bye bye baby

 my baby is no longer a baby.  this past month asher hit 18 months!  he has a strong personality and knows exactly what he wants, usually whatever the brothers have.  he hates to be left behind and does everything in his power to keep up with the big boys.  he has proven that he can climb stairs and throw himself down the slide all alone(i usually chase after him).  he loves a good juice box and is certain that milk is his favorite food group.  we have found that he LOVES water!  he thinks he knows how to swim and will launch himself off the side of the pool, like the brothers.  his vocabulary is ever growing.  his favorite word is still "mama" or "mommy".  i love it!  he loves trucks and trains.  one of our favorite things about asher is his love for music.  the boy LOVES to dance and show off his moves.  he does NOT love when we leave him in the nursery, but he is working on it.  this past sunday we asked for the policy on crying in the nursery and they were willing to keep him the entire time.  they said he cried up until 15 minutes before we picked him up.  it's progress.  you have to give it to him on persistence.  he is big into smiling for the camera.  this(see picture above) is often what we get when we say smile for the camera, along with the word "cheese".  the brothers love to tackle this tank and he usually doesn't mind.  he loves to play chase and hide and seek.  this little guy has more energy than i thought was possible.  i am not going lie, i often look forward to nap time, so that i can take a breather.  life with our three boys is no where near easy, but it sure is good.  isn't that how life usually goes.

side note:  i am reading an amazing book that i would highly recommend: bob goff's, love does.  tara livesay(one of my very favorite blogs to follow!) was reading his book and i decided to follow suit.  it's been encouraging and challenging for me in the way i live my life.  the livesays are honest in their writing and constantly challenging my thinking and living.  here's one reason why i love the livesay's blog.  they post life stories and reminders like this:

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships - so that we may live deep within our hearts. May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people - so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war - so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in the world - so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. Amen. (Franciscan Benediction)

if you have a favorite blog or book, please do share!  thanks!