Esther~ Fall 2012

This is my Esther.  My Essie.  My Bessie.  My Bessie-boo.  My Bubby.  My Bubbly.  My Bess.  My Itty-Bitty Baby.  My Essie-Bessie-Bubbly-Bitty-Baby.  I could go on.  I know.  I need help....

She's seventeen and a half months old.

Seventeen and a half months old.  Seventeen and a half months old.  Honestly, I'm in denial.  We've never had a gap this big before and to me, she's still my baby.  It helped that she was almost seventeen months before she started walking.  She is growing up so fast though, that my denial is utterly blind.  Esther is walking, starting to talk (Mama,  HI DADA (screamed as loud as she can as soon as he walks in the door), Ella, Boppa, Nana (Anna), down), she's signing (please, thank-you, more, milk, hat, shoes, bus, baby) and wants to constantly be in the middle of whatever her big sisters are doing.  Her most used modes of communication are her little "Hmm?" sounds she makes with her mouth closed, and screaming.  But the screaming is finally subsiding and other communication is creeping in.  It's a joyous thing!

Esther is a strong willed, controlling, DARLING!  She puts us through the ringer, but we are all completely smitten with her.  Every day she is growing in obedience and contentment and becomes more and more delightful to be around.  She is very affectionate, and while I don't think she could be categorized as a "snuggler" she does like to snuggle in occasionally.  It's heavenly.

Esther's favorite pastime is..... kissing.  She loves kisses, and gives them out liberally and willingly.  And if she kisses you, she has to kiss me, and everyone else in the room.  Sometimes she'll sit kissing Mommy, then Daddy, then Mommy, then Daddy on and on and on.  It's priceless!

Poor Esther did not enjoy our last photo shoot very much.  It was if being told to sit on the porch was the most heartbreaking thing she could have imagined.

 

Sometimes being the littlest with no voice (and no nap) is just plain hard!

 

 

But our sweet Esther is growing up into a delightful little girl!

 

 

My prayer for Esther is that her heart, soul, mind and strength will be completely given over to the Lord.  That her drive and spunk will draw others to Christ.  That we will be diligent in training, disciplining and raising her up.  That she will know our love and learn how to love those around her.

A Tale of Two Friends

 

In our home resides a pathetic looking creature...

 

At first glance most can't determine what they are looking at...

 

Some disturbed pillow with knobby corners?  A lamb that has lived it's days in a mud puddle?

 

 

Upon further investigation it is recognized as not an abused creature, but as a loved and cherished kitty.

 

 

"Kitty Pillow" as it is affectionately known as around here was given to Esther last Christmas and was immediately an inseparable friend permanent fixture.

 

No matter the hour or the mood, Kitty Pillow always brings my sweet girl much joy!

 

(These photos were taken right after being asked her favorite question, "Do you want Kitty Pillow?")

 

 

 

As soon as Kitty Pillow is in her grasp, the fingers go in the mouth and any random foot is held up to her nose affectionately.

 

 

As soon as these two have met in sweet fellowship, no nap is looked on with disdain and snuggling propensities are at an all time high!

 

Kitty Pillow is beloved by all of us at our house.  

 

Keep smiling little friend!  You are much loved!

Happy 1st and 90th Birthday!!!

Last Sunday was Esther's first birthday.  It was also my Grandma's nintieth brithday!  Esther is named after my grandma (Esther Marjorie) so they have always had a special bond.  Grandma says Esther is really her baby, but she graciously allows us to take care of her!

We are so blessed to live only a couple of blocks away from both my parents and my grandparents.  My girls adore their great-grandparents and it is a treasure that they are such a big part of their lives!

I have such a hard time believing that Esther is really a year old.  I keep pretending she is a baby, but with all these beautiful nieces and nephews being born, reality is slowly hitting me that my darling little girl is growing up. 

Esther is priceless to us.

She is not just "another" girl in our family.

Her temperment is not always the easiest to get along with.  She has an extremely strong will and likes to have thing go her way!

But she is also sweet as can be.  Her smiles make the world go round.

We love you our sweet, beautiful Esther.  We praise the Lord for giving you to us and we rejoice in every day we get to spend with you!

Distraction

So I set out one beautiful evening, to watch my wonderful husband till my garden.  I thought I would take some pictures showing you all our garden space, and how we will be planting.  Alas, sun flare and an adorably cute, chubby baby completely drove my plans out of my mind and my camera was instead filled with pictures of said baby.

Personally,  I like these pictures much better than any garden ones.  I hope you agree!

I am comletely smitten with this little girl!

Eight and Nine Months Old

I've fallen way behind on my Esther updates!!!  I'll give a detailed update at ten months (which is JUST around the corner!!!), but for now, here are her eight and nine month pictures!

Eight Months

Nine Months

Seven Months

As hard as it is to believe, our sweet Esther is growing up right in front of our eyes.   Her gorgeous smile and bright eyes already communicate such love for those around her.

This has been a big month for Esther as she is now rolling all over the place and almost sitting on her own.  She also has now cut through her first two teeth.  She is still not sleeping well at night, but I am hoping that that will change soon!

She's our little doll.  And we ADORE her!!!

Baby's First Christmas

To be honest, I'm being lazy around here!  Christmas has been wonderful, and our celebrations get to continue for the rest of the week.  I'm not going crazy, I'm simply loving life.  As a result, I'm going to take a week off from my Heart For Home Thursday tomorrow.  Probably.  Unless inspiration hits me at three o'clock in the morning. 

While waiting for me to post, I thought you might enjoy some pictures of my sweet Christmas baby!  I love her!!!!

Have a WONDERFUL week!!!

Six Months

I know I am woefully late in posting Esther's monthly picture since it is the twenty-first and she was born on the third.  But here she is!  Better late than never!

Esther seems very content to just stay a baby.   She's not crawling, or sitting or even rolling yet.  If she was my first I know I would be inpatient for every milestone.  But she's my fifth, and I'm enjoying my baby! 

She still is a rather horrible sleeper, but she is such a darling I don't even mind.   She is a joy. Joy. Joy. Joy.  We are all totally in love with her.

I know say this all of the time, but I have to say it again because it is soooooo true.  Every baby that enters our home, multiplies our love many times over.  We're not spread thin by our children.  We are encouraged, energized and overwhelmed with love.  Tiny little Esther makes every day just that much more wonderful!

Five Months

I know, right?!  Five months?!?!  Esther is our little spoon full of sugar.  Life is busy around here. Mornings are full of Mommy trying to help three little girls with school, while keeping one wild child out of trouble.  Everyone is busy doing what they are supposed to do.  Then enters Esther.  The whole world stops.  BECAUSE WE JUST CAN'T RESIST HER!!!  There is a reason she naps during school.  Every smile, every squeak, every goofy face, we all have to stop and admire and gush over her!

She's sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, but she's got a goofy side too!

I could go on and on, but there is only so long I can look at pictures of her before I have to stop what I'm doing and go kiss her!!!

Four Months!!!

Esther is four months old now. 

  We COULD NOT get the fingers out of her mouth!  I think she's teething.  She is also d r o o l i n g everywhere!  I've never really had a drooler before so it's kind of funny!  This girl breaks all the molds.  Chubby cheeks.  Hair, but no dimples. Drool.  Terrible sleeper.  But at the same time she is just the same as the others.  Adores Daddy more than anyone in the world.  Ticklish.  Very ticklish.  Bright blue eyes.  Smells sweetly of sour milk.  And has mommy COMPLETELY smitten.

King Family Update~ Esther

Heading into a new school year always feels like an actual new year, so I thought it was time for a good 'ole family update.  I decided to start with the youngest this time!

Miss Esther is growing up faster than I can believe. She will be four months next week and I just can't figure out where the time is going.  While it feels like she was just born, it also is so hard to imagine what life was like before she was a part of our family.

These days she is full of smiles, giggles and wondrous fascination for the world around her.

She loves Mommy and her sisters but like all true King girls in this family, Daddy is the absolute favorite.   Everything he does is amazing, hilarious and magnificent to Esther.  He can do no wrong in her book (except maybe sneeze loudly while holding her!).

She is the definition of "Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice".  We are all just completely smitten by her!

Three Months Old!!!

Days are flying by.......

and with every passing day I'm amazed to find....

I only love her more!!!

Two Months!!!

My baby is two months old.  Two months is always a hard one for me because my theory is that our big shifts come in twos.  We count how old they are by days for awhile.  Three days old.  Eight days old.  Twelve days old.  Until we get to two weeks.  Then they are two weeks old.  Three and a half weeks old. Seven weeks old.  Until we get to two months.  Now she's two months.  Almost two and a half months.  And I'll count in months until two years.  When she sill no longer be twenty-three months old, but TWO YEARS old! 

It makes me a little sad to already be at the month stage, but every day with my darling is so delightful that I really can't be sad!

Esther is a doll.  We girls are unable to contain our squeals of pure joy every time we see her.  Daddy keeps his composure pretty well, but that sweet smile he gives her speaks volumes.  At 11 lb.  12 oz at two months she is our first baby to actually border on chubbiness.  I think it's delicious!

I already can not begin to imagine life without my sweet Esther.  Everyday I thank the Lord, sometimes in tears, for giving us "just another girl".  Esther is a treasure!