353 days and counting...

Sadly, Cash is quickly leaving the "baby" phase and entering the "boy" phase. It is not all bad though because he is learning new things so fast and imitates everything we do. He loves to dance and talk on the phone and can say "hello". He also loves to give things away. He'll pick everything up that is on the coffee table and hand it to me. The cutest thing that he does lately is pick up a toy, hand it to me and then crawl into my lap, spin around and sit down to play with it - i love that! Hugging is also a new thing for Cash who is normally too busy and too curious to stop for one minute but now he'll throw his arms around my neck and lay his head on my shoulder for minutes at a time. If i sing to him he stays there even longer.
What a great little boy we've got on our hands.

walking

Cash is taking more and more steps by himself. today he took 2 steps before he went down to his knees to crawl. it isn't officially walking yet because he doesn't get very far but he's thinking about it. wont be long now. by his birthday maybe?

Update 12-27-08
what constitutes walking? cash is taking 3-4 steps every now and again but doesn't have any sort of consistent balance. I guess once he would rather walk somewhere over crawling i can say he is officially walking.

December 20 (11mo 2weeks)

Cash loves to clap now and does it every time Chandler and I cheer, "yay!". Also, he has picked up one of Chandler's silly habits. When Chandler is totally satisfied after a great meal he will push his plate out, raise his hands in the air and exclaim, "i'm out!" Now when Cash is eating, he'll take a bite of food, push the plate or cup and raise his hands over his head and laugh. he also likes to reach for the sky after he does something he's proud of.
Cash is going walk any day now. he stands without holding, he walks around and between all the furniture (barely holding on with one hand) and he'll dive into Chandler and/or I if we are sitting within 1 or 2 steps.
We're really excited for Cash's first Christmas although we are fully prepared for him to love the wrapping more than the actual presents.

stairs and the Boss

Cash loves stairs. Up and Down! Chandler and i decided that we weren't going to the baby gate thing because it is not only annoying for the parents but we want Cash to know about the stairs and how to manuver them. So far, so good. Cash got the going up thing FAST. he was practically running up the stairs before he could stand up. After a few scary moments going down Cash figured it out - he can't go down the stairs facing forward. Somehow he figured out how to stick his leg out, throw it over the edge of the stair and then turn around and go down the stairs backwards, on his belly - just how his mommy wants him to go down!!

Chandler swears that Cash loves Bruce Springstein. He says that they listen to Bruce on the way home at night and each time that "My Home Town" plays, Cash stops talking (or complaining) and either just listens to the song or falls asleep. cute...

more from month 11

Cash is really starting to recognize words. When he is cranky or complaining and i say "do you want a cookie?" he will stop his complaining and look up at me and gesture toward me - as if to say, "duh - of course i want a cookie." I can also ask him "where's Daddy" and he'll make a loud grunt noise (to which Daddy usually answers back from the other room) and then Cash will look at me and smile and laugh.
He is really the happiest baby with the most amazing disposition.
As we approach his first birthday i can say with all confidence that this kid loves routine. He knows what is going to happen each morning before he goes to Sylvia's, he knows what happens when Daddy picks him up and takes him home and he knows when mommy comes home it is time for dinner, playtime, bath and bed time. He'll even lead the routine - crawling upstairs when he's ready for his bath and nighttime routine.
His new favorite toy is the kookaburra that Pop brought him back from Australia. He did not like this toy at first (he was only a few months old) but now when we make the kookaburra laugh, Cash laughs right along with him. He goes crazy when he sees the kookaburra when we go into his room. Its really fun to see Cash recognize things that he likes.
Slider and Cash are also getting along better (not that they ever didn't, but now they are interacting). Cash will grab slider's ball or toy and hold it out for her. Slider will take it and run across the room and back, dropping it in Cash's lap. He thinks this is hysterical and they can repeat this game for a long time.

My only regret is that i don't get to spend more time with Cash. I know i need to work and like to work but i also feel amazing saddness at the fact that i only spend 1 hour a night with him before he is in bed. I try to make the most of the time i do spend with him - not letting anything distract me - but i can't help but think there is so much more i could be doing with him or teaching him with more time togehter...

mommy's home!

every night when i come home Cash is usually standing with his head in his toy drawers. As soon as he sees me come through the door he stops what he is doing, squeals, drops to the ground and races over to me! it is so cute and pretty cool that he knows that i'm home. Chandler says when he hears the garage door open he gets all excited too - one of these nights i'm going to remember to take my video camera to the garage so i can capture the homecoming on tape.

Martin elves

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