Sometimes I fail to brag on Mark and his hardwork on our house. If I do it's usually overshadowed by my whining or fussing about how slow it's all going. We closed on our house 2 years ago today. We were hoping to be mostly finished with it at this point, but somedays it's like we're just getting started good. That's ok though. We've had a few changes in plans and the Lord has blessed us in much larger ways. We found out less than a week after closing on the house we were pregnant. New house, new baby, right? Truth be known, we wouldn't have gone through with such a house had we known. In retrospect I can't imagine this place without Asher. He's made this house a home! There's a lot of hugs, kisses, and laughs going on within these walls.
As far as the actual work, Mark has done it all himself. He amazes me. However, he can't finish the foyer until we get our new front door. It got ordered this week and will be installed within about a month. I'm excited because it's one step closer to helping the exterior and boy does it need some help:)
Mark's last project- recessed lighting in the living room
Ok, admittedly Asher's hair was getting too shaggy. I wanted to keep it long, but it definitely needed shaping. So, I decided instead of going to one of those Great Clips kind of places he needed to get used to one person. I made him an appointment with my stylist. I was working, and Mark was off so Mark met me at the place with Asher. I don't know what I thought I was going to do that Mark couldn't. Anyway, Asher climbed up me crying before we even tried getting in the seat. My stylist told me that most kids do better with just Dad. I knew this made sense, but it kind of busted my bubble. I mean, I had rearranged my work schedule so I could be there for my baby. This was like his 4th haircut, but the first in a while. He NEEDED his mommy, right. Wrong! So, I said my good-byes and "left". Really, I just sat in the waiting area and soon he quieted down. Before long my stylist came up and said he was the best child she had ever cut! Of course, I was very pleased. Then, I saw my little toddler waddling around the corner. He had no hair! Well, at least that's the way I perceived it. He looked totally different. It was NOTHING like I wanted, but in the middle of the crying and my big getaway, I didn't have a chance to explain well exactly what I wanted. Poor girl doesn't have ESP. I was horrified because we're having family portraits done at the beach in 3 weeks. Surely, it will be grown out by then. Granted, my child is beautiful no matter what and would be adorable with a buzz. I have been trying to style it in a faux hawk, but it just want stay. 
This past weekend Asher's Grandma (my step-mom) visited. It was a short visit but we had a great time. She was able to go with us to our Sunday School party. We have some cool people in that class, and we always have fun. Asher stole everyone's thunder during one moment in the evening though. He kept going to the tub of drinks and getting out an energy drink. He would tip it up like he was drinking it. He did this over and over and over. I can't tell you how long he entertained himself and us doing this. He was so confident in what he was doing. We finally realized he was drinking the water off the tops (yummy:P). Silly boy!
Not a happy camper when Grandma was leaving.
So, I've been terrible at keeping everyone up to date the last couple of weeks again. I seem to go in spurts. It's because most of the time I use my work laptop that does not have pictures on it. Anyway, this is a week late... Last weekend we had a great visit with our good friends Lance, Pam, Lawrence, and Annabelle. We went to stay with them in Sylva NC. It's a small, cozy corner of the world in the mountains. I would describe it as very charming with its little shops and restaurants. Evidently, it's a Mecca for Floridians.
Lance and Pam have done a great job with their house. It's perched on a little ridge with the best view. I teased them that they lived on a Mountain and referred to it with their last name.
We didn't do a lot except eat out a couple of times (go figure:). We just spent much needed time catching up, and letting the kids play. We had not seen their house since they moved to NC, and we had not had the pleasure of meeting their beautiful addition Annabelle. It was a relaxing time and comforting to be with good friends.
The awesome view
Our good friends
Asher digging in. He LOVES watermelon now!
The boys sporting
thier dinosaur pj's. Asher was totally obsessed with the
doggie vacuum!
Asher had his 15 month well check-up Monday. He had 3 shots but did the best yet. He was never fussy or ill or anything. He did get tired earlier that night, but he was great. Since we had such a great afternoon I thought "oh no, he'll wake up irritable the next morning." He didn't though. In fact he was in a great mood. They're funny little creatures. You never know what to expect. Here are his new stats.
Weight- 21# 4oz.
Height- 30 1/2 inches
He's still little and in about the 10th percentile, but he's healthy nevertheless.
One thing I forgot to get with the doctor about was our teethbrushing habits...or lack of I should say. He's stubborn and doesn't like brushing his teeth, but I don't get too worked up and say it's because he has sore gums from teething. We just keep trying everyday and hope that he dosen't get green teeth like the pirates do (that's for Hayden). Sometimes I think I know too much being a speech therapist. Some parents might hold thier children down and scrub away. I don't want him to be orally defensive (come on you speechies out there) or something then he'll be scared forever and be 20 still not brushing his teeth. I just keep trying to slowly get in that little mouth. Usually it's a 3 second swipe of the brush if I'm lucky. It just kills me! I just pray that God equipped toddlers with some super duper force shield around thier teeth!
Today was the first Father's Day without my Daddy. Wish I could say it's easier since the last post about him, but it's not. I thought of him constantly today. One of the sweetest thoughts I had was during church this morning. Our pastor was telling a story about an 8 year old hospice patient. When his dad asked him if he was scared to go and meet Jesus the little boy said, "Not if He's like you!" I feel the same way. If my Daddy is a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father is then I really can't imagine how great it'll be. I miss Daddy's little grin, his goofy chuckle, and his positve advice.
I'll never forget the words that came from my Daddy's beloved first cousin (more like a sister) when I made the call to tell her he was gone. She said, "Jimmie was so kind. He never did anything wrong!" Now, I don't know if anyone really understands the impact of what she said to me that day. You see, Daddy was a recovering alcoholic, and had been sober for 18 years. She knew him all is life, during some of his darkest days, but still she viewed him that highly. He prevailed in greatness as a person even during the lowest of times. I thought about it, and I suppose she was right. Sure, there were times in my life when I wasn't close to Daddy. It wasn't because of anything he had done wrong. I later discovered that it was a misunderstanding I had of him. He really was a kind person, and I don't know of anything he REALLY did to anyone.
Ultimately, in the last several years, Daddy became one of my best friends. Luckily, I found out 24 hours before he died what made him tick. Not knowing that he was going to die as quickly as he did, he shared his testimony. Daddy had been a Christian since 13.He later rededicated his life as an older adult. I truly believe that it was God's grace that had led Daddy. It's all amazing to me now that he's gone , and the pieces come together. I only pray to be the person Daddy was and to be percieved and loved the way he was!
And don't forget...
Asher's Daddy...
I believe more everyday that women indeed find mates that are like their Dads. Mark has many of the same strengths. He is the best father for Asher and does it so naturally. To be a rather quiet and reserved man, he never holds back his affections for us. He lets us know just how much he loves us. There's never a doubt! I feel so blessed to have him to share our son and our lives together! Happy Father's Day!!!
“As a mother, my job is to take care of what is possible and trust God with the impossible.”--Ruth Bell Graham
The other night I was eating some celery for an evening snack, and Asher decided he wanted some too. I didn't think he would like it or actually be able to eat it since it's so hard and tough. He did though. I honestly don't think he liked it that much. He just like the novelty behind eating something that texture. Who thought eating celery could be fun or cute? It's so great to watch him experience new things!
