Happy 2nd Birthday!

Tessie is such a love in our lives. I know I keep saying it, but she is just sooo much fun to be around. She is talking even more. I have estimated that she has well over 350 words in her vocabulary. She is stringing together sentences and talking more about experiences rather than just objects. I love sneezing and hearing her little voice say “Bless you, Mama”. Her memory for people is much better, now asking for people by name Uncle (Dave), Papa (Grampa), Nana, Aunt Terri, Uncle Cookie, Kris, etc. She even inquires about them when they are not around (object permanence for you psychologists out there). We have been talking to her about the baby that is coming to live with us. I found a couple of good books about it that we have been reading to her.
We had our ultrasound on March 10th. We did not find out the gender. We did find out that the baby’s due date seems pretty accurate according to the measurements. All in all, healthy is what we are looking for, and it’s what we’ve got so far. Who could ask for more than that?

Back to Tessie-
Sitting on the potty… with results, shall we say? She is using it at daycare and at home about 4 times a day. Now that the weather seems to have broken and we have gotten our final snow storm (famous last words) we are getting much more time outside. Tessie is enjoying experiences like going to the 2 playgrounds near us…driving us crazy because there is no hiding what she wants now that she talks (“Mama, go for walk park/playground” or “Simon Park”) but not understanding conditions that make it less fun (cold, rainy, dark out, 5 minutes from bedtime).
Tessie got a toddler bed (“Happy Birthday Bed” as she calls it) as an early birthday present from us. She transitioned to it no problem and still hasn’t figured out that she can just get out of bed to find us if she wants. She still lays there waiting for one of us to come get her. It’s only a matter of time, I’m sure.
She had a great birthday, although she fell asleep at her own party! She loves playing with all of her new toys, which makes it a little harder to leave home in the morning. She has made some friends at daycare and talks about them often. We have even gotten to know some of the parents, which is nice.
Hope everyone is enjoying the coming of Spring.

(The photos are out of order. Sorry, I don't know how to fix it.)

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.