Dear baby,

The past few weeks you have felt the urge to wake up at either 3:00 or 5:00 a.m. whining and crying. I'm not really sure what brought on this sporadic habit but I am sincerely hoping that you decide to revert back to your old ways soon.

I let you cry. It's hard and tiresome and it really tests my patience. But I let you cry. I try not to hold you or rock you because I don't want you to get into that habit. But...

When it goes from a whine to a cry to a scream I go in there and I hold you. I take you in my room and I you lay on my chest. I know it is a really risky habit to start, but I need my sleep.

But I do have a secret that I will let you in on. Don't tell anyone, okay?

I am not sure that there is a more serene and pleasing moment that I experience during my day. I get to feel you little chest rise and fall with mine. I get to feel your breath on my neck as you nestle snugly in the nook between my head and shoulder. I am convinced with 100 percent certainty that God created your little head to fit perfectly in that spot. I am going to miss those moments when you are too big to rest on me and have decided to savor every opportunity I get with you.

But...

Maybe more around 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. instead.

Love,

Mom

Future Tiger Woods...

I took this picture the other day when I walked in the room and Cash had found his daddy's golf clubs...

Oh brother!

Love,
E

Early Valentine...

Noah is not the biggest supporter of Valentines Day. As a matter of fact, he refuses to acknowledge it because he feels, " there shouldn't be just one day designated to celebrate love".... Anyway.

So, since he doesn't want to partake in the holiday of love then I will just force my unsuspecting baby boy to adopt me as his Valentine. Whether he likes it or not, he is mine!

I know its early, and I am sure there will be a few more posts about Valentines day, but here is my sweet 'lil heartbreaker...

Tori's baby shower...

One of my very dear friends, Tori, had a baby shower this past weekend for her son, Keller. I was so happy to be a part of it and be able to help plan with the shower. Keller got so many great things and I know everyone can't wait to meet him.

Mommy and me...

Just a quick picture of me and my little stud. We don't get very many pictures together because I am always the one behind the camera.

Special thanks to my friend, Kim, for taking this of me and my boy.

(On a side note, I did some photoshopping to this pic. What do you think?? Don't be too harsh. I mean, I did just start doing this stuff.)

Dear Baby...

Over the past couple of weeks (notice that is how almost all of the blogs are starting because I am ridiculously behind) you have been taking "big boy baths", as I call them.

Not because you are big, I mean....you are, but because you sit up all by yourself and you are starting to play in the tub. Your most favorite thing to do is eat the wash cloth, dip it in the water, and eat it again.

I love the age you are at right now. We have an absolute blast and the milestones and accomplishments that you are reaching make me so proud to be your momma. At the same time I am fighting back feelings of bitter-sweetness. I want you to grow big, happy, and healthy.... just not too fast baby.
I love you and can't wait for your bath tonight!

Love,

Mom

He crawls the line...

Cash is officially mobile. Scary yet exciting. If you want to get technical he has been crawling for about a week now, but slow mommy hasn't posted anything about it. Oops.

Enjoy little Cash crawling and please note how much he loves to crawl towards Duke the dog.

On another note that is only slightly related to this post: Cash is saying "DA DA". I don't really consider that his first word because he doesn't really know what it means yet. I think his first word will be..... Duke. After all, me yelling at Duke at the end of the video is about an every 45 second occurrence.

Love,

E

Viva Las Vegas...

This past weekend, I met up with 5 girlfriends and let me just say... we took Vegas by storm!

We met up for my friend Caton's 30th birthday. Also, we were celebrating her return from a 1-year tour in Afghanistan. I am so truly proud to call her my friend and am forever indebted to her for faithfully and honorably serving our country.

A sweet birthday gift from our good friend Steph who couldn't make the trip.

Laura and I on the plane headed to Vegas. Not bad for waking up at 4:00 a.m. to get to our 6:00 a.m. flight.
Me and the birthday girl, Caton.
Ready to take on the weekend...


Night 1 in Vegas started with an amazing sushi dinner and then out to Tao...

The morning after Tao, we went to the buffet at the Wynn. Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Anything and everything you could possibly imagine to eat and drink. We may or may not stayed there for 3 hours...





After brunch, and a few mimosas, we decided it was a great idea to go shopping. Horrible idea.

Can you see how tired we were? And we hadn't even go into 1 store yet.

Night 2 in Vegas consisted of an amazing trip to the Bellagio to see "O". Unbelievable show. Breathtaking as a matter of fact. After "O" we grabbed a to-go pizza and went back to the hotel room to spend a little "girl time".

The next morning we went shopping at Caesars Forum and had the most amazing breakfast ever. I think the place is called Max Brenner. It was probably the most amazing breakfast ever (except the traditional eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy. That still takes the cake.)

I had oatmeal with chocolate sauce and roasted pecans. I topped that madness off with a milkshake with run vanilla ice cream with a frozen chocolate shell. De-lish!! Not to mention the milkshake came in an Alice in Wonderland replica cup that said "Drink Me" down the side.


After the scrumptious breakfast we did some major damage at H&M. Loved that store and believe it not, they had baby stuff too. So I picked Cash up a few things.



We had a great trip with great friends. I missed my little family terribly but daddy held down the fort and both he and Cash were alive and kicking when I got back. Kudos, Noah, kudos.

Just hanging out...no big deal...

Big bubba really likes to sit up and play with his toys. I would say it is his second favorite position to play in. First is on his big 'ol round tummy.

Just a few pics of him playing tonight like a big boy plays. Sorry about the bluriness of the pictures. My camera is out of batteries and he isn't exactly posing for pictures. Pictures were a lot easier when he was not as mobile.

Please note the remote control in the background. It was no more than 2 seconds after I took this picture that he dropped his keys that he was playing with to crawl towards it.

Look who's a big boy...

This is Mr. Cash while shopping for our national championship menu this afternoon. He absolutely loves sitting in the cart and being able to see what is going on around him.
It is such a bittersweet feeling to see my little baby getting so big and doing bigger boy things. But at the same time, I am not sure that I am ready for him to be such a big boy.

Cash turns 6 months later this month.

I think I may have a private, short, and pitiful cry to myself on that day.

On a different note about "big" boy. Cash is too big for his Bumbo seat. As a a matter of fact, whenever he sits in it he gets stuck. When I go to lift him out of it, the Bumbo seat stays attached to Cash's behind. Poor kid. So, we have graduated to high chairs. We use them at home and when we go out in public to eat.

He loves it.

Until next time,

E

Dear baby,

'Lil buddy, you experienced your first snow today. You didn't really pay much attention to it, but one day you will be begging me to go outside and play in it. It wasn't very much snow, not even enough to stick to the ground. But it was snow. And it did fall. And it was your first time to see it.

And wouldn't you know it? I didn't get a single picture of you watching in wonder as it gently drifted to the ground. It is supposed to snow again early this next week, so I will get a picture for you.

I seriously cannot wait until we are able to stay home from school because of a snow day. And we will play in it all day long and only come inside to drink hot chocolate and warm up by the fire before going back outside to take on the winter bliss.

I love you and all of our future memories.

Love,
Mom

Month 4 and 5. All rolled into one...

Dear baby,

As I sit in our living room and watch you grunting and rolling all over the floor, I feel compelled to apologize to you. This blog is intended to be your "baby book". It is intended to capture all of your milestones and accomplishments as you get older. And I have failed you. The past few months have been a whirlwind of activities and I have forgotten to tell you all of the really neat and exciting things that you have been doing.

You love to play on your tummy. I never thought that you would enjoy this because you were not the biggest fan of tummy time when you were younger.

You love to play with anything that you are not supposed to. Particularly, the remote control and mommy's iPhone. Your daddy and I have tried to give you little toys that resemble the remote and a phone, but you are not fooled. You know that if we don't object to you playing with it, then it is just not worth your time.

You are incredibly loud. I don't know why I am surprised at this... I mean, have you heard your daddy? You and he talk constantly.

One of your favorite things to look at are dogs. You love puppies. Especially Duke the dog. You can stare at him for ours. He loves to be around you right now, but we will see how much he enjoys that when you are mobile and constantly bothering him.

You can not stand to have clothes put on you. When you are naked you are one happy boy. When I go to get you dressed, you throw a little diva fit.

You are eating veggies now! I mean, you are a big boy! You have had green beans and peas. You don't mind the green beans so much, but you are not a fan of the peas. The Dr said as soon as you try all of the green and yellow veggies you can start on fruit. I suggest you hurry and try all the veggies. Just a word of advice from your mom.

You are about 2 cm away from crawling. I mean really crawling. You prop yourself up all all fours and rock back and forth. You try to start crawling but you are a bit top heavy and you end up just toppling over.
You are able to sit up on your own for the most part. You just have a probleme with sitting up for a long period of time.

Most of the little babies that you hang out with are boys. You have your cousins; Luke, Brady, and Owen. And then you have your friends that are with you during the week at the babysitter: Bryce and Tripp.

Mary is your babysitter and you could not be more lucky. She is an answered prayer for your daddy and me and we could not have dreamed of another person to help take care of you. She watches you on Monday and Wednesday.

Your nonni watches you on Tuesday and Thursday and she helps us out tremendously. We are lucky to have her around.

It is a completely different life your father and I live now. Now that we have you in it. We look forward to each and every day that we have with you and are blown away at how happy you make us.

Keep on keepin on little man.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Happy Birthday to Angie...

While we were down in Houston celebrating Christmas with Noah's family, we also had a chance to celebrate the birthday of one of my sister-in-laws. She turned the big 3-0!! That's right, she is 30 but doesn't look a day over 22 if you ask me. We went to eat dinner at one of our favorite places to eat, Gringos!! Great mexican food and great company. It doesn't get much better than that.

Angie and I talk on the phone at least once every day or so. Sometimes we have really important things to talk about and sometimes we have nothing important to say. We just really enjoy each others conversations and love talking about everything and anything. She is a professinal sounding board and is great to bounce ideas and thoughts off of. She occupies a spot on my list of people to call when I am having a hard day or when something is going on with Cash and I am not sure what exactly I should do (I mean she is a mother of 3 boys under the age of 5). Happy birthday to one of the best sister-in-laws a person could ask for.

Here is to many more!

Love,

E

Christmas at Nonni and Grandudes...

After we had Christmas at our house on Christmas morning, we loaded up and trucked over to my parents house. We opened presents and had a huge breakfast, complete with eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy. (Have I mentioned how much I love breakfast? Well, I do.)Anyway, we opened presents and Cash actually stayed awake for it this time. Probably because he napped through opening presents at our house Christmas morning. My mom, Nonni, brother, Uncle Patrick, and my dad, Grandude (he hasn't decided on a name yet so this is what I have resprted to calling him) were all there and we had a really fun time opening presents.

Isn't it funny how when you have a kid you stop taking pictures of yourself and your other family members? Almost every picture I took was of Cash and he could care less if he is in any pics.

I mean, he is really reaching to get that present.

Nonni posing for pictures... please note the movie Braveheart in the background. Very good movie.

Again, I really think he would prefer to eat the paper rather than play with the toy.
Cash's big presents this year will be ones that he appreciates later in life. Between Noah and me and my parents Cash got 8 NFL jerseys. That's right, I said 8 jerseys. He got Sam Bradford, Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning, Wes Welker, Drew Brees, Andre Johnson, Mario Williams, and Brian Cushing. Somehow or another, Noah knows people who can get each jersey personalized "To Cash" and signed by the player. We will get them framed for him and one day he will be able to look at them and appreciate them.