Two Month Check-up (3 weeks ago)

12.8 lbs. 23 1/2" long.
But I totally forgot to ask what percentile he's in in each category? So I can't officially brag about how he's growing. He seems huge to me but Wolfgang is quickly catching up so maybe not.
At two months he is holding his head for long periods of time. He smiles ALOT at us. He's having fun with his new Christmas toys that we've hung from the handle of his car seat. He is so much easier to figure out. 95% of the time I know why he's crying! It's a great feeling. I know we're not home-free by any means but we're definitely getting to know each other. For the most part, he's sleeping at least 5 or 6 hours every night...but there are those few he wakes up every 3 hours. His "fussy time" in the evenings is over. But he does fight sleep a little more at night than during the day. He is now out of the hammock that was in his baby bath tub. He loves bath time (even though he looks a little freaked out in the picture - that's his "excited" face) and is starting to make a mess on my kitchen counter with all the splashing. We'll have to move to the bathtub very soon. When Ashley, Blake or Rosie are in the room, he follows them the whole time. He LOVES the three of them. Ashley & Blake's voices make him smile almost instantly. During his first tummy time, the day of his check-up, he pushed up all the way and then leaned and rolled over! Okay, I know that rolling from tummy to back is the easy one but it was his first time to be on his tummy. So he's awesome.

Mama's Boy

Okay, my doctor told me that you can't spoil a baby before they're 3 months old and I just want to say right now that I think it's a crock. Cash is proving that theory wrong more and more every day. I think he's officially spoiled rotten. I know there are a million do's and don'ts when it comes to raising a baby and everyone's list is different and one of the hardest things about being a first-time mom is sorting through it all and deciding what you want. Well, one of the things I chose to work on was trying to put Cash down when he was still awake so he could put himself to sleep. I don't think it's the end of the world when it doesn't happen but it's the goal. Last week, I kind of bragged that I could put him down and he put himself to sleep the majority of the time. Well, I guess he heard me and didn't approve because now he always wants to be held! What is up, Dude? He's such a mama's boy! Yes, that's what I want really but I need him to PRETEND he's a daddy's boy sometimes. Or at least just be cool, man. He just can't do it. He's started this new cry to where he doesnt' breath for what feels like an eternity. Just because he needs to be picked up. So, this will be hard but starting at 3 months (only one little short month away!), I'm gonna get tough. Well, tougher.

Happy New Year!

This post is going to come out so cheesy but I'm cheesy today. Cheesy start to the new year. Whatever. My life is near perfect right now and I’m so blessed to have my family.

For the last week we’ve been able to see the kids quite a bit even though they are technically with their mom. On Sunday, Derrek’s uncle Jimmy took the whole family to the Rockbox. She let the kids come with us and it was so fun. It’s great music and a relaxed atmosphere. The show is great but the warm cookies at the intermission may be the best part for me. Then they got to stay with us a couple of hours while Gayla went to work. When she came to pick them up that day we offered to help her out the rest of the week too because Derrek was taking the week off.

The picture below is the only picture we got of the day. Cash and I had a great time at the Rockbox and luckily he slept most of the time!

So on Tuesday, they met us at the bakery and showed Pappaw how to play games on the iPod Touch (I got one with my birthday money). I think we should get Pappaw one of his own…I’m sure solitaire on the computer is getting a little old by now. Then after lunch with Pappaw, we went to Derrek’s office/workshop, so I could get some work done and Derrek could make a little tray for Cash’s changing table pad. The kids entertained Cash for me. Click here and here

to see.

That night, I got some quiet time in with my babies. Rosie has been a little neglected as you can imagine so hopefully times like these give her some comfort.

And Cash FINALLY found his thumb. It's probably not a good thing at all but he's been trying for about a week and a half now and it's just so cute!

So Wednesday, Ashley & Blake's mom had big plans for New Year’s in Austin so Wednesday morning the kids came over for the night. I had to work a little but they hung out with Derrek all day. They had a full day of running around for a job of Derrek’s, meeting a donkey named Gretchen, singing to their new mp3 players (click here - its a little long but pretty funny) and playing games on the iPod.

Cash & I had some fun of our own at work with Cash's new girlfriend (actually, I think she's double-timing him with Wolfgang), Gracie. She's 5 months old and beautiful and very friendly. You can see Cash is in love.

When I got home, we all decided we wanted to have a picnic (the kids favorite meal - derrek cuts up summer sausage and cheese. We have pickles and crackers and turkey and salami. It's awesome) and watch some movies while we waited for the ball to drop. So, we all packed up and went to the grocery store and Blockbuster. At home, we snuggled in our pajamas and sat down to our picnic. As we sang the prayer song we sing before we eat, I thanked God for such a perfect night. The kids were happy and sharing with us and acting goofy and singing fun songs and dancing on the table. The best part is they were both just as happy to be there with us as we were to be with them. I know that our family NYE's are destined to come to an end so I'm going to soak it up. We missed the ball dropping because we were too into the movie but it really didn’t matter. We were together and cozy and safe and healthy and happy.

2008 was such an exciting year. I got to experience the incredible adventure of being pregnant and giving birth to a healthy baby. He has already developed such a personality and I can't really remember life before him! Derrek donated a kidney to Chris. It was emotional and beautiful and brought us all so much closer. It still amazes me how brave he was and how he went for it with no reservations - never thinking about himself. Ashley has made excellent choices and made better grades in middle school. She's made NICE, new friends and become even more comfortable with herself (a near impossible task at her age). Blake has flourished in kindergarten and he's more outgoing and lives to learn. I don't know how t could have been a better year. I'm so blessed.

In 2009, we pray for the kids to keep on the same path and to stay healthy. We pray work will be steady for Derrek and things might pick up at Root. And we pray we can move our (hopefully still) growing family into a bigger house.

New Year’s Day was the first morning Cash woke up and just talked and played in his bassinett until I felt like getting up to get him. When I walked up to him, he gave me the biggest grin and I knew 2009 was off to the right start.

Happy Birthday, Willa & Carson!

Willa's birthday was on December 27th. Last year, the day Willa was born, Carson's mom, Stacy came to see her. While she was holding her, her water broke and Carson was born the next day. Carson had his party on Friday night (the 16th) and it was so fun to see the two of them playing together after that dramatic start to life. Here's a video of Willa trying to put on her sock (with little help from Carson!). She's so close!!!

Willa had a small party with family (I love being "family" by the way) on Willa's birthday saving the big first blow-out for her half birthday so it won't be so overshadowed by Christmas. Here's another video of Willa...she's great to video...she always delivers!

Back to the Land of the Blogging

Blogland, I think of you every day. When Cash does anything new or cute, I can't wait to run and tell you. As Ashley & Blake opened presents and celebrated the holidays, I wished I could have had you there with me in real time. Every picture I snap, I can't wait to show you. I miss you, Blogland!

But because I've been gone so long, I have to do one of those long recaps that certainly won't do complete justice to each event but, hey, it's better than no blogging at all right?

First, I have to show you all how the little guy is growing....

So we left off at Ashley's birthday. A few short days later, I turned 30. That's right. The big 3-0. It really wasn't so bad. Well, Derrek and I had just recovered from strep throat and I did not get to see Ashley & Blake on my birthday and I don't have any pictures yet (I have to get them from Destiny - so keep checking back)but the actual turning 30 was fine. I feel young and love my life and I feel like I'm in a wonderful place to celebrate a big birthday. Derrek threw together a little party at Auslander. There was dinner and a few glasses of wine. Cash had his first babysitter! He loves his Billie Jean! She works at Root so they hang out. It actually wasn't that hard to leave him! But holy cow, was it great to get home!!! Not only did Derrek plan the dinner, he also got me a digital camera that I can stick in my pocket so now I have even more pictures to upload! I've also been taking tons of little videos and here's one I love. Derrek worked really hard to make my birthday a special day and it was perfect. Here are some birthday pics of Cash...pictures of me will be posted soon. Well, maybe.

The day after my birthday, Derrek, Cash & I met my mom and Steve in Mason for a late birthday lunch. I think it was just a good excuse to see Cash but that's fine with me. Mimi missed her newest grandbaby...and can you blame her?

(He was VERY sleepy!)

Derrek, Cash and I also went to Blake's class Christmas party. Wow. God Bless Kindergarten Teachers!!! That's all I can say.

A couple of kids really took a liking to Derrek. Blake was sweet to share his Dad.

Blake has a couple of "fans" in his class. This is Ashby.

Sam, Alice, Ruby, Aunt Traci & Mimi came to visit the weekend before Christmas. It was Sam, Alice & Ruby's first time to meet Cash. This was a great visit for a few reasons. 1) Sam, Alice, Blake & Ashley love hanging out. They're all equally excited to see each other. This warms my heart every time since they're cousins by marriage and I love them all so much. 2) Sam can finally put up with Blake. Although the four of them love to see each other, it was a rocky start for Sam & Blake. Blake never really realized but Sam used to have very little tolerance for the poor little guy. Maybe it's because Blake has learned a little bit about how to not be annoying in Kindergarten. Maybe Sam is just lightening up a little bit. Either way, it's so much better for everyone involved. 3) The kids got to ice skate and make gingerbread houses. We met up with Cooper, Cameron, Cole & Rance at the bakery to decorate gingerbread houses. The kids do it every year and it was nice to have Sam & Alice join in. (Although, I'm waiting on pictures of those as well!) 4) I love having my mom and sister around. They read my mind and still baby me a little and I feel like my brain can relax a little because I can ask them what do to. 5) The first meeting of Ruby & Cash was hilarious!!! She was NOT having it. My sister was holding him and Ruby just looked at him with complete disgust. Then she cried a dramatic little cry and positioned herself squarely between Cash and my sister. (This is another video, I'll have on youtube)

(Ruby is mortified)

Then, the same weekend, on Sunday, we celebrated Christmas with Derrek's family with a progressive dinner (I need more pictures for this post!). We had cheese fondu at Destiny's house. Everyone came to our house for some bok choy salad (and BeeGee's on vinyl!). We moved onto Lea & Dac's house for stir fry. We ended up at Mike & Patsy's for dessert and presents! Every year the grandkids always get new pajamas and this year was no different. These may have been my favorite pj's yet. It was touch to get a good picture of all of the kids because it was getting late and they just weren't cooperating but you get the idea of exactly how cute these pajamas are. Cash got lots of new clothes, a noise machine and a play matt. I was just starting to feel guilty about not having any toys to look at now that he's becoming so alert so I was so excited to open that gift! She also got him some toys to hang from his stroller & car seat. Ashley got an awesome new cell phone (and thank goodness because she was a bump on a log until she opened that gift! Sam & Alice kept her up late.). She also got some really cute clothes. Blake got an awesome remote control car, some clothes and some monster trucks.

(This is kind of mean but his eyes are kind of crossed. He had a couple of weeks of being cross-eyed most of the time.)

Can someone that knows photoshop, photoshop that spit-up out for me?

Then could that photoshopper cover up the spit-up stain on my shirt in this one? Thanks

She's alive!

Derrek & I headed to San Antonio to do the last 95% of our shopping. It's a tough day to shop with an infant and a husband 3 days before Christmas but we survived. I also used my birthday money to buy an iPod Touch and I was so excited but now I'm having iTunes issues on my computer so I'm really frustrated. The highlight of the day was seeing my friend Jenn. (And I have a great picture of us but it's totally out of order because you can't insert pictures in this thing so if you forget one you have to either REupload all of them or post it later...it will be posted later. Along with all the other missing pictures I've been talking about!) She followed us around shopping and holding Cash. Then we had a beer and some onion rings and chit chatted some more. It's SO great to be around good friends like that. She's one of my besties for sure. She brought the cutest sleeper gown and onesie for Cash and his bestie Wolfgang.

On Tuesday, Cassell and Rebekah sent a photographer to our house for our first official, for real, for real, family pictures! It was my 30th birthday present and I can't thank them enough. Please go to http://www.portraitsbyjenn.com/, click on "enter site", then "clients", then type penick & a slide show of the pics will come up.

No presents were under the tree until Christmas Eve. I think Blake was in a state of panic. I put a big keep out sign on the door & wrapped as fast as possible. Derrek and I also took turns running around town for some last minute gifts for the kids and each other. We're pathetic but consistent. Christmas Eve night, the kids and I made some cookies for Santa. I can't wait to have a bigger kitchen one day so we can bake more often. It used to be one of my favorite things to do and it's one of my favorite memories with my mom. I hope that I can make it the same for my kids.

Christmas morning was awesome. Santa brought Ashley a new digital camera and Blake, a new MP3 player and lots of little army guys. Cash got new stuffed animals and rattles for his wrists and feet. I love those things! We got Ashley a ring with her birthstone in it, a UT jacket (I know, I know) and some games for her DS and Wii. We got Blake a digital camera (that we're returning), some boots and games for his DS. Derrek and the kids got me some accessories for my iPod and new rainboots! Although...I think they're too small. We got Derrek a new bedside table that just happens to be a minifridge. Not joking. My cousin/brother-in-law gave him the idea and he's wanted one for a while now. We had a fantastic morning. I wish it could have lasted so much longer. Sadly, at noon, we had to take Blake & Ashley to their mom's house. It's probably the worst part of this whole situation. We're prepared for it and we know it's coming and dropping them off isn't even all that bad anymore but driving home to an emptier house? It's AWFUL. Derrek, Cash and I actually couldn't even come home. We drove around and looked at houses for sale for a few hours. Anything to get our mind on something else and dry up the tears a little bit. Next year, we'll be the house they'll come to on Christmas day but we won't have Christmas morning with them. I think I've decided I'd rather them come to our house that day just because dropping them off is so hard. Mimi came later that afternoon and I was so glad to see her. I was so tired so I wasn't much of a hostess but, believe me, she's used to that.

So, I think we're caught up. You're probably tired of me saying that I'll really try to be better, but I'll really try to be better!