Bday Party w/Mommy & Daddy

Good morning Drew -- It's your birthday!!!!

Since today is officially Drew's birthday and since his party isn't until Saturday, Jon and I decided to do a little something for him. We went ahead and gave him our presents. Then he got to practice destroying a cake -- I think he's ready for Saturday!!

"That was FUN!!"

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Drew: At 8:37 tonight, you will turn one year old -- and what a year it's been! Even though we have went through a lot more than most new parents do, I wouldn't change a minute of this past year. Everything we have experienced has just made us stronger and love you that much more (if that was possible!). And as a family, we will continue to face any new challenges that come our way! You have blessed our lives so much and I thank God each and every day that he chose us to be your parents. We are so proud of you and look forward to celebrating the many more birthdays to come!!!!

Happy Birthday Drew -- We love you more than you could ever imagine... Mommy and Daddy

First and Last

FIRST: Drew received his first ever birthday gift today from Teresa and Cheryl (co-workers of mine)! It was wrapped so cute that I almost didn't want to let him open it, but what was inside was worth it!!

Not only did Drew get a cute bucket, shovel, and stuffed lamb, but he also got the neatest book! The inside says, "This book was created for Drew who arrived on June 25, 2007. With love on your 1st birthday! Cheryl and Teresa 2008." What's so neat about it is his name is part of the book!

Thanks Cheryl and Teresa -- Since we read every night before bed, I'm sure it will get put to good use!!

LAST: Tonight, Drew had his last bottle of formula! He'll get his first taste of whole milk tomorrow, on his birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Reese!!

Tonight, Drew, Jon, and I went to Reese's 5th birthday party. I think Drew's favorite part was the ball pit!! Drew also got to play with his buddy Colten, who turned one in April!

Thanks for inviting us Reese -- we had a GREAT time!

New Friends

When we first found out about Drew having a cleft lip and palate, it was very easy to feel like we were the only ones in the world that had ever went through this. How much more wrong could we have been???

First, I met some wonderful mom's on MySpace, and then I found these blogs! I have only been blogging for a short period of time, but I already feel so much support, not only from my family and friends, but now also from all of the "cyber" friends I have met that have been on this same journey that we are on with Drew. Take Darcy, for example, who wrote the sweetest things about Drew and included it on her blog!

http://rachelsjourney.blogspot.com/2008/06/new-cleft-friend.html

Thanks again Darcy!!

Baseball -- Go Ely!

Tonight we went to Jon's nephew Ely's baseball game. I grabbed my camera and thought, "Hmmm, what a good blog post this could be!" So here are some pics from tonights game...

Too bad Drew is a human faucet and always has to have a bib on! You can never see his cute outfits!!

Ely hits a double!

See his "duck tail" curl in the back?

A Typical Morning

To Drew: Like most mornings, you ate oatmeal cereal mixed with formula and fruit for breakfast. (We even practiced letting you feed yourself!) I think you would eat oatmeal for all of your meals if you could, because YOU LOVE OATMEAL!!!


You also had some banana carrot juice out of your big boy open top cup.


Then, we brushed your teeth...


...and went for a stroller ride!


And don't forget about you're morning snack! Today was the first day you had your morning bottle in a cup. So, you're down to just one bottle a day...

Pictures From Today

Just some cute pictures from today!

A Busy Weekend!

Dear Drew ~ What a busy weekend we had! Friday night we went to our first Miner's baseball game. It was 4-H night, so you got to go out on the field with your aunt Whitney. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the game because it was delayed due to rain until 9:00pm.


Checking out the mascot...

Trying to stay dry!

On Saturday, we went to Aunt Dar's to celebrate cousin Jared's birthday. You did some swimming, which you love!!

BIG splashes!!!

Today is Father's day -- your daddy's first! We celebrated at our house by having a fish fry. And we gave you an early birthday present!

This one's for you Mom!!

Ugh -- Palate Surgery

Dear Drew ~ Your daddy stopped by my office today. I said, "Drew's palate surgery is one month from today." He said, "I know." Guess we both had it on our mind's...

Your third surgery, which will close your palate, is scheduled for July 10, 2008 and I think I am dreading this one even more than the others. I would think this would get easier, but it doesn't. But just like we made it through the first two lip surgeries, we will make it through this one too!

You will have to be off of your bottle completely before the surgery. Right now you take three bottles a day -- one around 9:30am, one around 2:00pm, and the last around 8:00pm. This weekend, I started giving you your second bottle in a cup, which you weren't too happy about! I think I have tried every cup on the market! Remember, you have no suction so you can't get anything out of those "no spill" cups unless I take the valve out. My favs so far are the Nuby cup, the Dr. Brown cup, and just some little open top cups.

Here is a picture of you when you were 10 months old. You can see your cleft palate in it:

I love these pics!!!!

Dear Drew ~ I took some pics of you outside on Saturday, and I must say -- they are some of my favorite pics that I've taken of you yet!!