Nesting?

I'd like to think we are just finally getting things done! It really feels good to get all the little projects (like a safety hinge on Asher's toy box... finally) and a number of big projects finished. We have been able to clear out the upstairs, for the most part, of storage items. Thanks especially to dad and Mark, my brother-in-law, for their helping Al with some heavy lifting. The basement is really coming along well now. We will post some pictures once we get a few more things put away. I'm excited to say that we just finished putting together our new headboard. I'm really excited!

Also, thanks to Al for all his work assembling baby related items. Crib, various storage/shelving, high chair... check, check, check. The room for baby Ezra is looking great!
Big brother, Asher, and cousins, Chase and Katelyn, have made a large contribution to supplying little one with a variety of toys. I think he is well stocked!

Now I just have a few details to finish. Decorating is the fun part... right? I have to remind myself how to use the sewing machine again, as I will be cutting some fabric for window valances and a crib skirt. Wish me luck!

Busy, Busy Boy

Here are some current pictures of Asher... in all his many play activities and roles. There's the barbershop, and "Doctor Asher" has been in a lot lately.

He has continued to love painting and other craft activities.

In addition to playing with cars, moving "dirt" with the construction vehicles, playing with play dough, and other such fun daytime activities, Asher of course loves to be a big helper. Here he is fixing his kitchen sink... just like daddy fixed the kitchen sink and grandpa hooked up the basement bathroom sink.

And there is always time to play a guitar or his drums. Asher is willing to share too... as long as he can sing!

Happy Birthday Grandpa

We had a great time going out for pizza with dad for his birthday. Here's the kids having some popcorn before their meal.

Then we had cake at our house. Here are a couple more pictures of the kids with grandpa.

Phelps Youth Pavilion

We took Asher and a friend to the Phelps Youth Pavilion at the beginning of January. This was his second trip there, and I think Asher could have played there all day. While he enjoyed pretending to water and dig up flowers and vegetables and was involved in pretending to sell us produce for quite sometime,

I think the real hit was being able to dress up in various country's ethnic attire...


... and of course playing multiple musical instruments.

Baby Boy Will Be Here Soon

So, we have decided to stop calling him "baby boy" because we have decided on a first name... Ezra. It's Hebrew for God helps and helper. We are still discussing a middle name.

Asher has already been excited to share this information with others. He points to my belly saying "My baby brother. My Ezra." Asher has been really cute about the whole pregnancy so far. Sometimes when he is "Doctor Asher," he will listen to my and baby's heart with his stethoscope. Asher has even rubbed my belly and pointed to the TV saying he's doing a "baby movie" (otherwise known as a sonogram). ;) Asher is now my "big boy" and "big helper," and he tells me that he knows baby brother is growing too. He understands that Ezra can hear him with his ears, even though he is inside mommy's belly. Sometimes Asher talks to him. The other morning, Asher said "Good morning baby brother. I'm having oatmeal."

Seems like the baby will be here soon. I think it's because I'm starting to see my Nurse Midwife every other week now. So, I have a check up with her tomorrow (the 21st of January) and every two weeks after that, until sometime in March when I go weekly. Also, we go to UIHC in a week (on the 28th of January). This will include our last ultrasound (I think this is number 6) and a consultation with Dr. Canady about cleft palate assessment and repair.

Al has been a real help and not complained too much about my "nesting" lately. The baby's room is basically ready, and we've been getting a lot of projects done around the house... more on that soon.

Our Quite Creative Music Man

Well Asher seems to be enjoying all of his Christmas presents. I don't think he can decide on a favorite. It has been really wonderful to watch his imagination expand as he continues to engage in more elaborate pretend play. He continues to love to take our order for restaurant, occasionally opens his barber shop, deliver us mail, and often care for us and his dolls as doctor.


He was happy to get another stethoscope and loves his "doctor" name tag. It's fun to watch what props he pulls out and see him involve us in his stories.

In addition to his ukulele and "electric" guitars, Asher has been playing some recorders, his harmonica, keyboard, and his new drum kit.

Grandpa and Grandma and the rest of our immediate families were pleased to be entertained by Asher (and Katelyn) on Christmas morning. Here is a video of the last of his "Jingle Bells" song, sung into his mic stand (otherwise known as my camera tripod)...

Family Photos

We have really enjoyed a balance of seeing lots of family for the holidays, getting all the projects done around the house on our days off, and a little doing nothing. A great way to end 2008 and welcome in the new year.

The White side of the family gathered in December. For the first time, in some time, we had all our cousins together... although Zach and Ben seem to come in shifts. ;) Here is a picture of all of us.

Soon after their trip to IA, Teresa and Ian welcomed their second son, Emery Nicolas. Congrats!

Also, here are some pictures from the Gleason Family Christmas.

If you go to Holly's blog under "Chase and Katleyn" right, she has more pictures of our families and the beautiful Shermann House.

Merry Christmas!

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.



And best wishes for a happy new year too!

Remember When

Asher has been amazing us with his ability to tell stories and recall recent, and sometime distant, memories. With Christmas approaching, I was telling him about how he got "footy jammies" from Grandma as a gift last year and how he only wore them a couple times before he grew right out of them. Also, I told him about how Grandma used to get Mommy these pajamas for Christmas when she was little and how excited I was... so excited that I would insist she cut the foot parts off after I got too tall so I could keep wearing them. So, one day, Asher starts telling Daddy at bedtime about how he loves his "footy jammies" and how he got some last year from "namma" and how she got mommy these kind of pajamas "when she was little." It's so cute because Asher says this stuff and then looks at me and says, "Remember that?" Other examples were when he was reading a book and saw a clown and asked me if I remembered when Mrs. Dahlquist (a fellow mom at play group and his doctor's wife) was a clown with hair like that (pointing at the picture) for Halloween. And he is starting to learn cause and effect too. I told him to sit on his bottom in the chair at lunch because he needs to be safe. Asher replied "Yes... At Applebees I tipped in my chair. I fell down. Remember that?"

Happy and Healthy

We went to Univ. of IA again for a follow up / 23 week ultrasound in the beginning of December.



Everything is great with the baby! The choroid plexus cysts have disappeared. They usually are gone around 28 weeks, so we were very happy to have it resolved so soon. The cleft lip does not appear to extend all the way up and, while they are unsure about cleft palate, it looks like there is little to no concern. Again they said baby boy is a little ahead of average on growth. He was almost 2 pounds at 23 weeks which is average at about 27 weeks. Wonder if he's already trying to be like big brother. ;)

Asher is growing fast. Seems like he grew at least 2 inches this month. We've had success with "big boy underwear" for about a month now. He can stand in front of the toilet now and is tall enough to reach! Went through the closet again and gave cousin Chase some clothes Asher has grown out of. Asher just rediscovered "footy jammies" though, and it's so cute to see him running around the house in them at bedtime.

I am feeling well. Baby has been quite active since 19 weeks. I have had more energy in the 2nd trimester, which is good with a few toddlers to keep up with weekdays.

Fall Fun

Asher has been enjoying the cool fall weather lately. On one of the last nice days, we took our 3rd annual trip to the pumpkin patch. Asher seemed to like all the pumpkins and the hay ride at Heartland Farms. He had fun going trick or treating 3 times around Halloween. It was so cute to see him dress up as Tigger and to hear him tell everyone how he is "bouncy, bouncy." He has been a "big helper" lately, and Asher has enjoyed a little raking and a lot of playing in the leaves. We have already had the 1st snow of the season. Asher enjoyed touching the snow before it melted, but he keeps asking when there will be enough snow for a snowman. In preparation for hat weather, Asher got a (controversial) hair cut. Maybe you can weigh in on what you think of his new shorter hair. I hope you enjoy a few of our pictures from fall outings, and I included a couple others that I just thought were cute.

Baby Boy

It's official... it's a boy! We are 19 weeks now. I have posted some of the pictures from our recent ultrasounds. My midwife is saying the due date is April 7th, but I'm expecting it to be a few days later like our ultrasounds have predicted. Monday, my midwife was concerned about a few issues seen on the ultrasound: a choroid plexus cyst in each brain hemisphere, enlarged kidneys, and a cleft lip. Praise the Lord, we went to UIHC Wednesday, and the ultrasound showed no problems with the kidneys. They are not dilated or large in size at all any more. Asher had a choroid plexus cyst, and it just went away later in my second trimester. So, we are praying the same will happen with this baby. Otherwise, baby is very healthy. He has a strong, healthy heart. Baby's organs are all working well together, and he is growing fast. Looks like he already has long legs and is above average for size. Guess he's already trying to be like his big brother. ;) We have started talking names, but right now we're not sharing. In four weeks, we go back to UIHC for another ultrasound. If you check back later, we will hopefully have more baby pictures and maybe even share a few name ideas.