Where Does Time Go?!

Since Asher was born, I have been trying to take notes every so often to help us remember this time of our lives. This evening as I was typing those notes I realized, I really should be sharing some of these stories and pictures with you, our family and friends, as well. So what better place to do so than our blog that we began 5 years ago and haven't posted to in 3 1/2 years.

When we started this blog we called and "Daniela + Mark: Notes from the two of us as we begin this journey together." Now we have a new member of our family, John Asher, and are weeks away from celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary. So we'll have to update the blog's name... but first let's work on updating the blogs content. Here we go... I've added in content for most of 2015.

Utah 2015

Daniela's family lives in Utah so at least once a year, we make time to travel there to see them. One thing we have realized as we make our annual trips is that sometimes not going right at Christmas or Thanksgiving is nice. Not only are the prices on plane tickets much better (as in half the Christmas price) but more family and friends are available to visit. During Christmas people are traveling or with their own families. By going 2 weeks before Christmas, it is easy to schedule time to see our friends and get our annual update.

Traveling also meant Asher's 1st plane rides. We were pretty nervous... 4 flights with a 4 month old. Luckily, Daniela managed his feedings well, and overall Asher did great. In fact, I graded him on each flight. His scores were 9.5/10; 9.5/10; 10/10 (yes, he slept the whole way!); and 7/10. That's an average of 9. Pretty good I would say.

And while I can't tell you much about Asher's personality, he does seem to enjoy new experiences and people. Plus at 4 months, Asher will smile and giggle which is a great way to win new friends.

In Utah, Asher had lots of firsts... First trip to BYU. 

First trip to Temple Square. 

Gideon Pharmacy Christmas Party

Asher got decked out for the party... which was more of a dinner than a party... but we had fun regardless

Caleb & Asher

Here are the 2 cousins closest in age... Caleb & John Asher... 2 weeks and 2 days apart... We're hopeful that they will continue to find each other interesting.

Celebrating 50 years as a Pharmacist

John's Pharmacy has been in business for roughly 25 years. John McMullin has now been a pharmacist for 50 years! Here is the picture of the John's Pharmacy and John's Rx crew at this year's Christmas party. I'm glad I was able to work at the pharmacy when I was in high school, for the experiences I've had as part of a family owned business, and for my dad for building a business that so many people trust. 

At the Christmas party, the pharmacy employees gave my dad a drone... a Phantom 3 drone to be precise. And yes, as the picture shows, the propellers can cut flesh. That said, it is an awesome device... and it is easy to see why we can expect a lot more drones in our lives in the future.

Kansas City - JAM's 1st Roadtrip

For the past few years, I have been lucky enough to join with family and friends and attend a BYU football game at different locations (Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, etc.). This year, my alma maters chose to play each other... so it was a game we had to go to. BYU vs. Mizzou in Kansas City. 

We had to decide who was going and purchase tickets in the springtime. The surprise came when Daniela said she was going. I reminded her that we would have a child by then. That didn't deter her. Then I reminded her that it was in November and would likely be frigid. To which she became more determined to make it happen. And thus our efforts began to do things with kids, even babies, that others wouldn't...

We had a great time in Kansas City including...

1. Great dinner with family at one of my favorite places... the Cheesecake Factory. 

Funny moment... we were there on a Friday night. Naturally it was very busy. An 2 hour wait for a table. Plus we had a group of 12 so it took forever to get our food. One of my nephews got very hungry during the wait. Looking around he got excited when he noticed what he saw some snacks on the table... He opened one and found some white chocolate and popped it into his mouth... only to find his white chocolate was pure butter :-)

2. Great time with the Johnsons.

3. Loved being with family & friends at one of my favorite places, the Nelson-Atkins museum.

4. And touring a TV station.

5. Driving through Mission Hills (no pictures... but it is a neighborhood with really nice houses)

6. The football game... with Daniela and Asher

3 Years a Lawyer

I graduated from law school in 2012, took the bar exam that summer and then waited... and sometime in September got the good news... I passed.

It is hard to believe that has been 3 years ago. Especially when I think about the twists and turns those 3 years have had... but this year has seen some progress...

This year has included...
1. New and improved conference table

2. With the help of Crockette's Photography, some pictures of recent travels on the wall...

3. Meeting great people who I am happy to have as clients...

4. Working hard at our Cape office...

 5. And opening a small (and perhaps temporary) satellite office in New Madrid.

 

Halloween 2015

Halloween with the crew...

Asher the Monkey

Sterling as Captain America

Harper as Snow White, and 

Truman as the Hulk

JAM at 2 months

As my dad said, nothing will change your life as much or as fast as having a baby. So true! Glad some of those changes are good. Including...

Having a buddy at church... and someone who serves as an excuse to get up during boring talks...

 Our very own monkey...

Someone to wear all of Aunt Sarah's hand me downs (Thank you Aunt Sarah!!)

Someone to go to work for and work with...

Life Happenings

Asher's preferred method of sleeping... the touchdown pose

On our walks, we pass by 5-H Ranch... home to exotic animals... which help make the walks more interesting...

Dad and Asher selfie...

Asher getting introduced to Jack... after some delicious Andy's

Seminary

So here's a church calling I never thought I would have... teaching early morning seminary. Especially when you consider who an ideal seminary teacher is... someone who knows the scriptures inside and out, someone who enjoys Isaiah, and someone who doesn't have a demanding job. Well, all of that aside, I was asked to teach it and I said yes. The class has high school freshmen through seniors and this year is focused on the Old Testament.

Some quick info about it:
- it starts at 6:10 a.m.
- we have it at the local high school
- we don't have very many students, but they are good kids
- I am realizing that I have totally forgotten what it is like to be a teenager
- and you better have a sense of humor when you teach the Old Testament.

What a Bank!

So when flowers show up congratulating you on the birth of your new born son, who do you expect it to come from? Family & Friends, right? So imagine how surprised we were when our bank sent us these to recognize Asher's birth! 

Needless to say, we're pretty satisfied customers of the Bank of Missouri.

Daniela's Family Comes to Say Hello

Uncle Ben...

Both grandma's in the pool...

Family trip to Andy's...

Surgery after the vicious turtle bite...

Learning To Be a Dad

Remembering those first few days...

1. When the nursery was set up... but empty

 2. Mom's very short first walk afer the hospital...

3. Swaddling you tight... and loving the swaddles with velcro!

4. Taking you on walks around the neighborhood

5. Taking you on your first adventure... to meet horses, chickens, and cats...

End of our Time in the YSA

In May 2013, while we were in the process of moving from Columbia to Cape, we were asked if we would serve in the Young Single Adult (YSA) branch of our church. When we shared the news that Daniela was pregnant, we received word that we would be released from the YSA branch. That happened on August 23, 2015.

We learned a lot by serving there.... including that

1. We are grateful to have each other.... and

2. We can prepare meals for up to 25 people without too much hassle.

Holding YOUR Child

I think that middle word is the most important. When Josh Asher was born I had a total of 19 nieces and nephews, many of whom I saw regularly. I love my nieces and nephews but it is nothing compared to the love that I had for my child when I held him for the first time. The best I can figure is the difference is the child is yours.

I love that moment, much more than I even expected I would! To hold a new life, to hold your child, to grab your son’s little fingers, to feel the responsibility that you are his dad, but the privilege that he is your son.

Holding your newborn child does some funny things to you; it reshuffles your life. Your priorities just got rearranged, and guess who is on top? Someone who didn’t even exist a few hours ago. And while my work and clients are important, my spectrum of importance just expanded beyond a level I knew just a short time ago. But it is all in a good way. I like activities that make me feel significant. Never have I felt any more significant than holding a newborn and thinking he’s mine.

Hello John Asher

Crazy day... but at the end of it Daniela Cisternas McMullin is awesome. We are so happy to have all 8 pounds and 9 ounces of Asher with us. What a blessing! Thanks for your love and support. We are glad to have a new member of our family!

And we love this little hat... hand made by volunteers at the hospital... and perfect for our little boy.

August 6th

There are some nights you will always remember. August 6th was one of them. I called my dad to ask  if I could come over and watch the Republican debate. He said sure, he was just getting home from the hospital. That prompts the obvious question of "who's in the hospital?" That's when I hear about Sterling and the accident he was in. We find out that he and his parents are on their way up to the hospital in St. Louis and Truman and Harper are with my mom. So we rush over to see how we can help.

I remember being so impressed with Truman and Harper. They were real troopers. Grandma was great at calming them down and working to get them to sleep... all we had to do is help them brush their teeth. But in a chaotic situation these kids were strong.

Smoky Mountains Vacation

Family vacations are great times to create memories. Glad we were able to join my family for a nice getaway in the smoky mountains in July.

Hospital visit @ 28 weeks

1st trimester was great... no morning sickness

2nd trimester was great... walked and rode bikes around Europe without any problems

3rd trimester got off to a rough start... at 28 weeks, spending the night in the hospital because Daniela is having contractions every few minutes. As a nurse said, "he needs more time in the oven, right now he is only a half baked cupcake." 

Thus begins Daniela's life on restricted activity.