The Slip and Slide

Marguerite enjoying the water...

Josh enjoying the water...

Josh discovering Marguerite is with him

plotting

executing

 

...and there she goes. Poor little munchkin. Doesn't Josh look pleased, though?

First day of School for Gabe

First day of school.

Gabe felt a little anxious about his first day of school. He loved his teachers (Ms. Parsla  and Tara) from last year. And rightfully so. They were a perfect match for him for his first school experience and they loved him just how he is. I'm really grateful to them. Gabe was not excited about having a new teacher, but was happy he could go into Ms. Parsla's classroom at the end of the day to tell her that he loved her. His nerves show in these pictures, but he still wanted pictures with both his siblings. So far, Gabe's doing well, but misses his family when he's at school. He wants to have a play-by-play of what we did while he was in school every day even though he "can't remember" anything he did while he was gone.

This girl continues to light up the house. Every time the boys hear her stirring from her naps, they run into her room and entertain her until I can get in there to get her out. They love dancing silly for her to make her laugh. Marguerite is scooting all over the place and is always headed to towards the most active, noisy part of the house. 

Josh is turning out to be such a sweet little guy. He has started to tell us that he loves us, gives un-asked for hugs and kisses to everyone, loves to snuggle, and says "thank you" all the time without being reminded (we're talking for diaper changes, when we help him get dressed, bring him food, etc.). One of the sweetest things he does is though is encourage others. He tells me "good job, mom!" or "did it, mom!" when I'm doing something he perceives as particularly difficult. He also gives similar encouragement to Gabe (Josh, according to him), and Marguerite. And he has awesome hair.

Gabe and Marguerite usually get an hour or so in the morning, just the two of them, before Josh wakes up. It's such a joy to see how much they enjoy each other.

This is the one picture we took with my camera at Josh's birthday party

Josh loves to try to ride Gabe's bike (aka - sit on Gabe's bike, while I push)

On the days when I try to be an organized mom, we spend about 1/2 hour at the table doing "learning" time. Gabe does his work sheets because the crazy child LOVES worksheets. Josh colors and tells us stories in Joshanese. I'm hoping he'll learn English soon, or that Gabe will catch on to Joshanese and start translating for us, because those stories sound like they're very interesting.

Sometimes Gabe likes to play Angry Birds on my kindle. And Josh and Marguerite like to watch.

Josh likes to rearrange condiments.

Marguerite likes to eat.

When Brian gets home from work, the boys like to hide from him. Can you find them?

How You Know it's a Second Birthday

Mom and Gabe: Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!
Josh: STOP!
Mom and Gabe: Happy Birthday dear Jo---osh.
Josh: STOP!
Mom and Gabe: Happy Birthday to you!
Josh: NO!
Mom: Happy Birthday Josh!
Josh: NO!
Mom: You're two! Yay!
Gabe: (in background) You're two. You're two. You're really, really too (repeated over and over).
Josh: NO! NO!

In reality, Josh is a wonderful boy, exploring very methodically all over the house - each drawer, cabinet, bookcase, etc. He is very grateful too, and even thanks me after diaper changes. He loves his siblings, tries to keep up with Gabe (and does a really good job), and is super sweet with Marguerite. He is a very special spirit and we're so grateful to have him in our family!!

Eating Time

Gabe, 2008

 

Josh, 2011

 

Marguerite, 2012

I'm always amazed at how fast the first 6 months of a child's life goes by. Marguerite is already eating solid foods, and spinning around like a top when she's on her belly on the floor. She is such a happy baby. I'll admit with the boys, I'd take 20 pictures while trying to to get them to smile, then post the one picture I got with them smiling. With Marguerite, one can simply look at her and she gives you the biggest grin, like you walking in the room and glancing at her was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for her. It's such a pleasure to have her sunny disposition in the house. It rubs off on everyone. When Gabe is grumpy, I stick Marguerite in his face until all his grumpies leave. It works every time.

Gabe loves to feed her.

He also loves his bike. We try to go on a bike ride every morning. He's up to 1.5 miles, which for this suburban kid is quite a lot! I usually run about 1/2 the time to keep up with him.

But it gets pretty hot. This is a picture of him after his first "long" bike ride - totally drenched with sweat.

Josh also loves and adores Marguerite. He loves jumping over her, laying on her, laughing at her when she cries, and for some reason, biting her feet. (He doesn't bite anyone else, or her anyWHERE else, he just loves to chomp those feet!) Whenever she's on the floor like this, Josh will often lay right by her, get right in her face, and just say, "oh Siiiissy." It makes her smile. Josh has also gotten the best laugh out of Marguerite yet.

He also loves to color and paint (Christina, I took a picture of this artwork for you and will be sending it shortly).

But one of his favorite activities right now is to dress up like Superman. I usually have two Supermans running around the house every afternoon. Gabe Superman likes to rescue me from the car wash. Josh Superman likes to declare his identity while running wildly through the whole house.