Ashton's First Christmas

We have missed blogging since our computer crashed for the second and I believe final time. I am posting a few pictures from my parents' house. We have had a fun week visiting a lot of family!

Brave Mama

Ashton and I just got back from getting the oil changed. I had fed him right before we left, packed a bottle along with everything else we may need for a wait at Kauffman, but wasn't too worried about how he would act. When I got there though, this older lady in line said, "Wow, how old is he? I can't believe you would bring a baby here." I just smiled and said, "Well, you gotta do what you gotta do." I guess she was complimenting my bravery because she did say he was cute, but it made me paranoid after that, especially with all the men working on their laptops while we waited. Ashton was great though-we walked in circles for an hour looking at the tire displays and then he fell asleep and didn't make one peep. You know, people just don't think before they speak and I am just as guilty. I later thought, "I should have brought my perfect dog which would have really thrown her off."

The pictures are from last week. Our therapist wanted us to start Ashton in his Bumbo chair for his neck which Haley has loved since it gives her more licking access. Who doesn't love the smell of Johnson's and Johnson's? Check out Ashton's hair pattern right now in the back. It cracks us up. The first is from this weekend. The Goldens spent the night with us on Friday and the Sullivans came over too. Chris was great at making Ashton giggle!

The Dads

Cute daddy picture with Ashton, Audrey, and Luke before their baby dedication. Dads are Wes, Jeff, and Scott. Love the burp cloths and bibs. We were all chanting "do not poop, do not spit up."

Working Mama

So I've now entered my role as working mom which makes it more difficult to post. Last week was all around difficult but we made it. I guess we have been giving the 4 am hour the shaft all these years and it was time to see what was happening at that time so we wake up that early now to begin our working days. The first day back was hard but I have a very supportive office and one of my great patients even gave Ashton a gift the first day! I actually missed being at work and hearing about how much my patients love their roosters even though they scratch their arms...such a different world an hour away! I did want to give a shout out to Leigh, Kim, and Kami. Leigh and Kami were in town last weekend so I got to see them for the first time in a few years. It was so good to catch up. I didn't get any pictures because they were in their pajamas and probably would have killed me but it was such a sweet time! This past weekend we went to a shower for Heather and Joseph Kocevar who are having a baby boy in January and it was so good to see them too. Here is Wes and Ashton with Erin Anderson and baby girl Elana who we had not met yet either-all bassoon friends from college.

Dedication Sunday

Last Sunday, Ashton had his baby dedication service at our church. Wes and I dedicated him to the Lord as Hannah did for Samuel in the Bible, committed to raise Ashton in a Godly home, and asked the church family for support. It is more of a parent dedication in our faith and actually that's what our church calls it. We took a class beforehand where we learned ways to incorporate Christ in all we do while raising Ashton. We had lots of family members come to support us and we all went to lunch afterwards. It was such a great day, and his buds Luke and Audrey were also dedicated on the same day which was so special. Here are some pictures.

Wimoweh, wimoweh

I just got off the phone with my brother who I mentioned was in South Africa this week on safari as a "team building office trip"...crazy, I know. He has some amazing stories like being 2 feet away from lions and his entire carload of coworkers all letting out an audible sigh (Vigilantes of Love reference) when the lions finally walked away. He said they were told to be silent and keep their hands inside the vehicle but they could take pictures because the lions are used to that. He watched elephants knock over trees to get food inside the tree trunks. His tour guides in the bush were amazing also. He said they would follow animals based on their "dung" and the guides would stick their fingers in it to see if it was warm! I think my favorite story was about baboons who were trying to steal a Trivia Pursuit game they had left outside their camp one day while they were taking a nap! He said they were always bothering them while they ate and he saw one actually lift the lid off of a trashcan looking for food. Apparently the tour guide tried to get them away by using a slingshot. One day he went on a tour by foot which sounded really scary...the tour guide carried a rifle in case an animal got too close. It was amazing though to hear about how incredible the animals were in their own habitat. It seems like a lot of Ashton's clothes are safari themed and hearing Patrick talk made me think about how the older we get, the less fascination we have with animals. How cool it is to be wowed again by a creature that God made.

Rockabye Baby

My brother is in Africa on safari right now and my parents went to see Coldplay this week...I was happy to get to the mall to buy Ashton some shoes for church. Speaking of Coldplay, my brother has found this music series Rockabye Baby where bands' music is put to lullaby. He gave us the Coldplay one. It is really pretty funny. There's a link to the right and I also finally updated our book list since I have not done so since we started the blog. We actually do read though.

Mommy Lunch Club

Today was our last day to meet for lunch club since maternity leave is coming to a close...so sad. I can't believe the babies are almost 12 weeks. It's been so special to share this time with each other. Right before we took the picture, feminine little Audrey let a huge toot that I am sure led to a fun diaper change. It's hilarious to look at Ashton and Luke. Ashton actually looks disgusted in the picture and Luke is looking up like he's trying to get some fresh air! Don't worry Audrey; Ashton did the exact same thing as soon as we got home!

Our Halloween

For the first time I felt like a supermom on Halloween. That morning, I cleaned the house, made pumpkin bread and black bean soup (my own tradition I am starting this year) and got Ashton dressed in Halloween outfit number one all before heading to my grandparents for lunch. Later that afternoon, my friend Kate came over and I thought she might have to watch Ashton for a little bit while I did a disabled-neighbor-who-adores-Halloween's makeup (long story), but turned out the other neighbor she asked to do her makeup showed up so I was relieved of my duties. After Kate left, Ashton grew cranky and here is a picture of him while I dressed him in outfit number 2 which was a cozy frog suit that his cousin wore for his first Halloween. "It's Halloween and you are wearing this frog suit," I kept telling him. I also ended up dropping the camera on him as I fumbled down the stairs and quickly thanked the Lord for making babies tough. I am sure it was hot in that frog suit in the house, but he actually loved it when we got over to Wes' football game; it was pretty chilly as I practically did wheelies with the stroller through the parking lot since we were late. I know the ladies at the gate always think, "there's that poor band director's wife who always looks so frazzled when she gets here." Anyways, throughout the day I also completed three continuing ed articles and tests (for my other job) that were due by midnight that night every time I fed Ashton. At the game, we met another new buddy Nicklas for the first time whose dad, Robert, is another band director and friend. He is 4 days older than Ashton and was a cute little bear. Chris and Katy, always the GACS band supporters, also were in town and came to the game and our house afterwards. It was such a fun day and I think the first of many busy Halloween days for me...and we didn't even trick or treat this year!

Obama on the left...McCain on the right

Check this video out. I stole it from the Wyatt's blog but it is too funny to miss and I've been singing it all day. Did you know, you can get free coffee from Starbucks, star shaped donuts at Krispy Kreme and a scoop from Ben and Jerry's all because it's election day? I'll be in the road a lot today!...I think I need to go back to work.

Thank you so much to Matt and Kate Altmix who took these pictures for us when they came to visit last week! Recently, Wes and I rented the Ben Stein documentary Expelled which I would highly recommend. It discusses how prominent scientists are losing their jobs for questioning evolution. He talks about how evolution devalues human life and our purpose here on earth. I could not agree more especially when I look into my child's eyes!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know them full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 129:14-16

Parent Perk AKA Taking Advantage of our Baby

today I was prepared to wait in line for awhile to vote but but they ended up letting me go to the front of the line since I had Ashton! I told Wes and he said, "I'm taking him tonight" so looks like Ashton will be wearing two stickers by the end of the day. Does anyone else need to borrow him?

As George would say..."I'm back baby"

Our computer has been down for the past two weeks which has been so sad for me since I'm home and wanting to post pictures-see our smiling pumpkin to the right! After a few updates and scans, it seems to be working so far tonight...thanks Nick (I had to admit to him we never update our computer...what? that annoying box is important??!!!!) At church recently we heard a statistic that if you own a computer you are financially in the top 1% of the world. That really makes you think about how spoiled we are. We've done so many fun things with Ashton lately. Two weeks ago we immersed him in band world since he went to his first football game, competition, and band concert all within a few days! Thanks to Sarah and Nick who came out to support GAC at the competition. Wes' parents were also able to come for the concert. Here are a few pictures. The next day, our supercool friends Matt and Kate Altmix (awesome wedding photographers-see blog) came by and met Ashton. He was so happy their entire visit until I got out my camera!

teaming up

wes asked me tonight if i thought haley told ashton to "just keep screaming until they walk us." it looks like she is pleased with his work

That's My Name

Projectile Poop

So after talking with our friends Matt and Nan this weekend, we realized our baby may have a special talent. Apparently projectile pooping doesn't occur with all babies...or at least not their daughter Lelia! Ashton can squirt poop across a room if he does it while we are in mid diaper change! In fact when he was about 2 weeks, it went across the room and landed on a bright white diaper bag that I had not even cut the tags off of. Wes calls it projectile poop. Nan called it a poop rocket! Maybe we can get on Letterman or something.

Kim and Hairy

Ashton had a great time meeting my good friend Kim last Friday who spent the evening with us. I have to confess he is really crying in the picture although he looks like he is laughing-I love the picture. Saturday we had a really big day and Ashton had his first trip to Athens!! We hung out with Wes' family and then ate at our favorite burrito place, The Mean Bean. Ashton got to meet Hairy Dog at the Georgia Center although he slept through the whole thing! Then we went to our friends Matt and Nan's house for the game. Here is a tired baby on the way home but still supporting his team!!