Esme's Third Birthday

Our little Esme is three years old. What an amazing year! At two, she still had her feet planted pretty firmly in Babyland, but at three, she's a little girl. Where did my Baby Esme go? Who is this curly-headed, ultra-feminine pixie with the sparkle in her eye and the prance in her step? The one with a definite sense of style and the Daddy who melts when she bats her long, dark lashes? The one who adores her friends and family but has that mile-wide independent streak? That, ladies and gentlemen, would have to be our Esme Rose.

For her birthday on September 8th, Esme had a real treat--a visit from Aunt Dacia! This made the weekend extra special for our girlie. It also meant that we have pictures to share!! Dacia took tons on her iPhone and graciously downloaded them to my computer. Here are a few highlights from our celebration.

Our birthday girl just moments after waking up, wearing the birthday "outfit" she chose when shopping with Aunt Dacia the previous day:

With the big sister who was so excited for her!

With Aunt Dacia (and the ubiquitous hat):

Finally opening that tantalizing purple envelope that arrived in the mail from Gran earlier in the week:

Lamby jammies from Papa Don and JanJan!

Her very own copy of a favorite library read, A Book of Sleep!

Esme rocks! Literally, with her new guitar from Mommy and Daddy...

Aunt Dacia's special gift was a trip to Build-A-Bear, where Esme got to stuff her own bright pink Hello Kitty toy. (I don't think she liked the noise of the stuffing machine very much.)

Stuffed and styled Kitty gets a big squeeze from her new mama:

Thank you, Aunt Dacia!

Birthday finale: lavender-frosted cupcakes with lots of sprinkles!

Happy Birthday, Beauty! Thanks for bringing so much laughter and wonder to our lives each day. We marvel at the way God has made you! And we love you like crazy!

Just Home From the Beach!

We arrived home from our trip to the Outer Banks less than three hours ago. Oh my, was it a wonderful, wonderful vacation!

I also have two September birthdays to blog about. And heaps of school stuff. So I'm just a little behind here, but I sure have been enjoying my family...

More posts and pics to come!

How Graham's Hair Usually Looks

In an earlier post, I alluded to the fact that Graham's hair is usually NOT all combed down and orderly; to the contrary, it usually looks like this.

Seriously. And people always give him big compliments.

They typically ask if there's a mohawk in his future. Now, personally, I would be nothing short of astounded if the Wilcox or the Nalle line produced a mohawk kind of guy in this generation or the next, but... there are a whole lot of years ahead of us! And in the meantime, we sure do love our smiley boy and his crazy 'do.

Trusting Jesus

I was completely unfamiliar with this hymn until I stumbled on the lyrics online sometime last week. It was love at first read. I have since looked it up and listened to a couple of versions. This is one of those hymns that sounds as old-fashioned as it is (I have yet to hear a modern version), but, oh... sweet, simple truth for my needy heart.

Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

1. • Refrain:
     Trusting as the moments fly,
     Trusting as the days go by;
     Trusting Him whate’er befall,
     Trusting Jesus, that is all.
2. Brightly doth His Spirit shine
   Into this poor heart of mine;
   While He leads I cannot fall;
   Trusting Jesus, that is all.
3. Singing if my way is clear,
   Praying if the path be drear;
   If in danger for Him call;
   Trusting Jesus, that is all.
4. Trusting Him while life shall last,
   Trusting Him till earth be past;
   Till within the jasper wall,
   Trusting Jesus, that is all.
5. (Edgar P. Stites / Ira D. Sankey)