First Movie Experience

Yesterday, we took Cash to see "Puss n Boots." It was his first ever movie experience.



He did really well. There were a few parts that scared him, but he did great in his momma's arms. We ate an Arby's roast beef while we watched, and that also calmed him down.

To top it off, I wanted to make sure that the experience was completely unhampered. Nebraska was playing Northwestern at the exact same time as the movie, so I made a bold move: No football. No watching the game while we were trying to get ready. No text updates from Uncle Reid. No asking people in the popcorn line if they knew the score. No running back to the car afterward to see if ESPN radio was reading off a score. I didn't watch one single second of the game, and I didn't even DVR it.

I waited all the way until we got home and got Cash's bath started before I checked the score on-line, and HOLY COW, was that a great decision!! Nebraska lost by 3 points at home to a 3-5 Northwestern team, so I'm really glad I handled things the way I did. The only memory I have of yesterday was a great experience with my family out at the movies.

Little Monkey

Happy Halloween!!

Go-Go-Go vs. Guh-Guh-Guh

Yesterday, the West Virginia Mountaineers football team played against Rutgers in a rare October blizzard in Piscataway, New Jersey.



The early part of the game was back-and-forth, with neither team doing much tackling. On one play in the 1st quarter, WV running back Shawne Alston broke free for a long touchdown run. As he was weaving through Scarlet Knight defenders, I was yelling "Go, Go, Go!!" Not too long after, Cash started yelling "Guh, Guh, Guh!!" The funny thing is, it wasn't even during a time when you would normally cheer during a game...I think it was actually during a TV timeout. Little guy just thought that's what you're supposed to do during a football game. Just yell, "Guh, Guh" at the TV.

Monkey see, monkey do...

By the way, West Virginia won, 41-31.

Let's Go, Mountaineers!! Or should I say Let's "Guh," Mountaineers!!

New Video

Cash and the Cash

Bridge Day 2011

Every year, The New River Gorge Bridge is shut down for one day so that people can walk on it and even sky dive off of it.

And for once, it didn't happen on a day that we had something else going on.

There must have been 40,000 people there.

The people repelling down looked like ants on a piece of string.



Cash had a great time. We all did. Big thanks to Holly's friend, Kelly, and her parents for hooking us with tickets and a ride.

Happy Birthday, Grandma and Grandpa Francis

Today would have been my Grandpa Francis' 89th birthday and my Grandma Francis's 90th birthday. They were both born on the same day one year apart.



This was also, ironically, the anniversary of the first time the ever met. Grandma was celebrating her birthday, and her apartment was below Grandpa's. He was trying to sleep, but they were making too much noise downstairs. He came down to complain, and she said it was her birthday. He said, "It's my birthday, too," but she thought he was just kidding.

We Love You, Papa

On Monday, Holly's grandpa, Wesley C. "Papa" Wickline, went home to be with the Lord. His death is preceded only three months by the death of his beloved wife of 63 years, Marguerite "Ninny."



In February, I also lost my Grandma Francis. We miss them all, dearly, but we know they are in a better place...a place where there is no pain, no sorrow and a perpetual celebration. They all have new bodies and new voices to sing with.

We love you and miss you all!!

Getting Bigger All the Time

Our "little" guy keeps growing. Here he is in his Mountaineer polo pulling books off the bookshelf.

His favorite book so far is "What Does Baby Say?"

First Haircut

Great Aunt Marcia gave Cash his first haircut yesterday. Here's one final "before" look at his locks before they met their fate:

He really wasn't all that thrilled at first
But then, cousin Noah (aka "Buh-Buh") came to the rescue.
Look at me now!!

2011 Greenbrier Classic Update

Last year, Holly got me a ticket to the Greenbrier PGA Classic, but it was at the same time Cash was born. We brought him home from the hospital on a Wednesday, and he proceeded to not sleep more than a few hours until Sunday. I was too sleep deprived to see straight and ended up missing the whole tournament. Today, God smiled at me.

I got hooked up with a FREE clubhouse VIP ticket. I got all-you-can-eat resort food, and plus, I got to see one of my favorite golfers, Chris Dimarco, shoot a six-under-par 64. Life is good.

Re-Living a Year Ago

In the chaos of all what went on 12 months ago, I never had a chance to "blog down" all of what went on and what my thoughts were when Cash was born. Here's my best attempt at it:


Mom (Holly) checked into the hospital (Greenbrier Valley Medical Center) the night before. She was scheduled to be induced the next day. I went to Nana (Joan's) house to spend the night. I woke up a 5 AM, and drove back to the hospital.

Mommy's first doctor, Dr. Wheeler, broke her water around 7:30. Then she got an epidural around 9:30. Meanwhile, Daddy (me, Lance) went down to the cafeteria and drank my second cup of free coffee. (This probably wasn't the best idea.)

Things settled down. Thinking that we were a long ways from delivery, Joan drove Ninny to her doctor's appointment a few blocks away. In the meantime, Dr. Wheeler came back in the room. He had just pulled an all-night shift and was anxious to get home. Right after he left, our nurse (Mindy) took one look at Mom's heart monitor, and said, "OK, it's time."

I frantically called Joan's phone but couldn't reach her. (She had turned her phone off at the doctor's office with Ninny.) Luckily, aunt Krisinda had her phone turned on and was with them at the time. Joan got back just in the nick of time. So it was myself, Nana, the nurse Mindy, Mommy and cousin Dawn (who was in town with her husband Cam for the Greenbrier PGA tournament).

It was about 1:30, and we were underway. Joan and Dad stood on either side of Mom while Dawn stayed behind Mom's shoulder. During a break in the action, I texted my family back in Iowa. Grandpa Harold, Grandma Julie, Uncle Reid, Aunt Liz and Uncle Grant were anxiously awaiting any news.

Normally during the delivery, you would expect the mom to be frantic, but instead, it was actually Dad who was the most nervous. I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror across the room, and I looked like a white ghost with red eyebrows. Everyone (most notably, Nana Joan) poked fun at me. (A year later, the nurse still remembered me as "that one Dad who everyone was laughing at.")

As his head was crowning, the nurse said, "He's got dark hair." Wow, the first sign of what he would look like...all my relatives' predictions of another redhead were totally wrong!! Then, before you knew it, out came a little baby boy.

Mom and Dad still hadn't picked out a name. About 20 minutes after he was born, we still hadn't decided, but then the nurse handed me a form. I can't even remember what it was for (a measles waiver or something). Anyway, it asked for a name. I looked up at mom and saw her lips sound out the name...the one I had wanted all along: Cash William Ridpath.

A text message and a facebook message were sent out all around the world letting everyone know I was a dad. It was an awesome moment.

Happy Birthday, Cash William

One year ago today, we welcomed our son to the world.


We are so blessed to have him...According to the calendar, I became a dad 12 months ago...but in a lot of ways, it seems like 12 years ago and also 12 minutes ago, all at the same time. Thanks to everyone who helped us out at some point, and thank you, God, for helping me survive the first year of parenting. "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow." - James 1:17

A Birthday Party for Cash

We had Cash's first birthday party yesterday, and it was a blast!!

Guests of honor included cousin Noah, cousin London (1 month), Xander, Alivia, Al, Lindsey, cousin Dawn (who was pregnant with a little baby boy), Cam, aunt Krisinda, Nana Joan, Ella, Sophie, Mom's friend Lori (with husband Stephen and daughter Madison), great aunt Lisa, great aunt Kathy, great uncle Randy & great aunt Cindy, great uncle Wayne & great aunt Marcia, aunt Sissy, cousin Laura, cousin Dylan (who was home on break from West Point) and Katie, and mom's cousins Alison (aka Scooter) and Samuel (aka Mulers).


Mom made an elmo cake and baked 24 Ernie cupcakes. Dad grilled hot dogs. Nana Joan made pasta salad, and aunt Krisinda made macaroni and cheese.

It was Cash's first taste of pure sugar, and by most accounts, he seemed to like it!!

He got lots of presents, including a new porch swing from Mom and Dad.

Cash - Approaching Age 1

Cash hung out at Aunt Sissy's house last week. Aunt Rita dropped by and played peek-a-boo.



He still isn't walking yet, but he's getting close!!

Day on the Lake

This past weekend, Cash got to take his first boat ride ever. His good pal, Alivia, let him tag along for a ride around Summersville Lake in Nicholas County, WV.



He seemed to like it pretty well!!

Happy Father's Day

My first Father's Day as a father (to a human*) was an enormous success. (*Depending on who you ask, I was a father to our favorite cat, Angels. I say YES, but both of Cash's grandmothers disagree. But that's a whole different story...lol.)



We went to church and then to Beckley. We got take out from Chili's. Cash got me a gift certificate for golfing at Valley View in White Sulphur...which is exactly what I thought - a long time ago - would be the perfect gift!!

Also, I called my Dad and wished him a Happy Father's Day. Being a dad is awesome, and I had a good one to learn from.

Maternity Ward Flashbacks

When my nephew London was born, I visited the OB department at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center for the first time since Cash was born.



It has been almost a year, but the memories are still vivid. Krisinda delivered in the exact same room as Holly did. When I walked in (about an hour after London was born), pictures whooshed back into my head of the day, the hour and the moment that my son was born.

I remember the nurse and saying, "Yep, it's time to go" (as she looked at the computer monitor that was charting Holly's contractions). I remember seeing my reflection in the mirror across the room and seeing how pale my face was (I looked like Casper the ghost with red eyebrows). I remember how much my mother-in-law laughed at me for being so nervous and how much comic relief I provided to everyone (including the soon-to-be mom who was in labor!!). I remember the instant his tiny body entered the world and sending out a mass text to everyone in my cell phone.

I remember distinctly the moment that the nurses asked me to fill out a form, and I had to put his name on it. I looked up at Holly puzzled...we still hadn't decided on his name, but I remember the joy in my heart as she uttered the name that I had wanted for him for so long: "Cash William Ridpath"

As I walked in the OB doors yesterday, the nurse who delivered Cash remembered me (apparently, I was an especially memorable "nervous dad.") So many memories that I had somewhar forgotten and then re-remembered...it was great to relive that day.

Welcome to the World, London

London Berkley Smith was born today at noon. He was 7 lbs, 7 oz.

General consensus says that he looks the most like his dad, especially his mouth.

Big Brother Noah and Big Cousin Cash were eager to see him:

Harold was right

Preluding Father's Day, I have to throw a shout out to my dad. 5 yrs ago, Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" came out. Everyone KNEW that global warming would destroy the planet. My dad is one a few people who actually understands climate AND statistics. Even though it earned him some ridicule at the time, he predicted the hysteria was wrong. It's 5 years later, and the Old Man [my dad, not Al Gore] was right

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/06/02/manns-hockey-stick-climategate-and-foi-in-a-nutshell/#more-40961

Best Skype Picture

The best way for Cash to talk to his Iowa grandparents is through Skype.



Whenever he chats, Grandpa Harold always has to hold Teddy the Pomeranian up to the screen. And Cash goes crazy!!

A Trip to the Midwest

Last week, we took a trip to Iowa and Nebraska. It my first trip "home" since Christmas 2008, but more importantly, it was Cash's first trip more than a few hours from home.

Hats Off, Rats Off

A lady that my dad works with made Cash the greatest hat ever:

It is made of pure wool!! It has the Husker logo on one side...

And the Flying WV on the other side!!


Go Big Red!!

Let's go Mountaineers!!

One Big, Hairy Deal

OK, been a while since our last post, so here's the deal: We're going to update this blog every day...and when we can, we will backpost some important stuff.



A lot has happened over the last few months, and we realized that this blog is a great way to document all of the important things that are going on during Cash W's very important first year of life.

So stay tuned, and we'll give you some good stuff. We promise!!

Cash William on the move

This picture puts a smile on my face every time I see it:

Sitting up "Like a Teenager"

Got a call at work yesterday. Holly said, "Our 'teenager' is sitting up."

And sure enough, he did it again when I came home at night. Before you know it, he'll be walking!!

From stinking at ISU to the Succeeding on a National Stage

Tonight, Auburn football coach Gene Chizik joins three other former Iowa State coaches to lead a team to the national title game:

-Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner (8-18 at Iowa State, 319–106–32 overall, led Pitt and Stanford to national titles)
-Johnny Majors (28-32 at Iowa State, 185–137–10 overall, won a national title at Pitt in 1976)
-Earle Bruce (36-32 at Iowa State, 154–90–2 overall, led Ohio State to an 11-0 regular season in 1979 but lost to USC in the Rose Bowl)

and now Gene Chizik (5-19 at Iowa State, 26-24 overall, plays Oregon in tonight's BCS Championship Game)

This furthers my theory that Ames, Iowa is the black hole of college football. A lot of people criticized Auburn for hiring Chizik in 2009 given his lackluster record, but in the words of Lee Corso, I told many people, "Not so fast, my friend!!" Look at the great Hall of Fame coaches who couldn't do squat at Iowa State.

Furthermore, I fully expect former Cyclone coach Dan McCarney to do well at North Texas. I also wouldn't be surprised if current ISU head coach Paul Rhoads moves on and does big things elsewhere.

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Bride

Holly has been nothing but a blessing to my life since we met almost 4 and a half years ago.

Today, she turns 29, but it wasn't all that long ago that she was young just like our son, Cash William


** When I look at this picture, I see a ton of Cash in there ;)

Congrats to Mr. Speaker John Boehner

In honor of John Boehner's first day on the job as Speaker of the House, here's a classic Chris Farley clip:

Ding Dong, the Rich is Dead

Michigan fires Rich Rodriguez after 3 seasons - Yahoo! Sports

Happy Trails, Rod. Hope you're happy with your career change three years ago.

Steve Pederson: First Class Dingbat

After nearly destroying Nebraska's athletic department, Steve Pederson looks to be doing nearly the same thing at Pitt.


Haywood fired; Pederson's job safe - SBNation.com

His latest antics: Hiring Miami of Ohio's football coach, Mike Haywood, only to fire him two and a half weeks later when he was arrested for domestic assault.

The search for the new coach may take "up to a month." Flashbacks to January 2004 keep popping into my head. It was during that tumultuous month that his search for a new coach at Nebraska seemed to drag on and on, and in the end, the Huskers ended up with Bill Callahan. That didn't turn out too well.

If there is any consolation to all this, it's that Stevie P is a messing up a university that I don't like. Pitt is the bane of any blue-blooded Mountaineer's existence. You won't find me crying over the demise of the Panther athletic program.

New Year's Resolution: Post on this blog...Everyday!!

Many moons ago, I used to religiously update my blog. Well, time has passed, I've become a busy dad, and I've let it slide. No more!!!




This year, I will post on my blog minimum 365 times. That's right, at least once a day. So stay tuned, and I'll keep you up to speed!!