Grasshopper

We spotted this mammoth of a grasshopper from the inside while looking out of the living room window this afternoon before nap time. He was huge! 

Gabby immediately requested we catch him. Did I mention he was huge!? I tried so hard to channel my inner Aunt Becky to catch this lil guy for her but, oh my, was it hard. Thankfully Gabby thought of our butterfly net and ran inside to get it. Success! We scooped him up and placed him in a breathable container with grass and apple peelings (we had to look up what grasshoppers eat and apparently along with grass they also like vegetables and fruits of different sorts).  

We invited him in for a little visit. 

It took Josiah a bit of time but he finally held the container and examined the grasshopper closely. 

He made the funniest of faces and would chuckle every time it moved. So cute!  

Mikey insisted on taking the little guy with him to his secrete hide-out where he naps (this is fairly new) so that he could continue to observe him. I, for one, decided telling him no was not worth the battle and, two, realized it would help ease the dreadful naptime coaxing routine so I said yes. And of course, under the conditions that he did not open the lid. I was a bit worried but thankfully he obliged.  I triple wish I had taken a picture after he fell asleep with that container lying so close to his sweet sleeping face. Oh, what a memory. 

Here are a few pictures of another (or perhaps the same) grasshopper we found about a week later. We noticed, this time, he had wings. A huge flying grasshopper! 

In the top right picture, Gabriella was trying to take the grasshopper away from Josiah and he was not having it. 

Everyone was much less uncomfortable with the big guy this time. Mikey was quite interested. So much that after we let him go he ran after and caught him again and when he brought him over to show me, he was missing one entire back leg. I felt so very bad for him. I'm so glad he has alternate means of transportation, poor guy. 

Pizza Class

Caterpillars

We have been lucky enough to have found at least one caterpillar a day for a week while playing in our front yard. 

After just a day everyone, even Josiah, was comfortable holding them. 

Gabriella was fascinated. 

She has this thing with insects/bugs/creatures. She loves them all. 

I got close to 3.2 million pictures of Gabriella shading the caterpillar with her flower. Between the setting sun, her beautiful springy curls and her adorable tutu, I was absolutely infatuated. 

Look at the baby!!!

I am so thankful for nature and for all of the many lessons it teaches us. 

Josiah's Words

You will be 18 months old on the 23rd of this month. I can't believe it. Gabriella and I are still trying to figure out how to keep you little, just like you are, forever. I'm not ready to find out what life will be like around the Sanchez house with about an adorable baby waddling around making funny noises and silly faces. Not to mention the feeling I have when the opportunity comes to cradle a little human being right in my very arms. You fit so perfectly. I hold so tightly to those fleeting moments. 

Although I always seem to have a hard time letting go, I know you will leave no void as you grow. For just as I love you and all the things about you now, I know I will love you and all the things about you then, too. 

We have all had so much fun listening to your vocabulary develop. What started with grunts and groans has progressed into one and two word phrases. It's been a blast trying to correctly and phonetically document how you pronounce your words. Goodness, you are way more adorable than I think should ever be possible. I have surveyed you a many times to try and record this the best possible way. Here are some of your very first words...

Some of your very first words;

dah-eee (daddy) 

mah-mee (mommy) 

wawa (Lala) 

mow (more)

no-wah (no)

ewws (shoe)

may-mehh (amen) 

ba-eee (baby)

eww`wahh  (ew)

mhi (mine)
ni-e (nice)

bahhh (bath)

bawl (ball)

guh (Gus) 

mon (come on) 

boon (balloon) 

bee (bug)

bee (blanket) 

buuh (bird) 
buuh (book)

Eee (eat) 

ju or du (juice) 

ni-nigh (night-night)

I-e (eye) 
oww-wah (ouch)

bye-bye 

hi

boo-boo

pee-pee :)

poo-poo :)

Two word phrases: 

Nah ni-e (not nice) 

No-wah bah (no bath) 

Mow mah-mee (more mommy) 

I can't believe out of all the words you have, please and thank have yet to make the list. I ask you everyday to say them but you just aren't interested. (humpph!) 

"Mine". Ugh! Groan! And Sigh! I loath this word and try to do everything in my power to keep it far, far away from your vocabulary (and the same was done for your brother and sister's). Somehow you've managed to learn it and have mastered it's usage. You declare "Mhiiiiiiiiii" at the most appropriate of times. 

"Nah ni-e!!" (not nice!) Please, please, please don't ever change the way you say and use this phrase. It is the cutest EVER! Whether accident or not, if anyone bumps into you, pushes or shoves you, takes something away from you or hurts you, with a sour look on your face you take that little pointer finger of yours and shake it twice toward the offender while declaring "nah ni-e!!!"  Oh how I wish I could get it on video! 

I'm so glad Daddy, Gabriella, Mikey and I have you to love. You fill our lives with so much JOY. We love your adorable self, Josiah! 

Library Field Day

We were presently surprised by this exciting event when we arrived to the library today. We are always excited about story time but a Field Day?!?! How fun!

I've said this many times before but it could never be said enough, we are so grateful to be connected to a library that provides such wonderful and thoughtful children's programs which are lead by caring individuals that go over and beyond for the children. 

Fascinate-U Children's Museum

Whenever we're together we're bound to have a really wonderful time. 

Another Rainy Summer Day

You three LOVE to play in puddles! 

I love how Josiah is bracing himself for a collision in the top right picture of this collage. 

I'm positive Gabriella would have stayed playing in that puddle until it evaporated! She was the world's happiest little girl, running, splashing, jumping and falling in that puddle water. 

Mikey spent 85% of his time dumping puddle water from his rain boots. He didn't care for the feeling of water sloshing around inside of there, though he never once complained. He'd just run, stop, dump and run again. I loved watching him. 

I love that the dinosaur shirt he wore today matches his awesome dinosaur rain boots. 

Josiah had a good time trying to keep up with Gabriella and Mikey. He tried so hard to jump just like they did in the puddles but he could still only get one foot off the ground at a time. 

He was not happy about having to come inside after the thrill of puddle playing. Even a bath time bribe couldn't willingly get him indoors. (He usually runs to the tub when you ask if he wants to take a bath.) I do believe I heard him say one of his first two word phrases today as I was chasing after him. "No baaaa", he said. :) 

Sweet Lucy

I couldn't get to Farmville, North Carolina quick enough after Amy had her second beautiful little baby girl, Lucy. I couldn't wait to first, hug Amy tight, see her first born beautiful daughter, Ava and of course get to hold sweet, tiny Lucy in my arms. It all felt so good! 

Gabriella and Ava had a great time playing dress up and putting on make-up. Haha! 

Goodness, I love this picture more than words could possibly express. What a deep, long lasting bond we continue to have the privilege of sharing with each other.