Heroes

 TJ is Drew's hero and I kind of think Drew is TJ's hero too. They just absolutely adore each other. Time stands still when they interact. Drew does not shriek or go crazy for anyone but T. His whole body goes nuts when TJ talks to him and he even screams (in delight) at TJ whenever he pays attention to him. I can't get enough of the two of them together. 

 Speaking of heroes, Tim is TJ's. He wants to be a business man when he grows up (and any given super hero, depending on the day). My sweet boy. He always wants to know what Tim was like as a kid and what he was into. In the pic below, they're at an All-Pro Dad event. So very cool.  : )

 Drew went from layin' around for 6 months (hehe) to rolling over kind of late for a baby. At 6 months he started to roll here and there but only the hard way...from back to front. Well, at 7 months he army-crawled the length of the floor. The army style only lasted about 5 days til Drew figured out the real deal in hands and knees travel. He is FASSSST now at 8 months! If he sees a remote or a phone or an opening in a gate, that boy is GONE! He's so fun to watch. Last week, he started pulling himself up. I put him in his crib to clean up the toys in his room for a second and when I turned around he was standing up, holding onto the side. He pulls himself up on anything low enough to the ground where he can get his short legs up underneath him.

Yesterday and today, he's tried to stand up from a sitting position on his own with nothing to help him. He hasn't done it yet and I'm okay with that! I need him to crawl for awhile...I love this stage!!! TJ walked at just under 14 months. I think Drew will be walking before that but I don't want him to rush it!!! 

Shopping cart covers are awesome! I didn't have one with TJ but I love this one. This is on the eve of Drew's first tooth which popped in two days ago! Woohoo! He has been teething since he was 8 weeks old. Only took him 6 months of drool to get one out. : ) 

TJ begged and begged his coach to let him play catcher at the first game. When the coach then asked TJ to be catcher in that first game...he cried. Oh my soul, he cracks me up. But through his nervous tears, he did it! He conquered that uncertainty and went for it! I was so proud for him. And with Daddy faithfully talking him through it and then helping him with his gear, he learned how much he loved being catcher. It's his new favorite. He has lots of new favorite things. What a great life for a 7 year old!

 

I've cut up more shirts of mine for TJ's super hero costumes. Ha! 

This one looks pretty terribly done...because it IS terribly done. But oh so much fun being Cyclops. Too much fun to wait for me to sew evenly.

My heart.

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So Much to Say...So Much to Say

Tonight, TJ went in to kiss Drew goodnight as usual, but he was a little late. So he went in after I had left. I was lucky enough to hear him through the monitor. He whispered in a sing-song voice through the crib slats, "I love you, Drew. You're my best friend. Have a good sleep. I'm gonna try and kiss your tiny hand. You're so cute. I hope you have dreams that money turns into bottles and you can drink them all night long." Oh my gosh, I was dying on the other end of that monitor! Oh how I love LOVE! 

TJ had baseball practice this afternoon. It's been so darn cold so Drew and I watched from the car while Daddy shivered by the fence. TJ was in "ready stance" much of the time. He drew in the dirt here and there, jumped around a lot and then had some great plays and hits and swings too. Mostly, he had fun. Which is the MOST fun part about watching him. T had flag football camp 3 nights last week. It was freezing out and super windy so keeping Drew warm and happily active for an hour and a half each night was a little tricky. But TJ had a smile on his face the entire time and I can't even describe how it made me feel. He's had to work on being brave and trying new things a lot in his short little life. Okay, even trying old things. But even so, he gets out there eventually and then gains some confidence in himself and I can't wait to watch that continue. He is such a great kid!!! 

In church tonight, TJ went happily into his class and Drew came in to the service with us as usual. Well, he was ALL about the singing tonight. I held him facing forward and that boy kicked his legs so hard and shook his arms so fast I thought he was gonna take off and fly up on stage. He belted out some happy screeches and some loud DADADADA's for a good 15 minutes. When the speaking started, he wanted to continue his talking and mid-air jumping so after awhile, I had to take him out. He didn't cry or fuss one bit. He's come a very long way!

Yesterday, TJ lost his 7th tooth. He pulled it himself! Yes, it was dangling and it made me shiver every time I looked at it hanging there...but he wanted to do it himself and he did a great job handling the blood. : ) 

Also yesterday, Drew army-crawled halfway across the floor in the living room. Whoa. Bondi and TJ were there and we all jumped back in surprise. Oh my goodness, was Drew ever proud! He squealed and grunted and then got back to it. He exhausted himself! Today, he went back at it. For a few minutes, I left TJ in charge while I changed the laundry. Seconds later, T yelled to me that Drew was clear across the room and trying to get under the couch. What a stinker! My life is forever changed : ) as I will be scanning the floor for silly bands and Legos every single second! 

One of my favorite parts of the weekend was walking to the carnival with TJ and holding his hand while we both pushed Drew in the stroller. My dudes had their sunglasses on and we played all the games a million times. TJ got his face painted, Drew laughed at TJ for 2 hours straight and then we walked home. TJ's favorite part was trying to win a cake...and having his brother along. Sigh. 

Next blog, I'll write about Culler's Farm. One of my favorite places on earth.

This boy loves his tongue.

Our little Jabba the Hut.

1,000 words.

Swimming lessons! He swam ten laps this day!

Drew loves food!

TJ loves food too! : ) He never stops - ha!

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wiggly worms and half birthdays!

TJ the hookworm bookworm! 

So...we're super proud of TJ's interest in trying out for the play Squirm and for following through with excitement! He didn't cry or worry about this at all! From beginning to end, he was pumped and we were thrilled for him. And of course, he did great up on stage. : ) That was an added bonus. The best part was that HE was proud of himself and that he had to miss parts of recess to practice. Yay T!

The play was really well done and adorable. I even caught Auntie Marcia jammin' and clappin' along to the songs! :) T was so happy that so much of his family could make it that night. During the morning performance, he had a clouded questioning look on his face and kept mouthing "where's my family?" to me. I was nearly in a panic sitting in the crowd wondering how I could reassure him that everyone was coming at night!? I literally wanted to pounce up on stage and stop the whole thing so I could tell him YES! YES! Lots of your family is coming tonight!!!! I had told him that several times but his hearing and listening have become quite selective lately. Anyway, I think he had the most support of all his classmates...from Grandma and Auntie Marcia, Uh Paul and CC, Auntie Melissa, Aunt Val and Uncle Ben, Reagan and Avery, Nonny and Gram, Bondi and Poppy (fresh from Florida...or unfresh rather - ha!) and DADDY!

Drew loved the dress rehearsal and the morning performances except for the clapping parts or when the kids with speaking parts got too close to the mic. But other than pouting and frowning/screaming after those parts, he did great and supported his big brother.

Here's a pic of Drew today...on his half birthday. He is 6 months old today! My littlest man!

I can't wait to see the doctor next week to talk about him. I love that part.

I will admit though that I worry he's just starting to roll over and he's a peanut in the weight department. But I'm also sure that when he's a linebacker for the Berea-Midpark Titans down the road, I'll laugh when looking back at this post. (Sorry, Drew. You can't be a linebacker even if you are big enough. Unless there are linebackers in flag football. Then you're allowed.)

TJ is so into Drew trying new foods and wants to drink apple juice at the exact second Drew is taking sips of his. (Something we need to do for his tummy.) When I told TJ that Drew is half a year old today, he got SO excited and wanted to go get cupcakes and ice cream to celebrate. I was all for that! Except that it's a freaking blizzard right now...and it was 61 degrees yesterday. Boo.

Our next big thing is a sleepover. TJ wants to share a room with Drew but we're gonna start with a sleepover. Not sure how we're gonna pull that one off but we'll do it with style. And I'm sure I'll have a stiff neck in the morning when I roll outta my sleeping bag.

Just call me, Aleve. (Get it, Care?)

Peace out - family!

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