Firstborn

So much has been happening these past few months, I feel like I'm just now able to catch my breath.  And in a few more months things are going to get even crazier!  One thing I've noticed that has been on both my and David's mind has been how worried we are about Asher once the twins are born.  Asher is used to being an only child, and while he absolutely loves other kids, we aren't sure how much he'll love having them living in our house 24/7.

So I feel like I have to take every opportunity now to enjoy the crap out of spending time with my firstborn while he has me all to himself! He is such a good kid and we really did get lucky having such a spunky, loving, and adventurous child to enjoy these last few years.  Here's just a few things I want to remember about Asher right now:

• His talking has improved sooooo much compared to where he was last year!  He loved speech therapy and it really helped me be able to help him.  Now he loves to tell me lots of stories and narrate everything he does and (a little to my dismay) copies words and phrases that he hears.  Yesterday he came up to me and said "Mama, I have a problem."  Other phrases he likes to use are "Oh my gosh!", "Don't be naughty", and "Good job!".  It makes me sad that he's starting to lose his baby talk and pronounces words more correctly.
• He is such a good boy at heart!  He loves to say no when you tell him to do something, and will sometimes throw a tantrum, but usually does what you want without too much more whining.  At the park he was starting to get too far away from where I was sitting, so I yelled over for him to come back.  The mother sitting next to me thought it was funny that even as he was saying no, he was walking back over and doing what he was told.  I explained that that's the 3 year old in him wanting to be naughty, but his good nature to listen to me!  He also doesn't want anyone to be sad.  If I ever want him to give me a hug, I'll just tell him that I'm sad and a hug will make me happy.  It's a little manipulative, but it works every time!  When I take Millie outside to go to the bathroom, he says that Millie is sad because she has to go potty, but when I take her outside I'm making her happy!  He just wants everyone to be happy!
• He likes to help me clean.  Not pick up his toys, because that would be silly, but if I'm ever wiping things down he'll grab a disinfecting wipe and get right next to me to help clean!  If I'm doing dishes, he'll grab dishes from the table and bring them over.  When I was setting up our crib, he was right there helping me hold stuff and screwing things in.  He loves to go get things for me or David while we're doing stuff.  Or if we're feeling lazy and don't want to get up to get things.
• Still loves cars.  I know any present I get him that has wheels he will love.  Which is why we have a bajillion cars in our house.  And he's not big into coming up with creative names.  The names of his cars are Blue Car, School Bus, Tractor, etc.  The only cars that have real names are the cars that look like cartoons.  He has a semi he calls Mack (from Cars).  And he knows all the names of the Thomas trains.  And the cars from Blaze.

He is just a real goof ball and always makes me laugh!  I hope he'll always keep that quality!  It'll be a big adjustment when the twins are born, but I think he will actually like it.  And I'm pretty positive these babies will absolutely love their big brother!  

I bought this floaty toy awhile ago, and while I was cleaning Asher found it.  He kept asking to go swimming, but this was the best I could do.  He didn't seem to mind and had a blast!  Even if it was a little squishy.

Last Sunday he came up to me and announced that he had his shoes and necklace on, so he was ready for church!

Yesterday Asher told me to lay down on the couch (I didn't complain).  He then picked the flowers from off our Christmas tree and put them in my hair and told me I was pretty.  Then he tried to cut my nails (which I was too nervous to let him do).  Then he got a candy cane (which he calls candle cans) and force-fed it to me to help me feel better!  After that, he said my teeth were yucky and went and got my toothbrush and toothpaste and had me brush my teeth.  He's very good at taking care of others!

I got on the computer to write this post.  He put the glasses on me.  Then the headphones.  He's very helpful.

  

Asher did my hair.  Then he moved on to Millie.  Don't worry, if Millie really hated it she would've just got up and left. 

Asher loves that we are getting out all the baby stuff.  And I still think he has the best laugh around!

My sister kept asking for a baby bump picture.  This was me at 16 weeks.  I have to really not think about how much time I have left to go in this pregnancy.  But everyone is healthy and that's the most important part, right???

David playing in the West Jordan community orchestra.  He almost forgot about this concert, and it's a good thing he didn't!  He was 1 of 2 cellists.  It was a fun little Christmas concert!  I'm more excited about his next concert, though.  Messiah sing along!