asleep instead of working his neck muscles. But they are getting stronger nonetheless. He likes to lift his head up off of my chest to look around. He is extremely observant and takes in EVERYTHING. We are going to have start watching what we do pretty soon. I have a feeling he is going to be a little sponge and absorb everything he sees and hears.

Asher continues to be the best baby anyone could ask for. We are spoiled by his easy nature and enamored with his precious face. We thank God every night for the opportunity to care for this sweet child and pray that we can be the parents He is calling us to be.

Lots of new posts below...

I have retro-dated a bunch new posts. Scroll down or click on the links below to see them.

NOTICE: If you scroll down there are old and new posts mixed together. So if you run into one that you have already ready - it doesn't quite mean you are caught up. I have dated some all the way back to before Asher was even born.


Coming Home

First Bath

First Trip to the Doctor

Oma & Poppa

Aunt Sister

Marley

Favors for Our Guests

New Friends

Special Delivery

First Halloween


One Month Old


First Thanksgiving

6 Week Check Up

6 Week Check Up

Asher went for his 6 week check up on December 2. He was 23.75 inches long (90th percentile) and weighed 10 lbs 15 oz (75th percentile). We were floored at his growth. Before we walked in Ben asked if I wanted to make a guess at what his weight would be. I guessed 9 lbs 2 oz and he guessed 9 lbs 10 oz. I thought he was crazy to guess that high - but we were both obviously way off.

Asher had been having some problems with constipation and we had to start him on Lactulose. But other than that Dr. P said he looked very healthy.

As you can see from these photos he is a good sleeper and a good eater!

 

Thankgiving with Gigi & Papa

Asher spent his first Thanksgiving in South Carolina with Gigi & Papa, Uncle Steve & Aunt Anna, Reid and Sawyer.

It was his first time to meet Gigi & Papa. They had both been sick with bronchitis since he was born and out of concern for Asher decided to postpone their trip to Alabama. Asher took to them right away and was smiling as soon as they met.

It was also his first time to meet his cousins, Reid and Sawyer. They were The Three Amigos. Reid and Sawyer were beyond sweet with their newest cousin. They were very interested in him and wanted to hold him all the time. They held him gently, comforted him when he cried and even asked if he could go home with them. I just know these three have lots of years of fun ahead of them.

Ben and I had our first date night while we were there. Gigi & Papa kept the boys while Steven & Anna and Ben & I went to see the new Harry Potter. It was great to get away for a little bit and of course the movie was fantastic. But I was definitely ready to get back to my little guy. He was curled up in Papa's lap when we got home and I am pretty sure he didn't even notice that we were away.

Go Bucks!

 Today he learns what the rivalry is all about. O-H-I-O!