Essie is 15 months old

Can you believe it!?! Her first art work and yes some did make it to the paper!!!! Love you girl:

I can hardly believe it. A gift from God. Thank you Jesus for the gift of my two girls.

Essie is a doll. She is more adventuresome than Adeline, so we are learning exactly what that means. She climbs in less than 3 seconds onto the dinning room table. She has started to refuse to eat in her high chair and wants to eat at the table – no booster seat mind you. She loves shoes more than Adeline. She almost can’t go without them. She walks in the princess heals with ease. She wears Adeline’s crocs and puts them on herself. She brushes her own teeth. Loves to do so. We still do an evening bottle, but I think that is my habit. Tonight I gave her a sippy and she did just fine. She loves playing in the sand. She likes eating it too. She definitely eats more of nonfood items than Adeline did. I'll skip the details as I don't want to be investigated. We haven't had to call posion control and are thankful for that. What is that number anyway?

Her words: Baby, bubbles, mama, dada, Ada for Adeline, Papa (whom she adores), anna or something for banana, go, no – no, milk, wah for water, boO for book, shs for shoes, apal for apple, ah du for all done, moo moo, and more I am probably forgetting. She signs more, eat, please, thank you, book, doggie, no, bird, shoes, and give me the credit card (just joking – trying to keep you interested).

She can eat a cupcake in 3 bites. And insists on doing so. She is a good eater. However she loves, loves, loves her carbs. If she sees a biscuit or muffin or bagel you better plan on sharing it until it is eaten and she doesn’t care if you get any or most of it. She is an excellent helper. Her teachers at Sonshine say she is good at cleaning up too.. we can vouch for it on occasion at home too. She will put her dirty diapers in the trash can and at times can insist on doing so when we are done. She loves bath time. She loves her big sister. She loves doing fine motor type stuff like putting the AD/DC adapter in and out of the lap top over and over. She puts straws in juice boxes and the like. She is already into trying to write with a pen/pencil. She isn’t effected by crowds. When at Disney a week plus ago she went right into the busy room in Minnie’s house and pushed through all the kids until she got to do what she wanted. She is strong as she carries hers or Adeline’s lunch box into school everyday – some things Adeline says are too heavy she will carry in. She has some crazy sensitive skin… we battle diaper rash and mosquito bites that inflame to cover her whole hand. Visits to the doctor have slowed down the past couple months… only one ear infection and sunscreen in the eyes (since that bad eye scratch). Little girl, Baby cakes, Essie lou, Lou lou, Essie Potato (as Adeline calls you), Cutie Pie, Sweetie, Stinker, Stinker bear, we love you! Now for her numbers:

Measuring up:

Weight: 27lb 6 oz – 90-95%

Height: 33 inches – greater than 95% (aka off the scale)

Head: 19 in – greater than 95%

Adeline was 2lbs lighter, 2 inches shorter (wow that amazes me) and head a bit smaller.

Which makes me want to talk about other darling dear: Adeline is my sweetie. She is brave. She gave blood this week for a Diabetes study. Though very resistant until the needle was in and then she whimpered. She gets all kind of brave points. If they find a way to dx and prevent DM then she gets a lot of kudos. Even if they don’t she and Essie are troopers. She fell recently as we were leaving church and after some crying she realized she had blood and said, “Mommy I am actually bleeding”. She is so verbose and good with adverbs and adjectives. She is amazingly accurate with them. She is really good on her tricycle and big wheel. We went for a long “ride” a couple weeks ago and she would have done more, but Essie wouldn’t let her on it. I love how she calls the backs of her knees her “knee backs”. “Mommy please put bug spray on my knee backs.” We all know that is right where they go to take a drink. Adeline, Addy, Baby Cakes, Big girl, Baby, Sweetie, Princess, My Book Worm, we love you!

And dear Hubbie… I love you soooo much. I know you are working like crazy on what we keep calling your book. So many hours, so much time on a computer, so much programming, so much matching, so much – I have no idea :) Adeline can’t wait to go get ice-cream to celebrate your finish. We are so proud of your persistence. We praise God for the wisdom He has given you to get this far. We are thankful for the supportive committee. Dr. Banks rocks. You have amazingly balanced family, work and writing your book (as Adeline understands it). I thank God for you and look forward to seeing how He blesses you for Phinishing :)

We are surrounded by loving family and friends in our lives it is hard to stop counting my blessings right now. For another post. I thank God for each of you. So encouraging, so lovingly checking in on me/us.