Grad Party

My cousin Sam, the third youngest of all my grandma's grandchildren, graduated high school yesterday. Today his mom and dad threw him a party at their house with food, cake and even a keg!!  Haha.. got ya!! It was a keg of root beer with vanilla ice cream to make root beer floats. Somehow I managed to not make myself one. What was I thinking?!?! Sam isn't one to smile too much but that wasn't the case today. And even more it wasn't hard to get him to let me take picture. A high school graduation does Sam good!

The graduate and his parents..

and a few guests..

Shots and Scales

Asher had some vaccinations on Thursday. I wasn't looking forward to him getting poked of course but was excited to see how many pounds he has managed to put on in the last six weeks or so.

He is up to 15.4lbs and in six month clothes, or three months if I squeeze him in.. 

 Have you seen chubby cheeks any cuter than these?? I didn't think so...

Vegas Bound

 Dave's cousin Joe and his girlfriend Jessica are Vegas bound this Monday. She has finished veterinarian school at Iowa State and has gotten a job in Vegas and he is going to start at the Le Cordoun Bleu Culinary school. Sue had a going away party for the pair and we got to enjoy her very green backyard and good food!

The new Vegasians... or whatever they call people who live in Vegas. :) 

A Week..

I can't believe it's been a whole week since I have added to the blog. Alot and nothing has happened in the last week.

We have had a couple doctor appointments. One for Jaxson for a skin rash he has, another for Asher for immunizations and another for me because I have mastitis... again! Ugh.. but I didn't let it get bad this time so I have still been among the living. This time the doctor wrote me a refill for my antibiotic so I can have it here if I start to get the symptoms again. I know exactly what they are and when it starts I don't want to wait like I did the first time and let it get bad again. He said the shelf life is between 1 and 1 1/2 years, so will be good through my time nursing Asher. And hopefully with medicine sitting in the cabinet it won't come back because it knows it won't have a chance. Speaking of breastfeeding a friend called me today with a breastfeeding question. After I asked her some questions I rattled off all the information I know from reading about nursing and my many visits with lactation consultants I realized I know quite a bit about breastfeeding. It made me feel good she thought of me to ask her question.

Also this week a really really bad thing happened to me. Ok, not that bad but in my world where photos are really important it was bad. I was just snapping photos outside of my boys (what's new right?) I looked at them several times on the camera and was really excited to check them out on the computer. Plugged my card into the reader and they were gone!! Gone... what!! I put the card back in my camera and they were gone again. All the other pictures were still on my card, only the new ones I had just taken. Corrupted or some nonsense. I downloaded a program that can retrieve lost files and it did find them but to be able to save them to your computer you have to purchase the program. It was only 30 bucks but I didn't do it. They weren't like oh my super important pictures. And if you know me, I think EVERY picture is oh my super important, but I resisted the urge and am going to try to get some new pictures of my boys soon.  I am going to make sure I always format my card prior to use. I ususally do that but sometimes I forget.. not anymore.

I was part of a focus group last night. It was about housing. It was interesting some peoples thoughts on housing, why they prefer to rent or own. And the facilitator had some interesting facts about housing statistics and what not. And it was an easy way to earn 75 bucks!

We are also working on some big news that I can't share just yet, but it's pretty good news and I can't wait until it is blog ready....

He's Potty Trained!!

Jaxson is officially potty trained...  according to Dave's definition anyway. We were talking about Jaxson's new skill of using the potty and I mentioned that it was pretty neat he was potty trained. Dave told me that he isn't potty trained until he can go to Jordan Creek Mall or somewhere in underwear and not worry about it.

Well, that is exactly what we did today. I was in serious need of having my eyebrows fixed and met Carol for lunch at Panera. Jaxson was in underwear the whole time with one potty break during lunch he came home dry as ever.

He is doing awesome though, with only a few accidents at Mels, and two at home in over two weeks of no diapers. It is so nice having only one child to change diapers! There is still some time to go before we will be 100% confident in all situations but if you would have told me two weeks ago that we would be where we are today with it I would have thought you were nuts!! I guess kids really do it when they are ready, and when ready they just get it. There is no magic age or trick. I always thought parents were crazy when they told me "it will just happen when their ready" and now I will be one of those parents telling that to friends with younger children.

My New Addiction...

 Asher smiled for the first time weeks ago but just recently he started to do it regularly. So now if you come over don't be surprised if you find me leaning over Asher making funny faces, or ridiculous sounds. But seeing his big smile is quite addicting, and I am fully addicted. Jaxson is also addicted. He will stand over Asher and dance and make silly faces and when he smiles Jaxson will yell for me to hurry and come over to see his smiles. Jaxson will say, "I did it! I made him laugh!" And really Jaxson is the best person to get Asher to laugh, he can do it in a millisecond. Usually Asher will just watch Jaxson and start to smile even when Jaxson isn't even paying any attention to the little guy. Oh, they are just too cute.

Asher is a little chunky monkey. He started out fairly big but really started to put on the pounds once he got a taste of milk! Apparently he really likes to eat. He does it ALL the time, and he is not a small baby. When he is around babies twice his age he doesn't look out of place. We had to stop by the doctors yesterday and Dr. Fred took one look at him and said, "Well, he certaintly is keeping his food down!" Yes, he is doing that quite well and keeping me busy feeding him. I am nursing, as most of you know. I nursed Jaxson for his first year, only a couple times did he get formula when I either forgot the milk etc. I never had a ton of milk with Jaxson, I always got just enough for the next day usually and we never really got ahead. Asher is a different story. My body apparently knows this kid likes to eat and makes enough milk to feed a village of children. On an average day at work I bring home between 18-21 ounces and he usually eats between 8-12 ounces at daycare. I know its kind of weird but I love looking int he freezer and seeing all of Asher's milk. I love it that he won't have to have formula. I am not against those who use formula of course but I always have my heart set on nursing and having it be this successful really makes me very happy. :)  We have a well baby check up on Thursday of next week. Poor little guy has to get some shots but I can' wait to see how much he weighs!! He was 13.8lbs 4 weeks ago!! I know Mercy takes Mother's Milk to donate to other less fortunate countries for newborn babies. I think I am going to look into it because I would love to make another baby as healthy as the little chunkster I having living in my house.

 Below is a picture of exactly how healthy he is...

When Jaxson and I were working on getting a smile out of Asher for our enjoyment and for a picture on the blog Jaxson thought he would rather play "guys' with Asher. He was playing with two and so he gave one to Asher and kept the silver one for himself. He tried to get Asher to play with him but Asher just stared in awe of his brother. Jaxson even set it next to his hand hoping Asher would pick it up and play with him. I love Asher being such a cuddly little baby but one thing I am looking forward to is watching them play together.

Pizza Night

Tonight was pizza night. But instead of making a phone call we started from scratch. We made up some dough and then made three personal pizzas and started to put on the toppings. Jaxson went for all the veggies!! Oh how I love him... He stocked it full of mushrooms, onions, and peppers. Topped it with cheese and even a little cracked black pepper. 

Jaxson and I baked ours in the oven until perfectly golden brown... 

And Dave had to put his on the grill of course... 

His was charred on the bottom which is just the way he likes it. He already wants to try again to get it perfect... 

Rainy Day with Grandpa

 Today the boys and I went with my dad to Goodes Greenhouses to pick some things up for his garden and out to lunch. Then he stopped over to use my computer and Jaxson used that as an opportunity to show him every toy and every book he could. My dad is pretty good at being a big kid with Jaxson and Jaxson loves to play with him. He takes his hand and drags him around the house, to the basement and in his room to play with all his toys, and also has to read him all his favorite books. When Jaxson brought my dad "The Potty Book" that we have been reading lately my dad wrinkled up his face and told Jaxson to go get a book with animals or something. Jaxson started cracking up at him that he wouldn't read the potty book. And I had to remind my dad that everything potty right now is very very cool. No wrinkled noses aloud in this house when it comes to anything with the potty! When I told Jaxson it was time to take Grandpa home he gave him a big hug and reluctantly told him goodbye. I told Jaxson that when my dad puts his garden together we can go over and help him plant. I am sure Jaxson will enjoy getting dirty with grandpa.

I sat Asher on my dad's lap to take a quick picture. As soon as Jaxson saw Asher on my dad's lap he jumped up there as quick as he could. 

Asher thought my dad was hilarious. He was smiling up a storm. I am not sure if it was my dad's beard tickling his cheek but he was a happy camper sitting on my dads lap. 

Asher's First Playdate

Jaxson has had alot of playdates with kids his age and yesterday was Asher's turn. I graduated with Jill at Drake and had a few classes together. I then ran into her and her then fiance at the mall one night, then again at the doctor's office since we were both expecting. We have kept up with each other on each other's blogs but decided to meet the babies in person yesterday. Her little girl Emma is close to 4 months old and is just a little thing. We met at the library for storytime for Jaxson then walked to Panera and chatted. It was such a warm day out we were ready for something cold when we got there! Jax and I shared a mango smoothie and it was very good. I didn't get much of it really since Jaxson traded me the little cup I put some in for him for my big cup. He really liked it! Maybe we will make smoothies sometime. 

And with one potty break at the library and another at Panera we made our outing accident free. oh yah!!

Could it be true?!??

Oh My Goodness! My baby boy potty trained?? As in no more diapers?? Could it be true?? Almost... 

 Thursday 5.5 Jaxson was in diapers. We would practice sitting on the potty several times a day but never really amounted to much. Every once in a while I would time it right and he would go. That night we talked and decided on Friday we were going to try underwear all day. I thought he needed to have the feeling of being wet and so he could learn to not like it very much. 

Friday morning we woke up and sat on the potty right away. He wasn't too excited about the idea of underwear but I stuck to my guns. On they went. We ate breakfast and took a potty break. Success! With that I thought I could jump in a quick shower. I was hesitant but did just went with it. I was only in the shower for a few minutes when Jaxson comes in with his potty tray. He had a big smile and informed me had gone potty. All by himself, took off his shorts and went. All by himself!

And he hasn't had an accident since. Not one (when in underwear). And I don't have to follow him around and ask him. He just goes when he needs. If it has been awhile I will just announce that we are taking a potty break.

He has been doing pull ups at daycare and I think they are too much like diapers for him. He will just go in them, but as soon as he is in underwear when he gets home he goes straight to the potty without a problem. We are going to skip right over the pull-up phase since he does better in underwear. 

Did my baby boy actually potty train himself?? Of course he did, because we just bought the biggest box of diapers for him possible!!

Mother's Day

Mother's day this year was twice as sweet since I now have two boys that call me mom.

I love being a mom. I love watching Jaxson play and hearing his laugh across the yard. I love to watch Asher watch Jaxson so intently. I love to watch Jaxson run to Asher's side when he cries, or just stop mid run to give him a little kiss or hold his hand. I love that I can have conversations with Jaxson, many that make me laugh at the turns they take. I love to watch Asher fall asleep in my arms and look so peaceful. I love being a mom.

Alot of pictures.. but I couldn't help it...

We grilled on Elaine's new grill for Mother's Day. Dan used Jax's squirt gun to get the perfect flame on the steaks.

Asher: Two Months

Today Asher is two months old. Two months! He has mostly ate, slept, and grew this last month. And now he has the cutest chubby cheeks that are hard to resist a pinch. He is learning to go to sleep better and is sleeping through the night.. as in EIGHT hours... five nights a week. Usually not in a row, but I will take it! He smiles if he is really entertained and we have "talks" full of cooing. I am so in love....

I did cheat a little this month and did the pictures on 5.8.11 but it was so perfect outside for a photo shoot!

This is maybe my favorite picture ever of Asher. He is just so adorable.

He kept grasping blades of glass in his toes and fingers. Adorable..

Here is Asher at 1 month

Off to the Market

I always like going to the Farmers market when you wake up to blue sunny skies. We don't really ever buy too much stuff but it gets us outside before noon. It makes the day seem more productive. You get out, walk around and listen to music, people/dog watch, and eat good food. It was opening day today plus beautiful weather which meant thousands of people. They said last year opening day was a record 40,000 people, and I am sure this year at least matched but probably beat last year. First thing we purchased was fresh squeezed orange juice for Jaxson. They squeezed it right in front of him so he could see that the juice came right from a real orange. He pretty much slammed it instantly but I was able to sneak a drink and it was really good!!

 ( I forgot my camera today, little and big, so it was all camera phone today. I have done this two times recently and I am getting really annoyed with myself!)

 Our next stop was at the market's kids craft. Today they were able to plant little flowers for mother's day. Jaxson's favorite part was putting the potting soil into the cup, you know the messy part of course! He was proud of his finished product too.

We wandered down each street and back again. We managed to get a knife sharpener I have wanted since last season, and a jar of pizza sauce that was super tasty (now we just need Jess and Mich to come back and teach us how to make the pizza!) Dave also picked up jar of hot and spicy mustard, and some fresh bread. I got two hosta plants to plant along side the house where it is mostly shaded and of course a fruit pastry for the walk to the car. mmmm... those things are so darn good!