Author: Nathan

Me and Asher doing errands

Today is one of the first times I’m out and about with Asher sans mommy. Right now Kathleen is at a yoga workshop with Ki McGraw at the Hawthorne Wellness Center and a group of wonderful yoga students.
Normally about now (12:30) Kathleen is nursing and putting Asher down for a nap. The napping goes well sometimes and other times not.
Well with today’s activities, I’m out with Asher to do the grocery shopping and make a trip to Laurelhurst Park to play on the awesome play area designed for 2-5 year olds. Asher likes the play equipment but he also likes to wander the park and check things out. For example, we were there yesterday and he roamed all over the area from the play equipment, to teeter-totters, to swings, then over to bang on the bathroom door ( I believe signaling to me that he’s seen me in there before), around the building to watch the bigger kids shag fly balls, and finally to the water fountain where I held him up for his first time drinking from one. Next he went behind the bushes to the utility metering equipment and pulled and tugged on the pipes, fittings and gauges. He was very intrigued.

He played with a 5 year old girl named Cypress who has a 9 month old brother named (another tree?). She was sweet and inclusive with Asher. Her grandmother took a couple pictures of Asher. That was nice of her.

It’s times like this, sitting in the back seat of the element watching Asher sleep and reflecting on our adventures and the joy he brings me and others that I find myself grateful to be so fortunate to be a father.
Now to dig into my book with the unknown amount of free time I have before he wakes and we go into Trader Joes to get those groceries.

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Asher’s first fort

Today a new lamp came in a nice big box. It looked like the kind of box a little boy who watched me intently put the lamp together would enjoy playing with. I handed it over to him and he quickly pulled most of the card board packing pieces out. It then looked like a perfect place for a couple pillows and a new cargo. I tossed a couple pillows in and then loaded Asher into the box. He really enjoyed pulling the box flaps over himself and maneuvering around his little ship.

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Asher’s 1st birthday events

We’re throwing a birthday party for Asher. on October 5th! The evite went out and here’s a link, we also decided to have a virtual webcast of the ceremonial portion of his first birthday, and for that there’s another evite.  If you’d like to come, please sign up on the evite for the party at our place, or the google hangout webcast!

The party at our home will start at 4 pm and go until about 8.  The webcast will start at 6 pm and I’d expect it to last no more than 15 minutes.  We intend to broadcast and record the ceremonial portion.

I’m going to use Google Hangout.  You’ll need a gmail account (I think) to join.

I’m looking forward to it.

Asher’s first day walking

Today Asher walked on no less than a half dozen occasions. The first was at Thad Hostetlers house. We went over to visit before Thad and his family return to Vietnam tomorrow. When we came through the front door and introduced Asher, I set him down on the floor offering him my finger to use for balance. Thad’s mother noted that he’s about ready to walk and I replied, as I have each time we’ve visited friends in the last couple weeks, he’s really close, today could be the day.

Less than 30 minutes later Asher pulled off his first unassisted walking moment. He let his grip of my leg go and stood for 10-15 seconds teetering and tottering a little, but generally calm. Then he struck out and took 6 or 7 baby steps forward before dropping down to catch himself on the floor. A few minutes later, Thad’s wife Cha enticed him with a balloon. I caught this one on video!

We treated ourselves and Asher to dinner out at Dove Vivi where we had a great salad, one of their awesome corn crust pizzas and Old German beer “The World Knows No Finer”.

When we got home, we parked in front of Collin and Emily and their 20-month old Francis. They came out to visit and like a good, proud father, I offered them to see Asher walk. I set him down, got him balanced, let him go and encouraged him to move forward. He responded with a few steps before I caught him as he lost his way. The next person to stop by was Amanda, then Pete, and then Mike. All got to see some form and occurence of Asher walking for the first day.

We’ll call it official. August 20th, 2013. 320 days old. About 10 1/2 months.