18 months and 8 weeks... who would have thought?

Essie is now 8 weeks old... where did those 8 weeks go? Miriam, now 18 months old, still loves her little sister... so much so that we have to keep an eye on her so she doesn't smush Essie with her hugs.

Essie is such a happy baby. She smiles all the time! I will catch her smiling just sitting by herself looking at the mobile and when we talk to her, she gives us grins so big that her whole face smiles and her body curls up in happiness!

Here is a great picture of Miriam signing "play" while Essie smiles at her big sister.

Hot Hot Hot!

Who needs a bathing suit?

Can you believe that it is 110 degrees outside with the heat index and it is only June!? Even though it is so hot we still try and get outside, but when we do, we definitely get our "pool" filled up and the hose turned on.

My Little Gym Graduate

Miriam has been going to Little Gym every week since she was 4 months old and she absolutely loves it. It is like a Gymboree type of deal where they do baby gymnastics, sing songs, play with balls and bubbles, etc. She is such a wild woman for the whole 45 minutes... good thing the whole room is padded! Last week, she "graduated" from her class. It was so cute because they all got to walk up to a platform and get a medal while everyone clapped for them. Miriam took it all in, basking in all the applause, and didn't want to leave the platform.

Miriam and her friend Sofie have been in the same class since they were both 4 months old. They are best buds!

She is a master at the balance beam

Miri Moo and Essie Lou

Our two sweet angels!

(hard to get both of them looking at the camera let alone smiling)

Smiles All Around!

This weekend we were smiling ear to ear because was smiling back at us for the first time! It is hard to catch it on film right now, but here is one pretty good shot we got this weekend.

Let the Building Begin!

We have finally broken ground on our new house! We are so excited that 7-8 months from now we will be in our new home on the Bluff. It has been a long road to get to even this point, but the Lord is good and has taught us some serious patience. There wasn't any cutting of a ribbon or golden shovels, but we did go out and take some pictures with the girls. What is the "Bluff" you might be wondering... well it is where Shay grew up, officially called "Porcher's Bluff" (and for all of you not from the area, it is pronounced "poor shays"). We are building right across the way from his childhood home. Below is a picture of the Bluff taken by Shay from his airplane. He is going to go up and take pictures every week from the air so that we can have a great record of the progress... my sweet pilot!

Our lot is the only one without a house. You can see where they have cleared the property and put down fill dirt.

Me and Essie

It was sooo good to see some construction equipment on the lot!

Shay and Miriam