Many of the parenting books advise that at this age we should be letting Cash fall asleep on his own, by putting him in his crib "drowsy but awake" and leaving the room. Although I will say that Cash has, on a few rare occasions, done just that, for the most part that sentiment is great in theory. Here's a sampling of reality:
5:50 pm Cash yawns and fusses, signaling it's time for bed.
Diaper change. Fussing. PJs. Fussing. Begin rocking and reading Time For Bed. Increased fussing. Stop reading after page four.
Fan on. Music on. Lights off.
Swaddle right arm. Swaddle left arm. Re-swaddle right arm. Re-swaddle left arm while holding right arm.
Fuss. Fuss. Fuss.
Put Cash against shoulder and initiate simultaneous bounce-pat-shush sequence. Cash yawns...and fusses.
6:05pm Think, Maybe he'll be asleep by 6:15
Fussing decreases. Lower Cash in front of my body and initiate jiggle-dance-shush sequence. Fussing increases. Fussing decreases. Cash's eye close.
6:10pm Transfer Cash's weight from my body to my arms. Cash's eyes open and body stiffens. Fussing. Jiggle more intensely. Dang, this kid weighs a TON!
6:15pm First attempt to lower Cash to the crib. Fails. Repeat bounce-pat-shush sequence.
6:18pm Second attempt to lower Cash to the crib. WHAAAAAAAAAH! Repeat jiggle-shush sequence.
6:23pm Third attempt. Almost...almost...oh no!!! Mick relieves me.
6:25pm Think seriously about banging my head against the wall.
6:35pm I go in to relieve Mick. Cash is now straight-jacket-Houdini swaddled.
6:40pm I'm hunched over the crib. Cash is asleep. My hands are still underneath him. Left hand free. Right hand free. Sneak out the door.
Thank God that's over.
8:15pm Mick and I look at each other and say, "We miss Cash."
9:30pm Fussing
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Cash Man Giggles
Here's our little dude laughing. It's a new development, and a welcome one, as the poor guy has been pretty fussy lately. The lighting is not the best as it was taken VERY early in the AM.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Before I was a mom...
Before I was a mom, I was unfamiliar with 2am.
Before I was a mom, my whole house was clean at the same time.
Before I was a mom, reading things that didn't rhyme didn't seem strange to me.
Before I was a mom, my eyebrows were always tweezed.
Before I was a mom, I didn't know that it takes two days before my hair has to be washed.
Before I was a mom, I would never change my diet in hopes of helping someone else feel better.
Before I was a mom, I'd never been peed on, thrown up on, or smelled like spit up.
Before I was a mom, I didn't know it was possible to be completely in love with two men.
Before I was a mom, I would've fixed the hair that's falling out of my ponytail.
Before I was a mom, I watched television programs from start to finish.
Before I was a mom, I didn't know that a person can still function quite well on months of minimal broken sleep.
Before I was a mom, I didn't use words like poopy, feetsies, or tum-tum.
Before I was a mom, the sound of a baby crying would've been annoying.
Before I was a mom, I didn't laugh at drooling, bald men.
Before I was a mom, my dog got more attention.
Before I was a mom, I'd never gotten a flu shot.
Before I was a mom, I had time to chew my food.
Before I was a mom, I didn't know what I was missing.
Before I was a mom, my whole house was clean at the same time.
Before I was a mom, reading things that didn't rhyme didn't seem strange to me.
Before I was a mom, my eyebrows were always tweezed.
Before I was a mom, I didn't know that it takes two days before my hair has to be washed.
Before I was a mom, I would never change my diet in hopes of helping someone else feel better.
Before I was a mom, I'd never been peed on, thrown up on, or smelled like spit up.
Before I was a mom, I didn't know it was possible to be completely in love with two men.
Before I was a mom, I would've fixed the hair that's falling out of my ponytail.
Before I was a mom, I watched television programs from start to finish.
Before I was a mom, I didn't know that a person can still function quite well on months of minimal broken sleep.
Before I was a mom, I didn't use words like poopy, feetsies, or tum-tum.
Before I was a mom, the sound of a baby crying would've been annoying.
Before I was a mom, I didn't laugh at drooling, bald men.
Before I was a mom, my dog got more attention.
Before I was a mom, I'd never gotten a flu shot.
Before I was a mom, I had time to chew my food.
Before I was a mom, I didn't know what I was missing.
Monday, December 15, 2008
This is how we roll.
Check out our son's mad skills! This is actually the second time he did it beccause I only got half of the first roll on video. What a big boy he's becoming.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Get ready for an onslaught of random things...
It's been awhile since I've had time to post so here's what we've been up to:
Last weekend we went to Holiday in the Park, which was a cute festival in League City. We felt super privledged because Reagan was working there and she hooked us up with parking behind the barricades - a real treat when you're toting baby gear. It was fun for us to spend such a good portion of the day outside with Cash.
Cash is three-and-a-half months old now. He is quite the chunker, weighing in at over fourteen pounds. He's has really changed in the last few weeks and become more interactive and talkative. He is sleeping much better during the day, which allows for multiple "good" times throughout the day. He's begun to really laugh, and although we've yet to get a good one on video, we did record him ROLLING OVER this morning! (OK, so Mick might had help a tiny bit, but I bet he does it all by himself very soon. It's hard work to flip that turkey leg all the way over!)
We had our first annual Cookie-Palooza a couple of nights ago. Reagan and I wanted to give a little something to our neighbors and friends, which meant baking and packaging a ton of sugar cookies, candy cane cookies, fudge, chocolate-covered pretzels and chocolate-peppermint holiday bark. It was enough to give anyone a sugar high for the next decade, but a lot of fun.
Lastly, it SNOWED here last night! I was so excited I wanted to wake Cash up so he could see his first snowfall, but since I know better than to make a rookie move like that, we waited until this morning to bundle him up and take him outside before it all melted away. Yea! It really feels like winter - and, bonus(!), the mosquitoes should finally all be dead. Praise God!
Last weekend we went to Holiday in the Park, which was a cute festival in League City. We felt super privledged because Reagan was working there and she hooked us up with parking behind the barricades - a real treat when you're toting baby gear. It was fun for us to spend such a good portion of the day outside with Cash.
Cash is three-and-a-half months old now. He is quite the chunker, weighing in at over fourteen pounds. He's has really changed in the last few weeks and become more interactive and talkative. He is sleeping much better during the day, which allows for multiple "good" times throughout the day. He's begun to really laugh, and although we've yet to get a good one on video, we did record him ROLLING OVER this morning! (OK, so Mick might had help a tiny bit, but I bet he does it all by himself very soon. It's hard work to flip that turkey leg all the way over!)
We had our first annual Cookie-Palooza a couple of nights ago. Reagan and I wanted to give a little something to our neighbors and friends, which meant baking and packaging a ton of sugar cookies, candy cane cookies, fudge, chocolate-covered pretzels and chocolate-peppermint holiday bark. It was enough to give anyone a sugar high for the next decade, but a lot of fun.
Lastly, it SNOWED here last night! I was so excited I wanted to wake Cash up so he could see his first snowfall, but since I know better than to make a rookie move like that, we waited until this morning to bundle him up and take him outside before it all melted away. Yea! It really feels like winter - and, bonus(!), the mosquitoes should finally all be dead. Praise God!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Early Thanksgiving
Grandma Eileen and Grandpa Roger came to visit this last weekend and meet Cash for the first time. We enjoyed getting to spend some time together and Cash especially enjoyed all the attention! As has been the accidental tradition for Mick and I the past four years, we celebrated an early Thanksgiving on Sunday and feasted on turkey, mashed potatoes and even pumpkin pie.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Stats and Battle Wounds
Our boy is two months old already and with that comes the dreaded first shots (note the blue camo band-aids). Cash handled it like a champ, but mommy cried like a baby. The poor little guy did have a rough afternoon, but by evening, he was alert and ready to meet Grandma Eileen and Grandpa Roger.
Cash is now over 13 pounds, 24 inches long and right around the 70th percentile for both.
Monday, November 3, 2008
A couple of firsts.
Here's a brief rundown of our first time attending a church service with a baby:
"Let's make sure he's changed/fed/burped/content before we leave so he hopefully sleeps through the service." "So you're saying that I don't have time to wipe the spit-up out of my hair?"
The catnap in the car means that Cash is wide awake just as soon as the worship begins. Attempts at worship are interrupted by rapid fire thoughts: "Wow, he's actually content in his car seat. How long is that going to last?" "I just know he's about to lose it." "What if someone tries to steal my baby?" (Head check to make sure his car seat is still on the pew) "Oh great, no wonder he's content; he's pooping."
And then the fussing begins...Which leaves us wondering just how much fussing is exceptable before you're expected to make a speedy exit? Should we dart at the first whimper or wait until a more forceful cry is sounded? I bolted pretty quickly and enjoyed the rest of the service nursing Cash in the bathroom, and since I could still hear the worship, I sang along from my place of exile.
One more thing. Cash spent his first night in his nursery last night. He did great and it was so nice to have Mick and Bella back in our room instead out on the couch. Hopefully the next step is sleeping through the night. Ah, a girl can dream!
"Let's make sure he's changed/fed/burped/content before we leave so he hopefully sleeps through the service." "So you're saying that I don't have time to wipe the spit-up out of my hair?"
The catnap in the car means that Cash is wide awake just as soon as the worship begins. Attempts at worship are interrupted by rapid fire thoughts: "Wow, he's actually content in his car seat. How long is that going to last?" "I just know he's about to lose it." "What if someone tries to steal my baby?" (Head check to make sure his car seat is still on the pew) "Oh great, no wonder he's content; he's pooping."
And then the fussing begins...Which leaves us wondering just how much fussing is exceptable before you're expected to make a speedy exit? Should we dart at the first whimper or wait until a more forceful cry is sounded? I bolted pretty quickly and enjoyed the rest of the service nursing Cash in the bathroom, and since I could still hear the worship, I sang along from my place of exile.
One more thing. Cash spent his first night in his nursery last night. He did great and it was so nice to have Mick and Bella back in our room instead out on the couch. Hopefully the next step is sleeping through the night. Ah, a girl can dream!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween
Here are a few photos of our "Little Monster." More to come...including photos of the Amazing Bellarina in the physical manifestation of her imaginary pigsuit.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Dewberry Farms
We tagged along with the Penas on their annual "Pumpkinpalooza" to Dewberry Farms on Sunday. Mick and I were so happy just to be outdoors and away from our house that we didn't even mind leaving before we were able to pick a pumpkin. Although I was still shell-shocked from my experience the day before, Cash did very well - he slept most of the way there and back (almost three hours round-trip) and put up with us taking him in and out of the stroller for photo ops. We left early so as not to push our luck.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The calm before the storm
I started this blog totally excited about a parenting praise report and then was interrupted by the most difficult day of motherhood I've had by far.
First the good news. We've been trying to get Cash to sleep in his bassenet for a while now, but to no avail. He seems to prefer sleeping next to me (co-sleeping opponents: please keep your opinions to yourself :) ) However, last night we used the "miracle blanket," swaddled Cash tight, and voila, he fell asleep for five whole hours in the bassenet and then went back in after each time I fed him. Now mind you, I was too anxious thinking he would wake up at any minute that I did not sleep a wink of those initial five hours, but I loved that we were making progress in that department.
Now the bad news. Mick had set up a "daddy-date" with some of our fellow-new-father friends to go to a movie today. I looked forward to visiting with my friend Rebekah and her two-week-old daughter while our guys hung out. Cash however spent literally the entire two-and-a-half hour visit either non-stop nursing or frantically crying when I tried to burp him or change sides. Not fun; rather painful actually. This was totally ruining my I'm-such-a-successful-parent-that-my-child-never-has-a-meltdown-and-I-would-totally-know-what-to-do-if-he-did-anyway fantasy that I was trying to live in. Then, when I finally decided to excuse myself before I completely fell apart, my car wouldn't start! I had to call Mick home to rescue me. Needless to say, I didn't make it out of our friends drive way before being reduced to a sobbing mess.
I guess this is just the first of many good, bad and ugly experiences to come. If the half-done hair and fact that I always have spit-up somewhere on me didn't convince me, this certainly showed that motherhood is very humbling.
P.S. When we got home from the meltdown, Daddy was able to put Cash to sleep within ten minutes and now he has been asleep (alone, in his bassenet!) for hours. Go figure!
First the good news. We've been trying to get Cash to sleep in his bassenet for a while now, but to no avail. He seems to prefer sleeping next to me (co-sleeping opponents: please keep your opinions to yourself :) ) However, last night we used the "miracle blanket," swaddled Cash tight, and voila, he fell asleep for five whole hours in the bassenet and then went back in after each time I fed him. Now mind you, I was too anxious thinking he would wake up at any minute that I did not sleep a wink of those initial five hours, but I loved that we were making progress in that department.
Now the bad news. Mick had set up a "daddy-date" with some of our fellow-new-father friends to go to a movie today. I looked forward to visiting with my friend Rebekah and her two-week-old daughter while our guys hung out. Cash however spent literally the entire two-and-a-half hour visit either non-stop nursing or frantically crying when I tried to burp him or change sides. Not fun; rather painful actually. This was totally ruining my I'm-such-a-successful-parent-that-my-child-never-has-a-meltdown-and-I-would-totally-know-what-to-do-if-he-did-anyway fantasy that I was trying to live in. Then, when I finally decided to excuse myself before I completely fell apart, my car wouldn't start! I had to call Mick home to rescue me. Needless to say, I didn't make it out of our friends drive way before being reduced to a sobbing mess.
I guess this is just the first of many good, bad and ugly experiences to come. If the half-done hair and fact that I always have spit-up somewhere on me didn't convince me, this certainly showed that motherhood is very humbling.
P.S. When we got home from the meltdown, Daddy was able to put Cash to sleep within ten minutes and now he has been asleep (alone, in his bassenet!) for hours. Go figure!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
First Smiles!
So Cash has started to socially smile now. Yesterday, Mick and I each got one, which was a real treat! Forgive my cheesy-ness in the video. I now have a habit of pluralizing random words like "what." A girl will do almost anything to make her little guy happy...even if it is singing a song about "stinking poo-poos" while changing his diaper.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
One Month Old!
I can't believe our boy is one month old already! Time really is flying by. Cash is an eating machine, weighing in at over 10 lbs now.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Things I've discovered about being a new mom
1. I become completely incompetent at changing diapers in the middle of the night. (The other night I put the diaper on inside out, but it was after I fixed it that Cash and I were covered in pee. Figure that one out?!)
2. When you're carrying around a baby in one arm, your foot automatically becomes another hand. (Quite handy when loading the washing machine, I might add.)
3. Why is it when I start to sing my son a song, it turns out to be either 80's rock or the Star-Spangled Banner?
4. I am terrified of the bulb syringe. You could suck his brain out with that thing!
5. While a poopy diaper makes me proud, I was totally grossed out by the umbilical cord and eye boogers.
6. If I don't burp Cash after he's fallen asleep nursing, and instead hope to put him in his bassinet still sleeping so I can get some shut eye, those darn hiccups will wake him up every time!
7. It's totally unfair that Mick has to go to work all day while I get to spend my day with the most handsome little boy ever. We miss you, Daddy!
2. When you're carrying around a baby in one arm, your foot automatically becomes another hand. (Quite handy when loading the washing machine, I might add.)
3. Why is it when I start to sing my son a song, it turns out to be either 80's rock or the Star-Spangled Banner?
4. I am terrified of the bulb syringe. You could suck his brain out with that thing!
5. While a poopy diaper makes me proud, I was totally grossed out by the umbilical cord and eye boogers.
6. If I don't burp Cash after he's fallen asleep nursing, and instead hope to put him in his bassinet still sleeping so I can get some shut eye, those darn hiccups will wake him up every time!
7. It's totally unfair that Mick has to go to work all day while I get to spend my day with the most handsome little boy ever. We miss you, Daddy!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Bath Time
Although Cash generally doesn't like bathtime, he loves getting his hair washed. It's pretty funny to see him fuss through the all the other parts and then just lay there wide-eyed through the grand finale. Soon he will be able to have a real bath and not just a rub down!
Family Visit
Grandma and Grandpa Anderson came to visit Cash this weekend and we so enjoyed having them here! I'm not sure Cash was set down the whole time. We are looking forward to their return visit in November!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Two week stats
Cash had his two week check up yesterday and we can't believe how much he's grown in such a short time! He now weighs 7 lbs 15 oz and was measured at 21 inches. The nurse was pretty generous with the length and we think he's probably closer to 20 inches. The funny thing is the percentiles. Cash is in the 25th percentile for weight and 60th percentile for height. I mean, come on, have you seen his parents? He does have my go-go-gadget limbs, but I still can't get over how little he is. I am grateful, from a laboring perspective, that he wasn't bigger though.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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