May= Mega Birthday Month

greeting the birthday girl!

we tried taking a picture with Esther standing between them :)

shenanigans on her birthday- she discovered how to climb up on the kid sized chair

she also started pulling papers out of files. Let the good times roll!

Esther started folding her arms during prayers a few weeks ago. So darling! We never practiced it with her. She just started doing it one Sunday.

Esther's favorite present was a roll of TP from Papi. She loves to tear TP and tissue into small pieces. We took it away to get a cheaper roll (Papi gave her Charmin) and she threw a big fit!

Uncle Zack was here for the weekend. He took these beautiful pictures of our baby girl!

she is such a babe!

Esther weighs 18 pounds 12 ounces and is 27.5 inches long. (At her 1 year appt. on 6/15, she weighed 19.4)

This girl is a bundle of joy! She says "Na" (no) often. It's cute, for now. She also says "Ha" (hi) when she waves hello or goodbye. Esther makes the cutest tongue roll/ purring sound. It's my favorite sound she makes. She still does downward dog all the time. She starting standing without support about one week after her birthday. She loves to crawl down the hall and stop to look behind to see if someone is chasing her. She most often does after the kids have gone to bed, when she should be sleeping too! For a few months now, she has been fighting bed time. She is so ready for bed around 7:30. So I give her a bottle and then lay her drowsy little body down in her crib. Then, within in 30 seconds (most often immediately) she sits or stands up and screams. Then, we go get her up, so she doesn't disturb the other two. And she will be up with us until 9 or 9:30. It's ridiculous. But, we're not sure how to resolve the issue. We do love spending time with her. But we also need some adult time!
She is pretty much transitioned to taking one 2-3 hour nap a day. I love not having to worry about a morning nap. It makes our mornings much more flexible if we need to go somewhere.
Esther stopped liking baby food by spoon a few weeks before her bday. But I found these washable food pouches that I can put a container of food in and she then feeds herself. They're awesome! She eats mostly table food now, but it's nice to give her baby food once/day. It's funny that she is fine with the baby food if she is feeding herself. Her favorite foods are- berries (blue, rasp, straw), bananas (she likes me to give her a half at a time, not cut up), cheese, pasta, canned green beans, cherries, apple sauce pouches, broccoli, saltine crackers, and Benson's sippy cups.
Esther is starting to warm up to people sooner. The stranger danger it's a little more reasonable. It's fun to see her interacting with people behind us while we sit in Sacrament meeting. She is a social little girl.
She is a sweet little snuggler. I just love to hold her close.
We love our Essie boo boo!

my go-to for girl's cakes now. I did this for Annika's cake too. I just use a tip and make swirls all over. Easy and turns out cute!

poor Benson fell right before cake and singing time. 

Peace, baby!

He just couldn't get over that fall. Also, he didn't nap and it was 7:30.

Esther's first bath as a ONE year old! She loves bath time!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Benson! He was SO excited to open presents! 

We got him a scooter, Olaf pjs, and some shirts

Zack got him a Darth "Mater" flash light

Oh how we love this boy! He demands a lot of attention. But he also provides us with lots of laughs and snuggles. He loves to be carried "like a baby" and requests it often. His name calling is all nonsense words. He has been making mean faces lately. I'm trying to channel the big emotions into silly faces instead of angry faces. It works 80% of the time.
He loves to "keep Esther safe." He closes doors before she goes in to places she shouldn't. He takes things from her. He holds onto her feet so she can't move. A lot of it makes her mad. But his protectiveness will be useful as they get older. :)
Benson doesn't like being dropped off in nursery. He still cries when we leave. He is still a major daddy's boy. When David is home, he is his shadow in everything. He even showers with David a lot of days. He likes to eat David's food too. He loves to put powerade (daddy juice) and pop in the fridge for David while he is at work. He takes care of Daddy's needs. He wants David to take him potty, get his food, wash his hands, put him to bed, etc. I'm ok with it :) He helps daddy back out his car anytime he leaves.
Benson is doing pretty well with potty training. He still has an accident most days. But, he often stops the flow and says he needs to go pee. He's getting there. I'm just glad he never has poop accidents.
We tried switching him to a twin bed 2 months ago. We did it for one night. But, it wasn't worth it. We took the binky away at the same time. So the binkies are still out of the picture, but we ended setting up his pack n play again. He's just not ready to sleep without boundaries. He is huge in that thing. But, he loves it!
Benson has a zest for life. He does some crazy things, like jumping from high places. He gets really excited about going to Beusie's or anywhere with Daddy. He is very loud. But, he has learned how to talk quietly when Esther is sleeping. This goes out the window if he is worked up about something- like not getting a fruit snack. When he needs a break, we put him right outside the door. He can't open the doors from the outside and he hates it. But, I think it is helping. He has helped me develop more tolerance and patience :)
Benson loves his sisters, tractors, Star Wars, Sofia the First, apple juice, his blanket, motorcycles, driving Uncle Zack's car, playing basketball, hide n seek, carrying tennis racquets around, candy, mac n cheese, pasta and shrimp, powerade.
We love our Benson boy!

He wanted a Darth Vader cake. Not my cutest cake. And Benson looked at it and said "where's Star Wars?" So, nailed it!

Opening presents at Beusie's! We had a family bbq to celebrate the May bdays on Benson's birthday. 

Beusie gives them a lawn mower ride nearly every time we go out there. Benson and Brynlee

For my birthday, we left the kids home with Dena. We went to a Mariner's game. We were planning to go shopping at Northbend after but I started feeling nauseous. :( So we just headed home.

We had a great time at the Mariner's game! They hit like 6 home runs and ended up winning 16-4!

throwing away my throw up bag at the summit of Snowqualmie Pass. yuck.