Dear baby(s)...

I've been thinking lately about whether or not our family is complete. Whether there is a gaping hole or if every role in our small, but special, family is filled? Whether one of you will have a same gender sibling? Lots of thoughts are circulating in my mind and tugging on my heart about this. The wonderful thing, however, is that I don't have to make that decision just yet. Maybe it will just be the two of you. Or maybe there will be another small one to grace our family. Only time and prayer will tell that tale. Until then, let's pretend it will just be you two. Brother and sister. Please remember these things:

Love each other. And don't be afraid to show it.

Take up for each other. Cash, if someone is messing with your sister, stick up for her. Fight some of her fights. Be in her corner. No matter what. And Presley Mae, your brother isn't allowed to hit girls. So you may have to do this for him sometimes.

Be each others best friend.

Do things together.

Cash, let your sister tag along. She thinks you are the coolest thing around. So let her hang with you and your friends every now and then.

Be each others biggest fan. Brag on each other.

Speak positively about each other in public so people know how much you care for each other.

Fight. Fight for each other. Fight with each other. But FIGHT with passion.

Respect each other. You may not like each other all of the time, but you will respect each other.

Visit each other when you are older. Keep in touch and see each other regularly.

And most of all... remember that we love you. So much. No matter what. And we are thrilled that we got chosen out of millions of parents to take care of you and raise you and love you and lead you.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Big girl toy...

Loving her new bouncy toy. She loves to do anything that let's her stand up or sit up. Growing up so fast...

Getting bigger and bigger...

Someone is making a move towards the floor in her little bouncy thing. Looks like she is starting to gain some mobility. 

Too big too soon...

Things Cash says...

Cash: Dad, you hit the golf ball now. Hey dad! You hit the golf ball dad!

Noah: Cash, my name is not dad. My name is DADDY!

Cash: Yeah, okay. And my name is Cash Ryan Allen. Did you know that, daddy?

Noah: Yes, Cash. I named you.

Things Cash says...

Noah: Cash, daddy loves you so much. So so so much. But no matter how much I love you, Jesus will always love you more. He will love you the most. Okay...

Cash: Daddy, I pooped. 

Well then...

Best seat in the house...

This is how Cash chooses to watch March Madness and the golf tournament...

Looks comfy...

Daddy's girl...

You love your daddy. And he loves you. And it really is that simple. A sweet and simple love that will only get stronger as you get older.

Dear Cash,

(Playing with bubbles while you run from the dinosaurs)

Man oh man, has your imagination taken flight over the last month or so. You are at that point in your life when something doesn't have to be tangible or right in front of you for you to play with it. You can think up something in your head and "boom" it's there. And there is nothing that anyone can say to change your mind. 

Just recently we have been playing hide and seek from dinosaurs and E.T. We have been playing "Narnia" with our pretend swords. We have been playing "Masters" outside or in the living room and pretending that you are playing in the Masters. We have crawled on all fours with a pretend gun in our hands to find and shoot the bad guys. We have stayed on the couch for long periods of time because the "sharks" would get us if we put our feet down.

And I am loving every minute of it. It is sometimes hard for me to know exactly what in the heck is going on inside that mind of yours. But I try. I try to play along. I try not to squash your imagination by telling you," That's not real, Cash." or "We don't play with swords or guns in the house."I am trying to embrace and promote your imagination. Not squander it. 

Oh yes, sweet boy. Imagine and dream all you can. Mommy always wants to hear about your dreams and thoughts. It never, ever gets old. 

Love,

Mom

Things Cash says...

Cash: Look mommy! There's the moon!

Me: I see it!

Cash: I need to go to the moon.

Me: Oh, you do?

Cash: Yeah, I do. I need to go to the moon and jump off the moon high in the sky! And you can watch me, mom! But first we have to go to Wal-Mart.

Me: Why do we need to go to Wal-mart?

Cash: Mommy.... I need to buy some stairs to get to the moon.

(Well that seems logical)

Things Cash says...

Watching "Hook" this evening with Cash and Tinker bell is talking about "thinking happy thoughts".

Me: Cash? What's your happy thought?

Noah: Is it daddy, Cash?

Cash? Nooooo.

Me: What is your happy thought then, Cash?

Cash: My happy thought is..... my birthday party.

(No pressure to throw a good party or anything. Geez...)

Presley Mae (the stuff you won't want to read in front of your boyfriend)...

You are not very ladylike.

You fart and burp like a boy. 

You make the stinkiest diapers.

You smell like baby spit up every. single. day.

You chew on your hands until they are raw.

I have found dried spit up in the creases of your neck more times than I care to admit. 

I have had to change "blow up diapers and clothes" more times than you would care that I admit.

But you are still so stinking cute. In the midst of your burping, farting, spitting up, and pooping. You are still a sweet and precious baby girl. 

Just a nasty baby girl.

Love,

Mom 

Things Cash says...

When Noah is out of town, Cash is allowed to sleep with me. But only when Noah is out of town. And Cash understands this. So this is our conversation at 3:00 a.m. the other morning when Cash was sleeping with me. 

Me: Cash, please stop kicking me.

Cash: Mommy, I can't (still mostly asleep)

Me: Pushing him over to the other side of the bed and putting a pillow between us.

Cash: (Sitting straight up in bed with his eyes wide open) Mommy! You not put that pillow there. I need to hold you in my arms.

Well, when you put it like that Cash...

How could I ever put a pillow between us again?

A different kind of love...

I was really worried. I played it off like I wasn't. But I was. Nervous to see how Cash would adapt and accept his new role in our family. No longer the smallest and neediest in the family. No longer the baby. No longer the only one. And if I am being 100% honest here... I was worried how I would adjust also. 

How could I love that many people. I mean, I can't possibly have that much room in my little heart to hold such strong feelings for all of the people in my life. Much less another little one. 

But I did. And Cash did. And I do. And Cash does. It's like as soon as I pushed Presley's body out of my body, the gaping hole in my stomach moved to my heart. As if my body knew that I needed more room there. 

And now Cash has learned what this different love is. I think he understands the difference in the type of love that he has for his mommy and daddy, and the love he has for his "Presley Mae" as he so affectionately calls her. He loves her. Sometimes too much. He wants to help her. Sometimes too much. He wants to kiss her. Most of the time too much. But I can't help but sit back and smile with pride that my little boy has adapted so well to having a new little body in our lives. 

He loves her. And I strongly believe that she is beginning to love him. 

Oh, this should be fun!

Erin

Things Cash says...

Me walking in the door from work...

Me: Hey Cash.

Cash: Hey mommy! Mommy?

Me: What baby?

Cash: I'm just so happy to see you.

That is better than being greeted by a dog wagging its tail when you get home...

Dear Presley...

If you could please return my other baby. Ya know, the one that was sleeping 10-12 hours a night and never even making a peep in the middle of the night. Yeah... if you could bring her back, I would really appreciate it. 

I'm not sure what exactly the problem is over the last few nights, but this better not be a glimpse into the world of your sassyness... 

Or we are in trouble. 

But you sure are cute, even if you might be sassy...

Love,

Mom

Someones rolling over... NAKED...

Please excuse the nakedness, but she really enjoys just hanging out in her birthday suit. But... she is rolling over from her back to her tummy now. 

Man, this is going by really fast...

Too fast

Holy smokes...

Please excuse my biased, bragging mommy-ness right now, but my son is a stud. He hits the ball better than me and he isn't even 3 years old yet. He hits it over the fence at least 10 times a night when we golf in the back yard.

Looks like it's time for a bigger back yard...

Happy girl...

Love, Erin

Happy, happy, happy...

Cash,

You make me happy. So very happy. And I love you. I love you with a love that you will never understand until you have a child of your own one day. Then we can talk. Until then, just know that my love is as simple and as deep as, "I love you. I just love you."

Mommy

Someone help me...

This is just your life, sister. You brother. In your face. All the time.

Enjoy!

Things Cash says...

Getting a haircut...

Robert (the man giving the haircut): Hey Cash. How are you doing?

Cash: I'm doing just great. But I need a golfers haircut.

Alrighty then...

My littlest golfer boy...

Cash got new golf clubs from my dad, Grand-dude. And he has to take them out and see how they do on the driving range...

As a matter of fact, he asks to go to the driving range every. single. day.

All smiles...

You really love to smile...

And that makes me smile...

To my kids...

There is something that you both need to know. It is extremely important, so listen (or read) closely.

Your daddy loves you both so much. No secret there. But, what you don't know is what he does for you and that love. You daddy had the opportunity to take a different job with a different company. He went back and forth about the pros and cons of leaving for a new job or staying with his current company. And do you know what the number 1 priority was?

You. Both of you. He chose the job that would allow him to spend the most time with his babies. Because you are what is important to him. So much so that he would ultimately determine his career path based on you. 

He wants to be able to take you both to school. Or be with you when you are sick. Or pick you up for lunch once a week when you get to middle school. Or lie on the couch with you in the morning and snuggle while you watch Mickey. Or just stare at you. He wants to do these things. And his actions have ultimately spoken louder than his words. 

               

He sure does love you two...

Little P did what...

You slept 11 hours straight a few nights ago! Go girl! You normally sleep for about 9-10 hours, but I guess you were just worn out from the tough life of being a baby.

Keep it up, Presley Mae!

Love,

Mom

Things Cash says...

At bedtime tonight...

Me: Goodnight Cash. Mommy loves you.

Cash: Love you too.

Me: Give me and Presley kisses before you go to bed.

Cash: (Gives kisses) and says "I love you girls"...

Sweet boy.

A fun new thing...

I am trying something a little different around here. I have been following this adorable clothing company on Facebook for a while now. I have been oooing and ahhhhing over their clothes and accessories for far too long and I have had the opportunity to do a little advertising for them. Something I am completely new to. But I would not do something like this unless I really liked the items.

Here are some of my favorites from their website:

What I am most excited about is the versatility of the clothes. Especially as the newest recipient of a  post-pregnancy body! These clothes can be worn right after having a baby or later on after I have taken the weight off. 

So exciting! Visit their website and check out some of their gorgeous stuff...

Oh... I forgot to mention.... FREE SHIPPING! Click on their page on the right side of my blog to see the goods.

Love,

E

It's a funny thing...

It's really quite interesting to look back on my early 20's. Scary, but interesting. I was an incredibly active young girl who wouldn't say no to anything and everything. I wanted to see. Go. Do. Be. I was going to rule the world and there wasn't anybody that was going to stop me. Or so I thought...

The news of being pregnant with Cash completely rocked my world. I just knew that I would never be able to do the things that I wanted to do because I would have this baby. A baby I had no idea how to take care of. A baby that would certainly put a damper in my Friday and Saturday night activities. A baby that was a complete and utter surprise...to say the least.

But my oh my! How the tides have turned. My world has been completely rocked. That I was not wrong about. But I could never prepare myself for the magnitude of love that would overwhelm me and my soul until the moment I saw him. And from that moment on, I have never wanted my early 20 something self back.

My definition of fun has changed. My bedtime has changed. My world has changed. Fun is no longer going out on the weekends and getting in late and sleeping until I wanted to. It is no longer going to any place that I wanted to without a second thought. At first, quite honestly, this was a hard concept to wrap my head around. I loved my baby boy. But I loved myself too.

My idea of fun now is curling up at bedtime, with a good book, preferably one that deals with dinosaurs or baseball or Mickey Mouse. My idea of fun is a sleepover in the floor with popcorn and a good movie. Maybe the movie Hook. Or the Sandlot. Or Toy Story. My idea of fun is putting pillows in the floor and jumping from one to another and not hitting the ground. Because if you do, the lava will get you. Or the dinosaurs will eat you. Or the snakes will bite you.

Yes oh yes. My idea of fun has changed. But I like the fun I have now. I like the books and movies I read and watch. And I love the people that drown me in fun. Each and every day.

Love,

E