Up to New Tricks!

Esther and Mary,

Oh my goodness girlies, you two are up to so many new tricks since my last letter! I don't even know where to start. 

We got moved into our new apartment, and we love, love, love it! You two love it too. You both like to follow mommy everywhere. From putting away laundry to diaper changes, I can always count on you two being close behind me. I love to hear the pitter patter of a little crawler close behind me. You hang out with me in the kitchen while I'm making dinner or getting your food ready, and for some reason you love to give the fridge kisses. The dishwasher and the oven door have recently been discovered as well. They are covered in fingerprints and licks. I can't quite bring myself to clean them off. They are just too cute! You love to help mommy fold the laundry. Well, you like to unfold the laundry that mommy just folded. Such helpful little ladies! You've both started to climb up on mommy's legs to get me to pick you up. It makes it a little hard to move around when I can't pick you up right away, but I love it! So sweet. 

You are both crawling all over the place, and you love to follow each other. You always try to get each others attention and then crawl away. You also like to explore places in the house together. You both like to pull yourselves up on the toilet and use the lid as a drum. You both love, love, love stuffed animals. They get lots of hugs and kisses. One of your favorite things to do together is to stand up holding onto the TV stand and play drums and do little dances. 

The other day you decided to play hide and seek with mommy. You were in the hall playing with the door stop (it's like a built in toy :)) and I left for maybe, maybe, maybe 30 seconds to check on my lunch in the microwave. I went back to check on you two, and, to my surprise, there were no babies in the hallway. I had the doors all closed except two. I checked your room first. I thought you might be playing with your stuffies. I quickly discovered you were not there. I went back into the hall and noticed that the laundry room door was open just a tiny bit. I opened the door and discovered you two sitting on the floor in the dark! You crazy girls!

I love going into your room in the morning. Mary is usually either bouncing up and down or standing up waiting for mommy. Esther likes to roll around or sit up and find a binky first thing. 

Esther is a binky monster. The other night I went in to check on you and Esther, while sound asleep, reached out and grabbed a nearby binky and popped it in your mouth. So funny! Mary is a little dancer. I think you have a song playing in your head constantly. You love to bounce on your little bum and shake your little hips when your standing up. Mary also loves shoes. I catch you way more often than I like to admit licking the bottom of a shoe. Gross! I try to hide them from you, but if they get left out for even a minute you find them immediately. 

One of our favorite things at our new apartment is the swimming pool. You get such a kick out of splashing in the pool. You love to laugh at each other and the other kiddies. Abuela bought you awesome floaties and you just lay back, relax, and enjoy the sunshine. Mary got so relaxed she nearly fell asleep. Esther, you like to kick your little feet and practice floating on your back. 

You love, love, love when daddy comes home at night. You get big smiles on your faces, and you always want him to hold you right away. Esther especially wants daddy's attention. He can't even put you down! Daddy got exciting news this month. He's been working as an extern at the Utah County Attorney's Office for school credit, and recently they decided to hire him as a clerk! So now he's getting paid! Super exciting. We're crossing our fingers that a job opens up, so we'll get to stay in Utah County. We'll see how that works out in the next little bit. 

From crawling to pulling yourselves up to cruising along the furniture to chasing each other around the house, you two are so much fun. I love seeing you grow up and learn new things. I especially love how much you enjoy being together. I couldn't ask for more beautiful, sweet, wonderful daughters. 

Love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

Exploring the magazine rack at Bapu and Abuela's

Playing together on the TV stand

My Mary girl!

Playing in the kiddie pool

Esther's big smile!

Baby models for sure!

I love your faces in this picture!

Playing with the socks

What a happy girl!

Esther and Chicken Dance Elmo

Mary at the pool

This is the life!

Babies floating in the kiddie pool

Playing with one of your favorite books

Goodbye Grandpa and the Big Move(s)

Mary and Esther,

So many things have happened in our little family since I last wrote. For starters, you two have changed a ton! You can both sit up by yourselves, and you enjoy sitting on the floor surrounded by as many toys as possible. You both want whatever your sister is playing with and often find away to sneak toys (Mary's favorite) or binkys (Esther's favorite) away from each other. Mary has started crawling and can get pretty much anywhere in the house, especially if there is something to get that you shouldn't have (like iphones or switchers or shoes). Mary has also discovered how to bounce in the jumperoo and considers jumping to be a very serious business. You will just jump and jump and jump til your hearts content--often with a very serious look on your face. Esther, on your seven month birthday, decided that you will no longer use mommy's favorite baby food bottles (which are a total lifesaver by the way). You will only eat baby food if you can eat it with a spoon, sitting up by yourself on the floor, and, of course, with a toy to get baby food all over. I don't know why you decided that this is what you want, but trust me there is no convincing you that the bottles are quicker, cleaner, and more convenient. :) Funny girl! For now Mary is energetic and adventurous (you explore everything you can and you especially enjoy anything electronic), and Esther is ever curious and very studious (you will sit and look at a toy or a necklace for a very long time taking in every detail).

At the end of March we left our home of nearly three years (yes, mommy the sentimentalist cried when I left our first family home for the last time) and moved to a new apartment. This was an exciting adventure and we had lots of help from wonderful friends and family. Unfortunately, Mommy made some seriously rookie mistakes, and we are now living in an apartment that reeks of pet accidents. Honestly, I think petco smells better than this place. So, we will be moving once again this week, but I am super excited about it because we will be living in a beautiful (much, much nicer) apartment. I will post pictures in my next letter. Hopefully, the second move will have a happier outcome than the first. I don't think it could be much worse.

Something especially sad and hard happened over this last month as well. Mommy's Grandpa, your Great-Grandpa Hansen, passed away just a few days after we moved into our new apartment. This was a great loss for our family. I so wish I could've taken you two down to meet him in person. You would have brought such a smile to his face. He loved to look at pictures of you, and he always loved to hear stories about what you were up to. I know you were in his thoughts and prayers often. He loved you very much. He was a very special person in my life. I learned many things from my Grandpa, and I hope that I will be able to share some of his life and goodness with you. He was truly one of my greatest heroes. I will miss him dearly. Be sure I tell you all about wallapaloozas, wingy dingys, the red Nissan truck, Willow Park, and Old Chief Kick-in-the-pants if I haven't yet. I know he and Grandma will be watching over us. I want you to know that I know that we can be with Grandpa and Grandma and all of our family again someday. We have the blessing of an eternal family. We will always be together. Although we are apart for a brief time in this life, we will be together again and will never be separated from one another. I am so grateful to know that because our Savior lived and died for us that all of this is possible. Please know how much Grandpa Hansen loved and treasured you both.

We made our first trip as a family of four to go to Grandpa's funeral in St. George. We survived the drive (although Mommy just about ran out of songs to sing and entertaining things to do), and you were the hit of the gas station in Beaver. Everyone fussed and fussed over you. You slept well in your pack n' play cribs after some convincing. You got to see Uncle Johnny and Auntie Sara again, and best of all you got to meet Uncle Andy for the first time! We didn't get to spend a lot of time together, but it was great to see them anyway. You also got to meet lots of Mommy's cousins and family. They all thought you were just adorable. It was great to get to be with everyone.

We've started going to a new ward. We are in a traditional family ward now, which is kind of strange for Mommy and Daddy because we have been in a married student ward for the whole time we've been married. We miss our old Bishop and his wife and all of our wonderful friends in the 24th ward. I think they should all move with us, but this new ward (the Timpview 10th ward) will be great too. Lots of new friends to make. Speaking of church, it's just about time to get you up, fed, dressed, and ready for church! I love you very much! You are such beautiful blessings in my life and have taught me so much. Thanks for all the giggles, hugs, and kisses!

All my love,

Mommy

P.S. Here are a few cute pictures of you two since my last letter.

Esther with her Easter ducky!

Beautiful Smiles!

Sitting up!

Mary trying to figure out how to get to Esther in the hotel room

M&Ms

What a cutie!

"Borrowing" each others toys

Family Picture!

Happy Half Birthday!

Mary and Esther,
Happy Half Birthday! I know everyone says it, but you are growing up too fast. Just a few months ago you were tiny newborns that needed mommy for everything. Now you are rolling all over the place, sleeping through the night, eating solid foods, playing with toys, discovering new things, hiding under the couch, and enjoying each other's company.

You don't need me as much as you used to. You're starting to hold your own bottles, which is nice but it also makes mommy kind of sad. You fall asleep on your own now too. Mommy learned how to teach you that from an episode of the Rachael Ray show. It was an answer to prayer for sure. Now mommy gets more sleep and everyone is happier. I even made dinner five times last week.

We started solids awhile ago. Bananas are your favorite, but Mommy tries to sneak in some vegetables too. Mary doesn't like them at all, but Esther will eat sweet potatoes or carrots if I'm really lucky.

Your favorite things to do are roll around, drink milkies, talk to each other, hold hands, play with your stuffies (pink teddy bears and neon turtles are preferred), and hide under the couch (Esther particularly likes to play with the couch flaps). You both love bath time. Esther loves it so much she has decided pooping in the tub is a great idea. That way you get two baths instead of just one (Mommy doesn't enjoy that part very much). You also love to read stories. Mr. Brown Can Moo is your favorite. You love you sing songs, especially "If all the rain drops were lemon drops and gum drops". Mary loves the mouth open wide part; you open your mouth really big sometimes to join in. Mary laughs when your tummy gets tickled, and Esther babbles whenever you get a chance.

You went to church for all three hours for the first time on Sunday. It was so fun to have you with us. You wore darling yellow dresses with daisies and turtles. Everyone said you were adorable and loved meeting you. You were perfect angels in Sacrament meeting. You hardly made a peep. Sunday school was a little noisier, but you were pretty good. By Relief Society you were pretty antsy. Esther was done with the whole being quiet business. You weren't upset; you just wanted to talk. Mommy took you out in the hall and you told stories to all of the pictures. Mary was so exhausted by bath time that you almost fainted. You went completely pale and kept falling asleep through the whole process. We could hardly get you to stay awake long enough to get you to eat. You slept most of Monday to make up for it.

This morning we are up to our usual routine. You just finished your bottles, and you are rolling around going on adventures. It's almost nap time now, so mommy better finish up. Esther is falling asleep as we speak.

I love you my sweet angels. Thank you for all the love and joy you bring into my life, for all the loves and slobbery kisses, and most of all for all of the miracles you show me everyday. I love you forever! Happy Half Birthday!

Mommy

Cutest Sisters Ever!

Need I say more!

Playing with Teddy Bears

Esther under the couch with Mommy's birthday balloon

Plotting your next adventure

Playing with your magic jumping bean toy

Mary under the couch