Stirring up baby Jesus

I wanted to write a blog post about something. Anything. But I have too much stuff to do.

I need to throw the clothes into the dryer and start another load.

But I can't do that until I make some more laundry soap. To do that, I need to get out all the ingredients and wash the big bowls I use that Asher has taken over to collect his favorite toys.

What are his favorite toys? A giant jingle bell, the green ring (From the stacking toy), a teether, a pig rubber pig, and baby Jesus (who was promptly evicted from his nativity set to live in the bowl in the bottom drawer in the kitchen). He likes to stir his toys with a big wooden spoon. And I let him. Except it's a little strange to me that he's stirring up baby Jesus.

I'm trying to be encouraged that at least baby Jesus is one of his favorites that gets extra special treatment.

totally behind

Asher started school in November. I know time flies, but don't worry. He's not really in kindergarten or anything. I took these pictures that morning because aren't you supposed to have pictures from your first day of school? Asher didn't think so. : (

Maybe hiding behind the trash can will help. Nope. It doesn't. 

On a side note, while packing his lunch, I was really worried about what he'd eat since their lunch time was way earlier than our normal eating time. Actually, everything about school is way earlier than our normal time. Also, I was concerned that he'd run out of food while other kids were eating and that could be detrimental to the rest of his day. So I packed and packed and packed food for him. 

Lunch includes:

1 peanut butter fold over with extra peanut butter

cheese puffs

1/2 cup yogurt puffs

string cheese

two clementine oranges

5 pretzels

2 animal cookies

water

He ate every bite. 

Also, mornings are much better now. And he likes school. He doesn't always eat that much for lunch. But sometimes he eats even more. : )

ch-ch-ch-cheesecake

For your immediate viewing pleasure, I give you tonight's dinner time enjoyment:

Cheesecake with Grandpa and Mimi.

Mmmmmm.

Pumpkin Patch

I realize it's already November. And the middle of November at that. But I still have four hundred darling pictures of Asher at the Pumpkin Patch so I'm going to post them anyway. Plus, this is my blog so I'll do whatever I want. Betcha didn't see that coming.  Ok, so I realize most of you can't handle the sheer volume of cuteness in four hundred pictures, so I'll only post eight. You can thank me later.

Asher spent most of his time running and jumping on this ramp. It was his favorite part of the whole experience. 

Lest you think our lives are boring...

My adorable little trouble-maker keeps very busy. Busy being adorable. Busy making trouble.

What? You don't believe me?

That's fine. I have plenty of evidence.

On this particular day I'd made some blueberry muffins for a visiting friend. Visiting friend shared muffins with Asher. Visiting friend left. Asher's desire for muffins did not.

"Oh, there's Mom."

"What's she staring at?"

 "I should crawl up on the island so I can reach the others. Yeah. That's a good idea."

"Hmm. This fancy leafy paper by Martha is tasty."

After eating the top off the first muffin, Asher tossed it to the side and lunged for more. One for each hand. That move was less successful.

WHY isn't he a MODEL???

I know we are all asking ourselves this question. And you are always asking me this question. 

I understand. I get it.  He is quite handsome. And charming. Very charming. 

But he is also busy. Very busy. 

21 Months ... 21 Months!!!

Asher,

You are twenty one months now. Well, actually you have been for a couple weeks now. It's so hard to believe how much you've grown and how fast this time has flown. Right now you're sitting in a bar stool next to me eating grapes and string cheese. That's how big you are. Big enough to eat grapes all by yourself and not choke. Even when you shove too many in your mouth at once, which happens quite often. You love to share your food with me. But sometimes if I'm too slow to lean over and get it out of your hand you take it back and shove it in your mouth so fast -- and then you laugh like you've just swindled me and I don't even know it.

You still love hide and seek. You're really good at ducking down under things and you love to scream when you're found. Actually, you love to scream about everything right now. It's very loud and very high pitched. Hide and Seek is especially fun when you think that just by looking away you're hidden. It makes sense though.

You're also a big fan of the water hose. When I water the plants and flowers you run and stand right in the way and get drenched. I love to see you laugh while you do this but I also know we then have to go back inside, towel off, and change clothes, which is slightly less fun.

You love to be in the kitchen, preferably right under my feet or between my legs. Lately you've started hugging one of my legs and it's so sweet. Usually your time in the kitchen is spent in the two big drawers by the stove. You dig out mixing bowls and cake pans and strainers and double boilers and this one heavy LOUD bundt pan (that you are playing with RIGHT now and I already have a headache from it) and one of those rubbery muffin tins. Those rubbery ones are your favorite. You squish the pan down, flip it over and squish it the other way. Sometimes we stir your toys or put them in the muffin tins. You think that is so funny. You also LOVE to crawl up on our bed and mess up all the pillows. I mean, you think you're hiding or being silly, but I think you're just messing it up after I went to all the trouble of making the bed. I still love you because you are so happy when you find yourself successful!

We bought some of those little foam letters and numbers from the bath section at Target and you play with them everywhere. We try to make words but since they are in every room we can only make a few words in each room. In the bath we can only spell bus and jugs. And the number four. You like to hand them out to people and recollect them.

Your Daddy made a giant house for you out of a cardboard box and you hide in it all the time. One day I had to feed you yogurt through one of the windows because you wanted the yogurt AND the house. Who am I not to oblige those sweet brown eyes? Speaking of those eyes, you know how to work them! There is even a cashier that we see weekly who just hangs over the counter and tells you how handsome you are. Every week. Except the week I went without you and I got mean looks and she made me feel like a bad mom for leaving you with your Dad. Sheesh. She is under your spell. It's probably because you say byebye to her one million times and blow her kisses. I'd fall for that, too. You are very liberal with your kisses when you want something ... and other times you tightly hold on to every kiss. You are never stingy when it comes to blowing kisses to yourself in the mirror. I'm a bit worried about your conceit. I mean, we all know you're gorgeous and beautiful and one of God's best creations, but seriously, you don't need to play in front of the mirror all day. We have a full length mirror in our closet and in the entry way and those are your favorite places to play. Lately you've discovered how to make funny faces at yourself. You also like to wave and tell yourself Hi and ByeBye (and of course blow yourself kisses), and see how you look while playing with different toys. (I can't believe I can't find a recent picture of this!!!)

You love playing with the barn that Grandmama gave you for your birthday last year. You love certain songs and play them over and over again. You've started making animal sounds. Your favorites are hoohooheeeheee (monkey), eeeow (cat), heahhh (donkey), and arrrr (lion/tiger/dinosaur). You love when we sing "Old McDonald" because of the sounds and you say e-e-e-e-ooo. (It's so precious.) You've also learned to say Yeehaw when riding the horse at MeMaw and PawPaw's house. You love to slide and slide, climb up the slide and walk down the slide and roll things down the slide.You love to say Mimi and get hung up on saying it over and over and over again.   You always go exploring at Papa's house.

You love airplanes and we stop to point out everyone that flies by as we wave and say "byebye". Your love for bubbles knows no bounds.

We took you to a pumpkin patch last week and you went crazy for the little pumpkins! You picked up one and carried it everywhere. You dropped it, spiked it, rolled it down a ramp, sat with it, ran with it, and you still carry it around the house. You like to carry all sorts of things, especially my big camelback water bottle, which you've finally figured out how to drink from. I think we'll have to get you one of your own that's not hot pink. And a bit more your size.

The world absolutely stops and stands still when your favorite show, Word World is on. We dvr it off PBS so you can watch it on Saturday mornings and snuggle with Daddy on the couch (the only time you sit still). Not even food can steal your attention from this show. You like Veggie Tales too because there's lots of singing, but it doesn't hold your attention as well as Word World. Nothing does.

We joke that you have one speed and it's "there he went". You are always going full speed ahead (although lately you like to go backwards, too!) and at church everyone knows you as Asher the Dasher. You are fast and sneaky. And fearless. You have no fear for anything -- not heights, not pools, not girls, not bigger kids, not stairs, not any of the things that leave me breathless, either from fear or from chasing after you or from both. I hope and pray this translates to your faith. I pray you are fearless when chasing after the Lord.

We love you so much and cannot imagine that anyone else anywhere in the world has as much fun as we do with you. I know that there are one thousand other things I want to tell you and want to remember, but I feel typed out. Besides, you're standing here looking at me and I know you want to play, and if I play my cards right, you might sit in my lap for a snuggle or two and I can steal some of those kisses before you realize I've hit my limit.

Pre-Haircut

Asher had another haircut this week. I was drawing the bath water (why do we draw bath water? or drapes?) and thought to myself, "Self, why are you going to cut his hair leaning over upside down in the bathtub when we have a perfectly good sink at haircut level?" So then I moved chased my naked child to the kitchen.

In honor of Dada and his love for babies with fros, I give you Asher, pre-haircut.

Asher sends his warmest wishes for a fun and safe holiday weekend to all of his fans.
Speaking of his fans, we brought back the fan box in the side bar, so if you'd like, join the official fan club. There are no dues or weird by-laws to worry about. Just do it already. Then you'll always be in-the-know about Asher and all his goings-on. Which is a lot because he is b-u-s-y. So join if you want. But we're not going to beg.

PS, there are still some nifty Africa things available for purchase, and a slew more if my sewing machine would come out of it's strike and stop throwing thread at me.

The Fear Factor

Are there things you should be doing or want to be doing but just can't get yourself to do?

There is this thing in my life.
I want it. I want to do it. I want to be it. I want it to describe me.
But it's overwhelming.
At times in a good way, at times in a hard way, and in times just too much to carry.

This thing is facing me right now.
It's knocking on my door, not pushy or demanding, but knocking.
And I know I'm going to answer the door.
I know I want to let it in.
But memories and other attachments to this thing give me pause.

It's hard.
This thing is hard!
It requires faith
and waiting
and patience
and dealing with other people who do not "get" this thing.
It's even a little scary.
It's full of the unknown.

But it's also full of good.
And full of hope
and joy
and excitement
and jesus.

Why is it so hard for you to get moving on these things? What struggles are you facing  -- and how do you overcome them to continue on? What advice do you have for others who need to take that step? What can you share with me?

on snuggling

I mentioned awhile back that I'd regrettably not snuggled enough with my son. Since then, at every nap and bedtime opportunity, I've been adding a little snuggle time to our routine. Sometimes he just wants to sit and snuggle. Sometimes we sing silly songs (anyone else completely over the itsy bitsy spider?) or my favorite hymns. Sometimes we pray.

Last night, during our snugglefest, I was telling Asher how much his Mommy loves him.
And how much his Dada loves him.
And his friends and grandparents and aunts and uncles love him.
And even people he's never actually met.
We all love him.

But our loves pale in comparison to the One who loves him.
The One who created him.
The One who dreamed up those long eyelashes,
those wild little curls,
his chubby hands,
his very busy feet,
and put them all together perfectly.
Knit together, piece by perfect piece, into this precious child that I have the honor of loving, too.

In those quiet moments of rest, where Asher looks into my eyes, takes deep breaths, and rests in my arms, I am reminded of the Father's desire for all his children to seek His face,
to bask in His great love,
and to rest in His arms.
No singing necessary,
no prayers to be said.
Just breathing in His righteousness
and resting in His strong and open arms.

NG :: Sneak Attack -- forget etsy. Just come to the blog and read this really long post instead.

I've been busy sewing and planning and snapping and traveling out of town and back to do more sewing and more planning and such. And I got so excited because I'm ready to list a handful of new things to sell so I can sponsor a child in Korah. And then my dumbputer makes the images too large for etsy and I don't know how to fix it so I'm thinking I might not even put them on etsy, but rather, just tell you. Because really, who else is going to buy them? So here goes.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to have many sewing skills. Nearly everything I know about sewing is self-taught or youtubed. I can promise that each piece is lovingly made and each project finished with tiny hands trying to help. The reason I sew is to financially support and sponsor a child in Korah, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. My son was adopted from Ethiopia. Every single purchase makes a big difference to a child in need.

100% of the purchase price goes to orphan care. 

What's made above and beyond my sponsorship will go back into the hands of orphan care programs across Ethiopia. 

This helps me to be the hands of Jesus. 

Thanks for your support. 

Read more about Korah here, here, here, here and the thing that sparked me here. 
See many videos here.

Things I'm currently making: 

Burpcloth Duos

Africa Tagsies

Binky Links

Some surprises along the way. 

Currently Available:

Africa Tagsies: $20

"Finn" Africa Tagsie

(I'm not finished sewing the Africas on yet, but I have about five more nearly done!)

Burpcloth Duos: $15

"Lucy" Burpcloth Duo             "Moriah" Burpcloth Duo

"Olivia" Burcloth Duo                    "Liam" Burpcloth Duo

"Ethan"

Binky Links: $8

These do not come with the binkies, but they do come with personalization! 

"Summer Stripe"

"Ainsley"

"Tuck"

"Black and White Stripe"                              "Elliot"

 Brown Giraffe

If you'd like to purchase one of these items listed, or send a special request my way, please email 

NIFTYGIFTYS (at) GMAIL (dot) COM. Oh, and prices include shipping, which I'll try to do twice a week. Thanks for reading all this ... and I'll update when I've finished sewing more. And to appease you, I'll throw in a video of Asher and some of his buddies real soon. Love ya!