Deep Weekend

Once again we took Asher away with us on a youth residential. This is his fourth (if you count Soul Survivor) and the fifth is coming up next month. He'll be bored of them long before he's in his teens at this rate!

We had a great time, as usual. I think for the most part Asher enjoyed having lots of people to talk to and play with. We had fun getting him to point to various things (he specialises in ceilings, doors, lights and Daddy, but will also point to noses, feet, windows and occasionally Mama). We also had a few fun games of "Who will Asher walk to?" - he prefers to walk to his Mummy, but is getting more confident at walking to other people too. It's interesting that he is now starting to choose walking rather than crawling to get from place to place unprompted. Sometimes he even carries things!

Asher's favourite part of the weekend was undoubtedly the time we spent outside. He'll just pause and look around whenever we go out (and our room was separate from the hall where the youth activities were taking place, so we went out several times a day). Here are some photos from Saturday morning.

I'm not sure what he was looking at in this picture. But he's definitely waterproof!

Asher with a very dirty stone that he was absolutely determined to keep on licking. Yum.

Asher: "Oooh! Ooh, oh oh oh, oooooh!!"

Watching some sheep

"But why can't I pick up this rock? My hand is touching it!"

"Oh, it's too heavy. Silly me!"

This was perhaps Asher's happiest moment of the entire weekend.

Splash!

On the move

This video was taken just over a week ago.

He's still only really walking in short bursts - usually between me and Noah, but also towards something he really wants (like the cat). I've also seen him stand holding onto something, clearly wanting to walk a few steps to get to somewhere else, but not quite brave enough to take the plunge. He'll step his feet up and down repeatedly on the spot but doesn't quite dare let go. Usually I take pity and give him a hand! Otherwise he will probably crawl.

But sometimes I look into his eyes and smile, and say "You can do it!" and he smiles back, and walks.

Advances

What happens when you give a one-year-old edible paint?

He eats it, of course!

He was interested, but didn't actually do any painting at all (I smeared some on the paper but he would not follow suit). The paintbrush was treated as a new kind of spoon. He had a mouthful or two, then started to cry (probably because the paint is just a thick cornflour paste with food colouring, so I imagine it's pretty disgusting to eat).

We'll try again another time (but maybe we won't bother with paper!)

In other news... he's walking!!

At the moment it's just fairly short inter-parental traverses, but he's getting more confident all the time. Watch out, Cat. Watch out, World. Asher is coming!

Big Top

My Mum and Dad got Asher a circus tent for Christmas. Here's how he decided to use it yesterday!

This morning we are rolling balls in and out through the curtains. He's enjoying that too.

As I type, the tent is on its side again!

Walking to the park

In the last week Asher has, on a couple of occasions, taken one or two independent steps before falling over/grabbing on to something. He's also been standing without holding on for a couple of seconds. He isn't very confident doing either, though, and if he notices what's happening he'll bend his knees and lower himself to the floor. I find it amusing that this kid who attempts at any opportunity to dive head first down stairs and off sofas is scared to stand on his own two feet. But then, it is a pretty daunting thing, to stand up all by yourself. And why bother, when Mummy is always there to hold on to?

His attached walking, however, is excellent. So much so that I took him for a walk to the Wick this afternoon. He clutched my finger tightly and we made it across the lawn, over the street (extremely quiet - in fact it wasn't a car that had to stop for us but the neighbours playing football!), through the little alley and halfway to the zebra crossing before he wanted to be picked up. We had a bit of a detour on the grass and - of course - he found a stick, which he carried proudly in his other hand all the way to the swings. Love!

Florida #3: Silver Springs

So another trip we took was to Silver Springs, a State Park, to look at wildlife through a glass-bottomed boat. We didn't see any alligators but I braved the fish and we saw turtles too. The springs themselves looked pretty cool as well, bubbling bits of limestone up through the amazingly clear water. But perhaps my favourite sight was the bird that swam right underneath the boat. It looked all... wet!

So apparently the Mitchell family have a tradition of "borrowing" wheelchairs when they visit places...
I think this is our 'Album Cover Look'.

We've just discovered that they sell FUDGE here!!

I was disappointed that the ENTIRE bottom of the boat wasn't made of glass - although I guess it's safer this way!

Proof that Asher did enjoy the view a bit (as well as munching determinedly on the wooden rail)

But Mum... I want to go that way! There's dirt!

Awwww!

Little boy, big tree.

Boo!

Can you tell from the picture how badly Asher wanted to get down?!

Silver Springs was a lovely day trip. Asher really enjoyed the trees, the grass, the play area and, of course, the dirt. And the day out also included a visit to the Golden Corral, where Asher happily threw about 57 different cuisines on the floor whilst I enjoyed repeated visits to the THREE chocolate fountains. Excellent. Ash even napped in the car. What more could we ask for?

Florida #2: Fun at the Park

At the beginning of our trip we had typical English springtime type weather. Mild, with lots of rain. It did get colder later - not snow cold, but colder than it was here when we got back. Which is pretty cold, for Florida. We wished we'd taken coats!

But on one of those milder days we took a trip to the park. (We had less photogenic trips to the park when it was chilly as well!)

Swings: popular on any continent

America is full of giant tortoises!
(And dirt. This tasty dirt. Yum!)

But I want to go over there, on the big slide!

It looks really fun over there...

Mmm. They were some good steps. 

Hmmm... where shall I go next?

Ooh! Oooh! Big slide!

Back home, playing giggly games with Daddy after his bath

And this mirror is so much fun too. America is so fun!!

Florida #4: First Birthday!

Whilst we were away, Asher had his first birthday.

Wow. One!

I keep thinking thoughts along the lines of "This time last year..." (and being quite glad that it isn't this time last year, much though I enjoyed it!)

I made him a cake (of course), braving the aisles of Publix to purchase marzipan, food colouring and actual cake ingredients. I was planning to do a black cat (like Marmite) and even had black food colouring in my hand at the checkout when Noah's mum suggested that it might be a bit dull. I'm very glad she did! Rainbow cat turned out much better:

I kind of like the Christmas lights in the background. It was still January 6th in America when this photo was taken, although it was the 7th here. In fact I took this around about exactly the time Asher was born (2:38am) - so does that mean his American birthday is the day before his British one?

Asher's birthday was our last full day in the States. We went out to Big Lou's for lunch with whatever family members were not working at the time. Asher enjoyed playing with his spaghetti, Noah got a free pizza because they made a mistake taking his order and of course we all had a good time.

Asher chewed happily on his party hat but was not very keen on wearing it. Sorry for the blurry photo - it was darkish inside the restaurant so we didn't get many clear ones.

He had one present to amuse him before lunch arrived. Asher's favourite part of it was definitely the bow, which he patted, pulled and chewed. What with two Christmasses and one birthday in just over a week, the little fellow is becoming quite adept at opening presents.

Wahoo! Party!!

Noah was about to light the candle when the food arrived.

Asher's spaghetti was so interesting that he even wore the hat for a minute or so! When we were all rather full we had another cake attempt.

I helped blow out the candle. Asher was really interested in it, and I think he enjoyed everybody singing happy birthday to him. After the cake (which he did taste, and enjoyed, especially the icing) he opened the rest of his presents and cards. Then we took him to O2B, a kind of after school club except it's open all the time and kids can go there with parents as well as in groups from school. It has lots of different areas; Asher enjoyed the toddler area which had a big soft rainbow bridge and a ball pool. I *may* have abandoned him with his Nana and gone gallivanting on the soft play... but only after a little encouragement.

All in all I think Asher really enjoyed his day. Happy first birthday, Baby Boy!

Florida #1: Fun at the Zoo

Our trip to America feels like ages ago already! We got back a week ago and are just about over the jet lag (although still rather exhausted). I have a lot of photos I couldn't post while we were away. I'm going to do four posts because there are so many pictures.

So this time I finally got to visit Santa Fe Zoo. It's a teaching zoo at the university Noah went to. Or one of the universities he went to. Or maybe it's a college... the American education system confuses me ;) - anyway I think a trip to the zoo has been posited on every one of my previous visits, but now we have an almost toddling animal lover in the family it was the obvious time to go.

On the way to the zoo. The only giraffe Asher saw that day! (He was a lot more impressed with the real animals).

Watching a very determined monkey trying to pull a stick into his cage. Wasn't it obliging of Nana to wear coordinating nail varnish?

Giant tortoises - just like in the Miffy book, except that Asher didn't get to ride them.

Fortunately he got to ride on his Grandpa instead. 

Looking at... ummm... I think they might actually have been looking at a digger!

Such a determined walker - but only with a hand (or preferably two hands) to hold onto.

Oh, and Asher has finally discovered ...

... that slides ...

... are so much fun!

2014

Happy New Year! We're enjoying 2014 so far. Highlights for Asher have included trips to the playground and the play area at the mall, and going for little walks with various adults. But probably the thing he enjoyed most was when we stayed overnight with all the cousins. In a house with cats. And a long, shallow, carpeted staircase. What more could a baby want?