Great Grandma & Grandpa Berg

Derek's grandparents came to the hospital to visit Asher the day after he was born.  It was fun to have them meet Asher for the first time.  We also got a fun picture of four generations of Bergs.  I'm sure this will be the first of many of these pictures!

Week One

I am more tired than I ever have been.  We have done more laundry in one week than we usually do in two or three weeks.  We have 2 dogs that I love, but would really be okay letting them out the front door at 3 a.m.  I have not missed washing many, many bottles.  I have forgotten how bad baby diapers smell.  My house has been picked up about a million times and is still messy.

I love baby snuggling.  Watching my 2 kids together makes my heart completely full.  Watching Derek with both kids makes my world make sense.  Middle of the night feedings can actually be pretty great.  I love little boy clothes, especially when they make him look like a little man.  Annika taking every blanket she can get her hands on to cover up Asher is one of the sweetest things ever.  

Asher is now a week old.  It's been one of the best weeks ever.   

Big Sister

We wanted Annika to have a chance to meet Asher with just Derek and myself in the room.  Derek went and got her and brought her in the room while the nurse was checking Asher's vitals.  Annika was a little scared that I was in the hospital bed and didn't want much to do with me at first.  She also didn't want to get too close to Asher, but she did want to look at him.  Derek held her for awhile so she could see him and watch him with the nurse.  Then we gave her the presents we had for her and that really broke the ice!  She climbed up on the bed with me and opened her presents and then she was ready to give Asher the presents she bought him.  She picked out a super soft stuffed sheep and she made him a pumpkin and she really wanted to give them to him.  Once she did all of that, she was ready to hold him.  Seeing my two children together was one of the best moments of my life.  It was so sweet and Annika was so loving towards her little brother.  We made sure to get pictures of her being so nice to him so we could remind her later that she really does like him!  It was really a nice time for us and I am so glad we had that time together.  But, as quickly as she became interested in him, she was done and ready to play with her stickers and toy we got her.  Over all the introduction went better than I thought it would and couldn't be happier.

Asher William Berg

We went to the hospital at 5:30 on Friday morning to get ready for my c-section.  I was kind of a wreck.  Derek was a little better than me.  The great thing about the hospital where I delivered is how supportive everyone is.  Within 30 minutes I felt more relaxed and less scared than I had in a long time.  When I had Annika, everything happened so fast, and I don't remember much of it.  What I do remember is foggy and probably because of pictures.  This time around everything was much more laid back and we tried to just soak it all in.  The surgery itself was good for the baby but more difficult for me.  I got sick during and then had some pain in my chest.  I was quickly reassured the pain was normal and from all of the pressure they were putting on me getting the baby out.  I was given medicine for both things and from that point on, everything was great. 

Asher William Berg was born at 8:05 on October 12, 2012.  He was 8 lbs, 11 oz, 19 1/2 inches long.  Yes, he was a big baby, but Annika was 9 lb, 12 oz, 21 inches long.  So, not quite as big as his big sister.  I'm more than okay with that!  

We have had many people ask where we found his name.  We had a name picked out for awhile but it never seemed exactly right to me.  So I kept looking for a name that would fit.  I came across Asher somewhere, I don't exactly remember where, but I liked it.  We always knew his middle name would be William.  That was my dad's name.  Derek and I both felt that Asher William was perfect.  Asher means happy or blessed.  He is perfect.  He is a blessing.  We are so beyond thrilled that our family is finally complete.

Just after delivery in the recovery room.

Meeting Aunt Kristen for the first time. 

Cousin Ashton, Aunt Kristen, and Asher.

Asher and Grandma Jan.

I'm pretty tired, but loving getting to finally hold him. 

Asher and Grandma Glenda

Aunt Jacque getting some time holding Asher. 

Zeke with his cousin.

Proud Papa.

Asleep after a very busy day.

The night before

Tomorrow morning, we are going to welcome my son into the world, Asher William Berg.  I should be sleeping right now, but can't get myself to do it.  Monica and I are excited, and I'll admit it, a little scared about the major surgery part.  In some ways, we are handling it well, in others, we aren't. 
There are a lot of pressures with a new baby, to take care of them, to make sure they are healthy, to be gentle with them, as they feel like they could be broken by the slightest thing.  Then there's the pressure of raising him.  I worry about teaching him to be good.  Raising him to be strong and kind, aggressive in his endeavors, gentle in his relationships.  To love those around him, and be honest. 
I worried about that with Annika, but for some reason, I also didn't feel pressured about her.  Maybe it's because I feel like I need to be the role model for him and I fear I will not live up to hype.  Maybe I feel a little more accutely, on the eve of his birth, my own failures, my own short-comings, and pray that the shadows of my past do not haunt him.  Of course, a lot of cliches are also going through my head, that he will 'forge his own path,' the 'sins of the father' and all that.  What I really want is what all fathers have wanted, that he's healthy, happy, and everything goes well. 
  Nothing has given me more pleasure than watching my daughter discover the universe, one step, one episode of Dora, one Pirate, one b'byes, one Monster, one Gymnastics class, one Baby, one hug on the dog, one Band-Aid at a time.  I don't know what Asher has for this world.  I don't know what this world has for Asher.  I do know that our world is going to get just a tad bit bigger, more fulfilling, more rich, than we ever thought possible and I can't wait to share that with him.  I am grateful that God is granting us this opportunity to share this world with two wonderful children.

End of Summer Part 2

Towards the end of summer we headed down to visit my sister and my mom.  Annika had a blast playing with all of Zeke and Dagan's toys.  Especially the skateboard.  Zeke also has hamsters and Annika thought they were pretty fun.  I'm pretty sure she would have loved to bring one home.  Matt was in agreement with this too.  Me, not so much.  So for now, they will stay with Zeke and we will just visit.  After hanging with my family, we headed off to the lake with some friends.  We didn't stay long but we had a great time.  I hope we can do it again next summer, when I'm not pregnant and it isn't so hot.  

Annika loved playing on the skateboard.  I'm sure we should get her one.  But we probably won't.  Just another reason to go visit Aunt Jacque and family.

Watching the Olympics.  

Playing with Zeke.  They had a great time together during the weekend.

This is at my mom's house.  We were in the kitchen and Annika was watching cartoons in the bedroom.  Derek went to check on her and this is what he found.  She isn't up super high, which is why we got the camera before getting her down, but after the photo shoot, we did put her on the floor and told her not to do it again.  

Playing at the lake.  She liked getting pulled around in the "boats."  

I don't remember what we had done this day, but I do know she didn't have a nap.  It was also around 6:30 and she stayed that way until I put her to bed around 7:00.  

As hard as it was to go back to work and leave Annika with a new daycare, I'm looking forward to the next few months.  Annika loves all her new friends at daycare, my school year is going well, as is Derek's, and everyday we get closer to welcoming our little guy home.  I love summer, but this will be a great fall!

End of Summer Part 1

Now that school has started, I have found it more difficult to get pictures uploaded all the time.  So, I thought I would post a few from the past month or so.  We had a great end to the summer and I am certainly ready for fall to arrive.  Not only for the cooler weather, but that also means the baby will be here!  I know Annika will miss swimming everyday but she loves her new "school" so much I don't think she will mind too much! 

Annika went to a couple of swim practices with Derek towards the end of summer.  On this lucky day she got to have doughnuts as a treat.  Swimming and doughnuts makes a pretty great day!

We potty trained Annika over the course of 3 days towards the end of July.  While those days at home were very, very long, it was also very successful.  I'm so glad we chose to use this program as opposed to something else.  Annika took to it very quickly and LOVED her new underwear.  She only wanted to wear it and no pants.  So while letting your child play in the front yard in their underwear is a little (or a lot) white trash, she looks pretty cute pushing her baby stroller and wearing her tennis shoes.

Playing a video game with Ashton.  Ashton is a good sport.

Just hanging out watching TV.  Probably watching Dora.

I love when kids "hide".  Here she is hiding from us.  I wonder when she will realize that we can totally see her.  I hope not too soon.  

Playing around at Derek's pool.