We've moved!
What's up everybody.

We've moved to a new blog. This is Dre's blog and will include stories about everything from sports to family news to current events.

Basically, it'll be a "whatever is on my mind" blog.

Visit it at www.bigdre.com

Only the blog is up right now. The gallery and The Block will be up soon. If you're a friend, send a headshot for link postings on The Block.

Hey everybody!
Anyone miss us.

Yes, it's been a while since I've blogged. Same ol' thing. A.J. is getting bigger and crazier with every passing day.

The stories would all be the same. So, I'll do one of those question/answer things...

Favorite word: No!
Favorite thing to say "no" to: Anything his parents ask him to do.
Favorite food: French fries (he asks for them every day ... just llke dad).
Favorite song: It's a tie between the Wiggles' "Do the F-L-A-P" and "No more monkies jumping on the bed"
Favorite snack: Goldfish
Favorite drink: Apple juice
Favorite dessert: "Cream! Cream!"
Favorite sports: Football (you should see him get in a 3-point stance and call signals. It's so cute!)
Favorite activities: Going for rides on dad's shoulders and reading books with mom.
Girlfriend: His long distance relationship with Iowa Aubrey isn't going too well since they don't talk much anymore. He now likes Delaware Mackenzie, his playgroup buddy from Gymboree.
Bad habits: (Most of which he learned from dad) ... He loves to watch the movie "The Longest Yard" with Adam Sandler. It's his favorite. ... He does the nose thing just like dad (some of you know it). ... He swings at dad every now and again, which he later regrets. ... He loves to throw himself into walls for no reason.
Copy cats: If we're doing it, he... 1. Loves to simulate typing on his computer keyboard. 2. Drinking bottled water so he can turn it up and dump on himself. 3. Playing playstation 2! 4. Looking at photos we take of him on the digital camera.

NOTE: We're going to be moving the blog to a new address pretty soon, and we have been preparing the new site. It will be Dre's blog, which will contain more thoughts about other aspects of life, photo art, news pages and more.

Stay tuned for the new address.

Adventures....
I know, I know...

It's been a while. It's because A.J., although still funny, has turned into a little madman.

He's throwing more temper tantrums and acting crazy daily.

Story: A.J. and I went to Wal-Mart for a little one of our outings. He's developed a love for keys. Lately, he hasn't been content with his toy keys.

He needs mine.

So, I gave him my keys as we entered the store. He tried to open (with the keys) a couple of different items. And he even reached for what appeared to be a lady's coat.

It kept him occupied.

But as we left, I had to open the car door. Not thinking that he'd go crazy, I took the keys from him.

BIG MISTAKE.

He started SCREAMING as if I was twisting his arm and applying more and more pressure. He didn't stop when I put him in the car and strapped him into his seat.

I look to my right and a lady is staring at me as if I'm kidnapping him. With a concerned look on her face, she begins to walk quickly into the store, looking back at me a few times.

This lady is going to report me.

I pulled off my car key, gave the rest to A.J. and got the heck out of there. Luckily, I haven't seen my face or license plate number on TV yet.

I think I'm safe.

I spent the next 25 minutes lecturing A.J. as if he were a teenager who broke curfew.

Like he cared.

Very Merry Christmas...
A.J. had a blast this Christmas season. It was the first Christmas he understood that he was opening gifts.

Last year, he was only seven months on Christmas. He tore away and had a great time.

Here he is opening his first gift and playing his new drum (the little drummer boy).

A.J. loves slamming doors...
... but he doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up just yet.

In fact, he gets mad when you ask him the question. Check out THIS VIDEO FROM A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT I FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO UPLOAD!

Congrats to Uncle Sam... (Dre's brother)


We would like to take some space on our blog to say congratulations to Uncle Sammy Smith, as he was selected to the 2005 all-Western New York football team.

He was an honorable mention selection, which is a nice honor. He also was one of three first team all-Harvard Cup (city conference) running backs. The Buffalo News usually does a nice job honoring on the best in the West.

Sammy, a 5-foot-5, 170-pounder, rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season. He hopes to continue his college football career at a Division I-AA school.

The cool thing about Sammy is that he is blessed with athletic talent and gets very good grades. Keep it up, boyee!

A sneak preview...

We'll probably make it an annual event that A.J. gets his picture put on the Christmas card.

We shot this year's photo a few days ago while Grandma Brenda and Papa Jerry were in town for a visit.

I never knew how much A.J. liked cookies. Beth baked a bunch of Christmas cookies, and the only way A.J. would sit and cooperate was if he could eat one.

We thought it fit in well with the whole Santa theme.

"I love you" in his own little way...


A.J. hasn't learned to say the words, "I love you," yet, but he does sometimes ... in his own little way.

There's a book by Laurel Porter-Gaylord and Ashley Wolff called, 'I Love My Daddy Because...'.

When he wants to have some quiet time with his dad, he grabs the book, runs over to me and gives it to me. He then climbs into my lap and sits nicely as I read it to him.

Makes me feel all special and everythang!

Happy Halloween ... A day out with dada (and mama)



Here is a now old halloween photo of A.J. He was a bumble bee. And a cute one, we thought. We went to a harvest party at church (during which he acted a fool) and Beth took him to a party at Gymboree, where she works.

The second photo is of A.J. playing at Gymboree. I decided to take him and try to chase him around the place. My back hurt afterward. But he had fun, as usual.

Another first for Daddy & A.J.
I'm sitting here right now in disbelief.

While this has happened to many people all over the world (and even me when I used to change my brothers' diapers), it's the first time my little boy has done it.

I was changing A.J.'s diaper just a few minutes ago ... he'd just woke up from a short nap, crying and acting a fool.

His diaper was full of pee and poop. I figured that he'd just done it because his diaper was brand new when he went to bed.

While laying on the changing table, I noticed that his little 'thing' was sticking up (a sign that the fountain of youth was about to turn on).

Sure enough, the little punk begins to pee ... all over himself and his daddy! The diaper was already off. There was nothing to do but wait until he was done.

That's what I get.

I have a song I sing when Beth is changing him. It goes:

"Pee pee on your mommy ... pee, pee on your mom."
"Pee pee on your mommy ... pee, pee on your mom."

Usually when I change him, the song is:

"Don't pee pee on your dada ... don't pee pee on your dad."
"Don't pee pee on your dada, ha haaaaa ... don't pee pee ... on ... your ... dad."

I won't be so surprised next time.