Months 9 and 10

It’s been a busy couple of months ending with Esme checking off walking on the milestones list at 9 ½ months, but let’s start from the beginning. Mid November, Esme’s two bottom teeth came in – just in time for Thanksgiving. Grandma Trudie came to visit, and we cooked up a storm! Esme sampled many new foods, but didn't care too much for some of the more traditional dishes like the turkey and candied yams.

 cranberries! 

wiped out after a long and delicious Thanksgiving

eyeballing the spread
(at Sour Kraut German restaurant)

When all the turkey had been eaten and the dishes washed, we put up the Christmas tree, but all Esme cared about was the nutcracker, which became a favorite toy throughout the holiday season (both at home and at Grandma Nadine’s.)

 

Grandpa Jerry and Rosie came to visit at the beginning of December which included a trip to Vermont, cupcakes in Manhattan, and some cozy nights at home playing peek-a-boo.

snoozin'

at Crumbs cupcake shop

Esme did great on her first plane ride to Colorado …a little bit of sleeping, a little bit of eating, a whole lot of moving, but no crying. J She made friends with other babies and chatted up the lady sitting behind me (she was very patient with our little social butterfly).

sitting in daddy's seat

She met many new friends in Denver…

play date with Reese 

 

picking on boys already

Kaelob was a big helper at dinner time 

play date with Phineas

We visited the Denver Children's Museum which was far superior to the Manhattan Children's Museum (see 8 month blog)

Esme's first Christmas...

Christmas Eve church service - past her bedtime and pooped, but still boogied to the music 

playing piano with Grandma Nadine

 

 Christmas morning in our pj's

new clothes! 

bows and hangers 

Apparently Esme has a thing for dogs...

Christmas party at Aunt Jenae and Uncle Anthony's house...
(we must have bee preoccupied because somehow we only took two pictures)

  

Esme's first New Year's Eve...

girls girls girls 

 

meeting baby Robin 

Happy New Year! (at 9 pm, close enough ...and now it's bedtime)

During our visit to Colorado, Esme started standing up and balancing on her own, and by New Year's she was taking her first steps. So proud of our little walker!

Also while in Colorado, we had a baby dedication for Esme at Grandma Nadine's church. Pastor Rick had a wonderful message while Esme was surrounded by many people who love her.

On our last night in Colorado, we celebrated my 30th birthday at the Cheesecake Factory. Esme made friends with the elderly gentleman sitting next to us, and ate tons of bread.

We had a little bit of warm weather in January so we took advantage of it.

playing with dirt. eating dirt. ya know. what babies do. 

A few more for the grandmas (because I know you can't get enough ...and because we have a ton of pictures this month)...

sleeping on the plane ride home

new doggie from Uncle James and Aunt Sandy

teeth!