Game Day

Last night Chris played in the championship inter-mural basketball game at Cameron Indoor (aka Coach K Court: a very cool stadium where the Duke team plays).  The team is comprised of mostly Business PhD types and their team was aptly named "Loss Averse."  Two of our good friends are on the team and so we the wives/fiances decided to make an even of it.  We had blue Powerade, orange slices, posters, and chocolate chip cookies.  We had a great time, even though they lost the game.  Afterwards we made a stop to Locopops which eased the loss considerably. 

Esther and I practiced cheering "Daddy!"  She did great. 

Esther was a very enthusiastic spectator

Left to Right: Esther, Lizzy, Chris, Alison, Charlotte, Asa, Alex

Wild Hair Day

Sometimes when I go get Esther from her nap...I have to leave her in the crib a minute longer so I can go get the camera.  Her hair is just too fun not to photograph.  

Esther upon waking from a particularly sweaty nap...entire head drenched

she LOVES finding her belly button (as we call it "bee bo")

 

So I had one of those moments today when I realized how happy I am.  It was nice.  I can't remember a time when I've felt as deep of happiness as I have since marrying Chris and having Esther.  I guess I'm learning by experience what God's eternal plan of happiness is really about....eternal families.   So thankful for the restored gospel and temples that make eternal happy families a reality.

This flood of joy is in part because the weather is GORGEOUS.  North Carolina in spring is a vision...blossoms and flowers everywhere. Another reason is that the week started with my birthday and this year's felt kind of special as I turned 25!  Locopops and chocolate molten cake were in order.  As were the German Apple Pancakes Chris made for breakfast.  Divine!

Anyhow, the REAL reason for being happy is that I spend all day with an exceptionally happy little person.

Esther is at such a fun stage right now (I know I've said that before, but this time I mean it).  She is usually either laughing, waving, jabbering, singing, dancing, eating, or begging for food.  Life is so happy for her.  One thing she's started doing is helping me call Chris to dinner.  I'll call up the stairs for him, and she joins right in shouting "dada!  Daddy!" nonstop.  Or, if we're outside and she hears Chris's chair move upstairs in the office, she shouts up to him...and he comes to the window to wave down at us.  Esther LOVES to wave.

Esther is very girl.  I often catch her trying on our shoes and wearing them around the house.  She finds my shopping bags and puts them on her shoulder.  Also, she loves to recline on soft things...quite the lady of leisure.

Esther is very social.  As a friend at church put it, "she has yet to meet a stranger."  Everyone is her friend...or very soon will be.  When we're picnicking at the park, she makes the rounds to every other group to socialize and see what everyone else is eating.  (I have caught her begging food from perfect strangers.)

She's becoming increasingly independent, especially since she is walking.  She walks up stairs on her feet, not on her knees. At the park, she can climb up the stairs to the slide by herself and she spends a lot of time exploring the back yard.

The other day after lunch she swiped her little bowl of food  and spoon from the table and so, to prevent an even dirtier floor, I quickly picked her up and set her outside.  A few minutes later I caught her sitting (reclining really) on our green lawn chairs and even though the contents of her bowl were spilled on the grass, she was feeding herself with that spoon like a grown up.  I so regret not having the camera at that moment because it was priceless.

Thank You

Thank you to the anonymous person who delivered a much appreciated gift to our front porch a few days ago.     I don't know who you are or if you even read this blog, but all the same I wanted to say thanks and God bless you.

Grandma's Visit

Last week we had a happy visit from my mom who is now living in Russia.   We had some fun adventures...mainly going to fabric stores, a cool knitting store, and an AMAZING cooking store called Southern Seasons in Chapel Hill.  On the warmest day we made a trip to Home Depot and came home with a bail of straw and two green lawn chairs tied to the roof of my little car.  Too bad I never got a picture.  We mostly said it's good Grandpa wasn't with us.  Anyway, we rebuilt the garden beds in my front yard and put in some flower beds in the back yard.  We also did some sewing together and enjoyed taking walks in this lovely North Carolina weather.   

 One thing about my mom is that she is a gift giver.  One of the things she brought us was from a centuries old French Patisserie that she picked up during her layover in Paris... macarons (the French sort), a recipe book, and some coco powder which we used to make hot chocolate.  Grandma made the mistake of letting Esther have a sip...and she never got it back. Esther downed that hot coco with the cup in a death grip.  

 

Esther found her new happy place. 

We took my mom to get some southern barbecue at the Q Shack....which was a mistake as we all had stomach aches which we soothed by going across the street for a tart and yummy Local Yogurt.  

Thanks for the visit Grandma.  We love you!

Walking

Esther has been taking steps for a couple of months now but mostly crawled or kept her hand on the wall to walk.  A couple of weeks ago on February 25 (the day her Grandma came for a visit) she made the momentous switch to legit walking!  She walks with both hands up in the air and a big grin on her face and it is completely adorable.