asher: 10 months ephram: 30 months

 

 

It's hard to believe that I have a 10 month old AND a 2 1/2 year old on my hands now!  Your daddy & I were just talking about how this may have been the fastest year of our lives.  The time has just flown by!

 

 

Some highlights from Asher's 10th month:

 You are so mobile & determined these days.  You are slowly taking first little steps here & there but not walking yet. However, you don't let that stop you from getting where you want to go!  With that, chair pictures have become much more challenging, hence the carrot bribery :)

You've started clapping and dancing to music & are learning to communicate with us more and more.

You've mastered your first signs, "more" and "all done" and are quite pleased with yourself when you use them.

You love being around your big brother and want to play with him most all of the time! Your favorite things to do are to pull his hair playfully & steal his paci.  You already love getting a rise out of your older brother.

You are also entering a very curious & mischevious stage. Opening kitchen cabinets and drawers and pulling out all the Tupperware is one of your new found hobbies, along with climbing stairs (oh boy!)

 You are such a BOY! Making grunting noises, little war cries and tackling mommy, daddy & big brother to roughhouse.

 Speaking of big brother...Ephram is 2 1/2 and growing like a weed!

You've gone through a major growth spurt and are wearing 3T clothing now.  You love jumping on furniture, catapulting yourself from one couch or chair to another.

You love eating (still).  Food is definitely a love language for you.

You are speaking SO well and connect quite a few words together these days to make complete little sentences.  You love to call pineapple "pinecones" and horsies are "forsies", escalators are "alligators"...just to name a few of the cute little words you've come up with...

When you aren't feeling inclined to do something that we ask you to do, you say "I can't want to." 

You soak up everything around you like a sponge.  You are an encourager and sweet spirited boy at heart.

I think you are turning into quite the big brother.  You love Asher, but also are adjusting to him being all in your chili.  However, when we give you the option to play by yourself or with him nearby, you always choose him, even though he frustrates you at times.  Brother love, I suppose.

You love cars, tractors, trains, building with blocks, reading and coloring. 

You definitely love to be around other people. Be it friends or family, you love being close to & playing near or with other people. 

This year has been such a full one...but so blessed, largely in part to you two boys! Love you to the moon!



The Carters in the Capitol

 

 

 

Visiting D.C. was a huge thrill for me. I'm not much into politics, but there is something so overwhelming and wonderful about being in a city so saturated in history. I loved every minute of our whirlwind trip.  We only had a few days of sightseeing, but even with two little ones managed to see quite a bit of the city and it's accolades.

 

 

We spent our first day in Arlington National Cemetery. It was such a sobering and beautiful reminder of the cost of freedom.

 

 

We devoted our last morning to touring as much of the mall as possible.  The previous two days we were able to see a couple of the museums and the National Zoo. 

The White House, Lincoln Memorial, and  World War II Memorial were just a few of the sights we were able to see! I think this was my favorite morning!

 

Picnicking at the World War II memorial 

 

 

These boys were champs. We had a few meltdowns toward the end of our stay, and lots of catching up on rest to do when we got home, but they kept up with their very eager and perhaps overly ambitious parents so, so well!

this post...

 

 

is pretty much just a handful (ok, a really big handful) of my favorite photos from our impromptu photo session yesterday.  We took advantage of the long weekend to get outside and snap a few photos of the kids. They are growing too fast (7 and 27 months!) and I have been neglecting my camera for far too long. It's only taken me 6 months since our move to dust off the camera and take a few good pictures of my kiddos. Late afternoon mood swings were kicking in and naptime was beckoning for the littler one so I was actually surprised to find a few good photos on my card (you know, I only took 100)!

 

Here are my favorites...mostly for the grandparents & my own enjoyment, but feel free to browse!

 

 

 

 

I love these two.

asher: 5 months old

Little Mark Asher turned 5 months old just over a week ago.  Earlier this week I was finally able to snap some photos of him in the chair and big brother of course, had to join in.  I don't think you minded, though.

This past month you have been all about your feet.

As soon as mama or daddy lays you on your back, your little toes make their way to your sweet little mouth.  Even when sitting in my lap, you try to bend down and chomp down on your little piggies. It's too cute.

You've been rolling for the past two months and are a roly-poly man.  It's not uncommon for me to find you yards from where I layed you down only seconds before.

You have the cutest little voice and baby expressions.  We all love it when you talk to us.  

You also enjoy sticking your tongue out at us on occasion.

You are a pretty easy going guy. Mama can take you in and out of your routine and you seem to adapt well and go with the flow, which is so helpful!

You still aren't quite sleeping through the night...I don't know if it's hunger or just wanting mama snuggles.  But either way, I'm willing to oblige.  I love my Asher snuggles. 

You are SO close to sitting up.  I can get you to balance yourself for a few seconds at a time, but you always get overly excited and try to throw yourself forward towards a toy or something and end up on your face.  I have a feeling once you do get to really moving, you're going to be all over the place!

If you haven't already gathered, you are a well loved little man.  One of your biggest fans is your big brother! And if these pictures are proof of anything, I think it's that you two are already on your way to becoming best buds.  

Ephram's 2nd Birthday

 

Hard to believe this kid turned two yesterday.  Even harder to comprehend that he was a little babe in my arms like Asher less than two years ago.  It's bittersweet to watch this little man grow so quickly, but we are so so thankful for each day we get to spend with him & I can't think of any way I'd rather spend a long holiday weekend than celebrating his life.

 

Some presents and a quilt handmade by momma this kiddo's big boy bed, which we are hoping to transition to soon!

 

 

When we asked Ephram what he got for his birthday, after opening all his presents & cards, his reply was, "cupcake!" This kid loves his food.

 

Although we are in a new town, separated from friends & family, we did have the pleasure of having Uncle Austin here for the weekend to celebrate with us.  We also happen to live in a beautiful area of the country, where picnicking on the beach seemed just the thing to do to for a small family celebration.

 

 

Little brother Asher turned 4 months today & experienced his first trip to the beach yesterday :)

 

 

Based on this picture (Ephram was also asleep & the time these were taken, I just wasn't willing to risk waking him to get his picture!) I'd say the day spend celebrating our favorite two year old's birthday was quite a success. 

 

asher: 2 months + ephram: 22 months

 
 
 

 

The yellow chair is back!

 

And just in time for Asher's 2 month picture!

I went ahead and took some pictures of Ephram too at this age & stage, because two {partially} naked babies are better than one, right?

 

 

 

I'm such a mix of emotions over Asher turning 2 months old.  In some ways I can't believe it's already been two months & in other ways, I can't believe it's only been two months!

 

It's been a crazy, tumultuous, adventurous and {sometimes} tiresome two months, but it has also been a JOY.  You are a JOY, Asher. 

 

At two months old you are 11 lbs. 9 oz. and in the 74th percentile for length.

You love face time with your mama, daddy & big brother.  Whenever we catch your eye, we are sure to be met with the cutest little dimply grin.

You've also started to coo and make little "goo" noises when you "talk" to us.  You are quite animated and I can't help but melt & think how blessed I am to be your mama each time you look at me with those eyes & that smile. 

You are a pretty easy going little guy and really only fuss when you are ready to eat or have the occasional gas {poor guy!}

You love your paci, much like your older brother & love snuggling with your mama.

You've got quite a bit of neck strength & although you aren't rolling over on a regular basis yet, when you were only 4 days old, you rolled over from your tummy to your back, twice! 

 

It's only been 2 months, but already we can't imagine life without you little man.

 

It's hard to believe this {not so} little guy will be 2 in just a couple of months.  My wild-haired, sweet Ephram has been growing SO much and changing overnight in just the past few months. 

 

 I love this age and watching all of the wheels turn in your mind and each new day brings an assortment of new discoveries.  I can't even count all of the words you can say now.  You pretty much try to copy whatever you hear mommy or daddy saying and you love to associate objects or people with a name. 

 

You are also putting together multiple words, sometimes up to 4-5 at a time! Communication has really opened up between us in the past few months and it is so exciting to watch you grow and learn. 

You are starting to try to sing.  Your favorite song is "The Wheels on the Bus"

You can count to 13, although you often leave out numbers 4-6...it's adorable:)

 

You LOVE to pray.  It's the sweetest thing.  We have a "call to prayer" from you at least 10 times a day.  You fold your hands, and say "pray?" and wait for mommy or daddy to start praying.  I love how the Lord is molding your heart even at such an early age & it has also challenged mommy & daddy to really talk to the Lord & give thanks more often as we go about our day.

 

You have endured so much change in the past two months: a new home, a new little brother, temporary lodging, leaving friends and making new ones, two year molars, crazy long car rides and so much more, but have really done so well.  One thing's for certain: you LOVE your little brother.  You ask, "Asher, hold you?" when you want to hold him. 

 

You are a super active little guy and when you are awake you pretty much go at full speed all the time {unless you are breaking for food.  You love your food}. It's not uncommon to see a flash of Ephram zoom past as you run circles around the room, chase Bob or run after a ball.

 

Your favorite things to play with are your cars & trucks, balls & your kitchen pots & pans.  You love to make soup for mommy & daddy in your kitchen. On the rare occasion that you do sit down, you are enjoying learning to color with crayons and to identify shapes and colors.

 

You have a very sweet and joy-filled spirit, Ephram, as well as a very independent will. You seem to really thrive off of spending time with people, whether it be me & daddy or friends...you have a big, loving heart toward others and love to engage people.  Life is never dull with you, and though it's crazy to think that you aren't my "baby" anymore, you are stepping up to role of big brother well.  Love you, big guy :)

 



Christmas at Our House

We spent Christmas at our house this year as a family of 3.5.

Being 35 weeks pregnant on Christmas day doesn't allow for much flexibility in traveling for the holidays. 

 Although we missed getting to celebrate in person with family, we enjoyed many Skype/FaceTime (I love technology) "Christmas sessions" and were able to get in some much needed relaxation at home.  When the jammies don't come off until well after 3pm, you know it's been a good day.

 

 

The preggo & the 19 month old Face Timing with family.

Enjoying his new Tee Pee

 

Someone liked his new fox hat

 



 

Mommy & Daddy were pretty pleased with their gifts too :)

 

 

Sneaking off with the presents

 

 

 

Story time with a new book before a post-present nap.  Unwrapping gifts is exercise for a 19 month old ;)

 

 

Although it's Ephram's second Christmas, he was only 7 months old last year.  We cherished this special season of Advent & Christmas with him and are anxiously awaiting the new little one to come who will be almost a year old when Christmas comes around next year! It's been so much fun to walk in this season as a parent and to experience even just a fraction of the love the God has for us & the great joy He has in lavishing the Gift of His Son on us.