FHE-isms

(Aubrey at temple square)

We had some friends over yesterday afternoon after church for some ice-cream cake and Aubrey was putting on a show as usual. She told them we went bowling on Sunday ( a fib, I promise!) and then she said, "Jesus lives at the temple...the house of the board!" Close enough, right? Guess that FHE lesson from a few weeks back did make an impact.

We've redoubled our efforts in making sure FHE happens every Monday night for us and it has been going well. We're trying to make it a good habit so it won't be so easy to forget or drop off the schedule.

At tonight's family home evening Aubrey said, "Heavenly Father helps me get bigger and stronger and build a house upon a rock!" : ) Gotta love it...

Square Pizza

My brother Jason has been raving about a pizza place right by my childhood home in Independence on the revitalized historic Independence Square. It is appropriately called "Square Pizza" and I was definitely made a believer when we met Jason and his wife Crystal along with my dad there for lunch a few weeks ago. So much delicious cheese ( yes I know I'm lactose-intolerant), and the fresh thick-cut pepperoni was amazing! I'm definitely going back for seconds some time soon : )

ps...its my first time trying out a collage so if you want to see the image bigger just double click! : )

Potty Post

So we took the plunge and decided to potty-train Aubrey. I was too sick in the last part of my pregnancy to deal with it, and have been too busy with Asher the past few months to be able to address it either. We had already experimented with it a little, but as anyone who knows her is aware, she has a mind of her own!

Tuesday we went out and bought her a potty and Tuesday afternoon we gave it a go. She did pretty well, having some accidents as was expected, but we had success too! She got a dum-dum lollipop every time she went potty, and a dora sticker on her "chart"( aka: a piece of 3 hole notebook paper stuck to the fridge!, which she loves by the way...) . It worked great and the next day she only had 3 accidents, 2 of which weren't really her fault. We had the missionaries over and she tried to bring her potty out to show them how she could do it, but of course I had to nix that so we didn't make it back to the room in time.

Day 3 and 4 and 5? PERFECT! She has done amazing and has not had another accident ( knock on wood). It basically took her a day and half to get the hang of it. I couldn't believe it! I was definitely dreading all this business. Let's hope she keeps it up!! She never goes when I ask her to try (of course), but will just drop whatever she's doing and go when she needs to. I was surprised to see her doing it even when we were outside for a little while and she was busy doing other things. She's even been staying dry the last two nights.

I was nervous about taking her to nursery today, because she hasn't wanted to go on the big potty yet, so we had to put her in a pull-up just in case. But she did great and even went to the bathroom with the class and pottied like a champ! I was ecstatic! Sounds funny huh, but all you potty-training moms out there know what I'm talking about : )

So she's loving her princess potty and princess panties...and I'm loving our little "pottigy" , as Steve calls her.

She may not be the same 2 yr old from last week though, because today at dinner she turned down all her chicken and rice so she could eat more spinach, she's a potty pro, and was being extra polite! I could get used to this.... : )

So true...

Asher Pictures

Here are some more Asher pics in no particular order. We've been having a good time with Grandma Redd here and she's been a big help. Aubrey is definitely keeping her busy : ) Today is Asher's due date and I can't believe he is 2 weeks old already!

We took him in for a weight check on Friday and he gained almost a pound since last week's loss. What a chunk...maybe I should lay off the poptarts : ) He is a sweetie and we love him so much.

Grandpa Kent and Asher

Asher on his bili-blanket

Aubrey wanting to lay next to baby brother

Sleepy newborn moments

These are some strawberries/stuffed animal we got as a gift from Steve's department at work. They were delicious : )

Going to the pediatrician's office

My little leaguer

Asher's last day in the hospital. I asked him how he felt about it and apparently he feels

"A-ok!"

Asher Update

So we were supposed to be discharged from the hospital today, but it was a no-go and so I'm still writing this from good ol' room 301 at Centerpoint Hospital.

Asher's blood glucose levels dropped again so the pediatrician wanted to keep him overnight just to make sure they maintained a good level. They think they were probably just low because he got circumcised this morning and they are very lethargic for about 6-8 hrs afterwards and don't eat much.

His levels are good right now, but he's still having to get pricked before and after every feeding. Not too much fun... His little heels are really getting the treatment, but he's a trooper. He is now weighing in at 7lbs 2 oz, but is a great eater! : )

He is also a little jaundiced so at least instead of having to come back up for our 8:15 appt to get his bilirubin checked tomorrow, we'll still be here and can get it all done at once. Hopefully he won't need the bili-blanket like Aubrey did.

Steve is at home with Aubrey tonight, so I'm staying in the hospital with Asher even though they had to discharge me. They are letting me stay on hospitality status.

Hopefully, all will go as planned tomorrow and I'll be taking little Asher home as a 27th birthday present to me! I couldn't think of a nicer birthday present. : )

He's Here!

We are so happy to welcome little ASHER MAX REDD into our family!

(After all, Asher means fortunate, blessed, and happy : )

We arrived at the hospital on Saturday at 12:05 and he born by 1:11 pm! He weighed 7lbs. 12 oz. and was 19" long.

He is a handsome little guy and very content so far : ) Aubrey is in love with her new baby brother and so are we! Here are some pictures....

Asher just relaxin'

Just born...

Mommy, Daddy and Asher

Our new family of four

Big Sister taking care of things

Sweet kisses...

( Asher has a question) : )

Grandma and Papa Kent met us at the hospital and watched Aubrey during the delivery. Thank you sooo much!

3rd Grandchild

Dr. Lemberger, an angry Asher, and our nurse Janine

Hopefully that will satisfy the picture-hungry for now... there will be plenty more to come I'm sure. But right now we're going to work on getting a little more of this!