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Family Vacation in the Eyes of Drew Sydney

My mommy and daddy took me away on vacation. We ended up in Algonquin Park at my grandma's cottage. I had a very good time. A few adventures I thought I would tell about include seeing a moose (that's right up there with getting my first tooth, taking my first step and getting my first haircut), helping my daddy with a project fixing the front door (actually, he says I helped him, but I think I did most of the work and he helped me just a little...but I don't want to bruise his ego), and going hiking and swimming and canoeing.

So, about this moose I mentioned before. It was the middle of the night. I am not known for sleeping very well anyway, so something was bound to wake me up and cause an uproar, so why not a moose instead of me just wanting to play or something, right? Well, it's about 2 a.m. and the dogs startle me and my parents awake. First thing I thought was maybe it was a bad guy coming to steal my fruit puffs or my really cute sandals, and I just cried and cried at the thought. My heroic daddy jumped out of bed and ran to see what was going on. When he yelled "moose!" I thought "what a relief. I don't know what a moose is, but at least he didn't mention my sandals or my fruit puffs. So, mommy jumps out of bed with me and we run out to see what is going on. Turns out all this cute animal wanted was to go for a dip in front of the cottage, so we watched it swim for a bit and then went back to bed. I was so thankful that it was nighttime, as my hair looked messy and I wasn't even in my cute jammies, and if it had been daytime, I am sure that my always-has-to-take-pictures mother would've taken some if it wasn't so darned dark out.

So, we got that adventure out of our way and moved right in to the fixing the door adventure. My dad has this habit (I promise I have been around long enough to pick up on his habits) of starting projects and finishing them about 95% of the way and then stopping. So, of course I rolled my eyes when I heard his plans. He lived up to mine and mommies expectations. He did a wonderful job, it looks pretty good, but he did leave it looking like he'd been the one doing it!

Ah, I forgot to mention in my introductory paragraph that I got sick on our vacation. So, I will tell you about that now. I got what mom and dad called giardia. More fondly known as beaver fever. Must've been too much lake water I was drinking when we went swimming. I got a fever, 102.7 to be exact and I ended up with diarrhea for a day. Yuck. What's worse than hovering over a toilet for 24 hours? Having diarrhea and having to convince my mom and dad the diapers were stinky enough to change immediately. It was my first time being sick and I could tell my mom and dad were nervous and wanting me to be better quick. I just slept lots and was better the next day.

Okay, on to the hiking, swimming, and canoeing. I realize from how my mom and dad are that they love this outdoors stuff. I love it too. The fresh air, the breeze, the warm (ish) lake water. Wonderful. I am not a big fan of being in a canoe though. Just not for me right now. I prefer to pace back and forth and cry over sitting quitely and enjoying watching the loons play and call to each other. Swimming is fun for me, but I hate when my mom swims. She would go for these long swims across the lake and my dad would paddle next to her with me in the canoe. Why should I let my mom think she can do something like that without me? So, I cry while she is swimming just so she wouldn't get comfortable thinking she could do things like that all the time in peace. Hiking is really fun. I get to ride in the backpack carrier and yell at the dogs while they run ahead. Good times.

Well, there were lots and lots of other things that we all did together and I had tons of fun. I can't wait to go back next year as long as mommy doesn't decide to swim, beaver fever stays away and the moose doesn't steal my fruit puffs.

Baby in a Basket!

New Drew Stuff...

Let's see...Drew's been up to all sorts of new things. She loves reading books with me now. We'll read and if I ask her where things are in the book, she'll point to them! And she is saying lots of new words, but only when she feels like it. Her vocabulary now consists of "dog", "duck" (this goes for all water fowl), "dat", "dada" (any see a trend...yes, she loves the letter D...I am certain it's from a year of training by Jason ;)), "ball", "book", and once in a blue moon, I hear a "mamamamama"

She loves swimming, going in the canoe, climbing on everything, and in general keeping us on our toes. The climbing is cool to watch, she's quite good at getting onto the furniture, no problem. She usually then just wants to jump off though, and um, that's a problem! So, we're on our toes, ready to catch her at all times!

Em & Drew at St. Lawrence River

Boldt Castle in background

Rings aren't for stacking...they're jewelry!

Drew likes to wear her stacking rings instead of stack them! :)

Reading With Daddy Amidst My Toys :)

Drewbie and Daddy reading a book instead of cleaning up all her toys :) Drew loves her Pooh books!

Mommy Stinks!!! ;)

My mommy is constantly going running and then wants to hold me when she is all sweaty and stinky. Here I am thinking "Jump in the lake already mom! You stink!" :)

Pineapples Suck!

We found out that Drew is allergic to pineapples. At least that is what I am putting my money on. I gave her some with her dinner two days ago. She woke up a couple hours later itching and was fussy all night long. When we woke up, I noticed she had a rash all over her forehead, cheeks, eyes, neck, chest and upper back. It kept getting worse until her eyes swelled shut. So, we headed back to Rochester, 3 hour drive, to the pediatrician yesterday. She's been on benadryl since and the rash has cleared up noticeably. The drive was awful, she was crying and itching the whole time and I wanted so badly to hold her, but we had to get to the doctor. All is well now...but we learned our lesson...

NO PINEAPPLE!!!!

Rowing, Rowing, Rowing...

Gram and I took Drew out on the lake this evening in the row boat. It was a total PITA! Not only would Drew not sit still, she wanted to jump overboard the whole time. I took the 3 second opportunity that she sat on her seat to snap this picture. Don't let it fool you...it didn't last long and I fought her the whole way to stay in the boat. The only time she was happy was when I let her dangle over the side to put her hands in the water while I held onto her. *sigh* So much for quality time on the water! It was a beautiful evening though! :)

Big Girl!

Drew went out to lunch with me yesterday and she loved the straw cup they gave her.

Drew at Baseball Hall of Fame Weekend...

Well, my mom and I took Drew to Cooperstown for Baseball Hall of Fame Weekend. It was crowded and crazy, but fun. Here are a couple pictures. One of me and Drew in front of the hall of fame and one of me and Drew with Juan Marichal (he pitched for the Giants in the 60s)...

Some Pictures of the Girls...

Here are some pictures from the weekend, me, Drew and my mom, and me, Drew, my mom and my Grandma and just Drew and my Grandma...

Drew Loves Apples!!

Here's a picture of Drew enjoying her first whole apple. She loved it! It was messy, but fun to see her do something that seems so grown up :)

The Long Awaited Update

Okay, here's what is new in our life...

My last day of work was Friday, July 15th. We've all been at the cottage since. Jason just left this evening for Florida. He's stopping in Rochester, Baltimore, and North Carolina on his way. He'll be job and house hunting for as long as it takes while he's there.

We are having a great time up here. Drew and I have settled quite nicely into our routine (or lack thereof!) since I've been home with her. She and I play outside in the water a lot, go for walks and I have been running daily to try to get into marathon running condition for December.

I am going to be starting up with my last class for college here very soon and will hopefully be done with my degree by the end of the summer. It will all depend on how much time Drew gives me to work on it along with how dedicated I am to doing it in my "spare" time.

So, that's us right now. We'll be sure to keep the updates and the photos coming :)

Hugs from Em and Drew

I don't need no stinkin' kiddie pool!

I've got the dog's water dish! :)

A Bunch of New Pictures...

It's a Tsu-Mommy!

Drew has a new favorite game and it of course involves swimming...

When we all go swimming together, Jason will take her out in the water off the end of the dock and then mommy jumps in, doing a cannonball, yelling "It's a tsu-mommy!" Waves rock the boats, slam into shore and Drew and Jason get splashed and end up in hysterics. Of course, I don't make tidal waves, but they'll do and it's good fun :)

Drew's Birthday Party!

Here are a couple pictures from Drew's birthday party!!! She had a blast!

Happy Birthday, Drewbie :)

Drew's 1st Birthday Present Opening

Drew got a birthday present in the mail yesterday from Brandee and Alaire in Louisiana. We all insisted it get opened right away...so here are some pics of her opening her very first birthday present. Note the flying paper :)

Check out my Teefers!

Finally! I got a shot of Drew's 5 teeth!

Family Photo!

Here is the entire immediate family...mom, dad, Andy, his girlfriend Toni, and Me and Jason...oh, and of course...DREWBIE!!! :)

I love my big red ball!

Mommy got me an early birthday present! It's a big red rubber ball. I love carrying it around and bouncing it off of things!!!

Daddy's Little Helper...

Drew has been quite helpful in packing up all of our stuff. As soon as Jason gets out an empty box, Drew will climb in :) And when he emptied the drawers to the china cabinet today...well...she had to climb in there too :)

Drew's First Funeral :(

Well, it's been nearly 7 months since my doggy Abby died. My whole family is here at the cottage (my brother and his girlfriend suprised me by showing up) and we are burying Abby's ashes in about a half hour. I am very sad :(

Link to professional pictures of Drew...

Here's the link to the pictures of Drew that Sheri took...

http://photographybysheri.photosite.com/DrewSydney/

They are fabulous, even if I do say so myself :)

A Sneak Peek Pictures by Sheri...

Here are two pictures from yesterday's photo shoot. I can't wait to see the rest! :)

Busy weekend...

Well, we had a very big weekend. All day Saturday, we held our moving sale. It went very well, although it was very hot and that kept the traffic down. Drew did great. Ran around all day in her diaper or naked and got hosed off many times (this had to do with both the heat and the fact that she kept squatting and pooping in the driveway LOL). Mommy had to learn how to get Drew to nap very quickly, without nursing or a bed, which it turns out is quite easy if Drew is just put in the stroller laying all the way back. She was asleep both times before we got to the end of the driveway. Then the stroller was placed under the ceiling fan in the living room and all was well in the world. If anyone is wondering why I had to get creative, well, it's because about an hour into the sale I look on the front porch and then proceeded to ask Jason "why is our bed for sale?" Well, our neighbors bought it, so we had no where to put Drew to sleep...so in the stroller she went :)

In other news, Drew got her first professional photos taken today. I took her to my friend Sheri's house and true to form, Drew was way more interested in emptying all of Sheri's things off of her shelves than having her picture taken. It all worked out in the end though when we took her outside for lots of candids in the yard. I am sure they will be beautiful. Even the ones of Drew's meltdown when we were both frustrated and I wanted her to sit still for the camera, and well...she didn't want to!

All of this excitement was ended with a 3 hour nap together this afternoon. No better way to spend a Sunday, I think!

I'll post more pictures soon...

Drew Loves Water...

A series of funny events from outside at the water spigot this afternoon...

I like my swimsuit!

And here she is in her swimsuit this past weekend...

Drew Got New Kicks!

Nana got Drewbie a new pair of kicks, shiny pink Robeez with butterflies on them. Drew prances around proud as a peacock in them.

Teeth 5 & 6 on the way!!!

Well, Jason just called me at work to tell me he might know why Drew had me awake at 4 a.m. today not wanting to sleep, but rather, wanting to cling her mommy. Yesterday, she had her two bottom middle teeth and her two fangs on top through. Today, the two between the fangs have decided to break through her gum, causing a bloody gum and all. I hope they come through quick. Poor baby cried all morning. At last, she is asleep on daddy's shoulder!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Dear Daddy,

Thank you for being the most wonderful dad to me for the last 11 months. I love you for all the time that you have spent with me, taking care of me all day while mommy works. I love all the time to spend playing with me and teaching me new things. You are the greatest. Mommy appreciates you lots too...she told me so! Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Me and Mommy Like to Read Together...

Drew finally started to let Jason and I read to her. Here we are reading the book that she picked out for Daddy for Father's Day...

I Love Spaghetti!

Here is Drew after having spaghetti with sauce for the first time!

Sleepy Sleepy

So, Drew decided that yesterday was such a great day and she loves mommy and daddy so much that she couldn't stand to miss one thing by falling asleep and taking herself a much needed nap. She was totally crankified all evening. Jason and I had to tag team her to get her to fall asleep. I'd nurse her, then he'd bounce her on his shoulder while I sang...finally! At 8:30 she fell asleep and slept until 5 a.m. That is unheard of in our house...she really needed it though. And she was in quite good spirits when she and Jason brought me to work today.

Good little sleepy head...

Bathtime Fun

Drew loves water. She loves swimming in the lake, taking showers, splashing in the sprinkler, and of course bathtime. Her new favorite thing to do in the bathtub is to put her face in and blow bubbles. She also likes to lick up the bathwater like a dog. Maddy & Harry are beginning to have too much influence in her life ;) Speaking of Maddy & Harry, they are Drew's best friends. They lay under her highchair when she eats. Last night, she was having bread that I was breaking into little pieces for her. When she was done, I gave her the rest of the big piece to see what she would do. She broke it right in half and threw half off one side to Harry and the other half off the other side to Maddy. She is an equal opportunity food thrower :)

~Em

I can be a girly girl sometimes!

Here's Drew in one of her cute girly outfits.

This afternoon was fun. We went for a long walk, all 3 of us. I still can't run because of my blisters, but I can walk 3 miles in flip flops :)

Drew has learned a new thing that I am very proud of her for. She now can be awoken from a nap and put herself back to sleep. Jason said she does it during the day for him, but I was yet to witness it before today. She fell asleep nursing in my arms and I laid her on the bed. Immediately, the UPS truck pulled up, honked it's horn, the driver was talking really loud to our neighbor, and I was standing in the doorway of the bedroom. Drew opened her eyes, looked around, looked at me, rubbed her eyes and fell back asleep. I was so happy for her that she didn't wake and fuss for me to nurse her back to sleep. Not that I mind, but I like that she can do that for herself. I knew she'd learn it!

I love Drewbie...

Here's Drew playing in the sprinkler at the cottage

Here she is fishing with Daddy

And here she is contemplating the meaning of life at the lake

Drew's a Cottage Baby!

Let's see...the new stuff in our life mostly centers around our visits to the cottage. We have had a great time introducing her to the lake (she loves her lifejacket and very much enjoys going swimming with us). She has been out in the kayak with Jason, canoeing with both of us, and she even helped her daddy catch a fish last weekend.

I am going to post some pictures now :)