Prolonged tantrums

We take a walk down to the lake, Esme nearly falls in - I catch her as she gets water in her bangs! She wasn't scared at all and was happy until we said we wanted to go back home -- and then she cried all the way back up to the house. Then she cried all the way down the stairs.. and in the kitchen. Wow what a memory this kid has... and I asked her if she wanted to go upstairs and go to bed if she was just going to keep crying.. and she grabs her milk cup and goes upstairs! We change clothes.. all the while whining.. and then she picks up her cup again and goes to her bed and puts her arms up. I say 'We need to take off our shoes again if we are really going to bed.' She takes off her shoes. Still whining. Still putting the arms up. I put her in bed. She screams at the tops of her lungs. I go back downstairs to ask Mark if he has everything he needs for dinner and by the time I'm back she is sound asleep.. not a peep. Wow.

What Big Shoes I have!

Binder Clips + Big Slippers = 'Just Right'

Esme has been having a WONDERFUL time with her tea set and we have been invited to come 'chair sit TEA' often ever since she got home with it. She was up to visit Grandma and Grandpa today while I was at work.

Birthday at Grandma's house

We went to Grandma's with a few treats for a happy birthday visit :) I made a brownie 'cake' and Esme's favorite pudding this morning. Esme got to watch me make the brownies and pudding and also licked the spoon. We brought a few little things I was saving wrapped up in newspaper. We lit some birthday candles on the brownie and tried to get her to blow them out. Grandma had some gifts for her too (you didn't need to but she loves them all), a puzzle we'll take home another day, a flute/recorder, big teaset and a little purple snap-shut purse. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!


What's in there Daddy?
I saw Mom put goodies in there!


Light this one too!

She had such a hard time blowing out the candles - never really did get one. She kept trying to blow with her nose instead of her mouth (giggle).


family picture, even has a dog ;)


Grandma and Esme open presents


Grandpa shows Esme how to use her new flute


I made a noise!


Unwrapping black boots from Mom and Dad


Teapot from a teaset Grandma gave her


Playing with the teaset at home

Then and Now : 2 years

Happy 2nd birthday Esmerelda! Mommy and Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa all love you! You have changed so much in such a short time. Small birthday celebration today and we'll take pictures :)

Nearly two

two in two days

Halloween and Daylight Savings times ends

Set all the clocks back *check*. Have to get up even earlier for work anyway *check* growl.

We didn't go anywhere for Halloween since I worked until late. Mark took the pumpkin out on the porch and Esme helped him light it. It was burning out there when I got home and we all had supper. Shortly after a round of Starfall and some running around with the kitten and balloons I put Esme to bed where she quickly fell asleep.

I also let her play with a digital thermometer for a few minutes yesterday. Mark and Esme both registered two degrees warmer than I am... which is always below 'normal' body temperature (right around 96 instead of 98.6, even adding the 'one' to our axillary thermometer) So, I'm officially an alien being? haha some days I feel like it. Lately I have been extremely cold to the touch 'you're like thirty degrees, is that a Northern Eskimo thing?' Mark said, although I usually don't notice it myself unless I'm on the concrete floor downstairs. I think I just keep most of my heat in my stomach and it only gets out to the extremities in necessary quantities or if I'm doing heavy work. He tends to be the same temperature all over... Esme is kind of in between. I hope she will inherit his capacity for withstanding heat AND mine for withstanding cold... that would set her up nicely here in the MidSouth where they do get some freezing winter and some hot summer.