Crying Through the Night

Last night we let Asher cry through the night for the first time. Talk about torture for parents! We'd been debating over whether or not we should let him cry himself to sleep for a few days. The last few weeks I have been becoming more and more exhausted having to get up twice a night with Asher, at 1Am and 4Am. Lots of times he really isn't very hungry and only eats for a few minuets and then falls back asleep! Even though Jon is GREAT and takes him as much as he can-- it has really been wearing on me. Sometimes I just have to have Jon stick Asher in bed with me because I am too tired to go get him-- but then NEITHER of us sleeps very well when we sleep together-- I wake him up and he wakes me up! I keep hoping every time he wakes me up that it will magically be 6 AM, but it hasn't happened yet.

Yet, it seems like I keep hearing and reading contradicting things about how to get babies to sleep at night. Somethings I have read say that babies will just "naturally" start sleeping through the night by themselves, others say that you have to let them cry for awhile, and others say that you are a horrible and unfeeling parent who will traumatize your child for life if you let them cry too long. I have been really confused about what to do!Then I was talking with my next door neighbor, who has five young kids and whose mothering advice I value highly, and she said that with her first she didn't let her first baby cry though the night and that he didn't sleep all the way through the night till he was 2 years old! AGGG! I think that I would be batty by that time.

Yet I have to admit that letting him cry for so long, about 40 min, was really hard on me. Jon and I just lay awake listening to him. We kept repeating, "we love you Asher, we love you..." and we even said a little prayer for him. When he finally did fall asleep he slept REALLY good and didn't wake up till 6 AM, and he seems alot more refreshed and happier this morning than usual. So I don't know! I guess parenting is going to be full of lots of hard questions like these! We are going to try again tonight-- I've heard that it usually just takes a few nights of crying before they start sleeping straight through-- I hope not too much longer.

Happy 4 month birthday Asher!

Today at 3:10 PM Asher will be 4 months old! It is crazy to me how fast time is going by. When I was pregnant every week seemed to crawl by so slow, but now that he is here it seems like time is accelerating at an unheard of rate. He has grown up so much this last month. I think he weighs close to 16lbs and is really tall-- almost as tall as River who is 6 months older! This month he has hit some big milestones like-- laughing, talking up a storm, blowing bubbles, grabbing things with his hands and recognizing himself in the mirror (at least I think he does).
My new favorite thing is to dangle a toy above him just within his reach, the first thing he does is to open his mouth and go "ah ah ah". He wants it in his mouth but his hands are still a little slow in doing what he wants them to do, so it takes him awhile to actually grab the toy and transfer it to his mouth. It is adorable.
You know he keeps getting cuter-- which I didn't think was possible-- and I can't imagine how darn cute he will be once he can walk.

Jon's Favorite Salsa Recipe

I promised a few people that I would post the recipe for the salsa stuff I like to make. I got this recipe from a girl I worked with at the Women's Research Institute at BYU-- it is SUPER easy. We usually eat it with lentils on the side. I just call it "Jon's Favorite Salsa" but you can name it whatever you like.

1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 can black eyed peas (I never put these in because I never have them)
1 green pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
2 avocados, diced
4 medium tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup Italian dressing
1/4 tsp garlic salt

Mix all the ingredients together. It is best if you let it sit for a few hours in the fridge, but you don't have to. Also, if you leave the pits of the avocados in the salsa the avocados won't turn brown (I don't know why this works but it does). It is really good if you eat it with lime flavored chips!

I won 2nd place!!

I just got a letter yesterday from the BYU Studies Journal telling me that my essay "Abraham's Tent" won 2nd place in their annual Personal Essay Contest! I am SO excited. Not only do I get $200 but they are going to publish it in one of the issues of the journal. It will be amazing to have it published and out there for lots of people to read.

This essay was the hardest thing I have EVER written. It took a piece of my soul. I don't know what compelled me to write it, except that I HAD to. I had to find a way to put into words the deep spiritual experiences I had while Jon and I were in Jordan. I had to put into words all the questions and struggles I had gone through. I had to write it to find truth. Writing it helped me to understand what the Book of Mormon prophets meant when they asked us to "forgive them because of their weakness in writing." There are somethings that words can not quite portray.

All in all I am really proud of this essay and am so thrilled and honored that it going to be printed! Thanks to everyone who helped me with it-- especially Jon who sat through a lot of tears and rantings -- and Steven and Nicole for staying up till 2Am the night before it was due (of course!) to proofread it for me.

Here is a link to it if you'd like to read it.

The Latest...

Here are my most recent favorite pictures of the little nursling. This one is of Asher and Jon coming home from church. I couldn't resist this little pageboy hat-- it was only a dollar-- yeah Park City outlet stores!!! . Jon wears his pageboy hat (it was his Grandpa's) to church quite often so it was fun to see both of them together! This is Asher with his Aunt Brittney in Idaho Falls. We went up there last weekend to see her play, "The Pied Piper". If you can't tell by the whiskers and nose, she was a rat. It was such a cute cute play, I think it was the BEST Jr. High production I've ever seen-- and I include the ones I was in. My favorite part was when the rats, all hypnotized by the Piper, marched down the aisles and sang "We're going to the River, going in the water, cool calm water... going to the River... Where we'll drown" in this really airy, beautiful tune. I was laughing so hard.. it was kind of embarrassing because no one else laughed as hard as I did.
On St. Patrick's Day the Farrells always have an Irish celebration dinner, complete with corn beef and soda bread (my favorite). This year Heidi got River and Asher matching IRELAND hoodies and boy did they look cute. We had quite the trouble trying to get a picture of them together-- lets just say River is MUCH more interested in Asher than he is in her, and bigger! But next year he should be able to hold his own against her :)
Okay this is cute! We've discovered Asher's favorite book is Dr. Seuss's "The Shape of Me and Other Stuff." I bought it at the D.I. for 50 cents and thought it was kind of a boring book because the pictures were just silhouettes. One night I heard Jon reading it to Asher and then I heard "Heather get in here... now" and when I walked in Jon and Asher were lying on the floor reading the book and Asher had a HUGE grin on his face and was flapping his arms up and down (which means he is happy). He LOVES the silhouette pictures-- I guess they are easier for him to process. It has become Jon and Asher's nightly ritual to read the story lying on the carpet. Also, just so you know Jon did Asher's hair crazy after bath time in this picture-- that isn't part of the ritual:)

I've decided that there are way more pictures of Jon and Asher than there are of me and Asher-- because I am kind of the camera nut in the family. So I made Jon take a picture of me and Asher with his hat on and his cable knit sweater. Man that kid is cute!

One Week of Food

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina (Sure hope most American
families eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less junk food than this family.)

Food expenditure for one week $341.98


Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27

Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03


Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

I would love to get your comments on this one and what thoughts went through your mind as you read this.
I thought it was SO interesting. Do you notice that the family size keeps getting bigger but the amount of food decreases or stays the same. It really illustrates the inequalities in the world and how incredibly blessed we are!
Jon and I decided that we wanted to track how much we eat and how much money we spend on food and take a picture. It would be really interesting to get pictures from other people as well-- if you are up to the challenge. I think I'll just keep the empty cartons of what we eat so I don't have to buy all new food. If you want to participate email your picture to me at heatherlady@gmail.com, or if it is too much work to take a picture, how much your family spends on food a week.
Take a minute to be grateful for what you take for granted!

Stiffy Stiffs

Asher has a new "trick". He can do what my dad calls "stiffy stiffs". Basically this one of those dad tricks that are designed to make moms miss a heartbeat. The idea is to hold the baby by the feet and have him balance in your hand. Here is a video of Jon and Asher doing "stiffy stiffs". It scares me!

Also, I FINALLY got a good video of a non-naked Asher rolling over. So here is the real deal.

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

Hat trouble

Today I was getting Asher ready to go to the library- I put his hat on him and then turned my back to put my coat on. He started making crying and fussing sounds and when I looked over, he had knocked his hat down over his eyes.
I fixed it and then went to go get my keys and when I came back- he had done the same thing again! It happened three times within 5 min! I think he was kind of frustrated with his hat!

We knew it-- he is a genius!

My dad told me that I needed to put up some new pictures because the ones I had were of Asher in his first few weeks of life. I agree, so here are the latest pictures of my little nursling.

Asher studying up on his statics and dynamics-- you know just in case.
Loving life in his bouncy chair-- with a deer caught in the headlights look!

Straight from the bath with a new hairdo!

The hair is slightly more under control-- but he looks pretty intimidating in his prison (baseball) getup

Charlie Bit Me!

Okay so I swiped this off of a friend's blog (thanks Danica!) and I just wanted to re-post because it made me laugh so hard. My favorite part is Charlie's diabolical laugh after, it reminds me of something from a cartoon.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM

Sad and Funny Story

Sad part of the story:

On our way back from Idaho we had some car trouble. We were only about 10 min from home (luckily not on the freeway) and had some problems with our transmnission-- our car wouldn't move and made this awful grinding sound. Luckily the Farrells came and resuced us in their Suburban and towed our car back to our house. That was quite an adventure given that it was snowy and dark. But we made it. Jon has fixed part of the problem but it still makes a funny noise, hopefully he will be able to fix it and we won't have to take it in to the shop!



Funny part of the story:

Because our car doesn't work our next door neighbors, who just bought a new car, let us borrow thier minivan 'till ours is fixed. Last week we drove it to Bountiful to visit the Farrells and as we were pulling into Jon's neighborhood we saw one of Jon's high school friends walking out to his car with his baby. Jon was excited to stop and show him Asher, but just as soon as he started to slow down, he changed his mind and instead sped up past his friend. I looked at him in suprise and he just looked straight ahead and said,
"We can't stop, we are in a minivan. I'm not ready to stop in a minivan yet."

I guess a minivan is a long cry away from the Mustang. We'll give him a few years to break into the "minivan stage" of life.

Oh and just for fun here is a cute picture of Asher dressed up to go out in his snow suit
and sleeping with his mountain man dad.

Asher's First Christmas

What at wonderful Christmas we had! We had a wonderful time with the Thomas Family up in Idaho and it was fun to get to see Asher with his Grandpa, Uncle, Aunts, and Grandma. My favorite moment was when my dad turned to me and said "You know I don't mind being a Grandpa so much, I didn't think I'd feel this way about this little boy." It melted my heart:)

Asher didn't pay much attention to any of his presents, in fact he slept through all of the Christmas presents! But here is him reveling in the aftermath.

Anna gave him this little Christmas outfit when he was born. When I looked at it I thought, "boy that won't fit him by Christmas, but we can put him in it and take a picture for Anna." But when we went to put him in it, just ten days later, I was so surprised to see that it fit him perfect! He has been growing so fast. He was back to his birth weight within five days after his birth and had already gained a pound by his 2 week check up!
Jon asked if he was going to keep gaining a pound a week and then stopped and said "Well, I sure hope not because then he'd be 52lbs by next Christmas." Needless to say we'd have to get a new car seat:)