Blessed Beyond Measure: The A Team Week 6: Making Progress?

This week was a bit of a mixed bag. There was a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, but also a little heart ache. I am thrilled that Asher and Eric have gotten so close in the past couple of months. With my pregnancy being so uncomfortable and now having a new baby to care for, I cannot give Asher the amount of attention that he received prior to Avery's arrival. Still, with Asher and Eric truly becoming two peas in a pod, sometimes it feels like there is no longer room for me. This week that became much more evident as my little guy literally pushed me away. Every night, Eric and I take turns putting Asher to bed, reading stories with him and saying our night time prayers. This week though, when it was my turn to read to him Eric would have to go and hide upstairs or Asher would throw a fit that he wanted Daddy to read to him instead. :( On one of the days that Asher was home with Avery and I, Eric ended up coming home for lunch as I was getting Asher ready to take a nap. He wanted Daddy to read to him so badly that he actually pushed me out of his bedroom. Although I do understand and can appreciate the bond they share, it hurts. I suppose it is actually progress...the first step of many to become an independent man one day and cutting the cord from Mommy, but did it have to come so soon?...ouch!

On a lighter side with Asher, we are also making progress in the big brother department. One day this week he came home from daycare with Eric, ran into the living room where I was holding Avery, looked at me and asked, "Honk Avery?" (He wanted to "honk" Avery's nose) I looked at him and said, "no, you cannot 'Honk Avery', but thank you for asking!"...progress at least he asks now before he tortures his baby bro! ;)

As for Avery, he continues to make progress as well. I have been limiting my dairy intake to only the morning and early afternoon to help with his gassy issues in the evening. Although I wish I could say it wasn't helping (only so that I could have milk with dinner and my evening ice cream), it does seem to be helping and he is going to sleep at night much easier and continues to sleep great during the night.

So, besides the progress we've made this week, what else happened?...

We enjoyed a GORGEOUS Fall day to start the week with temperatures in the upper 70's! Avery and I bummed out at home as typical for Mondays and then that evening we enjoyed some family time outside grilling a chicken dinner and emptying our pumpkins for future carving (Eric did most of that work...Asher wanted nothing to do with the slimy goo and I was busy with dinner and Avery for much of the time).

Hanging out in the gym for Auntie Julie & Uncle Dave.

Eric working on our pumpkins

Avery enjoying the beautiful fall evening

Asher avoiding pumpkin duty and dunkin' it.

Seed collecting

On Tuesday, we enjoyed a great day at home and at the Laillet house playing with friends...

Asher & Theo playing with Theo's train set

Story time.

Peek-a-boo behind the curtains (thanks for the picture Britni!)

...and carving our pumpkins in the evening.

Our final result.

Asher was quite reluctant to leave the pumpkins outside, so the littlest one made its way back into the house with us.

Wednesday was another lazy day at home with this guy...

...and Thursday was a not so lazy day at home with these guys:

Asher helping Avery with tummy time.

Asher & I discovered Daddy's Micro Machine collection and had a good time playing in the Kitchen. (They are so cute!) ;)

On Thursday night, Asher was rewarded for eating all of his dinner. Now that he is a toddler, he is not nearly as good an eater as he used to be. Sometimes he eats great, but other times we can't get him to eat even things that we know he likes. At times, I let it go because I know he is probably still full from a big lunch or something, but when he constantly asks for treats and then doesn't want dinner, I know something is up. Usually, when we reward him after dinner it is with some fruit, but tonight I decided to give him a special treat: chocolate pudding! He was (obviously, as seen below) a big fan!

When Asher was done with his pudding he asked for more. Since there was still quite a bit in the bowl, Eric taught him how to lick out the bowl...I told Eric that he just volunteered himself for clean-up duties.

The aftermath.

Video: Simmer Down Now

As Asher's vocabulary continues to grow, he copies pretty much everything that we say, and we hear new words from him every day. This week one of the things I kept hearing Asher say was "naughty". He'd say his toys were naughty, Emma was naughty, etc. I wasn't sure where he got it from, but after talking to Eric discovered that Eric often tells him that Emma is being naughty. Asher LOVES to copy things that he hears Eric say (& I have to remind him of this constantly, to try to keep Asher's vocabulary limited to words I am okay coming from his mouth). Knowing this fact though, Eric will purposely say things in hopes that Asher will copy, and this evening after saying "Simmer Down Now" and Asher copying it, Eric couldn't wait to try to get it on video.

Finally, it was Friday and we were shocked with the departure of our Indian Summer temperatures and the arrival of winter-like weather, complete with the sight of snowy roofs when we awoke that morning.

The view from one of our upstairs windows.

Avery and I enjoyed the morning snuggled up on the couch together.

Video: Smiley Guy

Video: COLD Fall Day

Eric sent me this video of the Kenosha harbor. Normally the water level is a good 10 feet below these walls, but with the amazingly strong winds that accompanied that freezing temperatures this day, it looked like this instead.

As the late morning/afternoon approached, Avery and I motivated and braved the cold and bitter wind to get some groceries. Today was not only Friday, but also Halloween and we were going to be met with guests soon as Eric's parents were coming to spend the weekend with us and our friends were joining us for dinner after trick-or-treating. Since it was going to be a chilly walk going from door-to-door collecting candy, I wanted to make a nice warm stew to have for dinner and a fall dessert to enjoy afterwards. For dessert I was determined to make this: Caramel Apple Mousse Cake It.Was.AMAZING!). It took some work to find a spice cake mix for the dessert (Eric's parents ended up finding it at Woodman's for me), but I did find everything else and then headed home to get things going. When I got home I found that the wind had blown a portion of our fence over, and I joked that I was hoping the rest of it would blow over so that our neighbor would replace it for her dogs (she put up new fences on all other sides of her property this year). Anyway, as I was on a mission and time crunch, I headed inside to get dinner going. Juggling dinner, caring for Avery and dealing with the fact that the city turned off my water was not easy, but I did it and before I knew it, Eric's parents had arrived for their visit.

The Caramel Apple Mousse Cake End Result...as I said, it was awesome!

Soon after Eric's parents arrived, Eric came home with Asher. Since Eric has connections at the nearby fire department, his dad asked if he could take Asher over there. The three of them went together to tour the place and I was told by Eric that he wasn't sure who had more fun, Asher or his dad.

Future Fireman?

At about the same time that Eric, his dad and Asher returned, our friend Britni arrived with the kids to go Trick-or-Treating. Her husband Fab unfortunately was not able to make it as his flight home after a week away for work was delayed due to the weather. Also due to the bitterly cold and windy weather, we decided to leave the babies at home with Eric's parents and just take Asher and Theo out for the candy-collecting.

Eric's Mom and Britni's little sailor, Lilou

Our little dino, Asher

Asher, Britni and Theo (who was also a sailor, but the weather didn't allow you to see his costume)

Trick or Treat! ...this house had someone dressed kind of scary at the door and Theo wouldn't go anywhere near it. I couldn't help but think, "Know your audience...they are 2!"

Only at the end of our street and already pretty cold!

A happy (but cold) boy and his candy!

After a walk around the block (literally, it was too cold!), we headed back home to warm up. The church across the street from us was having a trunk-or-treat in their parking lot, so we decided to warm up and brave the cold one more time to check it out. This time though, the boys got to ride in the wagon covered with a heavy blanket, and we simply pulled them from car to car...talk about having it easy! :) I shouldn't talk though. Although I remember several VERY COLD Halloweens, growing up in the U.P., since I lived in a small town we would walk down the one, small main street and then my mom would drive us from house to house after that (because most "neighbors" were at least a 1/4 mile away!)...ahhhh life in the country! ;)

Avery all snug & warm in Grandma M's arms!

Eric pulling the boys in the wagon.

Asher & Theo riding in style!

Trunk or Treat!

When we were done with our quick Trunk-or-Treating loop around the parking lot, we headed back home to warm up and eat dinner. Before everyone got out of their costumes though, I tried to get a few pictures of the cuties, but due to their uninterest in this activity, I didn't get many (I am hoping to dress them up again to try and get some pictures soon). Avery was more cooperative, but at this point in time, he really doesn't have much of a choice!

My adorable little owl! (See HERE to view Asher in this home-made costume!)

Asher & Avery

Theo, Lilou, Eric's Dad & Asher

Picture time is coming to an end!

Finally, picture time was over and everyone was ready to eat! We enjoyed our dinner, complete with some warm sourdough bread and then savored dessert (did I say how delicious it was?) and then it was time to head to bed. Asher needed to be convinced of this, as he was on a sugar buzz, but eventually he fell asleep only to awake the next morning for more fun with Grandma and Gramps M.

On Saturday, the weekend fun continued with a lazy day at home with the Grandparents. Asher was able to spend a lot of time playing outside with Daddy and Grandpa and had SO MUCH FUN! Asher also learned the phrase "Got my cheese curds boy?" (Eric's dad always says this because we buy him cheese curds every time we see him and it is a take off of a quote from Blues Brothers). Asher, however, simply says, "Cheese Boy!?" :)

My happy boy in the morning.

Asher & Grandpa M eating cheese curds (before breakfast)

Avery snuggling with Grandma

Asher & Grandpa M playing in the leaves

Notice the leaf fort! :)

Avery getting a snuggle in with Grandpa

Asher & Grandma M cuddling and watching the Michigan Game.

Milk coma

That evening, Eric's parents headed home, but before we allowed them to leave we headed out to dinner with them. We were going to go to Cheddars, but as always the wait was too long (45 min) to wait with 2 small kids. Instead, we headed to our booth at Tazinos for all you can eat pizza and salad bar. Asher was a happy boy to get his pizza, veggies, pickles and olives. He also wanted to try Grandma's beets and really liked them!...he ate 4!

Grandpa & Grandpa M with Asher at Tazinos

Leaving Tazinos and saying goodbye! :(

On Sunday, the week came to an exhausting close. Why? It was the end of Daylight Savings! I remember a time, before kids, that I would love to "fall back" and get an extra hour of sleep. These days that is no longer the case! The kids still wake up at the same time they always do, but now it is 1 hour earlier! Asher even woke earlier than normal, meaning that I was laying on the couch with him, trying to keep him quiet at 5am, rather than in my warm, cozy bed...no fun! Since we had so much time before church, Eric was going to take Asher for a haircut, as the website online said they opened at 8:30. When they got there though, they found it didn't open until 10. So, they headed to McDonalds instead for hash browns and then brought me home a smoothie and a bagel (from Panera not McD).

Eventually, it was time for church and even though we were up well before it started we were still late!...we really need to work on that. We enjoyed the service, watched Asher's drum solo afterwards and then shared a relaxing day together at home.

Video: Future Worship Team Drummer