A huge developmental step is when an infant rolls from their back onto their hands and knees. Asher surprised us by rolling from tummy time to his back, which is the other way, but he’s on his way.
Category: Asher
New Vocabulary
Asher has been growing and learning and developing everyday. Today he was very talkative and surprised us with his endurance to keep talking in multi-syllable hums and hahs, complete with new facial expressions. We could see his tongue moving in his mouth as he made new sounds. Here it is for the whole internet to see.
Asher’s first grab
Asher has this toy ball with huge holes in it, perfect for grabbing and holding on to. This day he grabs it for the first time, all while sitting in his bumbo chair. Those are two milestones at the same time, sitting up and grabbing onto something.
Today’s sweetness
Today’s workday began and ended with the sweetness of Asher.
This morning was my first morning here since Monday. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Boise this week. I was so excited to return and find Asher looking like he’d aged a month in 3 days. He’s looking fuller and healthier. His cheeks are plumper and his chin is larger.
This morning after Kathleen fed him at about 7:15, she handed him off to me while she took her daily uninterrupted nap. She had until about 8 before my workday started with a meeting on the phone. While she slept, Asher and I were in the kitchen preparing a cup of coffee. I had him in the baby Bjorn, holding him against me as I dipped down to put away pots and pans from last nights dinner. On my chest, so sweetly, he laid his head. It was a tender moment which brought tears to my eyes. Made me feel wonderful emotions of love. My love for my son.
I tried to start my workday with Asher on my chest in the baby Bjorn but he started to get restless. It was just after 8 o’clock and Kathleen met me in the stairwell. I was happy to hand him off so that I could pay attention to the matters at hand. Conference calls.
I had to go visit a business partner today and was gone for most of the day. When I returned I had to finish up my work week with end of week paperwork. Glamorous.
At about five Kathleen let me know that she needed to take a shower. I said just give me five minutes and I’ll be done.
She had just fed him so I expected him to be pretty mellow. When she handed him to me he began to get a little bit fussy. We quickly were able to find a comforting spot for him propped up on my shoulder where I pat his back and bottom.
After a few minutes he got tired of being slung over my shoulder and so we switched positions to the Boppy where I laid him to fall sleep.
Mom finished her shower and in finding me with the little one so content has left us to hang out in the chair in the living room while she does some chores. We know we have to take advantage of the times when Asher is so peaceful.
This moment is so similar to how I started today. With my sweet little boy in my arms.
Sunny days ahead
Grandma Silvia left on Monday. Daddy went on a business trip on Monday also. I ran mom ragged for three days, and then I let dad in on the deal when he returned Wednesday night. No one has slept well in a few nights. I have been colicky.
Dad didn’t know what that meant other than crying a lot, so I told him to check out Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_colic. Turns out I’ve been exhibiting lots of colic symptoms. Fussy for no reason, lots of moaning and groaning. “The strict medical definition of colic is a condition of a healthy baby in which it shows periods of intense, unexplained fussing/crying lasting more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks.” The Wikipedia says for breastfeeding mom to avoid, onions, broccoli and cauliflower, cow’s milk and chocolate. Dad put it together quickly that being halloween week, more chocolate than typical had been eaten in this household in the form of m&m’s mostly, and the parents do cook with onions and mom has been eating cold cereal with cows milk lately. Chocolate has always been one of mom’s favorites even if it isn’t a candy focused holiday week.
What tipped dad off was my grandma Sandy. She told him about the one time she ate a whole pint of chocolate ice cream and suffered for the next 12 hours as dad expressed his distress. Apparently my digestive system isn’t fully developed and certain types of food cause me to be upset.
Aunt Karen told mom that when cousin Allie had colic, a naturopathic product called Colic Calm worked instantly. Mom sent dad to Wallgreens right away and I’ve been resting comfortably in dad’s arms writing this post on his iPhone since.
Mom and dad are hopeful that I sleep soundly tonight, and they too.
Here’s to relief for mom and dad and sunny days ahead.
New photo album posted
Asher’s post nap pre-feed ritual
We’re at the Lloyd Center to return a baby gift, and we brought Asher with us. Cruising the mall with an infant in his car seat stroller is a new experience for us both. I was surprised how many other parents I saw with children in the same model stroller we were driving, or ones that looked cooler, but probably more expensive. I’m just a little surprised that I never noticed these modular stroller contraptions before.
Asher ate at 9:20 before we packed up and hit the road. When this video was taken he was 2:30 out from his last feeding. He eats every 2 to 4 hours these days. I’ve learned the cute nervous system spasms are his way of telling you he needs something. Generally to be swaddled up, changed or fed. There’s a hint when it’s to be fed – he starts chewing on his hands, titling his head to the side and puckering his lips. Here he is, with his nervous hand gesture twitch, chewing on his hand and puckering.
Baby Dancer
While mom took her shower tonight Asher and dad took a lot of photos, sifted through for the good ones, found a good song and produced this. Executive Producer, Asher Spear. Photography, Nathan Spear.
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Worn out from shopping
Grandma Silvia is in town and Asher has been out shopping with her and his mom. I just got this picture of a worn out 2 week, 5 day and 3:33 old. Looks like he’s wearing a sweater grandma Sandy knit. The hat seems to match so maybe that was knit by the multi-talented Ms. Spear too.
Correction. Asher has arrived home and on close inspection, that hat is a hoodie which is a part of the sweater. Nice hoodie sweater mom! If only the sweater could grow with him. I’m sure he wishes it true too.
Withdrawals are coming
I’m back at work and for the first time had to leave my little boy and walk out the door. I left him in his mothers arms looking adorable.
