My favorite toys!

Ashton loves climbing in and out of boxes!

My new favorite toy! He loves to open and close everything! Hopefully this will keep him occupied for a few months!

Watch Ashton Grow - 1 year old!

Should I be worried??

I have a climber!!!

The big birthday!

Trying to keep Ashton entertained long enough the sing Happy Birthday! Poor guy was exhausted by the end of the day! He didn't even dig into his piece of cake, not even a bite of ice cream!!!

The Tomate grandchildren (some of them) and great-grandchildren

Enjoying the pool party!!

Ashton and cousin William enjoying the bubbles... thanks Auntie Laura for the super duper floating bubbles!

I see trouble coming in our future

All the grandkids together for the 1st time since Christmas. They all enjoyed each others company. Ashton may be the smallest, but he sure doesn't have a problem being the bully. He pulled poor Iris' hair and frequently stole toys from William. I hope he doesn't have little man syndrome!

Sweet and innocent... the Besmer grandchildren Ashton, Iris, and William

Here comes the trouble... hopefully we'll never have to see the boys behind bars

Ashton doing all the leg work and William looking on

The boys playing the piano

Happy Birthday to Ashton!

We had the chance to celebrate Ashton's 1st birthday at Matt's parents house. It was quite the celebration. We had at least 50 people there to enjoy in the fun. Ashton did very well with all of the company. He missed his 2nd nap of the day but barely made it to the cake. Unfortunately, he was not in the mood to play with his cake. Oh well, maybe next year. Or maybe he's just not a cake kind of kid!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Ashton turns 1 year old today! We can't believe that one year ago, Ashton entered into this world and he changed our lives! We head to California tomorrow for the big birthday bash! So, keep checking for updated pictures!

Ashton and a balloon

I'm not sure what got into Ashton tonight but he was a little crazy! No sugar, no juice, just pure baby craze!

Ashton's a good walker!

Poor Parker. Asthon has made a seat out of him.

Ashton giving Parker some loving. Poor dog!

Ashton and Dad walking back!

Dad and Ashton playing with Parker

Ashton's trying to get a good look at Parker playing catch with Matt.

Ashton's walking has improved quite a bit over the past month or so. Today was a beautiful day so we went to the nearby park for Ashton and Parker to play and enjoy the sun. Ashton was brave and walked away from us. You can see him walking back! He even showed how he can say "dog" now!

Wild child!

Oh my!!

Ashton is a climber! Thankfully he did not fall... this time around! Maybe after he falls, he'll stop climbing!

A week of antibiotics

Before antibiotics... yuck!

One week on antibiotics has definitely helped clear up Ashton's impetigo! Thank goodness because I plan on having one year pictures taken!

Ashton throws a temper tantrum!

I know this won't be funny in the very near future, but right now it's so funny! I can't help but to just laugh at him. I know he's just frustrated and whatever he is upset about and can't communicate, but it's so darn cute!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, it's official! I am well into my 30s now, I am 31! So my day starts out with a visit to the acute care clinic. Ashton was well, you saw, diagnosed with impetigo and a bonus ear infection. Then, I had a quick work day. Then we ran some errands at Target and Toys R Us. As you can see, we bought presents for Ashton. I couldn't pass up 30% off all Fisher Price toys. I bought his birthday present that we are setting aside until the actual day. And finally, we stop at Bonefish Grill to celebrate my birthday dinner! What a day!

Playing with Dad

Ashton had a great time playing in his new house with Dad!

A new toy!

We bought a new toy for Ashton. I thought Ashton would like it because it has the little plastic balls but we surprisingly didn't get very many. He loves slamming into the walls and tipping it over. He is 100% boy! We also bought his birthday present but are going to hold it hostage until his actual birthday!

We have been initiated into the daycare world!

Well, we finished our 1st week of daycare and well, we have been initiated and infected! We noticed red spots appearing on Ashton's chin towards the end of the week that had progressively gotten worse and spreading over the weekend. So, we ended up taking him into the Acute Care clinic on post. We have been diagnosed with imetigo! Bonus -- he also has another ear infection! So, thankfully both can be cured with the same antibiotic, so we are on Augmentin for 10 days and a topical cream. It already looks better but still pretty gross as you can see!

Ashton's last day at daycare

Ashton had his last day at daycare last week. He had been with Miss Patrice since he was 3 1/2 months old. It was hard to leave but I think it will be a good move for him. Her husband is getting out of the Army so they will be moving soon. We will miss them! This is a picture of Ashton with her and her son, Bryant.
Nadia is her daughter and Ashton's girlfriend.
Miss Patrice celebrated his birthday early since she wasn't going to see him on his big day. Unfortunately he didn't want anything to do with the cupcake. He did take time to pose for his picture.
Apparently, he did not want to participate.
Ashton digs into some of the frosting. Thanks for everything Miss Patrice.

Ashton started his new daycare on Tuesday. He is now at the Childtime Learning Center. He went straight into the toddler room. They don't give him a bottle in that room which he is tolerating well. We have been working with the sippy cup since he was ~8 months old. I still give him a couple of bottles at home to get the iron-fortified formula but we will easily wean off the bottle. He also transitioned to a cot at naptime which they also report he has tolerated well. I am so surprised he has done so well. He even does well with drop-offs. He lets out a little whimper but the provider picks him up and he's fine. He's such a big boy now!

The Aquarium

After a morning of meetings, Matt and I took Ashton to the Aquarium. I really wanted to go to the zoo, but after a down pour of rain during Ashton's afternoon nap, we decided to play it safe and stay indoors.

If you look closely, the outfit says to FEED ME. This was a wrapper that somehow Ashton ended up with. He also found a piece of candy that we discovered half eaten in his mouth. Gross!

Dad and Ashton at the Aquarium entrance. This was the only exhibit that Ashton would actually look and pay attention to.

a rare white, not sure if it's a crocodile or an alligator.

Ashton and Matt trying to touch the sting rays. Those little things were so deep. I had to stick my entire arm in to try and touch them. So, needless to say, Ashton was not successful. But he does appear interested!

It's a little blurry, but it's a cool seahorse!

and they had a penguin exhibit.

This is the entrance that had all kinds of different fish, sharks, and sting rays!

Ashton looked into the shark tank for a second!

Our day alone in the city

The purpose for our New Orleans trip was for Matt to attend some meetings. He had meetings all day Saturday, so it was just Ashton and myself. We stuck to our schedule. We ate a wonderful, free cook-to-order breakfast. Followed by some time in the pool and naptime. Ashton loved playing with the large round pillow.

You mean this is all we need? Notice the other toys being neglected. Then after the afternoon nap, we headed out to the Children's Museum.

Yummy! Ashton loved to eat blocks!

and climb through the houses (not really). he only went through one!

He loves to smash and throw cars.

And of course, to drive the cars! Then a quick walk through downtown and we ended up at an indoor mall, Riverwalk. Nothing special about the mall except that it did overlook the Mississippi River.

Checking out New Orleans

Don't worry. We just stopped long enough to get a daiquiri on Bourbon Street.

Ashton enjoying the overlook of the Mississippi River

Ashton was so cute. He would clap to the music. If he has any bit of musical inclination, it would not be inherited. Matt and I are both musically deficient.

Good ol' New Orleans houses

Ashton chased down the birds. Poor things! Just a little taste of what Parker deals with everyday.

It was such a hot day. Matt decided to dunk Ashton in the fountain. He loved it!

Good ol' jazz music