Big Day.

I'm already on my 2nd cup of coffee this morning and its not even 7:00 am. My how life has changed the past 8 weeks. Drew didn't sleep very good last night. He went to the doctor for his surgery follow-up/2 month check-up yesterday and got his shots. They have been making him not feel so great - he's a little fussy, really tired, and not as hungry. Right now, he's sleeping in his swing as I type. Other than the shots, his doctor appointment went great. His incision looks great and he has recovered completely from his surgery. Also, here are the stats from his appointment (all at 8-weeks).

-Weighed 13 pounds 12 ounces (100% percentile)
-Was 23 and a half inches long (95% percentile)
-His head circumference was 16 inches (80% percentile)

Pretty much, he is just a BIG ole' healthy boy. The doctor said he weighs what a normal 4-month old does! He is on track developmentally and doing all of the things that any normal 2-month old does - plus he can really hold up his head (the doctor said that he is also holding up his head like a 4-month old). We're so proud of our little Drew and that he is doing so well after all he has endured the first 8 weeks of his life!

Yesterday was also a BIG day because it was Drew's first day at Angel's house. Angel is going to be Drew's babysitter when I go back to work NEXT WEEK. We love Angel and are so lucky that we found her (thanks Laura!). Yeah - I can't believe that it is already time to go back to work. It feels like the past 9 weeks have gone by so fast, but then it feels like Drew has been here forever. We are having a 'trial' week this week - making me get up and get myself and Drew ready and over to Angels by 7:30 am. Definitely a challenge since I've been living in my PJ's for the past 9 weeks! He is going to Angel's house in the mornings this week for half days. That is letting me have some time to run some errands and get some appointments out of the way before I start back to work next week. And letting me get used to not being with him all day. I had a break down when I dropped him off yesterday morning. I have completely mixed feelings about going back to work. I am excited that my brain is working again and I am motivated (definitely wasn't feeling like this when I was pregnant). But, I am going to miss my little Drew SO much! With all he went through his first 6-7 weeks not feeling so well, I don't feel like he has really got to enjoy us or that we have got to enjoy him the way that we should have. And now, he is feeling SO much better and is so much fun! I'm glad he will be feeling well for Angel (and that will give me so much peace of mind), but I am sad that I am not going to be able to be there with him all day every day. Anyways, this is going to be another adjustment period for us - with me back to work, Sam at school, and Drew at Angel's house. Pray for us!

Here are a couple pictures from yesterday. I still have some blogging catch-up to do and am going to get that done this week! So many pictures to post - so little time! We are going to MH this wkend for sweet Hayden's 2nd birthday! I can't wait! Hope everyone has a great day!

Drew & Angel - 1st day without Mommy.
Drew's favorite past time right now - staring at himself in the mirror on his swing. He knows he's cute!

Evie turns 2!!

Saturday night, Drew attended his first birthday party - it was Evie's 2nd birthday (my BF Lyndsy's little girl)!!! Poor Evie wasn't feeling too well on her birthday, but she was still as cute as ever though! It was an outside play party and the kiddos played on the trampoline and on a big waterslide thing. Of course, Drew didn't get to participate in any of that fun, but he got to be passed around and played with inside. Drew was such a good boy at the party. We lasted at the party over an hour and a half and he was just as content as he could be! Here are a couple of pics!

Sick Birthday Girl
Happy Boy before the partySweet Smiles
Snoozing at the party when we first got there.

My 29th Birthday.

Last birthday of my twenties. Whew! Kind of scary.

I had a great birthday weekend. My mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I told her a day out with friends and a night of uninterrupted sleep! That’s exactly what I got! Mom came to town and watched Drew all day last Saturday so that Sam and I could go tail gate with friends before the 1st Razorback game of the 2008 season. We spent the day tail gating at Chris & Jill’s spot and then went to Lyndsy’s house when the game started (Sam went to the game with Chris E.). At Lyndsy’s house, we celebrated my birthday with pizza and cake. Yummy. I have great friends who always make a big deal about my birthday. I love them. Sam and I started to get tired around 9:00 pm (yeah I know we are lame these days), so we headed back to the house. Mom was still up with Drew, but about to put him down for the night in her room. We went to bed childless and got an entire 11 hours of uninterrupted incredible sleep! I have never been so thankful for such a great night of sleep – I just don’t think you can know until you have a newborn baby!!!! The next day – Sunday – me, Mom, and Drew went shopping around town. I found a few new shirts for work and LOTS of stuff for Drew. Sam’s parents and Suz stopped by the house on Sunday to see Drew and give me my birthday presents. I pretty much just got money for my birthday (definitely not complaining!!) – I’m going to do some very needed shopping sometime soon!!!!! I’ve missed being able to shop for REGULAR clothes!

I didn’t take my camera to Lyndsy’s house so don’t have any pictures of my birthday celebration right now….when I get them from the girls I will post. But here’s a picture of me and Drew though on my birthday (Sunday, August 31st)! Drew is 7-weeks old here.

Thanks to everyone for a great birthday weekend! And thanks mom for the night of sleep!!!!!

Drew at 1-month - August 12, 2008

Okay, so I know I'm a little late on this post, but I figured that late was better than never! Sorry Drew, your mommy is a slacker! Plus, this post will help me when I actually get time to scrapbook Drew at 1-month old (right now though it seems that I will NEVER have the time to scrapbook again - I mean I barely have time to take a shower these days!).

So wow....Drew's first month was a whirlwind....a wonderful, amazing, tiring, joyous, exciting (did I say tiring?) month. His first month feels like it was a year long (must have been the many sleepless nights), but then it also feels like it went by so fast. Its so hard to believe that a month ago, Drew was still in my belly, and although I loved him then......the love that I have for him now is completely indescribable. We are so blessed to have a healthily little baby boy who is growing like a weed!

Drew at 1-month old ~
-Weighs 11 pounds, 9 ounces
-Now eats about every 3 hours (with sometimes 4 or 5 hour stretches through the night). Our boy loves to eat!
-Still sucks on his hands alot for comfort; only sometimes wants his pacifier.
-Loves his cradle swing (to nap in) and his bouncy seat (it helps to calm him).
-Is holding up his head really well (has been doing this almost since he was born).
-Now sleeps in his pack-n-play in our room; just moved from his secure sleeper in our bed. We tried him in his crib (and although he slept in there 1 night), but he doesn't really like it yet.
-Hates having his clothes changed.
-Starting to smile at us!
-Seems to like peeing on his mommy & daddy or whoever might be changing his diaper, including Nana & Aunt Suz
-Likes baths (most of the time)
-Is a little fussy (I feel bad saying this now that we know most of it was due to his condition - peloric stenosis - and his allergy to cow's milk).
-Loves going for car and stroller rides!
-Sticks out his tongue alot.
-Very active punching/kicking his arms & legs.
-Starting to grab for things with his hands and clasp his hands together.
-Very alert - he really looks at mommy and daddy when feeding, talking or playing.
-Loves going outside - he is very content being outdoors even in the heat!
-Likes to be rocked to sleep and sang to by mommmy. Loves to be held on daddy's shoulder.
-Loves the sound of my hairdryer and other white noise (it calms his and puts him to sleep - weird I know).
-He has been very good (so far) at going out in public places to shop and for dinner - he's already been to AQ Chicken, Steak & Shake, and Marketplace for dinner!
-His favorite place in the house is his changing table - we don't know why - but he will lay there forever and just stare at something (we haven't figured out what he's staring at either)!

Some Drew pics from the past few weeks..................

I think this is a sweet picture of Drew.

August 12, 2008 - Drew's 1 month birthday - I will post a 1 month birthday blog today or tomorrow (I know I'm a little late).

I love Daddy! Isn't he so cute in these? Can't believe he's already wearing 3-6 month clothes!

Love his little wrinkly butt!

The one night that Drew slept in his crib. Hasn't happened since!

Drew posing for his 4-week picture.

He is so sweet looking at bath time. He LOVES starting at himself in the mirror.

Funny picture. Daddy and Drew being silly.

Sweet Ella.

Sweet Ella and mommy/my BF Katie came by the house a few weeks ago for Ella to meet Drew. Evidently Ella has been obsessed with a picture of Drew that Katie took on her cell phone and she always wants to look at baby Drew on Katie's phone. It was so adorable - Ella just wanted to hold Drew! She would have walked around with him if we would have let her! :) Katie said that Ella calls all of her babydolls Drew now! How cute! Here are the pics from their visit - sorry it took so long for me to post. Drew can't wait to see Ella again this weekend!

Can I say that Katie is an unbelievable friend?!?! Seriously. Thank you Kate for all the lunches you hand delivered to us at the hospital and for the deliciously yummy dinner you cooked for Sam and I. You are the BEST!

Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go............................

A couple of weekends ago we took Drew on a road trip to Bloomfield, MO to meet his Great Grandma Ross, Great Grandma Minnie, Great Aunt Peggy, Great Uncle Brent, and Cousins Tracy, Kelley, John, Shawn & Abby!

It was a LONG trip (it took us 6 hours to get there and 8 hours to get home) - its much easier traveling with just me & Sam - but it was well worth the drive! It was so good to see everyone and I'm so glad that they were able to meet our baby Drew! The Grandmas were in awe - and well I guess Aunt Peg, Tracy, and Kelley were too! Drew sure got some lovin' that weekend!

Mom (Nana), Dad (PawPaul), and Jason (Uncle Jason) also came to Bloomfield that weekend and surprised everyone with precious Hayden in tow! He was a hoot all weekend......all I can say is that boy LOVES his NANA!!! I was so glad that Hayden got to spend more time with Drew too! He was so cute wanting to look at and hold Baby Drew!!!!

Here are quite a few pictures from our weekend!!! Our family is PICTURE CRAZY!!!! Its inherited, I swear!

Aunt Peg, Kelley & Drew

Great Grandma Minnie & Drew

Me & Hayden

Love this picture of Drew, Hayden & Nana!!!

Great Grandma Ross & Drew - she was loving taking care of him!!!!

Hayden & Drew

Sweet Hayden - I love this picture of him!

Great Grandma Ross & Hayden - Can't you just see her face all lit up!!!

Kelley with Drew!

Tracy with Drew!