Esther Photo Shoot 1 Year

My friend has a nice camera (and lens!) and was so kind to let me borrow it for Esther's pictures. It too me a month to finally get everything together (then we didn't even end up using the pvc pipe backdrop Jay made- oh well!) Esther was sick for 2 weeks, then teething CRAZY last week so she is 13 months in these but she pretty much looks the same as 12 months! (I was so stressing out that I wasn't going to be able to capture her exactly the way she is at 1 year- once they grow- that same exact look is gone- you know- her hair falls a little different, her teeth a little different- everything is just so constantly changing!)

After everything I'm so glad we got some cute photos of this angel.

I had to get her a cat for the big day! She's always meowing.

Not too keen on smashing...

She loves bubbles!

I had fun with the color editing on this one- just look at those lips! 

sweet curls

an always will smile for daddy- even when she's done and grumpy.

Esther the One Year Old

Esther Joy

1 Year

Esther has many names around here:
Sparkles.
Fun.
CRAZY girl.
Dancer.
Cat.
Baby boo.
lil' giwrl. (Grant when he's being sweet to her)
Goo-goo (I call her that- I hate it- I think it's the dumbest nickname ever but for some reason it continually rolls off my tongue when I'm talking to her.)
Wiggle worm (she squirms around on the floor with her face flat on the ground- it's super weird and adorable at the same time).

Favorites?

Food: yogurt and peaches (that's pretty much it- she's kind of been picky- I think because of teething)

Activity: Books- that will always make her smile. She also is enjoying the water table we just got and the sand box. She also LOVEs playing "chase" with daddy- he holds her and runs after Grant- I think she likes to be in the middle of the action.

Word: Meow. Seriously. That is just her word for any animal- and she also meows at me when she wants to go outside. And she also has to meow right as she's nodding off to sleep. It's like her thing- she likes talking about it and she's so happy when you talk to her about any of those things that she is referring to from her meowing.

Person: Mommy. She likes dad but it's pretty much mom she wants. I know she likes being around Grant...sometimes.

Article of clothing: SHOES! She loves loves loves her shoes and socks on. And sweaters. Because that means we are going outside! She loves outside.


Least favorites?

Being strapped into her highchair

Oh- she's totally done with the crib. Won't sleep in it anymore- she likes to snuggle as she drifts off and I am not climbing into the crib to do that so we took the mattress out so we can snuggle as she falls asleep.

Strangers- she is totally not liking them. At. All.


We celebrated just us and made a watermelon cake.

 This past year has been one crazy ride but I'm grateful this girl has been here with us. She brings light into our lives and adds so much to our family. Love you Esther girl.

Here's some pictures from last month:

Did you find a book baby?

This one!

first pigtails

she loves color 

more pigtails! she's not a huge fan.

finger painting....

I popped her in the kitchen sink afterwards :)

"EESH!" she copies grant now and says cheese when I get the camera out. so cute.

Helping to wake up Grant- she climbs on him...he doesn't really like that.

That smile!

 Love her to pieces!!!!

Happy Birthday beautiful!

Grant's Birthday

We celebrated Grant's birthday all week and then some:

On his birthday we went to Cold Stone where the staff sung to him and everyone else joined in. Grant was thrilled.

He's still funny about eating cold things- he has to do some "tests" first.

Then off to my side of the family:

 Grandma and Grandpa's house and did a homemade pinata

 And ate a two tiered watermelon cake -all fruit with a whipped cream "frosting" and some coconut and nuts.

Then later that week we went up to the zoo and enjoyed a day looking at the animals with Nana, Aunt Mandi, Uncle Austin and Uncle Garrett- we were sad to Papa and Uncle Patrick couldn't make it this time.

The zoo is completely different than the last time we went:

A splash pad was added-I think this was Grant's favorite part of his whole experience.

I know- really? This was his favorite? Where's the smile? Well- this is G enjoying something new- he is very good at concentrating and studying it out.

Looks like a pose- but this was before he reached for the camera and said, "SEE!"

We got to see the seal show and the bird show- both of which I recommend.

And enjoy trying to nab pictures here and there without getting in the way of someone else and hurrrying out of the spot so someone else could take a picture there. And apparently this was a "calm" day for the zoo- wow.

Thought this was fake- no it was real. It was just sitting there, not moving- with his mouth open. So strange.

Uncle Garrett being goofy.

Austin, Nana, me and E

Austin, Garrett, Nana, Esther, Mandi, Jay and Grant

She saw us and came up to the window and just kind of glance up here and there- it was sweet. 

We chased down a peacock- Grant got excited about that one.

In the middle of the day we had to take a break and go feed the baby and change diapers. This was one of those times I felt overwhelmed and hot and hungry and G was passed his nap time and hungry and the baby was losing it and I was just thinking "Why on earth would we come here and do this? This is hard and nobody is happy! Is this worth it?!"  So we go up front and to my surprise, everything you could ever want and need was right there- a nursing room, changing room and benches in the shade to give Grant a snack After everyone was taken care of I got to use the restroom! Something moms have to put off :) When I came out I had my "proud moment".
I walked out of the bathroom and got to see my family. My little cute family just sitting there- changed, fed and smiling. Oh yah- we got this. We can do this going to a zoo thing. They are the cutest don't you think? I'm proud to call them mine.

I love these people. This is my family. This is my work and my joy right here.

Happy Birthday Big Boy Grant!!!! We sure do love you!