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!