18 months

Tessie is 18 months old! I can’t believe that she has been around for a year and a half. She has grown up so much. As we had expected, she is really understanding and using language now. She now has the following in her (speaking) vocabulary: hi, buh-bye, hat, mumma, dudda, apple, more-more, thank-you (duckoo), ball, shoes, socks, juice, upstairs (uppee), dog, sit (ish), train (choo-choo), boat, banana, bubble, kitty, trash (chosh). She has also added more signs: cat, helicopter, boat, cracker, and cookie, which she uses relentlessly until someone (i.e. daddy or grampa) gives in.

She is still running everywhere and climbing very well. She has become more independent in her play. She doesn’t need an adult on the floor with her all the time. She is happy enough to tinker around with her toys on her own and bring a book over to us once in a while. Her favorite book of the moment is “A” You’re Adorable (based on the song). She loves to sing and dance. She would give Jonathan Papelbon (Go Red Sox) a run for his money. You have to see the video. Hopefully I can figure that out for the next update

The biggest thing for me right now is how on-the-ball she is. She understands so much now. She follows directions (when she wants to) and even learned to be shy and/or embarrassed. It’s so cute. Her head drops down and she looks at her hands in her lap. I’m hoping we can bring her back out of her shell by touring her around again to visit lots of people. She wants to do everything on her own. She gets frustrated when I try to help her with things (like eating, wiping her nose and face, washing her hands, going up/down stairs, etc.) because she wants to do it by herself.

Tessie had lots of fun this fall. We picked out our pumpkins at Parlee Farms and had fun feeding goats. We had (toddler) friends over for a mini Halloween Party. My friend Liz took a bunch of fabulous photos of Tessie in her costume. We went to Brooklyn, New York this past weekend. She was a really flexible about adjusting to city life and being strapped down for the 4.5 hour ride each way. We visited with college roomie Karin (and cat Joey, whom was terrorized by Tessie all weekend). Tessie got her first ride on a train to Coney Island on Sunday. Tessie loved the New York Aquarium. She was a little freaked out by the giant walrus, but loved the fish, water fountains, and the general freedom of running around. We topped the day off by walking the boardwalk (seeing the Coney Island Polar Bear Club take a dip in the ocean) and getting none other than a famous Nathan’s Hot Dog. Take a look at the pictures.

I have changed the way you look at photos now. Instead of attaching huge files, I am sending you to Kodak or Snapfish (you choose) so you can see a whole slideshow rather than just a few pictures. It won’t take up space in your email and you can even have the photos printed locally if you want (Nana Sally). Let me know if you have a preference of a site because it’s tough uploading to two different sites. So look for emails immediately following this one from Kodak and Snapfish.

17 months

Tessie has been doing great at daycare. Everyday that we pick her up, they say she had a wonderful day. When we accuse them of saying that to all the parents (or of lying), Miss Shanell swears that Tessie truly has great days everyday. Along with daycare fun, she has gotten the daycare viruses. She has missed 4 days of daycare already. I keep telling myself that it’s good that she builds her immunity now rather than later when the learning starts to happen. Sick days are also a good excuse to stay home with Tessie or go Apple-picking! She loves to suck the juice off an apple core and says “appa” when she wants/sees one now. She even said “appa-sahs” too. Stephen and I keep trying to get her to say it again, but she’s not as inspired. Tessie is babbling up a storm. She is so sure of what she is saying, but we still don’t know. We think she’s right on the cusp of breaking the language code. Maybe soon…and then we’ll be telling her to be quiet.
On a sadder note, Tessie had her first BIG bump. She climbed up and over the back of the couch and bumped her head in the sweet spot that gives you a shiner. Avoid looking at the first picture if you don’t want to see it. I had to take a picture of it to remind her of the stress she put us under when she was a toddler. That’s what parents are supposed to do, right?
Maybe the next update will include Tessie in a RED SOX jersey… Everyone send your good vibes!

16 months

Tessie has successfully made it through a short week at daycare. The first time I dropped her off, she was so excited to see the muffins they were giving out for breakfast that she didn’t even notice me leave (in tears, mind you). She started on Wednesday and her teachers say that she has adjusted amazingly well. They love her (who wouldn’t?) and she has lots of fun all day with the other kids. She is probably just happy to have a steady routine now because August was a hectic month.
We went to Long Island to meet her new friend Katarina. She was obsessed with her and was sure to let everyone know there was a baby around by signing “baby” to exhaustion. I think the whole experience motivated her to finally say the word “baby”. She now needs reminders not to call kids that are bigger than her “baby”. She also says “by-byeee”
Tessie and I went with Grampa, Uncle Dave, and Midnight to New Hampshire for 4 days. She met more kids at the beach and had fun chasing Midnight around. Again, she was doing the sign (for dog this time) a ton to be sure that we all noticed the dog in the house. Tessie and Midnight had fun and, the partners in crime that they are, learned that if the two of them pushed together, they could get the screen door open and make their great escape to the outdoors. Luckily I was watching when they made their run for it. She also learned the sign for motorcycle after sitting on Uncle Dave’s.
Tessie is almost able to reach to doorknobs (and knows to twist them) so childproofing is a work in progress again. Whenever Tessie was doing something wrong/unsafe Nana Sally said “ba-ba-ba!” when she stayed with us, so now whenever Tessie is on her own getting into mischief we hear Tessie saying “ba-ba-ba!”. She is her own worst enemy when she gets herself into trouble. She loves to sit at the kitchen table at an adult chair, but can’t quite be trusted. She can feed herself with a spoon, as long as the food is somewhat sticky, like applesauce, yogurt, or cereal soaked in milk. I still can’t get her to drink milk straight up, but she is starting to at daycare when she sees the other kids doing it. - Sorry this update is so long, but there was just so much to say. Tessie is growing so fast! And she has finally sprouted her 3rd tooth. I think the 4th is not too far behind.

15 months

July turned out to be a very busy month and August is looking equally eventful. Tessie had a successful week at home with daddy while mommy was at a workshop. He took her to the zoo (and didn’t take ANY pictures... I could kill him) and brought her to work a couple of times. She has had a lot of outside time playing in the mini-pool and just running around the back yard. Auntie Sally kept Tessie busy and into trouble visiting for a week. We also had some of the Dowgos family over for a visit on Sunday. Tessie enjoyed playing with everyone.
On Friday, Tessie had her 15 month appointment and some shots. She was very brave. She now measures 30.5 inches tall and has finally hit 20lbs. She is learning more signs. She has about 10 that she uses and understands like eat, more (thanks to cousin Jaime), hat (says “hat” too), dog, sleep, baby, siren (we hear lots of those), airplane, bird, sit, book, and she’s still learning more. She says “mumma” and “dadda” although she sometimes confuses them. She is teaching us how to baby-proof better because she is a climber. All benches/chairs must be pushed in because she uses them to climb onto the picnic/dining room tables. I’m wondering how much adrenaline a body can produce because I use my quota daily by keeping Tessie safe.
We have planned a long weekend trip to New York to visit the college friends and Tessie newest baby-friend Katarina! I’m sure we will have more pictures when we return.

14 months

Happy Independence Day!

Tessie is really becoming a little girl. She is learning so much so fast. It is incredible what she is able to understand and is even letting us know that she understands. I have been doing some sign language with her and she is starting to use the gestures. She does the sign for eat when she is hungry- and sometimes just when she sees something she wants to try to eat. She is 100% off baby food and baby’s milk. I can’t quite convince her that cow’s milk is the way to go. Any advice you might have to sway her otherwise would be helpful.
She loves books. We have one book that is just labeled photos. I think it’s her new favorite, second only to the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Anyway, when she sees the picture for “feet” she puts her feet on the book, when she sees the picture for “nose” she touches her nose, and when she sees the picture for “ball” she searches the house and brings back a ball.
She loves to dance. We listen to music a lot during the day. She twirls and stomps her foot (very cute). Her favorite song is the itsy-bitsy spider. She points her fingers together when she wants to hear it and does some of the motions- I can’t get her to do the sun part.
She shows love by leaning in touch her head to yours. It’s awfully sweet. She does it to her little baby friends too. I think she is going to be just fine in daycare. She is still working on sharing toys when her friends come over. She is generally good about it as long as they don’t take her favorites.
We did a couple of day trips to the Cape to visit with cousins Rainy and Pat and see friends from the Lowell School. July will be a fairly calm month. Daddy will be with Tessie for a week while Mommy does some training for school…It will be good practice…for both!

13 months

Tessie has been very busy this month. She took her first plane ride to Florida. She was awake for the first 2 hours of flight and slept for the last hour on both departing and returning flights. She loved swimming in the pool everyday and playing in the sand on the beach.
We spent the day in Boston when cousin Tristan came to visit from NY. She loved walking around and chasing the ducks in the Boston Public Gardens.
She does very well getting toted around whether it is errands, graduation parties for cousins Patrick and Shane, or just going on walks so mommy can get some exercise. At least now she can travel in mommy’s sweet new ride (new Subaru family wagon).
We also had her One-Year photos taken at Target.
While at home, she loves playing on the swingset. She climbs all the way up the slide and ramp all by herself and goes down the slide like a big girl. See the YouTube Video I have posted of her going down the slide.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuNc7AExENM

1 year!

Tessie turned ONE today! Our little baby is growing up. How quickly the year has gone. Tessie is such a wonderful little girl- I can’t call her a baby anymore, can I? Stephen and I are so proud of Tessie. She has developed this wonderful personality of her own. We can’t imagine her being any other way than the way she is. She is very sweet and likable (as any of you who have met her know) and she is learning something new everyday. She says “Hi” now (repeatedly) and waves hi and bye with much better timing. She is learning how to use the new swing-set that Daddy got for her birthday (we have connections), but a little too well. Her climbing abilities make Mommy a little nervous. She has no fear. She is taking baths in the big tub now. She loves it. I switched her carseat to face forward.
Her birthday party went off without a hitch. Everyone had a good time. She got many new fun things to play with and wear. Mommy is happy that Tessie’s college fund is growing. (Can you imagine how much it will cost in another 17 years?)
We visited family in NY this month again. We have been hosting new friends at the house, too. Tessie will be taking her first plane ride to Florida with Mommy and Grampa this weekend to visit Auntie Sally, Uncle Freddy, and the rest of the family in the Sarasota area. Keep your fingers crossed for pleasant DIRECT flights.
Thank you all for watching Tessie grow this year. We hope that you have enjoyed it. I will still try to keep you up to date with photos, but now that she is a fast moving toddler, I may not be so good at it. Thank goodness for digital cameras or I’d be sending you photos of the back of her head.

11 months

One month away from Tessie’s first birthday. Can you believe how fast it has gone?
Tessie is doing great. She amazes us with her walking/running skills and she gets more secure each day. It’s unusual to see her crawling these days. She has been able to climb up stairs for a while, but she has finally figured out how to climb down. She points at things to let us know what interests her and imitates simple gestures and sounds. She even puts her hands on her head when something falls and says “Oooo Oooo”. No clear words yet, but she does say “mama” a lot…not just for me. For food, or whenever she feels like it. She is eating more fresh foods like grapes, cheese, cucumbers, avocados, and mango- mostly mashable slippery foods. She loves spaghetti (and rocks too but no-fun-mommy doesn’t let her eat them).
We have started searching for daycare so mommy can go back to teaching in the fall. I can’t say the experience has been a nightmare, but it does make me wonder how single parent families can ever do it. Wherever we visit Tessie seems to make herself at home, so I don’t think she’ll have any trouble with the change.
The other big news is Tessie is finally getting a tooth (two actually) on the bottom. I can see where it is sprouting through. She has only been feverish one day, but luckily I was able to distract her with lots of outside time last week while the weather was warmer.

Happy Easter!

10 months

Wow. Tessie is walking everywhere. She is all over the place. She is walking so well that when she is headed for something she shouldn’t be (e.i. Toilet, cabinets, wires, stairs) she able to walk at a pretty good clip almost running while looking over her shoulder to see who is giving chase. We have trouble on our hands.
Tessie is saying lots of words. We still don’t know what they are, but she seems to be sure of what she is trying to say. She is pointing to let us know what interests her. She waves and blows kisses. She kisses/slimes our faces.
We have been starting to give her table food, but we are very limited because she hasn’t grown any teeth yet. So far we haven’t really found many foods that she doesn’t like. But she loves vegetables and even tofu.
We have done a lot of visiting this month. Tessie and Mom went to Long Island, New York for 4 days. With Dad traveling for work and snowboarding, we have gone on other day trips and visits locally. We also have gotten into a project of creating a playroom for Tessie to contain the clutter. (“Good Luck” you’re thinking. Right?) But we are trying. Swim class has ended but we are still staying in touch with friends from class. We have been getting together with other friends we have made at the library too.

9 months

It’s Groundhog Day! Hopefully Px Phil was right about spring arriving early. As mild as the winter has been, we can’t wait for warmer weather to be here. Despite the weather, we have still been getting out a lot and making new friends wherever we go. Tessie loves swim class and we still go to the library weekly. She is born to be a diva. While the librarian reads the story she crawls to the middle of the circle of babies, stands directly in front of the librarian, claps her hands, and makes little happy noises. She loves to be the center of attention.
Speaking of standing, she is getting very good at it, standing for about 30 seconds and taking some steps! I have seen her take as many as 7 steps. Stephen has seen her walk about 12 steps when I went upstairs for about 10 minutes. Isn’t that always the way? Most of the time it’s about 2-3 steps before she drops to the floor.
We have plans to travel to New York again this month, so maybe my friend Kristen will take some more beautiful pictures…hopefully Tessie will cooperate.

8 months

Happy 2007! We hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and is doing well.
Having Tessie around gave this Christmas a new energy. Santa’s visit was more exciting for us than Tessie, but she will get to know and enjoy family traditions. Although I’m not sure it will always be warm enough to walk to church. We even went to a tree farm to cut down our own tree. I would recommend that to anyone! It was fun and the tree lasted very well for us. Tessie didn’t like the sharp needles at first, but the lure of lights and ornaments was too much and she learned not to mind the poking as bad. Our tree ended up naked on the bottom 2 feet.
Now that Tessie is more mobile, she is getting into a lot more. She is crawling faster and cruising along and between furniture with more confidence. As I write this email it is 6AM- she isn’t awake, so for a moment the house is safe. Tessie is a climber. She has learned how to climb the stairs so yet another barrier was put up- which she immediately learned to climb over. We are working on a new solution. In the past week she has learned how to get herself to standing without help. She can stay balanced for about 5-10 seconds before she drops to her diaper-cushioned bottom.
Tessie is keeping us on our toes. She likes to be chased around the house by her daddy. She sounds like she has a lot to say. Mostly “va va va” but once in a while she speaks her own little language to some new object she finds. She makes a snorting face a lot, too. Again- I think we encourage it by laughing, so she does it more. We don't know if she means anything by it. Maybe it's revenge for taking too many photos. Notice she makes the face on Christmas Day when my perfect photo opportunity comes...
She is trying more new foods. Luckily she hasn’t gotten her mother’s sweet tooth, preferring green beans and carrots over bananas and peaches. We will be starting to splash around a pool at the YMCA when we start a “class” on Thursdays. Maybe it will get her good and tired for Thursday naps with Grampa. ;)