Christmas events

On Friday night our neighborhood had a Singing Santa. Santa rode around on a "sleigh" trailer with a speaker system pulled by a truck. They went around the neighborhood waving and shouting out to everyone. Unfortunately, Drew slept through this part b/c he skipped his nap and fell asleep on our way home from the Y. But we woke him up and went to where everyone was gathering in the back of the neighborhood. They had people singing and playing the guitar, hot chocolate and a bonfire, and Santa mingling with the kids. Drew loved the sleigh b/c it had blinking Christmas lights, and he was very interested in Santa.

Here's Chad and Drew looking at the bonfire. Drew said, "hot! careful!"
Santa posed with all the kids so parents could take pictures. When he asked Drew what he wanted for Christmas, he pointed at a bike that another kid had parked on the road.

Here's Drew and I listening to the Christmas music. They had one girl that was a really good singer - we almost though it wasn't her actually singing, but I think it was.

Then on Saturday night we went to the Huntersville Christmas event that our town puts on. They had all kinds of stuff that Drew really liked - a little train pulled by a tractor, a big slide, school choirs singing, fire trucks and ambulances, horses, lots of lights, a huge bonfire, etc. He loved the slide and after going down once, he said "come on!" and wanted to go again! Here's Chad and Drew on the slide.

We rode on a big trailer pulled by these two huge horses. Drew wasn't too sure about petting them though.

He actually "knows" a few of the letters

Drew always wants to color, and he does pretty good on his own as an independent activity. But as soon as one of us joins him, he turns to the front or back (blank page) and wants us to draw letters as he calls them out. After we did this, I went back through them and asked him to name them - and he actually remembered them! And sometimes he'll concentrate real hard and color real slow and try to draw an "L." He can also recognize a square, circle, triangle and sometims octagon. I think this little guy is gonna love preschool when we get him signed up! But in the meantime, at least I know he's not missing out on learning here at home!!

I'll post again later this weekend - we had a fun holiday event in our neighborhood last night and we have another event we hope to go to tonight. Drew loves seeing Santa at all these events! Last night he kept following him, and then just waving when he got close! He's in awe of the big guy! haha

Drew and I did some fun stuff last week. We met a friend at Bounce U, which is a facility with a bunch of bounce houses and blowup slides and climbing things (just like Monkey Joe's). And somehow, it was just my friend, her daughter and Drew and I! We had the place to ourselves and the kids had a blast! I definitely got a workout helping Drew climb up the ladders! The little girl that was with us is named Sofia, and I was impressed how well Drew can say it. Over Thanksgiving he also perfected saying Olivia, his cousin's name. Those aren't easy names!

Another day last week we went to storytime at the library - and Drew absolutely loves the Spanish storytime. They do dances and motions to songs - and he really concentrates on the instructor and does them all. He even waved and said, "hola!" to the instructor when she walked in at the beginning of the storytime (we'd practiced in the car). And when we were in the car on the way home, he kept saying something that I couldn't figure out (it sounded like "gaseous.") I finally figured out he was saying "gracias!"

Drew's new favorite hobby is coloring. He's starting to get a little better - he makes smaller scribbles now. It's really helped him with his color recognition - he can name most of the colors. He definitely knows red and green. When we approach a stoplight, he usually lets me know what color the light is. It's either, "Red. Stop!" or "Green! Goooo!" Here he is coloring away! It's usually a daily activity.

Drew is loving Christmas already! When we drive home from the Y after work, it's dark out and we see all the Christmas lights - and we "oohhh" and "aaahhh." We even drove him around all different neighborhoods on Saturday night and he was really into it. On Sunday we were excited to take him to Lenoir to see Chad's extended family (and cousins Drew's age) for a Christmas gathering, but we were very surprised to wake up a sick baby. Drew is never sick! But he had a 103 fever and was so out of it - he even fell asleep on the couch, which I don't think he's ever done since he was an infant! He was so pitiful, but looked so sweet, I had to take a quick picture. Luckily, he was fine by Monday morning!

Thanksgiving in Lenoir

We spent Thanksgiving with Grandmom and Granddad on Saturday. Drew had a great time playing with his cousin Olivia. They both liked coloring in their new coloring books from Grandmom and having races in the hallway. They each got a ride on Granddad's 4-wheeler too!

Every year Chad has to turn Alan's deer into reindeer with a few decorations - this year Drew got to help!

Here's the two little ones with their Granddad.

And here's a quick family shot outside.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We took Drew to the Charlotte Thanksgiving Day Parade this morning (supposed to be the 4th largest parade in the US with over 100,000 people watching!). There were lots of marching bands, horses, motorcycles, fire trucks, dancers, buses, and even a helicopter! Check out his dance moves as a marching band performed infront of us.

He did really well staying in one spot for the whole two hour event. He liked waving to everyone. We saw someone we know from the Y in the parade, and Drew got a balloon from her. And at the end of the parade he even got a little Teddy Bear from Santa! He hugged that little thing all the way home and even took him to bed with him for his nap!

Here's Drew waving at the police motorcycles. You can see that it was really foggy at the beginning of the parade.

Closeup of Drew watching intently.


Mommy gave Daddy's arms a break for a few minutes. We had good seats, but a man at least 6'8" decided to stand infront of us, so we had to stand in order to see.

Drew was very concerned about the balloons that people had let go of and were stuck in the tree above us. He kept saying "Stuck! Get it!"

There was one "actual" float in the parade - it was the grand finale just before Santa. They had to maneuver it around the traffic lights and trees.

Then we did some family housecleaning once we got home. Drew loves to take parts to the vacuum and "help."

While I write this we are patiently (for now) waiting for our turkey... I followed all the instructions for thawing it and cooking it, but it seems to still be a little frozen or something. Hopefully I'll have this meal mastered by the time we host a bunch of people down the road! If our turkey is bad, at least we'll have some good stuff at Chad's parents on Saturday!

It's a girl!

Drew is going to have a little sister!! We are so excited to have one of each! Now, I'm searching for nursery themes, making name lists, and getting VERY excited to go shopping on the other side of the store (the pink side!) - where there's TONS more little clothes to choose from! Here's the 18 week picture from today.

Weekend fun

Last Sunday, Drew got to meet Santa! Yeah, it was in the 70s outside, but Drew's been saying "Santa" and "ho, ho, ho!" for awhile, so we took advantage of the free photos at Bass Pro Shop. They had part of the store set up like a winter wonderland, with games, trains, Christmas trees, reindeer, snow, and of course - Santa! The whole time he sat on Santa's lap, he was saying, "train? choo choo! train?" The first time he learned about Santa was in a dvd about trains, so I think he'll forever connect the two! But at least he wasn't scared of the bearded stranger! And later in the store we walked by an old man w/ a white beard (and he was wearing a red vest!) and Drew waved at him a whole bunch so he started talking to Drew. Then, Drew pointed and said, "Santa!" I don't think the guy minded too much though.

The past two weekends Drew has enjoyed helping Chad pick up the leaves! If I come out to visit and see how things are progressing, Drew points at Chad and says "helping!" He drags out his wagon, lawn mower, golf clubs and shovels - and really thinks he's helping! Very cute! Here he is taking a break on the deck and watching Chad work.

And playing in the pile of leaves!

Today, Grandmom and Granddad came to visit with Drew. They brought some old Christmas books of Chad and Grant's for Drew to borrow. I'm glad Drew was in to this Rudolf book - Rudolf was my absolute favorite as a kid! I'm hoping he likes my Rudolf movie - we'll wait until Thanksgiving for that though.

Then we went outside to enjoy the 75 degree weather in November!

And Drew spotted an airplane! He always sees them before anyone else - especially when we're in the car! Maybe he'll be a pilot...

Then we headed to the front of the house, so Drew could show everyone where we'd seen the snake... and we saw another snake!! This one was tiny...but still...another snake! I will be watching my step from now on!

And on the baby news... I think I've been feeling the little one moving around this weekend. The movements are still so small, it's hard to tell! And after Wednesday morning IT will no longer be an IT - hopefully! We have our 18 week ultrasound and I can hardly wait!! I'm still thinking it's a girl, but I'd be thrilled with either! Earlier today, Granddad was teaching Drew how to call the squirrels with a "come here" motion with his hands - and tonight Drew was rubbing my belly and we were talking about the baby, and he started doing his hand like that and saying "come here!" So, I guess he's ready to meet this baby already...too bad we have a LONG time to wait for that!!