Catching up

Maddox is officially taking on solid food.  His first big kid meal consisted of pureed chicken, yum.  Though it doesn’t seem very appetizing to me, Maddox crushed it.  He also loved the avocado we gave him last night.  He continues to be a happy baby and a great sleeper.  This week he began waking up happy in his crib and will spend almost a half hour talking to himself.  It is a joy to listen to him coo and entertain himself.  He seems to be teething sooner than my other two.  Everything near him goes straight into his mouth.  I can’t believe he is 5 months old already.

Liesel is still flirting with potty training.  She has started to tell us when she needs a diaper change.  One thing that has been supper fun (insert sarcastic tone here) is that she has taken to trying to change her own poopy diaper.  Anyone who is familiar with a two year old’s ability to clean knows that this is a terrible idea.  One fun thing that I am starting to notice is that Liesel and Milo are playing together so much better than ever before.  Now I am not saying we don’t have our fair shares of fighting, but I am not having to referee nearly as often.  I am starting to wonder if this has something to do with the fact that Liesel is finally verbal. Favorite Liesel line right now…"OK Mom". She says in a very matter of fact manner and has almost sounds nasally. It is really friction' cute.

Milo is still loving school and ninjas.  He has started to tell some outrageous stories and I have a hard time telling if they are true or not.  On one hand I love his imagination, but on the other I am trying to teach him not to lie.  Oh, the fine lines we walk as parents.  Recently he has become a little too attached to the ipad.  He has started to prefer to watch movies over going outside.  I am hoping with the nice weather approaching this will change.  I love watching him play with both Liesel and by himself.  He really role plays well with his lego guys, army guys, dress up clothes, superheroes and blocks.   

Scott and I are working hard these days.  Work is busier than normal and we have started the process of permitting and financing for our new house.  We hope to break ground early next month.  I can’t wait.  I will try to remember to do a farm update once we break ground.

Sassy pants Liesel all ready for her walk, life vest and all.

Liesel with her Papa and baby

Liesel and Maddox.  Hard to tell if Maddox is about to smile or cry

Merry-Go-Round at the Zoo.

Milo was a little hesitant at first. 

Maddox watching the big kids at the zoo.

Playing on the ox and wagon at the zoo.

morning smiles.

I couldn't find Liesel the other morning and we were running late.  I yelled for her and she responded with "Mommy, baby, hungry"  and I found her in Maddox's room in the rocker nursing her baby.  

More morning love

Swing time.

climbing

The boys on the slide

Yep, this is how I role.

Nana and Liesel

My attempt to get a picture of all three.

I found Liesel playing in Maddox's jumper the other morning. 

Milo had her tied up.

Egg hunting

Joslyn

Go buddy

More egg hunting

Maddox and Mommy

Connor

Maddox chatting with Daddy

Scott sporting the supper cool bunny hat.

He's getting so big.  Not really sitting by himself yet, but getting close

Maddox's first meal, Chicken.

Milo colored this picture the other day at Grandma Laurie's.  He is quite the artist.

Sweet Boy.

Things to Remember

Things that I don't want to forget:

1. Last Saturday I was at my sisters for dinner and we had the best dinner conversation with our 4 and 6 year old boys who are apparently just around the corner from their teenage years.          
• Milo:  "Mommy, how do I know when I have met my girl?  You know the girl I am going to marry?"                                                                                                                                  
• Me:  no response
• Milo:  "Is it the first girl I see or the first girl I kiss?"
• Me:  no response
• 6 year old Connor:  "It's the first girl you have something in common with"
2. Liesel's greeting to Maddox "Hi Buddy"  pronounced "Hi Buddeeeeeee"
3. Maddox's natural mohawk
4. Every time I drop Milo off at school he pulls my face to his gives me a kiss and tells me to have a nice day and don't be late to Grandma Laurie's.
5. The way Liesel roll plays with her baby.  She bounces them the same way I do Max.  She puts them to bed and tells us all to "ssshhh baby sleeping, cry, night night"  then gives a little shoulder shrug as she walks away.
6. Even with an ear infection Maddox sleeps through the night…I am talking 11 hour stretches.  Such a good baby.  He does prefer to be held at all times while he is awake.  My arms are getting buff and I am a master at one armed cooking.
7. The way the two big kids play off each others imaginations…house, monsters, ninjas, babies.
8. Daddy came home from his work trip to Saudi and Milo couldn't stop telling him he missed him and loves him.  Liesel ignored him...until he gave her the shirt he brought back for her, then she was back to being Daddy's girl.  
9. How good Milo is at drawing.  Every person has a body, legs, arms, heads, eyes, and of course weapons, they're all ninjas.  
10. The way Liesel loves going down the huge slide at the pool (I am talking a real big kid slide . There are kids in elementary school who were scared to go down, but not Liesel) She loves it!

I am sure there is more that I have already forgotten. 

Well hello there big boy

Yep, this happened.  Liesel + Diaper Cream + Maddox + Unsupervised

Drawing his Ninjas.  Just like his Momma the tongue is out if he is really concentrating.

A pretty typical Liesel shot.

Snuggles (My First Aschermann Love + My Most Recent Aschermann Love)

Aunt Miranda and Milo reading

For those of you who think I have my act together….this is what my fridge looked like last week.  Who wants pickles, bread and chocolate chips for dinner.

Blessed

I can't get enough of this face.

Just before his 4 month shots (he is 15lbs 7oz and 25" long)

Play time

Liese all ready for the pool.  I put her hair in a pony tail and she insisted on a braid.  This is what we compromised on.

My boys.

Maddox with his cousins.

 Sunday Morning Selfies.  We sent these to Daddy while he was out of town.

 

February

There is not a ton to report from the Aschermann household.  Mom is getting use to being back at work and the kids are adjusting to a more regular routine.  Maddox has gotten better in the car and is becoming a good little sleeper (knock on wood).  He sleeps through the night often and every once in a while needs a little snuggle around 4am.  Mom is usually happy to oblige.  He has proven to be my most hot tempered baby.  I wonder if this is a foreshadow of his future personality.  He goes from Happy to Very Mad in matter of seconds.  He then calms down quickly.  He is a bit short fused and ridiculously cute. Liesel and Milo have been really good kids the last couple of weeks.  Milo has become infatuated with Ninjago and anything Ninja.  The other day we were sitting at the table and he asked me, "Mom, have I reached my true potential?"  I asked him what he thought that meant.  He said, "Becoming a Green Ninja."  Liesel still loves her babies, but the dog Nana got her for Christmas has become her favorite toy.  Woof goes everywhere with us.  I am surprised he isn't in any of the pictures below.  

Maddox riding in his stroller like a big boy

Milo at his school Trike-a-thon.

All ready for bedtime

Liesel out on a walk.  She insisted on walking her baby in her stroller just like Max.

What good big sibs.  Maddox is starting to beef up.

Grammy made Milo a hockey helmet hat just like he asked for.  As soon as she gave it to him he said, "Thank you, now can you make me a ninja hat?" 

Liesel walking Bosco…or…Bosco walking Liesel

My handsome boy got glasses last week.

fun at the park.

Classic Liesel

brother snuggles

Milo got his first black eye.  He fell riding his scooter and hit his eye on the handle bars.

Milo happy at Happy Valley Preschool.