Six Weeks Old

How did I get so lucky? Seriously. This baby boy is so sweet and good. He LOVES to be held. He sleeps pretty good. He's a great eater. He's growing, a little too much for my liking. His sisters love him. We're so blessed to have Asher in our family. It seems like he's always been here. It's amazing how much joy babies bring, how much they change things.

Things They Say

One morning I was watching Army Wives and Jordyn walked in and started watching it with me. "Mom, is this real life?" she asked. I told her no, it was just a TV show. "Okay," she said, "but the care bears are real because they live in the clouds."

Tessa was sitting on the potty one morning and Jason and I were talking in our bedroom. Suddenly she yelled, "Hey poop! Get out of my bum!"

One Family Home Evening we were showing the girls pictures in the Friend and asking them what the picture was about. Jordyn was getting all the answers right...she usually does. So, Jason made a point of asking Tessa about this picture...

She looked at it for a minute and said, "Jesus is about to get slapped."

Recently

We went to the mall one day. It was my sister, Julie's, birthday. We were all there, all five sisters. It was fun. The kids had an even better time. Too bad my only good picture was out of focus.

Jordyn took a Shamrock for the letter "S" show-n-tell at preschool. The best part was that it was St. Patrick's Day. It took a lot of convincing however. She thought a Shamrock was a dumb idea.

 And seriously...isn't he the cutest?!?!

This was my view in the rear view mirror the other day. Actually, it's my view most of the time when I'm driving. I just couldn't help feel so blessed and thankful for my little family.

Sunday my Dad took his turn holding the new babies at the same time. These two cousins are going to be great friends.

 I asked Jordyn to help with Asher while I jumped in the shower one morning. When I got out I found the three of them having a great time together.

Tessa thinks coasters are very important.

 Asher LOVES his tummy.

In The Past Month

I've changed, grown. I feel like I'm finally starting to get the hang of this motherhood thing. I think maybe Asher has helped with that. This baby boy of ours has brought such a sweet spirit into our home. Now, don't get me wrong, he cries...a lot sometimes. And I'm tired. And I still worry about little things - like how much he eats, how much he sleeps, how quiet he is at night. So, it hasn't all been easy, but still, I feel myself changing.

Maybe my heart has grown. I'm more relaxed. I have more patience with the girls. I feel like Jason and I are closer than we've ever been, and while it's still hard, I'm handling tax season better. I feel closer to my Heavenly Father. I understand His plan better and I'm more aware of the blessings that I've been given. So many blessings.

Not every day is easy. Most are really hard. I yell a lot. I think about getting a job. I get frustrated with messes and endless laundry and dinner time. I crave social interaction with anyone besides Barney and Steve from Blue's Clues. But everything feels better after Jordyn grabs my leg and tells me I'm the best mom ever, or when Tessa climbs on my lap and pinches my cheeks, or when Asher holds my finger or lays his head on my shoulder.

Life is good.

And now, picture overload.

Asher sucks his thumb, and isn't he so cute in his pink towel.

Tessa is the big helper girl around here. She picked him up and sat down on the couch with him. I wanted to freak out, but she just looked so cute.

She begged to feed him one day. She did a great job.

 
And, one morning Asher was crying and when I finally got into the bedroom to check on him he was asleep surrounded by Tessa's dolls.

The girls love Asher, and they always want to help.

And he really is a fun baby, even when he looks like this...

And today our beautiful son is one month old. And I'm not the only one around here....He's changed, grown.

Asher's New Pictures

My sister, Julie, took these pictures for me today. They turned out super cute! I can hardly believe how fast this little man is growing. But then, Leslie and Josh came over to my Mom's with Carter today and he is so much bigger than Asher. They are both so cute! I should have taken a picture of him too!

Oh WAIT! I have Julie's SD card and she took pictures of Carter too...Here they are. Seriously, these are two of the cutest babies ever.

2 Weeks, 3 Days

Asher had his 2 week appointment today. He weighs 7 pounds 5 ounces and is 21 inches long. Growing Boy! He eats about three ounces every three hours, except at night when he goes 4 to 5 hours between bottles. He loves, loves to be held. He is awake a lot more now, especially at night. He loves to stay up late...just like his Daddy. 

His cheeks are getting chubby. His new born clothes are getting too small. He loves his hands up by his face, or in his mounth. He's a good baby, and oh so stinkin cute!

The Relief Society Presidency in my ward gave me a really cute blanket for Asher. Tied on the front was a tag that said, "...It is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from God, love us." I've been thinking about his a lot. Each of our kids has brought such sweet spirit with them. It is amazing to know where they have come from, to know that Heavenly Father has intrusted Jason and I with them. To know that they are ours forever....

Family Of Five

People always say that if you can manage three kids it doesn't matter how many you have. If that's true, I can have a hundred more...I mean if that was the only determaning factor. (You know, if it wasn't about how hard it is on a girl's body, or the recovery, or the baby blues.) Anyway, the reason why...Asher is such a good baby. He hardly ever cries. He loves to be cuddeled and loved. He sleeps great, eats great. He's pretty much great!
Jordyn always wants to help. She is good at putting his binkie in and getting diapers.

Tessa is her same silly self. She is begging for a little attention, which maybe explains her contant potty accidents. It's driving me crazy. I'm just trying to remember that she's not the baby any more, and while that's easy for me to understand, it's not so easy for her.

Jason took the girls ice fishing. I think they loved it. I also think he's glad to have that promise completed. They caught one fish.

 Aunt Nonie made Asher this cute blanket. I love it....so does he.

Tessa came and got me one morning. "Mommy, Asher was crying so I gave him my bear."

So, three kids, so far, has been a good adjustment for us. Now, if I could only stop bawling all of the time, or yelling, or being frustrated, or snapping at the girls, or wishing tax season were over, or being so tired....Oh the joy. But BLESSED.

Truely Blessed!

Asher Jason Hunter

February 13, 2012 at 8:33 am Asher joined our family. He weighed 7 lbs 1 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. This was my 3rd c-section. I was nervous, and it was a little harder for me than my delivery with Tessa, but still much easier than Jordyn. We new what we were going to name him before he came. Here are a few of the fun things we found about "Asher."

Asher: Heb. "Felicitous" Old Testament name brought into English use by the Puritans.

Asher: Asher is a wonderful choice if you're looking for an Old Testament name - Asher was a son of Jacob - that's not as overused as, say, Aaron or Adam. While Asher has moved out of obscurity, it's still a distinctive and accessible name.

Asher: Blessed, Happy

The girls were so excited to meet "baby brother." My heart swelled looking at them together.

And Jason is super happy with his new baby boy. Already planning football practices and fishing trips.

Having a baby boy makes me nervous. There are so many things to teach him. But my heart is full. I can't quite explain how different it is to have a son. I love my girls. They make me laugh, they are beautiful and smart and kind...but they love their Daddy. Asher keeps me calm, he is my baby boy. It's just different.

And after 3 long nights we took him home.