Esther

If you have been checking this blog and wondering when I am ever going to update it, I am not. We also have a family blog and it was getting too hard to have a blog for Esther and a blog for our family. Please refer to our family blog at www.mkmcneili.blogspot.com

Esther's Birthday Celebration

We had a good time celebrating Esther's birthday this last Friday. We went swimming of course followed by pizza for dinner, Esther's favorite. Esther said she wanted purple birthday cake so that is what she got. It was a yellow cake mix that we dyed purple and covered it with chocolate frosting. Esther is into pretty things so she got jewelry for her birthday. It was fun to see her all excited for her birthday and I think it went a little bit to her head. I had to break the news that birthdays only come once a year and it would be a long time before she got another day all about her; wait everyday is about her. Happy Birthday Esther.

Esther's Birthday Tribute

This last Friday we celebrated Esther's 3rd birthday. I can't believe that three years have gone by already. Here are a few things about Esther. She loves to run and chase and laugh. She loves Henry and has no idea what to do when he is not around. She loves Daddy and is the biggest Daddy's little girl. She loves all things pretty or shinny. She loves to "do it myself." She will eat just about anything or at least try it. She is a great big sister and loves to mother everyone. Her favorite word is why and her favorite color is purple. Esther loves to talk and is rarely quiet. Esther is sunshine in our day and there is not a day that goes by that we are not thankful she is apart of our family. We love you Esther, happy birthday.

Esther and her glasses

Esther is now the proud owner of glasses. Back in February I started noticing that her right eye keep rolling in toward her nose or going "cross eyed." Michael and I thought she had developed a lazy eye and thought she would have to wear a patch for awhile. I made an appointment with an pediatric Ophthalmologist for the first part of April. We talked to her about wearing a patch and how she would be a pirate. I even taught her to tell the Dr. that she wanted to be a pirate. Well she does not get to be a pirate. Her eye appointment revealed that she is very farsighted. Her right eye keep going cross eyed due to the strain on her eye and her brain trying to make sense of what she was seeing. She desperately needed glasses. She will always need to have glasses or contacts this is not going to go away over time. The Dr. recommended a specific type of glasses for her. They are designed for kids, bendable, durable and hard to break. We looked around for the best price. One place wanted $80 for the frames and $340 for the lenses. Costco did not have the frames but would only charge $80 for the lenses and a small fee to have lenses put in frames that we bought some place else. So that is what we did. We ordered the frames from one store and had to wait for them to come in and then had Costco put the lenses in. This is why it has taken a month for her to get her glasses. We finally got them this last Tuesday and less than 24 hours she has ruined them. On the way home from Costco she popped the lenses out. That was an easy fix. But then the next day she was left alone with them for a few minutes and she chewed on them putting big scratch marks on the lenses. Thank goodness we did not pay $340 for the lenses, not that $80 was real cheap either. So we decided she needs two pair of glasses so that while one is being fixed she can have a backup pair. She will have to deal with the scratches till the new pair come in. Esther is really enjoying having them. She has been looking at books again and pointing out small details that I never noticed. We are so thankful that we caught this early and she can see again. She looks very cute in her new glasses and loves to wear them. Now we just need to teach her not to eat them.

What we love about Esther

OUCH

Esther had to have three stitches put in her middle finger on her left hand this last Tuesday. Michael was putting up a new light in our entry way and put the box cutters up on a ledge. The box cutters where closed but Henry found them and figured out how to open them. Esther decided she wanted the box cutters and tried to grab them from Henry resulting in her slicing her finger open. I was out visiting teaching when after just 20min into my visit Michael called and told me I needed to come home right away because Esther needed to go to the E.R.
In the E.R. Michael asked Esther if she could be brave and she responded with a very sad NO. Everyone in the E.R. thought she was very cute and yes she was very brave. Every time we change the band aid and put a new one on she asks if it is all better. It is healing nicely and she will get the stitches out this coming Monday.

Welcome baby Ainsley Elizabeth

Born 1/19/2011. The delivery went well. We are glad she is finally here. Esther and Henry love her and fight over who gets to hold her first. We are excited to get to know this new little addition to our family.