Dear baby

My sweet baby Cash,

I have been on Christmas break for the past week and have been able to spend a lot more time with you during that week. Each day, something new is learned. Sometimes by you and sometimes by me. In the past week, I have discovered how unbelievably smart you are. Trust me, I understand the motherly bias that I present to this comment, but you amaze me with how quickly you pick things up. With how well understand what I am saying and how you respond to me. You are like this little sponge that soaks up every bit of insight and knowledge that you possibly can. And it makes my mama chest swell with pride. Know this, if I believed it was best for our family I would stay home with you. But right now sweet boy, that is not the best thing for our family. Maybe one day. But I do what I do because it puts our family in a better position.

And as you learn more things, you are quicker to see what you can get away with. You are a button pusher and you most definitely walk the line (pardon the pun). As your mother, I just want to love on you and nurture you. I want to kiss and hug you all the time, but that is just not realistic. I have to discipline you. I have to give you spankings and time-outs and anything else that works.

This whole parenting and discipling thing is like putting a puzzle together without the box picture to guide me. I sometimes feel like I am making my way in the dark with nothing but a flicker of candlelight to light my way. But we are, nonetheless, feeling our way and figuring it out. Just know that it really does hurt my heart to have to discipline you. Even though I believe, without a doubt that it is the best thing for you, it is still hard. And I can't imagine that as you get older and begin to understand a bit more of what is going on, that it will get any easier.

I love you more and more every day,

Mom

Merry Christmas to all...

This year Christmas was a bit more fun because Cash was able to rip open his own presents and play with the toys his got. Sort of. He still doesn't understand the true meaning of Christmas and isn't able to fully participate , but each year will be more and more fun.

Here are some photos from Christmas morning. Please excuse his cheesy smile in the pictures. For some reason this is the smile Cash has taken to whenever he sees a camera.

Merry Christmas,

E

Allen 2nd family card

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

From our family to yours

Almost 16 month check up

Cash had his 15 month, actually closer to 16 month, check up this week. Everything went great and he was a super champ during his 3 shots.

Here is some new info:

• Pretty average for weight. Again, I don't remember the % but he was 25 lbs.


• Big head and short stature.


• "Very advanced physically and verbally". Not my words, the Dr's.


• Has started eating with a fork


• Has started to point to and tell me "poo poo" before he poops


• Says every one's name and has started to make animal noises


• Over the past couple of months has started to really love milk


• Can put his own back pack on and starts walking for the front door saying and waving bye


• Has a little basketball goal in the living room that is about a foot above his head. He loves to shoot on it, and made 15 shots in a row the other day. Proud mama


• Saying a ton of other words and trying to put a few words together, but too many words to list here

E

Thankful Day 16,17,18,19

Day 16 I'm thankful for a clinical instructor who is a great teacher and one who challenges me to think outside the box and search for my own answers.

Day17 I'm thankful for hot showers and a nice, comfy bed.

Day18 I'm thankful for my cell phone. I know it sounds terrible but it is a great tool to keep in touch with friends and family.

Day 19 I'm thankful for my OU family. I am thankful for the relationships and memories that I have formed with some very special people.

Newest family pics

We had more family pictures taken this year by the oh so talented Kate Gaines, with Hannah Kate Photography. She did such an awesome job and the pictures turned out better than I had hoped for. She was so prepared with props, ideas, and poses for us, which made things easier with Cash. I will for sure be using her in the future and would recommend her to anyone wanting pics taken.

Here is her website:

http://www.hannahkatephotography.com/index2.php#/home/

Here are some of the pics that she took. Stunning!

E

Day 15 Thankful

Day 15 I'm thankful for having so many family pictures. I am never going to regret having our pictures taken every 3-4 months because I know I will look back when I am older and cherish the pictures.