Happy 1yr. anniversary Coach

Andrew's new call sign is "Coach".....A couple weeks back his class had a naming party for all the engineers that didn't have call signs. (call signs are a big deal in the pilot world!) His temporary call sign had been "Mr." as in Mr. Anderson from the Matrix, but he didn't like it. (not that he is supposed to have a say) Thankfully, he got "Coach" since he has been coaching a lot of the class in Crossfit. I had suggested "Capt. America", but of course, he DEFINITELY didn't like that one either :)

Anyway, today is Andrew's 1 yr. anniversary of doing Crossfit! He had been working out like crazy while deployed, but started doing Crossfit towards the end of his time. I was a little nervous that all his crazy working out and having a new baby was going to be a recipe for me being stuck with the baby all the time and him disappearing for hours (ie, grumpy mommy)! I have learned though that no matter what is said about Crossfit, time is always on your side! Not many things will kick your butt as intensely in under 20 minutes like Crossfit does!

Crossfit does his body good! :)

A good crossfitter is ready at all times...... Demonstrating hand stand push-ups at our baby shower in VA

Showing Asher how a proper pull-up is done....chin above the bar!!!
"hanging" out at Venice Beach, CA - doing the beginning of the dreaded Muscle-up!
Working out in our very own garage gym (even professional crossfit gyms are more garage style) - Asher likes to be out with Daddy and watch him working out.

I am pretty impressed and proud of Andrew for sticking with it this whole year. He credits Crossfit with making him the most strong, energized and overall best shape he has ever been in his whole life! I credit Crossfit with making my hubby an even hotter stud! Watching him do 270 pullups in a matter of minutes is pretty impressive!!!!! Congratulations sweetheart. Keep up the good work (even if I don't always agree with Coach Glassman ;)

"The heat is on..."

Yup, the day I never thought would actually come, has arrived.....We turned our heat ON! It was 61 in the house when I woke up and after several hours only warmed up to 63. I like it cold, but I don't like my baby to have freezing hands and feet, so the heat it is!

Still looks like summer outside, sunny and cloudless, but it is cold none the less....

Vacuuming...

If you remember from here, I vacuum ALOT. I have always vacuumed around Asher whether he was awake or asleep. Actually when he was really little I would wear him in the moby and he would fall asleep to me vacuuming every time! He has now decided the vacuum is cool and something to be chased and pinned down. He has NO fear of it and we literally play chase down the hallway and around rooms as I try vacuum before he catches me.....

Here is a little video of him helping.....

60 minutes

60 minutes is a long time.....It is 3,600 seconds to be exact.....And that is how long Asher cried last night before I gave in out of tiredness. If you had asked me before last night, if my child was stubborn, I would have told you not at all. HA-HA!!!! I had no idea he would actually have the energy, and determination to cry for so long! I know, he is the product of Andrew and me and we are VERY stubborn people, but I hadn't seen any signs my child had the same stubborn streak!! Seriously, I hadn't!

I am trying to train Asher to sleep longer at night (ie to not wake up wanting to nurse 3-4 times a night) I decided to try nursing on a schedule during the day, dropping his evening power nap and putting him to bed a bit earlier. The first 3days/2 nights it worked great. He took 2 awesome naps Mon, Tues and yesterday and went to bed around 7:15ish every night. Last night he went down great, I did a "dream feed" at 11pm and then EXPECTED to get some sleep myself! 2:20am he started wailing.....I started the timer for myself so that I wouldn't give in too soon. He just kept going and going! I went in 2x to hug him and sing a song, but that just made him madder. Finally after a FULL 60min, I gave in, decided it wasn't worth it anymore, and went in to nurse him. Shockingly after expending all that energy crying he didn't fall asleep as soon as he started nursing! He was awake for quite a while. In that time, I of course fell asleep, so he and I ended up sleeping together the rest of the night which completely defeats me trying to get him to sleep longer without nursing.

Say a prayer for us tonight. Not quite sure I can do this again!

Windy city, err desert....

It is a little blustery around here today.......Actually, not a little, but A LOT!

Winds today (have been) are going to sustained at 40mph and GUSTING up to 60mph!! What the !?!?!?

We were told to bring in/tie down anything movable outside, not go outside if you can, etc....On a previous wind storm our friend's trampoline was blown over the their 5ft brick wall and about 1/2mile away! We have been warned about the visibility from dust and sand being kicked up and to watch our car doors as we get out of our cars (if we have to drive anywhere) so they don't fly open and ding a car next to you or even get stuck open from the force of the wind!

If it isn't the black widows and 115+ degree heat, it is the wind that will get you...Oh, the joys of living at Edwards!

Exploring he goes

I am off Momma....
I think I found something....
Let's see what we have here....
Don't mind if I help myself to a few of these!
The ultimate explorer challenge.....Taste test!

All in good fun...

Rebecca, Me and Sarah....All former "classmates" getting together for a class reunion...but there is trouble ahead...
Being "properly" subdued and reverent....
See, still having my nose pierced came in handy!
Getting arrested.....The shy, good girl was the killer

I got to be the "murderer" for a murder mystery party the other night. Once a month the wives get together to go over all the coming events and class related things. (there is a lot of stuff during the TPS year!) We have been having the "coffee's" at a different persons house each month with a different theme. For October, Theresa hosted and did a murder mystery. My character was a Hindu Indian woman, married with 2 boys. My name was Leelawati....(never did figure out how to pronounce it) I didn't know going in I would end up killing my classmate Helen, but in the end.....I was responsible.

It was a great time and we laughed so much! Though Andrew thought all the dressing up and "playing" a part was something only girls would think of (and would think was fun), I might have to host one sometime and drag him into it :)

Bath time....

This was Asher one day after birth...You can see the oxygen mask in the corner of the picture...Not a happy camper....

This is Asher just this past week, playing in the tub! Playtime in the tub makes all grumpiness go away!

I see you Mom!

Did you get my cute bottom, Mom?

Seriously?!?! You are still taking pictures?!?

Stinkin....

Some days my child is so stinkin cute, I can barely handle it!!!!! (makes up for the many, many nights of sleeplessness I am currently getting!)

Up to something....

10 inches

Can you believe another month has flown bye!?!?!? I really can't believe we are one month closer to Asher turning 1! 1 seems so old and not a baby anymore.....I am definitely not ready for that!

Though, Asher has probably not grown at a steady 1in a month, that is what it averages out to. Last week when we went to the Dr. while he was sick, we found out he weighed 7.6kg (about 16.75pds) and was 26 and 3/4ins long. That still puts him in the 3% for his true age, but I have to give him props, because I couldn't imagine growing 10inches in 10months.....That is a lot of hard work!!! His weight makes me wonder if the airports don't mess with their scales to make them weigh heavy! (if you remember from the beginning of Sept. at LAX, I weighed him and it said 16.5pds....I know that he has gained more than 1/4 of a pd in 6+weeks!)

This has been a busy month for us....Between going to Disney, Vegas, having family visit and getting sick, I am ready for some calm and sense of "normal"....If "normal" is even possible post kids :) Unfortunately an apple a day didn't keep the doctor away this month. We saw him last week when Asher was sick and now have to go back to discuss his allergic reaction to Albuterol, plus we start getting those very pricey RSV shots every 28 days this month. The good thing is, I can tolerate the new Pediatrician a bit better than the other one.

Asher is now in the "scary for mommy" stage of pulling up on EVERYTHING! I told a friend the other day, that this stage is very hard on my heart and I know it is just going to get worse when he is walking! He is always falling over/down, bumping himself, pulling things on top of himself. As I write this, he is practicing going between the coffee table and couch! He continues to love to chew on all things he can't have, with electrical cords and flip-flops tying for 1st place. (Though papers from Daddy's office are a close 2nd. Thankfully we haven't chewed anything important yet!) He also learned about Boots water bowl and for several days was high tailing it there any chance he could!

We tried using a push toy the other day and he could manage it, but I don't think I am going to encourage much play time with it, cause I am not in a hurry to have him walk!

We didn't introduce too many new foods this month since his diet is pretty extensive. We did add salmon, spaghetti squash, peas, carrots and kiwi. The 2 biggest changes with food was in the way Asher eats and what I get to eat. He is almost entirely self-fed these days. He loves to eat all by himself though I am not sure he gets as much as when I was spoon feeding him. Boots certainly enjoys more then his fair share with self-feeding :) As far as I go, about 2 weeks ago or so, I started eating eggs again!!! YEAH! I started with 1 egg a day for several days in a row...We didn't notice Asher having any trouble which was such a relief. I haven't added more than 1 full egg a day, but I have let myself eat more foods that I don't know the ingredient list for, or that I can see have dairy/eggs in it. This is especially nice when we out at a friends, a party or just eating out! The only problem so far, that I can see, is that I am eating more desserts! (cutting out dairy, eggs, soy and nuts pretty much cuts out 90% of desserts!) Yum, Yum, but trouble for the muffin top:)

Sleep continues to be an up(literally) and down thing. Before we left for Disney he had started sleeping 8:30 to 4:30am and then would go back to sleep till 7:30. Now...not so much...The other night was 8:30, 9:15pm, 1:30am, 4:20am and up at 7am. He is back to struggling with night "terrors" when he first goes to sleep. Within 30-45min he wakes up screaming. (very unlike him, since he rarely crys, let alone screams) He did this a lot over the summer and I think it has to do with all the traveling, teething and new motor skills he is learning. On good days he continues to take 2 "long" naps and 1 thirty minute power nap in the evening. Nursing continues to almost always calm anything that ails, though last week was rough, as he started biting me! (He has 2 bottom teeth now) I think he was doing it because he couldn't breath through is nose well, so he would bite down to open his mouth and take a breath without letting go of me. Well let me tell you, sick kid or not, I would yell out in pain and that would make him cry and then he would bite down again! Needless to say, it was a long couple of days and I am glad to say he hasn't attempted to bite me now that he can breath better. 2 teeth down, only 18 more.....Oh, joy!

And of course, our update wouldn't be complete without another Crossfit baby picture!
"I have to lift this how many times, Dad?!?!?"

Made of Milk

Lately, Asher has been checking out my tummy when we are playing in bed in the morning or I am on the floor in the playroom. He likes to squeeze and pinch my squishy tummy, (great for the self-esteem, let me tell you!) and then dive bomb it, mouth open and starting sucking. He gives up after a few seconds and tries again in another spot......I can just see his little mind going...."This is squishy and feels like where Mom feeds me from...maybe I can get milk from her here too" So, for now I am made of milk, then I guess, comes the made of money stage :)

Boys will be Boys.....

About a month or so ago, Asher "discovered" he is a boy! Andrew and I were both quite proud and amused by this developmental milestone.....I mean self-awareness is what we all desire right?!?!? He now likes to check with both hands that his manhood is there EVERY time we change his diaper and is thrilled EVERY time its still there! It amazes me how young the fascination begins......

Long day

You know it is going to be a long day when there has already been blood and tears shed before 9:30am........

Soooo Sick....

Well, I haven't blogged in a while because Asher has been very sick and it was all both of us could do to get through each day..... I could go into a lot of details,(and I probably still will) but it basically boils down to the following time line.........

Sunday evening: crabby!!!

Middle of the night: massively congested and miserable.

Monday: crying/whining all the time except when asleep literally on me or taking a walk in the stroller. Running a fever and still congested.

All night Monday and Tuesday: fever kept going up....Highest was 103.6 (that I know of) not sleeping longer than 2hrs at a time, even snuggled with me. Totally no interest in solid food and struggling with nursing because of the congestion. I am exhausted and emotionally drained

Wednesday AM: Call for a Dr. app and get one for 20min later. I think it is just a common cold we have to ride out, but want to make sure he doesn't have an ear infection. I had had him on homeopathic medicine since Monday morning, eucalyptus essential oil in his humidifier, saline spray for his nose and even broke down and was giving him Motrin and Tylenol, though I got a little worried when those didn't bring his fever below 102 on Tuesday.

Wednesday 8:20am-11ish: We get weighed, lungs listened to, questions asked, ears, nose and throat looked at, then poked multiple times while they try to draw blood, Asher throws up on me (he soaked me so badly they got me a towel to pat dry my clothes) and chest X-rays.

The Dr. wanted to be careful that he didn't have a Bacterial infection or chest issues, and b/c he didn't have any vaccinations and was a preemie he was a little worried. Getting blood didn't go so well. They tried in both arms multiple times, including having me lay down with him on a gurney vs. sitting up the normal way, with no luck and a lot of tears. The X-ray took just a couple minutes, but man, what they put him in to get an X-ray looked like a medieval torture device! The technician promised me it was worse for the parents then the child, but I don't know. Ask me sometime to describe it! He was such a trooper through it all. Still running a fever, missing his "usual" naptime and being shuttled all over the place is not a recipe for a good time.

Here he is right after we got home from the Dr. The red bandage is from them trying to draw blood. They tried on both arms, but we had already taken the other bandage off.

We left the Dr. worse for the wear, though at least I knew for sure there was no ear infection. His fever was lower throughout the day, he started nursing a bit more and even ate one solid food meal. I thought we were turning the corner, though he had started coughing more. Around 5ish the Dr. called and said he just thoroughly looked at the X-ray and thought he saw Bronchiolitis starting. I couldn't say I disagreed since he had really started coughing. He recommended starting an inhaler to help, which I was fine with. (i really want to avoid antibiotics as long as possible)

Wednesday night: Still only sleeping in 2-3 hr increments and literally on me. But didn't need any pain/fever medicine the whole night.

Thursday: We had a rough morning, so I decided to walk to the pharmacy on base and just get some fresh air for both of us. By the time we get there, wait around and got home, he didn't get his first treatment until almost 1pm. Late afternoon I start seeing a rash on his head and scalp. It is kinda faint, so I think I am seeing things. I ask my friend who is a pediatric NP and she agrees he has one, but it doesn't look allergic.

Thursday evening: I leave Asher for 90min with Andrew while I do AWANA's at the Chapel. (first break from Asher since Sunday evening!) Asher's rash is stronger when I get home and he has cried for the entire time I was gone. I give him another treatment and snuggle him to sleep. He is breathing easier as he sleeps and nurses during the night.

Friday morning: I give him a treatment in the morning and the rash is definitely noticeable. I start to wonder if it is from the inhaler and call the Dr. After talking, they think it is just a virus rash from his fever, which had broken during the night Wednesday....Besides, it is extremely rare to be allergic to Albuterol. I decided he is doing better overall and we can still go to Vegas later that afternoon to see Andrew's family.

Friday Afternoon: Asher finally takes an awesome nap all by himself! He wakes up and I give him another treatment (it was supposed to be every 4-6hrs but I was doing it less than that) Less than 30mins later, I pick him up and see between his shirt and pants that his back, chest and arms looks like this.......

I instantly know he is having an allergic reaction to the medicine and my mother's gut was right that it wasn't virus related. It is too late in the afternoon to get in to see the Dr. and we are supposed to be leaving in less than 2 hrs. I walk Asher over to our neighbor who is a family physician, though she isn't practicing right now. She takes one look at him and agrees it is hives and I should stop the inhaler. She spends some time with us, listening to his breathing, and checking him again for an ear infection. She tells me to get him on Benadryl even though they say it can't be used under 2. Off we run to the commissary to get some. 1/4 of teaspoon and about 30min later he is looking a bit better and is less whiny. (his crying and whiny had ramped back up Thursday late afternoon and hadn't stopped) Poor guy, he starts feeling better and then we give him something that makes him feel miserable all over again.

His hives broke out again on Saturday because he got overheated a little in the sun. Thankfully one more dose of Benadryl, and a long nap with mom and he was back to his normal self. Because we were out of town and it was a holiday today we haven't touched base with the Dr. about his allergic reaction, though I plan on calling tomorrow and discussing what our future options are, if he has breathing issues again and needs an inhaler. I don't know much about this line of medicine, but I am hoping if he is allergic to one, it doesn't mean he is allergic to them all!

He is still congested and occasionally coughing, but overall better and I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed and our normal routine this week!

Stripes...

Yes, I (the mom) dressed my child like this AND took him out in public! Yes, I love color as I wrote way back here. And Yes, I can't wait to see how Asher dresses himself one day, considering I dress him like this! :)

Can you imagine....

losing your child, yet still pumping breastmilk to bless others?

The tears were pouring down my cheeks this morning as I read a newsletter from the Denver Milk Bank where I donated my milk this Spring. They listed by name the donating Mom and their child that had passed away. There was over 40 names..... 40 Moms with empty arms and full breasts longing to nourish their baby.

I could not imagine surviving the grief of losing a child and still pumping milk from my body that was supposed to be for my baby. Yet, as I sat there crying, praying blessing over these women, I couldn't imagine a better way to honor a baby who has passed. Giving their breastmilk that is the best thing on the face of the earth for a baby, to other babies in need, is a gift that literally has a lifetime effect. Suddenly having donated 571oz seems like I really haven't done anything of great sacrifice.

Marching to the beat of his own drum....

My whole life I have marched to the beat of my own drum....Or at least that is what I have been told. I admit like to do things my own way 9 times out of 10 and I especially like to do things differently, if I think there is a better way. (this is a huge reason why I could never be the active duty military one of the family!) It looks like my son is starting to follow my footsteps...... (back story - in May, Asher self-weaned from the paci but I kept them around in case he suddenly decided to like them again.)

Who says a paci can't be used this way?!?! When you're teething, it works great on sore gums like this! (he will hold the paci in his mouth this way for a LONG time!)
Now, hopefully, I will remember to respect this character trait in him as he grows and not try to make him always do things MY way. I am actually excited to see the things he is going to teach me and the ways he is going to view things around him!

$24.99 for a baby

Only $24.99 for a beautiful baby boy?!?! What a find!

Wouldn't it be nice to be a baby again and just lay in a huge container of sheepskin rugs!?!?

Tupperware

uh-oh, Mom caught me.....Am I going to be in trouble?!?!?

She doesn't look mad....I think I am in the clear!

Sweet, Mom isn't mad and I have all new toys to play with!!!

Tupperware....What fun for babies.....Our tupperware is definitely not all BPA free and we have been thinking of changing it all out for glass storage containers....but then what would Asher play with?