Esther at Six (and 1/2) Months

At our last dr. visit, "Esserkins" weighed in at 19 lbs and measured 22".  Our baby girl is a CHUNK!  I love all her fat rolls!

 

 

During the day, she divides her time at Gigi's house - where she gets aaalll the attention, and Robin's house - where she gets entertained all day.  She doesn't have any complaints. 

I'm so excited that Esther and Lyza Claire will be in the same class! 

 

When Lee gets home (and after girlie is fed), he is very intentional about reading with Esther.  She follows where he points and looks intently at the pictures.  She wants to hold the book and turn the pages herself...I love seeing her independence come through already! 

 

I, on the other hand, am only intentional about snuggle time!  I cherish the few hours at home with Esther before she goes to bed. She is sometimes tired, which means she gets real snuggly.  I love it. We usually start out like this, and end up both asleep on the couch with Lee studying at the other end:

 

Despite her voracious appetitie, this baby girl doesn't have a single tooth popping through!  She drools a little and puts EVERYTHING in her mouth...but no sign of teeth.  I'm ok with that.  The faster she reaches growth markers, the quicker she's no longer a baby.  

 

I mentioned to a friend recently that I love where our family is in life right now.  Lee is at the beginning of his career training, so he enjoys what he does all day.  I like my job, too.  We are in a tiny house with old (but paid for!) cars, but finally at a point where we can afford to save.  We have a beautiful, healthy baby girl who makes us laugh all the time.  We are surrounded by loving friends and family, and in the middle of an exciting time at church.  God has been so good to us.  We certainly are undeserving, but so very very grateful. 

Walkin' through 2012

2012 was a big year for the Lee Walker family.  I love thinking about it. And so I love sharing it.  here are the highlights.

 

December 30 of 2011, we found out about baby Esther!  We spent the first few days of the new year telling everyone.

 

I had a VERY special reunion with my college girl friends and all the youngun's!  I got to announce my pregnancy and have some special time with sweet friends!  (sorry about cutting Miriam out of the pic, Corrie!)

 

At the beginning of March, my sweet niece Lyza Claire was born. She was the beginning of so many special births this year (Charlie, Henry, Ro, Finley and Isaac)!

 

Almost at the same time, the Renicks moved to Clinton.  They are just one street over, and we LOVE being so close to Jay, Edi, Tessa Kate, LC, Robin and Nathan!!

 

Just after LC's birth was Match Day for Lee.  (We alre

ady knew, but got to particupate in the ceremony.) 

 

March was fun and fast, with baby showers for friends, more babies, preparations for our own addition...I was ready!

 

April was very fun, bringing a wonderful vacation to Boston and surrounding areas.  It was great to have some time to ourselves, free from concern and responsibility.  I LOVE a vacation!

May was a BIG month.  Lee graduated! He walked in his fancy medical robe, took his oath, and got his white coat with his name on it as M.D.  It was a BIG month. 

I grew and grew...(my coworker though we could be twins...he needs to eat a basketball!)

Lee ran his first marathon!  He and Eric ran a homemade marathon, complete with shirts and goody bags...and lots of support!

We prepared for baby girl...and made space in our home and lives.

And then Lee and I had one more night as a family of two.

And then our lives changed...Esther Kay was born!

 

It (labor, birth, medical care, family and friends surrounding us) was such a wonderful experience, I think this probably says it all...

She has done nothing but bring happiness to our house.

In October, Esther was dedicated at church.  Almost all of our family was there, and Esther was in very fancy church clothes:

I win the "last minute idea of the year" award for our Halloween ensemble...she's our first aid kit:

Thanksgiving was a special time, with both my siblings in town!  We even had a very special time with Karla and Joel, who announced they're expecting a boy in April!!

 

The Christmas season was filled with events that were so much more special this year with Esther.  We enjoyed the Christmas parade with close friends (and their own new additions!),

 

We picked out a special "first" Christmas tree,

 

Esther sat on Santa's lap and just stared at him...next year may be very different...

 

2012 was a wonderful year!  It was eventful in ways we didn't expect, and in ways we've been waiting for and working towards for years.  We have been so blessed to see lives changed by God's grace and generousity. We are thankful for all he has given us - from friends and family, to jobs we like, even our cars that are still running (we just crossed 300,000 miles in the maxima!).  God has been good to us, and we give Him praise for all His gifts.

Photo Shoot(s)

We've had a few unofficial photo shoots with Esther - all for different reasons. Different from the daily pictures we take of her all the time, these were planned times that had specific purposes. The first was around 6 weeks, and it was on a whim. Few pictures were taken of me and Esther in the hospital, so I wanted some mother/daughter pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

The second was so we would  have a family picture for baby dedication...these were taken in Hazlehurst at the Walker homestead:

We took some good ones, but there is a reason Lee believes that lots of pictures should be taken to get a few good ones.  These are just a few of the not-so-good ones...

 We thought she was stronger...

 Yep.  That's spit up.

Lee was thinking of Lion King, but it looks more like he's sacrificing her...?

And finally, we took several pictures for a Christmas card...and dressed Esther up very wintery.  Poor girl, she had just woken up and not eaten yet.  But true to her sweet disposition, she didn't fuss at all.

Waiting on me...she was so tired!

Whoops!!

 

"Get me inside and feed me!"

Daddy

Lee Herren Walker, MD, is a wonderful father.  From day one, he has jumped right in and been just as, if not more hands on than I have.  I have very little knowledge of those first extra yucky diapers...because he changed them ALL.  He took extra days off to spend at home (and at the dr.'s office) with me and Esther.

He never missed a beat once he went back to doctoring, either.  He walks in the door and immediately asks how he can help.  He'll take over with Esther while I take care of supper or the house.  And he often walks in and encourages me to rest...even though he has been at work all day.  He is tireless...almost.

  He talks to Esther, reads to her, and does special baby exercises with her (shocker, right?).

He is the only one that files her itty bitty baby fingernails, and almost always the one that bathes her.

(Post bath, in her very girly robe)

 

He dresses her and is careful that her clothes match.  He has been meticulous to photograph everything, including every visitor, special events, and even regular days.

 

But let me share a personal moment.  One of my most memorable moments of Esther's birthday was when Lee leaned over the bed, just as actual labor began.  He whispered, "I already love Esther, and  I can't wait to meet her.  But you will always come first."  This is the man I love.