To get a walker or not

I have recently been thinking about getting Ashton a walker. I know there is a lot of controversy over walkers and safety: babies falling down stairs, getting burned, pulling stuff off the table on to themselves, etc. even while parents are supervising. However, I like the idea of Ashton been able to sit upright and push himself around the kitchen floor, I think he may find it fun. There is no way he is falling down the stairs, we live in a ranch style house and I have the family room blocked off from the stairs. I promise not to cook while he is in his walker, and I don't have a table cloth on my kitchen table for him to pull on. My mom said I loved being in the walker as a baby and never had an accident in it. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Mother's Day

This year was my "first" mother's day.  Though I was a foster mom last year, it feels different this year having had a baby of my own.  I understand the bond that exists between a mother and her baby and know I would go to great lengths to protect, love, and nurture my little one.
As I think about my mom this mother's day, I cannot begin to express how much love and devotion I feel for her.  She is an amazing example to me of devotion, sacrifice, hard work, steadfastness, happiness, and love.  She taught me so much throughout my life and made sure that I had opportunities to develop talents and succeed.  She didn't have much in the way of possessions growing up and didn't get to experience the opportunities that so many people take for granted, but she made sure her children had an opportunity to be exposed to a variety of experiences.  Mom made sure to get us into music lessons, especially piano, and encouraged us to practice and share it with others.  My brother, sister, and I all play the piano and we each play a separate instrument.  Eric and Cyndi both play wood wind instruments so when it came my turn to choose and instrument, my mom asked me if I wanted to play the flute or the clarinet like my siblings.  I remember clearly telling my mom that I wanted to play the violin while we were at a Granite Youth Symphony concert for my brother.  A few weeks later mom and dad told me they were going to take me to look at violins but it wasn't likely that I would get one that day.  About an hour later, we walked out of Summerhaye's music with my first violin in tow.
My mom also made it a point to make sure we went on some sort of vacation each year.  Most times it wasn't anything fancy, just camping in our trailer at Bear Lake or a camp ground up one of the local canyons.  Some of my most favorite memories resulted from family vacations.
Mom has also been the foundation in my life.  Any time trouble or sadness arose in my life, mom was there to hug me and offer words of wisdom.  She has never let me down because she always seems to have the right answers.  I hope I can be the kind of mom my mom is to my little boy.  I hope he will look to me for wisdom, comfort, and love.  I hope his life will be as enjoyable as mine has been, all thanks to a loving mother.

This year I decided to write my mom a poem.

A Little Girl’s Dream

A little girl’s dream is to be a mother one day,

She puts on mom’s shoes, her dresses, and makeup in play.

She imitates mommy as she cradles her doll,

Singing a lullaby, “the cradle will fall.”

Her doll she will chastise when she has been naughty,

But praises her quickly for using the potty.

She reads her a story, her most favorite one,

And tells her she loves her more than anyone.

My mother is loving, faithful and strong,

Charitable, spiritual, with a heart full with song.

She showed me what it was like to be a great mother,

An example of love shown by no other.

She is my strength, my beacon of light,

I still seek for her wisdom, her compassion, and might.

Now I am a mom with a baby of my own,

A good example I want to be, like the mother I’ve known.

I will love him, protect him, and teach him what’s right.

I’ll kiss him, and cuddle, and rock him at night.

I’ll teach him patience, kindness, and love,

To kneel down at night and pray to Father above.

To be like my mom was my little girl dream.

I learned from her, copied her, no better mother I will ever deem.

I want you to know how much I love you.

I appreciate all that you were and are willing to do.

You mean so much to me and my little clan,

 And will follow your legacy the best that I can.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

 

Ashton made me some beautiful artwork.  I received an imprint of his little hands and an adorable picture of him (Thanks Cyndi for helping Ashton.)  He also got me a card which made me tear up.

This picture was used to make both grandmas a work of art.  Ashton imprinted his feet into clay and gave them a picture.  The funny thing was my sister got the same kit I did to make me the hand impressions.  My niece Sydney knew all about it and was great at keeping it a secret.

Ashton is so lucky to have a wonderful grandma (my mom) who wants to babysit.  She and grandpa watch him 4 days a week while his mommy and daddy are at work.  We love grandma a lot!

For Mother's day, Alan gave me a beautiful card and a cake decorating kit that I really wanted.  He knows how much fun I've been having with cake decorating and wanted to get me something I'd enjoy.  He is a wonderful husband and father and I am so lucky to have him in my life.

My baby boy is getting big

Today Ashton reached an important milestone:  he rolled over from tummy to back!  I thought he had officially done it before (like a month ago) but it was from back to tummy on my bed.  He hadn't done it again since.  Ashton does not really like to lay on his tummy.  I have tried and tried with him but he proceeds to scream and cry.  I let him cry for a little while, but he doesn't stop until he is picked up or turned over on to his back.  Alan and I bought Ashton a special mat for tummy time.  This morning I laid him on it, he didn't like being on his tummy, so he rolled over on to his back.  I cheered so loud for him and told him he was such a big boy!  He beamed from ear to ear and giggled.  Ashton is trying new things like new toys, seeing new things, and trying new food.  Yesterday I fed Ashton some green beans.  You should have seen the faces he made.  I fed him green beans before and he LOVED them, but not yesterday.  Then I decided to mash up a banana and feed him that.  He really seemed to like eating a fresh banana.  I have also fed him sweet potatoes, peas, squash, peaches, and apple sauce.  He likes most of them depending on the brand.   I love my little guy.  He is a mellow, happy baby who loves to play and interact with others.  He is truly the sunshine in my life!

Motherhood

I know this is my second post for the day, but I can't help but talk about my beautiful boy Ashton.  Ashton is my miracle. He was born November 24th, 2009, 2 days before Thanksgiving.  My husband Alan and I had been trying to have a baby for a very long time.  We went through fertility treatments back in 2008 but did not have any success.  We gave up thinking we would ever have a biological child of our own and decided to focus on the foster to adopt process.  We got our first foster placement in March of 2009, 3 high energy children ages 5, 6, and 7.  Though we knew they were not adoptable, we decided to go ahead and invite them into our lives.  On March 31st of 2009, I found out I was pregnant with Ashton, just 2 weeks after those 3 darling little kids came to live with us. Nathan, Natel, and Nashel moved to Louisiana to live with family on Novemeber 1, 2009.  I miss them a lot and think of them daily.  I think I would be heart broken when they left had I not been pregnant.  They were fun and challenging and prepared me to be the mom I am to my little Ashton. 

Ashton is a happy baby and pretty content just hanging out doing whatever mom and dad are doing.  He loves to play with his toys, sing, talk, and splash in the tub.  He is experiencing new things every day like new baby foods, ice cream, going for walks, hearing new music, and going new places.  I find myself telling him about all sorts of things.  Having a baby has made me realize how much a person learns over their lifetime and just how much a baby learns in just a few months of life.  Babies come into this world  as a "blank slate" ready for the world to teach them and make and impression on them.  Fortunately for a baby their first contact is mom and dad, the two people who make the most difference in how this little one's life and personality will be shaped.  As a mom, it is my responsibility to teach by example and with love.  I want Ashton to not be afraid to try new things like I was.  I want him to be compassionate and love others.  I want to arm him with positivity and an amazing self esteem to fight off negativity.  I want him to have faith in others, but especially to have faith in God and Jesus Christ.  I want him to know that he can pray for help and that even when his parents aren't physically present, there is always someone there for him no matter the time or place. 

Being a mom is not just giving birth to a baby but an opportunity to continually reflect on who I am, what I will be, and how my life impacts my little boy and the person he will become.  I love him so much and will do my best to help him become and amazing man one day.

Ashton was born November 24, 2009.  He is the light of my life.  I can't believe how wonderful it is to be a mother.  I wish I could have been a mother sooner, but I am just happy he is here..... my little miracle in waiting.