Ashen- 17 months 11 days old

Photo Shoot- almost 3 months old

Spring is on its way

We've been battling some winter weather here in the PNW. Unfortunately that makes it much harder to enjoy the spring and makes for some chilly hands and feet for Ashen the Outdoorsman. We recently mounted a swing outside on our big maple tree, and that has made for some fun daily swinging. We have a part just a block away with similiar swings, but somehow having a newborn and a toddler makes it quite difficult to make it the extra 300 yards to the park. So, the backyard swing is perfect. Even more perfect is that I can multitask while swinging Ashen. Those dandilions that were about to go to seed were swiftly plucked yesterday in-between pushes. Maybe there is hope for a vegetable garden this year...I thought I was goign to have to take a year off due to my crazy life, but that would just not seem like summer without fresh lettuce, beans, carrots (okay, for some reason I haven't been so successful with what would seem like an easy to grow veggie), and herbs. In fact, as I write this I'm inspiring myself to get my garden plan going. Planning out what goes where is always a fun puzzle. Since our raised bed is only in the sun about 6 hours a day, those hours are precious to the veggies that need it most...so making sure that little plants are in front, not shaded by tomatoes or bean poles, is essential. I like to have a different garden plan every year--mix it up a little. I would like to start adventuring into new varieties of veggies, so if anyone has one they recommend, let me know. I also haven't done many seedlings inside, and maybe it's too late for that, but if it's not I'd like to try a couple new seed varieties this year. Let me know if you have any favorites and what seed companies are best!

Newfound joy in the backyard swing

Hooray, Daddy's Home! (phew, now I can relax!)

Finally using the duallie!

I am so excited that we can finally start to use our double stroller. We were too cheap to buy a stroller that would fit the infant carseat since we knew we'd only use it a few months (my sister let us borrow the carseat, but she still uses the stroller), so I've been lugging that around whenever I get Torin out of the car, and we've not been going on many walks because the little fellow doesn't like being in a sling right now. The other night we decided to try Torin out in the Bob...we supported his head with a blanket and off we went. He did great for about 10 minutes, and then got very tired and felt insecure without his swaddle (my interpretation of his feelings, of course!). So we carried him the rest of the way. Ashen loved having a co-pilot too. I can't wait until he can ride in the Bob on longer walks. I miss my daily walks up to the local shopping area...the French Bakery is calling me!

p.s. Scroll down for a new video!

My first montage

These were meant to be three separate videos, of which I was going to post one, but I made a mistake and created a montage...so now you get to see all 3! The first two are of our chatty little fellow, and the last one is a pretty mellow video of Ashen dancing.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

When did this happen?

Regretfully, we don't give our little guy enough "tummy time." Oddly, it's kind of a hot topic with new parents too. "So, how does he do with tummy time? How often? What does he do?" are commonly asked questions. Ummm...we don't give him much, maybe once a day for 3-5 minutes. The reason being that we have a 17 month old who gleefully steps or pushes off on his baby brother if he's on the floor, without a clue that it hurts. Ashen can also be kind and likes to put his head right next to his brother's so that they're face to face. Now that's cute. Anyway, I know that tummy time is supposed to strengthen head/neck muscles and give the baby an edge in starting to crawl. Up until this week, Torin would hold his head up 45 degrees, sometimes 90, when placed on his stomach. Last night, however, he took a huge step and pushed himself (see below) so that his chest and head were up. WOWIE! Okay, maybe not a huge deal for folks, but it was one of those moments when you realize that your newborn is no longer quite so new. Okay, he's new--only 10 weeks, but this guy can hold himself up! We're proud parents. Watch out, next thing we know he's going to be crawling!

Waking up and Stretching

As soon as the Swaddleme is un-velcroed and his arms are made free...this boy stretches and stretches and stretches...

Ashen's "Surprise" Face

No, he's not actually being surprised by anyone...he just likes to act surprised for no reason. Silly boy!

(Photos courtesy of Aunt Heidi...thanks!)

Outside

Ashen has recently begun demanding that we spend more time outside. No, it's certainly not that our weather has gotten a lot better, even though it's spring. Rather, he just loves being outside...period. He always has, but he certainly never cried before when we came inside. Over the weekend, he woke up and as soon as I pulled him out of his crib, he ran to the backdoor and said "outside" as he pointed at the door. Ahh, kiddo, I wish that I enjoyed being outside at 7am on a brisk, windy Saturday morning. It doesn't really matter what he's doing...though he'd prefer that we're blowing bubbles, talking with "Jack" our neighbor's dog, on a wagon ride, or over to the park across the street, but truly he's happy regardless of the task at hand. I caught his enjoyment this weekend as he was bouncing around on a ball in the backyard. He likes to mimic mom and dad who often bounce Torin on the exercise ball inside. Later that day he pointed down our driveway to the street, so I followed him down and he continued to walk down the street and pointed over to the park...this boy already knows his way to the park! Watch out! Needless to say, we are devising ways to baby-proof our yard, a much tougher task than baby-proofing our house. There are so many potential hazards from the pond to the basement steps to the driveway that leads to the street. We have our work cut out for us. He's also a real man's man...loving working on projects with dad (who, just happened to be building a gate to keep him from falling down the basement stairs). He carried a piece of wood around for close to an hour. When he's not outside, he's inside loving on his baby.

Happy 2 Month Birthday Little Man

My how you've grown in just 2 short months! You are such a sweet baby...we can't imagine life without you. Thanks for your smiles and cuddles--and lots of chatting. It's so fun watching you grow!

One big baby

Ashen is intrigued by everything his brother does. Recently he decided he would like to try out baby's carseat and bouncy chair. "Hey mama, how do I look?" (yep, that's Elmo with him in the carseat)

Don't cry over spilled milk...

...Especially when it comes out of a cow!
Now, what are the chances?