Forty-Two Weeks Old

Hi! Mommy says life has been busy and we have been getting behind on writing so we are trying to catch up! I hope you all enjoyed the fabulous weather (if you were in the South) the weekend before Christmas. We went for a walk in our new neighborhood and I had to break out shortsleeves and my sunglasses. Mommy said she will have to get in better shape to master the hills around here while pushing the jogging stroller. Phew - she was sweaty!

As I left school on that Monday, Ms. Linda, my teacher, told me to come back just as sweet in the new year. She told Mommy that one of my little classmates had been sent home sick. Tuesday Daddy had the college kids from church over to our house and boy were they loud! I didn't know what to do with all those people. That night we found out what made my classmate sick. Mommy and Daddy woke up to the sounds of my vomitting. They moved me in the bed with them since no one was getting sleep that night and I was getting sick every 30 minutes. Daddy was my hero and caught my throwup every time. I finally fell asleep and stopped getting sick after 3 hours. Yeah!


Against Mommy's better judgement, we went to a party that night to meet Santa Claus. Mommy and Daddy have been going to this party since they moved to here so they really wanted to take me. I thought Santa was interesting but I was so tired that I was ready to get out of there. I wore my dress that Memie made for me, and then I also let Mommy and Daddy get in the picture. Daddy asked Santa for snow sometime this year so we could sled down the hill behind our house. Santa told me I had been good (and always will be). There were several kids who started crying when they saw Santa - maybe they were bad this year?!? I hope that never happens to me.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Forty-one weeks old

Hello out there! So many fun things have been happening that it is hard to stop and talk about it! First, Daddy had his students from work over to my house to eat and someone my size came over. Her name is Jeanie. She is three months younger than I am and boy can she move. I loved watching her roll over and scoot. I also loved playing with my exersaucer while she was in it! She loved the blue elephant almost as much as I do. We also took Christmas pictures and I thought it was so funny when the camera "beeped". I would giggle every time. Second, I have had lots of Christmas clothes to wear lately. Below is a picture of me in Mommy's first Christmas dress. She was eleven months old when she wore it. Notice that I have to wear it like a shirt be I am so long (or Mommy wore it and was "racey" in it as Mr. Tim says). Mommy lets me play with the plastic ball ornaments which I love to bang on the table. She thinks she will regret this next year when I want to play with all the ornaments. Mommy collects children's Christmas books so we have been reading them every day. Mommy's favorite is the Scratch and Sniff which she says they don't make books like that anymore. My favorite is the new one for this year about a peguin named Osbert. Daddy says he and Bear are grateful I am hear to listen to the stories because they were tired of it after 8 years.

So as you can see I am still sitting still which is fine with us all. I really like to stand though and reach out for any available finger to pull up on when ever I can. I have added cheese, bread, noodles and potatoes to my finger food menu. I still haven't found anything I didn't like, but I really prefer peas and carrots. And of course I love my puffs and cheerios - I make "mmm" noises when I eat them.

We are getting use to our house and the new smell has gone away. Bear has a fence so he can run and play now. Mommy and Daddy can now park their cars in the garage which they said is an accomplishment.

I hope you are singing Christmas songs wherever you are. I am trying to learn some for next year.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Nine Months Old

Hello all! I am now nine months old! Time flies when you are having fun. I have been having a big time. I got my pictures made again. And I went to the doctor. I was a little scared of him and didn't really enjoy the crinkle paper as I used to. I weigh 17.65 pounds and am 29 inches long - so basically I am still long and skinny. I am still working on my waving. I am selective about who I wave to though. Not everyone gets a wave right now. Daddy is teaching me something called "a high five". I have accomplished this a few times, but what's the big deal with it? Mommy wants me to point out that in the pictures to the left, I am still in the outfit that I was brought home from the hospital - Thanks Waynick family for the fabulous daygown!

Mommy and Daddy have finally settled in our new house and only have a few boxes left to unpack. Yeah! They painted my bathroom a very bright blue for my beach-themed bath. I think it looks great. My old neighbors, Travis and Taylor brought their Mommy and Daddy over to visit our new house. They were fun to watch. Bear ate their jello off the floor.

We are also all getting over being yucky sick. Mommy says it is about time. Mommy is making me tell you all that I do not like to shop. She hopes I change my mind as I grow older. I hope you all are enjoying this holiday season. We have a few parties and gatherings to go to so I will tell you how I like those in the days to come.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Thirty Seven, Eight and Nine Weeks old

Hello everyone! Where have you all been? I have missed you all. I hope you missed me! It has been very busy around here so I will have to catch you up.

We did not get to move when we thought so we hung out in the Bed and Breakfast another week. Daddy was out of town so Mommy and I went to Jim and Kelly's to play. Mommy stayed late playing with them while I slept on their bed. I got to try some cheese that night. Mommy said I was an early Christmas gift as they let me play with a bow.


The next week we finally got to be in our new house. Memie came up to watch me while Mommy and Daddy moved stuff in and painted my room. I did not like the new house at first and had a hard time adjusting to my new surroundings. I was trying to tell them that I was tired of moving from place to place. Mommy finally realized that I was sick with a fever and just wanted to be held. I got better though and helped unpack boxes too. Memie helped Mommy and Daddy unpack and fixed them something to eat every night - thanks Memie!


We celebrated something called Thanksgiving at my great aunt and uncle's house - Roby and Debbie. Mommy dressed me in all orange for the occasion. I got to try turkey and sweet potatoes. I sat in my cousin Jesse's old highchairthat he used when he was a baby. We took a walk around their neighborhood after we ate. I had so much fun!

Well, most of the boxes are finally unpacked, and my room looks pretty much the same as it did at the other house. We have had a wild week this week. I am still a little congested and have a cough. Mommy thinks it is from the packing dust. I also have a really bad diaper rash that Daddy says is "raw", but Mommy and Daddy are trying to make it go away. But beyond that, Mommy and Daddy said it is the time of year called "Advent" where we wait and learn and the birth of Jesus. Lots of decorations have been going up around the house. Mommy sat me next to the tree to see what I thought about the lights and ornaments. She let me touch her favorite ornament as a child - the gold Santa. Mommy and Daddy have been singing lots of songs and I hear lots of bells everywhere I go. It is so exciting.

Well, I am exhausted (so are my parents), so we are off to take naps. Have a happy week!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Thirty-Six Weeks Old

Hi everyone! How have you been? I have been great. I thought I would show you a picture of my favorite position to be in. I love to stand up. It makes me laugh! I am getting better at balancing when I hold onto someone or something. I still won't move my feet though. Daddy says I am doing something called "waving". I guess he is talking about when I stick my fingers in the air and move them around. I think Daddy is silly when he tries to do it. Mommy found something in my mouth on Sunday - a tooth. I don't like it when she tries to look at it or touch it. She said we will have to wait for a picture of it until I am okay showing it to everyone. It is still sensitive and shy.


Mommy feels like she had what she would call a major breakthrough this week...I ate whole peas! I love to pick them up off my highchair. They are so fun to eat! They gross Daddy out though so he doesn't participate. He still tells me I don't have to eat them if I don't want to. For now, I love the little green balls at dinner time.

I have to report that we are not moving tomorrow. Mommy and Daddy are sad but they said it is okay. We are moving next Tuesday because the builder is redoing our floors and we have to wait awhile before we can walk on them. We are still excited about moving in; it will just be a week later. Hopefully Bear can wait that long. He is about to go crazy!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Eight Months Old

I am now eight months old. Can you believe it?!? People keep asking Mommy and Daddy if I am crawling or walking yet. Mommy is happy to report that I am not mobile yet, but I do love to stand up whenever I can. I can stand and lean against the ottoman for a few seconds before I lose my balance. I also can pull up to standing on my own while holding Daddy's fingers. How about that?!? I also do not like my new stroller that Mommy puts me in when we go out. Mommy can't figure out why; maybe its because I would rather be held. I had a play date this week with my friend Corinne who is one day older than me. She is crawling and standing tall really well. She is so fast it was hard to keep up with her. She had some neat toys that I enjoyed playing with that I don't have. We had fun together.

On Saturday morning, we went to something called Race for the Cure. We walked in celebration of Ms. Julie and Ms. Julia, two special women from our church who are fighting a terrible disease. I got to wear lots of pink! And so did Daddy. It was so cold so Mommy bundled me up and put socks on my hands for mittens. We walked for three miles, and I feel asleep through most of it. I did get to see downtown Nashville and the capital building. And I got a balloon at the end of the race, but it flew away. I enjoyed it for the little while I had it. Mommy and Daddy said I was great through the whole race and so proud that I could be there to support our friends.

We only have one more week until our new house is done. I am a little sad because the condo we are staying in has these cool carpeted stairs that Mommy and Daddy run up and down on while holding me. It makes me laugh and hold on tight to them. Do you think we can do this at our new house?

Have a great week!
Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Fall and Halloween

Fall is so fun! Mommy took me out last week for some pictures of me in the pretty fall colors. I kept wanting to eat the leaves so Mommy had to leave me out of the leaf pile. We spent Halloween at Ms. Amanda's house. Did you know that people dress up in weird outfits and ring door bells? I got to see so many people. Mommy dressed me up one last time in the chicken outfit. I am so glad I will never have to wear that again! Mommy and I have to walk bear when Daddy is out of town. She shows me how to run through the leaf piles which makes me giggle. I watch Bear sniff everything as we walk him. When Daddy came home, it was cold; so he bundled me up in his coat when we went for the walk. School is going great! I love Ms. Linda and learning new things in her class. At the end of the day, Mommy finds me in the corner looking at myself in the corner-mirrors. I think I am fascinating! Ms. Linda says I am a happy baby. Yeah for me!

Have a great day! Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Thirty-Four Weeks Old

Hi everyone! There was so much going on last week that I forgot to tell you that my Daddy had a birthday. He and Mommy celebrated, and I stayed with Kelsey, a girl from church. Kelsey kept me at her house. She was so excited, and I was too! Also, I forgot to mention that I decided I had a lot to say so I have been saying it all the time. Mommy says it sounds like I am trying to get every consonant out of my mouth at the say time. I am not to crazy about Mommy and Daddy repeating everything I say though. They should let me say it and just listen!


Well, the food flood gates have opened. I have eaten all sorts of things this week. I have had green beans, green peas, carrots, chunks of avocado, cereal puffs, and cheerios. Mommy is so excited that I like cheerios because that is her favorite cereal. She is also glad that I like the peas and beans because Daddy told me I didn't have to eat them since he doesn't. The puffs are my favorite though. Daddy said they have no nutritional value and are only a tool to help me learn to pick up food. I am also playing with my sippy cup. Mommy took the valve out so water just pours out if I turn it upside down. It is a fun toy! I can hold the cup and suck on the spout but I can't quite tilt the cup up yet. But it sure is fun to shake water everywhere. Let me tell you that I love to eat and it just got so much better.

We are still at the B&B and life is good here. Bear is still driving Mommy crazy following her around the place. I like it when we walk Bear outside. Mommy carries me on her front and Bear is on the leash. We see all sorts of animals on our walks. Mommy has showed me squirrels, chipmunks, ducks, and of course other dogs. We had a raccoon visit us this past weekend but he is gone now.

Happy Halloween!
Carlisle Drew

Fall Festival

On Friday night, we went to my school's fall festival, and boy, was it fun! There was so much to do and so many little people dressed up funny. Mommy made my costume - I was a chicken! Our old neighbors, Travis and Taylor, came too with their parents. They were Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. Daddy took me in the petting area and showed me a real chicken. I also petted a donkey, but the pig was not interested in letting me touch him. Travis, Taylor and I went to a little kids play area and had the most fun. I sat in a pool of balls and kicked to my heart's content. Daddy helped me slide down a blow up slide which was fun too. Everyone liked my costume, including me except when it was being taken off or put on me. The festival also included train rides and donkey rides, blow up games and halloween games and a magician. Mommy and Daddy said that we will make this a yearly event. Yeah!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Thirty-Three Weeks Old

Hi everyone! I hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall colors. We are enjoying looking at all the trees in the hills of Middle Tennessee. Daddy showed me how the leaves on the trees change colors and fall off for the winter.

I am so sad this week, but not as sad as Mommy and Daddy and Bear. We moved out of our house this week. I took my last bath in the house on Saturday. And then on Monday a big truck pulled in our driveway with this big box that will hold all of our stuff till we can move into our new house. Daddy packed it all in the box, and then the big truck came back and took the box away. We took a picture of us the last night we stayed in our house. Mommy and Daddy said the new people just got married and will make this home their new home with lots of new memories and fun times. So we are now officially living at the Kaigler B&B (as Mommy calls it). I still have all my stuff with me, but I have had a hard time sleeping in my new surroundings. Bear dog has to be walked on a leash to go potty, and he is not crazy about that. We have driven by our new house recently, and it is looking good. We have lights and electricity. Mommy and Daddy have also been taking me to look at refridgerators too. They can't agree on one. What does it matter anyway? They all do the same thing, right?!?

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Thirty-Two Weeks Old

Hey folks! It has gotten cold here. I hope you are staying warm where you are. I have been wearing lots of hats these days to keep my head warm since I don't have any hair. I got into some of Daddy's hats the other day. What do you think?

Something awful scared me the other day.....packing tape! It makes the worst sound. I cry so loud everytime I hear it. Mommy and Daddy have been using a lot of it lately since they are trying to get moved out of this house next week. We will be living at our friends Kathy and Dave's condo for a month until our house is complete. Mommy and Daddy said that everyone can still reach us at the same numbers and address until we move into the new house.

I have tried pumpkin, pears and peaches. I liked them all but the pumpkin was bland. This is safety month at school, and we had a fire drill last week. My teacher said she put us all in a baby bed and rolled us out the door. She said we liked the ride. I have another sinus infection complete with something Mommy calls "green goo". I can even make bubbles come out of my nose! Hopefully this won't last long. Enjoy your week!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

One Last Beach Picture

Mommy and Daddy said I should share this picture from the beach just to show that there were other people at the beach besides me! We're a good looking crowd of beach bums, aren't we?!?

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Seven Months Old

Well, here I am with my dog again. I am seven months old! I am having so much fun! My new favorite things are a piggy bank and a stuffed dog. The piggy bank has colorful coins that teach me how to count and about colors. The piggy sings or talks when I touch her nose or put money in her slot. The dog has sat in my crib since I was born but I just now noticed it. He prays a little prayer. I have started reaching for the dog when I am in my crib. My eyes light up, and I get real quiet when he talks. Mommy and Daddy call it the creepy praying dog because this little kid's voice says the prayer. Mommy and I had another photo session (with the praying dog).

I have tried pears this week and love them. Mommy says pumpkin is on the menu for the week. I thought you just looked at pumpkins. My Memie passed through town this week and took home fabric to make me several dresses for Christmas, my birthday and one for next summer. Mommy said they had fun picking things out for me. I can't wait to wear them! Have a good week!
Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Pumpkin Patch

Guess where I went this weekend? The Pumpkin Patch! Mommy and Daddy took me with their friends Abby and Jim and Shauna and Wes and their daughter Avery. I dressed for the occasion in a Halloween suit and pumpkin hat. There were lots of pumpkins! I saw chickens, lambs, roosters, doves, cows, bulls, sheep, and horses. There were lots of things to do to and kids everywhere. Avery and I sat in the corn trough and played. I also measured myself next to the scarecrow man. Daddy tried to swing with me on a tire swing, but we weren't ready for that. We ended the day with a hayride around the farm. Mommy and Daddy said next year when I am bigger, I will have so much fun here. Happy Fall!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Thirty Weeks Old

Hi everyone! How are you? I am great despite this runny nose I have. I love school. Last week Ms. Linda took us on a stroller ride outside, and Daddy waved to us from his office window. I played with spinning tops and loved the swings. I was sent home with a "Happy" note. Yeah for school! Abby came over and played with me while Mommy and Daddy went out. I held my bottle by myself so she took a picture of it. Aunt Michelle came by before she left town to spend time with me. We went to a soccer game, and we all had to dress in warm clothes. It was cold! I wore this great warmup suit Emily gave me at the beach. On Friday Mommy and I went for a walk and locked ourselves out of the house. We sat on the front porch and took pictures while we waited for Daddy to come let us back in the house. Here I am in my first pair of jeans, and my tongue is hanging out because I can't breathe. I laugh when Daddy uses the sucker in my nose, but I scream at Mommy when she does it. Update on the food experiment: I have tried sweet potatoes, applesauce, squash, and baby food bananas. I love the Gerber bananas, though Mommy said they taste nothing like a regular banana. But an apple a day does not keep the diaper rash away! No more apples for me for a while! Daddy said I was pitiful with a red bottom. Well, I am off to more fun adventures!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Twenty-Nine Weeks Old

Hello everybody! Sorry for my delay in writing but our digital camera took a dip in the ocean when Daddy went in after me as a fell face-first into the surf. So the camera is crippled (no flash). I will continue to write, but I may a fewer pictures for a while.

I started school! School is so fun! Ms. Linda is my teacher, and I have two classmates. I had a great day on my first day. I played, ate and napped. I enjoy the stroller ride as well. Ms. Linda said she thinks I am going to love school. Mommy wants youto know that she did okay leaving me. She didn't cry, but she did go buy a purse. These pictures are before I left for school and after I got to school.

Something weird happened this week. When Mommy and Daddy sat down to feed me, something orange was on the spoon instead of my cereal. It was sweet potatoes. I made a face when I ate them, but I kept asking for more because I know this is how I get to eat pizza and ice cream someday. The sweet potatoes have grown on me but not the bananas which makes Mommy sad. She loves banana sandwiches and wanted to share them with me. I will let you know what else they try to stick on my mouth as we go along.

Have a good week and enjoy the fall weather!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

More Beach Pictures

Happy Tuesday! I loved the beach so much that I wanted to share more pictures with everyone. People keep asking if other people went to the beach besides me, and the answer is they did. Here are Mommy and Daddy with me. As I receive other pictures, I will post them for you to see what a fun time we had!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew