Friends

Hi everyone! I wanted to show you some friends I have made recently and captured on film. The first is Ms. Kelly and Mr. Jim's horses. They are very new to their farm. There is a mommy and a baby horse. The mommy let us near her but I wasn't quite sure what to think of her. Ms. Kelly said one day I can come help her with them when I am older. The horses aren't named yet so I will let you know when they have names.

My next friend is a box that came in the mail for Ms. Abby. Mommy had a shower at her house for Ms. Abby and her baby girl who is coming very soon. This box had gifts in it for her, but I got to play in it before the shower and had so much fun! Mommy would push me around the room in it like it was my own car. That was the best box!

My next friends I have become pretty attached to - baby and dogdog or doggie. They sleep with me and I wake up playing with them. I normally have to leave my bed with one of them in hand. I also have added the glowworm to this company and have learned how to push his tummy to make him sing and glow, but I don't have a picture of him.

My last friend has been around awhile, Bear. I think he finally likes me. I have learned how to feed him snacks so he comes near me more often. Sometimes I tease him with a snack and then stick it in my mouth, but Mommy said this is not nice.


So those are my new friends for the week. Hug your friends today!
Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Bumps and Bruises

Hello everyone! I have been playing. What have you been doing?

I have been trying to scoot and walk so much that I have taken a beating doing it. I have fallen pretty hard on the asphalt and aggregate and hit our coffee table too. One of the falls even resulted in a scraped nose with blood. In these pictures I have a fat lip, goose egg on my forehead and a black eye. Mommy had a hard time getting over all of these so we are just now showing everyone.

I can now scoot so fast and have taken some independent steps on my own but won't let go of Mommy or Daddy's one finger. They say I will do it when I am ready. I also am increasing my vocabulary daily. I love to watch the airplanes that fly over our house and say "Pane" each time. I even point out the birds overhead and say "Bur". Mommy's favorite new word is "Abby" which comes out like this "AAHH BEE". I have added expressions to my list - yea and woo - which come out in a scream of some sort. Whenever I do something good, Mommy and Daddy say "yea" so now I say it all the time because I think I deserve it. Don't you?

This week I have been working on a few new teeth - one on the bottom right with no mate on the other side and two top molars - for a grand total of 7! However, my bottom is sore from the rash all this teething is causing.



Enjoy the day!
Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Yummy!

As you can see I have been given control over the spoon! How about that?!? I am allowed to scoop yogart or applesauce into my mouth and I think I am something when I do it!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Easter...Where is the warm weather?

Mommy had to get back out the winter coat and hat. What happened? Whatever it is I don't like it because I can't go outside and I got used to playing without all those clothes on!

I went to several egg hunts - one in my neighborhood when it was still warm and one with Mommy and Daddy's friends. As you can see I warm an dress with bunnies on it but since it was 44 degrees I had to wear a thick coat over it. I only picked up 4 eggs because my hands got so cold. I had a little trouble holding Daddy's hand, the basket and trying to pick up eggs. It was hard work, but I had fun!

I did get to wear my Easter dress on Easter. Mommy added a sweater and stockings so I would stay warm. We even took a family picture outside really quick. We ate Easter lunch at Ms. Abby and Mr. Jim's house and everything was so yummy. Their dogs Conrad and Falco love me and show me by licking my head when I am there.

The Easter bunny even came to see me and brought me bubbles and books. I now have my own bubble bucket to carry around. He also brought me some chocolate peanut butter eggs which I shared with Mommy and Daddy. Hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Eggs, Baskets, and Bunnies

I am not sure if I have told you, but I love books! I love flipping through them, listening to them, looking at the pictures, but the best thing about my books is taking them out of their bin and putting them on the floor. After I get dressed in the morning, Mommy lets me do this and I have gotten so used to it that I can hardly sit still to get my clothes on. My library has really expanded lately and I have enjoyed all my new books. Mommy and Daddy have too because they have been reading to me since before I was born so they were ready for a change!

I also have figured out how a few of my toys work. For instance, my baby see -n- say that Aunt Michelle gave me, I only thought the middle button was all that worked, but now I know that all the buttons and dials push or turn. I also figured out that the xylophone actually makes music if you use the stick. I thought it was just for sucking on. So many new things to learn!
A few little funny things that Mommy and Daddy would want me to share: I have started smacking. They can't tell if I am trying to kiss or imitate an eating sound, but I suck my lips in my mouth like a person without teeth and suck real hard. I also am a chatterbox. Mommy says she is predicting an "N" in "Works Quietly" in school. Mommy has recently discovered that when we are in public, I am trying to get someone to notice me. I stare people down until they look at me and I can smile at them. I am just trying to be friendly! I also love to point at things and wave a lot these days. I have been working on sating bowl too. Lastly, I found the car light and am fascinated with lights.

Mommy said I have to share this picture with everyone. These are bunny ears that were my Memie's when she was little and then my Mommy wore them and now I get to play with them. I have been playing with all the plastic eggs around our house and taking them out of baskets and hiding them. It has become my favorite thing.

More to come....Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

The Zoo

Aunt Michelle, we went to the zoo! Daddy said you know so much more than he and Mommy do about animals. I thought dogs and cats were the only animals.

Daddy and I made monkey sounds at the monkeys swinging in the trees. After the monkeys, we stopped and I got out of the stroller, went up to the glass wall and yelled "dog" at the animall looking at me. Mommy said it was a mere cat. There were lots of them all sitting like this. Mommy said these are some of Papa Nick's favorite animals. They were just my size.










We saw some many animals, and if they were moving, I could see them. Mommy and Daddy were both trying to be brave in the snake house but I could tell they had the "willies". The best animals at the zoo were the elephants and giraffes. They were so big! Bigger than Bear! After we looked at all the animals, Daddy took me in this area just for kids my size and we jump around, well I mainly watched the big kids. It was so fun. The ground was squooshy and soft so it I fell, I didn't hurt myself. This older boy kept following me which I thought was great, but Daddy didn't like it at all. He said I was too young for dating.

Yeah for the zoo!

Carlisle Drew

Moving is my game

** Technically its still March Madness in my blog, and we are all still watching college basketball. ** I have been playing with my pink basketball that Daddy got when I was born and wearing my Memphis Tiger shirt as much as I can. Daddy and I got to wear our shirts together one day. Mommy even tried to put a Tiger bow in my hair but the three hairs couldn't hold it! Mommy and I are glad the season is over now so Daddy will quit yelling at the TV but we are sad that the Tigers won't be on for another 8 months. I will need another shirt by then because this one is too tight.

So I guess you have heard that I never crawled and don't plan on it. But I do scoot and I can scoot faster than you can walk. I put one hand between my legs and the other hand on the outside of my leg and lean to one side and go. Daddy came home one day and thought my britches were dirty from you-know-what, but it was because I was a scootin' machine that day and my bottom got dirty. When I am not scooting, I am scaling the walls and furniture and anything that will stand still. I can get around pretty good. Memie says I am cautious just like Mommy was when she was little.

The other way I still get around is by my car. I am now allowed to go down the driveway on it, but only if and adult is right in front of me. I go really fast and hold my feet up. Daddy says I will love roller coasters. I have already scuffed up my first pair of shoes by riding my car outside, but I don't care. Mommy and I have also been racing in the foyer - she runs and I push my car. I get so tickled sometimes that I can't finish.

Mommy and I have started having our afternoon snacks out on the veranda (the back deck) because it had been so nice and shady. We would take a blanket and some toys with us. It was lovely! Mommy even introduced me to bubbles. Those are so fun! I of course call them "ball" and try to eat them.

The most awful thing happened shortly after my birthday. My pacifier disappeared and I didn't know where it went. I think I heard Mommy and Daddy say that they weren't giving it back, but I was too upset to listen. I let them them know (for about 10 days) that I was not happy with their decision and was protesting it by not napping. I got too tired though and found that taking a nap was a much better decision. (For those keeping up with my sleeping habits, I finally figured out that I can reach back for something and flip over. This keeps me from sleeping sometimes, but I do like to do it and will sometimes sleep this way.)

That's all for now! Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Travels and Friends

Hello all! Ahhh, it feels good to finally get back at talking to you guys!
Right after my birthday, Mommy and Daddy surprised me by turning me seat around. The world looks so different from this angle. We traveled to Arkansas to see their friends, Jamie and Emily and their dog Winston for Emily's birthday. We surprised her! Mommy and Daddy said I did good on the 8-hour drive, but I think they got sick of singing my music. While we were in Arkansas we traveled to Hot Springs because Ms. Abby was there. I got to play with the chair in her hotel room. It spun in circles which was big fun!













When we got home from Arkansas, I shared a new sound with Mommy and Daddy. I call it my "B-D" sound. It sounds like this "Bah, Duh" only it is really fast and is said with your lips almost closed. Mommy said I sounded like a cartoon character.

I have started eating so many new things. I am a real Southern because I like casseroles, but I think Mommy is hiding something in them like peas or other green things because sometimes I find them and throw them on the floor. I also have started eating a snack in the afternoon. How fun is that?!? Sometimes its peanut butter crackers and sometimes its yogart!

We did take one last monthly picture of me with my dog and my going home outfit for my twelve month picture. Can you believe I can still fit in that gown?!?

I did go to the doctor and got my twelve month shots. Mommy said I was a champ and only cried for a minute.


Stay tuned! Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Happy Birthday to Me!

Wow! I turned one! I'm so excited!

Mommy and Daddy threw a Pink Party for me and they both wore pink and everything was decorated in pink and all my friends and family came. Memie made this special dress for me and then I put on something special just to eat my cake! I didn't really care too much for the hat Mommy made for me. She said I have to put in on every year to have my picture made in it until I move out of the house. I did like everyone singing to me though. Mommy and Daddy helped me blow out my candle and then I got to eat cake. At first I didn't know what to do with it, but then I took a bite and liked it. I have to confess that I didn't really like the icing on my fingers and "flung" it over my head. Mommy said it may be on the ceiling. I also received some very neat gifts, but the best part was having everyone together to celebrate my life. Mommy and Daddy said they were exhausted but not like they were the day I was born.








Thank you all for loving me and supporting my Mommy and Daddy and for reading my blog for a whole year! We are so blessed to have you all in our lives. Mommy and Daddy said they know how much joy I bring to other people and want you all to know that you all have contributed to that. We love you!

From here forward, I will still blog but not on a consistent weekly basis as this past year. I will keep you updated because I hear (from my "older" friends) that the second year is so much more fun than the first year. I can't imagine it getting better than this!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Fifty-one Weeks Old

***Note: Mommy has been super busy and has not had time to update the blog but she is attempting to catch up now! Some of this may be old news to some of you so enjoy whether it is or not.***

Hi all! As you can see by the picture, I am on the move! Mommy places me in front of a chair and I can push it where I want to go in the kitchen. How about that?!? Memie came this week and watched me while Daddy and Mommy had a meeting to go to.

We have been busy this week getting ready for my birthday this week. Decorations have gone up and errands are being run - so much to do! I did go to see Dr. Lee this week for my one year visit. I didn't like it at all; however, I didn't get my shots because I have to actually be one-year-old to get them. Mommy says its a silly rule that the school system has in Tennessee. He did say that it didn't matter that I haven't crawled yet, but that I do need to pull up on things more so I did and do it a lot more. He just needed to tell me that I needed to prove that I could do it.

I celebrated friends' birthdays this week with John Patrick and Corinne. If you remember we were all born the same week last year in three consecutive days. This picture was taken at Corinne's party. I also have been meeting new neighbors and playing with friends from church at different playgroups. Mommy says it is very important that I be around other kids since I don't have any other siblings and that I learn to share. Can you believe that a couple times kids have taken toys away from me? It made me cry. Daddy and Mommy took me to our church's consignment sale and bought me a drum! How exciting is that?!? (A small one for all concerned for my parents) I don't really bang it yet but I know I will perform a solo soon.

I can finally say that my first official word besides the typical Dada, Mama is "Ball" which makes Daddy so happy. I think everything round is a ball and so I say it a lot. I love balls of any size and can play "toss". I also have started saying "Ga" for dog when I see Bear or hear him bark.

Well that's all for now!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Fiftieth Week

SHHH! I snuck in and posted this without Mommy knowing! We have been planning my birthday party, sending invitations and ordering cakes and balloons. I can't wait! She says I will love the cake and I know she's right. But we have been real busy getting everything ready for my big day.

This past week was fun. I went to school and for the first time I cried when Mommy came to pick me up. I just love school! I think it hurt Mommy's feelings so I had to play with her when I got home.

Mommy and Daddy celebrated Valentine's Day and I went to Ms. Amanda's house to play. I even got to take a bath over there and eat dinner. Ms. Amanda is a new aunt and said she is practicing for when her nephew is older and comes to stay with her.

I have been really working hard at walking. I can stand up and hold onto someone's fingers and I get so excited about going somewhere that I just take off laughing. I have been eating a few new things but I can't remember what they are at the moment. I also have been working on saying "Dog" "bear" and have perfected "Uh-Oh" to where it is mostly one word.

Uh..............Oh, I hear Mommy calling me. Gotta go!

Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Eleven Months Old

Hello out there! This week was filled with lots of activities. I turned eleven months old Saturday. Can you believe it? We went out to eat with my friends Travis and Taylor and their parents. They let me come over and play afterwards with all their fun toys. Mommy and Daddy took me to a church-league basketball game to watch the girls from church play each other. I got to play with a basketball. And then on Sunday we watched a football game called the Super Bowl with a bunch of youth. They yelled and screamed and it scared me some, but I played with them and had fun. On Monday we ate dinner with Daddy's youth minister friends and Uncle Andrew and their friend Kris spent the night with us.

I have started working on more sounds. This week I tried out "oi" sounds so I said doy, doy, doy for a while. I also worked on "bw" which just sounded like bah-wah, bahwah really fast.

Mommy and Daddy have been having to say "No" to me a lot more for various reasons. I think I told you I like to drop food, but I also like to kick Mommy's face and sometimes pinch. I think its funny. She said it makes her sad. I also touch things that I am not supposed to so I hear "No" then too.

Have a good week and stay out of the cold!
Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Eating is fun!

Mommy has taken some photos of me eating lately so I wanted to share them. I am still eating all the same things I have been eating but depending on the day, I eat different quantities of those foods. I have added a snack of cheese and crackers or yogart to my day. I really like Gogart - yogart for the busy kid on the go. Mommy squeezes it into my mouth and I eat it! She said we will try freezing it soon and see if I can eat small chunks of it. Sounds fun! Mommy discovered the other day that I don't really like leftovers, like leftover mac and cheese. It just doesn't taste the same! Starchy foods are still my favorite these days.

I also have been entertained by Bear while I am eating. He stays right by me and waits for food to drop. I thinkit is so funny! Sometimes Mommy and Daddy get upsetthough if I feed him so I have to be sneaky. Mommy plays this game with me and asks me "Where's Daddy?" and I will turn in my highchair and look for him (see picture below). Then she will ask "Where's Bear Bear?" (I don't know why she says his name twice - I know he is Bear.) But I turn and look down for him under me (See picture below).

That's all the news from the highchair for today!

Happy Eating!
Carlisle Drew

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