First Order of Business

Bragging about my little boy!  Of course I'll tell you my little man is amazing, lovable, thoughtful and my whole world.  But, just like any little kid, he has a mischievous side to him, but hey he's 3!  Yup, I said it, he 3 now.  Last time I posted about Drew, he was a year and a half.  People say time flys, but I can watch it move so much faster now that he's growing up.

Drew's signed up for soccer at his preschool and he's taking swimming lessons at the local YMCA.  He loves being outside and especially when we go camping.  He misses his big brother who lives in Virginia (he's doing well and going into high school this fall, yikes) and loves his cat Optimus Prime (can you guess who named him?).   And he's fully potty trained (oh yeah) thanks to that silly kitty of ours (it was the incentive for him to do his thing on the potty).

He's in speech therapy due to his 14 or so ear infections messing with hearing while learning to speak.  Its frustrating at times, but I can see improvements in leaps and bounds.  One day I feel what he's working on isn't sticking, then BAM!, he doing well.  We still have much more work to do, but since his tubes were put in last December, we are headed down the right path.

That's my Drew in a nut shell.  He's much more then that I'm sure you'll see. 

What's Under There?

This is my son, trying to get someones attention on the other side of the door. This door opens to the bathroom. When he feels he should be in the room with you, but for what ever reason the other person does not a 1 year old in this private area, he feels he should stick his fingers under the door for you to see.

When you are on the inside, you know he's there. His stealth skills still have to be mastered, but all you see are the tops of two little fingers trying to grab onto anything under the door. Its funny when the person on the inside does touch his fingers, the laughter starts (on both sides of the door).

Just Like Grandpa

Drew not only does he resemble his Grandpa Charlie, but he likes to represent his favorite football team, Washington Redskins and look at Firetrucks, just like him! Wow, this is scary (not monster scary, just unbelievable scary how family resemblances come out through generations)!

Apple Picking With Family

Sunday was a beutiful day out. I'm so glad we chose it to go apple picking with the family. Its our annual trip to the Dickenson Farm with my in-laws, my neice, FIL, Jeff and for his first time on this trip, Drew. It was the usual routine, hop on the tracter, go to the orchard, pick apples and wait for the tractor to return, but it was still fun. I don't think I could ever get tired watching everyone have a good time.



Drew loved running free, helping daddy and Ally pick apples. Everyone likes to sample the product before placing them in the bag, but Drew, not so much. I'm sure it'll grow on him! I know he just enjoyed being with everyone. At the end of the adventure, he got to sit on the tractor that pulled us to and from the orchard, he loved that!



I can't wait until we do our annual Vermont day trip and what adventures we come across then.

Halloween Practice

We were out practicing the other day with Drew's motorcycle. He's working on his stearing, but riding is no problem. The reason we need to "practice" is Drew will be a Harley Man for Halloween! I just don't know how we are going to get him off the bike to go door to door, maybe once he finds out what the neighbors are going to give him, he'll leave the bike behind!

We started working on his costume this past weekend. We found clothing pieces at the near-by goodwill a few weeks ago and now its time to put it all together. I have to pick up a couple more items, but we are very close to completion! I can't wait to see it all done.

3 County Fair

We had a fantastic time at the fair over the weekend. The weather was perfect, Drew was in a good mood and and there was lots of fun to be had by all!! The fair was a local annual fair that has animals, rides, displays of tractors, food and anything you can think of that belongs at a fair.

The big attraction this year was the Monster Trucks! That is what made our decision to attend this fair rather then another on going on in the area. We knew Drew would L-O-V-E the trucks. As we walked through the gate of the fair, there was an announcement about premium seats to view the truck show and the opportunity to walk around the trucks with the premium seat purchase. We made a bee line to the box office to check out the upgraded tickets. It was only $5 more to get the extra perks (and Drew was free to enter the fair, for the monster truck show and for the premium seats......score!!).

Drew was in his glory walking around these larger then life trucks. He would walk up to the tire and hit the rim and smile. He was loving it! Then we discovered there was rides IN a monster truck. So, yup, Jeff, Drew and myself all got to ride in the back of a monster truck. Drew was serious the whole ride, but once he realized what was going on, he was in his own glory!

The show was entertaining. We didn't stay for the whole show since it was way past someones nap time and he was getting tired (not fussy since he was enjoying himself, just trying to get comfy). So, we left half way through the show, be for what we got to experience in the short amount of time, it was priceless. I hope the monster trucks come around next year so Drew can experience it all over again being a little older.

Always Helpin'

We have a little helper around the house. He loves to be involved, helping and then giving a hi-five once the task is done! It doesn't matter what is going on, Drew wants to be in it somehow and I think its great. I want him to learn things, to study how things work no matter if its big or small. I want him to be independent and want to do things on his own. And my philosophy is, it starts early on the small things. So, if he wants to take a swing with the fly swatter (once Grandpy takes care of the fly), sure thing! If he wants to throw the wrapper away once he's done eating his breakfast bar, sure thing!

Drew's new thing he's working on helping with is putting his socks on. He's getting there, the other day he put his sock on his big toe. Hey, you have to start somewhere, right!?!?!

Drew Wants Something Face

My son has many facial expressions. They range from adorable, hysterical, not-a-happy camper and the every day run of the mill handsome little face.

The most recent one that has appeared is the Drew wants something expression. If you ask Drew if he wants {fill in the blank} he will flash you his cutest smile and his eyes will tell you yes. Its hard to resist those dimples once they are flashed in your direction. But, usually when we ask him if he wants something, its most likely something we'd give him, so its a no brainier. Its just so darn cute!!

New Slippers

Last weekend we were out shopping for fall/winter clothes you-know-who and came across the cutest thing for the upcoming season. Elmo slippers! I was laughing so hard in the store, I was crying. When I was able to see again through my tears, I searched for next size Drew will ware. Bingo! Found them! I was so excited!!! Once he got home, I had him try them on (since when he tried them on in the store, he was still in his stroller).

Once the slippers were on his feet, he had to figure out how to walk in them. He would lift his left up really high and stomp his foot down to walk. It was too funny. But soon after he realized he could walk normal in them, it was priceless.

I love watching him run around the house with his new slippers on. I think its the cutest thing. Now, to try and get his bathrobe on him while wearing his new slippers!!

Another Boo-Boo

My little boy is a mover. He's an explorer. He's a leader and a follower (when you have cookies or a little debbie brownie). He won't sit still if there in an adventure to be had. And with that comes boo-boo's.

Already Drew has had many scraped knees, cuts and bruises. He gets them at day care, at home inside and out. He's bonked his head countless times and once you've recognized that he got "hurt" he stops whining and moves on.

Recently I received a phone call at work from day care. I recognized the phone number on caller id and once I picked up the receiver, I could hear my little boy screaming on the other line. I hear one of the teachers explain what had happened just moments ago and my first question was, should I go to the ER or pediatrician?

Drew was stepping out of the sandbox outside of day care, tripped and fell face first onto a metal tonka truck and slammed his eye area. When they first called me, he was bleeding and not letting anyone look at his eye. But as my conversation continued, things calmed down and it was determined to just call the pediatricians office and see what they say.

During his appointment, they tested his eye for any damage. Drew was very lucky this time that just a small blood vessel had broken in his eye with some cuts on his face that did not require any stitches. So, I kept him home after the check-up for some mommy lovin and Tylenol since I assumed he'd have one massive headache.

Then, the next day when I picked him up at day care, the boy had two skinned knees from falling from pushing a bike. Man, oh man am I going to have my hands full for several years. But, I wouldn't have it any other way!!

Wordless Weds - Daddy Kisses

Crazy Week At Day Care

Last week at day care, it was crazy week. Each day, the kids (and teachers) followed a planned out schedule for a wacky thing to do for the day. It all had to do with clothes or something on their heads. I thought it was a fun thing to do and I had fun trying to figure out what to do with Drew!! The themes were-

Monday - Inside out day. All clothes were to be inside out. I originally was going to put him in an inside out football jersey, but I thought with the hot weather, he'd get irritated with the shirt. So, instead he has his superman shirt inside out (can't really tell in the pic) and his shorts with the label hanging out are of course inside out.

Tuesday - Crazy hair day! Of course, it had to be a humid day that morning, so nothing was really working in Drew's hair, but we managed to get some of it to stand up with my hairspray and Jeff's hair get.

Wednesday - Silly hat day! I thought this hat was perfect! Drew has baseball caps and this hat and the baseball caps are so day-to-day, so I though this one would be fun. I also had him in his firetruck tee-shirt too.

Thursday - mis-match day! I was so worried I'd have to go someplace after I had picked him up from day care that day and of course I did! I so wanted to put a sign on his back that I don't usually dress my child like this, it was a fun week at day care.

Friday - PJ day! Who wouldn't want to go to school (or work) in their PJ's.

Stinky Feet

My son, will let you smell his stinky feet if you want. You just have to say the magic words "Stinky Feet" and up the legs go with his foot dangling in front of your face, waiting for you to take a whiff. No worries, they don't smell that bad! He's so silly!!

Beach Bums

I love the beach! I love the sound of the ocean wave’s crash on the sand. I love the warm sand on the bottom of my feet. I love the warmth of the water (that all depends on where you go too).

I hope to pass those feeling onto my little boy and hope he creates his own joys being near the seaside. It’s already too late for Jeff and Zack, they aren't big enthusiasts about the ocean, but at least for a few hours they were good sports about the situation with watching Drew discover the new surroundings. My FIL enjoys time in the sun, no matter where we are, so he was easy to convince to tag along.

16 Months Already

Man, does time fly when you're having fun! I can't believe my little boy isn't so little any more. He doesn't look like a baby anymore, he acts like he's 5 years old and is definitely growing into his own self.

The list is growing by the day the accomplishments he's managed, along with those not-so-nice habits a one year old picks up on his way to becoming two. Drew just had his 15-month check up (I know, a little behind) and he got a clean bill of health. He's growing well, understanding wonderfully and learning body parts ahead of schedule. Drew is saying words like shoe, truck, bus, duck, turtle and wants to say so much more. And when he wants you to sing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" song, he'll hold his hands up over his head like you would show the sunshine during the song. Once I start singing, the melt your heart little smile beams across his face.

I am so lucky to have a perfect little boy, I feel blessed every day (even after the tantrums).

Hog Wild

My son loves motorcycles. Yes, he's almost 16 months old, but he L-O-V-E-S the two wheel machines. Yeah, he likes trucks, buses and tractors, but once he hears or sees a vroom, vroom, nothing else matters.

Last weekend, while Zack was here, my FIL requested all of his grand kids get together for a photo session at Target. So, last Saturday we all met up and the kids were going through the motions pretty well. Then all of a sudden, something caught Drew's eye and off he went. Target has a promotion going on with Harley Davidson and they had a kid size Harley in the room where the photo's happen and Drew noticed it. It was all over then! There was no way of getting Drew back on the leather couch with the other kids for the pics. We finally said, just put Drew and the bike in the photo's, and that's how the photo session continued.

The other day my FIL was on craigslist checking something out for himself when he did a search for a kids Harley. And what do you know, he got a hit on one cheap. That night he asked that I email the seller and the rest was history. The other night, my FIL and I drove an hour from our house, picked up the bike and turned right around and headed home. We were debating on letting Drew see the bike that night or not, but we decided by the time we would get home, it would be too close to bed time and he would never fall asleep.

The next night, we decided to reveal the new purchase to the little guy. Once the shed doors opened up, he made an oooooh sound and made a bee line straight for the Harley. He hopped on and flashed the biggest smile! Grandpy helped him out of the shed (while he was sitting on the bike) and Drew was off from there. He pressed the peddle with his foot, and there was no stopping him then! His little cousin was over for a visit, so he also hopped on the back of the bike for a spin around the yard!

New iPhone User

Mr. Drew likes to play with mommy's iPhone. It helps keep him occupied for a moment while in the car and he wants to get out, so it works for me. He listens to music for now on the phone since when we try to let him watch a Blue's Clue's episode, he likes to push the button to close the application. But, I'm sure he'll learn soon enough and he'll be an expert with using the phone.

Run, Run, Run

Run, run, run! That's what the boys liked to do when they were outside. Zack loved chasing Drew and Drew loved being chased by his big brother. Zack was amazed how much Drew changed since the last time they saw each other (the last time was at Christmas time). Zack also did a lot of growing up too, but he doesn't see that on himself.

It was magical seeing those too together and how well they got along and bonded. Its amazing that these two boys are 10 hours apart for most of the time, but you put them together and they act as if no time has passed since the last time they saw each other. Its priceless!

Big Shoes To Fill

He may thing he's a big boy, but he's my little boy. I don't want him rush it, he can take his time. There will be plenty of time for him to get there. I want him to stay in his shoes for as long as possible.

This Weeks Adventure

We made it through our big adventure this week, the beach and aquarium. There were times I wasn't too sure if we'd make it, but we did. We survived and had a great time.

The first mis-hap....I forgot my camera. I had forgotten a few other things (geez, mom can't remember everything ya know), but I was most disappointed about the camera. We decided to pick up some disposable camera's (they are not developed yet) but I did snap a few pictures on my cell phone which did the trick for now.

Drew wasn't too sure about the sand, he didn't like it sticking to his hands so he was asking for help to get it off his hands most of the time. He wasn't too sure about the waves at first, he didn't even want to get his feet wet. But after several walks on the board walk and along the waters edge, he warmed up to it and was having a blast by the end of the time at the beach. Jeff and Zack are not the biggest fans of the beach, but they hung in there pretty good. They hung out on the beach, walked the board walk with Drew and we all went for ice cream too. My FIL and I loved to sit in the beach chairs and relax when we had the chance, that was wonderful.

After the beach, we headed to the hotel and once we were unpacked headed down to the indoor pool. Everyone had a blast there!

Yesterday, after breakfast, we headed to the aquarium. I was excited to see Drew's & Zack's reaction to the exhibits. But, once we checked out the place, we were all a little disappointed (well, except for Drew since he loved watching the fish). It wasn't up to our expectations. The Baltimore Aquarium was much better. But, we made the best of it and we were happy we just didn't come down for the aquarium, that we had combined it with a beach trip too.