Es Is: Esmé mucho

Dearest Esmé,

I said I would write letters to you and Cordelia at least every year, so please forgive that you re already 14 months old!

You are such a delight. You have brought so much lightness and laughter to our family! I just had this feeling soon after you we're born that my family was now complete.

Just today, you are learning the word, "hi!" And want to say it all the time. Daddy said you took 3 steps today! I missed them, because I was at work. Thank goodness I have been able to stay at home with you as long as I have! That has been a real gift. I still feel guilty that your sister never had that.

Your birth was not an easy one. To be so confident and feel so capable of having a natural birth, only to be told in the middle of it it's going to be a Caesarian birth anyway, well, that was rough. I have to believe you knew something the docs and I did not--that there was a reason you sat straight up on my cervix, not budging. I still wonder what would have happened if they had tried to turn you the next day, but then you made it quite clear it was time to be born, and that was that!

Your babyhood has just been delightful, and I have been so grateful for the time I have been given to watch you grow and flourish. You started smiling at about two months, and haven't stopped since! You've always been very petite--2nd or 3rd percentile--who knows why, because you love your food! But that's never been a huge concern. I'm happy i've been able to give you some wonderul early experiences in your young life. Your world is much bigger than Cordy's was, when she was your age. She had really only me, daddy and Yaya, with occaisional visits to see Nonnie and Papa. You have lots of family who love you, and get to see you on a regular basis, you have Cordy's friends who adore you, and even your own baby friends you were able to interact with thru baby school. My "church" I called it, so lovely and calming.

I am anticipating your first year of toddlerhood to be one of great challenges and frustrations, but also great joy and fun! You are so different than your sister! I'm sure that's clear to you by the time you read this, and I don't want to spent too much time making comparisons, but it must be said. We joke about how Cordy was a practice toddler, vs.you, the real deal! But I think we're all up for the challenge, and I can't wait to see what the year will bring!

I promised I would spend some time with your likes and dislikes, so here it goes.

You like food!! Eggs in the morning, orange slices "o?", crackers and cookies any old time! And berries! "B?" Are also a fave. Avocado, not so much.

You also love to talk, and your vocabulary has skyrocketed in the last month! You love to talk bout items of clothing, especially, "socks!" But "shoe" "pan" and "shir" are also worth mentioning. You know many sounds that the animals make, your favorites being " quack quack!" And "Meow!" You also love books, which was a surprise to us, who see you as a mover and a doer, rather than a reader, per se. But you love your books! Especially "goo!" The Mother Goose book Yaya got you, which you often ask for.

You love your sister, and love to play with her toys, especially the ones that are off limits. You have warmed up to Clover, Cordy's doll, and want to give everyone and all your animals, kisses! And love to practice your smacking noise! Mwah!

You are still nursing, and now that I am working, when I get home there is the biggest smile on your face, and it's a sweet reunion. You love (your) nini's! And will attempt to pull down the shirt of any available female.

Here you are at the kitchen that was your sister's. of course, you being you, you tore off the burners daddy had glued on first thing. And the faucet too, but we managed to get that back in! Daddy says maybe we should have made Shiva your middle name! (The destroyer). But you love to play at the kitchen, banging pots or food together.

Here you are digging in to your birthday cake. Yum! You went for it, just like you do when you nurse! You were a little cautious overall at your party, but we all had fun anyway.