The "No-Party" Birthday Celebration

I figured this is the last year I could probably pull off not having a birthday party for Owen without im being upset about it, so I took full advantage of it.

Tuesday before his birthday we went over to my friends house for a playgroup that we started when Owen was just a couple of months old.  She surprised us and had cupcakes and everyone had brought gifts for his birthday so we could all celebrate together.  It was really so sweet, and such a nice surprise.  Owen could not wait to get home and tell Blaine everyone sang to him for his birthday! So this is where the birthday celebration began....

I still wanted the actual day to be special and fun, just no party.  We spent the better half of the day in our pj's just hanging out (something we have done a LOT of the last 5 weeks!) as a family. Blaine took off of work so that we could all be together.  We started the day off with a little sprinkler action.

After naps, Owen and I went to the store and he got to pick out some balloons, party blowers and hats for his birthday dinner.

Rachel and Hobo were coming over for some fajitas which Owen was very excited about because they are two of his most favorite people ever!  Of course they came bearing gifts and a pinata!  They were so excited they tried to beat the poor thing before it even made it outside!

We couldn't have a birthday without a cake.  I asked him what kind of cake he wanted, and his request was a Monster Truck cake...so a Monster Truck cake it was!  Blaine took the boys out to dinner Wednesday night so I could bake the cake a get a head start on it without my "helpers" making it twice as difficult.

We had a really nice dinner together, and afterwards, we sang Happy Birthday. I think Owen sang the loudest, he loved every second of it!

After dinner my friend Becca and her son Jonah came over for cake, ice cream, and a little pinata action.

They could have tried all night to break that thing open, and they still probably couldn't do it, so Hobo stepped it and broke the darn thing open.

To top off the birthday celebration we went to the circus Saturday afternoon.  They really did not know what the circus was, but that did not stop them from showing total excitement all day Saturday before we went.  The original plan was to leave Cash with my mom but with her surgery and everything, we did not want to put that on her, and we thought it may be too much for her to be holding a baby so much.  Thursday evening we made our first attempt to give Cash a bottle, and to much surprise, he took it!  We tried again Friday, and again, it was a success. I am determined to get him to take a bottle without a problem and also nurse so that I can find a happy medium with him and not make the same mistakes I made with Owen who never, ever took a bottle and I felt like a slave to his feedings. So, Blaine volunteered to stay home with Cash while I took the boys with Rachel and my mom.

Eli's expression did not change the whole time.  I think he was just taking it all in, but if I didn't know better, I would have thought he was bored judging by  his face.

Although, towards the end, he snuck in a few smiles!

Owen on the other hand, wanted to make sure that everyone saw everything, and didn't stop talking the whole time.

I remember going to the circus as a kid but my memory is being able to pick out a souvenir, I don't remember much else.  I thought it was the coolest thing.  Before we got there, I told them they each got to pick out one toy while we were there.  I should have known after spending $12 on cotton candy, that the toys would cost as much as 5 course meal.  Eli picked out some torch thing that lights up and spins, the perfect toy to poke his brothers eye out, and Owen picked out a very shiny motorcycle.

They are still talking about Owen's "party" and the circus, so I think its safe to say, the "No-Party" birthday celebration was a success!

Terrific Two

Happy Birthday Owen! 

My wish for you is that you always have the same charm, energy, self-confidence, curiosity, intelligence, bravery, sweetness, generosity, love and beauty of your 2 year old self! 

You are hilarious, you really have a funny sense of humor and are smiling 99.9% of every single day.  Those big ole eyes of your allow you to get away with a little bit too much around here and you know it.  You have mastered the art of fake crying/fussing and I'm not going to lie, I fall for it a little too often.  You love to be close to us and want to squeeze yourself into the tiniest spots to sit right next to us.  Sometimes you even settle for right on top or your Dad or Pop's tummy.  You love to cuddle and ask for kisses when you hurt yourself.  If I don't give your boo-boo the right kind of kiss (ie, I'm being lazy and don't want to get on the ground to kiss your toe) you tell me "No! Not that kind of kiss!!!"  You make sure you give everyone in the house hugs and kisses before you go to bed.  I actually think this may be one of your many ways to prolong going to bed, but nonetheless, its pretty sweet. You have become a pro a prolonging bed/nap time- I need a sip of water, I want to give Eli high-five, I want to see if its dark outside, I need to go potty, one more song, one more story, I need to tell Daddy good-night,  I want to hug Cash.....oh, the list goes on.  Speaking of Cash, you love him very much.  You tell everyone that comes over his name and let them know that "he is very fragile." You love to hold him, help me bathe him, rub his head, show him your toys and check on him.  He is very lucky to have you as his big brother.

You usually choose cottage cheese over cookies, and fruit and veggies over chicken nuggets. You don't touch meat, with the exception of Pop's salmon.  You are a pretty great eater, and looking back at pictures, you seem to always be eating.  You need to be in on whatever anyone else is eating.

You are fearless and you make us nervous the way you jump off the side of the pool, the couch, on Eli's bed, the playground, and on top of Eli.  You love to wrestle with Eli and honestly, usually are the winner.  You get after him when y'all fight and play and don't hold back, hit, squeeze, throw, you name it.  You are totally into Legos, Monster Trucks, Fire Trucks, playing outside, wearing sunglasses, hats and costumes.  

You walk like you have a purpose and with such charisma and confidence no matter where you are going.   You crack yourself up along with everyone around you. You love to take bubble baths, and pour water on Eli's head and watch him cry from frustration in response to it, you love to "play" soccer, aka, throw/kick a ball any chance you can get, you loved watching the Olympics this year, especially the people "jumping into the water."  Chuy's is your favorite place to eat, you like talking on the phone and think the person on the other end can see you no matter how many times we tell you they cant, you could probably drink a gallon of apple juice a day if we let you, you can work the ipad better than your dad, and you have the sweetest little voice, smile and attitude.  

Every since I was little, the song "Walking on Sunshine" has reminded my dad of me, he calls me every time he hears it.  I'm passing that on to you, because you are a little piece of sunshine every single day. 
I am so grateful you are my son! I love, love, LOVE you! Happy Birthday!!!

One Month

5th Generation Jewelers

Cash had his first visit to Kruger's this week.  I quickly handed him off to Rachel because I was tired of holding him all day long, and sat back and ate breakfast tacos that someone had brought by for everyone who works there.  Generally, Eli takes Pop's keys and goes into the jewelry cases and picks out jewelry for me and brings it to me as if he bought it for me.  Owen is usually running around, playing with Mariposa (the store cat) and looking for snacks. 

This time though, they got right to work.  

Maybe one of them will take over in 20 years. Wouldn't that be cool?!?!?

The New Normal

These last three and a half weeks with Cash have been great.  Albeit, not so easy or relaxing or stress-free, but wonderful none the less.  Maybe my expectations were exceptionally low. Here is a little update on what has been going on around here. Blaine just went back to work and I can honestly say, it sucked.   It was hard to be alone for 24 hours but we are all still alive and everyone is smiling, so all in all I guess it was successful!

Owen is waaaay more into the baby than Eli is!  He asks to hold him all the time and goes in to check on him when he is napping.  One day, Owen disappeared and I found him like this rubbing Cash's head.

Eli is more interested in why his poop is yellow and when it will be brown like his and showing him his toys, as he shoves them in Cash's face and explains how each one works.
Cash's belly button totally grossed Eli out and wouldn't come close to him until I covered it up, and he could not wait for it to fall off (the umbilical cord clamp). He is still talking about the fact that it finally fell off.  Thankfully Eli and Owen love each other and love playing together, so for the most part, they can keep themselves occupied and happy while I try and get Cash down for naps and feed him.  The catch here is that although they love to play, they love to fight and bicker just as much, so I am breaking up fights and pulling them off each other just as much as I am watching them run around entertaining each other.  To see them play and laugh together just melts my heart! The sound of them laughing at each other in the next room, just makes me smile so big!

The lack of sleep feels so much more tolerable this time around.  I don't know if its because I have been sleep deprived for the last 9 months so I am used to it, or if this exhaustion is just better than the exhaustion I felt while I was pregnant, which was AWFUL. I did not realize just how awful I felt while pregnant until I felt better! I have however, acquired some lovely bags under my eyes, a renewed appreciation for caffeine, and staying in pj's all day long and trying to embrace the fact that my house is just going to be a mess all. the. time.

Ethan came into town the Sunday after Cash was born to help out with my Mom, meet Cash and be able to be here for the Bris.  He also spent a lot of time networking and meeting with people to discuss opportunities for when he moves back.  Did you hear that? He is moving back!  It probably wont be for a year or so, but he is actively looking for jobs and meeting with people to get things moving.

Cash is changing on a daily basis, so I am trying to take it all in stride.  He has been sleeping well, and much more than I ever remember Eli or Owen sleeping.  I know everything babies do changes on a dime, so I am trying to embrace it while it lasts, for all I know, I could be up all night tonight!  The first time around, with Eli, getting up was hard and tiring and downright awful, I was used to getting sleep and not waking up every couple of hours. Now that we are on the third baby, the night time is the only time I have with just him, while the house is quiet and calm.  It is the time we have together that is special bonding time.  So although I'm pooped and would rather be sleeping, I am embracing the quiet, sweet, cuddle time we get to spend together without having to worry about anything else but enjoying him.  

LOVE, LOVE this boy!

 He took his first ride in the BOB, the first of many, for sure!

 Brooke finally got home and came over to meet Cash!

 My Dad is totally in LOVE!

Eli and Owen wait for him to wake up every morning!  The other day Eli told me he thought that we should keep him! Its a good thing he feels that way cause he ain't going anywhere!  Thankfully we have not yet dealt with any animosity or jealousy, anyone trying to put him in the trashcan or going on strike to get rid of him.  Seems like everyone has settled into having a baby around.

Blaine has totally been super dad and has been off work for the last three weeks.  He helps out with Eli and Owen SO much.  He has been taking sole responsibility for them so I can focus more on Cash.

I absolutely could not have gotten through the first couple of weeks without him.  He has taken them out to play, to the Zilker Train, grocery shopping, and trips to the Lego store.  Speaking of Legos, we are absolutely obsessed over here with Legos.  I actually think Blaine is the one with the problem, as he cant go to the store without coming home with a new Lego set.  Eli and Owen have really gotten good at building things and getting creative creating things.

Lately Eli has regressed a bit in the pooping department, maybe it is how he is dealing with the change at home, I don't know...but after trying a ton of different methods, we have retreated to bribing (don't judge, we are desperate!).  He has been begging for a Lego Mining Set for weeks (which is ridiculously expensive for Legos!!!), so Blaine came up with this pooping chart with a picture of the set he wants as his motivation.
So far, he is super excited about pooping.  I'm hoping it sticks and we can get past this stinky phase!

Having a tiny little baby in the house just makes me realize how quickly they grow up when I look at Eli and Owen playing around us while I am rocking Cash to sleep.  It is a constant reminder to savor every moment with this sweet baby because before I know it, he will be right in the mix with the big boys. Its amazing to look at these three little boys and to see yourself in each of them, its hard to wrap my brain around the fact that they are a part of me and Blaine, that we made each of them.  I can see little bits of each of us in each of them, in their features, mannerisms, likes and dislikes, their little attitudes.  It is crazy that they are all so different, but came from the same place!  I can not wait to see who Cash grows up to be!