Spring Cleaning with Drew

Here are two of my new favorite photos of Drew. He LOVES to help me clean the house. I just hope this carries into the future, when chores are part of his daily duties!

It's My Party......

Saturday we attended Miss Ellie's 1st birthday party. She had quite a turn-out (nearly 60 people) and the weather did NOT cooperate. It was raining, therefore, the party was inside. She looked like a little princess in her "party" dress. Drew had fun playing with all the kids, but he didn't get to taste the cake or see the gift opening. Nap time was calling! Here are a few photos from the party.

Teasers

Mother Nature continues to tease us with this gloriously warm days. Today it is 80 degrees or higher here in Milwaukee and it is WONDERFUL!

We went to the zoo this morning and had a BLAST. I think Drew enjoyed watching the golf carts and train more than the animals at the zoo. We then met Dad for lunch downtown and had MEXICANO!

Now he has finally decided to crash, it only took 45 minutes of "playing" in his crib before he decided to fall asleep. Hope it is a long one so he isn't grouchy tonight, but not too long so we can get back outside to enjoy the day! It is Wisconsin, it could snow tomorrow for all we know!

First Embarrassing Mommy Moment

So, yesterday, it was such a beautiful day here in Wisconsin. We have been waiting A LONG TIME for it to be warm enough for us to go to the park and play outside for an extended period of time. The heavenly Lord blessed us with that day yesterday! However, he sent the DEVIL to play with me at the park.

Drew has been to the Elm Grove park a couple of times with us and he has thoroughly enjoyed the slides, teeter-totter, swings, etc. Yesterday when we arrive, the park was full, but the little kids area had only 2 kids playing. We went to the swings first and he seemed to be enjoying himself just observing all the other kids. Next, he walked over to the teeter-totter and tried to PUSH a little girl off so he could ride. I asked if he could sit down with her and she said YES, so we rode the teeter-totter for a while until he was ready to be done.

Next, Drew RAN to the slides and proceeded to attempt to climb up it. I gently walked over and said, "No, honey, we go DOWN the slide, not UP the slide! Let's go climb the stairs!" I removed him from the slide just in time for the little boy at the top to come down. As I removed Drew he started SCREAMING and KICKING and THRUSTING his head back. I set him down and directed him to the stairs.
He climbed the stairs, all by himself, and made it to the platform where the slides are, but instead of going to the slides, he RAN to the other side where there is an opening and some block steps going down the other side. Knowing that he is unable to go down the block steps, I RUN to the other side of the playset JUST IN TIME to catch him (while doing so hitting my knee so hard on the metal pole that it is BLACK AND BLUE today). As I catch him, he begins to SCREAM and KICK and FIGHT again, like I interrupted his playtime (no idea that I just saved him from a disastrous fall). By this time, I can feel all the other mother's STARES...I am sure they were thinking what is wrong with your child. So I set Drew down again, but this time he proceeded to THROW A FIT on the rubber ground, again, THRUSTING his head back and hitting it hard on the ground. I am SO EMBARRASSED at this point that I scoop him up in my arms and tell him loudly that he has LOST HIS CHANCE to play at the park and WE ARE GOING HOME. He continues to KICK and SCREAM all the way to the car and while I am trying to buckling him into his carseat. I just know that all those other mom's can still hear him. I WAS SO EMBARRASSED!

I know what everyone is thinking, did you go at nap time? But no, he was well napped and had just had lunch. So after some reflection, I have concluded...the terrible twos are fast approaching and his new independence is creating this UNCONTROLLABLE child. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Fat Lip

Yesterday Drew got his first fat lip! He was walking with a piece of paper in his hand and tripped on the rug. Needless to say, he did not catch himself with his hands and his lip hit first! I felt so awful because it bled and he cried so much! There was nothing I could do to make him feel better for a short time. He sucked on a teether and it helped the swelling go down, so he is back to normal now. Here are some photos to document for Dad and everyone else!!

These other photos are of Drew in his BIG BOY pajamas that his Aunt Ashley and Uncle Troy bought him for his birthday. They were so tight the night we put them on him, but by morning they had stretched out a little bit! Look at that cute "buddha belly"!

HAPPY EASTER!

We have had a wonderful holy week. The weather has still been cool, but sunny for several days straight. We have tried to get out and enjoy the weather as much as possible. Drew is still a little under the weather with a slight cough and runny nose, but he has not let it stop him from having fun!

Saturday we went to an Easter egg hunt. It was so cold in the morning that we stayed only for the egg hunt and not to see the Easter bunny. Drew hunted eggs with Tim while I took pictures. There were so many kids in his age group (3 and under) but they managed to get about 8 eggs with candy inside. None that Drew can eat of course, so it is MINE!! He was also very excited to sit in the police car that sounded it's horn to start the egg hunt (he is really into cars right now..vroom vroom). I think he enjoyed that more than the egg hunt!

(Tim is the one in the center with the grey coat...Drew is in front of him)

When we came home from the egg hunt, Drew decided to have his own Easter egg hunt at home. He would throw the eggs from his basket and pick them all up again.

The Easter bunny brought Drew a nice basket full of books, musical instruments, plastic golf set and a dump truck. Sunday we went to Easter service and then had Easter brunch at church.

Then in the afternoon, because it reached a balmy 50 degrees, we decided to go hiking at Lapham Peak (the tallest hill in Waukesha County). It was a nice 2 mile hike and we went to the top of the observation tour. Drew had so much fun in the backpack and exploring on his own.

He has also started to use his voice more...he now says the following words...dada, mama, cheese, juice, Elmo, turtle, and all done. The rest of the time is gibberish but it is NON STOP!!

Under the Weather

Sorry I have not posted in a while...Drew has been a little under the weather with one thing after another.

After a fever episode with his 1 yr shots that lasted about 48 hours, he got a fever and rash last Thursday, which the doctor diagnosed as roseola. That lasted about 3 days.

His teeth are a constant bother as he feels the need to cut ALL the bottom teeth at once which makes it hard to eat anything and his demeanor rather unpleasant at times.

And today I picked him up from the nursery at mom's group and he has a cough...with a little bit of a runny nose. Just more reasons why we can't wait for spring/summer to FINALLY make it to Wisconsin!

We have been trying to enjoy the weather as much as possible when the sun is shining and it is warm enough to play outside for more than 15 minutes. Here are a few photos of the springtime fun that we have had!

I have also been busy writing an educational children's book about discovering with Drew. It is so much fun and I hope Drew will cherish it!

Just waiting now for the tulips to BLOOM!

Drew loves to rake

He also loves his new table from Grandma and Grandpa Kahler

He LOVES to go for walks in his wagon

Playing football with Dad