Tessie 2.5, Caden 3 months

How quickly the time passes.
Caden is 3 months old, so he can already hold a grudge against me for not documenting his life as I have for his sister...Caden is already so different from the last blog entry; in size (already 14 pounds)and personality. He is much more aware of what is going on around him. He smiles, laughs, and jabbers a bit. He turns his head toward things that interest him- mostly his big sister. I swear he loves her more than anyone else. He is aware of his hands and feet. He reaches for toys when he is laying on the playmat and is rolling onto his side. He has transitioned to sleeping in his own crib in the room that he and Tessie share. So far, his record (and mine) for continuous sleep is 5 hours at night, but mostly 3 1/2 - 4 hours.
Tessie doesn't even seem to notice Caden in her room. She has stopped napping so she's pretty wiped out by nightfall. She is a big girl now. She has been doing a great job with potty, wearing big girl underpants at home and keeping a dry diaper most of the time. She is still going to daycare and has been going into the pre-school room with the 3 yr olds from time to time. She will probably be in there full time in the next couple of months. Our daughter is quite patriotic. Part of her bedtime routine requires that I sing the national anthem (it's a long story) and she sleeps with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the US (another long story).
We have been very busy since the last entry. My college roomates from NY visited Columbus Day Weekend so we took them around New England style by taking them apple/pumpkin picking at a local farm. They had hay rides, food, and entertainment. We were lucky to have had such great weather. Caden was Christened on October 26th- with about 10 other children. He slept through most of the ceremony. Tessie got together with friends for costume parties before Halloween- Tessie was a penguin and Caden was a fish. Since she doesn't really eat candy, we didn't bother with trick-or-treating. We had a couple of campfires in the backyard. Stephen and I were more excited than the kids to roast hotdogs and marshmallows over the flames. We also went to the Albany area to visit family. Tessie had a blast with her cousins and Oma Renate.
These next couple of months are going to be exciting with Tessie. She is at the age where she understands the holidays better although I was able to convince her that Halloween was a holiday to give away candy for now. She has already seen Santa at the mall and looks forward to when he comes to our grey house. She has been a very good girl this year...

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!

5 months

Boy, did September fly by or what? School has started and I’m not teaching. It’s a strange feeling, but Tessie makes it so my life is anything but dull. Tessie was baptized on September 10th and we have done some visiting with family from Louisiana. Last week we went to Carlson Orchards in Harvard, MA to pick our own apples with Kristen. Very cute pictures from that too.
She had a doctor’s appointment and got three shots in the legs...She was very brave. She hardly even cried. I was the one who felt worse. Anyway, she is growing. Almost 15 lbs and 25.5” long. Her appetite has grown too, so we started her on cereal. She hasn’t quite figured out that it’s supposed to stay in her mouth, so we have just been putting it in her bottle once a day until she gets used to the taste. For now she has just been sitting in her high chair watching closely at what we eat- probably wishing for some variety in her meals.
She is starting to sit on the floor for longer than a few seconds. For now we mostly just prop our legs or other things around her. She likes it because she can use both hands for grabbing things. She is learning about gravity too as she flings toys around. Tessie is looking forward to being mobile. She has started the crouch to get ready for crawling. For now she just rolls and squirms. She still likes to get everyone’s attention with her voice and has started screeching. Just short happy screeches and I swear sometimes that she says Mama too. That is all for now. I’m writing on borrowed time…