Swimming!

Last weekend was Cason’s first trip to the pool.  Well, we previously put his feet in at Ryan’s parent’s pool but we didn’t have all our necessary gear for real swimming and he was really too little for it.   This weekend though, we were ready.  I had to buy this new swim outfit for him because I had some trouble finding a swim shirt that matched the swim shorts his Aunt Jeni gave him… and matching is obviously necessary.  (I’ve since found a matching shirt so we can sport both suits the rest of the summer!)

All dressed and ready to go… 

He was just a little shocked at first but then totally calmed down and loved the pool like he loves his tub.

In the water with Daddy.

And with Mommy

And his BFF’s Luke and Hudson in matching swimsuits (Suz and I did NOT plan this… it was just meant to be)

I think there will be much more pool time before it gets cold here!

Just for fun...

Look how much he's grown...

May 12

Today

He sure has filled out this outfit!

10 Weeks Old!

I can’t believe it’s already been 10 weeks.  That means there are only 2 more weeks of maternity leave left.  I have mixed emotions about going back to work but I know it’s the right thing for us right now.

Cason is really into his legs.  He likes to kick and push.  He’s getting really good at controlling his head/neck as well.  It’s fun to watch him move his legs and arms around as he still hasn’t quite figured out that they are attached to his body and have a purpose.

Here is a quick video of him “standing”. 

The 10 week photo shoot didn’t start well…

Give me the paci back!

Okay, there’s Pooh, I’m calming down  

Hey buddy!

Good talk, see you out there!

Trip to Jackson

Father’s Day weekend was Cason’s first plane ride for his first trip to Jackson to see my family.  It was a great weekend filled with family, friends and food.  Lot’s of people stopped by to meet Cason and it was great to see everyone.  Here are the highlights:

On the plane (he did GREAT!)

First trip to Keifers!

Meeting Grammy Hanging with Grandpa

Cake that Dee brought from Florida

Meeting his cousin Helmi!  

And Uncle James 

And posing for pictures!

"Beverly Hills! What a Thrill!"

This title has absolutely nothing to do with what this blog is about but yet it does. This is the song from Troop Beverly Hills. I love this movie and have vivid memories of watching it with my friend Ashley when we were in 4th grade. Little did we know then how our friendship would grow and last. Ashley and I didn't go to the same school but we were in APAC (Academic and Performing Arts Complex -- our little nerdy magnet program). We both left our home school early each day and were bussed to the APAC campus for more advanced classes... we took two classes (Math, Science or English) at a grade level ahead. Nerds. I think Ashley was also in APAC Art as well. I had no performing arts and still don't! So Ashley and I met there at APAC and she invited me to her house to play one afternoon. We watched Troop Beverly Hills and I guess you could say the rest was history.

Both our elementary schools fed into the same Middle School and High School (though Ash had a brief stint at a different High School and quickly found her way back home!) so the friendship kept going. When college rolled around we both ended up picking Millsaps and decided to request to be on the same floor/wing of our dorm so that we could meet new people but still have someone we knew close by. The admissions/housing office complied and we were assigned two doors down from each other. By midterm, both of us were looking to switch roommates and ultimately we moved in together. I'll just say we had a blast that year... lots of late nights, lots of double stuff Oreo's and milk... We should have roomed together from day 1!

Ashley decided to change schools after the first year and off to Charleston she went. I stayed in Jackson.  Today she's in Colorado and I'm in Texas. Through it all, we are still great friends. She's one of the few people that still calls me "SAD" and I love it!

All of this backstory finally brings me to the project I just finished. Ashley has a shop on Etsy where she sells fun designer ("Beverly Hills" = Designer/High Fashion right???) fabrics. After my first burp cloth, I decided I wanted to make some more and thought I could make some bibs too (after reading this blog on Prudent Baby). I ordered some fabric from Ashley and got to work.

I made the bib first following Prudent Baby's instructions (minus pocket). I don't think I used the best bib as a guide and ended up with a too small neck. I made some adjustments and was able to salvage and learned a few lessons for the next one.

For the burp cloth I just sewed a rectangle of fabric on the center of the cloth diaper and added some grosgrain ribbon on the ends to hide the fact that my rectangle was about 1/4 inch too small!

Neither are quite sellable or giftable but with a little more practice I might be there. I wonder if I could get a "Wilderness Girl Patch" for my sewing! ;)  I have lots of fun fabrics to work with.

Happy Father’s Day

We spent Father's Day in Jackson this year.  Poor Ryan had to go to his "favorite" city for his first Father's Day but it was really great to be with my family as we rarely get to see them on these holidays.  My brother and his family was there plus my Grammy and two of my aunts (Dee and Becky) so it was a really fun day.


I always knew Ryan would be a great, fun dad but you just never know what kind of Dad (or Mom) any of us will really be until it’s a reality.  Ryan is such a hands on Daddy and I love it.  He used to tell me he wasn’t changing diapers, but I think he changed one (or more) before I did in the hospital.  See, it’s really just the little things.   And it’s the big things.  I love seeing how excited he is after work to see Cason and how good he is at playing with him, snuggling him.  Cason is Ryan’s “mini-me” and I know their bond is just going to grow and grow each day. 

Sometimes I feel like my love for him as a husband just changed overnight… to see him as not only my husband, the person who takes care of ME, but to see him also as the loving father and the person to take care of US… it’s a different, greater kind of love.  Okay, enough mushy mushy… it’s hard to really put into words all that I want to say, so I’ll just stop and leave it at… I love you and Happy First Father’s day!

(more on the trip to Jackson in a separate post).

2 Month Stats

Cason had his 2 month doctors appointment today.  The shots weren't too bad.  He screamed real good but calmed down pretty quick.  He's been pretty tired and a little fussy since and hasn't wanted to eat as much as normal but all of that is listed as normal. 

The shots were the bad part of the appointment.  The fun part was seeing his height and weight gain.  He's 12lb, 9.8oz and 23 1/4 inches.  Both height and weight are in the 50-75% range. 

Growing boy!

2 Months Old

We celebrated Cason’s 2 month birthday with a little playdate with our friend Parker and his mom Allison.  Parker is 1 year old and was so sweet with Cason.

This time two months ago we were still in awe of the fact that Cason was here so early.  It all happened so fast and nothing has slowed down since.

We go for our 2 month check up (and shots) tomorrow morning.  I am looking forward to hearing what Dr. B has to say about his growth since he’s been gaining weight (as evidenced by his belly and thighs).  I’m not looking forward to the shots but who would be. 

Some of the latest Cason developments… he’s sleeping longer at night!  Two nights in a row of 7+ hours of sleep.  Ryan has the magic touch on that.  For the past week, the nights Ryan puts him to bed he’s slept much longer than the nights that I put him to bed!  I hope this trend continues!!!  He’s also holding his head up better and longer -- especially during any form of “tummy-time”.  He will look all around the room.  He’s kicking and pushing with his legs.  It’s fun to see him “stand” and to watch him scoot himself up our chests with each kick. 

Here are a few shots in his 2 month onesie I made.  He was really into this photoshoot.

 

And speaking of those strong legs and his love of kicking, here is a video of how he loves to kick just one leg at a time.  It’s not always the left or the right but it’s always just one.

In honor of the World Cup

Cason playing soccer with his basketball… not sure what Ryan is going to think about this.

8 Weeks Old

I can’t believe he is already 8 weeks old.  As everyone says, it goes by fast.  4 more weeks at home with him then I’m back to work. 

Ryan has the big camera with him at work so I had to use the old point and shoot.  The coloring is just not right but I didn’t have time to mess with the settings.  I might re-take one of these when Ryan gets home.

Zesty Italian Crescent Casserole

HOLD THE PHONE!  SARAH COOKED SOMETHING NEW!!!!  It’s been a LONG time since I’ve really cooked anything and longer since I’ve tried a new recipe.  I guess that’s what having a baby does.  Really, we have just been blessed to have wonderful friends and family bring us food in the first weeks after Cason arrived so I haven’t HAD to cook much.

Ryan’s Mom brought it to us right after Cason was born and we both really liked it.  I was in the mood to try it again so I did a quick search on Pillsbury.com since I knew it had Pillsbury Crescent rolls on it and found the recipe.  This recipe is the epitome of “easy” which is all I can handle these days.  I didn’t get very good pictures (the one on Pillsbury’s site is WAY better) but I don’t like to post without a picture.

Zesty Italian Crescent Casserole
by Pillsbury

1 lb. lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup tomato pasta sauce
6 oz. (1 1/2 cups) shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (8-oz.) can Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Heat oven to 375°F. In large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain. Stir in pasta sauce; cook until thoroughly heated.

Meanwhile, in medium bowl, combine mozzarella cheese and sour cream; mix well.

Pour hot beef mixture into ungreased 9 1/2 or 10-inch glass deep-dish pie pan or 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish. Spoon cheese mixture over beef mixture.

Unroll dough over cheese mixture. (If using pie pan, separate dough into 8 triangles; arrange points toward center over cheese mixture, crimping outside edges if necessary.) In small bowl, mix Parmesan cheese and butter. Spread evenly over dough.

Bake at 375°F. for 18 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown.

Camera phone picture = horrible quality. But I wanted to get a shot of the pretty, rounded top before it fell when I took it out of the oven!

To prepare ahead, go through the steps up to adding the crescent rolls on top.  Add the crescent rolls, butter and parmesan cheese right before baking to ensure that the crescent roll top “puffs” appropriately! 

Bumbo!

The past couple of days we have seen Cason’s neck strength really improve.  I was walking around the house last night gathering up laundry while holding Cason on my hip.  I noticed that not once did he plop his head forward.  It was either leaning back on my arm or he was holding it up on his own the whole time. 

This weekend I was talking with Natalie and Suz about trying out the Bumbo and laughed with Suz about the first time she put Luke in it.  He was about the same age as Cason so I decided last night was as good a night as any. We were actually pretty surprised at how well and how long he was sitting up before his heading started falling forward or to the side.  Regardless, he seemed to like his newfound freedom to sit up and look around without being manhandled by mom and dad!

And I couldn’t resist a couple of pictures of his toes. 

We've already had more Bumbo time today and he's doing better and better!

I have a video to go along with this, but I am not “checked out” (as my Pop would say) on the new video camera yet so I’ll have to post that later.