Happy 9 Months Drew Drew

No, that's no typo. We call Drew, Drew Drew. Why so redundant? Because we call Farley, Far Far. And on occasion, Corky, Cork Cork. It just doesn't work with Evan...Evan Evan, doesn't roll off the tongue. And because we are weird like that. Ok, so back to the topic at hand. Drew is 9 months old, as of Friday actually. And he is as cute and as charming as ever. So feast your eyes on a picture of this handsome fella. But don't look for too long, cause he's MINE.... ALL MINE.... AND YOU CAN'T HAVE EM. Happy 3/4's Birthday Drew Drew.

Big Boy Toys

Last week, I watched Evan in his play room. He looked bummed out. We play so much at his older friends houses and they have such big boy toys. He has a few "big boy" train sets and a "big boy" firehouse and kitchen set, and few other big boy toys, but wow what a difference 6 or 9 months makes since his birthday and Christmas last year. With Evan, he doesn't outgrow clothes or shoes (sadly)... but it seems as though he has outgrown some of his toys. Back at Christmas, he really wasn't truly playing with his toys. He would hold them for a minute or two and lose interest and go on to something else. Now he pretends, and he makes the little guys talk to each other. He has entire scenarios going on with his toys, and he can play with one toy for an hour or so at a time. As I was saying, he looked around his room and literally looked disinterested in his toys. We even had a play date a few weeks ago, and one of the "big" girls asked me where were all the big kid toys? I felt so bad!!! So we got him a big boy toy this weekend. I know what you are thinking. Aren't you sending the wrong message since he didn't eat his fruits and veggies last week, and didn't earn a single stamp on his eating chart? Well, I have decided that he is too young for that. Plus, we still have that particular (and highly coveted toy) up high for him to strive for. No toy can take the place of it (buzz light year laser arm band-type things). But we did get him a really cool Imaginext Fisher Price Spaceship and a matching Space Station. For those of you that remember the 80's, it's like the modern day Adventure People. It is totally right up his alley. He is in HEAVEN!!! He plays with his little astronauts and aliens from sun up to sun down. Best purchase in a LONG time.

The Park Family

Michael wanted to do a "sorority pose". After 3 drinks, it sounded like a funny idea.

Last week our good friends, The Parks came for a visit with their 3 boys. The main attraction for them was going to Disney every day. But we also got to see them a few times, once for a BBQ and once for an adult night out!!! Gosh, it made me realize how much I miss my girlfriend Mary. We hadn't seen each other for 4 years, but it was like it was yesterday. We just picked up where we left off. LOVE HER!!! And luckily, Paul really gets along with her husband, so we had a wonderful night out!!!

Buddies

Here is Drew at his buddy, Thomas's house last week. Evan and I had a date with Mickey Mouse, so my friend Erica babysat Drew. Unfortunately we had to turn around when we hit the parking lot because Evan "got sick" all over my car. But Drew had a blast with his buddy, as brief as his visit was. Erica even took them on a walk while we were gone!!! Thomas is 3 weeks younger than Drew, but has a few pounds on him. Drew is slowly catching up to Thomas, and if he keeps eating the way he is, will be just as big in no time!!! How cute are these boys?

Mr. Potato Head

Hi, I am Mr. Potato Head. Nice to meet you.

I am a fun-loving, jovial kind of spud.

I look suprised most of the time.
My head is large, and the glasses make that a little more obvious.


Meet my brother, Mr. Potato Head.

My Mom wasn't feelin too creative when she decided on our names.

Father's Day 2010

Happy Father's Day to an amazing Dad. I think he made out pretty good this year. Presents for 5 days in a row!!! He got to sleep in today (guilt free.... because he gets to sleep in other days, but I just may make him feel a tad guilty seeing as how I haven't slept in in 3 years...oh wait, I digress). He got homemade french toast with freshly grated nutmeg and real vanilla from a vanilla bean I have been saving for a special occasion!!! A child-free shopping spree to the outlets yesterday. And I almost forgot, two of the best sons a Dad could ever ask for. Happy Father's Day Paul. Fatherhood suits you very well!

Bath Time

Bath time now that Drew is sitting up, is so much fun. The boys have a blast and entertain each other so much. And I am killing two birds with one stone, so that's always a bonus!

Funny Faces

Drew is very expressive lately. He is such a busy boy with tons of silly faces. To say I love this stage he is in, is an understatement. He is positively a joy to be around!

Happy Father's Day

Where's My Armor?

Ok, I apologize in advance for my ranting and raving. It's been another one of those weeks. Most of the time I can handle just about anything that Evan throws my way. I have thick skin, if you will. A figurative suit of armor. This week however, I just feel defeated. I must spend hours a day just thinking about ways to get Evan to eat. Why am I so darn obsessed with this you ask? Because I have been dealing it with it for almost two years, in which time he has probably only gained a pound or two and has stayed consistently in the 10th percentile or less for weight. The logical side of my brain says that he looks healthy, it's a phase, he will grow out of it, he will be just fine. But the other half of my brain says, I don't want to deal with this 3 times a day for another second! Not only will he not eat what I put in front of him, he will often times go a day or two without eating more then a bite or two. He hasn't had a fruit or a vegetable in about 2 months. He has a temper tantrum at the sheer mention of food. This kid is about as sweet and charming as they come, and aside from eating and freaking out at swim lessons, he is just about perfect. I need to thank my lucky stars he is healthy. But at the same time....AH!!! I am losing my mind!!! This week I came up (and by came up, I mean I stole the idea from a Mommy friend of mine that is an AMAZING Mom with an amazing little boy who eats about anything) with an idea of doing a chart, where he gets a stamp for each fruit or veggie he eats. When he gets 10 or so stamps, he gets a toy. I didn't think he was grasping the concept, so we actually went out and bought the toy to put up high. I explained if he earned the stamps, we would open the toy. Still not grasping it, or atleast not eating anything... so I added Drew to the chart who always eats his food. Drew got two stamps yesterday. When Paul walked in the door from work yesterday, Evan ran to the door and said "Yay for Drew, he ate all his food and now he gets a toy!". He is so not competetive. Any advice is welcome and completely solicited.

More Father's Day Pictures

Last week I had another playdate and did some more Father's Day pictures of my friend's children. It was a little chaotic, but ALOT of fun. Chaos is bound to ensue when you have like 6 adults and 13 kiddos running around in one modest sized house. But we had fun swimming in the pool and pulling out every single toy we own, all the while snapping these adorable pictures of the kids for the Daddies!! My friends have some CUTE kids!!

Evan and his Antics

The other day, Evan told me that Corky was an "H". Not sure what that meant, I started to brush it off. Sometimes that's easier then asking him a half dozen times what he means only to frustrate him and myself. But this time, I was too curious. I asked him why Corky is an "H". He pointed to Corky who was panting heavily after coming in from outdoors, and he said "look, she's saying Heh Heh Heh, just like an H does". What a smart little boy!

Yesterday Evan came home from his swimming lessons that Daddy took him to, and he ran up to me beaming with pride. Daddy told Evan to tell me how good he did at swimming, as I was starting to get discouraged with the lack of progress that has occurred lately. Evan looked at me with a sassy expression on his face he said "I did good Mommy", then walked off, but not before he looked back at me over his shoulder and said "Are you happy now Mommy", still in a sassy tone!!! Cute now, but darn if that's not foreshadowing of a snarky teenager. I have it coming, I was pretty snarky myself.

Buds Through Thick and Thin

Here is Drew and his buddy Kevin again at a playdate. Notice that the entire top half of Drew's romper is covered in drool. But Kevin doesn't seem to mind.