Asher- 18 months

Asher turned 18 months old!

Here are his stats:

Height: 33.75 inches (90%)

Weight: 29.7 lbs. (90%)

Head Circumference: 19 inches (75%)

He loves going to the library for storybook time.  He really likes the water fountains since they have steps to climb so he's high enough.  He isn't scared of running off on his own so I have to keep my eye on him or he disappears:)

 Asher is a great kid.  He loves being a big brother.  He loves to be outside and would spend as much time outside as I would let him.  He still only says "uh oh" and "bye" but he does ramble with more sounds.  He is getting more teeth, he has 2 molars now.  He has the cutest giggle.  He just keeps growing, we had to buy him new shoes (again).  He wears 8 1/2!

He loves involving Vaden in everything he does and wants to be involved in everything she does even if she isn't doing anything.

He also likes to help out. Besides helping out with Vaden- changing her diaper, feeding her, giving her her pacifier, holding her, rolling her over, carrying her, etc.  He likes to help me out with setting the table (see above with the placemats), loading or emptying the dishwasher, getting our shoes, and making and unmaking piles of clothes.  He's a good helper and fun to have around even if he's a handful at times.

We are super, super excited that he is old enough for nursery!  Last Sunday we dropped him off and Ryan took Vaden and I was kid-free.  I can't remember the last time I was able to sit through all of Relief Society.  It was nice:)

Vaden - 1 month old

 Vaden is one month old and here are her stats:

Height: 22 1/2 inches (90%)

Weight:  10 lbs. 15 oz. (90%)

Head Circumference:  15 inches (75%)

 She smiles.  She can hold her head up pretty well.  She is pretty easy going and puts up with Asher really well.  Asher loves to hold her and help carry her and kiss her and pet her head and help change her diaper and give her her pacifier when she cries.  He also wants her included in everything and loves playing with her.  He has a chalk board that he likes to draw on and insists that she draw on it too.  I'm excited for when she is old enough to really play with him and hope that he continues to be a good big brother involving her in everything.

 She is sleeping a bit longer at night, though we still get up a couple times.  She loves to be held.  Many times she fusses and grunts until we hold her, then she zones right out.

Life with 2 kids

 Things sure are busy.  I feel like I am a yo-yo going from one baby to the other.  We are doing well though and are adjusting to the new schedule.  Asher helps keep us moving and Vaden keeps us from sleeping:)  I find I am much more tired this time around since I can't take naps when Vaden does, Asher keeps me too busy.

 Asher is a great brother already.  He's very interested in Vaden and makes sure she's always involved.  He can never leave her behind and sometimes even insists on carrying her.  It's pretty funny when this happens because Ryan or I really carry her(just bent over), but Asher holds on to her waist like he's helping.  It actually slows us down!  He also helps with diaper changes.  He comes and lays down next to her and lets me change his diaper, and he pats her head and talks to her.  Then we change her diaper and he loves to wipe her, though he usually wipes her bellybutton.  He also loves to hold her.  He can become quite insistent.  He claps his hands together then hold out his arms for her.  He continues this until he gets her.

 This is what happens when I try to take a picture of just Vaden:)  He is trying to pick her up.

 Sometimes I wonder what Asher really thinks of his little sister.  Here she's just one of the toys!  Notice Asher's baby- we had to change her diaper too.  He will hold his baby and imitate what I do with Vaden.  Yesterday we were rocking and singing to them, and lifting them up and down.

 

 Where does the pacifier go?

My cousin Kendra came and visited us this last weekend.  She babysat while we went on a date night.  It was great to have some help and someone to play with Asher.  It was also great to have someone that helps clean without being asked:)

 Riding the carousel at the mall.

We also had Richard and Emily come visit.  Ryan's brother just moved to Williamsburg as he will start law school there.  Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures with them.

Here is cute little Vaden. 

She is a good baby.  She makes a lot of noise when going to sleep.  She grunts and moves and fusses a bit, though she usually doesn't cry unless she wants to be picked up.  She does a good job waiting for her turn.  She's pretty easy to care for, the hard part is juggling 2 kids.  Her eyes are turning blue and she still has brown hair.  She is growing too.  After our last doctor appointment she was on her way up and had passed her birth weight.  She likes to look around at things, though I think she mainly likes to look at me or her brother:) She's a wonderful addition to our family and we are excited to watch her grow up.