School, Solids, and Sit-ups

Things have been quite busy at the Christensen residence recently. While Jack has been enjoying his summer break (which I'm quite happy about...the poor man still has 7 years left of school), I've been taking a few classes. The majority of them are on-line but I do have a 5 week evening class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the work load in the class. Because it is only 5 weeks the professor has crammed 16 weeks worth of information into the alloted amount of time, but you do what you have to, right? Although I hate to leave Esther for 3 hours twice a week, Jack has been so good about watching her and both of them have thoroughly enjoyed their daddy/daughter time together. He really is such a patient wonderful Dad.

As an update, Esther is growing like crazy. Two weeks ago at her 4 month doctor's appointment she weighed 13 lbs and 3 oz and was 25.8 inches long. She is still in the 96th percentile for height 50th for weight. On her height to weight ratio chart she looks like an Ethiopian child, but have you seen my husband?! Plus, the doctor says she is perfect. Everyone who sees her says she is long and lean. She has the sweetest disposition and never ceases to amaze me as to just how good she is.

She has a few new tricks. Do you want to see? Okay.....

She rolls

She tries really hard to sit up and can usually do so for at least a minute before tumbling

And she really wants to walk. She has been pushing into standing position since she was 4 weeks old and has now figured out that when she is in standing position she can move if she picks up her feet while Mom or Dad has a hold of her fingers.

Adorable, right? We've recently started her on solids. Well, kind of. Rice cereal doesn't really look like a solid to me, but that is what people call it. Her first few bites she gave us the look she is making below but it seems to have grown on her since. So much in fact that she is always trying to rip the spoon from my fingers because I don't feed her quite as quickly as she'd like me to.

She loves jibber jabbering, blowing bubbles and giggling. Babies are so much fun! If you don't have one, I would highly recommend getting one.

They grow so fast!

One of my best friends (Tina) had a beautiful baby girl a week and a half ago and I got to meet her today. Little Ella was so cute! I could hardly believe how huge Esther looked in comparison to her. Turns out 3 1/2 months makes a big difference when you are only 9 days old.

They were both passed out in this picture... it's hard being little.

Bopping in the Bumbo

Friends,

This is the darling girl I wake up to, play with, nap with and live for. This smile melts my heart day in and day out.

-Sausha (co-producer of the above darling baby)

Southern Utah

This last weekend Jack and I made a short trip down to Southern Utah. The main reason for this little endeavor was to visit my brother Dustin and his beautiful wife Sloane in Blanding, but we also got to see/visit a couple of Southern Utah's unique sites, starting with....Arches National Park

Balancing Rock (pictured above)

Jack and Esther on the hike up to Delicate Arch. Esther was the youngest hiker on the trail.(below)

Delicate Arch

Rock formations near Devil's GardenEsther playing with Dad near Skyline Arch...isn't she cute?!

Skyline Arch is the arch in the picture below

Dusty and Sloaner with their babies, Zelda and Scout. I should have taken a picture of Dustin's small farm that he calls a garden. I was a little jealous. The closest thing to a garden that I have are a few flower boxes on the balcony of our 5th floor apartment.

Scout and Esther were fast friends

Scout even let Esther ride on her back....

multiple times.

Esther and Dustin

Before we headed home yesterday, Dustin took us to the Moki Dugway and drove us through the Valley of the Gods near Monument Valley. It was beautiful! Not only was the red rock against the blue sky quite pretty, but there were so many wild flowers. It luckily hasn't gotten hot enough to kill them off yet.

All in all, we had a really great time. Good company, cute dogs, beautiful weather...what more could one ask for?

Mustache May!

In honor of mustache May, little Esther has grown out her hair and her facial hair. I'm a little ashamed that my daughter can grow a thicker mustache than her father, but what can you do.

Nothing but green goodness...

Esther and I recently went on very quick trip with Megs...
to a place that is beautifully green and always raining....
to visit these two darlings....
It was Esther's first time on an airplane and the little dear was a saint. Both there and back she didn't make a peep. The people who sat in front of us on nearly every flight said that they hadn't even realized there was an infant behind them...she was just that good!
It was not only Esther's first time on an airplane, but also her first time meeting any of her great-grandparents. I think she likes them...

We also got to see Chia and Yeng. They came over to Papa and Darie's for a short visit.
Above is a picture of Chia with Esther and below is a picture of Chia's daughter Gabriella with Esther. Chia and I were best friends from birth and Gabby and Esther have about the same age difference as me and Chia. I love this picture because Esther is already almost as long as Gabby. I think I was probably taller than Chia by the time I was standing, despite the fact that she is about 2 1/2 years older than me.
Sweet Aunt Cynthia came over as well. Not to mention the fact that Aunt Debi happened to be in Portland at the same time as us which made it possible for her to spend more time with Esther than she has in Utah. (below: Aunt Cynthia and Esther)
Don't be fooled by that adorable face in the previous picture. This is what that darling is capable of...
Yup that is spit-up. And yes, that is also awesome orange carpet. I wish I had a picture of the lime green carpet in the room I stayed in.

I love going to Portland . Papa and Darie's house is the same as it has always been and it is just as inviting now as it was when I was 7 years old. I'm glad to still have these two darlings in my life.

Oh Spring, how we love you!

One of mine and Jack's favorite past times is going on walks together. Thanks to the recently improved temperatures and the purchase of a jogging stroller our walks have become much more pleasant and frequent. We have also resumed our visits to Red Butte Gardens. For those of you in the area, if you haven't been to Red Butte you should definitely put it on your to do list...really, it is so beautiful. Jack has been 4 times this week and I have been 3 times, that is how much we like it.

These first few pictures are from Red Butte Gardens. Jack was talking to an employee of Red Butte the other day and was told that they planted 200,000 daffodils. They have multiple different types and they are everywhere. Covering hills, fields and the like.

The daffodils pictured below are actually miniature sized daffodils. They were beensy.

The next few pictures are from our walk the other day. Yeah for jogging strollers! We found ours on KSL and have been quite pleased with it thus far.

As you can tell, Esther loves it too.

On a completely different note, Esther had her two month appointment. Verdict is, she is tall and skinny. 10 lbs. 7 oz (which puts her in the 50th percentile) and 24 1/2 inches (which is the 96th percentile). No surprise there considering Jack is 6' 2" and weighs a whopping 145 lbs.

And last but definitely not least, this dear has been sleeping through the night! Oh, I love this girlie. I'm convinced that our next child is going to be a terror because Esther is such a saint.