Happy First Birthday To My Sweet Baby Drew!

Oh Drew, I don't even know where to start. When your daddy and I decided to have another baby, oh, was it a chore. We worked as hard for you as we did for your sister. And praise God, he gave us you. Oh, we were so happy! We wanted your sister to have a sibling so badly. And secretly, we wanted a boy something terrible. I knew you were a boy all along. In fact, I was so convinced that when I was just 14 weeks along, I convinced the doctor to give me an ultrasound. Your daddy wasn't even there! It wasn't a surprise at all, but it sure was good news! 

 It was hard for me to get used to the idea of having a baby boy. All I  knew was pink and green! I'd go to pick things out for you, and I'd migrate towards the girl stuff. Even your nursery isn't decorated the way I really wanted, I just couldn't figure out all this new blue!

Not anymore though, nope, not any more. You have just opened me up to what having a boy is ALL about. I want to redo your nursery now that I know you. But that's silly. So I'm planning your big boy room.... because that's what I do. But don't go getting any ideas about growing up.

 Oh, if there ever were a baby, a true baby, Drew, you are it. You are MY baby. You love your mama. You snuggle and cuddle with me, and don't want anything to do with anyone else when I'm around. I think God knew what he was doing when he gave me you as my last baby. I needed that. I needed a cuddler. One that loves his mama.

 You really are the happiest thing. You just go along to get along. The only time you fuss these days is if food is involved! You do LOVE to eat. No one can be eating anywhere near you. And you don't quit either. You don't quit fussing FOR food, and don't quit eating. We have to take it, and you, away.

You are such a funny little booger. We laugh at you all the time. You get into stuff like nothing in this world. Now that you can move, you are everywhere, and into everything.

 You hate, hate, hate to be told no. You cry this pitiful little heartbreaking cry, and it kills me to hear it. It takes a lot for me to tell you no these days. In my book, you do very little wrong!

 You love your sister. She can make you laugh better than anyone. And that little giggle of yours, oh, it can warm me up, and just melt my heart.

 Everything about you is perfect. Your beautiful eyes, that are still blue and brown, your beautiful hair, your sweet, puffy cheeks, that precious nose, your hands, your feet. I love it all. You have the tiniest little tush and good golly is it cute. You don't have the chunkiest legs, because you just don't want to grow, but the rolls you do have are just pure sugar.

 This picture, above, is of you trying to get past us to go get your sister, out of her room, after she's been put to bed. You are so funny. You just love her so much. And she loves you. You'll see with time, big sisters can be a pain. I was to your Uncle Paul. But you know what, that love is something special. She really does just adore you. It's my prayer for you two to grow up the best of friends.

 .

 You are 100% boy. Your three favorite toys are balls, cars and trucks, and doors. And you love to climb. On anything, through anything, all over the place. And it's as funny as can be, as long as you are safe my precious one

Sweet boy, this year has been a tough one for our family. We have had nothing but confusion, disarray, up and down, movement, and chaos since you came into this world. You, my dear one, have been the complete, beautiful, bright shining light in our life. Again, God knew what he was doing. You make us complete. 

Sweet Drewsie, (which I guess I'll have to stop calling you soon) I love you more than anything in this world. From the day you came out, you have been nothing but a pure delight. An absolute joy, a ray of sunshine. You can turn around the most rotten mood, and turn me into utter happiness. I just love you so very, very much sweet angel. Thank you for making my world complete. I am truly happier now that you are here, with us, our boy, our second child, our family of four. I hope your special day is as special as you are.

South Carolina Aquarium

We spent some time in Charleston for our Spring Break, and on Monday, my friend Jenny and her boys went with us to the aquarium. (We were supposed to go to the Children's Museum... but that's another story!) It's definitely not my favorite place for my children, but as a teacher, it's perfect. Addie Kate and the boys enjoyed it though, and that was enough for us! 

 (And yes, AK's dress is unbuttoned. Silly girl often begs me to not button the top button. Ridiculous. Easier than a fight.)

 

 Jenny bought them all lollipops at the end of our trip. They loved them. Addie Kate dropped hers in the parking lot, some ways away from the museum. Jenny and I just looked at each other with a look of fear, but Addie Kate handled it very well. She's growing up!

 We "mashed" pennies for each of the kids. (And some poor kid had left theirs in the machine, so even Drew has one now!)

Yes, she had to put her head in every. one. of. these. 

 We stopped outside for a snack. (I'd never seen these bottles before, but Jenny has tons of them. And I love them. Now that AK doesn't use a sippy cup, taking drinks with us is more difficult and we wind up using juice boxes/pouches, but we don't like her to drink that junk. This may be an answer for us!)

 I do love the view at the aquarium. One of my favorites in Charleston.

 I like that view too! Sweet thing. He ate cheerios throughout the whole museum. Bless him. There was a trail like Hansel and Gretel had been there!

  Love this!

We had fun! Thanks for going with us Jenny!

Egg Drop!

I get an email about all the fun things around Greenville happening for families. When this Egg Drop popped up, it seemed just up our alley. Tommy and I both love aircraft, and the fact that a helicopter would be dropping thousands of eggs, we were there! 

 It gave me a chance for our babes to wear one of the tons of Easter outfits they had. This one my mom made AK. I love a pillowcase dress, probably because of the big bow, and I was especially sold on this one with the orange polka dots, but they just don't fit my girl well. Darn it. It was a little chilly that day too, hence the shirt under it.

 Drew had a matching jon jon, that didn't fit him well either. Sewing for boys is an all new ball game! Whipping out a dress is so easy. Fitting a boy, tough stuff. When it's hard for my mom, it's HARD. The above picture is me dashing across tons of traffic to get something out of the car. I almost got us killed! And WHY we didn't grab a stroller I do not know. By the time it was over, my arms were jello and both mine and Tommy's backs hurt.

When we got in the park, there were a million people there. It was all free, sponsored by local churches and organizations, so I guess that brought out the droves of people. It was insane. I got in line with Drew for the Egg Drop, and Tommy went and met a friend of ours at the bouncey houses. (Gross.)

 (Even more gross as I see AK's hand in her face. At her mouth. UGH.)

 But she loved it, as seen here. So I let it go.

 Weeee! 

Tommy and AK came back over to us, and I informed him that parents were allowed in the egg drop space. I was freaking out and he stayed calm - strange. Little did I know he was planning to "break the rule" and go with her anyway, just like all the other parents. 

I walked over to the side to get a better angle on AK.

 Isn't that neat? They have thousands of eggs, and still Addie Kate only got three. A lady went in and got Drew two eggs, which was very sweet. He held on to one of them. We ran into a friend of Addie Kate's who didn't have any, so Addie graciously gave her one of hers. I had to prompt her, but the fact that she did it makes my heart so proud.

 Our friend Anthony's wife Leslie (the blonde) had just had baby Sullivan the week before! Her sister came to help her with her two since Anthony was out of town. I can't believe she was already out there! But I've learned, when you have that second one, they just go along to get along. The first still has to do things!

We had a great day! Addie Kate played games, had popcorn (her favorite snack), and learned a few things. We enjoyed the pretty spring weather. And I let go of my fear of public, free events! (At least for now!)

Drew in the ER

Our sweet boy, in the middle of the night after AK's dance recital (where he acted perfectly fine other than being clingy to Mommy) and right before Spring Break, started that barking cough that every doctor tells you,  "You'll know if it's croup." Well, we did. He couldn't breathe, he was freaked out, and so were we. We did all the tricks and thought we had it under control. But when the triage nurse called back, she listened to him breathe again and told us to get on to the ER. I took Drew so Tommy could stay with Addie. It was 3:45 in the morning, raining, and I was a mess. I even got off on the wrong exit. Geez. Thankfully, there was no one in the children's hospital ER, and they heard him barking as soon as we walked in. Plus, the triage nurse had called in to tell them we were on the way. The nurse, respiratory therapist, and two ER doctors came right to us, before we were even in the room. They immediately started Drew with the humidifier right in his face (as seen above) and we immediately started seeing improvement. Two hours later, we were at home, and thank heavens, Drew slept for two straight hours allowing me to do the same. Bless him. He was better by the next morning, like nothing had happened. We never had to do any of this with AK, and we pray that this is the worst thing we'll ever have to do with Drew!

Addie Kate's Dance Recital

Our sweet girl had her first dance recital. It was absolutely adorable and Addie Kate did great! We were so proud! She plays during dance class pretty regularly, so I wasn't sure if she was actually picking up on the steps. Apparently she was! They had two dances - ballet to "The Best of Friends," and jazz to "The Best of Both Worlds." Yep, good ole Hannah Montana which she isn't even allowed to watch. But the song and dance was pretty cute, so I was happy. 

This is Addie Kate's second year of dance, but she didn't participate in the recital last year. It was going to be after we'd moved and right after I had the baby, so we opted out. She didn't know the difference. I hated she didn't get the cute little dance costume, but this one this year worked for now. Next year we'll go all out. 

 Watching the other classes:

 And her dance. She did great!!!

 And afterwards:

 Addie Kate and her teacher, Miss Ashley. (Isn't she precious? And she's single! She's a first grade teacher too, and she has her act together. I was so glad AK had such a good teacher this year! I felt she learned so much more! Also probably the difference from being 2 [when she started] and 4!)

 

And our sweet little family!