Year: 2012

When Ashton was a bump

A few days ago Jason and I went to AT&T and finally upgraded his old cracked phone to an iPhone 4S (or, as I like to say, 4SSSSSSSSSS. They are so fancy I feel that they deserve the extra SSSSSSS). Despite having two iPods, two iPhones, and a Mac desktop, we, uh, don’t have the cloud set up or any back up going on either. Nothing is synced or used to its fullest potential whatsoever. At all. It’s like we have two pieces of bread, some tomato, lettuce and bacon; you could eat everything separately I guess, but isn’t it better if you make a BLT?  So, “make a figurative sandwich out of our Apple products” is on the project list. In the meantime, Jason finally took the thousands of pictures off of his old iPhone and imported them into iPhoto. I admit I had a pretty good time flipping through them tonight, the whole roll goes back to July 2010 and a lot has happened since then. I came to my first “belly shot” when I found out I was pregnant and realized I had never put the whole series together! Granted, we missed a week here and there and, depending on my outfit, I looked more or less pregnant compared to the one before it or after it, but I thought it would be fun to post what Ashton looked like when he was just a bump 🙂

39 weeks and the last one…

Oof. I am uncomfortable all over again just looking at those last few. Anyway, I wonder what other fun posts I can come up with by mining some of Jason’s photos…we shall see!

Beep Beep!

At the tender age of 9 months and 1 week, Ashton got his first car: a Step 2 Whisper Ride Buggy. It’s blue, has a cupholder, and was just delivered to us by the dealership last week (“Diapers.com”). Feeling that he was a bit young (it is recommended for 18 months+), we decided it was a good time to teach him one of life’s most frustrating and annoying lessons: that patience is a virtue. So the car arrived, and we made him wait.

And wait.

And then we permitted a test drive in the safety of our dining room.

Today, at 9 months and 2 weeks, he officially got behind the wheel. We did a quick review of systems: Did the horn honk? Check. Seatbelt fastened? Check. Did the steering wheel turn? Check. (Although funnily enough, the wheels themselves didn’t follow suit. I guess that’s what you get when your car costs less than $70.) The console reported it was a very pleasant day at 72 degrees:
It seems the car also came with gas; the sticker reads about 3/4 of a tank. That’s always nice. 
After another quick horn test (just because), we set off at a blistering pace of 2.0 miles an hour. Tate decided he would rather go in the opposite direction so that slowed us down a bit in the beginning.
But before long, Ashton was one with the road. The wind was at his back and there was nothing to do but stay straight.
He was such a natural and completely at ease. A little TOO at ease, maybe:
We finally arrived at our far-off destination: the park. 

After such a long drive, a whole 2 blocks, Ashton pulled over for a snack.

Then his good friend Owen came and the boys posed with their rides:

After that, time to head home. At this point, thanks to the wind, Ashton’s hair was basically sticking straight up.

And that’s when I saw it. A mysterious mark on our front fender!

Ashton swears he didn’t hit anything. He takes after me 😉

Mother's Day

Well we all had a great day today on my first official Mother’s Day! My mom was in town for the weekend so spending the day with her, in person, for the first time in many years made it that much more special for me.

So what did we do? Well, Ashton was awake at 6 am and I immediately played the Mother’s Day card and made Jason get up. Ha. When I eventually got out of bed, I was greeted by flowers, a very sweet card from Jason, Ashton, and Tate, and the cutest necklace imaginable. I love love LOVE it:

Ashton picked it out all by himself 😉 After breakfast on the deck and Ashton’s morning nap, we headed up to meet my mom and Pat at Stone Meadow Golf in Lexington. Golf has been my new hobby ever since I realized how cute the clothes are.  My mom brought me her old clubs and Pat gave me a little lesson at the driving range. All moms got a free bucket of balls today – bonus! Afterwards, we drove into Lexington Center, got sandwiches and had a picnic on the town green. Here is our family photo.

After that and a quick frozen yogurt, it was time for Mom and Pat to head back up to VT, so we were home by 1:30 or so. Ashton went down for his nap, and I spent a peaceful afternoon at home until it was time to subject him to a “my first official Mother’s Day” photo session.

After that, Jason headed off to work (boo) and we packed up and took Tate to the park to hang out before it was time for dinner/bathtime/bedtime. All in all, a beautiful day 🙂

Catching up

It’s been a little while since I really posted and I have an assortment of stuff to write about. Without further ado…

I have a new nephew!
Jason’s sister just had her first baby, Ashton’s cousin, a Mr. Owen Anthony Stone, on Monday, May 7. He was a perfect 7 lbs, 14 oz and 20.5 inches long. We headed down to New York on Tuesday and here we are together 🙂

Seeing Liz in the hospital and Owen’s little ankle bracelet and the scrubs and hearing about the delivery definitely brought me back to when Ashton was born. It is absolutely one of the most memorable days of my life and more than once I found myself daydreaming about how wonderful August 3rd was. But let’s not get carried away. Yes Owen is cute and all of that but did he make me nostalgic for newborns? Or anywhere near ready for another baby? Um, absolutely not. I was pregnant with Ashton for 9 months and in the last couple of days have finally reached the point where I have been unpregnant (postpartum?) for longer than that. I’ll stay just like this, thank you. But in the meantime, I’ll get my newborn fix from Owen 🙂 He is so teeny and adorable!! I admit I have a hard time picturing Ashton that little. I’m sure you’ll see his picture here again in the future.

A couple more firsts
So when we weren’t visiting Owen in the hospital, Ashton had lots of playtime with Grandma and Grandpa, had his first french fry at Sip ‘N Soda in Southampton, and said his first real word. Jason looked at him, said “Dada” and, after a beat, Ashton repeated it right back to him. Plain as day, no mistaking it. This would be exciting if it weren’t totally infuriating. What about “Mama”? Who does Ashton think he is? I’M the one that he sees all day! Of course Jason cackled away and was all “Good job Ashton!” while I sulked with my arms crossed and a black rain cloud over my head. Humpf. “Dada”. What kind of a word is that anyway.
😉

More fake teeth
I admit I laughed harder at this than I have in a long time. Ashton got his first Pastina today (tiny star pasta) and I gave him a spoonful while I was getting his dinner ready. Well, two of the stars got stuck on his upper lip and gave him a top pair of teeth. I couldn’t believe how long they stuck – so long that I went down to the car to get my phone (where I had forgotten it), fished the camera out of the office, and took several pictures and a video. SEVERAL minutes later, after I had sufficiently cracked up, I actually had to wipe them off.

In case the still doesn’t quite do it, here is the video. Please excuse the drool, he usually has a bib on.

I know I said it already but the pasta stuck there for so long, that’s like WHY it was so funny. Anyway.
More 9 month stuff
Just to elaborate on my previous post, we had Ashton’s 9 month appointment last Monday. I already bored you with his height and weight, but heck what’s one more time: 20 lbs 15 oz and 29 inches. Since my good friend Chera told me that there are companies that turn blogs into keepsake books, I might start including extra material for myself. That way, when I actually get a book made, there will be more substance than Pastina teeth. 
Where was I. Oh, nine months. 
Foods: He has had all of his fruits, veggies and meats mostly, plus rice, oatmeal, quinoa, pasta and salmon. He continually has a hard time with dairy, he has thrown up cheese and yogurt when I’ve tried to give it to him so I’m holding off for now. In addition to his purees he gets various finger foods: cheerios, avocado, cucumber sticks, bagel pieces, tofu cubes, peas, banana wedges, etc. 
Toys: Right now his go-to are Mardi Gras beads. At his pedi appointment the nurse saw him clutching his purple ones and she goes, “Ohhh party boy! Did someone flash you?” At the time I didn’t think anything of it until Jason later told me the story behind them. Am I only the only one that didn’t know this?? According to Wikipedia: “During Mardi Gras parades, traditionally, beads have been thrown from floats into the crowd. But later in the evening, they are rewarded by guys to women who lift their shirts to show off their breasts. “Show us your tits!” is the common phrase that begins the “negotiations”. It’s not unusual to see women wearing lots of Mardi Gras “bling” as the night wears on.”  For Pete’s sake. Well, at least Ashton will be prepared. That’s the most we can do as parents right? 
Mobile Activity: Still no crawling, but basically everything else. He sits up, scoots on his tummy across the floor, turns in circles on his belly and rolls for miles. He also manages to get around by sticking his butt in the air repeatedly, much like an inchworm. A couple posts ago I put a video up of him in his walker. Ashton loves this thing, our walls do not. He bangs around and explores everywhere. Jason’s parents have a long hallway and we each sat on one end and took turns encouraging him to walk to us. It was the cutest to see him awkwardly wheeling himself with a big happy smile on his face. I melted. This walker is so fun, it also has a little snack tray so I put bits of cereal on it and off he goes, flinging it everywhere. He’s like Johnny Appleseed but with Cheerios.
Teeth: Still just the two bottom ones.
Diapers: Size 3, but Size 4 in the overnights. 
Clothes: Size 12 months for the most part
Favorite book: Besides the touch and feel ones, he listens so intently when I read anything that rhymes i.e. “A goose and a moose together have juice, and a cat and two rats are trying on hats!”Silly stuff but he loves it. Just this month he truly sits and looks at the pages and the pictures while I read. Before he sort of did but would end up trying to grab the book and eat it or lose interest altogether. 
Other things of note: His sleeping is so much better the past month. He is usually on his belly and only wakes up once, if at all. I also finally turned his stroller seat out so it’s facing the world instead of me when we walk. Not sure what took me so long. 

Nine months

Ashton hit the nine month mark last Thursday but I was waiting until today/his pediatrician appointment to post some stats!

Weight: 1 ounce shy of 21 pounds at 20 pounds, 15 oz (70th percentile)
Height: 29 inches (75th percentile)
Head circumference: 17.5 cm (30th percentile)

We came away with some homework: namely to start brushing his two little teeth and incorporate lunch into our day (right now he gets breakfast and dinner). These are the pictures I took on his 9 month birthday:

Ashton’s cousin is due to come into the world literally in like an hour. Jason’s sister is in labor so we are heading to New York tomorrow morning for a couple of days. Full post, including pics of my new nephew, when we return!

Jason's Crawling School

I am extremely grateful to have a husband that has a somewhat unconventional schedule. It means he is home most mornings and we sit together as a family, play, have coffee, and hang out. Ashton does not crawl yet (which, for the record, I do not worry about – whatever he wants to do, whenever he wants to do it, is just fine by me) but we have had some fun “helping” him learn. And by “helping”, I mean the establishment of Jason’s Crawling School. This is a very exclusive program, extremely expensive, and has a reputation for being extraordinarily successful (don’t you think ex- words make things sound sophisticated somehow?). Anyway, Ashton was lucky enough to get into the morning session and in the beginning, did not take things seriously at all.

There’s no giggling in crawling! Unacceptable. Jason really cracks the whip and the program is so rigorous and top-secret that cameras usually aren’t allowed. I was granted rare access this morning and given permission to post my pictures.

Ashton looked a little nervous before his first interval, like “I don’t know if I can do this, Mom”.

I had dressed him in his “Super Grover” pajamas (I mean, tell me a situation where a yellow cape doesn’t help) and he had a very friendly welcoming committee set up on the other side of the quilt:

A mere three feet away. Surely he could make it. Jason assisted in position set-up:

And off he went!
A few critical seconds later, the REACH! They say that you can spot a Jason’s Crawling School graduate by their exceptionally smooth motion through this movement:
Alllllmost there:

Annnnnd, the anticlimax. That’s as far as he got. Poor baby was so pooped: 
Well, there’s always tomorrow. And if not, I hear Jason’s Crawling School has a money back guarantee 😉

Play session

There’s no real story behind these pictures. We have a lot of playtime and today I just happened to use the camera.

One of the things that has me marveling lately is two books that my cousin gave us. They are touchy feely books: “That’s not my teddy” and “That’s not my bunny”. Each book is a few pages, like, “That’s not my teddy, its paws are too wooly” and then a picture with the teddy holding up his paws where the pads are little cottony patches to touch. In the below picture, the page is “That’s not my teddy, its paws are too rough” and velcro circles to touch. The book goes through all these different textures and why that’s not my bunny or that’s not my teddy. The last pages in the two books are of course, “That’s my bunny! Its ears are so soft” and “THAT’S my teddy, its tummy is so furry”. Anyway, my point is that we read these two books multiple times a day and now, when I turn the page and read the line, Ashton reaches out to the exact touchy spot to feel it (it’s different on every page). If he hesitates, I show him with my finger the place to feel and he copies me. This is truly the first instance of learning that I can measure and it’s just so cute and so cool.

Happy saturday night!

An Interview

So, it rained today. Which means that come 4:00 pm, Ashton and I were not on our usual pleasant stroll around Fresh Pond. No, we weren’t. We were sitting in the living room staring at each other. We read all of his stories (which does not take long: his little board books are a whopping five pages each with about ten words total: “One, two. Socks!” and the like), we played with all the toys he is interested in these days, and we sang the songs that make him smile. So there we were: 4:00 pm and still two hours to go until bedtime. I decided to take advantage of his recent chattiness (see video from previous post) and interview him on how things are going so far.

Kristen Nill: So, Ashton, how did you sleep last night?

Ashton Christopher: Hi Mom, thanks for asking. I slept great! I went to bed at 6:20 pm, woke up at 3:09 am and fussed for awhile, but you knew I was faking so I went back to sleep when you didn’t come in. I woke up again at 5:15 am, thanks for feeding me I was hungry. Then I went back to sleep until 8:30 am! I have to say, since my 8 month birthday I’ve really hit my groove.

KN: Did you have any dreams?

AC: Yes, I often have dreams. They are mostly about milk and snacks. Of course, these things are the topics of my nightmares as well. I once dreamed that there was no more milk and I cried and cried. It was awful.

KN: Gosh, that sounds awful. Any other challenges you have faced?

AC: You know, if I’m being honest, a few. First, the sippy cup. I just…well, I just don’t get it. Second, Tate’s utter refusal to accept my friendship. The only thing he cares about is the dropped Cheerio count from my highchair. Makes me feel used. Yes, I did pull his tail once, and also his ears, but my hands are so small I have a hard time believing it hurt. I hope to one day have a better relationship with him. Lastly, yogurt. [Shudder.] That stuff is just wretched.

KN: I’ll talk to Tate. Treats are key. I would give you some to offer him but I’m afraid you would eat them yourself.

AC: I probably would.

KN: On to more happy things. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

AC: I like to smile at inanimate, insignificant objects. For example, a water bottle. Or a piece of string. Lately I find humor in regular, everyday things that end up in my hands; I can’t help but smile at them and then shake them ferociously to see if they rattle.

KN: I have noticed this. By now, have you learned that things like your sock, a ballpoint pen, and a cucumber stick don’t make noise?

AC: Not really. I’ll probably have to shake everything I get my hands on for awhile longer. Either that or taste it.

KN: Speaking of learning, how’s the crawling going?

AC: [silence]

KN: Sorry honey, bad question. I know you don’t crawl yet. [Awkward pause.] You know baby, physical development is only part of the equation! You are so smart in so many other ways. What is your dream job?

AC: I mean obviously, if the guys at eTrade called, I’d be on the first flight.

KN: I thought the ultimate goal for babies was to work for Gerber?

AC: [rolling his eyes] Mom, you are out to lunch. Gerber is so last century. You don’t even feed me Gerber! You feed me Earth’s Best Organics!

KN: Ashton! You better not tell your father that. He thinks I use my very expensive baby food maker from Williams-Sonoma!

AC: Okay okay I won’t tell him. But only if you try to find out how I can work for eTrade. Their commercials are a riot.

KN: I’ll look into it. Wow, eTrade. You really are wise beyond your months.