Punkin' Huntin'

We went to Tarrytown Methodist's Pumpkin Patch this year since we didn't make it out to Sweetberry Farm. It is so convenient and a nice size for toddlers. And it was a gorgeous day on top of everything.

September 2011

Daddy: favorite ride-on toy

Dinosaurs at the Children's Museum

Cashion's favorite breakfast: "Punkeen muffin" or "Punky food" (translation "Pumpkin Muffin")

Favorite friend

Kiddie Acres

September was full of our favorite things and some new adventures. Sadie and I try to have a "mommy day" on Wednesday afternoons while Bebe keeps Cashion during his afternoon nap. One afternoon we went to Kiddie Acres in North Austin, which apparently Dana and I went to when we were kids. They have toddler size carnival rides, pony rides, a small train that runs around the property and good ole concessions (i.e. popcorn and snow cones.) There were only a few kids there so we all decided which ride we wanted to go on together since there was only one operator.

Sadie's Debut

Sadie made us all so proud when she walked the runway like she had been doing it all her life during her Daddy's own 3rd Annual Austin Fashion Week. She wore an adorable dress by My GiGi for the Kick-Off event at Harley Davidson. Matt and I were both prepared to have to jump up and help her if she got stage fright, but there was no need to worry. I totally cried when I saw her up there with so much confidence. She is such a big girl!

Labor Day at the Lake

This was the first time in a long time that Richard, Talie and Rodd were all able to join us at the lake house for a long weekend. It was a great time to relax and catch up, even though it took Rodd and Talie many more hours to get there than it should have due to the wild fires along Hwy 71. They persevered and made it to Oak Ridge late at night, but were able to enjoy the next day with us. We played Bocce Ball and ate great food as usual. Hope it isn't too long before we can do it again.

First day of Preschool 2011

We were in the middle of Austin Fashion Week for the first day of school, so we got to take pictures at Bebe and Papa's house that morning. Cashion LOVES his backpack and lunchbox. Sadie is a pro at this point, but was still excited to get back to school. She is so bored at home most of the time. Cashion walked out onto the playground and didn't look back. His "Bumble Bee" class is led my Ms. Kendall and Ms. Ellen and they are downstairs next to the baby class. Cashion made fast friends with the only other little boy in the class, Parker (there are only 5 kids in the class on MWF). He eats all of his snack and lunch everyday and loves the tractor book, asking his teachers to read it over and over again. Being out on the playground is the best part, as far as Cash is concerned. They go out first thing in the morning so they can avoid the heat of the day.

Sadie is in Ms. Erin and Ms. Heyden's class, the Sunflower Class. They have so many great activities to do that Sadie doesn't have a chance to get bored. Art is always open and they have these great journals to write and decorate with pretty tape and things. This year they are given the option of having their snack or waiting until lunch, which I think is pretty cool that they are encouraged to keep track of things like "Am I hungry?" One of the main goals of this year is to make sure that they are emotionally ready for Kindergarten next year.

Cashions together

Cashion got to meet another Cashion! Jacob Hale Cashion, that is. My cousin, Hart, and his wife Jennifer live in Houston with their little baby boy, but we have gotten to visit with them a couple of times over the past couple of months. Jennifer has done quite a bit of family tree research on my mother's family, which has spawned some new interest in tracing our ancestry. Bebe even met a family member in Fredericksburg for the first time this summer due to these new discoveries.

Cashion at 18 months

I'm walking now!

My favorite book


I love my Sissy


Even if I pull her hair sometimes

I eat all by myself

Cashion has made some big changes from age 17 months to 19 months. He took his first timid step by 15 months, but didn't really walk until 17 months old. Now he walks everywhere and it looks strange when he drops down to crawling on the rare occasion. He can hold onto the wall and step down a step, but still falls down sometimes. He drags all his matchbox cars and other toys out and scatters them all over the floor and then proceeds to cry out as he steps on them while walking across the room. He has weeny little feet. He gets his feelings hurt and cries more than Sadie did at this age, but his tantrums have decreased now that he is getting more words. (He still pulls his sister's hair on occasion, even when he is not defending his possessions). He loves bubbles baths, balls, trucks, tractors, trains, matchbox cars, and his 100 first machines book. He likes to point to each one and have you name it. He repeats most of what we say now. At 19 months, these are some but not all of his words:

Mama, Dada, Sissy/Sadie, Papa, Bebe, Nana, Ball, Basketball, Football, Baseball, Bubble, Bath, Star, Bright, Tractor, Truck, Car-Car, Wee-ooh-wee-ooh (Siren of the Firetruck), More, Wawa (Water), Walk, Doggie, Animal Sounds: Moo, Quack, a snorting sound for a pig, Mow (Meow), Baa, Bock-Bock, Roar, Outside, Playground, Shoe, On/Off (both sound the same), Nino (Dino), Bock-bock (Backpack), Hat, Elbow, Banana, Cracker, Hot Dog, and Thank You.

One of the problems with being the 2nd child is that you have to watch whatever TV your older sibling likes. Therefore, Cashion has seen more Spongebob Squarepants than any one-year-old should. A few months ago, he said "Aye-aye" when he saw the pirate come on and now he says "Spongebob" and sings "Oooooooooohhhhhhhhh" at he beginning of the song. It is hilarious and mortifying all at the same time.

Cashion is a great eater. He ate an entire chicken soft taco with rice and beans at Maudie's last night. He even held the spoon correctly and got the beans to his mouth on his own!

Most of all, I enjoy that he is still a snuggler. He loves to sit and read books before bedtime. Then, he snuggles in for our lullaby and gives really good hugs and kisses. He even asks to kiss his Sissy goodnight. He really is a sweet little boy and I love that I can still cuddle with him even though he is getting so big.