like father, like son

Cash decided he wanted to be just like his dad and shave. What am I talking about, he always is following his dad around and doing everything he does. So this is one instance in which he copied his dad- right down to shaving in his underwear.

I just like this picture

We were just playing in the back yard as usual and he opened the back door and gave me a big smile. I just really love this picture - it show cases his cute smile.

another winning smile

I love his smile and his blond hair.  Though twice today he was referred to as a girl. They knew he acted all boy but still called him a girl.

how early is too early?

Lately Cash has been waking up so early. Sometimes 5:30, 6:00, 6:30... any time before 7:00 is too early as far as I am concerned. I told him, if it was dark out, it was still night time. Sometimes he just wakes up and spends the morning - first 45 minutes or so of playing at his train table. It is stil dark outside but he turns on a light. The other morning I barely heard him say... hello guys, are you awake? Is it morning time? Hello guys, it's time to get up. It just struck me as a funny little conversation.

are you cracked?

Lately Cash has been pointing out when things have a crack. Today he took off my shoes and noticed my heals. He said "mommy are you cracked?" I said, where? And he touched my heals. I said - yes I suppose I do have cracks. He was very concerned for me and said, do you need healing? I told him yes- I need some lotion so I can be healed.  I was just amused by what he notices and how he understands things.

new sunglasses and a hat

Cash got a new hat and sunglasses. Here he is sporting his new glasses and hat. I think he prefers to wear the sunglasses over the hat. But I think he is adorable with them on anyway. And when we put them on him at the store, he kept wanting to see himself in the mirror before he agreed to getting them.

 

  

  

  

 check out the photographer in his sunglasses

Caught in the sun

I was just playing around and trying to take a photo of Cash with the sun shining through behind him. Of course he wanted to see the photos after I took them. I showed him this one and told him, look you got caught in the sun! Ever since, he keeps saying are we going to go get caught in the sun? Can we go outside and get caught in the sun? It has become apart of many conversations since I first told him yesterday.  I just liked the photos of him caught in the sun!

Can I tell you something?

We had Cash's friend Joshua over to play. They had a great time chasing each other. Joshua just left and Cash said: "mom, can I tell you something? And I said, Yes, What? And he ran over to me and said "I love you!" And gave me a great big hug! It was awesome!

No school

Cash actually threw a fit and would not cooperate today about going to school. Technically he was not supposed to go to school but I had a photoshoo. Totally having mother guilt about taking him to school when he didn't want to go.... thankfully I had a wonderful client who said bring him along- it wouldn't take too long. We brought the video player and between that and my client. Cash did wonderfully. (Though I forgot to mention before we even left the house, we had some defiant behavior from Cash and we had a moment of breakdown between the two of us.- So I was thinking my day was not going so well) And after the photo shoot we went to my friends house who was having a Cash for Gold Party and he did awesome there too! 

Then we went to Kroger and he had a minor melt down but no big deal. We finally got home and it was time for a nap. He did his business #1 & #2 and I tucked him in. Or so I thought. I heard some noise, I snuck upstairs and peeked in the bathroom door. Like a deer in headlights he was squeezing soap into his hands. I asked what are you doing, he said I am washing my hands, I got poop on them, then I realized his pants were off. Then I looked and saw he did lots of #2 business in the bathroom. I cannot tell you how proud I was of him, I wanted to cry. He is learning and growing so much. He did so good after we had a little discussion about his not listening to me earlier today. And now he is officially napping.  Its a small story but for me it means so much because I have been struggling with his disobedience lately. Especially when I know he is really such a good and sweet boy.  Of course it always makes me think of God. How does God reprimand us when we are disobedient. We don't get a physical spanking or a time out. What are ways that he reprimands me because Lord knows I need it too.

I honestly think it maybe is how God breaks us of our will. It may not be a time out or a spanking.  But he somehow definitely helps us feel broken in order to carry us and take hold of us. Lately I have been feeling broken. I think Cash is totally being used by God to help build his mother's character. And man it can be tough on her.

Ok so I am realizing this entry is more for me than Cash. But my last paragraph makes me think of this book I recently heard of...

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. Phillip Keller.  I guess in it he explains that if a lamb is lost, sometimes a Shepherd will break the lambs legs in order to carry it back to the rest of the sheep. And then he will tape and bind the legs for healing. But I just thought it was interesting that sometimes there is a need to break a lamb in order to carry it and help it heal.  That is how I feel.

Cash at Denny's

I love when I find photos on my camera discs that I didn't know I had. These were from Christmas morning. After we opened presents, we went to Denny's. Cash loved his chocolate chip pancakes.  I look at these photos and all I can think is, what a character!

 

  

  

 

 

 

Love you Forever...

I read that book, ONCE. When Cash was a baby. Then I couldn't finish it. Because I cried. Shawn found me and empathized with me. Of course was shocked I never read it. Cash found this book recently and asked me to read it today at nap time. Of course towards the end I start crying. Shawn found me again and told Cash to hug his mom because she was crying. He was concerned and put his head on my shoulder. So this evening he asked me to read it again. I said, really? Mommy can't read that book because she cries. But he pleaded that I read it to him. So I did, and of course I started crying again. But this time that little face with the wide eyes leaned all the closer and looked up at me - just reading my face to find out what was going on, then he put his arms around me and squeezed so tight and even made the grunting noise. It was so cute, he was so concerned with comforting me. It was wonderful. Then I kept trying to read and he said mom, don't cry and read, just read.

in our hair

I once told Cash that we need to get out of the house so we are out of Ana's hair. Ana helps me by cleaning my house. So now when we see Ana and we need to go to take Cash to school, he will say- are we in Ana's hair? Do we need to get out of her hair? But the way he says it, is like he really thinks we are in her hair, literally.

boom boom pow

Last night as I tucked Cash in, he said. Momma, you can't leave, stay here with me. So I laid down next to him and all was silent for what seemed like 5 minutes, as I stroked his hair and worked on remaining calm to help him calm down. All of the sudden he pipes up.... " Gotta get get, gotta get get, gotta get get, boom, boom, pow" I laughed. So did he. thanks black-eyed peas.

potty training week 4

Forgot to tell you- we have been potty training but the other day at nap time Cash went potty before laying down for his nap. #2 in fact. As I tucked him in, I asked if he needed to go potty one more time before nap time and he said yes. I said really? And we went and it was another #2. We got all settled in bed again and he said he had to go again, I said really? And he went again and it was another #2. So we went back in his room and got settled again and he said he had to go again. I said really, really? and he said yeah, so went back to the bathroom and he went #2 again. Finally we got settled and he took his nap. Lots of high fives, stickers and jelly beans went out to him!

Cash modeled a few accessories and I was able to take some pictures. I like the hat but like his expression in the bandana picture

I wish I had my camera

Today Cash and I went to his friend Joshua's, whose mom is my friend Holly. The boys were playing and Holly and I were catching up in the other room. We both thought they were playing in Joshua's room. That is until we heard the clink of a toilet seat and a big splash. We ran back to Holly's bathroom and opened the door to find two soaked and smiling boys standing in about 1 inch of water. I would love to say the water was fresh but unfortunately the plumber had not yet arrived. The boys kept splashing and laughing full of giggles until Holly yelled STOP! I was so stunned I didn't know what to do. If it was my house I don't think I would have reacted as graciously. But Holly in her wisdom just giggled at the boys. Which made the boys laugh some more. And then said - lets get them in the bath. I immediately snagged the two and stripped them and dumped them into the tub in the other bathroom while she cleaned up the other mess. The boys proceeded to have another hour of fun splashing in the clean water. Needless to say- I wish I had my camera. Holly however, was happy I didn't have it.

That's my mommy!

Today I dropped Cash off at what we call the "new" school. He likes to go to this school because it is where his friend Joshua goes. When I was leaving I went to give him a kiss goodbye (I have to do this at the old school because he doesn't like the old school as much) but at the new school, he covered his face so I couldn't give him a kiss. I left and then watched from the window. The kids were having a great time talking about the color of the day: pink. Several of the kids saw me watching from the window and they had fun laughing and making faces at me. Finally Cash saw me smiling in through the window and he just blanked out and stared. He didn't smile or acknowledge me, all the while the other students did. I finally walked away and when I passed the outside window, I saw him turn excitedly to his friend Joshua and say... "that's my mommy!"

And when I picked him up from school today he came to me and said "mommy, will you hold me? Will you hold me like a baby?" and jumped in my arms so I could cradle him and rested his head on my shoulders. It made all his earlier independence worth while.

camera shy

look at those lashes, is it fair?