3 little piggies when on top of the roof with her friend

A story by Cash

So, one time there was one little piggy named ask cash then ask cash went up to the door and knocked on the door and he huffed and puffed and coughed in his mouth then the little piggy crawled in his ear and tickled him then there was 102,000 piggies helping, they were totally helping. then there was a big bad, bad wolf and there was a fire on top of the roof.  then all the big bad wolves went into the fire and they said ooh oohh owww oww then they all went on fire then they just walked up to the door knocked on it and got blown away. they just stopped and walked slowly, slowly then (inaudible noises) then they got all over the little piggies. Then they just crawled up to the door they just knock knocked on the door, keep doing it all day long when it was dark almost dark then pluuuuuu then they opened the door then falled down. Good end. 

17 months later pt 2

Oh my Jemma Kay. 18 months old. She is tiny. Can't buy her dresses cause she is too short. She wears 6-9 month shoes on those little fat feet. She likes to wear shoes in the house but not in the car and will take them off EVERY.SINGLE.TIME or scream if they won't come off easily. She is so strong willed, independant, impatient and easily angered. She gets irritated easily and squeals so loud sometimes my ears ring. She loves her brother very, very much. She follows him around and does everything he does. She can give high fives fist bumps and blow kisses. She loves to give everyone kisses. She is the best dancer ever. She still has a bow legged walk and when strangers talk to her she gives then a death stare. She eats pretty well with a fork, drinks from cups with straws and loves sweets, fruits and sausage. She's not a big veggie or chicken person. She likes Blues Clues but not really any other TV. She loves to go outside, dig in the dirt and eat it sometimes, too. She says all kinds of words and calls all dogs and cats Tango.  She likes to pet animals but hates dogs that lick her or get too near. She climbs stairs and picks up the first stick she sees when outside. She loves to scribble with crayons or chalk outside. 

I have a feeling she's going to be a tomboy. She's slept 12 hours straight since 8 weeks old. She only sleeps in her crib with her minky blankets to touch while she sucks her thumb. Im saving now for braces. 

17 months later

Life us busy. So busy its been 17 months since I've blogged. I set this up as a diary of sorts because I have such a bad memory and wanted to remember milestones and funny moments with Cash. Along came Jemma and man how things have changed. 

Cash: 4 years old. Sensitive, loving, clingy, sneaky, 100% boy, very smart. 

Likes: Lego anything, video games (he will ask Patrick and I if we want to take a nap so he can play them), Minecraft, star wars, curious George movies, role play (he is the best zombie and robot. He assigns all of us roles too), candy, hanging out at dad's work (he calls it hanging out too!), aggravating his sister, Tango, cats, his friends. (He doesn't have any yet but if he plays with a kid anywhere they are suddenly his friend), chick-fil-a ( because of the playground), drawing Minecraft people, sword fights, gun fights, building forts out of blocks, the park, swimming. 

He will eat raw carrots and broccoli because we tell him it makes him run fast. He will demonstrate running fast after he eats broccoli every time. He loves all sweets and will eat/sneak them as often as he can. He is potty trained but has an accident at night 1-2 times a month. He sleeps in his bed 10% of the time. This is my fault. I love cuddling with him! Even though he sleeps right next to me and wraps his legs and arms around me and gives me 1 foot of actual sleeping space and makes me sweat, I still love it! He loves telling knock knock jokes but never remembers the punch lines so usually inserts "poop" in there  somewhere. Goosebumps the TV show freaks him out. He covers his ears and snuggles ip to dad while watching. He is a great helper in the kitchen but hates following recipes 😜

He is the smartest child on the planet! He can write his 1st and last name. He knows his while name, can give directions to our house, he's pretty good at left and right, he can count to 30 something, can write all the numbers by himself, he can draw some awesome people, he colors in the lines. He is a genius at electronics and half the time tells me how to use them. He loves me reading Marvel Avengers stories to him. 

He is the best big brother.  He helps Jemma all the time. He mostly shares and is patient with her. He lets her help him unload the dishwasher. Its so sweet. He will get his feelings hurt and cry if she doesn't want to play with him. The other night she wouldn't sleep so I brought her in with us and he rubbed her cheek until she fell back asleep. Heart melted. 

He does lots of chores for rewards. Sometimes he's very helpful others he's but feeling it.  He can put his clothes on hangers, wash the coffee table, unload the dishwasher, pick up toys and vacuum. He hates baths and still says he cant wash himself. He is starting to pray which I love. He is growing into such an awesome  little person. 

Adjustments

Trying to adjust to having two kids is hard! Cash is at a point in his life where when you wanted to go somewhere you just dress him and throw him in the car.  No more diaper bags, diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, back up clothes, pacifiers, etc. It's a lot to get together and remember. Now, when you put Jemma in her car seat Cash is running in circles around the car somewhere or trying to jump in the front seat in an attempt to drive.  It's enough to make you pull your hair out.  Add in a husband who takes 45 minutes to get dressed (without a shower by the way) and I'm already ready to come back in the house! 

Doctors appointments are getting more spread out.  We've had 2 extra because Miss Jemma isn't back to her birth weight yet.  I look at her and think, "she was bigger than this inside me?!"  I thought I was doing good in the beginning breastfeeding but I think she got some milk then was just sucking on empty boobs! For real! She had lost almost a pound in 6 days. Not cool. She only needed 5 more ounces at her 2 week appointment to be back at her birth weight.  No more breastfeeding for me so I am hopeful she will gain more than that. 

She is such a good baby I tell you. She only cries when hungry or dirty.  She will sleep almost 6 hours if you let her.  She likes to cuddle.  She doesn't like her bassinet but I try it every time I put her down.  I am determined not to let her sleep with us.  We are still battling with Cash to sleep in his own bed.  It's even harder he is in our bed because I have to wake Jemma up every 4 hours at night to eat so Cash wakes up (no fully) and proceeds to dig his feet in me or wrap his arms around my neck.  He has no regard to Jemma and hits her half the time.  I can't get him to scoot over and get off of me! I try to think "pretty soon he won't even let me hug him, so enjoy it, enjoy it, enjoy it", but man it's hard most of the time.  

Big brother blues.

Cash is having a really hard time being a big brother.  He's not kind to Jemma. He has hit her in the head about 3 times just today.  He's not helpful and acts out a lot.  He ignores you, tells you to quit, throws things and likes to hit you.  I can lift him, or hold him, or drive so we haven't got to spend any alone time together.  This is really hard on him. I tried to sit and talk with him but he has no interest.  P spent the whole day alone with him yesterday and while I got a break, a Cash still acts the same.  I thought he would be a sweet big brother and just love her to death but right now he doesn't like her or having his attention being taken away.  It makes me really sad.  I had very bad issues with guilt about this very thing before Jemma was born and was hoping it would go away once she was born.  I feel like it's my fault he is this way and I hope this doesn't affect him in the future.  I've watched too many Intervention episodes I think. It's only been 3 days and I know he needs time but it is very hard on everyone in this house.

Jemma Kay

 September 24, 2013 5am. My water breaks one day shy of being 39 weeks. The day before my scheduled c-section. I call the doctors office and decide just to head up to the hospital.  Cash was supposed to stay at my sisters the night before the scheduled c-section so he had to go with us.  After a very, very painful cervix check I was dilated to a 1, 50% effaced and -4 station.  In other words, I hadn't changed in a week and if I had decided to VBAC I would have labored all day.

Having a scheduled section I was hoping things were going to go a lot more smoothly than Cash's birth had.  After being stuck 3 times with an 18 gauge needle, by an ER RN no doubt, my nurse already mentioned the words "nurse curse". Here it goes again, I thought.  I talked to the anesthesiologist and told him I was most nervous about the spinal.  He wasn't very reassuring.  They take me in the OR, sit me on the table and attempt the spinal.  I was so nervous, he told me I was hard and he hit a nerve that made me jump and griped at me for jumping.  I started to cry because of nerves and said that I didn't mean to jump, it was involuntary.  I hear the dr say, "I need another kit" and I got even more anxious.  Second attempt was easier, I got numb really fast, they layed me down, and he tested my level, up to the top of my boobs. He was shocked it was so high so fast and I freaked and started to cry.  My awesome nurse came over and told me to stop that she knew exactly what I was thinking and that I was going to be ok.  I did calm down after that.

A few minutes later I felt tugging and the Dr. d shouted "It's a girl", P and I were totally shocked.  We both thought she was going to be a boyI heard her cry and I cried from joy.  I just couldn't believe she was here and I hoped she was healthy.  P took pictures and then they brought her to me.  I said she looked exactly like Cash.  We named her Jemma Kay. I after my sisters lil and big K. 

They take me to recovery and after a small bout of shivering, I started to fell, really, really drugged.  I was so nauseated, I couldn't lift my head or open my eyes.  The room was rolling like an old VCR tape.  Due to hormone shifts I was sweating profusely and very, very hot.  I wasn't hurting though and after about an hour I could move my legs.  They take me to my room and was sick until sometime in the night.  It was the most miserable experience ever.  I was able to nurse Jemma in the recovery room and she did amazing! She does well to this day.  She's healthy and for that I thank God.

Bento boxes

I've seen Bento boxes on Pinterest for a long time. Still, I look at them and think how in the world do people have time to do those? Cash has been stuck in a rut with his lunches.  P throws stuff in the microwave and that is ok once in a while but 3 days a week is not cool. The kid never eats vegetables and barely gets fruit.  Don't get me wrong I'm guilty too mostly because I've been too tired to go to the grocery store.  So, I made Cash 2 lunches for P to pull out of the fridge and give to him, easier than nuking something. I ended up getting sick so I was here to watch him devour his lunches! I think he liked the bright colors and that the food is different from, burritos, corn dogs and pizza rolls.  Day one he had peanut butter and jelly cut into dinosaur shapes, pretzels, cheese stick and oranges.  Day two he had tuna (with hidden carrots) crackers, carrots & cucumbers with ranch, and graham crackers.  I think these people that do these Bento boxes are on to something.  At least I know when I'm at work that Cash is eating nutritiously.