Number 1

We’ve reached the end of our Top Ten which means that tomorrow my little boy is turning one! 

I have loved this chance to walk down memory lane and reminisce over the past year.  I look forward to this coming year and all the fun that comes with chasing after a one-year-old boy! 

In keeping with the “favorite” theme I went through a bazillion pictures from this past year and included (almost) all of my “faves” for this final top ten post. 

And the #1 favorite thing of this past year is…(drumroll)…

EVERYTHING!

Okay, a little cheesy, I know. But it’s TRUE! I have loved everything about this past year with my sweet little boy. 

I had heard from some women that they got too bored being home all day with their kids; that they didn’t feel stimulated or challenged. 

I completely understand that being at home is a totally different kind of pace, and a different kind of stimulation.  I also understand that switching from two incomes to one is a huge step and not everyone can or wants to make that change.

I am just so THANKFUL that I’ve never found being a stay-at-home-mom to be boring! :)  As much as I LOVED being a teacher I haven’t missed one minute of being in the classroom this past year.  There have been sacrifices for me to be able to stay home, but none that have outweighed the benefits!

I’ve waited my whole life to be a mom and it brings my heart more happiness than I could have imagined.  Some moments have been pull-my-hair-out hard and other moments have been heart-melting or tears(of joy)-filled.

We’ve had scary moments of high fevers, frustrating moments of no-naps, silly moments of belly laughs, sweet moments of hugs and kisses. 

And I am beyond blessed that I was a part of each and every moment.

A HUGE thank you to my husband for working so hard this year so that I can be at home with Asher.

  Chris goes every extra mile imaginable and is the hardest working teacher and educational technology guru!

I am so thankful for all his extra effort so that I can sleep in each day, eat bon bons, and watch soap operas.  Ha!  Love you, babe!

Now I need to run… I’ve got a first birthday to get ready for!  :)

Number 2 & Happy Mother’s Day!

#2  This isn’t a favorite because it was always fun or cute, but because it was necessary!  Something I have grown to love about this year is learning more about myself. Having a baby has put a spotlight on some areas of my life that I would have rather remained hidden: being selfish (with things like my time…), being judgmental (thinking I would never raise my child like someone else…), being prideful (thinking I could be in control of any and all situations…) and I’m sure the list goes on!  I am thankful for the way the Lord has revealed these areas to me, and couldn’t think of a better way then through a sweet child!  I am thankful that, “He who has begun a good work in me will bring it to completion…” (Phil. 1:6)

Before having Asher I would have told you that I was completely dependent on the Lord, but having a child is a whole new kind of dependence! Turning Asher over to the Lord has to almost be a daily thing for me as I trust that He loves him more than we do, and can provide and take care of him infinitely better than we can.  

I’m off to enjoy my first OFFICIAL Mother’s Day since Asher was born 13 hours after Mother’s Day last year.  :)  Chris has some special things planned and I’m so excited to enjoy today with the two guys in my life.  Check back tomorrow for #1! 

Happy Mother’s Day to all my sweet mama friends, my sisters and sister-in-law, to my mother-in-law and my own MOM!!  I love you all and hope you have a wonderfully relaxing day!  :) 

Number 3

 

#3 Somewhere between bringing home a scrunched up newborn and this crazy little boy that I now have, I got a buddy! I love that Asher is my little sidekick and often my shadow. We play together and laugh together all day long. I run errands with him and find myself doing crazy things in the middle of Target to make him laugh. I know what he likes and doesn’t like, which books are his favorites, and which toys he’s just not that into these days. I know that someday mom and dad won’t be cool, and can’t strive to just be friends with their kids… but for now I relish the moments of being such an important person in my little guy’s life. I love spending every day – whether we’re running errands or cleaning the house – with my bud.

Number 4

#4  Asher loves music and he loves to be-bop to his toys that play music. We love watching him bounce up and down or shake his booty to any silly little tune. If we’re out running errands he’ll often start to move to whatever music is playing. The other day he was bouncing in his highchair at Panera to the jazz music in the background. One day at the grocery store he was literally swaying to a Michael Jackson song! Sometimes he starts to “dance” while he’s crawling which looks more like a boogie crawl. All of Asher’s crazy dance moves are definitely a favorite!

Number 5

#5  One of my all-time favorite things in the world is when Asher hugs me by wrapping his little arms around my neck. When he was a little baby he would nestle into our shoulders and then stick his arms in under his body; of course we thought that was cute too. But nothing compares to his sweet little hugs. When Asher was a newborn we did lots of snuggling, like any new mom and her baby. However, any mom knows that the older your child gets the less time there is for snuggling so the moments right before I lay Asher down for bed at night when he is either asleep or just nestled into my shoulder are simply the best!!

Number 6

#6 Rise and shine! One of my favorite moments of every day is walking in Asher’s room in the morning once he’s woken up. He is almost always cheerful when he wakes up. He chatters in his crib until I come for him. Once he figured out how to stand up it was so fun to come in and find him standing, holding the railing waiting for me.

The biggest smile comes across his face and his sweet little wave melts my heart! I love waking up and going one room over to get my sweet boy each and every morning of this past year. It’s fun to pull open the shades and see if it’s going to be a sunny day where we should go to the park or take a walk… or if it’s going to be a rainy day and we should just stay inside in our jammies. I didn’t take one single morning for granted with my sweet boy and all of them were my favorites!

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!”  Psalm 118:24

Number 7

#7 Being a mother to a son is definitely one of my most favorite things of this past year and always!  It’s crazy now to think that my whole life I thought I only wanted girls…

In fact, something I thought I would never say is how much I love being a mom to a boy! I love how Asher lights up when I come into the room or when I pick him up after a nap.  I just love that he seems to be as crazy about me as I am about him.  Nothing makes my day like his smile and squeals of joy! 

 

All of Asher’s little boy mannerism and sweetness are so special to me! I know girls are very sweet, but just in a different way.  :) I also know we are just entering the crazy, busy, wild ‘little boy’ years and I may be tired for the next several years of my life… but I wouldn’t trade my one little boy for a dozen little girls.

 

Number 8

#8 Many of my favorite moments from this past year have included watching Chris and Asher together. From the time Asher was a tiny baby he would always light up when Chris got home from work. I love watching his reaction when Chris comes in the door at the end of the day – it’s a combination of squeals, smiles, laughter, and wiggles. He loves his daddy and Chris sure loves his little boy. I’ll never forget the look on Chris’s face when the ultra-sound tech told us it was a BOY… I don’t think Chris has stopped smiling since. It is so incredibly special for this mama to see the bond between a daddy and his boy. 

Number 9

Continuing with my top ten from Asher’s first year of life…

#9  All the little “firsts” – the first coo, smile, laugh, word. Learning how to roll over, sit up, eat from a spoon, crawl, wave, and take a step. I am beyond blessed to be home with Asher every day and for the past year we haven’t ever been apart for more than a few hours. As a result I’ve had a front row seat to all his milestones. I look forward to a lifetime of “firsts” with Asher!

Among those firsts, one of my favorite moments was when Asher learned how to wave. There was something about this little baby that was now interacting with me. He takes his little hand and kind of flaps his fingers down toward his palm to wave and I just think it’s precious. I was amazed when I would say, “Asher, wave to Daisy” and he would actually do it! Not that I’d trade all those early snuggly months with my newborn, but there is just something so special about the beginning stages of actual communication with older babies!

May Day and Top Ten

Happy May Day!!! 
Growing up, on May 1st – May Day, we would make little cone-shaped construction paper baskets and fill them with candy and flowers then we would hang them on our neighbors doors, ring the doorbell, and run away.  I’ve only met a few other people who grew up doing this tradition… one was my high school English teacher, Mrs. Haab.  For several years after high school we exchanged letters on May 1st telling the other person we were “thinking” of them on that day!  One year she was sweet enough to bring a basket of supplies to a women’s shelter on May 1st in my name.  Is it any wonder I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up with the wonderful teachers I had?!  :) 

Our May Baskets weren’t quite this impressive!  I found this cute picture on another blog… :)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I’ve decided that since we’re 11 days away from Asher’s FIRST birthday (wow!) I’m going to do a little top ten list with my favorite things, moments, or memories from this past year!  So without any further ado…

#10:  Asher’s birthday! We were blessed with wonderful nurses and a great doctor. I was induced at 7 am and Asher was in our arms at 1:30 pm. My labor was fast and easy!  Thank you, epidural! :) I can’t say enough good things about our labor and delivery. I was seriously a nervous wreck about labor from the moment I knew I was pregnant and kept hoping I’d have to have a C-Section to avoid labor all together. The morning of my induction my blood pressure was through the roof and they couldn’t figure out why (I was just freaking out!). I know some people have really hard and terrible labors so I’m not minimizing it (at all), just so thankful that mine was manageable and made for a great day!

There is nothing to describe the emotion of first seeing and holding your child after nine (ten) long months! Getting to share that moment with Chris was so special; and then for us to get to share him with our parents, siblings, and friends was just the best!

May 11, 2009 will ALWAYS be a favorite day of ours!