My Date with Ashton

I am ashamed to say that today was the first time Ashton and I have done anything by ourselves since Collin was born...almost 6 mos ago! Wes has been the one who would take Ashton outside by himself and I have had special times with him at home while Collin was sleeping but it was fun today to get out together. Wes was out of town so my mom came down to keep Collin (thank you!!) so Ashton and I could play at Monkey Joe's. He had been this summer with Wes but this was my first Monkey Joe's experience. Ashton seems so very grown up that I forget how little he still is sometimes and what a cautious, calculating child he is until we are around a bunch of other kids! He was pretty timid there today and kept his eyes on me while he was on the huge blow up things with big kids pushing and jumping all around him. It was hard not to tear up while I watched and tried to encourage him to jump too! Finally he warmed up to the idea and as I told my mom, he looked like a really white person trying to dance at first. Then by the end, he had a ball and was doing somersaults off a little alligator. Today was a huge lesson for me in reminding me how important it is to do stuff individually with the boys but also how important it is to keep our eyes on God when we are stepping out in faith. It's amazing how many parenting moments parallel with our relationship with God. Even tonight when Ashton told me, "Mommy, I liked going to Monkey Joe's with you" reminded me to thank God for every little thing He does with us and how much He must love to hear it. To end with a laugh, Ashton also told me tonight that "our church needs to buy some tractor and truck puzzles." He seemed very concerned about that before bed. That boy loves his puzzles! (we are now up to 25 piece ones and Wes is shooting for a 50 piece and wants to start timing Ashton)

Also here is a very blurry picture from New Year's day in Augusta when Ashton ran out in his new cookie monster towel (and nothing else) to the living room after bath with it flying behind like a cape saying "Crazy!"