Dear Asher...

Dear Asher,
I have to write fast because these days it is hard to tell if you and Zoee will sleep for thirty minutes or three hours!! I just had to write to tell you some new things going on in your little 20 month old life. You are so, so wonderful. I know many parents say that about their kids but we really do think that about you. Daddy and I were talking last night about you because you had done something so sweet and Daddy said (I am paraphrasing) "He (Asher) was definitely a tough baby and put us through so much but he is such a joy now..." We talk about that so much, Asher. Here is some things we want you to know about this season in your life.
~ You are a joy.
~ You love to please Mommy and Daddy.
~ You are SO obedient (you have your struggles every once in a while but not often and you crumble emotionally when you get into trouble).
~ You LOVE Zoee- you kiss her probably 5 times a day.
~ You love to "help" Mommy around the house. You "help" load and take out the trash. You "help" me sweep the kitchen and vacuum. You "help" me with laundry (you love jumping in the pile of clean clothes and slobbering all over them).
~ You love to bring Daddy "breakfast in bed." You are an early riser sometimes and when you get up before Daddy you will bring him part of your breakfast. We still find crumbs in our bed from days before.
~ You have a little bit of OCD like Mommy and Papa. You cannot stand when things are out of place. This makes you very good at "clean up" because you make sure every block is in its place.
~ You love animals, cars, trucks, trash, colors, dancing (especially Michael Jackson)
~ You have wonderful friends. You love Aeva, Brooks & Ian from Mother's Day Out, CJ and Noami from church, and ALL of our friends. You think guys are cooler than girls and you love sharing your toys with any people that we have over.

We went to the zoo today with you for the first time and we had a blast. You loved all of the animals but you loved the petting zoo the best! You were not scared at all! Zoee did great at the zoo too, though she did not really care so much for the animals- she just liked being held =).

Here are a few of your favorite words (besides Dada and Momma):
1. "t-r-a-s-h" followed by "tiki-tiki" (stinky-stinky)
2. "Yo-yo" (Zoee)
3. "car-ki-ki" (car carrier)
4. "big truck"
5. "bull-doe-doe" (bulldozer)
6. "tractor"
7. "odo" (yogurt)
8. turtle
9. roaster
10. monkey
11. "he-ca-ca" (helicopter)
12. "mama's caa-caa" (mommy's coffee)
13. "hot choc-cate" (hot chocolate)
... and much more!! You LOVE to talk!

Asher, we really do LOVE this season with you. The other day you knocked a flower arrangement over in Zoee's room and I did not have time to clean it up. I went back in her room a few minutes later and found you trying to clean it up after I had gotten on to you for making that mess. It was so precious to see that you were trying to help clean up that mess. It melts my heart to see how kind you are and how you love to be a good son to Daddy and me. You make us smile every day and we cannot give you enough kisses. We are so thankful for you.

Love,
Mommy