Baby deer

My parents have two does and a fawn that have been visiting all summer. They're fairly brave and the fawn is very curious. Daddy says it's because he's never been shot at. I went out to take some pictures of him and slowly moved further into the woods. He/she moved towards me! I never saw Mama deer but I'm sure she was very close by. 

The Marching Pirates

A week or so ago I surprised Josh with a trip over to ECU to watch the marching band practice. It was the Wednesday before the first football game so they did a lot of the pre-game show and we really enjoyed it. Our friend, Lauren, works at ECU and used to be a marching pirate. She met us there and we visited with her for a few minutes. 

Josh calls the band the "marchers" and have always been his favorite part of any of the football games he's been to. He asked a lot of questions (as usual) and I had to drag him away when it was time to go home.

Joshisms

I've been writing down Josh's latest -isms so I won't forget to share them. He's at such a fun age and has an awesome imagination. Also, English is HARD!!!

• While watching me make dinner he asks "Are we having smashed tomatoes?" I ask "Do you mean mashed potatoes?"  He answers, "Oh yea, mashed taytoes." :)

• On the way home from school Josh saw a police officer in her patrol car. He asked where her boyfriend was. After a bit of questioning I realized he was asking where her partner was. I explained that not all police officers have partners and as an example told him that before Uncle Matt got Cash (the police dog) he rode around by himself. Josh said "Him have police clothes." I asked "Matt or Cash?" Josh replied "Matt. (long pause) If Cash had police clothes dat would be very funny. Cash would laugh and die." Translation: Cash would die laughing. :)

• On the way out of the hospital after seeing Jackson, Josh starts to panic because we didn't take Jackson with us. I explained that Jackson was Matt & Megan's baby and he would go home with them. He protested that Jackson was HIS baby and would live with him! We went back and forth for a few minutes and then I explained that if I had a baby it would be his baby. His response: "Well, have one den!" 

• We've been teaching Josh a few little jokes. The latest is "Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven eight (ate) nine!" Josh laughed and laughed and then admitted he didn't know why it was funny. I explained that eight and ate are two words that sound the same but mean different things. EIGHT is a number between seven and nine and ATE is an action word that means you gobbled something up. I told him that when you say "seven eight nine" it sounds like you mean "seven gobbled up nine". The next time he told it he said "Why was six scared of seven? Cause seven might bite his friends!" (Not exactly but he got the point!)

• Another joke: "How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it!" After explaining "boogie" also meant to dance, Josh found this to be hilarious. When he told it to Matt & Megan he said "Put a little booger in it." :) 

• I have a skirt that is a blue and purple print. Josh told me the other day that he liked the skirt and that I looked like a seagull. He meant peacock and he was right...it does resemble the pattern and colors of a peacock feather.

• We dropped Josh off with my cousin, Tiffy and her husband, Jeff last Saturday while we house hunted in Raleigh. After we left them I got a text from Tiffy telling me Josh had asked her "You got any potties here?" 

• While driving this weekend Josh noticed some cows in a field. The conversation went like this: Josh: "Can us touch cows?" Me: "Yes, you can pet cows like you pet horses." Josh: "Can us roll cows over?" Me: "Why would you want to roll a cow over?" Josh: "So I can see their gutters and put milk in my cup." 

• On the way to church Josh says "I want to get a paper from those teachers that hold the doors open." (He wanted a bulletin from the greeters.) 

• Josh was wrestling with Matt and called out to Megan (Mae Mae) for help. She told him she couldn't help right now because she couldn't get up quickly and Josh asked "Well, can you get up slowly?"

• A few weeks ago after church Josh was showing me his paper from class. The lesson had been about Moses parting the sea and leading the Israelites across dry land. I asked Josh why the people needed to walk through and he said "Cause them need to go on vacation." 

Maymont Park

We didn't stay at the hospital long on Monday. I wanted to get out of the way so Matt, Megan & Jackson could rest & get to know each other better. :) We got there around 12 and left about 1:30ish. We stopped for a quick lunch and then rode over to Maymont park to let Josh burn off some energy. And did he ever!!!

We saw lots of buggies (but no horses)

Josh really enjoyed looking at the buggies. He asked lots of questions about them and called the one below the "Santa slider". Makes sense to me!

Josh and the "Santa slider"

There are tons of hills and walking paths. We had a map and made our way over to the farm section of the park. Most of the attractions are closed on Mondays so we didn't get to see a lot of the best parts of Maymont. We didn't have much time so it was fine. We'll have to plan another visit during the week to take a buggy ride or go into Maymont Mansion.

Maymont Mansion

Racing down the hill.

MAN DOWN!!!

Can you spot the butterflies?

The farm had goats, chickens, pigs, rabbits, sheep, a donkey & horses. The horses stayed in their barn and we couldn't coax them out. The pigs were snoozing and the rabbits were huddled under their house and wouldn't move.

Freaky-eyed goat

Hungry goats

Goats always make me think of my PaPaw. He had a farm in Ohio with cows, goats, ferrets, etc. We used to feed the animals and play in the barn. We basically had full run of the farm and explored every inch. I have so many good memories of him. 

This peacock was NOT in a cage and was freaking me out! I'm not a huge fan of birds (I'm about as afraid of them as I am of clowns) and every time he moved I got the willies. There were also pigeons flying back and forth across the barn so I didn't stay in there very long. ;)

I smell bacon!!!! ;)

There were some little birds in this net. Josh heard me ask David what that was all about on our way over to it and told me that it was an Indian tent and those were Indian birds and they help the Indians put fires out. 

Josh saw a couple from running down one of the trails we crossed over on our way back to the car. He started "racing" them and was worn slam out by the time we got back up to the entrance. We saw three benches sitting under a HUGE tree. Josh assigned seats and then took a break. :) 

We had a lot of fun even though it was very hot. We all had red faces when we got back in the car. We hit the road for an impromptu trip to Yorktown to visit David's Mom, sister and Gram. We drove over 400 miles Monday and were exhausted all day Tuesday. We all got a good night's sleep last night and feel rested and raring to go today. 

Jackson Matthew Hand

My first nephew has arrived! As I was on my way to Rocky Mount to pick up Josh from Mama she called me and told me that Megan's water had broken and they were on their way to Richmond. I so wish I had packed a bag so I could have just gone up to the hospital to wait for him to arrive. :) I had Monday off and David took off work and we hit the road for the 3 hour drive.

We're going to see Jackson!

Jackson was born while we were on the road. Mama was there all night and sent me updates as she got them. We were all very excited to finally get to Richmond. Megan had been moved to a room just before we got there and we went right in. Josh helped push the elevator buttons for us. 

In the elevator.

They had Jackson in the nursery when we got upstairs and were checking him out really good. We visited with Matt & Megan while we waited for the baby to be brought back to the room. Megan looked really good, even after a long labor. Josh was entertained with some gloves. 

Dr White will see you now...

We got tired of waiting to see Jackson and walked down to the nursery to find him. Matt walked us down and we stood at the window a long time just watching him. He was very calm until the pediatrician rolled him over to check him out. Then we could hear him holler! :) Josh asked tons of questions, as usual, and said Jackson was "Cute." 

Josh and Uncle Matt

Jackson Matthew!

After watching him for a while we went back down to wait for them to bring him to the room. When he got back we all passed him around. Josh was fascinated. He held him for a long time and Jackson just laid there and was so quiet. I think they'll be good buddies. ;) 

Josh holding cousin Jackson for the first time!

Proud cousin

We checked out Jackson's long fingers and big baby feet. Josh thought his feet were funny.  

Baby piggies!

Uncle David and Jackson

I did hold him but no one got photographic evidence. :( Oh well....maybe next time. He's absolutely adorable and we're in love. 


Welcome to our family, Jackson! I pray the Lord continues to cover you with His mighty hand and you grow to become a strong man of God. I love you, kiddo! --Hen