Family Pictures 2010

After searching for someone to do our family pictures, we found the right woman. Daddy's co-worker took them at Elmwood Park last weekend. She was so awesome. She told me I was invisible to the camera and I believed her. Mommy and daddy are so happy with the pictures that only took us 30 minutes and we had 71 great pictures. This is just a glimpse at some of them. Since my last post, nothing has really changed with me, except that I am fully potty trained, except at night. Mommy makes me wear a diaper "just in case." I rarely go at night in my diaper, but I think mommy is scared she will have to change my sheets everyday. Guess she doesn't understand that I'm good to go. My new words are "give me some pribacy (privacy), shut up (from Pinocchio), and I'm sick of you." My favorite thing to eat is popcorn. I will eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I love it! I love to watch Mickey Mouse (so does my sister), Dora, and Diego. It has started to get cold and dark very early so we don't get much play time outside, which makes me sad. I love to play outside, especially baseball. It is going to be a long winter. As for my little sissy, she is doing okay. She still wakes up in the night screaming bloody murder. Mommy just switched her Prevacid to night time and started giving her Maalox before bedtime. Mommy thinks that all the food she has been eating is making her tummy hurt. Josie and I go to the Dr next week so I guess mommy will make sure Josie's stomach is all good. During the day, Josie is very happy. She jumps in her jumperoo for long periods of time. She likes to play with me, especially when I make her laugh. I typically get right in her face or lay on top her stomach (mommy gets mad at me when I do this) and start laughing to make her giggle. Mommy and daddy think it is cute, but man they sure don't like it when I am mean to her. One of the things I did a couple of weeks ago made mommy really mad. Mommy came out of her bathroom one morning to find me rocking a strapped in Josie in her bouncer. The bouncer was on it's side and Josie was laughing. Mommy was so mad she spanked me and told me to never do that again. I don't know why she was so mad because Josie seemed to like it. I also like to set toys on top of Josie, which mommy doesn't like, but Josie does. No matter what the best time of the day is bath time. Josie and I always take a bath together and she loves me making her giggle. In fact she can climb out of the yellow "lawn chair" in the bath. She has officially went under the water once. Mommy got scared, but she seemed to like it. She coughed a little afterwards and then giggled. I guess all in all I love my little sister and can't wait for her to get a little bigger so she can play with me a little more. She is almost sitting up on her own so just a couple more months and she will be crawling and getting into all my stuff. I'm sure I will not like that, but for now I love how she lets me do whatever to her and she giggles. I hope all is well with everyone and I will talk to you soon. Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween has come and gone!

Josie was a Pea in a Pod and I was Mickey Mouse. This was the only picture mommy could get of me because Mickey would not appear in front of the camera. Okay, I will not take a picture for anyone. I don't like cameras so if you want a picture, don't tell me. Josie didn't like her costume. She cried every time mommy put her in it so that is why it was never buttoned. Besides our costumes, daddy carved one of our pumpkins. I didn't really help because I thought it was gross. In fact, when I wanted to touch the guts, I decided I didn't want to because that is just way too gross. Daddy did the carving and I did the watching. On Halloween we actually ran around to a couple of different places, but we at least started early enough this year that I got to go trick or treating with my neighbors. We first headed to my great grandma and grandpa Mauer's house and I got my first piece of candy for the night. Then we headed up to gma and papa Meyers'. Oh my was that a rush. I saw all my good friends up there and was so excited I kept running into the street. Mommy and daddy finally got so sick of chasing me and were worried that I would get hurt, they decided it was time to go. Our last stop was home. We met up with our neighbors, Bach's and Schrage's, and went down the road to Trick or Treating. I had so much fun running around with Minnie (Cali), Bumble Bee (Claire), football player (Charlie), Star Wars guy (Ryan), and of course my sister and our parents. Josie stayed in the stroller and slept until the very end, but the rest of us kids ran from house to house on Turnberry. I can't believe how much candy and stuff we gathered on one street. Mommy says she has never seen such an excited child about running from house to house. I loved it and can't wait for next year. Besides all our Halloween fun, I am officially potty trained. I only battled mommy a couple of days, but of course I still have to get completely naked, including my socks off! I only wear a diaper at nap and at night time, but I have been dry every night so I'm guessing mommy will not make me sleep in one forever. As for my sister, she can roll over from back to front and has just rolled over from front to back once and that was today. Josie is really trying to sit up now, but she still falls over. I am guessing in the next couple of weeks she will have this mastered also. According to mommy and daddy, Josie is trying to be just like me. She is trying to do everything ahead of schedule. They keep hoping that she is not as quick as me. I don't think she will ever be as fast as me! All is good with our family and hoping all is well with yours. Talk to you all soon.

Josie has been baptized!

We have been very busy around our house. My mommy and daddy went to Houston last weekend and left my sister and I with our grandparents. We did awesome staying the night for 3 nights without our parents. Mommy and daddy had a great time, but sure did miss us, or so they say. My "sissy" and I have been kind of sick. Grandma took Josie to the doctor last Monday for what we thought was an ear infection, but instead she just got shots. She was 13.8 lbs and everything about her is tiny. She was only in the 18th and 19th percentile, except for her weight, which was in the 49th percentile. Josie is almost my exact measures at my 4 month check. On Wednesday, mommy took me in because I was coughing so bad I was throwing up. Mommy says it is just the start of many doctors visits for the season. I just had a really bad cold that would probably turn into a sinus infection by Friday. They also stated that my left tube had fallen out and is just hanging in the ear canal. Mommy prays I will not need another set. By Friday my cough was worse and they started me on a pretty high dose of Amoxicilin. Now, I'm already feeling better and am back to my crazy self. This past weekend my sissy was baptized. I slept through the whole thing. I must have been tired because I woke up at 6:30 that morning. As you can see from the pictures, there were many family members at the baptism. Fr. Paul Monahan did the ceremony and according to mommy it was pretty cool. He baptized Josie with water from the Holy Land, the Jordan River. He was there last summer and had a bottle of water from there that he put over her. That sounds cool, I wish I could have played in it. After the baptism, we came back to our house and had a party. I had so much fun playing with my cousin, friends, and family. Josie just hung out with the adults and Ellie, my cousin. Mommy and daddy thank everyone that came and participated in the ceremony for my sissy. They want to also thank aunt Kimmy and Brandy for being Josie's godparents. Besides all the fun stuff that has happened, Josie and I are on the move. I keep mommy and daddy on their toes constantly. I love to ride my bike and I am very good at it. Mommy always says if I could pitch a tent outside, I would. My new words are "you are driving me nuts, I don't want to, I don't like you, and because I want to." I also am in a phase of hitting so I spend a lot of time in time out. As for my sister, she has rolled over a couple of times, eats bananas, peas, and cereal, (sometimes powdered donuts and popcorn when I give it to her) and is wanting to just move all over. She can be demanding when she wants something. She just cries and my parents jump and give her food or cuddle her. I don't get it because when I cry they just ask me if I'm okay. They spoil her rotten. As for the big holiday coming up, I am going to be Mickey Mouse as my girlfriend is going to be Mickey Mouse. Josie is going to be a pea in a pod. We will post pictures as soon as mommy gets some. I hope all is well with everyone and I will talk to you soon. Oh and a big congrats go out to my uncle Tony and aunt Katie. They are going to be parents again in May. Addie is going to be a big sister! Keep them in your prayers!

Can you tell which is Me and which is my sister?

Well, looking at the side by side bath tub pictures who is who? The one on the left is Josie and the one on the right is me. I know, my sister looks just like me. I think her name is Drewetta or Drew with a dress as papa says. Josie is taking after me in many other ways when I was that age. She is starting to hold the botttle when mommy forces her to, stands up instead of sitting down when someone is holding her, she is going to roll over anytime, and she just plain and simple loves me! When I get in her face, tickle her, or just talk to her, Josie giggles and smiles. I can really get her going in the bathtub. Mommy constantly tells me to leave her alone, but I just want to love on her. Josie is my little sister and I love her. When people come to the house that are not people that we see on a regular basis, I make sure that I let them know that they are not allowed to pick Josie up or touch her for that matter. I just want to protect her from everyone. Josie continues to take her Pravacid, but is off all of her other medications. She started on cereal this week to help her with her bathroom issues. She has done pretty well with the cereal, but the acid reflex seems to flare up a little more from the cereal. Mommy and daddy have got a handle on it, but they sometimes feel bad for Josie. As for me, I am doing GREAT! I am as busy as ever and keep my parents on their toes. I play outside everyday at grandmas and when daddy gets home I go outside with him. Mommy usually takes care of Josie in the house or she comes out for a short time, but she worries about the bugs and the wind. I love being outside and playing with my daddy. We cut down branches this weekend to put in the firepit. I love helping daddy do outside duties. I am still not potty trained and mommy and daddy get frustrated, but everyone keeps telling them that I will do it when I'm ready. I will, I promise. For instance, tonight I wanted M&M's so I went potty on the pot. Mommy and daddy were impressed, but like I said, I just wanted M&M's. Mommy keeps telling me that I'm in the biggest diaper that they make. Whatever mom! As you can see I still do what I want when I want and don't care if I get in trouble. My new thing is opening the locked cabinet (they thought that it was locked) and changing the DVD's and turning on the speakers. After I turn them on, I cry because the speakers are too loud. Usually Josie cries also, but mommy or daddy come to the rescue. Then I get in trouble because I'm not supposed to touch the speakers or the DVD, hince the lock. I have to go for now so I hope all is well with everyone else.

Josie stayed in the hospital!

My mommy says we are growing up way too fast. Two weeks ago tomorrow, my little sister had to stay in the hospital overnight. Mommy dropped us off at gma Meyers' in the morning and by 10:30 Josie's breathing and cough started getting bad. Mommy took Josie in at 3 that afternoon and in the Dr's office they gave my sis a breathing treatment and a steroid shot. She was still having difficulty breathing and Dr Jones thought we lived too far away from an ER so mommy, daddy, and Josie stayed the night in the hospital. After two doses of steroids, Josie was released the next day and seemed to be back to herself. No other breathing treatments were needed through the night, which was good. Since the hospital stay, Josie has been weened off of all of her meds, except the Prevacid, which she will probably be on for a couple more months. She is growing like a weed and weighed 11 lbs 5 oz at the hospital. Her new thing is getting into her Jumperoo and watching all the lights. She has to be put on pillows and watched closely as she is still so little. Josie will probably roll over any day now and if I have my way I will force her to roll to get her toys or mine. In the picture below you can see that I am still as onary as I have always been. I even dropped the watermelon on the floor in the kitchen and it splattered everywhere. Thanks to Dan and Lizzy for helping mommy clean it and cut it up. My parents have been taking me to the zoo almost every weekend, which I love. My daddy and I went the other day on our own and we got to see the Desert Dome, Kingdom of the Night, and the Jungle. I loved all that new stuff that I don't always get to see with gma Mauer and when my parents bring Josie. Another cool thing that I got to do this past weekend was walk over the Nebraska/Iowa bridge with my mommy, daddy, Josie, and gma and papa Meyers. I had so much fun. I literally ran everywhere and never got in the stroller with my sister. We were gone for a couple of hours so one would think I was exhausted after the running I did, but I was not. I got to pick where we ate lunch, Taco Johns (I only eat Potato Oles) and then I went home to nap, but napping did not sound too fun, so instead we went and played at the Bach's house. Obviously I am still as busy as ever and I think my sister will eventually catch me. For now, I am older, wiser, and stronger. On the last note, I am still not potty trained and still would much rather sleep with my parents. I go to bed in my bed, but at some point I climb in bed with my parents. I am so quiet they don't even know that I'm there. I love cuddling with them. As for Josie, she moved out of mommy and daddy's room for two nights before the hospital stay and then back in their room. She still loves to sleep in her bouncer so last night mommy put the bouncer in her crib and she slept 10 hours. Mommy says one transition at a time and Josie may be a better sleeper than me. I doubt it, but we will let mommy think that. I hope all is good with everyone. Talk to you soon.

Last Days of Summer

It has been a long time since my mommy has posted, but give her a break, she has been busy. Mommy has been taking care of my sister and I for the last four weeks by herself with the help of grandparents and friends and family. Daddy has been in PA doing some traveling for work and would come home on the weekends. Hopefully he is home for awhile now. A lot has happened since my mommy's last update. Let's start with the end of summer. Mommy and grandma Meyers had a crazy idea to take all five of the grandchildren to the Children's Museum. They were ready to go within an hour and a half. I was way too busy, Josie pooped her pants, and Hannah and Sophie were chasing Carly. Grandma and mommy decided this place is a one to one with me and Carly, and Josie was just too little. Next, my parents took Josie and I to Westfair for the first time. I got to see all the animals and play on the tractors and four wheelers. My daddy kept telling mommy that I really wanted a four wheeler, but I think daddy is the one that really wants it. Josie hung out in her stroller the whole time and didn't fuss the entire time. As you can see from above my sister and I love to ride in mommy's new jogging stroller. We went for a walk/run every morning once mommy got released to work out. We both love the music mommy puts on. Josie always falls asleep and I occasionally do. Also from the pictures above you can see that my baby cousins are all getting very big, much bigger than my sister, the peanut. The picture with my cousin Hallie Kate is of us eating corn and swinging. I was mad that day because "I can't get my bottom on the swing by myself." Hallie decided to go on her tummy also so she could be just like me. As for my sister and I we are doing well. Mommy went back to work a week and a half ago and we go to grandma Meyers' everyday. I love it there. Josie rarely takes a long nap for grandma, but she is not fussy, which is good. Josie used to cry a lot, but now mommy and daddy got her figured out. Dr. Jones told mommy and daddy that Josie was colic, but come to find out she has acid reflux. She uses an expensive formula, medicine for her tummy, Prevacid, and over the counter medicine. Mommy was told last week at Josie's 2 month check up that they could start weening some of Josie's medicines. As of today, she gets the Prevacid and only two doses, instead of four, of the tummy medicine and no more over the counter stuff. Yeah! Josie weighed 11lbs 2 oz at her 2 month check, which is in the 50th percentile. She was 23.5 inches long, which is in the 70th percentile. She looks like a peanut compared to me, but her measurements are almost exactly what mine were when I was 2 months old. Josie still sleeps in the bathroom with the fan during the day and in her bouncer at night. Mommy keeps putting her in her crib, but she fusses so mommy moves her. Sometime she will outgrow that bouncer and mommy will not have a choice on where to put my sister. Okay, enough about my sis, lets talk about me. I have been very onory lately. I also went to the doctor last week as I had croup for the first time. Dr Jones put me on steroids for 3 days and boy does that make me crazy. I am finally starting to get better, but haven't napped all weekend for my parents. I talk non stop, which I think drives my parents crazy sometimes. I told mommy the other day that I was mad at daddy because he wouldn't share the push mower with me. Mommy and daddy are amazed at my vocabulary because I use big words and use them appropriately. I guess I am just growing up way too fast. My mommy promises she will try to update more regularly now that daddy is home. Hope all is well with everyone and I will talk to you soon.

First Professional Pictures as Brother and Sister

This is just a glimpse at our pictures that we took today. Mom and grandma Mauer took the two of us and went to Portrait Innovations and worked with Justin. He worked well with Josie and I. My mom was so excited about the pictures. She is really bad about having pictures taken professionally so here is the first of many to come (ya right). We have been really busy the past couple of weeks. Our relatives from California came to town for a week and my Aunt Cathy and Jackson came to visit. We had so much fun with the family, but man we are exhausted. We are spending this week recuperating. I have been so exhausted I have slept in my own bed for 5 nights in a row without waking up. The sleep fairy has been bringing me really cool cars in the morning. As for my sister Josie, she is doing much better. Last week mommy was very upset and took her in because she would not stop crying. Mommy thought there was something wrong with her. Dr Shawn told mommy that Josie was Colic or possibly had acid reflux, but other than that there was nothing wrong. She weighed 9lbs 8oz so she was gaining weight. In fact Dr Jones wanted to know what mommy was feeding her. Since the check last week, Josie has started on an expensive formula, gripe water, Maalox, and now a new drop of medicine that seems to be possibly doing the trick. She has been enjoying her swing, bouncer, and just plain life much more, which allows for mommy and daddy to get things done. I also don't have to listen to her scream as much. Her favorite thing is to be in the bathroom with the fan on in her bouncer. That is where she naps while I'm on the couch. I wonder if she will ever figure out that I have a much better spot to nap in. As for me, I am continuing to be busy and keep mommy and daddy on their toes. I like to hit, throw, and say NO! I do as I want when I want and hope to God I don't get a spanking or put into time out. I do spend a good portion of the day running from my mommy after I do something I'm not supposed to do. I know my mommy and daddy love me, but I just want to keep pestering them to see what their breaking point is. I love my mommy and daddy so much and they love Josie and I! Anyway, all is good in the Meyers' house. Hope all is well with everyone else.

Getting used to life with my new sister!

Josie Nicole is now 3 weeks old. Last week she weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and was 20 inches long at the doctors so she is growing like a weed. She seems to keep my parents up a couple of times throughout the night. I don't really hear her unless I climb into my parents bed at some point during the night, which I am known to do. I have learned that I have to climb in bed by my daddy instead of mommy because she is still recovering from her "ouchy." Her left leg is still bothering her, but she sees the doctor this Friday to see if there is something wrong. As for me, I got to go on my first boat ride of the season on Father's Day. Thank you uncle Josh and Aunt Amy. It was a very short ride because of the storm that was rolling in, but I still enjoyed it and can't wait to go again. I ask mommy everyday if "uncle Amy" will take me on a boat ride, but she says maybe this weekend. As you can see below, we also had a new pet on our porch a week or so ago. Mommy's friend Ashley walked right by it to come to the front door. It was a huge snake, that daddy chased off with a stick. We think it lives in the ditch because we see it from time to time. Daddy takes me to look for it every night, but we only occasionally see it. Mommy is frightened every time she opens the door because she thinks it will slither by her or get in the house. I keep telling her we should just let it in and play with it, but she doesn't think that is such a great idea. Since my sister has arrived I have continued to keep my parents on their toes. Mommy still can't keep up with me and she can't pick me up so I know how to run really fast and squat down so she can't get me. Ha, I have her fooled. My mommy can't really take my sister and I out by herself to fun errands, like Target, since she can't lift me for a couple of weeks. Therefore we are more limited to what we can do. My mom was brave and took us both to the pool the other day and I played so good. My mommy still doesn't get into the pool, but she just sits by and watches me along with Gma Mauer. I love to play in the baby pool with my cousin Halie Kate and all the other kids. I can't wait for mommy to be able to get in and lift me in the pool. Then we will be able to take my other cousins, Sophie and Hannah to the pool. My life has changed since my sister has arrived, but I am adjusting. I now try to scream louder than her when I want something and I let my parents know when " the monster wakes up." I think someday I will enjoy playing with her, but for now I just occasionally bounce a ball off her head and then get yelled at. I am just trying to keep her involved in the same activities that I am doing. Mommy keeps telling me I have to be more careful. I will try! I hope all is well with everyone and I will talk to you soon.

Josie Nicole has arrived!

The belly picture was one of the only pictures that mommy took while she was pregnant with my sister. Aunt Kimmy took the picture about 2 weeks before my sister arrived. On Memorial Day, mommy and I went for a mile and a half walk, went to the pool and played for 2 hours, and then we went to my gma and gpa Mauer's house for dinner. I got to play with the neighbor kids and my mommy chased me everywhere. Once we got home, I went to bed and mommy did not feel well. Mommy called daddy to tell him she did not feel well, but daddy didn't answer. Daddy was in Huntsville, Alabama for work. Mommy called our neighbor, Brandi, who took me to gma and gpa Meyers and took mommy to the hospital. At gma and gpa Meyers, mommy's friend Lizzy was at the neighbors so she wondered what was going on. When mommy arrived at the hospital, Lizzy and Brandi were with her. After being assessed and given medication, the doctors decided it was time for mommy to have the baby. My sister, Josie Nicole arrived on June 1st at 2:40 A.M. She weighed 6lbs 5oz and was 18 inches long. My daddy, who drove 800 miles back to come see Josie, mommy, and I did not get to see the birth of Josie, but boy when he saw her for the first time, his heart melted, according to my mommy. My mommy was in the hospital for 4 nights so I got to stay the night with gma and gpa Meyers and then I got to hang out with my daddy all by myself. I also got to visit my mommy and Josie in the hospital almost every night. I got to eat ice cream every time I went to the hospital. It was so good. My sister and mommy came home on Friday and we have been just hanging out since then. Mommy feels pretty good, but her left leg is bothering her. She sees the Dr on Thursday to check the incision from the c-section. Hopefully this leg pain will pass. As for Josie, she sleeps, eats, and poops. She even pooped all over her clothes and I think it is funny. As for me, I am busy as ever. I know that my mommy can't pick me up right now and I am faster than mommy right now, so I use that to my advantage. I hope all is well with everyone and I will talk to you all soon.