Friends and more Pumpkins

One night while Daddy was gone, Mommy and I met some friends at a Fall Fest held at the local YMCA. There were jumpy things, a train to ride, a fire truck, and popcorn (aka my dinner). I met my buddy John Mark and his sister Audrey (who is also my friend). We ran around and drove our mothers crazy til they had to drag us out of there.





The day after that Mommy and I made a second trip to the pumpkin patch with Perry and her parents. It was another fun trip to the patch and this time I went up and down the slide as much as I wanted. The baby cows were still there too. I even got to pick out 2 baby pumpkins to take home and show my babies. Mommy wouldn't let me take my babies with me, something about them getting dirty or lost. I can keep up with my babies. I don't know what she is talking about. I just make Mommy carry them. I have 6 babies that I carry around (pictured below). They are (pictured from left to right) Tanner (in diaper), Kendall (orangutan), Luna (small bear), Will (or sometimes Perry), and Connor (sometimes Emma). Not pictured is Molly. They are with me all the time and I like to include them in everything I do. So here I am telling the about my trip to the pumpkin patch during their snack.





Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Granny's Birthday at the zoo

My Granny had a birthday and she wanted to celebrate it with me (and Mommy and Daddy and Uncle Andrew) so we went to the zoo. That's where I'd want to go if it were my birthday. We had a big day and a picnic. I showed them all the animals and rode the carousel with both Granny and Grandpa. It was hard to only let them ride once each. I think Granny had a great birthday.



Mommy and Daddy have something to share with everyone that is very personal. They finally got a picture of me showing and talking about this subject so they thought they would share it (much to my embarassment when I am older). But for now, here is the story. I am fascinated with my body, especially nipples. I love touching mine, talking about them, and talking about other peoples' nipples. Mommy and Daddy both have them. One day mommy had me spend the evening with John Mark and his family. As the story goes, we were talking during dinner about getting bigger and growing up. We talked about how old we would be at our next birthday. Then I announced that my nipples were getting bigger. John Mark's mommy wasn't sure how to respond except to say "Yes they are. Everything on you is getting bigger." The next time I brought up the subject was one evening when I was serving Daddy dessert from my kitchen. I grabbed the ice cream sundae that is covered with chocolate and strawberries and said to Daddy, "Here's your chocolate with nipples." Mommy and Daddy can't wait for my next discussion of the subject.



Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Annual trip to the pumpkin patch

Hello again friends!
I wanted to catch you up on all my fall activities. Mommy and Daddy took me to Gentry's Farm this year. I met up with my friend Corinne and her family. I was big enough this year to swing on the tire swing by myself. I held on real tight. Corinne and I even got to swing together. But I still loved the playing in the big troths of corn as I have done for the past two years. I got to see pumpkins, chickens, goats, cows and baby cows, horses,a goose, and even a turkey! I really liked the slide and got into trouble when I ran away from Mommy in the hay maze to go slide again. I didn't want to be in the hay maze; I wanted to slide. We ended our visit with a hay ride and got to see the baby cows that had been born a few days before. It was a great day.









Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Two-year old Bibles

Our church has a great tradition of giving bibles to the children when they turn 2. So I received one this year. There was a special service for us where we each walked up and received our bible. Ms. Judy gave me mine. I was so hesitant to take it from her, but smiled and took it from her when she was done telling me how special it was. After the service, Mommy and some other friends took our pictures out in the narthex but we were too busy reading to pay attention to the cameras. Mommy did get a picture with my friends, Corinne and Lindy. My bible is written so I can understand it. My favorite stories right now are Jonah, Zaccheus, and Jacob and Esau. I like to say Ninevah. I really like to "flip" and find a story to read.

Mommy and Daddy have started including me in bedtime prayers and have been asking me what I am thankful for or what would I like to thank god for. I have been responding with "I Like to Thank You for..." which they find pretty funny. Silly parents.







Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Souvenir from the beach

(Mr. Tim - this ones for you!)
On the last day of our beach trip, we finished the evening with scoops of ice cream and a Ferris wheel ride. I chose rainbow which is out of character for me since I only like chocolate. The man behind the counter let me try it and I decided on rainbow (vanilla with food coloring). I enjoyed every bite of the blue, yellow, green, and red ice cream. The next day mommy was horrified to find blue poop in my diaper. The following day daddy found green poop (kelly green). I just wanted them to have good memories from the beach trip!







Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

The Girls

Pictures of us girls and our mommies. Our pajamas say "New Friends". I was trying really hard to hold their hands. Perry loved it, but Emma didn't really care for the group picture.





Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

The beach trip that almost wasn't

Mommy and Daddy planned another beach trip with our friends Mr. Jamie and Mrs. Emily and Mr. Jim and Mrs. Abby. Last year babies Perry and Emma were newborns so we couldn't go. This is the same trip from September 2006 (see blog). Anyway, we planned and packed and read about the beach and then Hurricane Ike came into the Gulf (which is where we were headed). So my parents decided to still go with their friends, and we had a great time.

I loved the sand, surf, and sun. My first day out a wave did toss my float over while dad wasn't watching, but I rebounded quickly after a few tears. I made a sand castle everyday, and one day even made a small pool at Mrs. Emily's suggestion. Mommy and Daddy introduced Perry and Emma to jumping on the bed which we made a daily ritual. Mrs. Emily brought all the little girls matching pajamas which turned into a picture taking and video taping evening.

We had 4 wonderful days of play and fun in the sun and then Hurrican Ike came near us. The wind kicked up and the beach went away. We ended up with water under our house (and cars) which was fun to watch. We still had great weather minus a 30 minute rainstorm, but the wind kept us indoors (which is why the bottom group picture was taken indoors). There was some flooding in town but nothing bad. We had a great trip and can't wait to see our friends again.







Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

First Day of School

I started back to my school at the beginning of September. I am in a two-year-old class 2 days a week. I have Ms. Jennie and Ms. Candace. There are 7 other kids in my class. My friends are Corinne, John Patrick, Ashlynne, Wyatt, Ben, Morgan, and Beau. John Patrick and Ashlynne were in my class last year so I was excited to see them again. This year I am doing so much more than last year. I do lots of art. We have science and math time, but the best of all is MUSIC CLASS. I love music class with Ms. Liz. I have come home several times saying that I was "busy" that day instead of "happy" or "sad". I am not taking naps at school anymore (because there is so much to see and keep up with). Ms. Jennie says my favorite thing is gluing. My art projects with glue have to stay another day or two to dry than the other students. These pictures are from the first day of school. I took my babies, Will and Connor, in the car with me.





Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

The BIG Wedding

I finally was allowed back at a wedding at our church (see last September's posts). Mr. Jamie and Miss Samantha were getting married. Mr. Jamie is Mrs. Kelly's son, and they invited me so I insisted on going. Mommy bravely sat near the front with me while Daddy helped perform the ceremony. (I was entertained by a sticker book at least). Before the service started, there was pretty music playing and when it stopped I would tell everyone around me that the music had stopped. Mommy told me we could not talk in the sanctuary, but I quickly pointed out that the ushers were talking. Mommy had to admit I was right and couldn't argue.

At the reception, I had fun running around and couldn't wait to get my hands on one of the cupcakes with the golf balls on the top. After I ate a piece of bread (aka dinner), I got my cupcake. Yum! That golf ball was chocolate!

The music started and everyone was dancing, but it was too loud for me. Mommy and Daddy were sure I would like the band and jumping around, but I didn't. I did have fun though and let Mrs. Kelly hold me so Mommy and Daddy could dance one time. I was pooped by the time we left. It was a beautiful wedding!








Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Family and Friends in August

In August I did lots of celebrating with friends and family. My friends Travis and Taylor turned 3 and had a party to celebrate. It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the game with the parachute with all the balls on it. The boys had chocolate cupcakes with lots of icing. For some reason, I chose to eat my cupcake with only my tongue. It was a challenge but eventually Daddy felt sorry for me and helped me pick it up and take a bite.



I also helped my great-grandmother Nana celebrate her birthday with all of Papa Nick's side of the family. All of my cousins were there to celebrate. I am now old enough to try and keep up with the older girls. Here I am taking a break with Rheana, Riley, and McKinley.



Lastly, Uncle Andrew came to visit me for a day. We went to the creek and threw rocks and played and played. I think I wore him out. He is so great and so fun. When he is around, I really prefer him over Mommy or Daddy but don't tell them that.



Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

I still love the zoo

Man, do I love our zoo! Mommy says it is something special but I would be amazed at all the other zoos around the country. We took Daddy because he never gets to go with us. My favorite animals are the siamangs with the mere cats taking a close second. I love it when then siamangs yell and talk to each other and swing from tree to tree. I like to climb in the tunnel and see the mere cats up close too. Daddy and I did the elephant salute to the elephants; I think they saw us and appreciated the greeting. For the first time, we went to see the larakeets. Mommy never takes me by herself (because she has a fear of birds flying close to her head), and we got to feed them. They were so pretty and colorful. The goats had babies at the petting zoo so we got to see them. They wouldn't hold still so I could brush their hair. I didn't understand why because my babies stay still when I play with them, but Mommy said I would one day when I have a baby of my own. Please come visit and go to the zoo. It is such a fun place!











Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Play, play, play

As I told you before, I played and played this summer. I went swimming a lot at the neighborhood pool. Mommy bought me these cute floaties. I don't like putting my head under the water yet but I love to "swim" with my floaties. I finally discovered the freedom I had in the pool once I got used to my floaties and would float all around. I really loved to jump off the side of the pool and swim to the steps. I can't wait to learn to swim.





I also enjoyed imaginative play. I would take my babies grocery shopping in the pantry, go the the airport in the dining room, and on and on. Mommy and Daddy's favorite thing I did with my imagination was "put on a show". I heard about "the show" from a friend's older sister. Since I had never been to or seen a show, I created my own using an electrical cord, dancing, singing, and dress-up clothes. The audience was Mommy and my babies. Daddy and Bear dog made a special appearance in the show. I think I have a hidden talent here. Pictures below to document the event.





Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Monteagle SSA

We went to Monteagle this summer. Daddy was the pastor on staff for a week at the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, and Mommy and I tagged along for a week in the mountains. It was such a fun week of playing outside and swinging on the porch swing. We got to eat outside on a porch at the house we stayed at. My favorite things I did during the week were collecting tennis balls from the tennis court, taking walks around the grounds, visiting Sewannee and eating ice cream, and visiting my new friend Piper. Piper's mommy and my mommy went to school together and they just moved back Tennessee. Daddy is taking us back to Monteagle this year and I am so excited to go. I will actually get to participate in the day programs for kids my age (And mommy will get to take longer naps on the screened-in-porch)! Yeah.









Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Things are achangin'

This summer brought new things and lots of learning and growing. I have been working on my counting. I could count to twenty by early summer and have been working on actually counting objects in numerical order. Sometimes I get ahead of myself and can make 5 objects turn into 10. I also love to point out colors like the colors on the stoplights around town. My favorite colors right now are orange, pink, and blue. I am still working on my letters by mid-summer and can really only identify a few, but thanks to the Wiggles I can spell D-O-R-O-T-H-Y. I really love to sing (and Mommy and Daddy love to listen). I can now sing back to Mommy the song she has been singing to me since I was a newborn. Maybe one day I will sing for you but I do get a little shy about it.

Other things that this summer brought were pudding pops. Memie gave Mommy the popsicle containers that she had growing up and we made CHOCOLATE pudding pops. I think they are yummy.



One day this summer mommy had her hair in a ponytail and I asked for a ponytail so she attempted to put my hair in a ponytail. It didn't last for long. But all of this means that my hair is growing. I actually have curls in the back most days and now require a hair dryer to dry my hair at night. I still can't get a ponytail up but I do need a barrette to keep my bangs out of my eyes!





Lastly, this summer brought my love of peanut butter to the forefront. I really wish I could just have a spoon and the jar but mommy usually serves in on crackers, bread, or apples. Peanut Butter is SO yummy. It is almost as good as chocolate. I wonder if they make something with peanut butter and chocolate put together?



Much Love,
Carlisle Drew

Where did summer go?

Hello friends! I finally let mommy take a break to catch up on this blog. I wanted to "do it myself" but couldn't figure out how to turn the computer on...hehe. I had a great summer and played lots. Fourth of July was spent on our street. I got to eat chocolate and play with water balloons. I didn't want to throw my water balloon though and was devastated when my balloon did break.

Let me tell you what happened after that....fireworks went off. Fireworks are LOUD! I covered my ears and ran around telling everyone that would listen that fireworks are loud. I finally broke from my campaign and uncovered my ears when Elmo showed up. Who knew he lived on our street. I really thought he was a little guy so I was a little nervous to go too near him. All the other kids thought he was great so I eventually warmed up to him. When the fireworks starting going off, we had to go home because I couldn't take it. It was too loud. Mommy says she is glad to know that I will probably never play with fireworks.










Much Love,
Carlisle Drew