Esther Crawford
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Tweets
- About to traverse this canyon on a rope. #50kings (at Arches National Park) [pic] — http://t.co/JGuEiyii
- @benhuh I locked myself out and am out on the back porch reading + napping.. come get me when you get here. thx!
- @LusciousPear @sniperwulfzen Nice to meet ya! We should grab food back in SF soon :)
- @LusciousPear I don't see ya .. where you at?
- @CarissaO We met at HIMSS & I sent you a FB message but wasn't sure if there's a better email to connect with you directly
- Amazing view to wake up to in Moab. #50kings [pic] — http://t.co/JWwhvRAu
- You know you're a transracial family when... [pic] — http://t.co/iOi9pfT7
- Happy birthday, Dad. Wish you were still here. Love & miss you lots. #cancersucksMay 11, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- The newest fan of miso soup - http://t.co/6snHbfw6 via @glmpsit
- @jf1216 I saw you quoted in TC today - congrats on the new job btw! If you make it out to SF sometime hit me up so we can grab lunch. :)May 08, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- I love that this full body shower is in my house so I can use it every.single.day. [pic] — http://t.co/ndPP62yT
- I just unlocked the "Swimmies" badge on @foursquare! Splish splash! http://t.co/Px7OyNio
- I just unlocked the "Great Outdoors" badge on @foursquare! Freedom! http://t.co/pzzKbrT6
- How'd Donald Duck change his clothes and get here so fast? Didn't we just pass him?! (at @disneyparks) [pic] — http://t.co/xpxj8gxZ
- @DayLateDlrShort awesome - so glad you like it! I'm one of the founders of it :)
- We are two for two, as in, we've lost both of our kids at #DisneySMMoms events this weekend.
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Status
- Happy 85th birthday, Dad. I think about you a lot and wish you'd been able to meet my kids - I know you'd be using the same jokes & magic tricks on them... like the one where you "pulled" your thumb off your hand. That never looked real, btw. ;) You're loved and missed. And always in my heart.
- Right about now is when I met sweet baby Jude for the first time, 3 years ago.
- 4 days in to SF and my team won Startup Weekend - so.freaking.stoked.
- Heading out of Milwaukee on a new adventure. Thanks to everyone who took time out to load us up and see us off. We're so lucky to have such amazing family & friends!
- Hope to see a bunch of you tonight at Smoke Shack for our going away shindig from 5:30 -7:30p! Consider yourself invited :)
- Jude has been singing since he woke up 2 hours ago
- Just found out our 102 year old neighbor passed away .. he was a really sweet, friendly guy who loved talking about his family.
- The terrible horrible no-good plague in our house has a very real upside - lots of lovey dovey time with my brave little people.
- Whatever bug I've got has me down for the count. At least Don Draper is keeping me company tonight.
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Checkins
- Arches National ParkHighway 191
- Ship Wreck Beach1800 Epcot Resorts Blvd.
- Disney's Art of Animation Resort1800 Animation Way
- Magic Kingdom® Park3111 World Dr
- Cinderella CastleFantasyland, Magic Kingdom
- TomorrowlandMagic Kingdom
- Splash MountainFrontierland, Magic Kingdom
- Magic Kingdom® Park3111 World Dr
- Disney's Yacht Club Resort1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
- Basil Canteen1489 Folsom St
- Exquisite ThreadingBayshore Towncenter
- Stonefire Pizza Company5320 S Moorland Rd
- Milwaukee Children's Court10201 W Watertown Plank Road
- Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)4300 Glumack Dr
- Beauty Bar617 E 7th St
- The Original Mexican Restaurant & Bar528 Riverwalk
- Fremont Street Experience425 Fremont St.
- Bluxome Street Winery53 Bluxome Street
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Info
- Experience
- 2012 - PresentFounder / FamilyEaseBuilding a system that streamlines the foster care and adoption process by creating a cloud-based platform that connects agencies, case workers and families.
- 2010 - Jan 2012Co-Founder / glmps
- 2007 - 2011Marketing Consultant / Weight Watchers
- 2009 - 2009Social Marketing Director / Kmart Corporation
Education-
2006 - 2007Durham University (UK)MA in International Relations
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2002 - 2006Oregon State UniversityBachelor of Science
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2004 - 2005University of Jordan (Amman)Arabic, Middle Eastern politics
Additional Information-
Websites:
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Posts
- May 14, 12
As most of you know, I’m now settled in San Francisco – actually, that’s the view from my room.
Those two spikes? That’s the Golden Gate bridge.
The cloudiness reminds me of Oregon, but we’ve all fallen in love with the city very quickly.
It’s been a relief to have the adoption completed – we’re able to live in the present without the worry of the future hanging over our heads.
Here’s video of the judge making it official:
Just days after arriving in SF we packed up and jetted off to Orlando for the Disney Social Media Moms conference, which was nothing short of stellar. The kids have had to deal with a lot of change in a short period, so being able to surprise them with a trip to Disney World to see their favorite characters felt really good.
Ages 3 and 7 are perfect for a Disney trip because the magic is real. Like that castle? It’s REALLY where Cinderella lives. The kids reminded me every time we passed it.
The conference had a bunch of great speakers including Peter Shankman, who took the time to let me pitch him, and Chris Brogan who has a great email newsletter that’s been making me think of taking the leap into writing separately for inboxes like Gwen Bell.
Being tall enough to get on all the rides is a big deal and something Emma wanted to take full advantage of – from Splash Mountain to the Tower of Terror. She’s got my love of coasters.
Jude was more interested in hugging characters (especially Woody & Buzz!) and playing on the beach. That worked out well since conference attendees stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club, which is the resort with the best kids pools. The night spent at the unveiling of the new Art of Animation resort was also a highlight because of their waterpark filled with life-sized Nemo characters.
It’s been a crazy + exhausting couple of months but we’ve made it through.
- Mar 21, 12
Tomorrow is going to be one of the happiest days of my life.
Peach officially becomes my daughter.
Even though nothing will really change in terms of our day-to-day routine, I can’t wait for the next part of the journey to begin so we can go about the business of just being a regular family. No more social workers. No more court dates. No more worrying that the rug is going to somehow be pulled out from under us.
I don’t expect a judge’s signature will cure all the pain she’s endured or magically erase the memories of being shuffled around, but I want her to know/feel that she’s always got a firm foundation & no matter what she’s got a soft, safe place to land.
In the last few months I’ve been really open and honest about the process with Peach and it’s been so heartwarming to see her get genuinely excited as the date has edged closer. She beams with pride when telling people she’s being adopted on March 22 and that it means she’s in our family forever… which totally chokes me up because I want her to feel proud of who she is and to know that adoption is not just okay - it’s a beautiful thing.
photo credit: Anna Mayer Photography in Milwaukee
- Jan 02, 12
I decided for Christmas I’d gift myself a juicer – I need to find a new way to add veggies & fruits into my life and figured I’d give this a try.
The machine is a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer & cost me $99. It’s a bit bulkier than I’d imagined, but then again, I rarely use kitchen appliances.
I’ve been curious about juicing ever since my friend Jennifer blogged about her 13-day juice fast, but truthfully the green veggie juices still freak me out a bit. I’ve yet to try one, but I did look up juicing recipes and bought the right ingredients so maybe I’ll work up the courage to go for a leafy drink tomorrow.
Tonight I got it set up and tested it out with my very first concoction:
- 1.5 Braeburn apples
- 2 carrots
- 7 strawberries
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the addition of the carrots but the drink was so delicious and there’s no way I would’ve just snacked on 2 big carrots, so I consider the test a win.
Here’s a look at it coming out the spout (touch the image to play the glmps):
- Nov 29, 11
Even though our early nickname for Jude was Snugglesaurus (thanks in part to a too-cute onesie) he’s been a very independent child since early on.
It brings me serious joy to see the tide turning ever-so-slightly.
Every morning he’s been crawling into bed with me – he’ll wrap his arms tightly around and repeat, “Me love you mommy. Me love youuu!”
Just last night as I was saying goodnight he asked, “Hold me hand? Pleeeease. Me wanna hold your hand mommy. Me no let go.”
:: cue the chorus of awwww ::
Snuggling up with my baby is positively delicious (especially when he’s got his superhero towel on).
- Nov 29, 11
Lately adoption has been a hot topic in our house because Peach wants to talk about it all.the.time.
In the past few weeks Peach’s ability to connect the dots and see the bigger picture has left me speechless.
Her empathy has moved me to tears.
All I can say is this little girl is special in so many wonderful ways and right now she’s petitioning hard for us to adopt more kids. I know she doesn’t totally understand what that means, although tonight at dinner when she asked when we can adopt someone else Nick said, “Well, it’s a long process dear.” To which she replied, “I know, it’s a lot of work.”
We were driving to see a movie on Friday…
Peach: Are there lots of other kids who need families too?
Me: Yea, sure. Here in Milwaukee and across our country, but all over the world too.
Peach: Well, I have a great idea! I think we should adopt a big kid!! Then, you and daddy could go to the grocery store and leave us home to play with our new big kid. I’ll get another pillow and more covers and she could sleep in my room!
Jude: No, in meeee room!
Peach: No, Jude! I called her first! Our big kid sister will stay in MY room.
- Nov 10, 11
Yesterday I found myself at the same hospital where I gave birth to Jude.
They made me walk round and round the maternity ward during my four day stay so I couldn’t help but recall those first frustratingly painful steps I took in the hours after the unexpected c-section. When I felt like giving up or crying I’d be reminded of the amazing baby swaddled up in the bassinet next to my bed. He was worth it and so much more.
I’m always fascinated when I see various paths and places intersect – it reminds me that the world which seems so big is actually quite small.
This time I trekked the same halls 2.5 years later on behalf of my other, older child.
Peach’s mom gave birth to baby #4, a girl, and I was there to visit and take photos. No matter what happens or where the child ends up years from now I feel good knowing I can at least pass along pictures.
Because of the ‘no contact’ order I went by myself. I was relieved when I walked in and found it was just S, her boyfriend, and the baby because his mom is often around and has been confrontational in the past – the time she repeatedly screamed “baby snatcher” at me was particularly memorable.
I try to stay positive when talking to S but yesterday as I held her newborn daughter I couldn’t help but feel terribly sad. When she goes home today this will be the first time she’s had two kids in her care at once, and they’re only 13 months apart.
While I hope for the best I’m not naive about the possibility that this little girl may someday be in the same situation as Peach.
For the past few months S has been promising me and the social worker that she’d finally get her tubes tied. With two kids in foster care and now two kids at home she verbally recognized that her best bet for success was to focus on her 1-year-old and the newborn. “I can’t have more kids,” she said. “I know it’d be too much for me.”
But then yesterday at the hospital S told me she changed her mind about the procedure.
She wants to have more kids someday.
As I said my goodbyes and walked back down the hall I felt defeated.
Believing that she was really trying to better herself I’ve gone out of my way to be supportive – picking her up in the middle of the night, giving her tons of baby stuff, canceling a trip so I could babysit when she was desperate.
Because of my love for Peach I’ve been secretly hoping I could somehow help save her birth mom. But I can’t.
I finally feel free to let go and watch her life unfold from a distance, no matter how disappointing it may be. If she needs me I’ll respond, but I’m not going to let her problems become my problems anymore.
You can’t make people change if they’re not ready.
- Nov 07, 11
Me: Hey Jude, it smells like poo poo in here. Did you have an accident?
Jude: Nooooooooooo. Don’t! Me no poop! Whyyyyyy you say that?
Me: It’s okay, baby. Can I just check you?
Jude: Nooooooooooo. Me only pee pee. Me no poop!
Me: Hmm… well, it smells like poop. Are you telling mommy the truth?
Jude: No.
Me: Are you lying?
Jude: Yes.
Me: Did you poop?
Jude: Me only pee pee.
Me: Are you telling mommy the truth?
Jude: No.
Me: Okay, well I don’t want you to sit in poop so let’s go get you cleaned up.
Jude: Noooooooooo. Me don’t want to. Me only pee pee.
Me: Are you lying?
Jude: Yea.
Me: Well let’s get you changed.
Jude: Nooooooooo.
Me: But poop is yucky and if you leave it in your undies it’ll make you stinky and sick.
Jude: Whhhhhhy?
Me: Because.
Jude: *big sigh* Ooooookay. Sowwy mommy. I say sowwy.
- Oct 17, 11
- Oct 13, 11
- Oct 11, 11
Sometimes I look at him and just think, “Where has the time gone?”
I love that he can talk and say just about everything he wants… but it also makes me kind of sniffly.
Those moments of being able to cradle him for hours and kiss him endlessly are over (unless he’s fast asleep).
Here he is at 2 months old – sooo tiny! I LOVED the way he smelled so I’d pull him close and breath deeply over and over – memorizing the smell of his skin and breath.
These days he’s able to play baseball with Daddy…
And he’s regularly making it to the potty! (A recent breakthrough, although far from completely potty trained.)
I know every mama thinks their kid(s) are the smartest and cutest but really… just look at him!
I can’t help but swoon.
