We're gonna need a bigger bed...

Patrick came to find me the other night, laughing his head off. He took me into Drew's room where we found this...



Apparently, we need to step up the search for a big boy bed if all these animals are going to join him each night! Oh yeah...when we put him to bed...he was alone...

Last Day of School

Today was Drew's last day of preschool...it was so sad for me! Drew had a wonderful year with Ms Gina and Ms Julie. I can't thank them enough for giving Drew an amazing year of learning and growing emotionally, spiritually and socially. They were amazing! We have a fabulous collection of artwork, most of which includes either a hand print or thumbprint and is laminated so it will keep for years to come! I could always count on them to help Drew with the morning transition (which got more difficult the more Daddy traveled) by immediately taking his mind off the drop off and distracting him with anything train orriented. Drew was not the only train obsessed kid in the class, though I would bet he ranked pretty high! They not only accepted the kids' fascination with trains, but they incorporated it into their classroom as they could. There were Thomas books and trains in his room ("big Thomas" as Drew referred to him - a push and go version) and they let us know if they saw a train on the playground each day. They even made a Thomas in art one day - it is adorable!
Drew was not into the photo taking thing today...oh well...I really wanted to get a shot of him to compare to the first day!

Headed to school...on last time...

Drew's classroom and Ms Gina

My...how Drew has grown!

I can't believe that Drew is 2 1/2 years old...or that I forgot that milestone and did nothing to record it! His half birthday was May 7 - just before we left for the beach. Oops! Here is a very long update on him.

Drew is such a little man. He adores trains...and not just Thomas, though he is still a fan favorite. Any train gets his full attention and he differentiates between diesels and steamies. He loves to visit the "train store" and look at all the model trains. Daddy figured out that he could keep him occupied for hours with train books (actual magazines published for train enthusiasts...we have both diesel and steam engine copies...scary) as Drew sits and flips through them over and over. Books in general are still a passion and I am looking forward to the summer reading program through the public library. We have tons of books but some new ones will be a welcome change! We are trying to really keep a cap on his TV time so he can watch a Thomas video or a taped episode of Jakers! each day. This, of course, fluctuates depending on whether Daddy is in town and how Allen is doing. But overall, it's working!

Usually a very happy kid, Drew is still 2 and we do have our moments. I am working toward a standard routine and consistent discipline. (Note, I say working toward...it seems like a far off idea most days!) On our good days, he could be nominated for child of the year...playing with Allen, eating 3 meals at the table without a fight, playing with toys and putting them away, following instructions, taking a bath and going to bed at the first request...it's great. The good days, however, make the bad days that much worse. We take it a day at a time...we're getting there!

Drew has begun to master conversations, in person and over the phone. This has made Daddy's travel a little easier as he can talk to Drew each day. Drew is also into telling stories. He will tell you all about something and then say "and that is the shoe (train, monkey, etc.) story". He LOVES music of all types and will sing along to anything he has heard more than once. It's adorable to listen to him singing in the car or while he's playing at home. He makes up songs about where we are going, what we are doing, etc. He tries to dance, but I fear he has inherited his mother's lack of coordination in that area (as well as anything athletic)!

Here are some of his favorite things and quirks...for posterity's sake!
Food - raisins, bread, pizza, fruit (though never the same type each week), ice cream, crackers, fruit snacks, chicken nuggets, peanut butter (most days), cheese
Drink - orange juice, apple juice (boxes if offered!), chocolate milk
Book - most days it is anything Thomas, but he picks a different book each night to read before bed
Stuffed animal - Monkey, followed closely by Patrick the Pup
Clothes - a Thomas t-shirt and "comfy pants" or shorts and Crocks (which he has rediscovered for the season!)
Toys - trains, of course, with the occasional Lego expedition thrown in for good measure, coloring, golf (he has his own club now!)
Sayings - "I'm just in here playing", "I need 15 minutes", "Are you ok Allen?", "Leave it, Maddie! Carpet, Maddie!", "We need to turn that way" (he is my own personal backseat driver), "I wuv you!", "Mommy, you want to play trains with me?"
Recent Drew conversations that I want to remember:
"Mommy, your new car is wonderful! I love the new car! I need to close the door." (he loves the newfound freedom of getting in by himself and the ability to close the door behind him)
"Mommy, where is my Daddy?" On a trip, remember? "Daddy is in Scottsdale, working. I'm sorry Mommy" Are you sad Drew? Do you miss Daddy? "Yes Mommy, I miss Daddy. I'm sorry you're sad Mommy"
After explaining to him that he is my first baby "I love you Mommy." Thank you Drew - I love you too. "I love you very much Mommy."
As we passed a fallen tree on way to Nana's, I said "Oh Drew, the big tree fell down!" "That's so sad Mommy! Are you going to cry?"
One afternoon, I got comfy on the floor while we were playing trains and Allen was napping. Drew brought me a blanket and pillow from the couch and went and got his own to lay down beside me. I must have dozed off and about 10 minutes later, I hear Allen crying so I wake up and say I need to check on him. "It's ok Mommy - you need to sleep. I'll check on Allen"...tiptoes down the hall and quietly opens Allen's door...whispers "Are you ok Allen?"...runs back into the playroom..."He's ok Mommy"

I'm sure I have forgotten a lot of stuff I want to remember...I'll just have to go back and update this if I think of things. Our blog has become my personal record book for both the boys...I don't have the brain power to record things anywhere else!

A Happy Mother's Day

We are on vacation in Perdido Beach, FL enjoying very sunny weather! We traveled down here for Patrick's cousin's wedding in Pensacola and are enjoying some extended time to relax as a family. On Sunday, the bride's brother hosted a brunch at his family's home for many of the out-of-town guests. We enjoyed the lovely weather in their fabulous backyard. Drew played hard with his second cousins and Patrick and I had a great time catching up with aunts, uncles and cousins. It was especially nice to have my boys with me in a beautiful outdoor setting to celebrate Mother's Day!
I'll upload more photos when I get a faster connection...that one took forever!

7 Months...a little late

We were on our way to the beach on Thursday and I haven't had a chance to jump online yet to post, but I promise photos and Allen stats/updates as soon as I have time! We're having a great time swimming and hanging out with family...lots of fun vacation pics to come! You can check out Elizabeth's site for a preview.

To my dear husband...

Happy Anniversary! It's hard to believe it has been 8 years since our wedding. Thank you for everything you do for our family. You are an amazing father to Drew and Allen...I could not ask for more! Thank you for being our provider, our protector and for loving us all every day. I hate the time we spend apart but it has taught me to appreciate our time together. I know I don't say it or show it enough, but I love you more today than I did yesterday...but never as much as I will tomorrow.
Here's to many, many more years of love...

Sick...

Sick and tired? Yes...I'm so tired of the boys being sick! Drew came home from preschool Tuesday with a fever. It lasted until early Wednesday morning and then nothing. He went back to school Thursday (armed with his inhaler...just in case) and was ok that evening. Then during the night we checked it and it was back up over 101. Friday morning, Patrick took him to the doctor where they ran blood tests and all sorts of stuff to determine that he had a virus. Oh, and I forgot to mention that in the middle of all that, Allen started with a fever too. I had him at the doctor Saturday morning when it got near 102, just to hear that his is a virus too. The problem is, when either boy gets the crud, it makes a bee line to their lungs and they cough and cough. It's so sad to hear! I know Drew's allergies are bothering him - we spent about 20 minutes outside on Friday and his eyes and nose went crazy. (Granted, so did his mommy's...I had to ditch the contacts and start my allergy meds just to get through the day.)
We are headed to the beach on Thursday - we're going to a family wedding in Pensacola and staying on Perdido Key. It's about 8 1/2 hours without kids so we're going to break it up and stop Thursday night. Please pray the boys can kick this so they will be happy campers in the car and can be around baby Elizabeth starting Friday!
Just to make it more fun...Patrick headed out this evening to Arizona and won't be home until Wednesday night. So I get to pack for the whole family while taking care of the boys and all the normal house stuff this week. And our anniversary is Tuesday...so much for a romantic day!
(I hate to complain so much...I know things could be MUCH worse and I am blessed with two wonderful children and a loving husband who works hard so I don't have to. I know these things, yet I still complain...sometimes it's too easy to lose sight of the good things in your life! I know I need to work on that...)