just some general cuteness

Asher helping out with the laundry. He's such a good boy!








Apparently Dumbo said something wrong.



But I guess he apologized. He was back in Asher's good graces by the next nap time.


Asher has been sleeping on his tummy a lot lately, but since he still can't figure out how to flip himself back over, he's not near as happy when he wakes up. If he wakes up on his back, he is his usual cooing, charming self. If he wakes up on his tummy...not so happy. But I flip him like a pancake and all is right in his world again. If only it would always be this easy to fix his problems!

A Calling...Not a Competition

This is a phrase used by Amy on her blog, Amy's Humble Musings with regards to motherhood. I want to recommend to you her latest post. It's just some great thoughts on remembering that, as moms, more specifically, as believing moms, we have a scriptural mandate to be encouraging and supportive of one another, regardless of what feeding or sleeping method we personally find best. Just wanted point it out to you and encourage you to read it when you get a minute.

Also, on an unrelated note, I just started using Google Reader, which allows you to enter in all of the blogs or websites that you check and whenever they are updated, it lets you know. So now, instead of clicking on all those blogs to see if you fabulous people have updated, I just go to my list and can tell at a glance if you have. Now I can waste time much more efficiently! Love it! Thanks to the tech-saavy Robin for the suggestion!

Mission: Accomplished

With a lot of help (and a little cheating) I now have 100 comments for my 100th post.

This was the look on Asher's face when I told him that I wanted to get 100 comments.





And this was the look on his face when I told him it actually happened.



Much thanks to all the "humorers of me" out there...you made my 100th post oh so special!

Happy 100th Post!

Even Asher can't contain his joy!

I finally did it. Hours, some wasted, some purposeful, have led me to this moment. This is officially my 100th post.

So, to celebrate, here's what I would really love to happen...I would like to receive 100 comments! Some of you may ask, "Is this just a pathetic, blatent comment solicitation so you can feel loved and important?" In a word--yes.

So if you don't mind, just leave a little shout-out (or 3) in the comment area. I'm not requesting anything long or profound...just a brief, "Thanks for the bright spot that you provide in my day" or "What did I do before I had your blog to read?" or "Could you post about something other than your kid every now and then?" (The answer is "no," by the way.) You don't even have to leave your name--how much easier could this be! Just say "hi" and be about your business.

Come on guys! You don't have to know me or even like me...just humor me :)

***Updated updated update at 11:13 pm: First of all, why am I not asleep??? Secondly, we are almost there! Ok--new rule...I need 4 more comments and I would really like them to be from 4 people who have not yet commented. So if you are reading this and you haven't left your own insightful remark, please feel free to do so!

Special thanks to Kathy, Robin, Susanna, Denise, Lis, and Hilary for the sheer volume of comments they left. I do believe Kathy wins the "Most Posts Left" Award, which she can add to her "Honors and Awards" section on her blog.

Thanks to Aunt Ginny for figuring out how to leave a comment and doing so :)

Thanks to Tye's Grammy for her sweet remarks!

Thanks to my mom for answering the question everyone has always had regarding me..."Why is Jamie like that?'" Now they know.

So 4 more...who will it be???

***Updated update at 5:05: We are almost there. Granted, if I limited each person to one comment, I would still need about 90 more, but this has been fun! Thanks to everyone for humoring me! You guys are the best!

Anyboby else who doesn't usually comment care to get in on the action???****

***Update at 11:21 am on Thursday: Multiple comments from the same person totally counts, so don't think I'm cheating when you find out that most of the "36 insightful remarks" have come mostly from the same 5 people. We are almost half way there...who else has something to share? ***

I can't get enough of this

I am fascinated by the fact that my child sleeps best with Dumbo on his head. I'm sure you feel that I have posted enough "Dumbo on the head" pictures, but I just love them. We try and move it and he just puts it right back. I don't know it it's the feel of warm, plush Dumbo that pleases him so much or the fact that the light is blocked--either way, it's adorable. And I will continue to take an inordinate amount of pictures of him doing this. Because I'm a mom now and I'm allowed to do weird things...it's part of the job description.

Bon Appetit

We've ventured into the wild world of rice cereal! It is definitely a rite of passage that I would have been fine with postponing for a few more weeks, but I've got a hungry boy on my hands, so we introduced this tasty item. He's still not real sure about it, but each feeding gets a little better. Allow me to guide you through the latest meal:



"Ummm....How come I'm not sucking on anything?"



"Not real sure about the texture, but I think I want some more."



"Hey, can I see that thing for a minute? I think I can take it from here."


"Oh, yeah. That's good stuff."


"I so have this eating thing down! Did I get any on my face?"



"And now I need a nap."


In other news...

Asher realizes that he just rolled over again...and he is not very pleased with himself.

And this is for you, John. You called it--you ended up on my blog. And a little part of you is glad, isn't it?

Rock On

My blogging friend, Denise, bestowed me with this very prestigious award :) So thanks, Denise! I'm honored!

And now I'm supposed to pass it on to 5 other blogging girls who rock. But here's the problem...I only know rockin' girl bloggers. So how could I pick just 5? So I'm passing it on to all my rockin' girl blogger friends and I have included one of the many reasons why I find them "rockin'"

Robin, because she takes great pictures and puts them on her blog and because she wears fun socks and shoes (which she takes pictures of and puts on her blog.)

Kathy, because she is the reason I even knew about blogs and she has a great mix of insightful, thoughful, and fun posts.

Bethany, because she is so good about putting up videos on her blog of her super-cute little guy, Tye.

Laura, because she lets us know how many days left until Harry Potter comes out and she's my Babywise guru :)

Lis, because she makes me aware of the all-natural, organic world through her posts and because Asher has the hots for Lilly.

Sarah, because we've been friends a really long time and maybe this will make her add a blogroll to her blog and put me on it :)

Silvia, because she has the cutest blog layout that I have ever seen.

Rebecca, because she is a very cute pregnant mama and because she inspires me in the domestic arts!

Becca, because she is also a very cute pregnant mama, and she is great about keeping the blog updated with Baby Kendall news.

Susanna, because her posts usually make me laugh because they are exactly the type of thing that I would have written and because we will try out for Wheel of Fortune together one day.

Mandy, because I love reading her posts for their humor and honesty and because her kids are really adorable!

Karen, because she is learning Russian and still manages to find time to blog!

Hilary, even though her blog is private (for now) she has just ventured into the blog world and she is doing a great job! Go public, Hil, so everyone can read about your adventures in H.E.B.!

So there they are! To all of the recipients, pass on the award as you see fit...and thanks for rockin'.

What I've Been Thinking About #2

Here's what I've been thinking about...

Have you seen that report that comes out every few years where someone lists all of the jobs that moms do and then what each of the salaries are for those jobs and then adds it all up to find out what a mom "should" be paid for all that she does. While I do see the point they are trying to make, I find it a little frustrating.

I refuse to feel like I need to justify Kris' and my choice for me to be a stay-at-home mom by saying, "See! I really am worth a lot even though it doesn't look like it! Look at all the stuff that I do!"

Actually, I'm not a psychologist, a nurse, a chauffeur, a personal shopper, a therapist, a maid, a cook, or whatever else is on that list. Of course, I try to find out what's wrong when my baby cries, I give him medicine if he's sick, I take him were he needs to go, I buy him what he needs to have, I just listen to him go on and on about his day (albeit, in a language I don't quite know), I clean up after him, and I make him food--but I think trying to "label" it all, even for the purposes of showing how much goes into mothering, somehow degrades it. Like it's only important or worthwhile if you can point out the marketability of it. I don't need a bunch of titles to make me feel better about doing what I love and doing what our cultures honors in word, but despises in attitude and deed.

Granted, moms do lots of things. I'm sure, as Asher grows, my skill set will grow as well. But I'm not getting those lame business cards printed up that list all of the hats I wear just so I can prove to the world that what I do matters. I'm not going to glory in the fact that, were I to receive a paycheck for what I do, it would be six figures. Who cares? That is applying the world's value system to a biblical calling. That's something that never ends well.

So, people who write dumb articles that try to assure me that I really am special, stop. I get all of the accolades I need from a husband who prizes me above all other women and a sweet little boy who can't stop drooling over me (ok, really ON me, but whatever.)

My Cup Runneth Over

Change is good

New look for the blog.

New songs on the playlist. (check out "loving a person" and "the love of God")

New spring in my step.

(I like things to be in groups of three so I had to make up the last one.)

"Husbands and wives should be as two sweet friends, bred under one constellation, tempered by an influence from heaven whereof neither can give any reason, save mercy and providence first made them so, and then made their match, saying, see, God hath determined us out of this vast world for each other."

--Daniel Rogers (17th century Puritan)

Another First!

Today, Asher and I went swimming with Lilly and Max (and their moms!) We had so much fun! It was Asher's first time in a pool and he took to it (I'll just go ahead and say it even though it's corny) like a fish to water! He was very relaxed in the water and seemed to be enjoying himself. In most of the pictures his face is covered by that big hat but I didn't want my baby burned! We slathered on the SPF and kept the hat and onesie on!


He looks a little pink in this one, but I promise it is just his skin tone. He thankfully did not get pink at all! The last thing I need is a 5 month old with a sunburn!


It was lots of fun! We can't wait to swim again (hint, hint) ;)

Setting the Record Straight

Earlier I reported to you that Asher's length was measured at 23.5 inches. When the nurse told me that, it didn't sound right to me, but for some reason I didn't question it (not sure why because usually I am the queen of questioning things.)

This morning, Kris got out the tape measure to see for ourselves and a conservative measurement would be 25.5 inches, possibly 26 though. I reinacted the event for the purposes of photojournalism:



I started at his head and then, without moving the tape measure...


I measured down to his feet. At least 25.5 inches, right?

So now I really want to go back up to the doctor's office and have that nurse re-measure him. But then I'd be "that" mother who is obsessed with percentiles. And they might take my picture and put it on their "crazy moms to watch out for" board.
But it really bugs me that on his chart it shows that he is shorter than he is. I guess I'm just really passionate about not cheating him out of one ounce or inch!

So what do I do? Blow it off or call for a recount? I know it's not a huge deal, or even a moderately sized deal, but a little accuarcy would be nice.

Obnoxious Playlist That You Don't Have To Listen To

No offense towards anyone that has music playing the second you click on their blog, but I really can't stand that. The first thing I do is scroll down to find where the music is coming from and hit "stop."

But I really like music...just not when it's forced on me. I like to be the one to push "play."

Hence the playlist that will not automatically start playing when you visit my blog. If you so choose, you may push "play" to hear a few of my favorite songs. Or, if you would rather read the sheer fascniation that is "the blog of Jamie" in contemplative silence, then you may retain that option. I give the power to you. And you are welcome.

I'm not finished putting songs on there, but here are a few to get you started. If anyone would like to hear the song that I said is my all-time favorite that isn't a hymn, "Dancing in the Moonlight," it is on there. Enjoy. And be sure to let me know when you decide it is now your favorite song because I promise that might happen.

Prisoner Alert

The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is an organization dedicated to aiding Christians who are being persecuted around the world. They do this through many ways, such as meeting the physical needs of believers in hostile areas, helping the families of church leaders who have been imprisoned, and making believers in the USA aware of how we can help our brothers and sisters who are sharing in the sufferings of Christ daily (just to name a few of the ways they help.)

I mention all of this to tell you one of the ways that you can be involved. VOM has a service called "Prisoner Alert" and it inables you to receive updates via email of prisoners in various countries. They give you some background on the believer that is being held, let you know how to pray for them, and provide you with the ability to actually "write" them a note of encouragement in their own language and/or write to the government to bring attention to their situation.

By logging on to Prisoner Alert, you can sign up to receive these emails. It is a practical way to reach out to fellow believers and let them know that, as members of the Body of Christ, we stand with them.

Percentile Schmentile...Do I look worried?

Asher went to the doctor today (who we really liked--thanks Laura!) Would you believe that this chunk of a baby is still only in the 5th percentile for height and weight? (Meaning that out of 100 babies Asher's age, he is only bigger than 5 of them.) He weighed 15 lb. 7 oz. and was 23.5 inches long. However, considering he got 6 weeks less of cooking time, I think that is pretty impressive. He's holding his own for sure!

What's funny is that, for head circumference, he is in the 25th percentile! The doctor was really funny. She said, "So if he seems a little top heavy...that's because he is." He does have quite the melon. But seriously, could he BE any cuter? I think not.

A few (minor) changes

If you have scrolled down a bit, you may have noticed that I reorganized my link list. Organizing is a newfound joy to me, and nothing is off limits. Hence the new category of people I don't have permission to link to but whose blogs I love to read. There are only 3 there now, but that's just because I'm not being very forthcoming.

All 3 are great, but Soule Mama may be my favorite just because that is exactly the style of decorating and living that I love, but am unable to acheive in my own home. I love vintage fabric and decor and clothes. I love things that look old and well-loved. So I read her blog for inspiration and hope that one day, I'm "that" girl--the cute, funky one with the curiously charming sense of style :)

Lovey

The way I approach books on babies is sort of the way one might approach a buffet (if I ever went to one, which I don't.) I pick and choose what I like and leave the rest. I think I read about 4 books on how to get your baby to sleep (I liked Babywise the best...just FYI) but in all of them were great little tidbits that I have found to be helpful.

One of them is the use of a "lovey," as Kim West calls it in her book Good Night, Sleep TIght. A lovey is just a small stuffed animal or blanket, or in Asher's case, a combination of both that the child sleeps with and uses to self-soothe as he or she falls asleep.



Asher has grown rather fond of his lovey--a stuffed "dumbo" with a tiny, super soft blanket that Uncle Sean and Aunt Mindy got for him. He sucks on his ear or nose, and then falls asleep with it in his arms. Very sweet! Of course, that is a germ-factory in the making, so it will be washed often, but I still think he looks just precious with it and I wanted to share a few pictures. Sorry they are a little dark...it was naptime and I didn't want to use the flash.

And in case you are wondering, that thing he is sleeping on is a little wedge that keeps his upper body slightly elevated to help his slight case of acid reflux. He usually wiggles off of it during the night and several times, we have come in to find his feet propped up on the wedge...still not sure how he accompished that!

What I've Been Thinking About #1

I've decided to start a little series here on the ol bloggity blog. I do not promise it will be thought-provoking, original, or even mildly entertaining. But it will be what has been rolling around in my mind or what Kris and I have been mulling over as we try to figure it all out. Here is number one...

I've been thinking about what a blessing it is to be born to believing parents. As we take Asher to the gathering of the Beloved (we are trying to eliminate using the word "church" as a location versus a people) I think about how he really has no right to be there, but gets to partake in (some of)the blessings of the Church...let me explain!

First of all, none of has a "right" in and of ourselves to be there. We are believers because God opened our blind eyes and gave us hearts of flesh in place of those stones we were so fond of. He chose us and GAVE us the right to become His children...it's not something we have apart from His work within us. But what I mean by Asher not having a right is that, as of now, he is not a believer. God has not shown him his need and granted him repentance. The fact that he is a 5 month old has a lot to do with this, obviously, but my point is this: As an infant, Asher is getting many of the benefits that believers get by virtue of who his parents are, that is, believers.

He gets to hear the Word preached, he gets to join in on the songs of praise, he gets to have the Scriptures opened to him at home, he gets to be in fellowship with other believers...not because he himself is one, but because Kris and I are.

I'm not saying that children of unbelievers have no hope...they do. I'm not saying Asher will be saved because we bring him to gather with the Church...he won't (grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone.) I'm just saying that the Lord is being very good to Asher by allowing him access to the blessings of the Church while he still not yet a part of it. We pray fervantly that one day, God will grant him repentance and that he will have faith with which to profess Christ as his Savior and Lord.

And until that day, Lord willing, we will continue to bring Asher with us as we assemble with the Body of Christ until we no longer call him just "son" but "brother" as well.

I do not like the 4th of July.

Although Asher looks adorable in his red, white, and blue, and had a ton of fun hanging out with friends on his first Independence Day and although I am super grateful that we enjoy a realtive degree of freedom here, I do not care for the foolishness that accompanies this holiday (or most holidays for that matter.)

And let me tell you why. Because I don't like loud noises. I really don't like them when I have a sleeping 5 month old. Unfortunately, we live in a neighborhood full of people who pretty much live for this day. They clear out their bank accounts and go to the little firework trailers and buy them out of the loudest, most obnoxious firecrackers they sell and come back to our street and pop them.

So at about 10:00 last night, I couldn't take it anymore. I was losing my mind!!!! Kris saw that I was about one roman candle away from forever being known as the crazy lady that went ballistic on everyone on July 4th.

Asher does a "dream feed" around that time and the whole time he was eating, he would startle a little from all of the noise. I seriouly couldn't handle it. My blood pressure was rising and I wanted to attack someone. So Kris decided (more for my benefit than Asher's) that we should go to my parent's house (an hour and a half away.) So we did. And I slept great. And so did Asher. And apart from all of the firecracker refuse that remains in front of our house, which will be cleaned up by the neighbors (oh yes it will, I promise) all is well again.

And now for some (what we now know are) "killdeer" news...they hatched!


This is one of them (there are 4, but, sadly, one is unaccounted for.)


I was walking out to take a picture and Mama Bird was chirping wildly. Apparently she was tell Baby Bird "Play dead! Play dead!" because this is what the bird did...


Much to the chagrin of many, I'm sure, this will be the last "driveway eggs" update. It's been fun, but it is now bordering on weird. So I'm stopping.


If that announcement makes any of you feel like this...





...do not despair, because I will continue to post about this baby bird :)

8 Random Facts (Not to be confused with "6 Weird Things")

I was tagged by Denise.
Here are the rules:- I have to post these rules before I give you the facts. Each participant posts eight random facts about themselves. Tagees should write a blogpost of eight random facts about themselves. At the end of the post, eight more bloggers are tagged. Go to their blog, leave a comment telling them they're tagged.

And now for my randomocity:

1. I love getting things monogrammed. If I could afford to have everything I own monogrammed, I would probably do it.

2. I took 3 semesters of geology in college because I thought "Rocks for Jocks" would be the easy science (Did I mention I'm also an overacheiver?) but I got a "C" all 3 times. And I remember nothing.

3. The only way I will eat marshmallows is if they are charred to a crisp over a fire. Otherwise, I refuse to eat them because they give me a headache. I do, however, LOVE the fake marshmallows that come in Lucky Charms and hot chocolate packets.

4. I can say all of the US presidents in order in under 10 seconds.

5. My first job was wrapping Christmas presents at the mall when I was in high school.

6. My favorite song in the whole wide world (that isn't a hymn) is "Dancing in the Moonlight" by King Harvest.

7. My favorite time of day is dusk. I love it when there is still a little light, but a little dark, too.

8. I used to color code my closet and rotate my outfits so as not to wear the same thing too often and then I got pregnant and had a baby and could not care less now.


OK--there they are! Now it's my turn. I tag...

Bethany (when she returns from Guatemala)
Laura
Lis
Robin
Rebecca
Kathy
Susanna
Becca

Can't wait!

Driveway Eggs Update and More!

For everyone who has been wondering, or as I like to call her, Robin, here is an update on the status of the driveway eggs...they aren't scrambled yet.

I am pleased to provide you with some pictures of Mama Bird courtesy of my dad.


Here we find her in the rare position of actually protecting the eggs she so carelessly placed in what may be the worst spot ever to build a nest.



My mom did a little research and seems to think that she is a "plover" (the bird...not my mom.) Sure. Why not? Let's say a plover.

So just to recap: Eggs still incubating, Mama Bird still a little flighty :)

And now for some good news...






We were able to spring him.


He's just glad to be home.

Thanks, Uncle Sean, for the cute hat :)