Love

April 25, 2014 Dear Asher, This week has been rough. You are definitely a bit more fussy from either teeth or the end of a wonder week. You are still super playful and cute beyond words though. You also had some shots this week and those were, as expected, not terribly fun. The pediatrician just couldn't get over how well you are doing: you are such a happy, healthy little guy. You are sleeping long daytime stretches and fully converted to flat-surface sleeping at night, out of your cradle. You kept flipping yourself completely on your tummy and it got scary quickly. Keep smiling sweet honey. Love, Mommy

April 20, 2014 Dear Asher, I feel like you've changed dramatically this month. You are awake long stretches and have settled into a fairly regular daily routine. You love playing where you can see your brother and all the happenings in the house. You've had a big growth spurt and you seem to have started the teething process. We also have had to give up on your cradle because you are too big and can flip yourself almost completely around in it. You're a champion at rolling over from both back to front (although you still get frustrated first) and front to back. I love the friendly personality you are quickly developing. You love everyone! Although I think your brother is your favorite, he makes you laugh more than anyone else. You are also now 19 pounds 7 ounces (98th percentile) and 26.5 inches long (95th percentile); what a hunk! Love, Mommy

April 18, 2014 Dear Asher, This week has been a bit of a struggle for us. You have been fussy and inconsolable during the day; often crying and desperately gnawing on your fingers to relieve the pain you are definitely feeling from teething. You have so much drool your little chin gets raw if I forget to put your amber necklace on you. You just want to be held and nurse, you're not even napping very well or very long. Other than during a wonder week, this is the most fussy we have ever seen you. It breaks my heart there is so little we can do but keep you entertained.  You do love chewing on anything we give you: frozen toys and burp cloths are constant favorites. You also have gotten fairly automatic in rolling yourself, so much so that we cannot leave you unattended anywhere. You can flip yourself over in your car seat, rock'n'play bassinet, and swing if not buckled in. You do enjoy jumping in the Jumperoo now, especially when your brother talks to you--he can always make...

This sugar cookie recipe from Alton Brown has never failed me, gluten or no gluten. I've been using it for years and has always been really consistent.  Lloyd loves helping now and these have even turned into our Christmas Eve baking tradition (I make them mint flavored during the holidays, they're wonderful).  I usually use my standard gluten-free flour mix but recently tried a new one I found in the Divvies cookbook that doesn't contain rice so all of Lloyd's class (one of his friends has a rice allergy) can enjoy the same Easter bunnies.  They turned out the same! I was so relieved. Both mixes follow the recipe. I also always use the egg replacer in lieu of a real egg, this recipe holds very well.  It would even be vegan if you swapped the butter for margarine. Gluten Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free Sugar Cookies 3 cups gluten free AP flour blend (see below) 3/4 tsp baking powder 1 tsp Xanthan Gum 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 cup sugar 1 egg or equiv...

Now I can finish my baby book for him.  Check that off the list! So we really had planned for weeks to be induced right at 39 weeks based on Asher's size, my sciatica, and general readiness.  But come the week of the delivery, I got a call from my OBs office saying we would have to push it to Friday because Thursday was booked. It totally broke me down and I was completely hysterical for about 30 minutes. So bad I called Coach at work and he had to leave class to talk me down. If that wasn't an indication of how ready I was to give birth I don't know what is.  Thursday night I started having legit contractions, but nothing to prompt an early check-in. Enough to wake me up multiple times at night, not that I could have slept anyway. 8:00 am: We check in up at L&D.  We had already discussed not trying the pitocin until after my water is broken with Dr. Wiley to see if that would just get me going.  Our day nurse Nyssa was just wonderful and very encouraging ab...