Talking, Learning, and Playing:The Life of a Toddler

Asher has been talking up a storm and I love to hear what he is thinking. A few weeks ago Jed asked him if he would like something. He responded, "I like Mommy!" Jed and I laughed so hard because we weren't expecting him to say that. A few days later we were driving in the car and Asher said, "I like french fries." That's right, Asher likes french fries and his Mommy. Who could ask for anything more?

The end of June wrapped up Asher's first year of Montessori. He learned so much and I have included some of the pictures below. The class picture always makes me laugh out loud because of all of the kids expressions, but especially my own little goof ball.

Sun in the kiddos eyes. This was taken on the last day of school.

Hanging on to Asher so he stays put, we know how that feels. 

Maybe his water bottle will distract him?

Asher's little buddy, Tyson, is in the background.

This photo was taken around Halloween.  Asher looks like a pudgy little guy in this picture. Love it! 

Last week, we got a very special gift from Nana. She babysat Asher while Jed and I took a trip to Maine. We ate lobster everyday and enjoyed the tour of the lighthouses around Portland and our walk through Kennebunkport. It was such a beautiful few days that we both were sunburned. Who knew you could get sunburned in Portland, Maine? While away, Asher kept Nana very busy and reminded her what it was like to be with a toddler....EXHAUSTING! Thanks, Nana for hanging out with our cherub.

and the newest Silversmith will make her debut in September...

Today, Asher and I headed to the building museum.  One thing I love about living in DC is all that it has to offer children and it is right at my finger tips.  It was the first time we had ever been to this museum and it certainly won't be our last. Asher loved the playroom so much that I couldn't get a picture of him standing still.

Run, run, run so you'll nap, nap, nap!

Kiss Kiss!

Asher said the sweetest thing the other day to me and it melted my heart. He laid down on his mat and said, "Kiss Kiss".  He wanted a little kiss from me before he went to sleep. He also turned to his Daddy and said, "Good Night!"

With that said, he is still sleeping on the floor next to the gate and that may have been the last time he asked for a kiss. The other day, I tried to give him a kiss and he said, "No kiss Mommy." Oh well, I kissed him anyway.  He still has those super cute cheeks and I can't resist them and he said three words.

This was taken last week at a birthday party. See what I mean about those cheeks!?!



Catching up on his reading. When Asher grabs a book with no pictures he calls it Mommy's book. This one happens to be about toddler discipline. Read on little Asher.

We have several toddler splash parks and wading pools in our area. Unfortunately, Asher dislikes wearing swim diapers and swim trunks. So, we typically sit out on the bench and watch the other children splash. Except for the other day when he decided to get right in--sweat shorts and all.

Montessori is wrapping up next week for the summer. Asher has loved it and we are excited for him to return next year.

Circle Time- The shirt Asher is wearing is one of his favorites. He calls it his Lady Bug shirt. We love the way he says Lady Bug.

Asher's school planted basil and then ate the basil with homemade butter that they made and tomatoes. Asher refused to eat the basil or tomatoes, but he sure liked the butter and crackers.

Finally, here is a little video that I forgot to post a few months ago, but I think it is hilarious. It is of my little munchkin trying to break out of his room by hopping over the gate.  He is a genius, if I do say so myself.

Friends!

Asher had a lot of fun meeting his new buddy Wyatt this week. Wyatt and his mom, Jessica (Jett) stayed at our home for a few days.  I have known Jett since 7th grade and it was so nice to have the babies meet.  Asher loved showing Wyatt around the City.  We went to the zoo, the Capitol, many trips to Union Station, and the Splash Park.  What a treat for everyone!

Snack time with friends. Asher liked sitting in a big seat without a booster.

What a fun time visiting with friends. I am 26 weeks pregnant in this picture.

 

Fly by May

May has been filled with a lot of birthday parties, family, and growing for our little Asher. We are so proud of all of his accomplishments this month. We also had a fun time socializing with all of his first friends and their parents. 

His speech has taken off. He babbles nonstop and says 2 word phrases. He even is beginning to say some three word phrases.  Like, "I like cookies" and "I want downstairs".  Asher is also fascinated with order and enjoys talking about it. He will say, "Mommy's shoes, Daddy's shoes," followed by "Ashy's shoes." He will point at each shoe while saying each item. At dinner yesterday, he went around the table pointing at us and stating our gender.  Very cute!

Some children like trains and some like Elmo. Our child is fascinated with animals. He loves to wear animals on his clothing, talk and read about animals, and finally, go see animals at the zoo or pet store.  Lately, he has been interested in the animals on the Merry go Round. He doesn't want to get on the ride he just wants to talk about the animals that he sees as well as watch the ride go round and round and round again.

Asher found a merry go round at a store and didn't want to leave the window display.

Asher is at the zoo and is disinterested in the real animals. He would rather watch the merry go round.

 

Finally, I am so impressed with Asher's spatial ability.  He has always been interested in puzzles, but lately the Montessori teacher as well as my mother introduced him to pattern blocks. On one particular day, I was the assistant in the classroom and noticed the teacher was trying to do a lesson with him of placing the yellow hexagon in the correct yellow spot on a corresponding board.  Instead, Asher took the two red trapezoids and completed the same exercise by making them hexagons. I was secretly smiling and beaming at his thought process. He has repeated this several times at home.

Asher put the two trapezoids together to form a hexagon.

He also enjoys beading and made this necklace. Look at the little smile on his face. He is so proud of himself.

Let's wrap up this post with a little love from my son! His first portrait of his Mommy!!!

Jungle Gym Daddy

Asher has given Jed a run for his money lately. He refuses to do anything with him that isn't silly.  For example, he demands that Jed get on the floor, so that he can body slam him.  Asher says, "Mommy couch, Daddy floor!"  

He even demands that Jed keep his legs a certain way, so that he can make a car ramp for all his cars to go down. Poor, poor Daddy!!! When Jed arrives home from work, Asher immediately slams the door on him and yells, "Bye Daddy!" Once Jed is out of the house, Asher quickly goes to the window to watch him come through the door and then the entire sequence starts over.  Luckily, Jed is taking this all in stride and realizes that our little guy is only 2.

See, he loves his Daddy!  A little morning cuddle

Sunday means Soccer!

Asher has started soccer on Sundays.  It has been so fun to watch him run around on the field.  We laugh the entire time. His favorite part of soccer is giving his coach a high-five and kicking the ball in the net and then playing in the net until he gets stuck and Mommy or Daddy have to rescue him. 



Obviously we haven't mastered, "no hands" in soccer yet, but at least we are not eating the goal post!

Good job, Asher!

 

Let's hear it for our two word wonder child!

Asher hit a major milestone in his speech development yesterday and we are ecstatic. Our wonder boy can now say two words together. Yes, you heard it right--TWO WORDS! This is HUGE for us because he is a little late in the game with speaking and so we know that this is an important step in his language acquisition. His favorite two words are "Help Mama" or "Mama Help" He also greeted many family members on the phone yesterday by saying hi followed by their name. 

  It all started yesterday, when he pushed his daddy out of the room in the morning and asked for me instead. I was skeptical that I had heard his two word utterance correctly, "Help Mama".  However, after nap I asked him if he wanted more cheese and he looked at me with a furrow brow and thought real hard and said, "More cheese".  Well that was it for me, I was one proud Mama!

My silly guy!