He's Here!

Asher Gage Swensen

Wednesday May 6, 2009

11:49 am

8 lbs 2 oz

19 1/2 in

More details to come...sometime!

...Waiting...

I am finally seeing what everyone has been saying about springtime in Oregon; the long rainy winter turns into something really pretty! So, since we are just waiting and waiting...and waiting some more for this baby to come we went to this park to walk around and try and start some contractions - with no such luck. This park is about 3 minutes from our apartment, it's so pretty!

Kason loves to smell flowers - or inhale them. I love this picture!

With the ever present basketball

BuSy!

We have been busy! Here are some of the things that have been keeping us so busy:

1. I am giving in and posting a "pregnancy picture". This is only because we don't have any from when I was pregnant with Kason and people have been telling me that I will want to look back and see one someday. I must say, though, this picture is pretty deceiving - I am actually alot bigger than this. So, this was taken at 36 weeks. I am now a little over 37 weeks. The doctor says the baby (who still does not have a definitely decided on name) could come any time. Kason was already born at this point. I am having alot of contractions and am sick of being pregnant, but am still hoping to make it one more week so that my sister will be here and Isaac will have some more tests out of the way. We will see!



2. We moved! We have been looking for a bigger apartment for a long time now. Unfortunately, it didn't really work out. We ended up moving into a slightly bigger apartment here in the same complex. I really wanted a washer and dryer, but things are too expensive close to campus and we couldn't find any openings anywhere that would work out. Frustrating! So we have moved across the parking lot. We are so grateful all the guys from Isaac's program showed up one morning and carried alot of our stuff over! I thought it would be pretty easy, and I'm sure it was easier than moving further away, but it still ended up being a bit messy! Being 37 weeks pregnant, moving, and having a husband in grad school do not go together well! I think our apartment is finally getting some order to it though! We are really happy it could get done before the baby comes too! And we are really close to the school which helps us be able to see Isaac a little bit more. We have lots of friends around so we can deal with a tiny apartment a little while longer.

3. We attended our ward's potato derby. It was the day after the pinewood derby and we made cars out of potatoes! It was pretty fun. My car lost horribly the first time it raced, but Isaac's made it to the semifinals. His car is on the right in the video.





4. We had a fun Easter. A guy from Isaac's program gave Kason a HUGE bear, which Kason loves to jump on. Now there is just the question of where to put it?! My mom also sent a few things for an Easter basket, including some edible grass. Kason loved it! Please ignore the chaos in the background, this was the day after we moved.

We are doing good. Kason is growing up so much and makes us laugh all the time with the things he says and does. We are loving the sunshine that has been here the last few days!!

The Coast

For the last part of spring break we made our way to the coast! On the way there we learned that Kason can get a bit carsick sitting in the back seat of the van on a very curvy mountainous road and not to feed him strawberry yogurt and crackers right before we go. He ended up throwing up all over himself. Luckily, our friends were more prepared than we, and let us borrow their little boy's extra change of clothes. Once there, though, we had alot of fun. We went to a place that had lots of little tide pools. We saw lots of starfish and little crabs. Every time we have been to the coast it is kind of misting all the time. It's not your regular warm, sunny beach, but I think it is kind of majestic with the forest right there and the mist.

As far as a pregnancy update goes, things are going well. I am 35 weeks and counting! As weird as it sounds with how uncomfortable and tired and big I am, I am actually hoping to not have this baby until May (the due date is May 11). With Kason being early, I am worried this one will be early too! Isaac's midterms are the very last days of April so it would make things MUCH easier if he were done with those and could be around when the baby comes. Plus, we are still possibly moving around that time too! I have been thinking what it will be like to have two kids. How do I keep Kason from being completely bored and feeling neglected while I nurse practically ALL day?! Any suggestions?

BREAK!!

Isaac has been on Spring break the last week and it has been SO NICE to have him around!! We have been having fun!

The first day was nice weather and sunny. There is one random flower outside our door that Kason loves to touch.

We fed the ducks


Kason hammered his own picture easel at Home Depot and got his own tool apron.

And, Kason's favorite, we went to the pool!

Kason developed his own game of going to the edge of the pool and trying to jump in before we could get to him.

We love Spring break!

HaPPy BiRthDaY KaSoN!

Kason is 2!! His birthday was yesterday. We had a fun time having friends over for cake, ice cream and presents. The group from Isaac's program came over and they were so generous! Kason got to be the center of attention for quite awhile and he loved it. I am so grateful for this little boy. I know all parents think their kids are the cutest, and I am no different! Maybe it is because it is just Kason and I together all day everyday, but I am so attached to him! He doesn't have any seperation anxiety, but I think I do! He just makes me smile and laugh and melts my heart. This is not to say that some days I have just had it and need a break and am soo tired, but this littly guy makes me so happy! Some things about him now:

~He loves airplanes, dinosaurs, animals, trucks, buses, and playing

~He is talking so much. He can talk in sentences now and can pretty much express anything he wants to say. The other day he said, "I want to go to Walmart!" He also says, "I will get you" and runs around after you.

~ He laughs and smiles alot. He has developed a fake laugh which he likes to use when other people are laughing.

~ Whenever I get hurt, even if I just say ouch, he says, "otay mama?" and kisses it better.

~If he ever sees me crying he gets very concerned and gives me a hug and just looks at me.

~ He loves music and the song "The Wheels on the Bus" and he loves to dance (jump).

~He loves to talk on the phone and makes a beeline for my cellphone whenever it rings. He will usually answer it and say "hi Daddy" no matter who it is.

Some pictures of the party, and there are alot.

The cake

Blowing out the Candles

Sugar!

Presents

Playing his new guitar with Daddy before bed

I can't believe he has gone from a 5 1/2 pound newborn to now.

1 week

6 months

1 year
2 years

Naptime

Just a funny video. Kason is eating an apple and just started falling asleep while he was eating it, still chewing and everything! He woke up and was wide awake and happy right after I stopped the camera, but he still went down for a nap soon after this!!

This is him when he woke up from the nap. Look at that crazy hair! I was cracking up. He likes to put his head right in the corner of his crib so his hair usually gets pretty messed up from rubbing it on the bumper pad things. He, on the other hand, wasn't too happy when he woke up. He always calls for "Daddy" for a minute when he wakes up and wants him. Poor guy misses his dad so much!