Twenty-three weeks old

Hi everybody! If you are keeping up with me, you will notice that we skipped a week. That's because I am really 23 weeks old. I learned that sometimes months have 5 weeks which confused me about how old I was!

Mommy finally got a picture of me in my baptismal dress. I was so excited the day of the baptism that I didn't want my picture made. So Mommy took me back to the sanctuary to capture the moment. Memie got to come along too. She and Papa Nick were in Nashville for a work trip, and Memie met us for a girl's lunch two days in a row. We had fun!

I also got to meet someone special in Daddy and Mommy's lives - Whitney. She works at AOTT headquarters and was in Daddy's youth group back in Jackson. She also has a sister with the same name as Mommy - isn't that neat?!? She came over for dinner this week, and I thought she was pretty great.

Daddy and Mommy have lots of brown boxes all over the place. The house was all nice and clean, but now it is messy and dusty. Daddy and Mommy want everyone to pray for me. I have a cyst on my little head that I have had since birth, but it has gotten bigger and is now infected and red (because they messed with it). So they are watching it and may have to take me to a special doctor to get it taken off. Don't worry; it doesn't affect me being happy every day! Have a great week!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Twenty-one weeks Old

Well I don't know about you but I had a busy weekend! Mommy and Daddy took me to Jackson to spend the night with Memie and Papa Nick which was in preparation to go to Mississippi to meet the rest of Mommy's family (on Papa Nick's side). I got to meet my other great grandmother, Nana. She hooted when she saw me. We loved staring and smiling at each other. During our visit, I was not looking at her, and she yelled "Hey" at me which startled me - everyone laughed. I have lots of family! Aunt Kathy, Aunt Francye, Uncle Dennis, and then lots of cousins: Jeff and Lindsey and their children Riley and McKenley (Emily couldn't be there) and then Jason and Holly and their daughter Rheana and cousin Jaime. Betty Boop, Nana's long-time friend, and her sister were there too. I loved watching all the big girls play; then they all tried too play with me and everyone was taking pictures and it was too much! I couldn't take it. I hope to make it back soon to see everybody. Enjoy the end of your summer break if you are headed back to school soon!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Five Months Old

Hello everyone!
As Mommy would say, it has been a quiet week.......even though I turned five months old! Can you believe it!?! I feel so wise in my old age. I went to see my oldest cousin Dylan play baseball which means I got to see the rest of my family - Holden, Grayson, Aunt Cindy, Uncle Scott, their grandma Mildred, Uncle Andrew, Grandma, and Grandpa. Kelly and Abby also kept me this week while Mommy and Daddy went out to dinner. I went to book club with Mommy and had fun, but I thought it was too quiet so I made some noise. Mommy said I probably can not go back with her to book club. I don't know why. I also went to vote with Mommy were I got a sticker for being the cutest baby of the day. How about that! I also tried the exersaucer and liked it. There is so much to look at from that point of view. I am loving rice cereal more and more each day and am noticing what Mommy and Daddy eat now. I would be willing to try it if they let me. Lastly, we went to see the new house and it has bricks on the outside, and there are wires all over the house. Daddy and Mommy say its exciting.

Have a good weekend!
Carlisle Drew

A Bath at Church?

Did you know they give baths at church? Well, they do! I got one on Sunday! Mommy and Daddy said I was baptized. I wore this big dress, and Grandpa put water on my head. I like baths so this was not a new thing for me. Mommy and Daddy said they took vows to promise to raise me in a good family and take me to church and teach me about Jesus - they said that is all I can understand right now so that's all they told me. My grandparents, uncle, great aunt and uncle, and Mrs. Abby and Mr. Jim were all there to celebrate with Mommy and Daddy.

After the baptism, I went to a party for Daddy so he could say goodbye to his old job and officially start his new job. There were lots of laughs and clapping. He is just moving across the parking lot so there were not a lot of tears at the party. I think my dad rocks!


We then ate lunch at our house and visited with our family. Mommy and Daddy were so proud of me and very happy that everyone came in to celebrate. They said we are so blessed to be surrounded by so many great people! They said they hope to teach me how great they all are and what they mean to us. They said all these people will watch me grow up and help me to learn things about life. I do hope that one day I can tell them all thank you myself and give them a hug!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Nineteen Weeks Old

Hello everyone!
I love this living in the world thing; there is always something new to do and things to learn. I have decided this week that I want to join the circus because I can officially suck on my toe. I can get paid to do that right?!? I feel like other people will want to see that. I took Mommy to my first birthday party for my friend John Mark's first birthday. It was a pool party, since I am a pro at the pool I just sat and watched all the big kids splash and play. At the end of the week, I amazed Mommy by sleeping through the roofers replacing our roof from the hail damage back in the spring. The banging and scraping wasn't that loud.

Daddy and Mommy introduced me this week to something called rice cereal. At first I made a yucky face about the taste, but now I get super excited about the bowl and spoon. Sometimes I try to eat my hands while I eat the cereal. Evidently this is a problem because Daddy holds my hands while Mommy feeds me. They tell me there is a process I have to go through to get to eat ice cream and pizza. Have a great week everyone!

Love,
Carlisle Drew

Friends and a Diet Coke

Hi there!
I forgot to tell everyone a few other things going on around here. Mommy and Daddy helped friends Travis and Amanda move into their new home this week, which will be close to our new home - yeah! Kelly played with me some while they moved and unpacked boxes. She let me "taste" my first Diet Coke, or at least the can. I really liked the cold can.

I also finally have pictures of Corinne and myself. Corinne is one day older than me! Her Mommy, Laura, and my Mommy hope we are fast friends since they are friends. These are pictures of us at a few days old and 3 months old. Corinne smiles a lot at me so I think she likes me.

Love,
Carlisle Drew

Eighteen Weeks Old

Hello everyone!
I am talking a lot these days and I have a lot to say! However, no one seems to understand me. Mommy and Daddy try to repeat back to me what I say, but they never get it right. Oh well! I do like to hear my voice and all the noises I can make. Its so fun. Mommy caught me talking one day in the car....I make lots of faces! I hope you all can hear me gab one day!

Daddy is gone on his last Sonshine Tour as youth director. Mommy and Daddy hope I can go on tour one day and sing with the choir. I remind them that I did go last year when I was a peanut in Mommy's belly.

Have a great week! Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Seventeen Weeks Old

Hello everyone! It has taken me a few days to write because I have been keeping Mommy and Daddy busy. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of me for sleeping great through the night, but they say I need to take better naps during the day. It is a sensitive issue; they don't like to bring up anything negative, but they said I need to admit that I have a problem. There is so much to do and so much to see that I hate to miss it if I am sleeping! Anywho, I have mastered something new this week: rolling from front to back. Daddy put me on my stomach, which I normally dislike, but I got up on my arms and found there's a better view up there. I then proceeded to roll over which Mommy caught on camera. That is really all the news for the week!



Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Four Months Old

Hello all! I am four months old! Boy time flies when you are having fun. I went to the doctor again. I had to get three more shots. Mommy said I was a trooper. I cried for just a little bit and then stopped. I weigh 14.3 pounds (60th percentile) and am 26.75 inches long (97th percentile). I am long! The doctor put me on a liquid vitamin of Vitamin D, flouride and iron since I don't get those things in Mommy's milk. It does not taste good. Mommy even said it smells bad. They gave it to me, and I made an awful face.

Daddy is finally back from his trips - yeah! I missed him while he was gone. Mommy and I were out of the house a lot because we are selling our house and people are coming to look at it. Mommy and Daddy decided to buy a new house that we can live in for a long time so we are building one and it will be finished later this year.

A few things I like to do with myself these days are to suck on my bottom lip and tongue. I also like to pull Mommy's hair. She said she has a hard head and has been preparing herself for this most of her life. I also like to grab at my feet which Daddy does with me sometimes.
Happy 4th of July!
Love,
Carlisle Drew

Fifteenth Week

Hi! Its hot here. Mommy keeps telling me that living in the South is great but this heat is too much! We have been taking long walks in the jogging stroller in the evening when it is cooler but we still come home sweaty and with a heat rash. I have found my feet and enjoying showing off how I can reach them. I laugh at Mommy when she is trying to put on my diaper and I won't let her because I am grabbing my feet. She says she asks me nicely to put down my legs but all I hear is "Gaa, goo, ahh". I also discovered this week that I can make sounds, and I like to hear them come out of my mouth. Daddy and Mommy try to encourage me and make sounds with me, but I think they are weird. Mommy and Daddy often find me in the same position lately: left thumb in mouth, right hand behind head. They call it the "cool girl position" or "just chillin". Lastly, Daddy and I are going to start a tradition of a Daddy/Daughter night where we order pizza, make a pallet on the floor and watch movies until we fall alseep...just the two of us. So we tried it the other day for a little bit, and I like it. We watched "Patch Adams", one of Daddy's favorite movies. I look forward to this when I get older and can actually eat the pizza! Well, have a great week!

Love, Carlisle Drew

Dress Up!

My Memie gave Mommy a bunch of her baby clothes for me to wear. So the other morning Mommy and I played dress up! We had so much fun, and I enjoyed my first modeling experience!

Love,
Carlisle Drew

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my Daddy, Papa Nick, and Grandpa! I know they all had good days celebrating them! My Daddy is the best in the whole world! He is already my hero. Mommy tells me often how special he is and how lucky we are to have a Daddy who cares so much and wants to be involved in everything in our lives. He provides for us so that Mommy can take care of me, and so I can have fun things to play with. I love that he sings to me and has from the beginning—I think he has a great singing voice. My favorite thing is just sitting and hanging out with him. I also love the time we share when he gets me ready for bed and when he prays with me before bedtime. He is so smart and I can’t wait for him to teach me so many new things. God blessed me with a great Daddy. Thank you for being my Daddy!

I Love You,
Carlisle Drew

Fourteen Weeks Old

It is definitely summer here, and boy, am I enjoying it! Since I last wrote, daddy left for a work trip to Camp Barnabas, which I hope I can go to some day, and mommy had scheduled us something to do everyday while he was away. Last weekend we went to a crawfish boil where big people eat these funny looking things and suck their heads. Gross! Mommy showed me how its done and said when I get older I can eat one too. We also met some friends at a concert in the park and watched the Drifters and the Coasters sing "oldies" songs from my grandparents younger years. We twisted and danced and watched the big kids jump around. Some of the big kids caught a lightening bug and showed me what one was by putting it on my face. They all laughed but I didn't think it was so funny. This week was filled with lots of playdates with my friends and their mommies. We also watched a couple World Cup Soccer Games and supported the USA team! I went swimming at the end of the week with some friends in a big pool. It was my first time being in a big pool so Mommy held on to me real tight. I seemed to like the pool and the splashing by the big kids.

Three months is a big milestone month, so they tell me, and I have been proving that right! I have been "talking" a lot more as Mommy would say. But my biggest new thing is that I rolled onto my side on Friday. I was on my play mat which plays music when I play with it and it got real quiet so Mommy came in to check on me, and I was on my side. Yeah for me! Well I am off to sleep. Have a great week!

Love,
Carlisle Drew

Thirteen Weeks Old

Hey everybody! Boy, am I having fun these days! So many people have been telling Mommy and Daddy how strong my legs are and how I needed a jumper that they went out and bought me one. I am getting used to it. My head is still a little wobbly, but I think I will like the jumper as I get stronger.

Mommy and Daddy took me to have professional photos made of me for turning three months old. I was very curious about the photographer and all the noises he made at me to get me to smile. I think I did a good job posing for the camera.

This was a nother week of firsts for me. I went to the church nursery for the first time on Wednesday and Sunday! All my little friends were in there! On Wednesday, Mommy got paged and had to locate my pacifier for the nursery workers and then I was fine. The ladies said I really liked it. Yeah! This was also, the first time Daddy was away for a work trip. We were sad to see him go, but Mommy is taking pictures every day of what we are doing so he can see when he gets back. On Thursday, we went to our first playgroup that is organized through Mommy's Sunday School class. It was a swim party. There was a really big water slide and then a baby pool that sprinkled which Mommy stuck my feet in for a few minutes. I really had no opinion about the baby pool; it sort felt like a cold bath. I at least got to show off my cute bathing suit for a little while, and I loved watching the big kids run and play! Finally, I have made friends with the cow that hangs from my bouncy seat (see blog entry "Two Months Old "). I have even pulled on it to hear it sing "Old McDonald". Have a great week!

Love,
Carlisle Drew

Three Months Old

Hello all! I have been so busy with discovering my hands that I have barely had time to write! I turned three months old on June 3rd. I have been doing so many new things that mommy and daddy can barely keep up. I have found my thumb and soothe myself with it at night. Mommy took a picture of it so everyone could see. I wrap my fingers around small rattles and I can grasp things. I also have super strong legs and have started lifting and pushing myself with the super legs! Ocassionally I turn myself around or sideways in the bed. I can't wait to see what I can do in the coming weeks!

This past weekend my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Scott hosted a Sip and See to celebrate my arrival. I got to meet lots of new people. My granparents friends came to see me after hearing so much about me. I got to be held lot and loved on. I was exhausted by the end of the party! Thanks Aunt Cindy and Uncle Scott for a great time!

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer so far and had a good Memorial Day holiday and thanked a soldier for serving for our country!

Love,
Carlisle Drew