Ten Months

 Finally... a mutually enjoyable activaty for these two.  She loves being responsible for him and he gets a big kick of riding in the doll stroller.  And why shouldn't he?!  Doll companies would make a fortune if they replicated him. :)

The dimple!

When I pulled out his monthly stickers, I almost cried seeing there are only two left.

Growing up means these beautiful thighs will sadly thin out. 

He's working on his crawl.

He's not in a hurry to learn and that is OK with me.

His new tricks this month are clapping when you say, "Yay for Asher!" and shaking his head "no" when you ask him a question.

He says, "Mama", "Dada", "Hi" and waves "bye-bye".

Even when he's stressed and on the verge of fussing, he's still sweet.

4.5 teeth and counting.

Trimming the Tree

Today was a magical day for me and probably one of the nicest I've had all year.  This year has been long and the past few months have been frustrating and stressful.  I've just been piddling by and not enjoying life much.  But today was wonderful.  Nothing elaborate just a simple and enjoyable day.   We saw "Frozen"and I thoroughly enjoyed it (yes, I do need to get out more)!  My sister hosted a wonderful dinner.  It was so stress-free and delicious.  Kids played with cousins and all got along great. Then it was home to trim the tree. There is nothing I love more than the smell of the tree, pulling out our ornaments from all over the world, and listening to Christmas music while we decorate. 

 Elizabeth couldn't get enough of hanging the ornaments.   Poor thing has had a rough time lately with some health concerns (nothing life threatening, but frustrating).   I LOVE seeing her happy.

 She wanted everyone to lift her up higher.

The best part is we are going to cut down a second tree tomorrow, a dream come true.  I've always wanted two trees!

Feeling blessed to have such a splendid day.  I must admit though that I'm not sure Santa's elf won't be rearranging some of the ornaments. :)

Nine Months

I think it's totally immoral and wrong how fast babies grow up!

Nine months old and I finally have a photo that shows his darling dimple.

He's got four teeth and the most delicious thighs eva!

He eats like a champ and handles being sick pretty well, 

which he's been every time a darn tooth comes in.

Only recently started sleeping un swaddled.

Hates being on his stomach and may never crawl, which I am totally fine with.  

I love me a stationary baby!

My sister calls him "eye candy" because of his red hair and bright blue eyes. 

He loves his papa and lights up whenever Ben comes home.

He met one of his BFFs, who is living oversees.   I just know they'll be best pals someday.

He took his cute girlfriend on a date to Sundance.

Don't worry--they had chaperones. 

Three Little Pumpkins

When Samara was a baby my friend was selling nice Halloween costumes for way cheap.  We picked the pumpkin one and had a theme.  Ah! So sweet.  One of these years, we will theme it up again.

Lizzie was a pumpkin too but for picture's sake only.  She would have melted had we taken her out in this.

Asher, of course, had no choice other than to be a pumpkin.  And he used the original costume.

I sure think my little trio of pumpkins is cute!

The girls both wanted to be "Super Girl" this year.  Lizzie has worn her shirt almost everyday since we bought it.  Thank goodness we have to wash it sometimes. 

She accessorizes with different hats, boots, and skirts to give the costume a different look.  So really I never tire of the shirt.

Was she really a pumpkin six year ago?! 

She takes her world-saving duties seriously.

I heart kids in costumes, which is precisely why they donned them again two weeks after Halloween so we could get photos. :)

Eight months

Asher loves his exersaucer and 

his Great-Grandma.  We loved having her visit for two weeks.  We celebrated his Grandpa's 70th birthday with a surprise party and lots of family.

Fall looks good on him. 

Eight months has gone too quickly!

I've intended to get pictures of us together since he was born and Jeanne took some this month.  She did a great job!  I'm so happy with how the photos turned out.  They were taken just in time as he had four teeth come in soon after.  That means he was technically still a newborn, right?!

Seven Months

This month Asher had a little weekend trip to Arizona with mom.  We loved swimming!

He got to chill with his adorable cousins.

He can sit up and cheer on the cougars.

Asher is all smiles.  He is so sweet and made of everything nice.  No snips, snails, or puppy dog tails here.

He's always got my back.  "Mom, did you get the shot you wanted?"

Six Months

This month Asher boy or "this baby man" as Lizzie now calls him discovered his toes.  I love the baby toe stage.  You gotta appreciate having a toy that never gets lost!

His smile is the best.

He started solids. 

He's a calm sweet boy and

ridiculously cute (I'm a very biased mama!). 

I'm sad we are already half way to him being a year old.   I truly wish he could be a perma-baby!  

Three years old

Posting this has been on my to-do list for 4 months.  I'm caught up on milestone posts, which are so helpful when I do their yearly photo books [that I just finished for Christmas presents (first time I've been caught up)].  If I ever get the pantry organized then I may actually feel like I'm in control of my life. :)  Funny, the things that make a person feel "caught up", like having an empty inbox.

Back to Elizabeth, who is three!

Lizzie calls any amount of money, "three dollars".  Once we were somewhere and got change and it happened to be $3.  She immediately said, "Mom, you got three dollars!"  The store clerk was so impressed. :)  You can imagine her thrill when she got her very own $3 in the mail from her great-grandma.  

 She is obssesed with Rapunzel so we had a BYOFP (bring your own frying pan) party.

She was so cute and shy when everyone sang to her.

She felt so loved and important on her birthday, which was my main hope.  She's since asked many times when she can have another birthday.

Good thing my kids are easily impressed with my lack of cake culinary skills. 

Some things I want to remember about this age:

She loves her siblings and does anything to have their attention and be included in play with them.  Samara is not always kind to her, but when Lizzie gets a special treat, she often saves some for Samara.

My SIL said, "You should just put a bow on Asher for her birthday."  I totally could have!  Nicknames  she has for him are "this baby man", "asher boy", and "human boy".  She tells him not to cry because "you are breaking mom's heart."  She calls Ben, "moosh daddy bennie".

Lizzie is loving and affectionate.  She is a tease.

She wants to be a "shoot-er" when she grows up, as in one who administers shots.  She hates and refuses to get on the scale at the doctor's office, but shots and getting her blood taken are no biggie.  She loves imaginary play and is never more intent then when she is tying something or someone up.

She loves swimming and is a little too brave in the water.  She would not go to class with a teacher though unless I was there.  Any place with water is called "Waterton".  Sprinklers are called "sprinkles".  She will "aba-so-lutely like to do that" and often needs "just a moment" to finish things.  She loves jumping on the trampoline.  Her favorite show is "my little pony".

She is independent and loves to exert her will.  Still has powerful lungs and talks up a storm.

She has the most lovely eyes.