While eating dinner tonight, Asher told Mommy a story about puppy dogs.
Big puppy dog says ARRRARRRARR. Little puppy dog says arrarrarr. Big, big puppy dog says MOOOOOOOO (sly look), no he says ARRRARRRARR.

Asher’s imagination is running wild!  Today he decided to make coffee for Daddy, Mommy, Seamus, and himself. He got his coffee cans out and said make coffee. He ran into the kitchen opened the cupboard where his dishes are kept and grabbed his Mickey straw bowl and ran back to the living room. He took the bowl, flipped it over ontop of the coffee can, moved it in circles over top, made some noises, then said coffee, and picked up the can and drank then said yummy yummy. He made som the same way for Daddy and Mommy. Then Mommy asked if he was going to make some for Seamus. He said uhhuh and ran over to Seamus’s bowl with his Mickey straw bowl, flipped his “coffee maker” upside down, moved in circles while making some noises, stood up and said Seamus coffee!  Seriously, what 22 month old realizes the dog doesn’t drink out of the same thing humans do and that he only drinks out of his dish.

Today Asher, Daddy and Mommy went shopping at Sam’s Club and Staples then we stopped at a carnival at Tallmadge Lutheran Church. Mommy’s boss, Rick, was in the dunk tank. Asher and his favorite babysitters, Emma and Sophia, played threw the ball and Asher made Rick go into the water by hitting the bullseye (he couldn’t throw hard enough to trigger it, so someone helped a little but he did hit the bullseye). Then he and the girls went to the pool and fished for ducks. He won a yellow lei!  He also somehow managed to win a basketball. The rest of the evening he talked about Emma, Sophia, baseball, hit, water, Rick, and boom.

(Click the picture for the videos below.)
Asher and Daddy played horsey and read a book and then he bounced on his ball.

Asher has been practicing putting his fish in the holes in his fish tank. Tonight he decided to show Daddy and Mommy how he knows his shapes and can put the fish in the correct hole. He was doing it much better prior to the video, but he was getting tired. Click the photo to watch the video.

Asher saw Dr. Gerlach yesterday about his eye. Of course the swelling was pretty much gone and there was only a little redness underneath when we were there. Dr. Nerdock (as Asher calls him) thinks it was either an irritant or allergies.

Today while at Papagug’s the swelling returned. So we are thinking he is allergic to something. Now we have to figure out what it is. Gaga thinks it might be the daisies or black eyed Susans.

We found out some sad news today. Cora, the Pacific octopus at the Akron Zoo, passed away.  They were unsure how old she was when she arrived at the zoo,  but the necropsy indicated her death was related to age. Cora was one of Asher’s favorite animals at the zoo. We wouldn’t even be out of the car and he would start asking to see her.  We are not sure how our next visit will go since Asher is a little young to understand this concept. Daddy and Mommy are saddened by this news. We enjoyed the few visits and the hours we were able to spend with her. Cora will be missed by the Dougherty family.

When we arrived at Papagug’s on the 4th of July, Asher’s right eye started to swell and turn black and bluish red (just the skin). The eyeball looked fine. The swelling would go up and down all day.
This picture from Thursday.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday everything was fine. His eye would only get reddish and swell a little around his eye but nothing major. Today while he was with Gaga it got bad again. He has an appointment with Dr. Gerlach tomorrow afternoon.
This picture from Monday.

Oh and by the way, somebody peed on the potty tonight for the second time! 🙂

Asher tried peanut butter today!  So far, no reaction!  He did get super silly after having his Mickey Mouse peanut butter sandwich and applesauce. Daddy, Mommy, and Asher had a peanut butter sandwich picnic on the deck.  He seemed to like it so we will try some more tomorrow.

When it was time to get dressed today Asher decided to pick his own outfit. He said he wanted a red shirt and he picked out of two of them. Then he said he wanted to wear his Minnie bow (bow tie). He also said jean shorts. When Mommy gave him his sock basket he immediately picked out the Oscar socks. When asked what shoes he said deck shoes. He looked adorable! (If you click on both pictures it should link to videos of him riding with Daddy and playing with Mommy.)

Also, Asher helped Mommy make cookies for Daddy to take fishing tomorrow. He did the sifting and did pretty well!

Today Asher got his first bike!  Mommy and Daddy got Asher a Radio Flyer tricycle. Then on our way home one of our neighbors was selling a little bicycle with training wheels (and helmet), a bike cart, and a wheelbarrow for $50. The rest of our neighbors must have thought we were crazy. Daddy was wheeling the wheelbarrow with the bike cart in it while Mommy pulled Asher in his wagon with the bike. Now Asher has to have his “basketball hoop” (a pink trash can), a ball, a lion named giraffe, pompoms, Pooh, his milk, and  water.  Asher used the peddles on his tricycle a little but not much without the help of Mommy. Daddy and Mommy think it won’t take long for him to catch on.

Asher playing with his tricycle. 

He still likes to ride his truck, car, or whatever he decides to call it.

This morning Asher woke up and here is his and Mommy’s conversation:
Good morning, Asher.
Hi. Giant Eagle.
Do you want to go to Giant Eagle?
Uh huh! Milk. Banana. Fred.
We need to get milk and bananas?
Uh huh!
And Fred?
No. Fred.
Oh, bread?
Uh huh! 
What else do we need?
Umm… Plums.
Anything else? 
Apples.

He then continued to repeat the list that we needed (according to him) at Giant Eagle while he got his butt changed. Such a silly boy!

Today Asher went to the Akron Zoo with Cameron, Jen, Doug, Daddy, and Mommy. He rode the merry-go-round for the first time!  It was a tough decision, but he chose to ride the dolphin over the puppy. He, Cameron, Jen, and Mommy also rode the train. He enjoyed both of them, but Mommy forgot to explain that the train ride was over and we would have to say goodbye so there was a little scene of crying and screaming for the choochoo at the end. Asher picked out a purple octopus that he named Cora (that is the octopus at the zoo’s name).