Asher's first mining convention

Asher went to his first mining convention today. Yes you heard right, mining as in digging stuff out of the ground. Jon's work, WesTech (which makes water treatment equipment) was sponsoring a booth at the annual conference of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration and he had free passes for me and his Dad (who is works for a chemical company that supplies mining companies) to go with him. It was neat to see all the exhibits and to get the free stuff. I scored a nice bag, some band-aids, a back massager, too much candy and some pens! I think that Asher was the only baby in the entire convention center! So if someday Asher wants to be an engineer we will know why-- besides the fact that he is already reading physics books (see earlier post). Here is Asher with Grandpa Farrell.
I am REALLY proud of the great work that Jon is doing at WesTech. For a guy with a Latin degree, he is a wonderful engineer! He is learning so much and I think he is really liking it- most days:) They've asked him to come back to work for them after he does his Masters in Environmental Engineering. We aren't sure what we want to do yet, but it is nice of have options.

The Business of Being Born

This is a new documentary that is only being shown in a few cities across the US. It should be really interesting. Here is a link to the trailer if you are interested.

http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/trailer.htm

They are doing a showing in SLC on February 28th at 7:00pm. It is at the Salt Lake Community College Larry H Miller Campus 9750 S 300 W Sandy, UT 84070. The cost is free, but registration required as seats are limited To register contact (801) 565-3755 or email info@healingpediatrics.com.

The Roley Poley Asher Bug

Asher rolled over! He actually did it for the first time about two weeks ago, but I've had a hard time capturing it on tape. He seems to know when I am filming him and won't do it then. The very first time he did it was after a bath and I put him on his tummy on the bed. He hates being on his tummy and started to throw his head and VIOLA he was on his back. I wasn't sure if it was an accident so I had him do it again, and again and again (I got one of those on tape but since he is buck naked I thought it best not to embarrass him too much and wait to post a video of him when he was more modest-- I'll just have to save it to embarrass him when his girlfriend comes over).

He doesn't actually make it ALL the way over in this one- but he sure tries hard-- and is SO cute. Oh yeah-- and ignore the silly "mom sounds" :)

We took him to his 2 month appointment today and he weighs 12 lbs 5 oz and is 24 1/2 inches long. He is in the 93rd percentile for length-- he is a BIG boy!

2 Years! Woah Baby!!

Today is our anniversary! Two years ago today I met Jon at the SLC temple and made the best promise of my life.
The past two years have gone by SO fast and have been so much fun. I keep waiting for this marriage thing to get hard, but it hasn't been yet. Don't get me wrong- we definitely have our moments and have to put alot of work into our relationship-- but all in all marriage has been fun, rewarding and beautiful.
This morning I was looking at my life, at Jon and Asher, and realized that all of the happiness I have in my life comes first, from having the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, and second from my family, especially MY family-- Jon and Asher. The other day I was singing "Families can be together forever" and it struck me that I will be able to be with Asher and Jon forever-- I'd alway thought of my Thomas family when singing that song, but this time I realized that when Asher sings that song he will be thinking of his family! What a beautiful thing it is to have the restored gospel in my life and to be sealed in the temple!

I want to thank EVERYONE who has been a part of our life these past four years-- from helping us meet, to helping fall in love, to convincing Jon he wanted to marry me :), helping with our wedding, setting up our house, and welcoming our son into this beautiful world!
Thank You and may God continue to bless you!

I got got quoted in the Tribune!

I just found this! While I was up at the Capitol yesterday I got interviewed by a reporter from the Tribune. Here is the article she wrote-- I'm quoted!

http://www.sltrib.com//ci_8198859?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com

Support Midwifery!

Yesterday Asher and I went up to the State Capitol to attend a committee meeting on Bill SB93. This bill, proposed by Senator Margaret Dayton, would DRAMATICALLY limit women's right to give birth at home. Her bill is so broad that it would eliminate about 90% of women from being able to have a home birth. For example, a woman that had EVER had a miscarriage, or who had ever had an infection while pregnant would be exempt from homebirth FOREVER! She also wants to take away the right for VBAC women (Vaginal birth after Cesarean) to have a home birth-- which for some women (depending on where they live) is their ONLY chance to avoid another c-section, because in MANY hospitals a woman with a previous c-section isn't allowed to labor. Even though there are several new studies that show that VBACS are totally safe!

So to show my support for homebirth, I slung Asher in his sling- stuck a pink sticker on him that said " No on SB93, Allow midwifery to work" and went to the capitol. The committee meeting was really interesting- both sides got to talk to the issue. The midwives were REALLY upset that Senator Dayton (who just happens to be in BIG cahoots with the Utah Medical Association- which has a big lobby on the hill) hadn't even tried to compromise with them. Unfortunately, the bill passed out of committee 3 to 2. This means it will go to the Rules Committee and then to the floor! We are really hoping that a compromise can be worked out, or that it will die in the Rules Committee.

Please take the time to write to your senators and representatives to let them know how this bill takes away parent's right to choose what type of birth they want for their baby! Even if you personally wouldn't choose home birth, parents should still have the right to make the choice. Protect our freedoms! Here is a link that to the bill
http://le.utah.gov/~2008/bills/sbillint/sb0093.htm

and this link will help you find your senator

http://www.le.state.ut.us/maps/amap.html

Miles of Smiles

Asher has been practicing his smiling lately. Which has been wonderful for Jon and I, because every time he smiles rainbows, sunshine and dancing little pixies shoot out into the air. If you don't believe me you just haven't seen him smile yet! Jon and I have resorted to some strange antics trying to get him to smile. Let me just say that Jon can do a mean chicken dance-- ask him about it next time you see him. If you get lucky he might give you a performance!

These are some of my favorite pictures of the little nursling:

Asher's Blessing

We blessed Asher yesterday and what a beautiful experience it was. I don't think I have words to express how wonderful it was to see Jon take our little baby son in his arms and give him a blessing. It is a day that I have been looking forward to for a long time. I remember in Young Women's a story about two friends both of who had babies at the same time, one of whom married in the temple and the other had a baby without being married. When the time came to bless the baby of the friend who had been married in the temple, the other girl sat in the audience holding her baby and thinking "who will bless my baby? I don't have anyone to bless my baby." That story impressed upon me the importance of a temple marriage-- so that someday I would have someone to bless my baby. So to see Jon bless Asher yesterday was SO fulfilling for me!

Asher did so well-- he slept through the whole thing! I now know that God does answer prayers because yesterday my only two prayers were: 1) that he would fall asleep and not cry through the blessing (like I did when I was a baby) and 2) that he wouldn't "poop out" his cute blessing outfit (which happens to be "dry clean only"! What were they thinking making baby clothes that are dry clean only! I've got to speak to that person). Luckily both prayers were answered.

Here are some pictures:

Asher with his grandpas!

Four Generations!

Great Grandma, Grandma , Heather, Asher, Grandma, and Great Grandma

The two Ashers! Asher (Jon's Cousin) and our Asher. And According to Jon's Uncle Steven- they are the Evil and the Good Asher. I'll let you decide which one is which based off their facial expressions!

Asher with his Aunts, Hilary and Brittney