Friday May 21st, 2004

Right now you are lying on the bed crying. I’ve been trying to get you to take a nap – with no luck. I realized that if I keep you on a good schedule, you are a much happier baby. I don’t have to hold you all the time. You love to lay on my bed and bat at your little jungle gym toys. You get so excited that you kick your feet and wave your arms like crazy. You smile all the time. I love it! Finally some hair is growing back on top of your head. I’m so glad. You are getting big. I can’t believe you will be 3 months old in a few weeks.

You slept through the night 5 nights in a row last week. What an angel!

Last Sunday May 16^th was your blessing day. It was so special. Grandma and Grandpa Jones along with Isaac, Carly, Renae, and Emily were here from New York. Jennie, Jacob and Becky, Amber, Gerda, Aunt Eva, Aunt Erma, Rick and Katie, Grandpa and Grammy Brunt, Allison, Tyler and kids, Kim and Sky also came. We had quite a few visitors. Dad gave you a beautiful blessing. He blessed you to be Christ-like, compassionate, and a life-long missionary. He got all choked up towards the end. It was very sweet. You smiled through the whole thing.

We came home after church and had a big party in your honor. I’m so grateful for you, Ashton. I love you so much! I’m glad you’re in our family.

Love,

Mom

Sunday April 18, 2004

I’ve been neglectful in writing, but things have been so crazy that I haven’t had a chance.

We moved on March 21^st to Utah. That was a big event, but it went well. We’ve just been settling in and trying to get used to the big changes in our lives. You have been incredibly fussy. We finally determined that you haven’t been getting enough to eat. So, now I feed you all day long and you are happy. You eat more than any baby I’ve ever seen. Actually, I don’t know if you really do – it seems that way, though. You want to eat all the time. You also like to be held. You are happy if you’re not hungry and we’re holding you. You are happy for a little while if we put you down, but you want to be picked up again after a little while. You are really good at night – most of the time. You are kind of a high maintenance baby at the moment. We love you so much in spite of yourself, though. We love to hold you and kiss you.

I’ve gotten a couple of smiles from you already. Last night you gave me a big smile. I was so excited to see it. All the hair has fallen out on top of your head. The remaining hair is turning red. We look at you and wonder where you came from. You don’t look like us at all. You have a few Brunt features, but other than that, it’s a mystery. You are so cute, though. Now that I am feeding you more, you are getting a round little face and fat rolls on your legs. You are so cute! I love you so much my sweet baby boy!

Love,

Mom

Thursday March 11, 2004

You are here! You were born Thursday March 4^th 2004 at 6:19 PM. What a wonderful day! I went to my doctor’s appointment at 11:30 and she said that I should head over to the hospital – that I was dilated to a 5. Your Dad and I were so surprised and excited. I wasn’t in labor yet, but the doctor thought we should go to the hospital anyway. We came home and got everything ready, then headed on over. When we got to the hospital, they induced labor at 3:50. Labor was really hard and painful, but quick. You came out two and a half hours later. You were 7 lbs 10 ounces and 21 1/4 inches long. You are so beautiful and perfect. You have light hair and blonde eyelashes. Your eyes are already the color of your Dad’s. We’ll see if they change. You are so tiny and beautiful. I love to hold you and just look at you. You have fine little hairs all over your face and body. You love to cuddle with us. You love to be held. Your Dad is in heaven – he loves to sleep with you on his stomach. Right now you sleep most of the time – but when you are awake you are content to just look around. You’re not very fussy. You’re wonderful at night – you’ve been letting us rest. When I feed you, you stick out your little foot for me to rub. It’s so funny – just like Alex used to do.

Alex is very excited to finally see baby Ashton. He loves to kiss your hair. He is a little bit jealous, but it is wearing off. I hope we can keep you safe from your over-excited big brother. He gets a little rough with you.

I love you so much I can’t even tell you. I love to hold you in my arms and smell your baby smell. You are so sweet. I feel so blessed and honored to be your mother.

Monday February 2, 2004

I’m getting all the baby stuff ready for you to come. I have dreams every night that you are born. You are getting very big, I can tell. My stomach is starting to get really big, and you are getting cramped in there. Just a few more weeks and then it will be time for you to come. Well, hopefully it won’t be much longer than 5 weeks. It seems like such a long time, but when I look at all I need to do to get ready for you to come, and then to move afterwards, it doesn’t seem like such a long time.

Love,

Mom

Wednesday January 28, 2004

Week 34

I am getting so excited to see you! I have started getting everything ready for you to come. I’ve got lists of things to buy and do all over the place. My stomach is getting big, and you are getting big, too. You move around so much that you wear me out. I had a dream last night that you were born. I was so excited just to hold you, and smell you. When I woke up and realized that I still have six more weeks, I was really disappointed.

Love,

Mom

Sunday December 15, 2003

Week 27

I am getting really excited to see your little face. My stomach is getting nice and round. It’s fun to actually look like I’m pregnant now. You move so much that it sometimes wears me out.

We talk to Alex a lot about his baby brother. I don’t know if he understands or not. I’m so excited for you two to be friends. This is such a special relationship, and I hope that we can help it grow.

I only have 13 more weeks to go. It does and doesn’t seem like a long time. I’m excited to have a little baby again. I can’t even imagine what you look like, or what you’ll be like. I can’t wait to see you.

Love,

Mom