Duck Tail No More!

Dear Drew - Today you had your first hair cut (4 days before you turn 19 months old)!!! Our friend Rachel cut it and she did a fantastic job! I didn't have her cut any off the front, but she trimmed up the sides and back. So, I'm sorry to say that you no longer have your duck tail/rat tail. I must admit, though, I'll miss that little curl :o(

One last look at the "tail." (Oh, and check out your Chuck T shoes!!!)


Enjoying a sucker while Rachel cut away! You set there really good, but kept leaning forward, so I was holding onto you to keep you from falling!

All done! Here you are with Rachel.

And here is your new hair cut! Pretty cute huh???

Luke's Surgery

Remember this post about little Luke? Well, his lip surgery is tomorrow (1/15). He has the same surgeon as Drew, so I know he will be in good hands! Nevertheless, it's always nice to have a few extra people praying for you, so please take a minute to say a little prayer for Luke and his family as they go through something that a lot of us cleft families have. And as I told his mom, it will be tough, but they will all make it though it beautifully!

Taking a Little Dip

One of Drew's new favorite things...dipping things! He had McD's chicken nuggets, along with some soup, for lunch today.

As for the daycare decision...I decided to enroll him for 1 and a half days a week starting at the end of this month. His full day will probably be a half too for at least the first couple of weeks so he can get use to it.

Drew's speech therapist had a good idea today...Even though Jon and I talked to the lead teacher on Friday when we went to pick up the paper work, she thought it would be good to write up a little summary of Drew and to further explain his cleft and what concerns we have -- i.e. like how he still chokes when he eats and how his speech is something that we are working on. I have a feeling that when I get done with my little summary that it may not be too "little"...

Daycare...Hmmmmmmm

Today I got the call that I thought I had been waiting for. After being on the waiting list since about May, they have an opening for Drew at one of the local daycare centers. Now, I'm having second thoughts. Here's what I'm thinking:

Good things about daycare -

*He will get to be around other kids his age.
*I think being around other kids will help greatly with his speech.
*It will probably help him with his eating too since he'll be able to watch others his age feed themselves, without cramming their mouths full and choking!
*It will make things much easier on him when he actually has to start going to school since he will already be use to it.

I'm sure there are "bad" things too, but I'm going to try not to focus on them!

So Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday are all available. Right now I'm thinking of all day Tuesday and a half day Thursday. My mom could pick him up on Thursday and take him home with her and he could still spend the night and stay all day Friday with her like he does now. I'm also thinking of starting him out with just half days on Tuesdays too.

It's not like I need daycare. I have plenty of family that can watch him. It's a big step and I have to decide by Thursday -- yikes!! Any advice???

Have I mentioned how hard it is to get a good picture of Drew lately? He is always on the move. Here are the results from tonight's attempt at a photo session:

Your Crazy Aunt Whitney!

Drew - One of your most favorite people is your Aunt Whitney. She can always make you laugh. Check out this series of pics she took of the two of you on New Year's Eve on her new web cam...

And if you still don't think she's crazy, check out her latest YouTube video (she's the genie...).

[Make sure you watch the whole thing...the bloopers at the end of it are worth it!!]

Love you Whit!!!!

My Favorites of 2008

One of my new blogging buddies Kameron just did the cutest post! It has pictures of her little boy from each month of 2008. I loved it, so thought I would steal her idea!!!

Here we go...some of my favorite pictures of Drew from 2008! [PS - This was HARD!]

January:

February:

March:
April:

May:

June:

July:

August:
September:
October:
November:

And finally, December:

Here's looking forward to another year full of fabulous pictures!!!!

Might As Well JUMP!

Well, we had a very fun New Year's Eve! First, Jon, Drew, and I joined some of our friends for dinner. Here is Drew checking out sweet baby Kase.

Then Jon, Drew, and I headed to my grandma's. She always has a little family get-together with food and party favors. We stayed there for a bit before leaving Drew with them and heading to Jeff and Braci's house. [They hadn't seen Drew in a week, which I think is the longest they have ever went without seeing him so they were more than happy to keep him that night!]

We had a very mild new year's eve with Jeff, Braci, Bric, Rachel, Colby, and Candice. We spent it relaxing in comfy clothes...

playing games, just talking and...JUMPING!?!?

Take 2!

Take 3!

Take 4!

Then it was the guys' turns. But first they had to break it down...

I haven't laughed that hard in a looooooooong time!!

I hope every one's 2009 is off to a great start!

A Look Back at New Years Past...

I thought this would be fun...

New Years Eve 2007

Me and my bestie Daysha: New Years Eve 2006 (when Drew was in the oven!)

New Years Eve 2005

New Years Eve 2004

And finally, New Years Eve 2003 (right after I got my first digital camera!)

Happy 2009 to Everyone!!

The 18 Month Pic From Sears!

Drew's 18 Month Check-Up

Since Jon and I are off from work all week (yay!!!) we both were able to take Drew to his 18 month check up today. 18 months...one and a half years...wow! I can't believe my little Drewby will be 2 in less than 6 months!!

Here is how Drew measured up today...

*Height: 33.5" (75th percentile) [However, when Jon and I marked him on our closet door on Thursday, we only showed him at 32"...hmmmm]

*Head: 48.5cm (Also 75th percentile)

*Weight: 23lbs 14.6oz (25th percentile)

Other things about Drew at 18 months old...

0 - the number of haircuts Drew has had.
1 - the number of naps Drew takes a day.
2 - the number of hours that one nap usually is.
3 - the number of surgeries he has had :(
4 - the number of states that Drew has visited (IL, IN, KY, and MO).
5 - the number of Grandmas Drew has to spoil him (along with 4 grandpas!)
11 - how many teeth Drew has.
12 - how many hours of sleep Drew usually gets at night.

And that was all I could come up with! I was hoping to do something for every number 0-18, but this was the best I could do!

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I am schedule obsessed (as I'm sure anyone who has ever watched Drew will tell you). We have had him on a pretty strict schedule since he turned 6 months old. Right now, it goes something like this...

8:30am - Drew wakes up (Although here lately he has been sleeping until 9 or even 9:30!!)

Breakfast about a half hour after he wakes up.
12:30pm - Lunch time
1:30 - Nap time
4:00 - Snack
6:00 - Dinner
7:15 - Bath
8:15 - Snack
8:45ish - Bedtime

We always try to be home (or somewhere that Drew can sleep) at nap time. So if a birthday party starts at 2:00, we just tell them that we'll be there after nap time! I'm sure something this strict wouldn't work for everyone, but it works for us and Drew seems to like the consistency.

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After his check-up today, we headed to Sear's for an 18 month picture. I counted up how many times Drew has been photographed professionally, and this was the 11th time! (Only the third time with Sear's.) He didn't do very good at all, but all I was looking for was one picture. There was one that wasn't too bad (even though he was holding onto a horse) -- not his best, but it will do! Picture coming soon!!