18 monther!

Time to report this 18 monther's stats!  He is a busy little guy so we have lots to talk about (literally... this jabber jaw got the gift of gab from his mommy!)

Weight:  27.4 lbs  (73 percentile)

Height:  35 in.  (98 percentile)

Wearing size 5-5 1/2 size shoes

Hair - blondie!

Favorite things to do:

Play ball!  This includes throwing any ball  he can get his little hands on.  As I type this post, I am scanning the living room and the patio....where Drew was last spotted before he went down for his nap.   From this view,  I see a tennis ball, football, golf ball, volleyball, plastic baseballs, mini-golf clubs, a plastic bat, a wooden bat and a plastic tee.  (obviously I have some picking up to do right now!)

Also...he is into swinging an imaginary bat.  He learned this from a 3yr old that was over at our house a few weeks ago.  The little boy's daddy played baseball with Ronnie and the family was in town visiting.  Drew saw this little guy doing the 'fake swing' and it stuck.  Now we show off in the grocery store, at church and for the neighbors.  It's hilarious watching a baby swing an imaginary baseball bat.  I have to say he has a great follow-through... he's swings for the fences!  HA!

He is also into Elmo... we still aren't quite sure how he learned about Elmo.  We have one Elmo toy...but he just started asking for Elmo one day. Then he saw an episode of Sesame Street and it was over! 

Favorite things to say:

1. BALL

2. 'M'  (begging for M&Ms)

3. Elmo

4. Apples

5. Bananas ('nana')

6. Mommy-Daddy  (he likes to same them together...????)

7. Iowa (this is a new one -- he got hooked on an Iowa Christmas book this week and is obsessed with it!)

Here are a few of our favorite pics over the last few months!

Watching daddy play 'ball!'  Put me in coach!

SO BIG!  He is going to be too big for his crib before we know it!

Mom - I didn't do it!

LOVE. THIS. PICTURE

'Whazzzzz up ladies???''

He loves wearing daddy's hats!  He puts them on all the time...

My attempt at getting a picture of his SWING!  This is a very regular happening around our house....

Drew -  Every day is something new  and it keeps getting BETTER AND BETTER!  You are such a fun and happy kid  - we love you with all our hearts!


Love,
Mommy-Daddy




Marco Island - road trip!

I can't believe I am writing this blog on the 7th of September!  Where did the summer go??? 

We decided to head to Marco Island, FL for a weekend get away.  Ronnie and I had been down there 3 years ago (when we were engaged, no kids... life was much different!) and we remembered thinking how fun it would be to come back one day with our family.  So this year we gave it a whirl!

When we got there it was threatening to rain and lightning all over the place... so we had to camp out in the room for a bit before the coast was clear. 

Drew has no problem relaxing with daddy.  And yes - he has a bag of chips (Veggie Staws) in his lap and they are watching Sports Center ('ball').  Drew calls everything on TV  - 'ball'... he even calls the TV itself   'ball'... it's very cute. 

'Mom - can we go yet?' 

Once the rain cleared it was gorgeous out!  We have barely been to the beach all summer (way too hot) so I was anxious to see how Drew reacted to the sand and the water. 

First stop:  Kayaks.  Of course we had to get in one like a big boy. 

Surfs up!

They next few pictures are some of my favorite pictures of Drew - ever.  I can't believe how quickly he is growing up.  It actually brings tears to my eyes to look at some of these! 

He was chasing that little bird and yelling 'bir!  bir!' 

He thought the gulf was the 'pooo'   -- that's one big pool, Drew!  He was mesmerized by the water and the sand filling in over his little feet.  I just loved watching him take it all in.

Music coming from the "trees"?????  Had to make a pit stop on the way to dinner to check this out.

Night #1 Sunset!

It's funny how every traveling experience is different with this little guys.  You never know what to expect.  As you can see, it's was dark out ... Drew's bedtime is 8pm.  It's still light out at 8pm.  This little rascal didn't want to miss out on the action. 

It was tough getting him down on this trip because he no longer falls asleep on us before we put him down - he sorta talks himself to sleep every night.  That doesn't work well in a hotel room where you have no where to 'sneak' out to.  We tried to sneak out to the balcony but as I walked past him in the room (pretending like he might not see me), he sits up and laughs and says 'Mommy, mommy'. 

'Bedtime? Whatever mom - we're on vacation!'

Saturday was our big pool day!  This resort has a GREAT kids pool (to my family up in Iowa, it seriously is too hot to go on the beach...you just fry out there and the water isn't even refreshing this time of year!). 

Daddy - I want to jump in! 

Time for a break - gonna hang out with mommy!

Mommy's view during Drew's poolside nap :-)

Poolside nappin' -- no time to go to the room!

Merrill Family Marco Island Selfie!

After Drew's poolside nap and round 2 at the pool we took a break from the sun before coming back down for dinner and the sunset. 

Nap #2 for Drew and of course daddy snuck one in too :-)

My sleeping beauties.

Then back down to the beach for out last sunset.

What an awesome trip... See ya next year, Marco!