One Month Old

At one month old Asher weighs around 9.5 pounds and is growing like a weed in length. He is a happy baby and rarely cries. He is struggling with constipation and will cry when he has a bowel movement, but is instantly happy again when he has finished. He loves to be snuggled and I love that he loves it! He is such a little observer already. He holds eye contact for a long time and loves to be talked to. He has begun to smile socially. I have enjoyed the "gas smiles" but the first time he smiled in response to me, I melted. I was changing his diaper when he was trying to take a poo. I was coaching him through it and told him to "tell that poop to get out of your butt." Embarrassing first smile story, I know. For the rest of the day, I kept repeating that line to get him to smile again. Even though he had already finished his "business". It is true what they say - a parent will do anything to make their baby smile. Now he smiles all the time. And I am proud to say, will smile for me more than anyone. He smiles a lot for his daddy too. I especially love when he sees me or hears my voice and his whole face lights up.

He likes to be sang to. I sing lots of Disney songs, praise songs, show tunes, Christmas songs and our theme song "I Could Not Ask for More" by Sarah Evans. I choke up every time I sing the line "Smiling just to see the smile upon your face". He is the only person on earth that likes to hear my singing but he will start cooing and smile every time. I think he is trying to sing along with me. I am beyond blessed to get to spend my days with this little guy.

He has started making really cute noises too. He coos and gurgles, especially when you talk to him. I keep trying to video tape him doing it so I will have it to keep. I never want to forget these little sounds.

He is also sleeping through the night and has been for some time now. He eats 4 oz every 3 hours. You could set your clocks by his schedule. He is pretty predictable and seems to be a creature of habit like his daddy. He takes his last feeding at 10 p.m. and wakes up around 6 a.m. He is just the perfect baby. We didn't even have to work on it - he just started doing it by himself. By a couple of weeks old he was sleeping for 5-6 hours at a time at night and now he will go a full 8 hours and sometimes longer. Bless this child. He knows how much his Momma needs her sleep.

He is content to sleep just about anywhere too. In his bouncy seat, swing or crib. But his favorite place is laying across my chest and rocking. He is still sleeping in our room at night. He sleeps in his pack and play, inside of his Moses basket. I am dreading moving him upstairs.
 

He is a good car baby and goes into a coma when the car is moving. He will sleep in his carrier well past our trips. When we get home I generally just bring him in and leave him in his carrier until he wakes up.

He also loves his floor gym. He paws at the toys dangling above him and kicks and smiles when he sees the lights flashing. He can entertain himself for quite some time laying there.

He is wearing mainly 0-3 months and has officially outgrown all newborn clothes. Sad.

He has a little bit of cradle cap but it isn't very noticeable. Otherwise, his skin is perfect. I hope it stays that way. He looks like a little China Doll. He has the sweetest little swirl on the top of his head. I have a feeling it will be the same cow lick that I have in the exact same spot right now. But in the meantime, it is the perfect little kissing spot.

He enjoys bath time as long as long he is kept warm. I like to lay a wash cloth across his abdomen and chest and I will re-wet it with warm water while I wash the rest of his body. It seems to keep him warmer and he loves it. He will watch me in the mirror and smile until I take him out. Then he cries. He does not like to be cold! But who does?

It is bittersweet to watch him change and grow. On one hand, I want to stop time and keep him exactly like his is right now. But then he will do something new and amaze me. I just want eat up every second I can with him.

Visitors

We didn't do a very good job getting pictures of people when they came to see Asher but here the few we actually did capture...

 

 

 

 

We are so thankful to everyone that came to see us in the hospital and brought us meals at home. We are still receiving dinners and they are such a blessing. Thank you!!!

Introducing Asher

Check out the best photos of the prettiest baby I've ever seen...Alicia Hale Photography is amazing!!!
http://aliciahale.myshowit.com/introducingasher/index.html

I can't say enough about Alicia. We had a great time with her at our shoot. She was amazing with Asher. We called her the Baby Whisperer because she was so good getting him to sleep and pose in those sweet positions. She captured moments of our very first days with Asher that we will cherish forever. I loved that she came to our house and photographed us in our daily surroundings and Asher in his own nursery and first home. Her prices are great! And her work is even better!

Check her out - www.aliciahalephotography.com

Aunt Sister

My sister, Jodie aka Sister, arrived on October 25 (Asher's original due date). She had already booked her plane ticket before he was born and we couldn't wait for her to get here. I can already tell that Asher and Aunt Sister are going to have a special bond. She spoiled him rotten while she was here.

I had a great time with her as well. She was a huge help too. She did chores, entertained us and spoiled Asher. Thanks, Sister!

One day, we tried to take my first outing with the baby and it didn't quite go as planned. We got Asher ready, packed up his diaper bag, strapped him into his carrier and headed to Barnes & Noble. I was bogged down with everything a baby could possibly need as we took him out the door and Sister yelled, "I got the keys!" I locked the handle on the way out. Sister tried to lock the dead bolt once we got outside. When it wouldn't work, I realized she had grabbed my spare set of keys which held my car key and the key to my mom and dad's house. Ok. No big deal. I can drive to Ben's work and get his house key. Except for one problem - our garage is detached and the car waited inside it behind another locked door. Poor Ben had to leave work and come home to let us in. Luckily the weather outside was perfect and Sister and I had no problem killing time and chatting while we waited. Asher was, as usual, a perfect angel and didn't even notice a thing had happened.

When Ben got home he decided to stay there and hang out with the three of us. So, sister and I made a run to Walmart where she insisted on buying anything in the cart that had to do with her new nephew and then we went home to get Ben and Asher and headed to Chuy's for dinner. Sister treated us to wonderful dinner and we celebrated Asher's first night out on the town.

P.S. The car key mistake was NOT my sister's fault. I told her where the keys were and didn't realize my normal set was missing.

First Halloween

I am a Halloween nut. When we found out that we were pregnant I quickly counted the months on my fingers and was so excited to realize that he would arrive in October. Just what I wanted - a Halloween baby! What better reason for a Halloween party than my son's birthday? I have a folder full of ideas for parties for years to come.

Ben and I started planning his costume months before he was born. We knew it would be tough for find something for a newborn. So I initially planned to make him a costume. I had my own homemade version of an Alabama football uniform in mind. I told the ladies at work my plan and shared with them that Ben was trying to figure out how to make a helmet when my genius coworker, Cheryl, said we should check Build a Bear. Brilliant! When we went looking for one we found the whole ensemble. It was perfect. And when the salesman asked if we needed a bear to go with our outfit, Ben simply told him we already had one. Asher Bear.

When Halloween finally arrived, we were so excited to dress him up. On Saturday, the 30th. we attended a very special birthday party. My best friend's daughter's FIRST birthday party! We coulnd't miss Madi's special day and we had a great time showing off our new little guy. Check out these cute kids.

Halloween night we chilled at home and handed out candy. Asher slept through most of it but he still looked pretty darn cute.

Oma & Poppa

My parents were able to make it to see Asher the day he was born. With me going into labor a week and 2 days early it was a sudden trip for them but I don't think wild horses could have kept them away. I called them when my water broke and they were on the road to Alabama.

They arrived shortly after we got to our room and were of course in love the moment the laid eyes on their first born grandson. Go here to see lots more pics of their introduction.

They stayed for 2 weeks and helped us transition into parenthood. I don't know what we would have done without them. They cooked, cleaned, did household projects, washed cars, held Asher, changed diapers, bathed and fed him and pretty much did anything and everything I asked of them and more.

It broke my heart to see them leave. We all cried. Even Marley was sad to see Callie them go.

Asher is one lucky little guy to have them as grandparents and I am so thankful to have them as my mom and dad.

First Doctor Visit

Let me start off by saying that we LOVE Asher's pediatrician. He came highly recommended from several friends and now I know why. He takes the time to sit and talk and most importantly to listen. He has a smile in his eyes and is so good with Asher. And me - a first time, nervous and emotional Momma.

Dr. P said Asher was perfect, which of course we already knew. He was back to his birth weight and his bilirubin levels were so low at birth and his skin looked so good that he didn't even recheck him this time around. So he told us to keep doing what we were doing and to come back for his 6 week appointment.