7 Months - Lots of Monkey Business

7 Months - What!?

Where did 6 months go?

Lots of great things are happening these days!

We have gone 6 weeks without an episode.

That means 6 weeks without stepping foot into a Doctors Office!!!!! (sort of)

Huge milestone. Praise God!

Maybe it really was the caffeine!?!

Asher has adjusted to his Cranial Band. He has follow ups every week and they shave out the foam inside the band to allow for more growth. His grandma's typically take him to his appointments which has been a huge help! He is now wearing it 23 hours a day and it doesnt seem to phase him like it did the first week. His head already looks different and it hasnt even been a full 2 weeks!? The specialists said that he is already making great progress. A shape is finally forming!

Saturday we took Asher's band to Huntersville to have it painted by a local artist Leigh Anne Gibson (www.treasuredinteriors.net). She is so talented. When we saw her work we just knew she was the right one to paint Asher's band. We dropped it off and gave her some ideas and 2 hours ladies she called us back to pick it up. AMAZING!? We snapped a photo with her before we headed back to Charlotte with our masterpiece of art. One day we will do a mural on a wall in the bonus room and we now know just the right person to do it. Thanks Leigh Anne!

Finished Product Ready for Pick up!

5 monkey's total. Two hanging from letter's on his name.

3 representing: Hear no Evil, See no Evil, Speak no Evil.

Left side (The velcro strap is just to hold the band together)

Right side

Front of the Band

"Chunky Monkey"

A Video Tour of the Band and Live Asher Entertainment:

Asher will start physical therapy through the county's Early Intervention program this week. They will work on strengthening his neck, improving tummy time and helping manage his stiffness (relaxation techniques). Another new item that will be added to the list will be swallowing food.

We stopped baby food this past week after 3 unsuccessful weeks. Asher wasnt' getting the hang of it and we tried a lot of different techniques. The therapists and pediatrician recommended we take a 2-3 week break and come back to it. In the mean time we noticed that Asher has been putting EVERYTHING in his mouth because he is teething. We started to give him whole food items to knaw on and he has taken a liking to it. Just like his mommy he held and sucked the juice out of an entire dill pickle at Jason's Deli. He gums whole organic carrots and even squished/sucked and licked a banana today. Progress People! Maybe we will be skipping baby food? I think not.

"Why didn't anyone tell me eating could be this much fun!?"

"I put the food in my mouth myself mom!"

"Maybe that wasn't such a genius idea"

"Not so sure about this"

Asher is just about to cut his very first tooth. His gums are thick and white. We expect an arrival any day now. When his gums are really annoying him he does this classic "Renee face" where he pulls your hand or an item into his mouth and gets real aggressive with it. Check it out:

7 Month Milestones:

Sitting completely on his own (very rarely falling over)

Rolling belly to back (Working on Back to Belly still)

Creeping backwards but no scooting or crawling

Can hold himself up standing for several seconds at a time

Constantly talking, laughing and making new sounds

Transferring objects back and forth between his hands

Picking up and reaching for anything in his sight

Touching his toes (FINALLY!)

Wearing size 4 Overnight Diapers and Size 3 Huggies P&N Diapers during the day

Now taking baths in the big boy tub

Answers to his name

Mimics gestures (clapping hands, noises etc)

Flapping his arms to music

Expressing likes and dislikes

Playing instruments (piano, xylophone)

Hitting objects*

*(Not sure what this means but he slams his sticks on the ground repeatedly)

Pushing things away or off high surfaces

Loves to be upside down

Holds books while you ready to him

Wearing 12-18 month clothes (some 18 month)

Asher LOVES to be upside down and LOVES to get belly kisses from Daddy

Starting this week Asher will begin a Music and Me class once a week. He loves music and he loves other kids so this will be perfect for him.

"Clap Hands, Clap Hands"

"Nom, Nom, Nom"

"I can finally catch my own fall!"

"I caught on mom...cheeeese!"

Playing with Ugly Doll = Serious Face

We love our 7 month old Chunky Monkey!