Last Night

I crawled into bed like normal, Shem waiting making the bed warm for me, and snuggled close to him.  We, I mean, I normally talk like crazy before falling asleep, but last night I actually was stuck in my own thoughts for a few moments before I had to share them with him.  I finally realized something so true about myself and apparently Shem has known this about me for a long time because he totally agreed.  So, in an effort to rid myself of this fault so that I can be my best self I'm telling the world...well, the couple of you who stop by here.  Maybe someone else out there is just like me and could benefit from this?  Who knows.

Well, here it is.  I hate being told what to do.  This trait has seemed to grow over the past few years to the point where Shem can't tell me how I'm feeling because I get frustrated with him telling me how I feel, and I tend to complain a lot about rules these days.  This seems so weird to me because growing up I was such a rule follower, and now me hating being told what to do is keeping me from reaching some of my goals.  One of which is still to lose the 10 extra pounds of baby weight and then the extra 10 of marriage/graduation- from-college-weight.  I start following these meal plans, and then I get so mad at them because they don't let me eat what I want and then I give up and eat a whole bunch of marshmallows or something dumb.  I rarely have sugar in the house, but I always find a way to eat too much of something to the point of turning it into junk.  Why do I hate following a diet???  My own brain isn't letting me reach my goals...that stinks.  I wish I could turn it off for a few days and just be.  Maybe then I could get past my brain.  Ha ha!

Anyway, isn't that weird?  In other news I have been thinking about some things to post.  Mostly just thoughts on where I am in my life.  Lately we've been trying to get pregnant again and have been off birth control for a year now and still no luck.  I'm starting to worry a bit and started to track my ovulation which, according to the LH surge predictor kit, I am not.  At least last cycle.  I finally went to see the midwife yesterday and was told to keep testing and trying until January.  If nothing by then I will go back and we'll check things out on the ultrasound and do some tests.  If needed go on Clomid.  It's so weird to have it be so hard to get pregnant a second time when we got pregnant with Asher.  Granted, we had two miscarriages before him, but we still got pregnant.  It seems like everyone around me is pregnant again and I'm ready for another baby.  This time around I can handle the emotions that come with trying without success, which is such a blessing.  Asher truly is a huge blessing to me and brings much joy into our home.

Time to go...his show just ended.  That was a nice 20 mins of me time! :)  

18 months

I'm avoiding the mounds of laundry that need folding, asked Shem to make dinner tonight, and decided to bake some whole wheat bread and blog.

I feel like there has been a lot going on around here, but I never get up here (here being in my room away from the little one) to type about our awesome lives. :)  Yes, my life is awesome.  

Asher is now 18 months and I feel like we've hit a sweet spot as he is so much fun to have around now.  He is finally starting to repeat what Mom and Dad say and it's so cute.  He has stopped calling me, "Mom! Mom! Mom!", and now lovingly calls me "Mommy" when he wants me.  I kind of love it.  Whenever he sees a photo of Dad he always says, "Daddy" or "Dada".  I still don't exist in photos, but at least I exist in real life to him.  Haha!  

He eats like a crazy man too.  He must be growing, but I wouldn't know since I still haven't scheduled his 18 month appointment.  Anyway, he ate cucumbers with breakfast yesterday, and fish for dinner, and loves carrots.  Pretty much will eat anything that isn't slimy.  I love that he eats and feel like my hard work in providing a variety of food for him to eat is paying off.  No chicken nuggets here because this kid will eat a whole chicken breast if I let him!  

He has started going to nursery at church and was doing wonderfully until 3 weeks ago when he decided that he'd rather scream and cry if Dad left him there.  Shem or I have to be in there with him and if we leave if figures it out pretty quickly.  Although it's kind of a step backwards for him to be so attached to us, he has become super cuddly lately!  We love it!  He has never been like this before and it melts ours hearts when he rests his head on our shoulders and squeezes them several times as he snuggles as close as we can to us.  He  has also developed the crazy talent of attaching himself to us and even if we let go he somehow still hangs on.  Very interesting.

He frequently plays with cars, action figures, blocks, and the iPad   He loves to watch a "go" (show) and if I let him I think he'd sit like a zombie in front of the TV all day long.

He seems to comprehend the world around him.  He will get his shoes, coat, throw diapers down the stairs, get a new diaper, try to open the front door, and he now knows how to frazzle the dishwasher.  We don't like that very much.

 He loves little books and has claimed my Hymn book in Portuguese as his own. :)

Life as I know it.

I have a toddler.  Life is crazy interesting as he is always doing something new.  This morning to evade getting dressed, he climbed back into his crib.  I, being a smart mom, took out my camera.  Now I'm just wondering if he wanted to be in the crib why is he trying so hard to get out?  Mystery.

Fuzzy me.  I felt pretty much how I look this morning. 

Fifteen Months

Fifteen month stats are very promising and we even got to see our regular pediatrician who had been out on maternity leave for the adoption of their son.

Weight:  20 lbs (>5%)
Height:  311/2 in (75%)
Head Circ:  18 3/4in (75%)

He is growing, but he's definitely not fat.  I know some 5 month old babies who weigh more than Asher.  Part of the reason for his slenderness is well, genetics, but also that fact that he never stops moving!  He loves to move.  Also we have recently all gone dairy and gluten free.  We're seeing a Natural path doctor who is trying to help the boys with their eczema.  He seems to think that all skin disorders are caused by gut issues, so we're going to follow his diet and see what happens.  So far no significant changes, but I do hope that this will help us.

I snapped these shots a few minutes ago...they are quite descriptive of Asher's many personalities.  He is growing up and wanting to talk so much, but seems to have his own way of communicating still.  Other than that, he runs, plays, eats a lot, snuggles, reads, and destroys things daily.

Paragliding off Poo Poo Pointe

Shem, Zaron, and Quinae decided to all go paragliding at the beginning of July.  Originally Quinae and Shem had planned on going for their 30th birthday, but a year past without putting it on the calendar until one day we finally had it planned.

Quinae was so excited and as she lifted off the mountain she screamed in delight.  It was so fun to see her take off!

Shem also had fun, but unfortunately got sick near the end because his instructor didn't offer for him to stear, so he didn't feel so great at the end, but he loved it.  It also didn't help that I was super crabby because I had no idea what was going on and I ended up having to hike 2 miles down a steep mountain in skinny jeans and flip flops with a baby on my back...not my idea of fun.  By the time Shem caught up with me I was planning my solo trip to Hawaii for the weekend just to re cooperate.

Trip to Utah

It's true.  We did take a trip to Utah at the end of June.  It was a fun experience riding 14+ hours in a car with a 1 year old, but Asher did super well! The warmer weather was so nice and we loved hanging out in the pool the most since it was so hot. :)  

Virgin Gardener

My Mother-in-Law is an amazing gardener and this year she offered some of her land and raised beds for me to learn and grow my own garden.  We started way back in February preparing the soil and then planting  out first seeds in the covered bed in March.  Despite not always getting over there to pick fresh greens and feeling a bit like I'm not helping enough, I love it!  Yes, it would be easier if it were in my own backyard, but this is by far the next best thing.  I've focused on growing spinach, kale, rainbow chard, carrots, cucumbers, all sorts of herbs, broccoli, cauliflower, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, beets, radishes, and  a whole bunch of other yummy stuff.

Mt. Index Hike-Bridal Veil Falls

Once upon a time we went on a hike on Mt. Index as a family and it was a ton of fun!  We lunched on a log 1/2 way up the mountain and got sprayed by the waterfall.  The falls were magnificent and we stood right next to them.  Asher loved being in the backpack for the first time too.  It's so nice to have cool things that make it possible to still enjoy the things we did before kids.  It was a little nerve-racking coming down with a baby on my back, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.