"You Can't Get More Perfect Than That!"

So on Tuesday, August 3, I took Cash to his 9 month appointment. I was excited about this appointment because HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GET SHOTS! haha Cash does not handle shots very well and seems to not feel good for a couple of days after he gets them, so I was just grateful to talk to his doctor and see how well he is doing. I was also excited to see how much he weighed and how tall he is getting. Jeff and I are almost shocked at how well he is growing, but he is becoming such a big boy it's not a surprise.

We got some very good news and found out that Cash has moved up from the 47% to the 60% in weight and is now weighing in at 21.23 pounds. His height went from 48% to 64%! He is measuring 28.75 inches long! He is starting to catch two of his best friends who are about an inch or two above him and they are 7 and 8 months older! Needless to say I think by the time he is one he'll be almost there! haha

You're probably thinking - why in the world am I excited about this progress? Well, if you taken in to consideration where Cash came from when he was a baby you'd understand. In weight he was at 4% and in height he was at 3%. Now he is above the mark on both categories. Plus the doctor said his head looks perfect. He pretty much said, "you can't get more perfect than that, I'm really impressed".

With another baby on the way, I'm just excited to see the changes in Cash and can't believe what he does day in and day out. He now has 6 teeth (4 top, 2 bottom) and talks and talks! He loves, loves food and eats EVERYTHING we give him. There isn't anything we don't hesitate to feed him because he seems to like everything. haha

Well, I'm sure I'll post more about this happy little boy, but until now I'm heading out for the night!

Loves to all (who actually read this! haha)

My Cheeseball!

I can't get enough of this little boy! He is such a joy and Jeff and I are so in love with him! I've also learned that Colt reacts to Cash in my belly when Cash is around. I think he already knows Cash is his brother. And to those of you who doubt this boy is my son - this picture says it all! What a ham!!! 

Cash - mom and dad love you very much!

Time is Flying!

Well today marks week 25 of being pregnant - so I only have 15 more to go! I can't believe how fast this pregnancy (like Cash's) is going. We have also settled on a full name and Cash's brother's name is going to be: COLT JEFFEREY HAWKINS

I have a lot of mixed emotions when it comes to having another baby so soon, but I have a lot of support here at home so I know things will be okay. My biggest fear is not being able to give the boys all the love and attention they will need. I know eventually I will be able to get into a routine and make it work, but it scares me at the same time.

On the flip side of my crazy pregnancy, Cash just turned 9 months old on Tuesday! He is growing up so fast and frankly it scares me to see how much he is learning each and every day. He is so smart and is VERY persistent on doing things himself and doing it the way he wants to do it. We are still having trouble with sleeping through the night (he wakes up once and sometimes twice still) but I know that will get better. He's also got four teeth and two more top teeth are ready to break through any day now! Jeff and I are just amazed by this little boy and are so proud to call him our son. He is also a little stud, as he flirts with all women, girls, etc... He loves to look at girls and gets a cute smile on his face when he sees them. I'm already worried he's going to be a ladies man and he's how old? haha

Other than that, not much else is going on. Jeff started a new job back in May and drives to Woodscross everyday. Thank you to Becky for putting a good word in for him! :) We also found out that it is nice up there and will probably be relocating to Woodscross/Bountiful come September. Our lease at our apartment is up at the first of October and with the baby coming at the first of November, I want to be settled and moved before he comes. I would hate to be moving and go into labor! I just want to be able to schedule my c-section! haha

Well as for me, I have had a crazy pregnancy (being sick, indigestion, body aches, etc...) and have been staying at home with Cash. I have enjoyed not working (got laid off in February) but it still seems weird to me. Luckily with Jeff's new job paying him so well I will be able to stay home with the boys which is nice. The only thing that sucks is the fact that to make good money he has to work a lot. In time though we will be able to get things figured out and on a roll!

Hope all is well with everyone - that's all I have for today!

Lizard Birth - Worth Reading!

THIS IS SERIOUSLY THE BEST THING I'VE EVER READ!

'Lizard Birth'

If you have raised kids (or been one), and gone through the pet syndrome, including toilet flush burials for dead goldfish, the story below will have you laughing out

LOUD!

Overview: I had to take my son's lizard to the vet.

Here's what happened:

Just after dinner one night, my son came up to tell me there was 'something wrong' with one of the two lizards he holds prisoner in his room.

'He's just lying there looking sick,' he told me. 'I'm serious, Dad. Can you help?' 

I put my best lizard-healer expression on my face and followed him into his bedroom. One of the little lizards was indeed lying on his back, looking stressed. I immediately knew what to do.

'Honey,' I called, 'come look at the lizard!' 

'Oh, my gosh!' my wife exclaimed. 'She's having

babies.'

'What?' my son demanded. 'But their names are Bert and Ernie, Mom!'

I was equally outraged.

'Hey, how can that be? I thought we said we didn't want them to reproduce,' I said accusingly to my wife.

'Well, what do you want me to do, post a sign in their cage?' she inquired (I think she actually said this sarcastically!)

'No, but you were supposed to get two boys!' I reminded her, (in my most loving, calm, sweet voice, while gritting my teeth).

'Yeah, Bert and Ernie!' my son agreed. 

'Well, it's just a little hard to tell on some guys, you know,' she informed me (Again with the sarcasm!).

By now the rest of the family had gathered to see what was going on. I shrugged, deciding to make the best of it.

'Kids, this is going to be a wondrous experience,' I announced. 'We're about to witness the miracle of birth..'

'Oh, gross!' they shrieked

'Well, isn't THAT just great? What are we going to do with a litter of tiny little lizard babies?' my wife wanted to know.

We peered at the patient. After much struggling, what looked like a tiny foot would appear briefly, vanishing a scant second later. 

'We don't appear to be making much progress,' I noted.

'It's breech,' my wife whispered, horrified.

'Do something, Dad!' my son urged.

'Okay, okay.' Squeamishly, I reached in and grabbed the foot when it next appeared, giving it a gentle tug. It disappeared. I tried several more times with the same results.

'Should I call 911?' my eldest daughter wanted to know.

'Maybe they could talk us through the trauma.' (You see a pattern here with the females in my house?)

'Let's get Ernie to the vet,' I said grimly. We drove to the vet with my son holding the cage in his lap.

'Breathe, Ernie, breathe,' he urged. 

'I don't think lizards do Lamaze,' his mother noted to him. (Women can be so cruel to their own young. I mean what she does to me is one thing, but this boy is of her womb, for God's sake.). 

The vet took Ernie back to the examining room and peered at the little animal through a magnifying glass.

'What do you think, Doc, a C-section?' I suggested scientifically.

'Oh, very interesting,' he murmured. 'Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, may I speak to you privately for a moment?'

I gulped, nodding for my son to step outside.

'Is Ernie going to be okay?' my wife asked.

'Oh, perfectly,' the vet assured us. 'This lizard is not in labor.. In fact, that isn't EVER going to happen. . . Ernie is a boy. You see, Ernie is a young male. And occasionally, as they come into maturity, like most male species, they um . . um . . . masturbate. Just the way he did, lying on his back.' He blushed, glancing at my wife..

We were silent, absorbing this.

'So, Ernie's just . just . .. . excited,' my wife offered.

'Exactly! ! the vet replied , relieved that we understood. 

More silence. Then my vicious, cruel wife started to giggle. And giggle. And then even laugh loudly.

'What's so funny?' I demanded, knowing, but not believing that the woman I married would commit the upcoming affront to my flawless manliness...

Tears were now running down her face. 'It's just that . . I'm picturing you pulling on its . . . its. . . teeny little . . ' She gasped for more air to bellow in laughter once more.

'That's enough,' I warned. We thanked the vet and hurriedly bundled the lizard and our son back into the car.. He was glad everything was going to be okay.

'I know Ernie's really thankful for what you did, Dad,' he told me.

'Oh, you have NO idea,' my wife agreed, collapsing with laughter.

Two lizards: $140.

One cage: $50.

Trip to the vet: $30.

Memory of your husband pulling on a lizard's winkie:  Priceless!

Moral of the story: Pay attention in biology class.

Lizards lay eggs!

Halfway Belly Shot

So my belly is getting bigger a lot faster this time around! I have decided to post a belly pic of me at 20 weeks. The doc said I'm measuring bigger than I should be right now, but that's because it's my second child. I told Jeff we'll probably end up having a lineman with this child... haha 

It's a BOY!!!

So Jeff and I are having another boy! We are over the moon excited about this. We were both thinking it will probably be a girl but when the ultrasound tech put the wand on my belly it popped up and he was ALL BOY! haha I can't believe I'm going to have two little boys running around. What's funny is the fact that out of all the Gressmen cousins and siblings there are 6 girls and 11 boys! The Gressmen girls are all having boys while the Gressmen boys are having girls! haha It's just funny how that has happened.

But I thought I'd show you some pictures, so here you go! These are pictures of Colt (we don't have a middle name yet) Hawkins....

First Anniversary

Well we made it! Jeff and I had our first anniversary yesterday and we can't believe that the last year went by so fast. Even though we have been together for four years, it doesn't seem like we have been married for only one year. I can't believe I was able to meet someone like Jeff and I am truely blessed. I wake up every day and think how grateful I am to have the man that I consider my best friend by my side.

Who would have thought that during the past year we would have a beautiful little boy and a "don't know yet" on the way. We went from having two dogs to having two dogs, a son and a baby on the way. Talk about instant family!

Everyone asked me after I got married if it felt different to be married. The only thing that felt different to me was the fact that I had a new last name. I'm still getting used to being called Hawkins and it's been hard not to use Gressmen, but I love being Courtney Hawkins and it just gives me a new me!

In the next year, I would like the following things to happen:

• 1. Have a beautiful healthy baby!
• 2. Watch Cash continue to discover new things every day and remain a healthy happy baby.
• 3. Have our financial situation get a little better.
• 4. For Jeff and I to continue to love each other more and more each day.

I can tell you one thing - I am a very lucky lady! I've learned a lot from Jeff and I'm sure he's learned a lot from me. Together we make a perfect pair (at least in my mind! haha).

Jeff I love you so much and I hope you know that as long as your by my side I'm going to love you more and more each day!
Here's to many more anniversary's!