last week

This past week started off with LOTS of sewing. My mom and I worked on two different projects: Asher's dragon costume and a shopping cart cover. (Have you noticed how gross those carts are? Asher and I both refuse to touch them without a good Clorox wipe swipe.) We did our best to keep little man occupied while we sewed...

He watched some Einstein

Played with hats like a silly boy (love the diaper hat!)

And finally joined in on the action...

Every Wednesday, Asher and I meet up with friends from church, Lindsay & Faith, and head to the library for a "Baby & Me" story/activity group. We were lucky to have grandma with us this time! Asher could basically care less about all the songs- he is mostly there to be around all the other babies (his very favorite activity). He and Faith also raid the toy box and regulate who gets what toys...hahaaa!!

On Friday, we headed out to MacDonald's Ranch to visit the pumpkin patch. (Well, as close to a pumpkin patch as we were gonna get in AZ!) I personally could have done with a little less animal poop stench.

Here is Asher at the petting zoo, gettin a good look at a donkey...

And attacking the ear of a very friendly billy goat...

More pumpkin patch fun:

Afterwards we had lunch at The Horny Toad where Asher occupied himself for the ENTIRE hour eating his weight in canteloupe and crackers. (He is sitting on the cart cover Mom & I made.)

Asher had lots of fun with his grandma this week & we miss her already...

Without further delay, I give you: Halloween Costumes 2008...

Dwight & Angela (The Office)

and (sleepy) Dragon Baby!

visit from g-ma b.

Grandma Bartlett came to visit me. We had lots of fun. My toy & book collection doubled. We took a zillion pictures...more of those to come.

LOVE YOU GRANDMA! -XOXO Asher.

quick pics

Asher has re-discovered his tongue. He is completely fascinated by it- I think he likes feeling his sharp little tooth with it. He also thinks it's funny when anyone else sticks their tongue out!

Tried spaghetti & turkey meatballs for the first time. I'm not sure that much made it into his mouth, but he liked it anway.

The weather has been great (although it is starting to warm up again), so we've taken advantage of sweater season by going on lots of walks.

I just thought these were funny...

"Seriously Mom?! MORE pictures??" I know, I know...I just can't get over his little boy cute-ness!

8 months

This past week I have been feeling rather anti-bloggish. Not that I don't enjoy reading about everyone else's happenings, just that I feel like I have nothing super exciting to share. Asher is, as always, so darn cute and growing & learning at an alarming rate, but whenever I go to take pictures they all end up looking like every other picture I take of him. Does that make sense?? I would like to be able to photograph my little family as well as this gal- I look forward to her online classes in January. (hint to Nate) For those who are in a hurry to get the scoop, skip over the stuff in small print and read on! :)

Ok, so actually, I feel like I am having a mini self-crisis. I suddenly have too many interests (sewing, photography, digiscrapping, blogging) and not enough time to do those fun things AND be a loving, creative mom, super wife & household manager...and I only have one baby!! AAAHH! Obviously I know where my priorities lie (wife & mom), but that doesn't necessarily make the task of balancing everything easier. Not to mention that I really should start working out, cooking healthier and be more consistant with scripture reading... Because I can't do it all, I have opted to do the bare minimum, and it is SOOOO bumming me out. I am stuck in a rut and can't seem to get out of it. Don't worry though! I will pull through, I promise!

After a month or so of debate & research, Nate and I decided to trade the Civic in on an '06 Audi A4. The Civic was needing some expensive work done & had lots of miles on it- it was becoming a liability. We got a great deal on the Audi- it only had 17,000 miles and was like new! It is way fun to drive- did I mention it's a Turbo? woo hoo!

Nate wouldn't want me to tell you, but he has lost 50lbs since the beginning of August! I am so proud of him- he has shown incredible discipline. We're hoping he wins "The Biggest Loser" competition at work (it ends this Friday), because the grand prize is approx $1500! Way to go Natey!
We were all pretty sick this weekend- Asher had an ear & sinus infection, but he is on the mend thanks to his yummy antibiotics. (Seriously- that stuff tastes awesome.) I am feeling better too, but Nate is a bit worse...it's making me wish he and I had an established PCP as most new patient waits are at least three weeks out.

Monday night I attended a sewing 101 class with my friend Tiffany. I'm on my way! Someday I would like to be as good as the designers on Project Runway...maybe start designing wedding dresses- how fun would that be?! For now, my first official project was very low key. A burp cloth. Not to shabby, eh? My next project will be Halloween customes (with LOTS of help from my mom) & a shopping cart cover like this but more boy appropriate.

Fall is here at last! It has finally cooled off from the low 100's to the mid 80's, which in Arizona is a big deal! Like so many of you, Fall is my favorite season. It brings all kinds of good change. Asher is now 8 months old- can you believe it? We're already starting to get questions about baby #2. (Um, we're working on it. If you recall, it took a while the first time around. haha!) Yes, we would like half a dozen more, just like this one: