Easter 2009

On Saturday, April 11th our community had an Easter egg hunt for the kids. It ended up pouring rain right when the 0-3 year olds were supposed to do their hunt. It didn't stop them though! Once the rain passed, they were out there having the time of their life. Holden hunted with his friend Aidan, and then ran wild around the community center until they were allowed to go in the jump houses. That night, Trey and Holden dyed eggs. I was in and out because I was putting Cash down at the same time.


Holden woke up Sunday morning to a few gifts from the Easter Bunny, and hunted for the eggs that Easter Bunny had hidden. Cash played on his mat while his big brother hunted. That day we all took Houston to dog beach, and I enjoyed my last official day of maternity leave.

We Survived Our First Week Back

I went back to work on Monday, April 13th, and both boys started full-time daycare. On Monday, Trey was home and dropped the kids off at school. I was euphoric for the first couple hours of school - I felt free. I didn't have to change any diapers, nobody was crying, and I was having real adult conversations without being interrupted. By our first recess, I was starting to miss the boys. I think I tried to call daycare, but nobody answered. By lunch, I called daycare again to see how they were doing. Cash was sleeping and Holden was doing fine. I picked them up around 3:00. Holden had three time-outs that day for hitting his friends. His teachers said he was "a little hyper today". Cash ate drank all of his bottles and slept a total of two and a half hours. That night Cash woke up five or six times during the night. Ugh!

On Tuesday, Trey dropped the kids off again. I was tired and run-down at work. It started raining after school just in time to pick the kids up. Holden was sitting in a time-out when I walked in. Cash drank his bottles fine, but only slept a total of one hour. I was in a horrible mood the rest of the night. Cash woke up about four times that night.

Trey was leaving for Mexico on Wednesday morning so I had to drop the kids off. I almost cried. I was so exhausted from the previous two nights, and I was beside myself that my kids weren't doing well at daycare. They ended up having a pretty good day. Holden was well behaved and Cash slept for an hour and a half. I was by myself that night. I put them both to bed and then went to bed myself around 8:00. Cash only woke up once.

All of us woke up around 5:30 on Thursday morning. I changed Cash and put him in the travel swing in our bathroom. Holden hopped int he shower with me. We made it out the door easily and I had them to school by 7:00. I was much better emotionally (probably because of more sleep) at school. Holden was well behaved. Cash slept a little over two hours. I picked them up early. Holden had a friend come over to play. Cash was in bed asleep by 6:20ish. Holden went down easily and I went right to bed. Both Cash and Holden woke up at 11:15. I fed Cash and put him back down. Holden wanted to sleep with me, but I walked him back to his room and layed down with him. He complained that his ear hurt, really hurt, so I gave him Motrin. I ended up falling asleep in his bed. I went back to my room around 3:00 a.m.

On Friday, Cash slept in until about 5:45. I brought him in the shower with me. I had to wake Holden up at 6:30- he was sleeping so soundly. Luckily it was pajama day at school, so getting him ready was a breeze. I had them to school by 7:00, and they ended up having good days again. Holden had his first poop at school, and Cash slept two hours (which I can't believe I'm considering is good). Cash was in bed by 6:20. Holden was in bed by 7:45. I fell asleep in his room again. I made it back to my bed around 10:30. Cash woke up once and Holden slept through.

Here we are on Saturday morning. It's 8:45 and we're all still in our pjs. Cash is sleeping in his swing. Holden is playing and watching tv. Trey gets home from Mexico today. Whew!

Working full time is exhausting. Any free moment I have at home needs to be spent making lunches, washing bottles, feeding the kids, picking up the house. My laundry is piled high and I don't think I've checked the mail since Tuesday. Only 38 more days of school, but who's counting!?!

Officially Sleeping Through

For the first time since Cash's birth, I woke up on my own and not to the sound of Cash crying. On Wednesday, April 8th Cash went to bed at about 7:15 p.m. He didn't wake up until Thursday morning at about 6:15. Eleven hours of sleep! I got up right before he did, happily realizing I wasn't up in the wee hours of the morning. Last night was similar - he woke up a little earlier at 5:30 a.m. I put his pacifier back in and left him in bed until about 6:15. I think he's officially sleeping through the night. Just in time for me to go back to work!

Cereal for Cash

I decided to try cereal with Cash this morning (4/4). Why not? I went with single grain oatmeal because that is what worked better for Holden. Cash had a few "bites", and I can't really say if he liked it or not. Holden wanted to help, and he did a great job feeding his brother. Cash immediately fell asleep after eating, but I think it had less to do with the oatmeal and more to do with him just being tired.

Our Little Picasso

Holden got an art easel for his birthday from Nana Judy and Papa Jim. He's really been enjoying it lately. His favorite thing is to "mix 'da colors."

"Look Mom! I mix 'da colors!"

I asked him if he could write his name. Here's the sequence in pictures:

H

O

L
D

And that was as far as he got...

We started a new page and I asked if he could make a rainbow.

When I asked what that was in the middle, he said, "A pot of gold!" Later when he saw his "name" paper upside down on the ground, he looked at the "d" and said, "Look, it's a bike!" If you go back and look it really does look like a bike. I'm so proud of our little artist.

Cash's 4 Month Well Check

Cashy had his well check on Thursday, April 2nd. He met all but one of his developmental milestones:

• Reaching well for objects - check!
• Following our movements and voice with his eyes - check!
• Moving arms and legs equally - check!
• Social smile and laughing - check!
• May be rolling over - nope, close but not yet. He does his mini push-up when on his belly, and rolls to his side when on his back, but he's not rolling yet.

I love our pediatrician sooo much! He's really funny and super set in his ways. He does things old school, and is not afraid to state his opinion. I have talked him more in the last month (about Holden) than I probably have in the last three years, we've developed a great rapport. He told me I could start Cash on cereal. I told him I am not opposed, we started Holden on cereal at 4 months, but asked why everything I had seen lately said to wait until 6 months before starting solids. He said, "Because they're wrong." and then gave me all of his reasoning. When I told him Cash has been drinking 36 ounces or more of formula a day (babies usually max out at 32 oz.), he said, "He's a little pig, as long as he's not uncomfortable I'm fine with it. The cereal will help."

Cash is sleeping well. He should be sleeping a consistent 9 hour sleep stretch, which he is. The night before our visit (4/1) he slept his longest sleep stretch ever. He slept from 7:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. - over 10 hours. By six months old he should be sleeping 10 and a half hours consistently.

Cash weighed 16 lbs. 9 oz. and was in the 80th %ile. He was 26 inches long and in the 85th %ile. His head circumference was 40.5 cm, 20th %ile. Quite different from his big brother at this age. Holden only weighed 14.5 lbs and was 25.5 inches tall. I guess that explains why Cash has grown out of most of Holden's baby clothes.

He received 5 immunizations: DaPT, HIB, Prevnar, Polio, and Rotateq (oral). He really did not like them, but luckily they were over quickly.

From now until our 6 month visit we'll be looking for Cash to meet the following developmental milestones:

• Reaching well for objects
• Rolling over
• May start to sit with some support
• He will think it's funny when we play peek-a-boo
• Will start to look for objects out of sight (object permanence)

Sleeping soundly after his doctor visit.

San Diego Zoo

On Monday, March 30th we decided to take the boys to the zoo. We had been holed up at home for a long time, and decided it was time to get out and do something. It was a beautiful day and the zoo sounded perfect. We arrived at around 9:00 am, and while we were waiting in line two very sweet ladies came up and gave us two free guest passes. We only had to pay for Holden's admission!

We walked around and saw the animals. Trey had to navigate, I got lost at every turn. We discovered Holden is not much of a zoo person. He was just ehh about seeing the animals. He liked them but he wasn't thrilled. He more enjoyed swinging on the bars and jumping off all the rocks. Cash was a trooper in the stroller the whole time. He took a few cat naps and enjoyed the new sights and sounds. We were out of there by about 12:30 pm. I'm glad we went (and got in for the admission of one) because we decided to hold off on getting season passes. Holden is much more of a do-er, so we're thinking Legoland might be a better option for season passes.