Forty-eight weeks Old

Hi there! I am having fun; are you? Sometimes I think Mommy and Daddy are so weird. They dressed up all crazy and went to church. And then they came and got me from the nursery so I could join them and there was loud music and crazy lights. I didn't understand, and it scared me. Mommy said they were going to a youth $10 prom where they were supposed to wear something from home. I just wasn't ready for all of that.

On Wednesday I saw my first snowflakes at church and several youth were so excited for me. But it didn't snow very much that day. But on Friday, we woke up and everything was white. Mommy and Daddy took me outside and sat me in the snow. I really didn't think much of it, but I sure thought Bear dog was funny running around in it. Daddy tried to slide with me down a small slope, and I giggled at his attempt. Before we went inside, Daddy helped me make a snow angel. Isn't it pretty?!? We watched the big kids in the neighborhood sled down the hill behind our house. Daddy can't wait to take me someday.

I hope you are warm where you are and have had snow!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Forty-seven Weeks Old

Hello all! I hope you are having fun wherever you are! I am having so much fun and love being 10 months old.

Mommy celebrated her birthday, and we got to eat lunch with her friends and my friends that day. I loved everything she let me try, but I really liked her chicken casserole which was what she had ordered so she didn't get as much as she wanted. Daddy took Mommy out for dinner and a movie, and my friend Abby came and kept me. We had so much fun. I showed her how I play in the bathtub. She told me she is having a baby girl for me to play with who I can't wait to meet!

Mommy and Daddy aren't sure what has happened but I have decided to not eat the way I used to which was to chow down on everything put in front of me. I have decided to be selective in my choices! I think Mommy has been hiding fruit in things like yogart but I can't be certain. I also started the "drop the sippy cup game" or the fun game of "pour the water out of the sippy cup onto my chair". Mommy tried to insert the valve on my sippy cup which stops the water flow, but I let her know that this was not ok. So since then, we have switched to a new sippy cup that makes everyone happy and order is restored to the household. I have started dropping food on the floor as well, even as Mommy and Daddy are telling me not to so they take it away from me sometimes - can you believe that?!? Don't worry I still eat finger foods but I prefer carbs and chicken to my once-loved peas, though I can still live off of avocado and banana.

Our house is now mostly me-proofed with all these things that keep me safe, but it is funny watching Mommy and Daddy get frustrated because the can't plug something in or open something!

The saddest part of the week is that I am being forced to learn to crawl. As some of you know, I do not like being on my belly so I haven't spent much time there. This week Mommy had some comments made about me not crawling and it impacting my development so now I have to spend some time each day on my belly. Ms. Linda at school is working on it too. I can stick my bottom in the air and scoot backwards with my arms, but I haven't figured out how to push my feet so I can go forward. So here is a picture of me in motion and then defeated at the end. The other day I just cried for several minutes before Mommy finally picked me up. It should be noted that both grandmas said that Mommy nor Daddy crawled much. On a good note, I am making great progress in my cruising (walking) and can get around the round coffee table and my play table pretty fast.

Have a great week!
Much Love,

Carlisle Drew

Forty-six Weeks Old

Hi! This week started off with Papa Nick's birthday(Jan. 12th) so we went and celebrated with him and Memie at their house. I had fun playing with them and showing off my new toys to them. While we were in the Memphis area, we went to see my great-grandmother Nana, and boy, was she excited to see me! She laughed and talked real loud. They said she was more talkative than ever. I didn't know what to think about her and how loud she was. Mommy said that when she was growing up, Nana's house was always a loud place to be with lots of people. She was sad I wasn't able to experience that. After we left Nana's, We also spent part of the weekend with my great aunts and cousins in Mississippi. It was a long trip in the car, but I loved seeing everybody.

I ended eating my babyfood jars this week and went strictly to eating table foods. I love waffles and bananas and chicken and ptatoes! I also have been working on my "m's" and "n's" and can say "mamamama" and "nnnnnnnnnn".

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit at the end of the week and played with me. Mommy and Daddy were able to go out for dinner and spent the day together shopping for Mommy's birthday gifts. They had fun, and I did too! I did show Grandma and Grandpa how I can say "nananana" which means "No, I don't want what you are trying to give me". I also shake my head and put my hands in front of my face when I say this. They thought it was pretty funny!

Well, I am off to school for the day! Enjoy your week.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Forty-Five Weeks Old

Finally, here is my ten month picture. This is my "scrunched up" face that I make when I like something. I am so silly!

I am learning about technology and learning that the internet doesn't always work when you want it to! Mommy said it has been giving her fits whatever that means.

I started back to school this week(two weeks ago now). Ms. Linda was so excited to see all of us. I also had two college kids babysit me while Mommy and Daddy were gone this week two different times. Ms. Lynnsie and Ms. Paige kept me, and we had fun! I went to my first swim meet this week to watch Hannah and Michele swim. They are in Mommy's small group and were glad we were there. It was loud and hot in the building but I thought it was fascinating. Maybe I'll be a swimmer?!?

I am really enjoying avocados right now since they are in season. Mommy has purchased a bunch of new foods for me to try so I will let you which ones I like! Have a great week!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Ten Months Old

Happy New Year Everybody! So much has happened in 2006, that I can't imagine it getting any better, but I know there are good things to come in my life.

I am now eating blueberries, cucumber, potato, bread, teething biscuits, crackers, yogart, grapes, but my favorites are still peas, puffs, chicken, and avocado. Mommy is trying to transition me from pureed food to strictly solid food. I still like my cereal and fruit in the morning so I may hang on to that.

I have to tell you that I love my little car. Daddy said we have to name it but nothing has come to mind yet. I normally ride it in the kitchen while Mommy is cooking. I make it toot when I honk the horn "Beep! Beep! Here I come!". Mommy and Daddy are so proud of me too, because I am learning so much with my new activity table. I can pick up a ball and put it through the shoot. I also can "walk" around it given enough time. My balance is getting much better. I also have started two things that I taught myself. One is that I scrunch up my face and blow through my nose. I think its pretty funny. The other thing I can do is blow through each side of my mouth pretty quickly and it makes a silly sound. Even Mommy and Daddy can't do it. This will be my claim to fame!

The biggest news is that I am getting more hair! Mommy made a mohawk for me in the bath the other night. I am so excited about my hair - we can actually use a brush from time to time. Sometimes my hair gets pushed forward and I look like Eddie Munster. Even though its exciting that my hair is growing, that means that Mommy's hair is growing too and she is not so crazy about it because she has all of these little hairs sticking up just like me!

I haven't taken my 10-month old picture yet because Daddy has been out of town, but we will do that this week and get it up soon.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

At Last the End of 43 weeks!

Phew! This week has been long (well, two weeks ago was a long one!). Where was I? Oh yeah, Christmas Eve morning we went to Mommy and Daddy's old church in Jackson and saw so many people. Everyone was so surprised to see us, and we glad to meet me. We travelled back home that afternoon just in time to put our stuff in the house and head to church for a Christmas Eve service. It was busy at church! Mommy had plans of getting a family picture after the service with me in my pretty dress since we didn't get one that morning, but when she came to get me from the nursery, I had on an old shirt and my dress was wet and in a plastic bag. Oh well, we got a picture anyway which Daddy says will make for good memories. At home that night, we all got in our pajamas, listened to Mommy read "The Night Before Christmas. "

Christmas Day I woke up to Mommy and Daddy standing over me so excited. They are so weird sometimes. We read the Christmas story from the Bible and then we started taking down the decorations and making a mess! Daddy called it "unwrapping gifts and opening our stockings". Mommy and Daddy started me a nativity set of my very own and this year I got Baby Jesus - he tasted good! Santa brought me an activity table which I love because I can stand on my own and play. Mommy and Daddy said it was a great Christmas!

Uncle Andrew came down to hang out with us later that day. He and daddy we sick most of the day (Daddy had what Mommy and I had) so we didn't eat our Christmas dinner. I was so tired after playing with all my new things and reading all my new books that I fell fast asleep. What a great first Christmas!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Forty-Three Weeks Old Continued

So after a fun-filled time at Memie and Papa Nick's house, when went to Grandma and Grandpa's house across town. There were lots of people there: Aunt Michelle, Uncle Andrew, Uncle Scott, Aunt Cindy, and cousins Holden, Grayson, and Dylan. So many people to see! Mommy started feeling better and was able to play a little more. We opened our gifts there, and I received so many new things! Mommy and Daddy were overwhelmed by all my new toys. I now have a glow worm whose face lights up which makes my eyes get real big. I have a see-n-say, a saxophone, a popper toy, a duffel bag, tooth box, more books for my growing library, and a walk/ride car. I thought the car was really something, especially because Holden and Grayson pushed me around on it. They are so fun to play with; I can't wait til I can run with them! We listened to Holden read the story of the little donkey at the manger. Grandma read me a scratch and sniff book that night which was Mommy's when she was little.

And the story of Christmas continues...........

Forty-Three weeks Old

Hi everyone! I had such a big week this week that I may not be able to get it all in one blog. This is the Christmas season which Daddy explained to me that this is when we celebrate Jesus' birthday. How exciting!
We traveled to Jackson to visit family before Christmas. I went to Papa Nick and Memie's house. Mommy was sick - she had what I had a few days before so we were sad that she couldn't have any fun with us. I went to visit my great-grandma, Memo. She was so excited to see me and kept saying how cute I was. I thought she was pretty great too! After dinner Daddy helped me open gifts from Memie and Papa Nick. I have more books to add to my collection. I also opened Papa Nick and Memie's old Christmas ornaments that I can hang on my own tree next year. They aren't breakable so Mommy is excited about that. Memie read one of my books to me before I went to bed. I had a lot of fun! I was realizing this Christmas thing is exciting! To be continued...................

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