8 Months

Asher man is eight months old, which is hard to believe.  We have been beyond busy, but having a lot of fun.  It sure doesn't leave much time for blogging, though.  I am still trying to update as much as I can!  Asher is not much of a baby anymore.  He is just a few months away from being a full out TODDLER.  The kid wants to GO GO GO!  He is happy but very busy at the same time.  At 8 months Asher:
1.  Has two bottom teeth.  He hasn't been sleeping very good, but at least we have two teeth down and about a million to go ha ha.  I will miss that gummy grin!
2.  Is walking!  He can take up to 6/7 steps before crashing back onto his bottom.  He is so proud of himself and will stand by himself for several minutes just waving his arms and talking.  He lives to walk.
3.  Is saying a new word: YAY!  He says this after knocking down block towers especially.  He is saying a lot of high pitch things, but one time we caught clear as day him saying, "Asher lost!" while they were playing the  quiet game.
4.  Has a very different relationship with Cora and Eli.  It has been wonderful to watch their relationships grow, and I was always afraid he and Eli might not be very close because they are over 4 years apart, but that is definitely NOT the case.  Asher has a sweet bond with both the kids and is so happy to see them.  He loves to play hide and seek, dance, tag, or ball with the kids.
5.  Is throwing and rolling balls.  He loves balls and will now sit on the floor and play ball with the big kids.  It is adorable!
6.  Has created his own form of crawling with one leg forward and one leg back.  He can't get very far or very fast, but he does make his way across the room eventually.  I have to be extra cautious that small toys or food don't get left on the floor.
7.  Is eating more variety and we have added a couple finger foods to his diet, which he LOVES.  He's had puffs and these teething rice crackers.
8.  Weighs about 17.5 lbs, which can get pretty darn heavy after holding him for a while.

7 Months

My buddy is seven months old and as rolly polly adorable as ever!  We all enjoy his happy temperament and snuggly self!  He loves to be apart of everything we do in our lives from playing hide and seek with the big kids to snuggling with us in bed.  At seven months Asher is:

1.  Drooling and chewing on everything.  I will not be surprised to see a tooth popping through soon!

2.  Weighing around 17 lbs.   

3.  Getting into EVERYTHING in sight.  I have no idea how a non-mobile child manages this, but somehow he does.  If you're carrying him, he is grabbing for everything he can reach for (on the counter, tables, etc.).  He grabs the kids toys, and loves paper and wrappers.  He will definitely be one of those kids that you will never be able to let out of your eyesight.  

4.  Loving the guitar and music.  He bounces and swings his arm to the music and loves playing the guitar with us.  

4.  Laughing like crazy at his funny siblings and still as ticklish as always.

5.  Giving slobbery open mouth kisses and hugs.  I love them!

6.  Sitting without help and standing unassisted for a few seconds at a time. 

7.  Taking a few steps.  This boy is ready to run!

8.  Taking three naps a day.

9.  Eating a wide variety of veggies and fruits, but particularly likes cereal and and mixed concoctions.  

10.  Saying "Mama", "Dada", and "Nana"

11.  Pulling hair like crazy.  He grabs Cora's especially.  The other day at church I was carrying him and didn't notice he had grabbed some ladies hair and I just kept walking and practically ripped it out.  Oops!  

12.  Having separation anxiety :-(  I really don't like this aspect of childhood.  He has just started crying or whining if someone else holds him, especially if he can see me.  He is great for Brandon if he is babysitting, but NOT at bedtime.  Bedtime he wants "MAMA!"

13.  Starting to throw some little fits.  He will grunt really loud if he wants something or someone.  It is adorable!    

Texas

Our trip to Texas was a wonderful get away!  Twelve hours total in the car and no crying or whining thanks to the portable DVD players the kids got for Christmas from Nana :-)!  We all had an absolute blast spending Christmas with the Judson family.  We spent a lot of time just letting the kids play with Gavin at the house (he and Eli are best buddies) but we also went to Bonkers play place, went on a real train ride mimicking the Polar Express book/movie (they even had a snow machine making it snow over our heads as we got on the train), went out to eat, exchanged presents, played games, and enjoyed a white Christmas.  All the kids did wonderfully!  We haven't really done a big trip since Asher was born with the whole family, so it was a pleasant surprise to realize how easy it is getting now that the kids are older.  Most everybody hadn't seen Asher since he was a newborn, and two of Brandon's brothers had never met him or seen the other kids in a year, so it was a joy for everyone to get to know them better.  It was just the vacation we all needed and it felt so refreshing to get away for a week and celebrate the birth of Jesus with our family.