4 Month Appointment

Cash had his 4 month appointment on the 30th. He is looking really good. He weighs 15 pounds and 2 oz, 26.25 inches long, and had a head circumference of 42.75 cm. To put that in perspective, he is in the 50th percentile for weight, 85th percentile for height, and 60th percentile for his head. He is just growing and growing. Dr. Rogers said that he looked really good and that developmentally was doing great and was on target if not a little ahead. I asked about starting cereal, and Dr. Rogers said if I wasn't in any hurry, then we could wait. The American Association of Pediatrics suggests waiting until 6 months and since Cash is satisfied with milk only, there isn't a rush. He did say if I wanted to start I could since we had no food allergies, and he had good neck support, but to make sure we spoon fed him instead of putting it in a bottle since the purpose of cereal is to teach them how to get food to the back of their mouth since it is a different tongue movement. So, we are going to wait on the cereal. I would like to wait until 6 months, but we may start at 5 months instead. Cash got his second round of shots, which again, he still did not like! He goes back to the doctor in two more months.

As for milestones in Cash's life, a few weeks ago he found his hands and began clasping them together and examining them, he has begun to start rolling over, but sometimes that pesky hand in his mouth won't allow him to roll all the way over, he is improving his hand eye coordination, he reaches out with a purpose now grabbing ahold of things, and he turns his head almost all the way back to both sides and raises and lowers it to follow objects. His new form of entertainment is to put his hands in his mouth and make noises on his hands. He will do this for several minutes.

For the last month I would say, he has begun waking up in the night. Most of the time it is at 4 in the morning, but sometimes he wakes up around 1 as well. I talked to Dr. Rogers about this, and he says it could be a growth spurt, but if I am able to put him back to sleep most nights without feeding him, he probably isn't waking up due to hunger, he is waking up and doesn't know how to fall back to sleep because when I put him down for the night, I always put him down asleep. Ryan and I have tried to not pick him up when he wakes, but that doesn't help. We have patted his chest to comfort him, rubbed his head, etc. but after 30 minutes of crying, I pick him and that is all it takes. A few minutes later he is out or if he continues to cry, he's hungry. I am hoping that we can get through this phase quickly. Dr. Rogers also said it isn't uncommon for babies under 6 months to wake up once a night, so not to worry too much about it right now, but to make sure that when I put him down for the night, he's still awake so he learns how to put himself back asleep if he wakes up or I will have an 18 month old waking up in the middle of the night.

Again, I will have to upload recent pics later.

Merry Christmas!!!

I can hardly believe that Christmas has already came and gone this year! Time is just zooming by and Cash is getting bigger and bigger everyday. This year, we were did all the normal Christmas', but it was much more fun having Cash with us. We began our Christmas' on Christmas Eve. Ryan and I both have Christmas' on Christmas Eve, and have to switch what we do each year. This year, it was my family's turn, so we headed to California to spend the evening with Randy's immediate family (his mom and dad, his brother and his family). We visited and ate a great meal. Afterwords, we all headed downstairs and opened presents. Cash was very interested in the bows and paper. He liked to grab a hold and we would move the present away from him and the paper would tear. Next year, he will definitely be able able to tear into his own presents I am sure. :) Thanks Bob and Eileen!

When we were done for the evening, we headed home to do our family Christmas. We will do our family Christmas on Christmas morning from now on, but this year we had to do it Christmas Eve because my dad, Janice, and Taylor decided they needed to go to Florida Christmas day afternoon, and Ryan didn't want to wake up super early. So, when we got home, Ryan, Cash, Brice, and I did our Christmas. Cash got some books and a couple outfits from mom and dad. Santa brought him My Pal Scout, a book, and a bib and burp cloth for Christmas day. Great Grandma Curran sent some presents for Cash to open as well. She sent him a couple outfits, books, and this cute soft barn with barn yard animals that make noise. Cash gave dad an engraved watch that said Love you, Cash 2009. He gave me a ring with his birthstone, name, and birth date on it, and he gave Uncle Brice a picture and frame. Uncle Brice got Cash a savings bond. After all the the exchanges, we all went to bed. Christmas Day was going to be a long and early day!

Christmas morning , which was a White Christmas, we got up and were at dad's by 9:00 for breakfast. We visited, ate breakfast, which was delicious, and then headed to the living room for presents. Cash got some toys and an activity mat. When we were all done, we had to get back into the car and head to Grandma and Grandpa Jones' for the Jones Christmas. Everyone brought appetizers to snack on. This was a first for the Jones Christmases. We usually have breakfast, but from now on, we will have afternoon Christmases. Uncle Pete made it in town this year for Christmas. It was nice to catch up with him and see cousin Melissa. The boys (Brice, Ryan, Uncle Pete, and Danny) and myself stayed entertained playing Wii. I am no good at tennis!!! Cash got his musical table from great grandma and grandpa. I think everyone started leaving around 3. So we headed home and all played Band Hero until late that evening. Mom and Randy came over to visit while we played. It was a very long day! But well worth it!

The next day, we slept in and later had to be back in California at Randy's mom and dad's for the big Crawford Christmas with Randy's aunts and uncles. This was the only meal that I was able to eat ham, turkey, and mashed potatoes! I am usually sick of these items by the end of Christmas, but I was very happy to be eating them!!! And boy were they good!!! This Christmas, everyone just brings a $10 white elephant gift and that is all, but Cash got a couple of gift anyway from Randy's aunt Jane. She always gives the kids Hallmark ornaments, and Cash got his first Christmas ornament and a cute outfit. It was very sweet of her to think of Cash.

Finally, the next day was Sunday and we had to be down at the lake by 1o to have Christmas with Ryan's mom and sister. We had a delicious breakfast, then we opened presents. Cash is a very lucky little boy! His Grandma Jeanette got him lots of clothes for 6-9 months and pjs! Not to mention a few toys and a Baby Einstein dvd. His Aunt Roxanne got him a leapfrog catepillar. It is too cute. She also got him a warm body suit coat. By this time, Cash has really figured out this present opening thing. It is much easier for him to grasp the paper and hold on! After presents, we played Phase 10 dice game. It was very fun. I always look forward to going to Jeanette's and Doug's and playing games. I can't get Ryan to play games that much, so it definately makes my Christmas!

Then, we had to leave, to get home by 4 to have Christmas at our house with mom, Randy, Trent, and Cassandra. This is the first Christmas in years that we have been able to have Trent at our Christmas. His schedule is usually so busy, that it doesn't work out. It was nice to get to spend time with him this Christmas. We ordered pizza and played some Band Hero, then opened presents. Again, Cash was spoiled by yet another grandma. He got 6 nursery rhyme books for his first 6 years, Learning Baby Tad, Cookie Shape Surprise, Rock a Stack, clothes, and a few more little toys. Trent and Cassandra got him a soft book with crinkly paper in the inside to the cloth that he just loves! and connecting rings.

Tomorrow we have our last Christmas at Ryan's grandma's. I am sure Cash will enjoy opening a few more presents because we KNOW aunt Kelly got him some stuff! :)

I would love to upload some pictures, but Ryan has the computer downstairs unhooked while he is working on the basement, so I can't put the pictures on the computer yet. As soon as it is hooked back up, I will upload.

I hope everyone had as wonderful of a Christmas as we did!

Cash's Baptism

This past weekend, Cash received his first sacrament, Baptism. Brice and Roxanne are his the proud godparents. It was a very nice celebration at St. Martin Church. Many of our family members were able to join us for this joyous occasion. Grandma Curran and Carey even made it down from Washington, MO. Dad was not in attendance though. Unfortunately, he left early Sunday morning for Texas for a work conference. If only he'd get over his fear of flying! Cash was baptized after 10 o'clock mass. It is amazing to me, and I don't know why, how many family members Cash actually has! In attendance, Cash had 4 great grandma's, 3 great grandpa's, 3 grandma's, 4 grandpa's, 6 great uncles, 5 great aunts, 3 second (?) cousins, 2 aunts, and 1 uncle! He is one lucky little boy to have so much love in his life.
After the baptism, everyone came to our home for lunch. You would actually think that feeding that many people would be chaos, but in all actuality, it went very smoothly. Mom and Randy came over Saturday night and helped get everything ready. We had 2 soups, sandwiches, veggies, cheese and sausage with crackers, and a few desserts. The only thing that went wrong was me forgetting to make the tea!!!! Oh well, everyone had something to drink!
Enjoy the pictures!

To be fair, Taylor didn't know she was going to be holding the holy water. Excuse her jeans. :)

I love this picture of Ryan!

The Godparents

Grandpa Carey and Great Grandma Curran

Grandma Jeanette and Grandpa Doug

Grandma Shelly, Grandpa Randy, with Randy's parents

A Visit With Santa

Yesterday, Cash had is first visit with Santa! Mom, Cash, and I ran some errands yesterday and were at the mall. I went ahead and got his picture taken since we were there and I didn't know when the next time I would have Cash at the mall since I am not a shopper. I must say, the picture turned out perfect! Happy Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Today Cash celebrated his first family holiday, Thanksgiving! We spent a wonderful day with family. Thanksgiving is always a rush, rush day for the Luebbert's. First, we went to Randy's brother's house in Centertown and visited with all the Crawford's. Cash finally met his Uncle Trent and Aunt Cassandra. Trent even held Cash, for a brief minute or two, then he was done. Maybe we will see them again soon! We were only there for an hour, then back into the car to head to Columbia to go to Uncle Jerry's. Of course, all of the Jones' were there. They always are! It is definately a house full of little ones! There are now 4 great grandchildren all under the age of 3 (I think) with another on the way! When we arrived, everyone had just started eating. Lunch was delicious! The Jones' never seem to have very long visits, so everyone was heading out the door about 2 hours later. Now granted, everyone was there before us, but maybe an hour. I did get to visit a little bit with my cousin Melissa. I haven't seen her in forever! She looks great and I will hopefully get to catch up with her more next month.
When we got home, Ryan and Brice headed back to Brice's room so Ryan could play some game on the XBox. They spent hours in there with Howie. Cash and I hung out in the living room. I took Cash in to lay on Howie to take some pics of all the guys just chillin.
Now it is dark and we are all relaxing and enjoying the last few hours we have left of our Thanksgiving, because next year, I doubt there will be any relaxing going on in the Luebbert household!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Chillin with Howie
Hanging with the boys!

12 Weeks

I am terrible! I wrote this post on the 13th, which was Cash's 12 Week Birthday, but never posted because I hadn't uploaded pics yet and here we are on the 26th and it still isn't posted! I am attaching pictures and uploading now!!!!!

Cash turned 12 weeks old yesterday. This has been the fastest 12 weeks of my life. Monday I go back to work and I wonder what that is going to do to his daily routine. I think we both look forward to his 8 am feeding. This is when he gets to get out of his bed and sleep with mom in her big bed. We sleep wonderfully for our last 2 hours of sleep. I am definately going to look forward to those moments on weekends and days off.
With Cash's 12 week birthday, he officially found his thumb. He had found it once before, but he quickly lost it. We aren't so lucky this time. He's found it and making sure he doesn't lose it again. Last night I even put gloves on his hands to keep it out of his mouth. Of course, that didn't work. He got his thumb out! He had is thumb out of the glove this morning and in his mouth. He also pushes his pacifier out of his mouth and sticks that thumb right in. He's too cute when he does suck on his thumb because he puts his whole hand in his face, but I don't think it's too cute to leave it in there. I take that thumb right out everytime I see it. Tonight I am going to put different gloves on him and see if that does the trick (and it did)!
He has become MUCH more vocal! He just talks up a storm in the morning time. Yesterday morning, Uncle Brice called and Cash was talking in the backround, very loudly, and I had to ask Brice 3 times what he said. He finally asked me what Cash's problem was and I told him that he was fine. He was just talking and squealing. He can get very high pitched.
Cash absolutely loves his activity mat. His arms and legs just go like crazy. He has a star on top that when it shakes, it plays music and lights up. Cash LOVES that star.
I can't believe how big he is getting. He is just growing like a weed. I think that he's just about ready for the next size in diapers and some of his 0-3 month onsies are starting to get tight in length. I think he has a few more weeks in them though. They aren't too small yet.
I am looking forward to all the fun firsts that are coming our way, but I hope they don't come too fast either. I want to cherish each day I have with him and not wish them away by looking forward to the things yet to come. Enjoy the pictures!

I just woke up and I found my thumb!

If you will notice in this picture, he has become quiet the wiggle worm in bed also! He is laid in bed parallel to the bumper pad, but you will notice, he isn't parallel anymore!

Fingers in my face!

Chillin with Aunt Taylor

Happy Halloween-a few weeks late!

I know I am a few weeks late getting these pictures up. It would definately help if I had a computer upstairs and not in the basement, but what can you do?
Cash celebrated his first holiday, Halloween! He's too little to go trick-or-treating, but his Grandpa Jones has had this weird fasination with Halloween, so he called me one day, way before Halloween and asked if he could by Cash's first Halloween costume. He had found the perfect one! Of course, I said yes. Cash was going to be a Scary Carnivorous Lobster! He wasn't so scary though! He was quite adorable if you ask me!
Cousin Kelly had come to visit the night before, so we spent the day with her. Cash wore is My 1st Halloween outfit. It was too cute. I am so sad he only gets to wear it once! Then, later that afternoon, we dressed Cash up in his costume and headed to Grandma and Grandpa Jones' so they could see their Scary Carnivorous Lobster! We wanted to make it back home to pass out candy, but didn't make it back in time.
We already know what Cash is going to be next year! Hopefully we can find the costume! But, next Halloween can take its sweet precious time to get here! Time is already going by way too fast! Enjoy the pics!