Quatro!

Stats 'n' Stuff:

Weight: 16 lbs 10 oz -- BIG BOY!  His looks have changed SO much since he was born.  Hard to believe that at one point I was worried about him being so scrawny and stressing out that he wasn't getting enough to eat.  Times have changed!  

Height: 26.5 in. 

Eyes: Still blue!

Hair: Still Blonde fuzz! Each day I debate letting my hair go back to my natural color (which would probably be some shade of dark blonde)!  I am sure people wonder where this child gets his blonde/bald hair!

Sleeping habits:  
 - Daytime  - he still likes his morning snoozes.  Afternoon naps aren't on a schedule - varies from day to day.
 - Nightime -  he has been going to bed between 9:30 and 10:30 and sleeping solid until 4 or 5 (this is a change to LESS sleep from his previous month.. grrrr!) 

However, for the past few weeks he has been dealing with some new stuff:

1.  Teething.  The docotor confirmed on Monday that he is in fact teething.  There are two little bottom teeth that are about to pop through.  This could explain (or at least this is what I am telling myselft) why he isn't sleeping as long at night :-)

2.  His first cold :(  He has had the snuffles for at least a couple weeks now.  I think our last trip to Iowa took a toll on him - he's been sneezing and coughing.  I am an official FAIL at using the blue bulb snot sucker thing.  I can't get anthing out and all I end up doing is making him mad!  i even bought the electric one at Target and I can't even get that to work! 

3.  Constipation (or so I thought)...  He went 5 days without a poppy!  I thought for sure he was constipated -- so I gave him a little pear juice in a bottle and he finally went!  However  - the doctor said that babies who are fed exclusively breastmilk might even go up to 7 days without a poopy and will be fine!  WOW - that's a long time! 

Favorite things to do: 
-Smiling and baby blabber!  He is so loud in stores that people come over to my cart to see what I have in there that is making all that noise!  He has also taken a liking to exercising his vocal cords during church.  Seems like whenever we do the prayer and a moment of silence to reflect, Drew decides to let everyone know he is there.

 -Rolling from tummy to back.  I'm actually having a hard time keeping him occupied to do tummy time because he just likes to roll to his back!  We haven't quite mastered back to tummy - but he is trying his hardest!

 -Rubbing his feet together!  He is obsessed with it!  Aunt Wendy said 'looks like he has bug bites on his ankles and it itching them' ---  which is EXACTLY what it looks like!  I also learned from Grandma Butcher that my dad did the SAME THING as a baby!  In fact, he rubbed them so hard he had blisters!!  Drew doesn't have any blisters yet - but they do get really red when he gets going!  

 - Sleepovers at Grandma and Grandpa Merrills!  With Ronnie out of town this ENTIRE month (seriously from July 3-July 25) Ron and Cathy have really helped me out a TON!  From helping with the yard, to watching Drew while I am at work, helping walk Sam, folding up that last load of laundry that has been sitting on top of the dryer for a couple days...they have been so wonderful.  They usually steal him away from me one night a week and have a little slumber party :-)  

 - His hands!  He stares in awe at them (especially the right one) and like turns it and watches so carefully.  It's so cute.  It's the first thing he does when we wakes up.  That hand is just SO amazing to him...

Things he does NOT like to do: 
 - Uuuhhh... pretty much hates the snot sucker blue bulb!

Things he has learned
 - Bringing things to his mouth to suck/chew
-  How to hold his head up.  We are working hard on sitting up but his little thighs are so chubby he doesn't fit in the bumbo chair!  
 - How to blow bubbles!  I absolutely love when he does this.  He gets this cute little smirk on his face while he does it -- it's his go-to show off move. 

Things mommy has learned:

Mommy has learned that each new little milestone is more exciting then that last!  It just keeps getting better and better...

Here are a bunch of fun pics from month 4!

Earlier in the month I thought this was cute...that was when he was sleeping until 6am.  Lately - this "party" has been very very real and this isn't quite as funny anymore!

My friend Ruby (former co-worker of mine at General Mills - Albuquerque was in town over the 4th and stopped by.  She always comes bearing gifts -- this time she brought some fun onsies for Drew!

'Mom - it's Saturday morning and I just want to play!  Can't you see I'm learning from a violin playing piggy? '

Mommy and Daddy had their first night out alone this month and first time having a sitter!  All went very well! 

First time in the pool!

An 'unofficial' take your son to work day with daddy!

What baby doesn't have a picture of themselves in sunglasses?  I just couldn't resist.  I think he looks like C-Lo Green.  HAHA.

Month 4 was also filled with his first Father's Day, another trip to Iowa and his first 4th of July.  Wonderful memories all across the board - we love you Drew Robert!

Down on the farm!

Even though this was the little pork chop's second trip to Iowa - it was his FIRST trip to the farm!

One of his favorite books to read is 'My Farm Friends' and during this trip all the characters came to life! 

Papa Butcher was excited to show us around... we started with the piggies!  One of these white pigs is Ethan's pig Chester.  Ethan is such a good little showman!

Here they come, Drew!

Mommy - can we get a little closer??

Look at me, Papa!

 Next stop - let's check out the cattle!  We headed into the cattle shed and got up close!  Ronnie also loves the visits to the farm  - I'm not sure how good of a farmer he would be... I think he should stick to baseball :-)   I am so happy he loves going back to Iowa and that it will be a big part of Drew's life!

It's not a trip to the farm unless we check out the John Deeres!  

Mommy... I got this!

The Merrill's in the cab of a tractor...you don't get this in the city!

Our last stop on the farm was about 15 rows deep in the corn!  I absoltely love going home in the summer to see the lush crops.  It reminds me how important my brother's and dad's jobs are... FEEDING AMERICA!  

I am so proud to be a farmer's daughter!

Field of Dreams :-) 

Before we got all packed up and headed north to the Webers, we had to make one more stop for some shopping.  BOMGAARS!  Papa decided when he was down in Florida for Drew's baptism that Drew needs some tractors to play with!  We left with two tractors for Drew and a John Deere t-shirt for daddy!  SCORE!

After leaving the farm, we headed back up to Mankato to spend one more night with the Webers.  Pit stop in Okoboji on the way home!

Here is a shot of us from the dock at Barefoot Bar -- perfect spot to end the weekend.

This was such an awesome trip  - we sure do miss everyone and can't wait for the next one!

Love,
The Merrills

Babies and Bowties

Thank goodness we have a big family so there are always good reasons to come home to visit everyone!   This time it was for Eric Hanson and Christina Kjar's wedding!

The happy couple attended Ronnie and I's wedding in Florida and it was so fun planning the trip back for theirs!   Of course it was great to see Eric get married - but also fun because I knew Christina in high school (BGIC Falcons...our hometown rival) from playing sports.  She was quite the basketball player back in the day - she could shoot the 3!  :)

They had a vintage inspired theme and everything was just so perfect!  Beautiful ceremony (unfortunately Drew was being quite the fuss monster and daddy had to take him out during most of it), the tent was awesome and decorated so cute, GREAT band (we love Damon) and we had an amazing time hanging with the cousins and some old friends!

All dressed up and ready to go!

Uhhh... Drew - why are you smiling?  I'm worried my bowtie is going to make it hard to eat later!

 It was SUCH a beautiful evening!  We got some great pics (many thanks to Harry) at the reception.  I love going back again and again and looking at them.  I am so lucky to have such and awesome sister and sister in-laws... it has been so much fun going through the 'first time mom' stuff with my SILs - and of course I am always calling Wendy for advice...she is the captain of this team!

Mommies and babies! 

 Uncle Harry is known for wearing his dapper bowties to weddings so we had to get a pic with him and the babies in their bowties - so cute, and love that Ethan made a cameo in this one.  HA!

Harry + Babies + Bowties!

 Grandpa Butcher would be extremely proud.  He is so missed - but I know he was looking down and smiling when we took this photo.  If he was here he would just LOVE spending time with all these babies!  He was always so silly and fun... ahh.  Miss him.

Added the hubbies to the shot and of course sweet sweet Grandma Butcher!

'Mom - why didn't you bring my shades?'

What a treat to sit next to Great Grandma Butcher!

Is it time to eat yet?

 This little pork chop LOVES his pork!  It was a big joke with dad when I was pregnant because I loved eating pork!  Ham and pork chops were at the top of the list...  thought maybe if I waved a little ham infront of Drew he might start smiling ... it helped him grow for 9 mo :-)

Taking a little cat nap..

 Love these girls!  Katie Platt Clausen, Jenny Albers Thorson and Kelli Meyer -- we were best buds in high school and have remained friends ever since!  We are missing Becky Brandt Thomas :-(   Next time we'll get you in, Becks!

 We also had to snag a photo with Aunt Ronda.  When we were juniors in high school we all took a trip down to Florida to visit Ronda and Harry over Easter break.  SUCH. GREAT. MEMORIES!

 

Snapshot with Great Grandma, Aunt Melissa and baby Kelby

Love this picture.  Great Grandma the baby whisperer at work...

Really have you ever seen a cuter bunch of cousins??  I just love this pic -- Ethan trying to get everyone in place, Beau holding Drew (which is hilarious), Kelby off in his own world and Luke rockin' his big belly.  CLASSIC.

 A great evening was had by all! 

Love, The Merrills

'Oh the places we will go...'!

Like the great Dr. Seuss book -- Drew has already seen many places!  Last weekend we traveled back to Iowa (via Minnesota) for Eric and Christina's wedding! 

It was SUCH an awesome weekend with family and I have tons of pictures... might have to break down all of this content into about 3 posts!

We flew out on Thursday and this was Drew's SECOND trip (5th airplane ride if you count connections) back to Iowa so he was an "experienced" traveler!  He really does do SO great on the plane.  As long as his little tummy is full he is a happy camper!

We flew up to Minneapolis this time so we could spend some extra awesome time with the Webers!  Wendy and Luke were at the airport to greet us. 

Wendy and Brad got a cool new SUV this spring -- it has a 3rd row, which we planned to 'test out' over the weekend and see how many babies, toddlers, adults and luggage we could safely pack in there.  Wendy and I were always in the back -- Ethan in the middle, babies in the captain chairs and daddys in the front.  GOOD TIMES!

Hey Luke - I like your new ride!

'Luke - you have a pretty cool play mat!  It pens us in like little piggies!

We spent Thursday night at the Weber's and after Ethan got back from swimming lessons it was time for some BASEBALL!  Uncle Baseball helped him out with his grip and stance... before you know it he was crushing the ball into left field! 

Grand Slam for Ethan Weber!  And the crowd goes wild!

On Friday morning we piled back into the family truckster and headed to Iowa!  When we arrived in Holstein we met up with Papa Butcher for lunch at the Inside Scoop.  It still amazes me what you can get for your money in a small town ... a HUGE sandwich for $4 ... it puts big city quality and quantity to shame! 

Patiently waiting with Cousin Ethan for our ice cream!  Drew loved all the black and white checkers inside the restaraunt.

 After lunch we stopped by Great Grandma Butcher's house.  The photo below is super dark - but it is a picture of Drew peacefully sleeping on great grandma's bed.  So tired from that yummy lunch!

 Next stop:  Grandma Lori's!  Grandma was so excited to get her hands on the little boys - she doesn't get to see these two as much as Kelby and Beau so she tries to get as much cuddle and snuggle time with them as she can.  Mom has NO FEAR so of course she took both crying babies on at once!

See - she got them both calmed down!

Hey bud - we're back on this blanket and looks like we have it all to ourselves this time!

Once we got to Grandma's and all settled in.. it was time to hit the patio!  Mom and Frank redid their patio this spring and it is AWESOME!  Firepit, built in grill, gorgeous pavers and landscaping and some super comfy couches to lounge on!  Once we made our way outside - I don't think we came back in until after dark!

Grandma snuggling with baby Luke

 Andrew, Melissa, Kelby, Ben, Bri and Beau all came up to hang out -- Frank grilled us some awesome steaks and mom fixed some good drinks!  We ate on the patio then migrated over to the firepit -- SO fun to just relax and hang out with everyone.  LIFE IS GOOD!

So blessed to have such an awesome family! 

Double dose of grandbabies!

 

 

 

This post only gets us halfway through the weekend... more to come!  More places to go!