Third week in August

 

Although I have decided to blog, I’m not that good at it.  Also, titles are not my strong suit.   I need the outlet of writing and I am a compulsive over-sharer so that is a good start.   I also have an almost frantic need to remember everything in this incredible first year of Tessie’s life so that seems good.  But in the midst of my list making mode my lists sometimes turn to her, and then a week later I find a quick list about what she has done but I haven’t actually written about her.  It’s probably worth noting that I don’t spell check and I rarely re-read anything.  You maybe already noticed. 

Today I will catch up.

Last week it seems like Tess-a-roonie turned the corner and she can now hold her head up strong.   I don’t feel like I need to support her every second and so she generally seems like a solid little person now.   I even started leaving her car seat in the car and just grabbing her.   Grab and Go Baby is much easier….  especially when running quick errands or going to Chipotle.   Plus,  Grab and Go Baby gets tons of compliments from strangers telling her how beautiful she is.   She loves that.  I even dragged out the Bumbo seat to see is she could do it.   What do you think?

She is very interested in feeling everything.   At naptime she likes to feel the satin / fleece little blanket if its close, or her monkey.   She has always fallen asleep with her hands in her hair so there is still that, too.  When I change her she feels the wall, and she’s even started rubbing her hands on my arm or my face or my chest.   It’s just like she is checking everything out to see how it feels. 

Grandma Kathy and Auntie Pat came over for a few days to visit and Tessie always has the biggest smiles for them.   We love that they come over so often because Tessie definitely knows who they are, and they are very comfortable with her schedule so if we need to run an errand or hide in the office for hours, we can do that.   

Speaking of the office, here is a self portrait of the two of us from last week.   I have learned there is definitely a category of work I can do one handed.  I have also learned that when something this cute is on your lap you cannot be expected to be productive.    I would say “Don’t tell Steve”… but I suspect he already knows.

 

To wrap up… here are a few more cute pics from the week….  Tessie chillin’ on the floor with Girard the Giraffe,  enjoying a fall feeling day with a hoodie and a grey cotton headband, and of course a shot of the cutest chubbiest thighs ever.   Everybody loves chubby baby thighs, right?

  

There you have it.   Hugs!

Week Highlights

What a Week!!   

• Grandma Kathy has taken on her project of  planting our gardens with a vengeance.   She has been here almost every day this week working for hours on end.   There will be a lot of upkeep going forward, and this does stress out Steve a bit, but I am thrilled.   Besides, next summer when Tessie is toddling around the backyard playing, I will probably like weeding the garden.  Well, maybe.          
• I went through all of Tessie's clothes again.  It's just one of the many cycles of having a baby, right?    What doesn't fit?  What fits now?  What might fit soon?   Rearrange the dresser.    My baby is so tall that we are writing off one piece outfits for good.  So I gathered another stack of clothing to return - and then went to Carters and bought an 8 piece cool weather wardrobe for $39.   
• Tessie is totally grabbing for things and finally really enjoying the activity gym and all its fun toys.   She talks to herself in the mirror and grabs at everything!  
• She is still sleeping so great.  I never take it for granted so it is always a highlight.   She wakes up all smiles and joy.  Steve gets her every morning and changes her before bringing her to me. 
• We had a day with miss Mikayla on Tuesday .....   always so much fun to play with a cousin!   
• Karen and Allie came over on Wednesday and we walked to Noodles for lunch.  It was the first time we just used the stroller without the car seat and it worked great.   Of course we had work interrupt us about 10 times, so it was awesome to have Karen there to grab Tessie as needed.   We don't see each other enough!
• Yesterday afternoon she was in the office and just smiled and talked to Steve for the longest time.   He couldn't tear himself away and it was a highlight of his day.
• She tracks Steve's movements through the room.  I am chopped liver when he shows up.   If she even hears his voice she will stop nursing to locate him.   She will smile at the phone when I put him on speaker.  
• We are experimenting with tummy time but we are not committed to doing it every day yet.   Some days when she is lying my chest she lifts her head up to look at me.                                                                                                 
• She is straining her neck to try and pull herself in to a sitting position.  If she is sitting in a chair or propped on a pillow she is trying to use her little neck to propel her into a new position.   I feel that tummy time shouldn't be an issue given this.
• She sits in the highchair and watches me make dinner.   I feel like I am performing my own cooking show as I narrate everything I’m doing with an occasional cheesy grin to my audience.  She seems interested.   
• Tessie is teething.   She drools non stop.   She BITES when she gets a finger.   She could care less about any toy that is a teething toy – but loves to chew on blankets, tags, her hands, and me.
• I have used the pressure cooker 4 times this week.  I am in love.
• I am officially obsessed with Pinterest.  
• Thinking about planning the baptism.  Of course I've started by searching for baptismal gowns.   On Pinterest.   
• I am working on getting her 3 month portraits scheduled.   What to wear, what to wear??   What poses do I want?   Must check Pinterest.  
• Jolene's volunteer position as Tessie's best friend is starting in 2 weeks.  To say that I am excited is an understatement.   One day a week outside of the office to really focus on internet marketing and blogging for business is exactly what I need!

What else?  Tessie has spent time in her swing in the office with me, and hanging out on the patio watching Steve wash the truck!

 

So here it is Sunday morning.  My amazing sleeper has been down for almost 3 hours.   I'm blogging, drinking coffee and about to start some chores.   Steve is at the Market, and later today we're doing our fun stepping stone project.   Then Monday comes and it all starts all over again!

A Free Saturday... (almost)

Today was crazy.  

Steve had a day off  (well, only one appt) so we finally had ourselves a Saturday.     Tessie woke up to eat just after 6am  like normal and after I fed her I laid her in bed between us so we could enjoy some family snuggle time.   Then Steve fell asleep.  Then Tessie did.  Then I did.   An hour later Tessie woke me  up.   She is the sweetest.   She was looking right at me and just making little cooing noises.   As soon as I opened my eyes I as rewarded with a huge smile.  Love that little girl! 

Snuggle time with Daddy

We went downstairs and I started making breakfast   (egg bake and blueberry muffins).    She started fussing and Steve heard her and rushed down to be with her.   They talked and visited and snuggled on the couch until it was time for us to eat.  

In her stroller at the Market. 

After breakfast we checked the work phone and got the message that Adam was sick – and needed to be relieved from working the Market.  Since Steve had a lead, it was up to me and Tessie.   So much for a quiet morning at home!   Tessie and I worked the market from 10:30-1:30.   While there were too many strange noises (the saxophone player, the ambulance racing by and the wrecker vehicle honking like always) for her to sleep, she did finally enjoy a long nap in her stroller in the fresh air.  Of course,  our farmers market friends were all excited to see us. 

We all went to lunch at Boston Market and then came home for a late lunch.   And then after Tessie’s nap we went on a walk around Lake Nokomis.  We have not walked around a lake in 2 summers, and here it is the 18^th of August already.   Can you believe it??    For me there is nothing more relaxing than staring at water and feeling the breeze on my face.   And yet, I haven't made it a priority to make it happen.   So during our walk of course my favorite time was just sitting on the bench with Steve admiring our sleeping baby and enjoying the view of the lake.     It's almost embarrassing to admit that I have craved relaxation for so long now, and the perfect lake is incredibly close and easy to get to.    Tessie and I could just go there whenever we want.   Maybe next summer we’ll go every week to splash around at the beach.   

After the lake  Steve made us an awesome dinner, we put the baby to bed and watched a movie.   All in all a wonderful day .  Even though we still had a little work mixed in, it still felt like a day off.