...well a lull in the blogging, that is. Life has been full of social obligations, road trips, play dates and plenty of other things to occupy our time.
I think part of the reason I don't keep up my blog as much is because I used to actually have somewhat interesting things to write about. I was able to articulate things I was learning with much more suavity. And I'll be honest, ever since I stopped working, I feel as if my days are much the same and the lessons I learn and things I think about get all mixed in with the laundry, diapers and the 394th round of Itsy Bitsy Spider (complete with complex hand motions). Plus, I know my family away from MN likes to see Asher pictures and updates, so I tend to just focus on that. But today I shall do a two-fold post. Because I actually do have things I'm thinking about that are a little different than Huggies vs. Target brand or the looming prospect of weaning.
So first I'll share, then I'll give you the pictures.
The last week or so, I have had some conversations with people in which I have mentioned things my parents told me growing up. That is not entirely abnormal, because my parents are wise, and I respect them a lot. But I felt that I was saying "My mom/dad always used to say..." many more times than I usually do for a one-week period.
Maybe this is because conversation topics have coincidentally turned to things that my parents happened to share a lot about... But I also think there may be something else going on here. I have been at this mom thing for almost a year now. And anyone who knows me knows that I am a think-aheader. I like to think about and plan what position Ben and I will take on certain parenting topics. How we will have the conversations with our kids. Anticipate the questions our kids might have for us, etc... And I realize more and more that I can't plan for every variable. I don't know our kids' personalities yet. I don't even know if there will be kidS (plural). *sigh* I want to control too much. And I know too little. So I subscribe to my parents' wisdom.
Interestingly, most of the things I've quoted my parents on recently has been either straight Scripture, or very God-centered wisdom, stemming from truths in Scripture. Reflecting on this has been good for me. First, it reminds me that even though my parents aren't perfect, I still hold respect for them. But the ways I respect them and look up to them are rooted in this knowledge that they spoke from a Biblical and truth-permeated foundation. Second, it further solidifies my hope that as long as I keep building my Biblical and truth-permeated foundation, I don't have to stress so much about the specifics of what I (we) will say to our kids growing up.
Don't get me wrong, I'll probably still over think these things and try to be as prepared as possible...But at least I can acknowledge that I won't have it all figured out before we get there. We'll cross those bridges when we get to them. We won't put the cart before the horse. We won't put all our eggs in one basket. Okay, maybe that last one doesn't fit, but you catch my drift.
Ben too, will benefit from this subtle-ish change in my thinking. Because I'm pretty sure if he was physically capable of rolling his eyes, he would have a severe case of eye-roll-aritis for how many times I start a conversation, "So I've been thinking about when the kids are older and..."
Okay, that is about as much depth as I can handle without beginning to tread water...and I'm kind of out of shape...
Pictures!
Love his opened-mouth grin.
As he has gotten more adventurous, he does things like climb into the laundry basket. What I don't have, is a picture of the process...head first.
Because nothing says a good time like digging in the office trash.
Water boy
Who knew that chairs could be so entertaining.
GOON FACE!
Favorite trick...SO BIG!!
Most of his food ends up there...Sorry it looks gross. but it always amazes me how much ends up UNDER him...
Bear exhibit at the zoo. Auntie Rose volunteered at the MN Zoo this summer and we were able to enjoy it with Grandma Dill for free!
went to visit Aunt Amy, Uncle Johnny and Cousins Reese and Tommy
Poor Asher wasn't sure what to make of all the sibling-ness at first. But he quickly learned. Baby grabs your paci, grab theirs back, it's only fair. A baby starts bopping you on the head with a hairbrush, get the heck out of there. You see a baby playing with any thing other than what you have, crawl as fast as you can and grab it out of their hands because suddenly it is your favorite toy in all the universe. Baby drops their food on the floor, you be a nice cousin and eat it for them.
Overall they did quite well together, and it was fun to spend time with family.
While there, Asher also learned to stand on his own for longer than 10 seconds! look how determined he is!
Visiting Uncle Johnny at work
Once he got it, he didn't want to stop doing it...
The other things cousins are good for is sharing all the germs. The day we got home, Amy let me know her kiddos weren't feeling good, and then Asher got hit pretty hard.
Fever is no fun to deal with, but he was super snuggly and so I enjoyed that time with my boy.
Started a new hobby! Pyrography. Fire writing...or wood burning. Lots of fun!
Love my family
More cousin fun! Hanging with Hanna at the Dakota County Fair!
And Maria too!
Auntie Claire braved the corn pit with Asher. Got really dusty and had to prevent Asher from making the corn his lunch. He could fist that stuff and get a handful in his mouth before you could blink an eye!
Family fun at the fair!
LOVE. those eyes.
More fun with Hanna
Asher reaching out to the "horse" at the Children's Museum
Playing in the water with second-cousin Theo
So not great light...but still...fun times riding the tractor with Uncle Joe outside the Machine Shed in Iowa.
Life is anything but dull with this munchkin around! Ben and I find ourselves laughing at him over the silly stuff he does. Can't wait til he starts talking and turns those babbles into real words!
Au revoir!
