A Year in Review and a New Happy One Too!

Happy New Year!  Or at least we hope it is!

Since we drug our feet this year, you get a New Year blog instead of the annual Christmas Blog!

What a year 2010 was!



January-
Askvig's buy house
Askvig's paint new house
Askvig's move-in to new house


February-
Josh decides to run for public office
Josh announces run for Bismarck City Commission
Crystal pulls hair out for agreeing to allow Josh run


March-
Josh starts campaigning by knocking on doors all-over Bismarck
Crystal tries to keep up with McKale as he starts crawling
McKale tries to get away from everyone by crawling


April-
Josh's 28th birthday and he's still campaigning by knocking on doors
Crystal starts wondering if Josh still lives at home
McKale starts babbling


May-
Josh still campaigning knocking on doors all-over Bismarck
Crystal wonders if she still has husband
McKale starts pulling himself up and walking around furniture


June-
Josh elected Bismarck City Commissioner by just over 200 votes
Crystal happy to have husband back
McKale happy in new home


July-
Josh selected President of DSU Alumni Association Board
Crystal keeps track of Kale
Kale keeps track of Mom



August-
Kale's cousin Dyson is born


September-
KALE TURNS ONE!
Crystal turns 29.....again and gets promoted to boss at work!
Josh is busy with work

 
October-
Kale's first time trick-or-treating
Crystal and Josh take cruise on Carnival Splendor- one month later this ship gets stranded at sea!

November-

Kale starts walking...

Mom and Dad try to keep up!

December-
McKale goes sledding for the first time in Williston
Josh and Crystal enjoy watching Kale open Christmas presents for first time!



Happy New Year to all and best wishes in 2011!

Too long to be away!

The annual stuffing extravaganza is here!  Yes tomorrow C and I will celebrate our 6th year of C and J Askvig Thanksgiving Holiday.  Yes I will be reminding C of our first attempt, we are much more prepared 6 years later.  Also, this year K will be old enough to actively participate in the self stuffing.  It is amazing how one year changes a child so much.  One year ago he was still only having bottles with strictly formula and and just a touch of rice cereal.  Today, he is almost walking, drinks milk out of sippy cup, and doesn't eat unless he can feed himself!

This is short and sweet but I am linking to some photos of the family and a video of our pride and joy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2343591&id=5305079&l=3fe45c8d4e

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2327890&id=5305079&l=5bc99ee734

Video:

In like a lion!

Its been awhile since we posted on here and since it is a gloomy day out, what a better day to sit back and reflect on the last month.  If you ask J, C, and K, March has arrived like a lion.  It has been rainy, busy, and full of zest! Since the last post, the new house has become home.  J, C, and K like coming back at night and realizing that this is the house they will grow together as a family and begin their identity in the community. 

Speaking of community identity, J has made a big announcement on March 2nd he announced that he would be a candidate for the Bismarck City Commission (Click here for the article). You can view his campaign website at http://www.joshaskvig.com/.  J, C, and K look forward to sharing Josh's vision for the future of Bismarck and hope you will tell your friends, relatives, neighbors, and everyone you know who lives in Bismarck about what a great guy J is and how he would be an excellent commissioner. Also, he is taking contributions!

C is busy at work and raising a son and creating a home.  She is a wonderful mother, loving wife, and is happily nesting into the new home.  She also is spending her time making J look good in this campaign. He is lucky to have a former 1st runner-up Miss ND doing his wardrobe!

Last but not least, K.  This little man is growing like a weed.  At 5 months old he already needed his first haircut and Grandma Lucy cut off about an inch. Now at almost 6 months of age he knows how to roll over from stomach to back like a pro he talks to his friends, cats, and parents constantly, has started eating rice cereal and vegetables and is growing up right beneath everyone's eyes.  Also, he is excited because in August he gets to meet his cousin Ham Bone! Yep uncle E and auntie J are expecting. K is excited to teach little cuz the ropes of being an Askvig!

The catnip kids are slowly figuring out the new digs.  Lola in her infinite wisdom decided to get outside the other day and ended up spending the day out in the snow and cold.  Lucky for her and J, C found her outside right before everyone went to bed.  Boy I hope they figure out this keep an eye on the kids thing before K starts walking!

We hope everyone is doing well and are looking forward to seeing many of you in the coming weeks ahead. Stay in touch!

Settling in

Wow, the Winter Olympics are here already?! J, C, and K are wondering where the time has gone. It seems like a blink of the eye ago it was Christmas and now Easter is looking on the horizon. As many of you know, the Askvig's have a new house and they are slowly settling in and making it a home. In fact, they recently commented on how they are beginning to forget how life was before thishome.

C is still at Centre Inc. and enjoys having a place to call hers. Specifically, she was just quoted the other day mentioning how she enjoyed the fact thatshe could do what she wanted with the house because it was hers. Currently she is trying to get J to refinish a couple of spots on the floor that need to be finished. Also, she is trying to finish decorating K's room so she can move on to other rooms in the house.

J is busy with NDEA business. He really likes having a home for his son and wife. He enjoys the home projects but looks forward to it being nice outside. J is getting ready to refinish the spots on the floor that need to be finished.

K recently came down with RSV-respiratory syncytial virus and has been feeling a bit under the weather. He has had to complete nebulizer treatments 3 times a day for the last 5 days. It looks like he is beginning to feel better and J and C are hopeful that he can go back to daycare by Tuesday. K can almost sit up on his own and has in fact done it for a very short period of time. Also, he is starting to wiggle. If you put him down in one spot it is likely you will find him in a totally different spot in a matter of minutes. J and C will be buying gates for their new home soon and will be chasing a busy boy around the house.

Everyone is settling in to new routines, new showers, new surroundings, even the catnip kids have found new hiding places. Settling in is nice...

McKale's Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good New Year!

Twas Christmas Eve Eve and all through our house

No one was sitting still not even the mouse

Mommy was racing to pack up for the move

While Daddy was hoping the financing goes smooth

See in the New Year we will have a new address

Mom and Dad says it my house to grow in and impress

Going backwards through 2009

You'll find that J and C have had quiet the time

It has been a year of big changes you see

In September along came Me!

My name is McKale, I am a cutie

I love my parents even though they are kinda fruitie!

I am the light of my family's life...

but for my two cats I have created strife!

This summer Mom and Dad spent a lot of time outside

There wasn't a wedding from which they could hide

While most of their friends were busy with nuptials

Mom and dad were having baby name duals

In May mommy made Dad and me so proud

She walked across a stage in hat and black shroud

Tucked in her tummy I heard them call her Master

She even took some time off work to get done faster

In April, Uncle Shawn and Aunt Kim went to Vegas

All I know is that Uncles father-in-law said it cost him wages

Before that the year started off with big news

We told Grandmas and Grandpas that our house would have an extra pair of shoes

Well since 2009 has been such a busy year

I believe in 2010 we have nothing to fear

If you are in Bismarck come come see...

our new digs and if you can keep up with Me!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good New Year!

Love,

McKale, Mom, and Dad!

Ten Fat Turkeys

K's first Turkey day! We read Ten Fat Turkey's to start. Then we got up and made cinnamon roles. K has got it right, he slept in until 9 AM this morning...mom and dad were soooo Thankful!!!



Right now the Turkey is cooking and K and C are napping. J is ready to Skype call home to Grandma's and Grandpa's! It will be a good time.



Happy Thanksgiving everyone, we are thankful for all of our friends, family, and for each other!

The Ambidextrous parent!

Seven weeks of parenthood and J and C are quickly learning that if you want to eat warm food you better learn to be ambidextrous pretty quickly. Left handedness has its own challenges, but learning how to be left handed while trying to feed your 7 week old son with the other, makes it that much more difficult. Further, learning how to do this while your son is screaming in public...an idea for a new reality show!!!

Also, parents, especially those that live a distance from grandma and grandpa, pick up a webcam and sign into Skype. J and C used it last night with Grandma A. It was neat to watch K get to respond to a new voice. Also, Grandma liked it because she got to see K for a virtual Trick or Treat!

Speaking of Trick or Treat, C and J took K to some friends houses last night for K's first Halloween. He was dressed as a pumpkin but the outfit was so big he looked like an orange seasame street character. He had no idea what was going on but mom and dad had fun showing him off!

Also, it was a big week this last week. K moved to his crib. It has helped him sleep better, it has helped J and C sleep better and it has helped the Catnip kids sleep better. Speaking of the Catnip kids, they are adjusting nicely. They do not fully comprehend but they have learned that when he screams get out of the way!

The latest measurements for K:

21 1/2 inches

10 lbs 7 oz

Happy Halloween!

The slasherfest 2009 movie line-up: 1) Child's Play 2)Cujo 3) Halloween H2O. Every year J and C watch slasher movies for Halloween. This was K's first foray....lucky for mom and dad he slept through them so we will not have nightmares!

K the Great Pumpkin!

Kale has a belly button!

Yep, the cord fell off yesterday and Kale officially has an "out-innie." Half of it is an "innie" and half of it is an "outtie." No more gross cleaning around a blackish, purplish, brownish, oozing hard decaying skin stump. No more worring about the diaper covering up the cord and irritating Kale's skin. Most of all, no more worrying about Kale kicking over the water bucket for his bath!

The falling off of the cord meant that another important milestone could take place, his first "real" bath. J and C stripped him down and filled the tub, well ok just put enough water in to allow him to get a wet back while laying on his pad. Kale either loves or hates having a bath. Why do you ask, well he screamed the whole time. C thinks he hated, J thinks he loved it...I think mom's instincts are right on this one because the minute they took him out and put him in his towel he stopped crying. The best part of the bath was that Kale got a massage afterwards. He loved his massage, in fact it is the only time J and C have seen him so quiet while naked. This kid hates being naked....J and C both hope it stays that way well into his 30's!

Kale is growing up right before J and C's eyes. It seems like just yesterday he was born and now he is a week from being a month old!

More milestones to come!

The perfect son!

Kale had his 2 week check up today. He weighed 8 lbs 8 oz. He has gained 1 lb and 2 ozs since his birth. He was 19 3/4 inches long. Apparently, you shrink a little bit after birth because he was 20 inches at birth. The nurse assured us that this was normal! Also, his doctor looked him over and told J and C that he was a perfect little boy. The doctor went on to state that it must be the great parenting. J and C could not agree more! Anyway they wanted to share and here is a picture from yesterday!

McKale's adventure home

As many of you know, McKale is home! He has taken to it like a bear to a hibernation! The kid sleeps and eats. Kale is quickly become a kitty favorite, until he wakes up anyway. The catnip kids watch him intently and sleep near him. Suprisingly they have left alone for the most part just sniffing him and then running for the hills when he starts to cry. J and C have been doing a pretty good job trying to stay rested. They find it amazing how fast that he grows up and it has only been 5 days.

J and C are doing pretty well as new parents. They try to sleep when Kale sleeps but they still are pretty tired. Also, they get a little nervous about if he is eating enough and if he is having enough dirty diapers, etc... It is funny the things they worry about as new parents. J and C take one short trip with him out of the house everyday so they get the hang of it and Kale gets use to it. J thinks it is funny how people just swoon over a baby! Everywhere yesterday strangers kept coming up to J and C to ask about Kale and how old he was, how big, could they touch him, etc... C gets a bit annoyed at the fact that everyone wants to touch him but she is doing pretty good.

Yesterday, September 17th, Kale had to get some lab work done to make sure he was eating enough and to make sure he was getting rid of the jaundice. J and C were worried about how hard he would cry and if he would be upset. Instead when the lady stuck his foot, he fell asleep. It was an amazing show of how parents often over-worry about some things. Everything checked out which was a relief!

Grandma Lucy has been staying with the kids and grandkid. While she was sick the first day, she is feeling better and has been a saint helping around the house cooking, cleaning, and otherwise keeping tabs on the house, while J and C keep tabs on Kale.

This weekend Uncle Shawn and Aunt Kim are coming to visit. Apparently they are a pretty wild duo and C keeps Kale to not listen to Shawn's naughty words and bad habits. Then on Sunday night the first outing to church and Grandma Stacy will be here for week two.

More to come soon! Thank you to everyone who has been visiting, saying hello, and/or brining gifts. It is nice to know that the family is so loved!

"Welcome to the Future"~ Brad Paisley

Well hello, my name is McKale James Askvig, Mom and Dad sometimes call me Kale, and I am the newest member of the casa de Askvig! You'll notice the name of this post is "Welcome to the Future" named after the Brad Paisley song. My parents have been listening to that song a lot and I think that they think I am that future (Dad is nodding his head right now!).

As some of you know, my original due date was September 24th, 2009. However, due to some health concerns the doctor schedule mom for something they called an induction. I was going to be forced out on Monday September 14th, 2009, whether I wanted to or not. However, I like my parents am stubborn and do things on my own terms, so instead...mom started labor with me on Saturday September 12th. She started feeling kinda funny during the garage sales, and I kept hearing her say something about how if daddy would not have been stubborn she could have bought more baby clothes because she would have known I was a boy. Anyway, that evening mommy laid down to take a nap, I know because I was on my head and she was snoring. When she woke up she mentioned something about how she was starting to feel tired and hurting. At 11:00PM mom and dad were laying down for bed before embarking on their last Sunday as just the two of them. Dad was just about sleep when I hit mommy with a good one and she shot out of bed. I then heard them counting something like 8 minutes or something like that. Anyway, they stayed awake for the next couple of hours until I finally heard daddy talking to someone else who I could not hear back.

Next thing I knew we were in the car headed somewhere and mommy was very uncomfortable. At 4:30Am on Sunday they checked into the Hospital. When we got moving upstairs we ran into the nurse who got us settled into a room. Well the nurse noticed Daddy was wearing something Arizona Wildcats and started to tell them how she lived in Tucson for awhile. This is important because it proved to be a deciding factor in how I got my name. I'll skip the gory details of what happened for the next almost 12 hours and sum it up by saying mom worked really hard but in the end it was better for all that I come out through something they called a "c-section." Next thing I knew I was looking at some weird blonde guy who was saying "hi baby...we are so excited to meet you!" Finally, I was put on some lady's stomach who started crying....I soon found out this was Mommy! I heard Dad say something to Mommy about you worked so hard you can pick out the name.

At this point I started thinking about the names I had heard them discussing for boys...Jace a combination of Dad and Mom's names, Bentley after my Great-grandpa, and McKale a name I kinda liked. Well apparently McKale is the name of the arena where my dad's favorite sports team the Arizona Wildcats play basketball games (Dad helped me link this information here for those of you who want to know more about the stadium). Anyway, Mommy (honest I heard) proposed the name McKale to Daddy early on (probably not knowing the connection). Daddy, obvioulsy, loved it and explained the connection.

Well Mommy as she was laying there apparently started thinking about the course of events (Dad's obsession with the Wildcats, the shirt he put on that night, the nice nurse who was excited about Daddy wearing U of A stuff, the fact that my name will match his other tattoo) and realized my name was destined to be McKale. So she said to Daddy, I think we should name him McKale. Daddy's eyes lit up and I thought I saw a tear. So here I am named McKale James (my Daddy's middle name is James). So what does my name mean? Well according to babynames.com, my name is a respelling of Michael and means one who is like God (see here). I think that is pretty fitting and I am betting my parents do too!

Anyway above is a picture of me, along with a new heading on the blog. I look forward to meeting all of you and writing here more. Right now I am hanging and getting to know Mom and Dad. Granma Lucy and Grandma Stacy will apparently be spending the next couple of weeks at my house with Mom and Dad to help get me on a "regular" routine. Also, I apparently have to cats at home dubbed the catnip kids and named McKenzie and Lola. Well I best go get some rest.

Lata! Burp...thanks mommy that feels better!

The Final Countdown

crib- check

diapers- check

diaper pail- check

hospital labor bag- check

rocking chair- being refinished

reading up on being parents- double check

prepared to be parents- well ummmmmmmmmmmm

The days are getting longer and the weeks drag on. C is starting to get miserably uncomfortable and J just feels guilty that he can't do anything about it. To put it shortly they are in the dog days of pregnancy.

It is amazing to think that just a few short months ago it was all still unreal for J and C. Today it is slowly sinking in that it is a few short weeks and life will change. Soon enough they will find out how they measure up and be completely responsible for another...what a rush, what a fear, and what a ride it will be...

Soon Wevig will be here! J and C can't wait...

Decisions, Decisions

So one of the things J and C are quickly learning is that as a future parent you make very BIG decisions. Decisions that can literally change a life. For starters the name. How do you pick a name. You want a name that fits your child's personality. You want a name that will be strong and yet calming. You want a name that will be not easy to make fun of or easily misspelled. But then you don't want all children with the same name you want it to be unique. Get the decision on the name wrong and you could mess your child up for life.

A second big decision is daycare. C and J both work out of the home and both plan to go back to work after baby arrives and mom heals. When thinking about daycare you have to decide who is going to spend a large chunk of the day with your child. Can this person be trusted. What philosophy do they have about child rearing. Do they spank? Is she (lets face it I don't know of any male daycare providers) licensed? For how many kids? What does it cost? How will we afford it? Luckily, J and C found a provider they like and are hoping for the best. Everything checked out and most questions were answered.

Another decision people forget to tell you about when thinking about parenthood is God parents. C and J are both Catholic so they are having their baby baptized in their church. However, the decision on who to chose to aid in the development of their child's faith life has been a very difficult one. They want to choose someone who is close, loyal, and has a good relationship with God and his/her faith. J and C are blessed to have a wide variety of people to choose from that meet these criteria but then the decision is also weighed upon how to make the right decision. Or is there a right decision?

Further, another decision you get to make for your child before he/she is born is discipline strategies. Granted, most discipline will not happen for some time but you want to have a plan ahead of time for consistency and to be prepared. J and C both have a generally good feel for how they want to parent and reward/discipline a child but it does not go without some decision making that you would not otherwise consider.

Finally, probably the biggest decision they have had to make is who to care for Weevig if something were to happen to both of them. This is not a decision anyone wants to think about or make but for the first time your life you have to consider how to make sure everything is in order if something were to happen.

Parenthood or future parenthood has opened J and C's eyes to a wide array of decision making that they never thought they would have to make. It only stands to continue to increase. What an awesome responsibility. They are ready for it!

BTW...the countdown is on until due date...t-minus 57 days...if anyone has office pools on due dates J wants in they have to pay for this kid somehow!

Childbirth Classes 101

So tonight is the start of childbirth class at St. A's. J and C go this evening and then all day tomorrow. While thinking about this, it dawned on them that they have no clue what to expect tonight. So naturally being in the 21st Century they googled it. Here are some interesting articles of note:

According to Parents.com "...a little education can go a long way in boosting your confidence and dispelling the many myths about Labor Day." This would be a good thing! J and C are both a little nervous about the big day and it does not help that they have been watching the dramatized childbirth shows on television.

They go on further to say: "Fortunately, most of them will be first-time parents..." That also makes them feel better as they have been wondering about sounding and looking stupid. Well besides how they normally look! :)

The Mayo Clinic website on childbirth says they will also "discuss options for handling pain. You'll practice various methods for coping with contractions, such as breathing, relaxation and visualization. Most classes also cover the pros and cons of common medications, such as narcotic analgesics and epidural blocks." C is wondering if they do trial runs as she is starting to get uncomfortable.

Further, kidshealth.org says that they will learn about "the role of the coach or labor partner." C is going to make sure J listens intently here. J is pretty excited to learn about what he can do and a little bit nervous to learn about what he cannot do!

Anyway...off to learn about the day the bundle of joy arrives...

Bassinet vs. Crib....wow what you learn as a future father...

So these posts normally get written by both J and C...not this post. I must say I am very excited for September. I do not normally like to look past summers but this one could run by quickly and I probably would not blink. Sunday I spent the day as an almost father. As a son of a dad (I know CRAZY how that works out!) I had always spent this day revering and looking up to my dad. I still do for the record. However, this is the first year I got to truly see it from a different perspective, that of father-in-waiting. My day was spent relaxing while shopping (yes an oxymoron). See C and I went shopping for baby furniture, which I would normally hate.

However, this year I spent my day mostly thinking about the future and anticipating what is to come in the coming days, weeks, months, and years. The thought that I will be half responsible for the life of another finally struck me. What an awesome responsibility. Most men would probably be freaked out by this, and I too am a bit scared. Questions like how will we pay for daycare, diapers, and formula frequently run through my head. On a side note they usually strike me at very akward times (like the middle of meetings or in the shower). However, for the most part I get excited about the fact that I get to leave a legacy (God willing). I have a son/daughter (we did not find out and I have zero idea!) who I can impart the same wisdom, values, responsibility and life lessons that were bestowed on me by my family.

For example, I look forward to teaching my son or daughter about the value of hardwork. In today's society emphasis is often placed on the quick fix or the right now deal. I was lucky, I had parents who taught me that what happens quickly and without effort usually is not worth the short time it takes. In other words, good things come to those who put in the effort and time to do them the right way. Also, I have a family who taught me the importance of family. I still cherish the times I get to spend with my mom, dad, and brother. Just this last weekend I spent some quality time on the golf course with my brother (for the record I was one stroke better than him after hole number 10 on Saturday). We golfed and chatted and basically just hung out. It was a great time that I learned to cherish by my family's emphasis on being a family.

In short I hope to live up to my family's namesake and I hope I can bestow some of these same values on my children.

J

P.S. The latest news from the catnip kids is that we are moving. When C and I cleaned out the office to start making room for baby furniture the looks on their faces were classic I am certain they thought we were moving again!