Butterflies!

Grady and I recently ordered our caterpillars for the butterfly garden. We watched them get fat, build their chrysalids, and emerge as beautiful butterflies. We took care of them for several days, fed them orange slices, and watched them carefully. But we finally decided that they should get to live at least part of their life out in the fresh air with real flowers. They only live for about 2 weeks, so we didn't have too much time to waste. Last week we released them into our yard. It was bittersweet for Grady, who immediately said "I miss my butterflies" but it was a nice way to end our time with them.



He picked each on up and lifted it out, one by one. Not sure if that was their preferred method, but it made him happy, and they seemed fine.



And a little video - bonus is little Anson toddling around all over the place

Little Grady in the Big City

Last weekend Grady and Mama made the 2 hour drive to Atlanta to celebrate Mama's birthday together. We enjoyed a full day at the AMAZING aquarium (biggest in the world!), ate dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (so cute), stayed overnight downtown at a very nice place, and then finished off the trip with some fun at Olympic Park. I loved having that special time with my little Grady, and I know he did too. I took LOTS of pictures and video, so I will try to stick to the best ones here...



There was a really neat kids play area with touch tanks, a climbing area, slides, and a huge pretend boat that G loved. Grady grabbed a shrimp out of the touch tank, and it just about jumped out of the tank - quite funny.





reaching for a big starfish



coming out of a tunnel



making a lighthouse spin and light up with a crank



pointing out some fish





He's part of the exhibit!





Anyone for crab legs?



the pneguin area was AMAZING (video to follow)



mesmerized...





In the coral reef area



We saw in incredible dolphin show and then this 3D movie



View from our pool



Olympic Park! We had a beautiful view of it from our hotel room.



He loved that olympic ring fountain

















See the olympic flag?







At the base of one of the torches



Wishing in the fountain. He said "I wish we could stay here forever" and "I wish Mama could always be with me."



That's our hotel behind him - great location!



They had a fun playground too!




Now for some video...





checking out the Orca Whales

The cool octopus - listen to Grady talking

In the really cool "penguin tunnel"

Jellyfish!

Inside the cool tunnel - but where is Grady looking?

Driving the ship

Having a blast at Olympic Park

Anson is 15 months old!

Anson turned 15 months old yesterday, so I thought it was time for an update on him. He is doing well.

He talks up a storm - crazy. I thought Grady was a talker, but he has him beat (at this age). He will do the sounds for a dog, pig, chicken, and sheep. He also says "no! no!" very sternly while pointing at things he is not supposed to touch (like electrical outlets). He says Mama, Dada, Grady (more like "Dee Dee"), uh oh, bye bye, caught, pop (when asking for one at the end of EVERY meal), nana (banana), yuck, light (he is obsessed with lights of any sort), eye (he points to mine and says it), bottle (baba), and bubble. He will also hold his finger to his lips and say "ssshhhhh" if we do or if something is loud. He can point to his body if you ask him "where's your body?" (makes him VERY proud). He signs milk, more, all done.

He loves books now. "Hop on Pop" is a favorite, and he will bring it over to me saying "pop pop". He also says some of the parts in the book. There is a part that says "No Pat No" which he particularly loves. He also likes "Let's Dance Little Pookie" and will wave at the sky when they say "Hello Sky!" His other favorite is "The Very Busy Spider". When they say "she caught it in her web" he will grab the air and say "caught!" (quite clearly actually).

He still LOOOOVES to eat. Seriously. I am guessing he eats about 1200 calories per day - is that normal? How is he not enormous? He still takes 5 bottles of day (almond milk now). We are starting to move him to sippy cups for milk - he has juice or water in them very happily but won't drink his milk as well out of one). Then he eats 3 meals per day and 2-3 snacks. And every time I feed him it is as if he hasn't eaten in days - inhaling the food by the fistful. He still loves meat - meatballs, deli meat (Boar's Head turkey or ham), meatloaf, meat sauce on pasta, etc. He also loves peanut butter and sunflower butter. He eats any type of fruit but isn't so great about veggies.

He goes to the doctor in about a week, so I will know for sure then, but I am pretty sure he is still quite tall for his age (he towers over every other baby his age that I see). His head is clearly huge since even some 18-24 month hats are tight, and he is about 23 pounds (not sure how that falls). He looks nice and chunky to me, though his height and long legs make him look a little thinner than he would otherwise. He is wearing 12-18 month clothes, though the rompers are starting to be a bit short.

He is a big laugher and we have all sorts of little games he loves. Like he will sit in his little armchair in his room and wait for me because he wants me to crawl across the floor and then tickle him while saying "I'm gonna get you!" He laughs hysterically every time.

His favorite toys are trucks and cars (he is loving his Little People schoolbus lately), ring stackers (we have a few), and anything Grady is playing with. He loves to just mess around with Grady. They chase each other, make each other laugh, and play all sorts of games. Anson is also loving his Glowworm now that he figured out how to turn it on. He also turns on his crib sotther sometimes and just loves the music. He really seems to enjoy music in general and will often dance like crazy when it is on. I am hoping to do a Kindermusik class with him this fall.

He is just such a sweet little guy - very cuddly and loving. We adore our little "Anson Bo"!

A few recent pictures...

At the tool store with Daddy, eating snacks, of course



At Daddy's work!



Having a beloved pop



Playing trains at the bookstore





Playing in the sandbox (he didn't move for about 45 minutes)



Swings! He loves them.





At the library today







I love my little "poochiki"!

Baby Girl!

Last week I had my "big ultrasound" and found out that baby #3 is a girl! She was very cooperative, and we got a very good look at her, so not only are we very sure about the gender, but we got some great pictures! Here are a few of the best...




A pretty leg - see, her foot is on the left



cute profile with hand up to mouth (it was almost the whole time)



Hee hee - see the little nose?



Little foot with all her perfect little toes!



Waving



Giving us a thumbs up



So we are now thinking about names and planning her hursery. Oh, and Grady told me "we need to go get her first outfit!", so we will go together this weekend to pick one out. He went with me after we found out Anson was a boy too! Grady is SUPER eixcted to be getting a baby sister and talks to her all the time. Anson doesn't even realize how much fun they are going to have together yet!

Fun post about our weekend in Atlanta coming up!