Sister Patterson Comes Home

Casey's sister, Jessie Kate, came home from her mission in Korea last week. She hasn't seen Cash since he was five months old and had never met Guy. Casey was in Canada, so me and the boys made the trek up to Ventura to attend her homecoming. It was so great to see her and hear her stories of her 18-month mission for our church. I love visiting Ventura and letting Cash run around. He has so much fun with Casey's family and especially exploring the farm. I'm so grateful to have Casey's family in my boys' lives. They are so good to us. It's a great experience to have the only grandkids on the Patterson side because our boys get so much attention and love. Cash runs around like he owns the place and they get a kick out of him. I know Guy will be the same way. I'm lucky to be a Patterson.

Cash, Grandpa Patterson, Grandma Patterson, Guy

Aunt Jessie, Cash, Aunt Sarah, Guy, Aunt Erin

Welcome home Aunt Jessie!

Guy at Two Months

Guy turned one month old on the same day that Cash turned two years old. They are exactly 23 months apart to the day. I can't wait for Guy to get bigger so they can play together and be best friends. They are already so aware of each other. Guy settles down anytime Cash comes near him to comfort him. And Cash is always checking on him. He looks for him first thing in the morning when I get him out of bed and checks in on him throughout the day. I love seeing Guy react to Cash's presence. He instantly turns towards him and just watches him. These brothers make me really happy.

Guy is two months old now. Time is flying by with this little babe. At his two-month checkup, he was  13 pounds 10 ounces (87%) and 25 inches long (97%). I have learned a lot about this little man in his two months of life. Guy loves to take baths or rather to be bathed. He is very relaxed and calm unless he is hungry or tired. His scream can go from zero to sixty when those two times come into play. He loves his brother. He still furrows his little brow a lot which makes me feel like he's judging me because it's usually when I'm acting a fool trying to get him to laugh. I bet it's because he's a deep thinker. Don't all mom's think their kids are geniuses? Well, I'm no different. He's got a lot on his mind. Like, where's that tall guy that takes me from this nice lady with the milk? And when am I going to get that milk again? He loves cuddling in bed with me. That might be more a projection of what I love, but he falls right to sleep every time I pull him in close, so I'm running with it.

Guy loves his Mama. I know this because he follows the sound of my voice and smiles every time I smile at him. Even if he is mid-cry, he will give me a little smile. It's almost like he can't help it. I must have that great of a smile, it's contagious. Or he's just a really smiley baby. Which brings me to his new nickname, Guy Smiley. You may remember him from Sesame Street. Well our little Guy sure is smiley, so I think it will work perfect. And his smile lights up his face. You can't help but beam right back at him.

 

I sure do love this little man. He is perfection in my eyes. All two months of him.

One Little Blessed Guy

Casey blessed our little Guy on Sunday. He did a great job keeping it simple and sweet. He blessed Guy to live up to his full potential, to be an example to his family and friends, and to always be worthy of his priesthood. Guy is such an important part of our family in just seven weeks of life. Cash is always making sure that I don't forget about Guy, very aware and at ease with him, and concerned when he is crying. Guy rounded out our little family unit and we are so blessed to have his sweet little spirit in our home.

Casey's family, my family, my best friend Kristin, and her boyfriend Tyler joined us for Guy's special day. I'm so grateful to live near family and friends who support and love us. Thanks for helping us make Guy official.

6th Wedding Anniversary

Casey and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary after he got home from Switzerland. On my actual anniversary, I went swimming and ate sushi with my gal Kristin and my two main squeezes, Cash and Guy. It was a great day, but we missed Casey. We celebrated in style when he got back. We got babysitters and went to a restaurant that I've been dying to try for a while, Bandera in Corona Del Mar. It was divine. We will be going back for other fancy occasions. Then we ended our night with the final installment of the Harry Potter movies. It was bittersweet. I was so excited to see it, but devastated that it was over.

I'm so happy that Casey and I were able to have a date night. He has been traveling so much that I want him to spend as much time as he can with the boys when he is home. But I really miss him when he is gone, so when we get the chance to have some alone time, we take it!

I couldn't decide which picture to put up. I look better in the top one, but he looks better in the bottom one. So you get both. Six years of marriage and we still can't compromise. Totally kidding. I love this man very much and I think six years has gone by pretty quickly and smoothly. We have great memories, grand adventures, moments of greatness, lots of imperfections, and most importantly a love and passion for each other and our family that will last a lifetime. I love you kid.

Independence Day

We spent 4th of July weekend at my sister Nikki's new house in San Clemente. Casey was in Switzerland for the week and we wanted to do some celebrating with our family down south. We had a great holiday weekend. We started the day off at the beach, went swimming in their hot tub, made banana cream pie and homemade vanilla ice cream, barbequed, and played with family. I was too tired to make the trek down to the pier to watch the fireworks, so we watched them from the house in our pajamas. I love this holiday so much, but this year was dampened by Casey's absence. Hopefully next year we will get to do something really fun as a family and the boys will get to see the fireworks. This year I was just happy that we were with family. I love my family and I'm so glad Cash has cousins his age that live close by. He loves his cousins.

We didn't get a long nap in because we were having too much fun. Unfortunately, this affects Cash's picture posing abilities.

Guy seems unfazed.

Happy Independence Day 2011

Cash Turns Two

My little Cashman is two years old. Time is flying by and now he's my big boy with a little brother! We celebrated a full day of fun for this funny little boy. We started the night before with red velvet cupcakes from scratch. Cash loves helping me in the kitchen. Anytime I start to cook anything, he grabs a chair and pushes it over from the table. He's my little helper.

We started off the day with oatmeal pancakes and a few cupcakes. Then we planned an impromptu party at Frogg's Bounce House for kids. Cash loved bouncing around with Dad, but did not want to stop for a picture. They had a little room for karaoke and he was loving it. He loves acting embarassed when I call attention to him, but at the same time he loves putting on a show. He is so funny. Cash loves to dance more than anything. He hasn't caught onto singing just yet, but he kind of makes noises and holds them which might be his version of singing. He's such a ham. And he knows it. He likes to look around and make sure people are watching him before he does something. Like father like son.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Cash, Happy Birthday to you! He loved it when everyone was singing to him. He heard the song probably about 6 times that day and he would smile, laugh, clap, and try to sing along. I could tell he knew it meant something special.

Evidence that Guy and I were there too!

After Cash took a nap, we opened up his presents. We gave him puzzles, some wooden toys, coloring books, sticker books, and a tricycle (that we bought a few months ago and he doesn't really like it unless we push him. Lazy). The Patterson gang got him some sweet BYU gear, mini volleyball included, plus some toys and clothes. He loved opening the presents, but he does it very carefully and slowly. We finished the best day ever at the premiere showing of Cars 2 with all of Cash's California cousins. Hank and Lily were having trouble staying put in the movie theater, so Nikki and Darren took them home. Tim and Heather's kids are pictured below. They gave him some cars for his birthday that he immediately threw into the fountain. Casey rescued them and sacrificed his dry jacket in the process. Anything for Cash.

Phoenix, Lexi, Guy, Kiki, Dev, Casey, and Cash

My sweet little Cash is such an adventurous, curious, funny, bright, strong-willed, laid back, and spunky boy. I love spending time with him and feel honored to be his Mom (or Daddy as he calls both Casey and I).

Happy Father's Day

To the best Dad in the world, 

Happy Father's Day. 

We love you Daddy!

I'm amazed by the kind of Dad that Casey is to our boys. I know everyone says that about their husbands, but I guess for each person it's true. The moments that really get me are the tender way he kisses them, the automatic protective instinct he shows for them at all times, and the sweet way he talks to them when he doesn't know I'm listening. He is a gentle giant. I hope my boys grow up to be just like their Daddy. He's one of a kind.