Par-Tay Details!!

Dear Baby Drew (although I guess I can't really call you a baby anymore...) - You had an awesome 2nd birthday party! Details are important you know? So here are some from your fab party!!

Daddy makes fun of me for decorating but I know that you will appreciate it some day!

Lots of family and friends were there! Look at how cute you and your friends/cousins are!

You also had a ton of family there! I wish I had a picture of you with all of them. So in case you are wondering who all was there, here goes...Daddy, Mommy, Grandpa, Grandma, Colby, Whitney, Mama MK, Mama Lorene, Kevin, Wendell, Cle, Cathy, Lisa, Brittany, Aaron, Courtney, Logan, Kendall, Papaw, Dena, Aiden, Nan, Pop, Kaje, Dar, Deb, Ash, Brent, Zach, Sumer, Gabe, Daysha, Ava, Jeff, Braci, Kesli, Kase, Gabe, Laurie, and Colten! Whew!!! Donnie, Norie, Nanny, Poppy, Patty and Larry couldn't make it but they sent great big birthday wishes your way!

Everyone enjoyed the smoked pork loin and hot dogs that your Daddy made. Then it was time for presents! You had fun being able to open them this year. The only problem was you wanted to actually open the present and play with it right then!

Ha! Look at that face!

Cake anyone???

We were completely unsuccessful in getting a family pic, but we did manage to get these good ones of you with us!

The BIG Party

I have to go out of town tomorrow for work, so until I return, here are a few pics from the party today! And I have to say "thanks" to the best BFF ever, Daysha, for not only making the yummiest cake and cupcakes ever, but for also taking pictures for me during the gift opening and cake eating! Details to follow...

It's Official...Drew is Two!

Good morning Drew...It's your birthday!! (Don't ya just love his bed head-ha!)

Drew woke up in such a good mood this morning! He was full of smiles and hugs for me and Jon! I took today off from work, but we didn't have much time to lounge around b/c we had a picture appointment at 10am. My mom got to the house around 8:30 so she could go with me. Drew was happy to see her!

Next up, bath time. His bath went well and just as I was finishing up, Drew stood up and...fell! My mom was in there with me and I think her scream probably scared him more than falling!! I kept waiting for a huge knot or bruise to show up, but one never did. After that incident, the good mood wasn't so good anymore... We headed to the photography studio (about 30 minutes away) and I kept my fingers crossed that he would be happy when we got there.

We arrived and got Drew into outfit #1. This was a new studio for us and the photographers (Lori and Dave) were awesome! Dave pretty much played with Drew the entire time while Lori took the pics. Too bad Drew wasn't in the best of moods still... He would sit still for about a minute and then start whimpering and reaching for me. Mom had to actually leave b/c he was clinging to her so bad!

We decided to switch to outfit #2 -- overalls -- and to bring in his little red tricycle from Nan and Pop. He hadn't seen it yet, so I figured he would have a lot of fun playing with it while they snapped some pics. He was excited about it and climbed right on...and proceeded to tip it over...while he was still on it! So needless to say, he didn't want much to do with it after that! I finally got him back on it and we decided to take him outside. Drew loved being pushed outside on it, but as soon as I stopped pushing him, the fit started! Unfortunately, I don't think she got any good outside shots...

We came back in and Drew finally got in a better mood (although he was still having no part of sitting on any of their props. I actually ended up being his "chair!"). We played "chase" and blew bubbles (which Drew can do now by the way!). About an hour after we started, Lori said that she thought she had gotten some good ones, so we stopped. I thanked them for being so patient with him and when I asked her if she thought she got some good ones, she said that most people are surprised how they turn out, even when their kids are less than cooperative. We go to view them on July 7th!

Jon and I had a little party for Drew tonight. His presents from us were a John Deere tractor, a mower to push, a Thomas the Tank bubble machine, and a food/pots and pan set (to go with the kitchen my mom is getting him!). We then had a little cake. The night in pics...

The big party is on Saturday. I had planned on having it in our backyard, but then I checked the weather and saw that it is suppose to be 100 degrees on Saturday! Guess I'd better re-think that idea...

To see how Drew celebrated his first birthday, click here!

*Last Day of Being One*

"Thank you God for all of the blessings in my life, but most of all, thank you for blessing me with Drew!"

I say that every night when I pray and it could not be more true because I feel so, so blessed to have Drew in my life. He has brought so much happiness to not only Jon and I, but to everyone he is around -- the grandparents love him, my co-workers love him, even the teachers at daycare wonder why he can't come there everyday!


Happy 2-year birthday Drewbie -- I hope one day you can understand just how much you mean to me!!

oxox, Mommy (and even though your daddy doesn't "blog," he loves you just as much as I do!)

An Early Birthday Party!

Did you know that Drew turns 2 on Tbursday? That's right, two-years-old in two-short-days...hard to believe!!

Drew goes to daycare on Tuesdays so I took cupcakes out there today for all of his friends. The kids loved them, but I'm not sure the parents will love the mess the icing made...

After we got home, Drew took another dip in his pool! Is that a {very} slight farmer's tan I see??

Water Fun on a HOT Day

It has been so hot here since we got back from Florida -- the heat index has been over 100! So yesterday afternoon, after his 3-hour power nap, Drew played in his new pool.

It even has a built-in water fountain...

On a side note, does anyone know the "secret" to taking good outside pics? Mine always seem too dark or too light and with Drew's party taking place in our backyard this Saturday, I'd like my pics to turn out better!

May I Have the Envelope Please...

Thanks to all that played along with my give-away. I really enjoyed reading about everyone's favorite vacation memories!

I debated on how I would pick the winner, but ultimately, I let Jon pick. I told him to pick a number between 1 and 27 (that was how many comments there were), but that the number he picked had to have some kind of significance to it. He picked the number 18 because my birthday is September 18th and he said it was my blog!

So the winner is....Kameron!!!!!!!!

And what does she win? This bracelet!

I bought it at a little shop at the beach while we were in Florida. I thought it was very pretty and that it would go with just about anything! I liked it so much that a couple of days later, I went back and bought myself one! Kam will also get a yummy smelling bar of Lavender goat milk soap and a bag of oranges (it's gum) from the juice store!!

Please email me your address at lifewithdrew[at]gmail[dot]com and I will get the goodies sent your way!!

Congrats Kameron :o)

Daddy's Day 2009

My little boy is so lucky to have such a great daddy and I can't imagine having anyone other than Jon by my side as Drew grows up!



In other news, Drew decided that he likes green beans again -- yay!

Florida - Day 7; Back in Illinois

Day 7 was just as fun and relaxing as the other days! Drew rode the elevator...going up anyone?


We headed back to the juice store with mom and Whitney. Drew liked the piggy banks. When you ask him what a pig says, he scrunches his nose up like this and makes a pig sound!


Then we headed to the beach for another quick shopping trip. We had a specific purpose for going, but I can't seem to remember what it was at the moment... Anyway, Drew liked riding this horse!


At nap time, it was our last chance to lay out, so Whit and I hit the pool! And Jon grilled out for everyone again for lunch.


After Drew's nap, we explored the neighborhood a bit. I love this pic of Drew enjoying the hammock!


He also liked throwing rocks in the ocean.


For dinner, we ordered in again, finished packing, then went for one last night time swim.

Today, we headed to the airport at around 9am. Here's Drew and Uncle Colby.


We landed in St. Louis around 12:30PM, drove through McDonald's for lunch, and made it to home-sweet-home around 4:00. I miss Florida, but it is good to be home :o)

Florida - Day 6

Thursday morning, Jon, Drew, and I got up and headed to Perkin's for breakfast. My family likes to sleep in (and so do I!), but with a little one, I've learned that is no longer a luxury I get to have, even while on vacation! (My mom did get up with him one morning though and I slept until 11!!!!!) So once Drew was up, we got up and headed out. Drew enjoyed his dollar pancakes with triple berry syrup.


Then we came home and swam. Drew really loves that pool (and so do I!).


While Drew took his nap, Mom, Whitney, and me decided to take a quick trip over to Sanibel Island and to have dessert at The Bubble Room.



It was a really neat place and they had HUGE desserts! Check these out!!


And of course we brought some back for everyone else because we're nice like that :o)

After a big storm, Jon and I headed out to dinner by ourselves! (PS Heather - This dress and the brown one are both from Ann Taylor Loft). It was so nice. We went to Parrot Key. I had grilled shrimp, scallops, and grouper while Jon had "the special" -- stuffed lobster!




We came back and got in the hot tub. Then Jon did some fishing on the dock while I read New Eclipse...