Thanksgiving

Last week/weekend was a bit rough on the sleeping front at night.  Drew was FINALLY cutting his bottom front teeth.  They were both cut by Monday and he's been back to is happy self since.  He's so cute with those two little teeth peeking through!  Soon, we will be able to try some puffs!  Yay!  Along with his first teeth came his first words.  It started out as "bah bah bah bah" to "ba ba ba ba" to "da da da da."  He doesn't connect saying "da da" to Daniel, but he's pretty proud of himself when he says it :).  Way to go pal!
We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday with some of our friends and family.  It was a beautiful day and we are thankful for so much.  I started the day early by making a second batch of scones to take to our neighborhood friends, the Cartwright's house.  I had made a batch of chocolate chip scones the night before and they didn't really turn out as planned, but tasted ok.  Yesterday morning I made cranberry orange scones and although they looked better, I wasn't crazy about the flavor.  I've got a lot of work to do in perfecting my scone skills.  Anyway, we enjoyed a nice morning with neighbors at the annual Thanksgiving celebration at the Cartwright's.  We are thankful for them and the friendship we have developed.  After that, we walked home to finish prepping for the big dinner.  This year we celebrated at Tom and Beth's.  I think there were 18 or so of us.....Becca, Dave, Libby and Julia came from Texas; Meade, Emily and baby Blythe from Chicago; Matt and Page; Creigh; Jeremy, Sarah and Molly; our family and Tom and Beth.  The afternoon and evening were filled with amazing food and great conversation.  We are so thankful for all of our friends and family.  Blessed.

Catching up....

...or trying to, anyway.  I'm not sure how the last two months have gotten away from me, but they have.  The older kids are in the full swing of school (and loving it) and Drew is growing like crazy!  At his 6 month check-up, he was 26.38" (38%) and 15lbs 4.3oz (12%).  He's certainly proving to not be our chunkiest baby.  Right after his 6 month appt. (9/19/13), we started rice cereal.  He wasn't a big fan at first and over the course of a month or so, he started eating it better.  It helped when we added some fruit.  Now, he's eating all pureed veggies and fruits.  We haven't found anything that he doesn't like.  Again, is this my child?!  Drew got his first cold on 9/28/13 :(.  Probably something sister or brother blessed him with from school.  It didn't really go away and 2 weeks later we landed in the ED with croup.  This wasn't our first rodeo.  Alex was a "crouper" from a very young age and Lauryn became one as a toddler.  I am always very thankful for decadron and hate it at the same time.  It works within hours but turns your child into a bipolar mess.  I stayed home with Drew for 3 days and did nothing but hold him, otherwise he wasn't happy.  Looking back, I cherish the moments I am forced to slow down and hold my babies.  Precious time.  His little cold lasted a few more weeks before he finally kicked it.  All is good now.  A few things he has developed and likes doing over the last several weeks: chews on his tongue like it's gum, smacks his list, especially after he's got a tummy full of milk, he rolls over to his tummy and is reaching for things (doesn't get mad as often/fast), is growing some hair, and will respond to his name if you say "Drew" not "Andrew."  We tease him that he's the laziest baby in the world, but why wouldn't he be??  He's got 4 people waiting on him like it's their job.  He's getting closer and closer every day to sitting up on his own.  I know, he's 8 months and should be, but he just doesn't care.  I say that I'm excited and ready for him to "do something", however I know as soon as he starts sitting, the next thing I know, he'll be crawling, and I'm pretty sure I'm NOT ready for that. :)  Updated pics to come soon....