Cookies with Dad...

It's been so nice to have Brad home over the last week or so as we transition to a family of four!  Maya has gotten lots of extra quality time with dad and she's been loving every minute!  

The other day, they made cookies together.  Brad set everything up during nap time...pre-measured the ingredients, set out the appropriate utensils and set up the mixer.  He even got out aprons for both of them to wear!  It was super sweet!

I didn't get any "after" shots, but they were DELICIOUS!  Yay for fresh baked cookies and fun with dad :)

First week...

Our first week at home with Asher was not quite as we anticipated.  Maya had just been diagnosed with bronchitis, so we had to keep him quarantined in our bedroom...not exactly the fun family reunion I envisioned.  Soon Brad and I also got sick, so it's definitely been a challenge!  

Fortunately, Brad's mom was in town to help out.  Thank God for Grammy!!  She saved the day and I'm so thankful for her and all her support.

Despite the germs, we've had some very sweet moments so far as a family of four.  Asher is doing awesome!  He's sleeping and eating like a champ!  I'm feeling quite spoiled with these 3-4 hour stretches at night.  I didn't start having nights like this with Maya for MANY weeks after her birth!  I'm praying it all continues!

Meeting cousins Caleb and Weston...

After his first bath...

One week old!

Siblings...

Bringing Maya to the hospital to meet Asher was one of the sweetest moments I've witnessed as a mom and an experience I won't soon forget. 

 To say that Maya was excited to meet and love on her baby brother is an understatement.  It truly went so much better than I could have anticipated.  She loves him and loves him fierce!  Now we just need to work on how to be gentle :)

First snuggle

Our family

So interested in all his features!

Love this video and so happy we'll have it for them to see when they get older...

Baby Story...

I never documented Maya's birth story and really wish I had.  I know I was in labor for 17 hours and have a general idea what happened when, but wish I had more details written down.  So in an effort to not make the same mistake, here's Asher's birth story timeline...

Monday 2/11
8:30pm: I had just sat down to watch the latest episode of The Bachelor when I notice a "leak".  Assuming things would happen the same way as with Maya, I fully expect contractions to start within a few hours...
10:30pm: Go to bed and wait for the inevitable.  Sleep terrible!

Tuesday 2/12
7:00am: Some braxton hicks contractions during the night, but nothing "real" or consistent.  
We decide to go about our day and start celebrating Maya's 2nd birthday!
Later that morning: I go for a power walk with Joan and Deanna to try to get some contractions going!  Nothing :(
12:00pm: Now anxious that nothing was happening and paranoid that I wasn't feeling baby move, I decide to call the doctor to see what they thought and at the very least, get checked
12:45pm: Doctor confirms that baby is doing great, but my water did in fact break...oops!  They want us to check into the hospital and get pitocin started.  Since I wanted a natural birth, I challenge the doctor for another method and we finally agree to using the breast pump to start contractions, but I'm given an 8pm deadline or they will start pitocin.  The doctor is worried about risk of infection since water broke.
1:30pm: Check into hospital

The calm before the storm :)

2:00pm: Start breast pump; 10 min on, 20 min off.  The pump gets contractions going but once off and walking around, they subside

Maya came to visit us before things got "real"

5:30pm: Contractions are finally consistent and not subsiding.  They consider this the start of labor.
8:30pm: Last round of pumping; contractions have gotten stronger over the last few hours.  Doctor decides to give me till 9:30pm to be checked.  I need to be at least 4-5 cm for pumping to be considered successful and pitocin to be avoided.  

So thankful for my hubby!  He was once again an amazing support!

9:40pm: Dr checks and I'm 5 cm, 90% effaced and baby is at zero station!  Yay, no pitocin!!  I want in the tub, but it's not working and maintenance needs to fix it...are you kidding me?!

10:25pm: Hop in the tub!  I was interested in this for Maya, but never did it.  It's amazing and I highly recommend for anyone doing a natural birth!  I am checked by nurse and have hit 7-8cm.  They say it won't be long...man, we're they right!
10:40pm: Checked again in the tub and I'm 10!  
10:45pm: They get me out of the tub and onto the bed
11:03pm: Asher Thomas is born!

Love this pic!  Asher is here and dad is EXCITED!

Goopy little mess...love him.

First diaper...enjoying the heat!

 So thankful for my sister-in-law, Deanna!  She was our "stand-in doula" and was a great support for both Brad and I!  She also was a super star photographer :)

Asher meets Auntie!


It was an amazing night!  I still can't believe how fast it all progressed!  And I didn't have back labor this time...hallelujah!  I'm so thankful for this precious little gift from God.  He is more than I could have ever imagined and my heart is once again so full.

The newest Slynger is here...

Asher Thomas

2/12/13, 11:03pm

6 pounds 6 ounces, 20 inches

Asher Thomas made his way into our world on Tuesday February 12, 2013...a late birthday present for his big sister, Maya B!

He's an absolute dream and we have fallen in love all over again!

More to come...

Build a Bear...

A good friend gave me the idea to take the week before our due date and plan some good quality one on one time with Maya before baby arrives.  She suggested a fun 'Mommy and Me' outing to the Build a Bear store in the mall.  

I assumed Maya would love picking out a bear and enjoy all the "fun" in the different steps to put it together...seems like a reasonable assumption.  Boy, was I wrong!  I think little miss might be a little young for the Build a Bear concept...or she just wasn't in the mood.  

She was completely disinterested and at times hesitant about the entire experience.  She didn't want to pick out or even hold any of the bears, she didn't like (or as Maya says, "I don't like it") the sound options, she was frightened by the machine used to stuff them and could care less about all the clothes and accessories.  The only part she was marginally interested in was picking out the little hearts and putting them inside the bear before he was sewn together.  Oh well, we tried!

Fortunately, she warmed up to "Bear" once we got home and gets excited to see him everyday :)

 I took this video as we were in line to pay.  I can't help but giggle every time I watch it...love the way she says "the build the bear" at the end :)