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.

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.

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!

Cash and Aunt Ray-Ray

So super cute...I had to share it!

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.

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.

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!