Asa's 3rd birthday letter

Dear Asa,

Earlier this month, you turned 3 years old! You requested a Bubble Guppies party which was fun to have. Sadly, I'm noticing that I'm exhausted by the time your bday rolls around from Christmas... but I'm hoping that I can learn to prepare better in advance. I never want you to feel that your birthday isn't special because it is and you are.

You've had a fun year. You enjoy anything that the older kiddos do. Over the past year with ditched your paci, which was huge for you, moved you into a toddler bed, and semi-potty trained you. You faithfully go #2 on the potty, but for some strange reason still resist peeing on the potty. You took a trip to the beach where you despised the water but loved the sand. You enjoyed a day at Holiday World. You went trick-or-treating as Yoda and really love Captain America... in fact, you ran up to meet him at the zoo.

You're a funny boy... full of personality and manipulation. :) You love to kiss me when I'm correcting you and kiss me before you obey. This is rather scary that you know how to do this, but it is hard not to wear a big smile. My favorite place for your head to be in the crook of my neck...

You are a spunky little brother who loves to smother your siblings... or tackle them. You are an awesome older brother who is constantly kissing and snuggling Hezekiah. It's fun to have you as our 4th! God has placed you there for a reason. I remember once feeling so scared about how you would react to Heze... thinking you would be bitter towards him or want nothing to do with him... but you instantly loved him and have been looking out for him ever since. My heart swells when I see that.

You are growing up, using your words and becoming such a big boy. I'm proud of you and I love you. I want nothing more for your heart to be sold out the One who created you and that you will spend your days honoring him by the way you interact with your family. Thank you for being you, Asa Joash! This mama loves you!

April 3rd...

April 3rd was a day for the books at this house!

Jonah received his white belt in Karate (the very first level belt, but he was so proud he prayed at the Dinner table, "Thank you God that I got my white belt).

Selah moved from a crib to a toddler bed. She was very excited

And Asa... 

• Started walking!!!! He just took off unlike any child we've ever had. He took his first step a day or two before in the bathtub, but on this day, he was leaning on Selah's back... she tried to escape from him and he followed her... walking the entire way. He took several steps and then never stopped. He kept walking all night. It is a frankenstein walk, but a walk none the less! :) 
• Started eating with a spoon! I gave him a spoon with his dinner and showed him once how to use it... after that, he fed himself the rest of dinner with his spoon.
• He ditched his bottles. He winged himself from bottles and formula. It is sippy cups and whole milk for him now. Even before bed! 
• He protested his cookie being broken up... so we gave it to him whole and he ate it like a champ.

Basically, he decided to grow up in the course of a couple of hours!!! All of the eve of his 15 month old bday. Big boy, Asa J! 

Stair Master

Asa... who is now 14 (almost 15) months old has successfully taught himself how to open up doors (even if they have their child safety lock on) and to go down stairs. He will flip to his belly and then slide down. I don't know where he learned this as the older children either go down on their feet or on their bottoms... but Asa has mastered the art of quickly escaping down the stairs. Just today I heard him open the door, but before I could get to him he had already made it all the way down the basement stairs... giggling the entire way. There is no stopping that boy. He can't walk yet, but he can certainly keep up around the house. 

When the older children are spinning and dancing -- he will crawl himself so that he is spinning in circles on all four. Again, laughing the entire time. 

He's such a fun boy. We do call him the "grabby goblin" because he grabs everything... but that comes with age, I guess. 

Dear Asa...

Dear Asa,

You turned one on January 4th! That same day you spiked your very first fever. You were so pathetic... it broke my heart. Thankfully, it only lasted 48 hours and then you were back to your usual self. I cannot believe you are one. In fact, it has taken me almost a month to write you this letter because I couldn't believe that it was true. Where did the time go?

Your birth was easy and you have lived up to your entrance. You have been my "agreeable Asa"... my only complaints were your reflux and your lack of sleep, but now you're sleeping 13+ hours at night and 4 hours during the day and your reflux has vanished. Guess I have no complaints now. ;)

I am so honored to be your mama. You are one smart boy! I can tell. When we pray, you fold your hands and pray too. At devotions, you know to pat the Bible. You have learned how to spit after watching your older siblings (oh joy!) and you can say/sign:

• mama
• dada
• Tucker 
• cookie
• all done
• more 
• ba-ba
• amen 
• Asa (according to the nursery workers at church... I haven't heard this one)

You are a lighting fast crawler and can dart up the stairs or into the bathroom (to play in the toilet) in record time. You have this guilty laugh that you like to do as you are getting into things you shouldn't. I'm glad for that because it alerts me at times when I am distracted. 

If daddy corrects you, you will cry for mama. But, when I correct you, you cry for daddy. See, you are a super-smart boy. 

You are still agreeable asa, but you are beginning to want to do everything your older siblings are doing. If I tell you that you can't jump on the couch, you will fall to ground and cry. I joke that you are saying things like, "why was I even born" -- but you probably aren't... that is your overdramatic mama talking.

You love to eat anything with your six teeth. You can drink from sippy cups and you eat EVERYTHING that is put in front of you. In fact, Havana has nicknamed you an "eating machine." You're favorite toy is the cozy coupe and whatever jonah is playing with. For Christmas, you didn't want any of the 12 month-old toys we got you, but rather you wanted Jonah's Thomas the train set. You brothers are going to have fun as you get older! 

Your nicknames are:

• Asa J. 
• Asa Dude
• Asa Joash
• Asa Jaybird
• Eating Machine 
• Agreeable Asa 
• Mama's Baby (that one is just between you and me).

I adore you. I often catch my breath just watching you. I am so glad God has loaned you to me... I pray that you will grow into your name... a boy who loved the Lord all the days of his life! 

  

Doctor Visits

Today Asa had his 4 month well check and Jonah had his three year check-up. It was fun to take both of my boys. Jonah was exceptional as he waited for the doctor. He enjoyed chatting with her and showing off how he can kick the ball and take off his own pants. He is such an easy going little boy. Asa was his content little self waiting to be seen.

Jonah was 37.25 inches (35%) and his weight was 35 pounds (80%). They said his BMI was 90% ... my little big guy.  The doctor asked him who his friends were and he said, "My friends are... David and Goliath." This made our doctor laugh really hard. He was such a brave boy and didn't even cry during his finger prick.

Asa, was 25 inches (32%) and only weighed 13 pounds, 12 ounces (12%). I have never, ever had such a tiny baby. He is soooo little. Jonah was wearing 6 month clothing at 6 weeks and here Asa is at 4 months still in 3 month clothing. My doctor suggested that I give him formula bottles after I nurse him in order to see if he is getting enough. I did that the rest of the day and he drank an addition 9 ounces! Poor boy - what if I have been starving him this whole time?!

He has struggled to sleep through the night. I've never had a baby go this long without learning how to sleep. A few weeks ago we stopped swaddling him.... and then it was a rough few nights because he didn't even know how to go to sleep without being all wrapped up. We resorted to the Dugger Bootcamp where he had to cry it out. It took several days, but the last two days he has been able to fall asleep for nap and bed on his own. Two nights ago we started giving him formula at night in hopes that he would last longer - it worked - he has now been sleeping until about 5. I hope that lasts and then extends.

After the check up, they gave Jonah a free ice cream cone coupon. I figured we would use it later, but on the drive home Jonah asked, "Are we going home?" "Yes." "Wait! We forgot to get our ice creams!"

I figured why not and I took my boys to Dairy Queen. We sat outside and at ice cream (at 11:30am) and talked about being brave, strong, men. Jonah would interrupt to tell me that his ice cream was "tasty" and "delicious"

I had left my phone at home - which is a bummer because I would have loved to have taken pictures of the entire thing. But, this blog post will have to snap a word picture. I hope I always remember this sweet morning I spent with my boy. I am so incredibly blessed!

Asa is 4 Weeks old!!!!

My little baby is already 4 weeks old. I can't believe it. He is doing great and growing big! ;) This past week he started sleeping longer stretched through the night. His last feed is anywhere between 10-11pm and then he has been sleeping until 3:30 or 4:30! Not too shabby! I just need to learn to go to bed when he does. ha. Then he goes back to bed until about 6 or 6:30 an then is up for good by 8:30 or 9! He doesn't have consistent nap times during the day, but this past week he has laid down while the others are napping which is a big blessing. :)

Yesterday we gave him his first bottle and he took it like a champ! We gave him another one today and he also drank it down quickly. I'm excited because now I can plan important things like a much needed dentist appointment!

In his first month he has already been to church, the museum, playgroup, and the zoo! Busy boy! :)

Asa's First Week Recap!

Well, yesterday (January 11th), Asa turned one week old! I can't believe he has already been an active part of our family for a week. It is just further proof that time flies.

His first week has certainly been atypical. He was born on Friday and that was a smooth and fun process. On Saturday, Jason returned home to deal with the children. His mom came down on Saturday afternoon and so she, Jason, and the children came to visit us quickly in the hospital. Shortly after they left, I got a phone call from my mom telling me that my grandmother (and last living grandparent) had died. It was a certainly a weird experience to be "isolated" in the hospital and be excited about our baby and sad for her passing. It took a while to process.

On Sunday afternoon, around 2pm, Jason and the children picked me up from the hospital. He had a pizza in hand and we went home and ate lunch as a family. It was good to be home and together with everyone. For dinner that night, I made pork chops. I had to hit the ground running in terms of catching up on laundry and dishes, but it made my heart happy to be back.

Monday was our first full day together as a family. Asa struggled throughout the night and so Jason let me sleep in until after 10am! The rest of the day we played together. Eating left over pork chops and pizza for lunch and dinner. Monday night, we put the kids down to bed as usual and then a few hours later, around midnight, Havana woke up throwing up! Now, if you know me, you know vomit is pretty much my number one fear in life. Thankfully I was in Asa's room with him so I didn't have to see it, but I was still thinking, "you have got to be kidding me?!" Wondering why she had to get it our first day together. She got sick a few times throughout the night - I heard it, but thankfully was hidden away in Asa's room. He didn't sleep well that night either, but I was able to sneak out a few times and start some of her dirty laundry.

Tuesday - she was sick. Running a high fever and not eating. She would occasionally perk up after her meds kicked in, but always for brief periods of time. She would drink some juice or water, but wouldn't eat anything. Thankfully, she never threw up, but still was "needy" and sick. Which meant a lot of TV.  Asa slept well Tuesday night going 3-4 hours between feeds. yay.

Wednesday - still sick Havana. Still running a high fever. She would nap on the couch a lot and around 1pm that day finally asked for food. She asked for french toast, but we didn't have any which sent her into a lot of tears. Jason loaded her up and they went to Meijers and got her french toast and some more juice and other quick things we needed. She ate some, but not a lot and then wanted to lay down again. She continued to nap and lay down the rest of the day. I ended up making a homemade chicken noodle soup for us all to eat for dinner. Oh, and normally the kids go to their Bible Study, Awana, on Wednesdays, but we told her she couldn't go that night and she cried for hours. She was so bummed. I felt so sad for her. In other news, Asa slept GREAT on this night only waking every 4-5 hours!

Thursday- I left the house before anyone was awake (9am) to get Asa to his doctors appointment. He weighted 8 pounds, 6 ounces which means he was 3 ounces over his birth weight! That is amazing and the doctor couldn't stop talking about it. He also measured 21.25 inches which meant he grew 1.4 of an inch. Way to go, buddy! Jason texted and said everyone was healthy and happy so we all made the 1.5 hour trip to my grandmother's funeral. I was glad to be able to go. I was planning on just going with Asa, but Jason wanted to drive me because of my lack of sleep and since all the kids were healthy we made a day out of it. He took the older children to Chick-fil-A while I was at the funeral with Asa. This was the first time anyone from my family had met Asa. I told Jason that night I still don't think I have had time to process everything between the newborn, being stressed out with Havana's illness, and the funeral. Asa slept well again this night.

Friday- first "normal" day... everyone was healthy. We hung around and just spent time as a family. It was nice. A friend brought over dinner and so my week of cooking for our family was over. It felt good. Asa was up more throughout the night on this night, but hoping that was a fluke and not a regression. ha.

Throughout this crazy week - Asa has been a trooper.  I can't express clearly enough how great he has been during the day. He put himself on the eat, wake, sleep cycle that I always strive for and has had a few nights of going several hours at night. He is able to look around and entertain himself which Selah struggled with... so that is freeing. His nights have been great - sleeping in his own room. He really is just a great boy. He seems so sweet and mellow. Just like his daddy. :) Jason says he thinks Asa looks most like him of any of our children. We both think he resembles Jonah a lot too. He has proven to be flexible and not needy. He does like to eat every 2 hours during the day, but I'm okay with that.

For me, I felt like I hit the ground running. Came home and had children to play with and housework to do. Then, with the illness, I was cleaning like a mad woman - sanitizing anything that stood still. Less than a week after having a baby loading everyone up to travel for a funeral. My body certainly hasn't rested much and I'm just now beginning to feel the affects of that, but hoping after a day or two of taking it easy and just being together as a family I will feel more like myself. We just got around to giving Asa his first bath today. Poor guy was pretty stinky. Ah, life with a newborn. :)

Tomorrow we are planning on going to church. Jason took the kids last week without me... which is where I suspect Havana picked up her nasty virus. Praying that tomorrow will be germ free. This cold and flu season is one in which I'm constantly stressing out over everything. Which is my problem and one I told Jason I really want to pray through... it isn't normal or healthy and truly robs my joy... it needs to go. So, please be praying for me as I fight this fear.

I am looking forward to this next week where Jason will still be home and we can begin to adjust to life and get into a regular routine. For a few days in there we watched a lot of shows because Havana was sick on the couch and I had a newborn so couldn't take the other kids places. The past two days we have cut back to our regular amount and it has been very refreshing. Looking forward to engaging with the children some more. We have plans this next week, but nothing too crazy or hectic and I have friends bringing over meals so I can sit back and enjoy life with my littles. I am extremely blessed!