Kansas

Esmé got to go on her second big plane trip last week when we flew down to the middle of the United States to meet her great-grandmother. It was a family reunion of sorts as my mother also met us there. How wonderful it was to have four generations of women together, to experience that closeness and history that runs in our blood. I grew up knowing my own great-grandmother and I loved the connection we had across four generations. I am so happy that Esmé gets to experience that as well.

Esmé also met her cousins and instant friendships were created.

We made delicious glazed donuts from scratch using a recipe from my great-grandmother. It made so many that we actually couldn't eat them all and threw some out. Yes, that's right, we actually THREW OUT donuts. That's pretty much a sin in my world.

We spent most of the time sitting and visiting (a favourite Kansas pastime). But there was also lots of playing and exploring.

Although we did have a great time overall, Esmé had a few rough days. The second day we were there she got a fever that kept her from sleeping and I stayed up all night holding her in the rocking chair while she whimpered and tossed.

It wasn't until the next morning that I suddenly realized why she might have a fever. So I looked into her mouth and there it was, a gleaming white tooth poking up through her painful little gums.

It was so sudden. One day she just had an adorable toothless grin and the next day there was this intruder. And then, before I knew it, a second incisor fought its way through. So Esmé came home with two teeth, leaving her gummy smile back in Kansas.