Colorado Christmas

So we had an incredible first Christmas with Asher. He enjoyed his first plane ride back to Colorado, much to our relief. It was a whirlwind vacation, full of friends, family, and all kinds of fun. It was awesome to introduce Asher to everyone. We also had some professional pictures taken by Kelly Mulhern. She put together a slide show set to music at http://kmulhern.com/asherjack/. She did a great job...Thanks for the tip Ally! Here's you all had a wonderful Christmas and your 2010 is full of happiness!

Testing out the Santa Hat before Christmas

Asher says, "Hey Nora, you're little like me!"

Christmas with Santa Claus

Boone and Asher were instant friends

The older, wiser David Alejandro counseling the young Asher Jack

Longwood Gardens

For those of you who aren't familiar with Longwood Gardens, it's a huge botanical garden in Kennett Square, PA. Every Christmas they put up a pretty spectacular lights display. We decided to brave the crowds--and the cold--to take a gander for ourselves. It turned out to be a great night. Asher demanded to be out of his stroller so he could see the lights, which he stared out with a gaze of true wonder. We're planning a return trip in the spring...without the crowds.

Asher checking out the lights

Inside the conservatory

Conservatory

Thanksgiving

Nana and Pop-Pop visited for Thanksgiving and Pop-Pop got to meet Asher for the first time. We all had a great time. Here are some pictures from the visit.

Our little slugger

Asher and Nana

Asher spent roughly 23 1/2 hours a day sleeping on Pop-Pop's chest

Asher, Pop-Pop and the ball from Ryan Howard

Meeting for the first time at PHL

December Pictures of Asher

Asher is almost 9 weeks old. Right now he enjoys eating, playing, smiling, cooing, and going to new places where he discovers new sights and sounds. He has his next check-up this Wednesday, then Monday we're off to Colorado for Christmas. Here are a few pictures from the last three weeks.

Asher's face pretty much sums up the Skins' season

Meet my friend Snuggle Bunny

Can't wait for Christmas

The Crocodile Hunter

A deer in the headlights

6 Week Checkup

Asher had his six week checkup. He weighs in at 10 lbs. 2 oz. and is now 2 feet long. We received good news that Asher's blood test for Congenital Hypothyroidism came back negative. He's beginning to smile and starting to figure out that his arms are actually attached to him. He loves to hear all the cool noises he can make, especially grunting and squealing. Cori unfortunately has to go back to work after Thanksgiving. She's looking forward to teaching again, but not so happy about having to leave Asher. Jimmy passed his written exams and has his oral exams on Wednesday. If he passes (keep your fingers crossed), he'll be off till the New Year. It'll be just Dad and the boy at home during the day and they'll both be missing Mommy.

Baba made Asher a Sock Monkey, a Howard family tradition. Of course, they became instant friends.

Yeah! Time to eat!

Morning Workout

That bath was Quacktastic!

How you doin'?

Our Newest Fightin' Phillie

So the World Series hasn't quite gone as we had planned, but we still love our Fightin' Phils. We decided to get all geared up to root on the Fightins in Game 6. Asher put on his "First Phillies Tee" that Pop-Pop sent to him. It's still a little big, but that just means he can wear it for the start of Spring Training, too!

First Halloween

Yesterday was Asher's very first Halloween and, after a great deal of thought, he decided to dress up as a giraffe. The plan was to go trick or treating at Aunt Danielle and Uncle Bruce's, but the rain kept us inside. So, Asher only wore his costume for 10 minutes, but it was a very good 10 minutes!

The giraffe in his natural habitat

Asher as a giraffe, Dad as a Notre Dame fan, and Mom as, well, a good lookin' mom