Defining Moments

Chinese New Year 2012

2012-02-11T18:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Year of the Dragon! Our FCC event, one of the activities I look forward to each winter was tonight. The group of Moms/Dads that organize this event should be commended. It takes a huge amount of work to pull this off. I avoided the draft (volunteering) of becoming a board member this year, but I know it is only a matter of time. I was quite pleased to make a raffle basket and donate a gift card.
Tessa had an absolutely fabulous time and was on a sugar high by the end of the evening. The local Chinese school performed a dragon dance - complete with a few drums. Thank goodness, for what party is complete without drumming. Tessa went crazy, the girl loves a good drum beat..well any drum beat really. The louder the better. While most children her age were running from the dragon and drums she was screaming for them to continue.
Right after the parade, which she proudly marched in until she realized I wasn't behind her was the ribbon dancing. And of course she had to be on the stage, because all the big girls were there. Please note in the picture that she was facing the wrong way. So much for her stage career. She carried that ribbon for the majority of the evening. It was dragged into the bathroom stall, yuk yuk. I tired to abandon it on our way out...no such luck.
The event was held at a church hall and the stage was right in front of this larger than life crucifix. I saw Tessa staring at it with this weird look on her face...'Look Momma' and just when I was about to stumble through that situation, she moved on. The image probably imprinted, but at least I didn't have to figure out how to explain it to a 2.5 year old.
We reenacted the 'fireworks' (AKA bubble wrap) when we got home and I am sure we will again tomorrow. She is too light to make the popping occur, but imitating the bigger girls is really all its about so we jumped around a bit anyway.

Tessababel

2012-02-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

Refocusing

2012-01-24T17:39:00.000-08:00

I'm over my pity party, thanks in part to my matter of fact husband. We really only have one option - move forward. Now, which direction we ultimately go is unknown but we will not toss up our hands in defeat. We have been here before, sort of - we were at least a year into our wait with China before the rug was pulled out from under us. Look what we would have missed had we stopped....
We will follow the course planned and hope that Rwanda opens their doors again soon. The Hague Convention is going to make the Rwanda adoption process better (the slower part is already covered). What I need to focus on is the big picture - we are going to make a difference in the life of a little girl and enrich our lives in the process.

Travel

2012-01-20T20:38:00.000-08:00

I miss traveling for work, sick you may think but I do. The best part is coming home, even the anticipation of coming home is quite nice. You really appreciate your life when you get out and about - you appreciate the comforts of your own space that you have created. I feel oddly incomplete this trip. I miss my peeps more than I could possibly express. I walk the streets and think of them often. I text 'I like pictures' in hopes one will pop up on my phone. All this I say as I feel partly that these breaks are good for all of us - maybe selfishly for me.

Before I left we received unsettling news about Rwanda. Apparently there is no end in sight to the Rwanda's accession to the Hague Convention. Summary is all new adoptions are on hold. I cried, I snuck into the bathroom and tried to stifle my tears - It didn't work. With a snout like mine I was silly to think it would. Words were unspoken and in the end we both know....here we go again. Another emotional rollercoaster. This is taking a major toll on my youthful glow - I suddenly feel old.

I was supposed to mail in our homestudy before I left. I didn't. I needed to clear my head, remind myself how blessed I am, spend some me time and consider the path forward that will be best for our family.

uggh.

Today was a very good day.

2012-01-11T17:13:00.000-08:00

Today I am very proud of my little girl, the kind of proud Mom's get when their children do something outstanding. Today my little girl made it through the whole day without an accident. The WHOLE day people. Everyday I fully expect to come into school and find her in pants that are fiesta to her checkered top, but not today. Not today. Dare I say she knew I was proud, did it seem more genuine than my normal potty dance? She told her Daddy, she told Lexi.
I will say that my laundry for the first time in months is caught up because pee pee pants cant wait for a few days to be washed. That is the only positive to the accidents and I am quite willing to slip back into unwashed piles if it means she got 'it'.
The sticker chart was a flop and the M&M's were a slow start but now...now she can barely wait for those three little colorful gems. Too bad I am eating them as well.
Yes, today was a good day.

2011 and a pink potty

2012-01-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

One of the saddest years of my life has come to a close. And all I can say is good riddance. I do not plan to dwell on the sadness of Tessa losing two grandparents, but it is quite difficult. I have gone through the range of emotions - Ive been strong, Ive been weak, Ive been thankful. I like thankful the best. Thankful for the time they each had with her, thankful for the time she had with them.

We have thrown ourselves into potty training, for what better way to absorb time than to continually monitor and ask someone if they need 'to go'. I have been questioned whether she is ready, my response is how do I know for sure? I will not compare her to others. This is a personal timeline and all indications are positive. She enjoys her new character panties and quite enjoys sitting on the potty to the point that it results in a ring on her bum. We have had successes full of dancing and stickers and candy. We have cleaned the floor a lot.

However you plan to spend the beginning days of your new year I hope they are pleasant and I hope 2012 is a happy year. Most of all I hope that you are thankful, because there is so much in life to be thankful for...

Holidays

2011-12-26T13:10:00.000-08:00

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas time flies...I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying this season with Tessa. It is incredibly interesting to me how things you do become traditions in a child's eyes and why certain things become ingrained as a memory. I wonder what Tessa will come to expect as part of our holiday tradition.
There really wasn't much Christmas expectation from Tessa. I was more excited that she was - up before 6 to walk Lexi and get the monkey bread in the oven. By 8 am I was pacing - when is this kid going to wake up? Doesn't she know it is Christmas?? I peeked in my stocking and then I paced some more.
Tessa mentioned one thing she would like from Santa, Minnie Mouse. And she stuck for over a month with the same choice. I, of course being the horrible mother not giving credit to my two year old, never even considered asking her so it was a great surprise when she told my sister at Thanksgiving. Then at random times since that point I would ask and the answer to two questions would always be the same...
What would you like from Santa? Minnie Mouse
Who is coming to fill the stockings? Aunt TC

Sisters

2011-12-17T12:25:00.000-08:00

There is truly nothing like a sibling....you "hate" them at times (being honest people), you envy them, you are proud of them, you laugh with them (and at them), you cry with them, you are a sounding board for each other....the list goes on and on. Most importantly you love them for who they are, as different as they may be from you.
I am so excited Tessa will get to experience having a sibling, because there is nothing like it. And when Will and I are crazy (which may come sooner than later) they can call one another and giggle.

My sister and I were told by a lady once that she knew we were sisters because our teeth looked alike...too funny.

Spelling

2011-12-08T17:23:00.000-08:00

My husband says my blogs have misspelled words...my apologies, sort of. I'm tired by the time I do this and I am not going back to correct anything unless ship turns out to be shit or something along those lines. I feel you all can get over the misspellings, and get the meaning of my crazy fast blog post I squeeze into the week (ha, ha ha). And if you don't, well frankly I will never know. Thanks for listening. Smooch.

Breakfast with Santa 2011

2011-12-07T18:09:00.001-08:00

Last year we missed the breakfast, tackled the mall crowd and overpaid for a picture (you have to by some weird mall Santa parent guilt rule). This year we got up an personal with Santa, well sort of ...the look on Tessa's face when Santa came in was absolutely priceless. She screamed 'Santa' and was smiling as big as she could. And then he started toward the table and she scrambled up me like some sort of crazed animal. Keep your distance odd man, clearly you are acting as a stand in for the big guy...she wouldn't look him in the face. All I was thinking is this is going to a a picture perfect moment.

Once it was time to sit on his lap, I told her she should tell him what she wants for Christmas - and then she spied the candy canes. Immediately I was completely ignored. That was all it took, forget the prospect of gifts, forget the magic of Christmas just give this girl her 'tandy'. And so she sat uncomfortably, whispered Minnie Mouse twice (just in case he had a hard time hearing through the obviously fake beard and hair) and held out her hand. My saving grace is that Tessa uses Please and Thank You (a lot) so it seemed less greedy to those around us.

I can say there were no tears, however I cannot say she gets what "he" does (other than pass out candy and say ho ho ho). She still tells me her aunt TC will be filling the stockings. I hope aunt TC brings me nice things too.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-29T17:41:00.000-08:00

Lordy, driving 13 hours with a toddler is exhausting. Tessa has never been a great car rider-she wasn't in a car seat for 7 months and frankly hates to be strapped down. All I have to say is the video player (which I really didn't want) is a life line, even if she she prefers short clips that can be watched over and over and over versus an entire movie. I did take the opportunity to play a little 'using the potty' video propaganda on the trip. I'm not sure it helped.
She learned how to do seat drops on the trampoline, she learned all about being a pinch runner during the family wiffleball game, we danced to dance dance revolution (of whatever it is called) and she learned that yes, it is true that 28 trains go by the house every day. We spent many an hour running to see the damn trains. She loved them, well she did tell me at one point they were loud. Regardless, I was completely impressed that she slept through the night trains on a blow up mattress in a room all by herself for all but two naps. My sister says I am lucky she is easy to put down. I'd like to think it is my clam demeanor or fabulous mothering skills...ha.

Sunny Days

2011-11-09T19:03:00.000-08:00

I'm not a good blogger. I don't find it relaxing in any way. I continue to struggle with who in the world would want to read about our everyday life. I simply do it to keep in touch with family and possibly inspire or encourage others who are considering adoption. I'm not going to lie, I think about stopping as the weeks pass and I have posted nothing. Then I remember, ah yes we are adopting again and although I fully expect to have little to no service in Rwanda you just never know. My family may have some sort of breakdown if they don't have the connection to our experience as they did with Tessa. I may need to invoke a family volunteer to type updates for me. :)
As we move further into the paperwork of our second adoption I am starting to feel more and more anxiety while trying to hold onto the feelings I had at the beginning of our first. I am certainly more relaxed about filling out the paperwork, even after reading all the tough questions and what if's that could happen. I have grown enough through this process to learn that many of those occur if you have a child biologically. It is all perspective. I have started a new binder for Baby H #2, but I do hope it will not be as thick as Tessa's (formally Baby H #1) but if it is, it is - I have no control over it. I have no control over the process..none. Four and a half years was a tough lesson. I cried way too much, feeling sorry for myself I suppose. And yet there are still parents waiting for China, their resolve is amazing. Adoption is stressful but once they place that little one in your arms the stress melts away....for about a 10 minutes. Then you are like holy moly, this is it - welcome to the crazy family (so sorry). All kidding aside I welcome the associated stress this time because I know how it ends.
So bring it on....bring on the parenting classes I have already taken once and will have to take again (grrr), bring on the ONE trip to the INS for fingerprints that they struggle to get from me, bring on the 500 pages of forms I have to sign, bring on the homestudy visits (I'm not cleaning my baseboards this time) and bring on the retina scan (kidding, that isn't required...yet) - I'm ready.

First Snow 2011

2011-10-31T04:28:00.000-07:00

We had our first snowfall of the season - 8 inches of heavy stuff. Snow is so much more beautiful when I don't have to get up and I don't have to shovel and I don't have to go to work. Saturday snows are the best, even if they come really early in the year.

This will be the first year Tessa is really able to play in the snow, although she is still quite restricted in the get up I put her in to keep warm. We spend more time getting ready than actually playing. The snow was also coming down fairly hard so she was just as content sitting on the porch with my Mom while I made a snowman.

I just finished reading The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, so the entire time I am building this I am a little creeped out. My DH then says make it face toward the house so T can see it out of the window. I glanced at him a little too quickly - gulp, that is what the killer did. I wasn't the least bit upset he melted the next day.

Good news!

2011-10-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

We have organized a reunion of the fabulous Hunan 6 for next year in Missouri. It is extremely hard to organize 6 families with very busy schedules. After monitoring the emails I feel like our life is quite boring...these families are constantly on the go. The Moms decided to rotate the locations between hometowns, which I think is fabulous. Most of our group lives in the midwest oddly enough. We keep up with one another through Facebook but we are generally interested in keeping the girls connected for one day we know we will all be challenged with questions.

On another note our application for Rwanda has been approved. Fingers crossed that the Ministry of Health will open again very soon and that the requirements don't change dramatically and we aren't able to continue. Big risk but we have opted to move forward. Now we get to start the real paperchase...and the next journey. Yay!!

problem solver

2011-10-16T17:42:00.001-07:00

Today I set up a slide off our back deck. I wanted to take out some of the spindles so the angle would be steeper but the DH said no way. I even offered the first ride to him and he still didn't think it was a wise idea. What adult wouldn't want to slide off a deck? I suppose we need to actually purchase the rest of the play set instead of offering to take wayward pieces from people.
I gave her a bucket of wiffleballs and voila an hour of play. I set up the bucket at the end and tried to explain trajectory. Other than the thrill of Mom's reaction, I think the point was lost on her a bit. Rewind to yesterday, when the DH was tightening the kitchen faucet. Tessa was all over that activity. She gladly handed him tools he didn't need and ultimately climbed right on top as if it was the most natural place for her to be at that very moment. I am continually amazed at the speed she learns and figures things out. She is quite into puzzles at the moment. We do them every night before bed. I have some classic wooden puzzles passed down from the sis, and she thinks they are fun (the character's aren't familiar). I try to explain where the pieces go when she gets stumped without actually doing it. Her listening ears are on, because I see her eyes dart around looking for what I am describing. A mom can hope this will always be the case when I talk. ;)

A few things...lucky 7.

2011-10-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

1. I am not a dramatic person. I have told Tessa since day one 'no drama' in this house - to the point she says it and yet it is falling on deaf ears. She is dramatic, as I am convinced every first born is, um, 'blessed' with. There must be some gene first children posses that is yet to be fully understood. I look at her sometimes in confusion, all this for that??? All this drama and I hear my sister laughing in my head.

2. She loves the game of chase, loves it - not so much the chaser as the chasee. We had professional photos taken today and I swear the poor photographer spent the majority of the time running after her. Tessa was fabulous and worked the camera better than I thought she would (see point 1).

3. We have purchased a big girl bed, lord help me.

4. Tessa is a non-sick sleeper, whereas I am just the opposite. Sick Tessa means long night for me. Notice I didn't say us - my DH tried to assist last sickness and lets just say....see point 1. This too I know will pass, like the phases of the moon.

5. Tessa is learning in leaps and bounds - I like to watch her think sometimes when I ask her a question that she knows the answer but just isn't quite sure. You can practical see her synapse firing.

6. Outside, that is what it is all about. She loves it, prefers it and as winter approaches I dread having to keep her inside. She is a nature girl - bring on the dirt, bugs, whatever she is there. She has kissed more trees in 2 years than many adults have done in their lives.

7. She is a cat person, through and through. She loves her brothers, and is not so thrilled about her sister. Granted her brothers don't bark, don't have stinky breath and don't try to herd you. Tessa pulls out her best 'she is touching me, she is looking at me' skills when her sister gets too close...again see point 1.

What have we been up to?

2011-09-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

A 2nd birthday Fiesta. I am exhausted, my house is barely back in order but I am making memories and I love it. The day turned out cold and overcast so at the last minute we moved everything inside. My sister was in town which made the weekend oh so much better because I am by nature NOT an entertainer and she is, so it was nice I had an organizer. A house full of people isn't my thing.
Tessa seemed overwhelmed at times, barely opened gifts and looked at the pinata with an expression of shock at what was happening. It was a violent free pinata, until yours truly had to tear its legs off the get at the candy. She will probably be scarred for life. It was like I was giving the poor burro some sort of exam. Terrible.
Tessa did enjoy the decorating her own cupcake, all the kids seemed to revel being in charge of their own sprinkles. What a messy, fun idea - definitely an outdoor activity if you choose to try it.
Tessa became more herself as the crowds cleared and she was left with those more familiar. I think she truly enjoyed having her BFF with her. I wish I had on tape her screaming 'Abaigh here, Abaigh here' when she arrived. Frankly if only Abaigh showed she probably would have been just as content.
Tessa likes all her new toys but returns time and time again to her cards. I wish I know what she was saying as she converses with them - it is a full blown conversation with hand gestures and facial expressions.

Best Things

2011-09-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

Someone said the best things in life are free. I suppose on some level this is true. The best thing I receive from Tessa is unconditional love. To say she is attached to me is an understatement - sometimes she feels like an appendage. I wouldn't trade it, I have learned. I miss rocking her to sleep, how perfectly she fit on my chest. How completely at peace the world seemed while she was there.
My sister gave me a book when we received our match which captures these feelings perfectly. I may have mentioned it before. It makes me cry every single time I read it, because 'Someday' is true. This time goes by so quickly.There are so many things in life that we take for granted, it is easy to do but I try to remember each day with Tessa is a precious gift. Parenting is tough, tough and fabulous and the most important job I will ever have. You alone are shaping the world of a child - this is nothing to take lightly.

"Someday your eyes will be filled with a joy so deep that they will shine..."

Puddles

2011-08-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

Tessa and I went on a search for puddles to splash in. The best one by far is at the end of our neighbor's driveway. I hope they don't mind, it isn't like they are out enjoying the puddle - why let it go to waste.

The sprinkle that almost got away

2011-08-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

To set the backdrop we were at an ice cream shop enjoying soft serve, two with fudge, one with sprinkles. Tessa was enjoying that fact she was sitting at the table, no booster, no highchair barely able to see over the table's edge and certainly not able to see in her dish. Tessa didn't want help with her dish, it was placed on a napkin like her Daddy and all was right with the world. She had skillfully maneuvered her spoon to remove all sprinkles, was dancing to the music and decided she was done. We let her stand in the booth and suddenly without provocation or indication my child threw her body on the table announcing loudly "UH OH" grabbing what can only be described as a 1/4 of a piece of one sprinkle. Do you know how freakin' small that is?? This pink tidbit blended in so well with the fancy Formica table top I wasn't sure what she had. She exclaimed, turning to me while on her stomach with the rogue sprinkle in hand...."TESSA'S!" and popped the niblet in her smiling mouth. We haven't laughed so hard in a long time.
Sprinkle detritus beware, my child has eagle eyes and you will be discovered!

Happy...to you!

2011-08-07T04:03:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Dadda's birthday with Dunkin Donuts and tractor rides. I was prepared to make a cake, but alas my husband's choice was donuts. Jelly to be exact....GAG. I hate jelly donuts. Jelly should not be injected into anything. Clearly this day was not about me, but as I was picking them up Tessa and I shared a few donut holes. And the aftermath was a glazed mess in the carseat. This seat may not last for a second child, it is full of crumbs as is my car. :)
Tessa is starting to string words together which is funny to me. I still have to translate (a lot) but her speech is getting clearer each day. She sang "Happy..To You" many times through the day. She accidentally added Tessa into the song a few times, giggled then corrected herself and said Dadda. I love how toddlers can laugh at themsleves, over nothing in particular.

We are struggling a bit with the effects of thumb sucking. I don't mind that she sucks her thumb, I did it and survived. Tessa has a nice raw cracked sore because of this habit. We have tried band aids, but even the smallest ones are seriously too big for her tiny finger. So I have resorted to sneaking in her room late at night rubbing cream on the offending thumb. Tessa isn't dedicated to one side so the other thumb is getting some action. Fair is fair after all.

Score!

2011-07-31T05:19:00.000-07:00

I am a searcher of recycled things when it comes to Tessa's land of toys. Cheap and well taken care of are sometimes hard to come by. This weekend a friend at work had a garage sale and I went over the night before to 'shop'. She has a little boy so as I passed up perfectly good Tonka trucks, which in hindsight I should have bought. Then I spied an EASEL! I have been searching for one of these for months. I have seen all but one at a garage sale and none at the consignment shops. Tessa LOVES it - perhaps this is her break into the fabulous world of art?? Hard to tell. Tessa still enjoys putting things together and taking them apart - more a cause and effect kind of kid.
Some Mom's may think I am nuts but I bought her two drums as well. These are loud, way loud - lets just say we are ready for the pow wow. I have her on video banging them, singing and dancing wearing only a 'loin cloth'....known around these parts as a diaper.

Bit O' History - Rwanda

2011-07-22T19:02:00.000-07:00

I was researching Rwanda, after reading a few blogs and wiping away tears. I found an interesting tidbit about the flag. Apparently the flag was changed in 2001 to help avoid connections with the 1994 genocide. The genocide is unfortunately one part of history that Rwanda is best known for - in part because of the movie Hotel Rwanda. There is no way for me to wrap my head around how this violence could erupt so quickly. The genocide ended with over 500, 000 people dead, 20% of the country population by some estimates.

The flag with the large R is the old flag. As with all flags the colors represent something - in the case of green and red it represented peace and people. Ironically these are two things which clashed. This flag obviously wasn't very inspiring. The new flag has less dramatic colors but retained the representation of peace with the large blue band. I look at this flag an immediately think it is backwards. Don't you think the sun should be on the left?

The shear difference in the amount of blogs for Rwanda adoption versus China adoption is astounding to me, although not a surprise. I actually found a family who adopted a little boy from Rwanda and a little girl from China. And here I thought we were the first! They are lovely as are the other 3 blogs I have stumbled upon. Adoption blogs represent indirect support systems while you go through your journey.

You tend to thirst for information when you adopt. I read China adoption blogs like a mad women trying to imagine myself in their lives loving on MY child all the while torturing my broken heart (okay, okay - it was jealously). I find myself quenching that need again, but with a different feeling - the prospect of this new journey takes me to Tessa and how this will affect her life. Having a sibling is a blessing, you don't always appreciate them but then you can't imagine life without them. I have yet to get that image of our daughter in Rwanda, it took a while for China but one day it just happened and I knew. Being drawn to a country is different than being drawn by your heart knowing your child is waiting for you. They are of course connected....until then I will do as I did for while we waited for Tessa. Hope.

Catching up: this week

2011-07-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

We have been extremely busy and I love it but I am also looking for a bit of downtime this weekend. My house is is dire need of a cleaning - this spot cleaning business can only take you so far. My floors have crumbs and lord knows what else on them. The dog hair doesn't roll by anymore but finds itself collecting on one of the many sticky spots around the dinner table. I seriously can't wait to bust out the mop.

My Mom has been up visiting which has been nice. Tessa loves her Gaga and it has been nothing but giggles since her arrival. We took Tessa to the Crayola Factory which I think she was a little young in retrospect because we spent maybe 3 minutes at each station. Her favorite part was the dancing area, go figure. My little one isn't really into art project - yet. I hope yet because I do enjoy a nice art project. I actually had her teacher say to me it will be hard for me to let go when Tessa is old enough to help with the family projects. It hurt to throw away the winter snowman project - and yes I took a picture of my work. It was A quality folks. Anyway, I digress.

We are enjoying the GA love we are receiving this week. Tessa has started talking a lot, having complete conversation with herself which include facial expressions and hand gestures. She is stringing a few words together and getting frustrated when we don't understand her. Her favorite thing in the whole world is to be chased. She and Mom are wearing grooves in my hardwoods. We taught her how to say 'Ready, Set, Go'. Of course she has already started running at 'set'.

We will be sad to see Gaga go but we are getting more GA love in just a few months when we celebrate birthday number 2!

Cheese! Happy Friday!

2011-07-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

Friday Flashback

2011-07-01T11:17:00.001-07:00

This was taken on adoption day, the second day we had Tessa. The pictures from this day were some of my favorite. I have been drafting and rewording our announcement of a second adoption and can't find the right words so there you go. We are planning to adopt a little sister for Tessa. This decision makes me very teary eyed because I have so many emotions about embarking on this journey again. We have pondered this for months and even though we said we would wait a year we seemed to talk about the possibility as soon as we landed from China.
I am worried, apprehensive, excited, inquisitive...the list goes on and on.
The international adoption environment right now seems to be a bit unpredictable for many unexplained reasons... one of which we experienced ourselves - a LONG wait. Ah, but look at the joyful little girl we waited for!!
We will officially start the paperchase in the fall - this time through Rwanda. We are drawn to 'the land of a thousand hills' and to our next little girl who will help complete our family. Wish us luck! Here we go again!

Chicken nugget in the bathtub.

2011-06-25T19:00:00.001-07:00

If only I could say the title didn't happen, but toddlers in their requests and a husband who temporarily lost his mind and you get well, a soggy chicken nugget that Mommy had to flush and therefore cause a major breakdown. Add to the fact that said husband in that brief moment of insanity decided to eat the remaining nuggets...good grief.

We go on to experience pee in the ball pit which was brief insanity on my part. One must let a toddler experience freedom from diapers. I do this frequently, I won't lie but I usually time it well. That is of course what you always think until you hear a little voice saying 'Ut Oh, Ut Oh'. Luckily for me the ball pit has a plastic bottom, so other than removing wet toddler from tiny opening and balancing pee puddle and plastic balls for sanitizing it wasn't too bad of a clean up.

And then there are the night terrors which I can tell you are tough to resist intervening with especially when you stumble in your sleep delirium stepping on a cat in the darkened room without your eyes on. Will has some turn her twice hold her to the heavens move which seems to work. I laughed when he told me, actually I think I sat up in bed...how in the world did you come up with that at 3 am?

Food is an experiment a this age, textures and flavors and the general look I sometimes receive as though what I just served may very well be poison makes for fun meal times. Lately Tessa has been approaching food cautiously and then gorges to the point she can't hold anymore in her mouth and then spits it out. It isn't like spitting more like when you overstuff something and it oozes. Yes, that would be a good way to describe it - oozes out of her mouth. Gross.

We went berry picking and the first 5 she spit out immediately, seriously they barely had time to touch her tongue. The exact opposite of how Lexi eats treats. Neither case allows for savoring of the food. Anyway, You see how it ended..she loved them, just like last year. I looked like an accident victim when I got back to the house. I had a big red smear across my neck and on my face. Thank goodness I didn't run into my neighbor. I fear he must think we have poor hygiene. Every time he sees me I am covered in dirt or snot or red fruit stains.

Having fun = toddler

Rain

2011-06-11T14:28:00.000-07:00

A month ago I would have been complaining about more rain, but taking it in stride we bought an umbrella and a new fishing hat and outside we went. The rain has been a welcome break from the awful heat we have had this week. But it has been a very rainy spring/summer so far. We have been in the pool literally everyday after school - the water is freezing and such a nice relief. Lexi has also been enjoying the pool water. She won't get in but is more than happy to taste Tessa's offerings from a cup.
We have recently bought a little tikes car that Tessa's BFF Abaigh has at her house. I tried in vain to find one used but had little luck. I just wasn't comfortable with the condition of the ones we found and the used store didn't have one. Regardless, Tessa's loves it just as Abaigh's Mom said she would! We have it in the house with the rest of the toys that are taking over my world. It will venture outside shortly.
We have been waiting for the rain to end so our landscaping can begin. When our house was built I asked the contractors to leave the rocks. My mistake, as we were in China when this occurred and they just piled up the rocks everywhere on the tree line which looks terrible. These are big rocks, much bigger than we could move so we called in the professionals. In the end we will have two garden areas and a place for a future swing set. I can't wait!!

My guppy

2011-06-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

I have said it before and here I go again...this girl LOVES water. I could easily turn wordless Wednesday into water Wednesday with all the photos of Tessa playing. The long weekend was infused with water activities - from rain, to the hose, to the babypool, to a water table with friends. Lets not forget that we do bathe in between this prune creating fun.

We went hiking last week and Tessa went diaper deep into the stream giggling before I caught her. No I didn't have on water shoes and no I was not expecting her wild actions. I kept leading her to the edge only to be dragged back out. We are going through a lot of clothes in a day because we get wet...a lot.

I hope you all had a great Memorial Day and kept in mind those past and present military. I always think of my Grandfather on Memorial Day. He would have been front and center at some type of military memorial or parade. As a WWII veteran he never forgot the sacrifices that were made to serve our country.

Acadia

2011-05-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

Back from vacation and exhausted...
Taking Lexi and Tessa on a 10 hour road trip was a lot of work. You don't realize how much room a dog takes up in the back until it dawns on you the 5 tons of baby gear that is actually needed for a trip. Lexi is excellent in the car and was happy to come along - besides she got so many table scraps this week I am surprised she didn't have digestive upset. The weather didn't cooperate at all and the entire week was rainy and chilly. I felt like we were going to turn into mushrooms by the end of the week. Maine in May is unpredictable we were told, but you risk being eaten by black flies in the summer or crowds, which may be about equal to some people. We went with friends of ours and their Granddaughter, who was determined to teach Tessa how to write and some simple math (her words not mine). She wants to be a teacher, even at the early age of 9. Tessa loved having 'Mimi' (Mia) around - copying her Irish dancing moves, being an active participant in the carnival that she created.
We made the best of a rainy cold situation, venturing out to alternate places only to discover some good food that we wouldn't have found had the weather been nice. Our photos are gray and I am sure do not showcase the area's beauty. I, however, may never know as this was the second time my husband was at Acadia and the second time it rained the entire visit....he probably won't suggest we come back.
We were able to squeeze in one day of hiking around Jordon's Pond. Three easy miles, right?? I completely underestimated the 24 pound little girl on my back. Forging ahead Will took the pack and I started to complain about the cold. Tessa loved it, she was all smiles the entire time - even in the drizzle and even if by the end she had socks on her hands to keep them warm. The trail was very interesting as you can see in the pictures. I so wished we had more opportunity to hike, with approx. 152 miles of trails we could have been very busy (and sore).

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

Tessa photo shoot

2011-05-01T10:15:00.001-07:00

I suppose I should have some deep thoughts on the year anniversary of gotcha day. I don't, sorry. It was an amazing day and we reflected quite a bit as to what we were doing last year at certain hours. We talked about when we first held her and how the room just closed around us like we were the only family. It felt like a dream then and at times still does. It struck me when we got the pictures that my little monkey is turning into a little girl. It has been an amazing year, with many more experiences and milestones ahead of us. The entire experience has been so amazing from day one.
My intention was to stop the blog around this time as I feel our adoption experience is over and life has taken its place. That was until my sister and SIL learned of this idea...I got a text message with related themes within seconds of each other. They have sooo much love for the T...I should have known. :)

Family Day - One year Annivesary

2011-04-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

Photos now, will say a little something later...what a difference a year makes!

What a week...

2011-04-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

My DH sent me pictures everyday while I was overseas and I was busy so the week went relatively quick. I only teared up a little when I left. France is lovely in spring, but my heart was in the states so it was hard to enjoy.
While I was gone Tessa mastered saying Momma, which is music to my ears. She emphasizes the first M while nodding her head. She also mastered the log roll, odd yes but none the less in her world this is major news.
A few pictures of my silly monkey, who by the way has a new fascination with owls.

Headbands and Kisses

2011-04-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

I leave for a week tomorrow and I am anxious about being away from my munchkin. I have told the person I am traveling with to expect a tear filled ride to the airport. That being said I have taken the day today to have some quality time.
We had a hairband fest before nap. What you cannot see is that I am also sporting a sequin headband. It is yellow, well sometimes it was pink. Tessa preferred the blue on her baby. I am not really a fan of the headband especially those adorned with sequins apart from dress-up, where of course anything goes.
I considered a picture of the three of us and was frightened by how I looked. I felt as though I jumped back into the Jane Fonda days. Just throw on vertical stripes and leg warmers and I would be ready to Jazzercise! Perhaps even more scary was the fact I just about went outside with it on. If it wasn't for the sequin cutting into my scalp I may have been sporting the look for our neighbors.
Of course let us not forget the love Tessa has for Rama. This picture is from last weekend and doesn't quite go with the story line but I love it. Tessa can pucker now and kisses everyone who is willing to get smooched. Rama's posture in this photo and his squint of the eye is classic for his personality. He takes a lot of Tessa love and keeps coming back.

Dinner

2011-04-02T17:45:00.001-07:00

I get it now why people with children cherish the adult night out. It isn't so much that you want to get away from your children but more that you want to have a complete conversation with other adults over a relaxing glass of wine (or two). Tonight we had the pleasure of of meeting up with good friends who pre-Tessa we ate with at least once a month. In retrospect we should have started a food blog - critique if you will.
Up until this point we relied on friends and family but it was bound to happen that we would branch out. As luck would have it in passing I mentioned babysitting to a mother at a FCC event. Her daughter just received her certificate and was anxious to try babysitting. She was the most mature pre-teen I have met and was so excited about watching Tessa, what could I say.
My house was covered in sticky notes, this poor girl probably thought I was nuts. I had an emergency information list and a things to remember list. I had a suggested activities list. I had an upstairs and downstairs diaper changing kit... just in case she was concerned about carrying Tessa up the stairs. I had a neighbor ready to go in case there was an emergency. She arrived with a pad of paper ready to take notes, little did she know what type of freak 'note leaver' I am. She told me when she arrived that she was nervous, I told her I was too.
Well apparently this girl has the touch, we arrived home to a clean house and a sleeping baby. Getting Tessa to sleep is no small feat. Bravo!

12 month post placement - Family Shot

2011-03-28T17:16:00.001-07:00

Yes, my girl has her tongue out - take it how you want (giggle) but this adoption is over.
And now it is in our past and we can continue to move forward.

Another adoption in our future perhaps??

One Month Shy

2011-03-25T17:22:00.000-07:00

It is has been an absolute crazy month, one crazy long month. I am ready for it to end and for us to move on to April. We had a short little tease of spring weather which was just enough time for Tessa to try out her new tricycle - a hand me down from Lily Mei. It doesn't matter to Tessa that she can not touch the pedals or the ground. Her main concern was the handlebars tassels and secondly that Mommy can bend over at a backbreaking angle to push her around and around and around. I of course snapped no pictures as I was falsely thinking we were done with winter. Apparently not.

April is quickly approaching and it dawned on me that we are coming up on our one year anniversary as a forever family. One year! I cannot believe it, it went fast but feels like yesterday she was placed in my arms. Monday will be our last post adoption report and concludes all the paperwork as far as I am concerned. YAY!

I can honestly say I may be good (well okay) posting updates and taking pictures but I have been failing at organizing pictures into albums for her. I have updated the babybook but added few pictures. I feel this is where the digital photo realm fails for me. At least with film you had to get them developed if you wanted to see them. Now it is instant and I lazily look and save printing for another day. Another day which slips into the next.

Tessa has jumped with both feet into toddlerhood and I love it. She is animated, opinionated and loving all rolled into one. She has finally decided that the camera isn't a thing to be hated and on the rarest of occasions will actually say cheese and smile. Up until this point it has been a quick lens to get a smile - not an easy task. We have a plethera of furrowed brow shots.

I have posted a few photos with my MIL in mind. The monkey 'earrings' were part of Christmas wrapping and although at the moment I have no idea were they are we played putting them on each others ears (and Daddy's) for at least an hour one day. The photo of Tessa in boots is very sweet to me. Not only is she attempting to be like Daddy in boots that weigh as much as she does, she is sporting one of the last dresses my MIL made for her. It happens to be my favorite as it was a rare time my MIL was able to go shopping for fabric with me this last year. She had such great plans for Tessa's clothing. Too bad my sewing skills consist of square pillows.

Pigtails and the Aftermath

2011-03-17T17:33:00.001-07:00

Family

2011-03-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

I am reflective today on family and I suppose the precious gift of life. For those of you who read my blog regularly you probably noticed a lull in activity in the last few weeks. There was no lull in life's happenings of course just a digression of posting, for how does one post happy thoughts when you are sad. My dear MIL passed away shortly after making the decision that she was done fighting against her illness. It was a tough 3+ years with rebounds and setbacks. Will and I are blessed with Tessa's cheerful goofy self which helped to brighten the days we arrived home weary. Children in their innocence tend to have this gift.
I am content in the thought that my MIL got to see her granddaughter, which she longed to hold as much as we did and of course loved dearly. My wedding dress and a few dresses of Tessa's are evidence of a silent talent. She had close friends and touched more peoples lives than I gave her credit for. One learns so much about another at their passing as friends and families gather to reminiscence.
Tessa starting saying Nana just days after she passed away, a little late you may say but perhaps in perfect time. For every random moment Tessa's little voice says Nana we will be swept up in our memories.

Friendship Day

2011-02-19T18:06:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure if the daycare can call it Valentines day. Some of the districts here can't celebrate holidays such as Halloween or Christmas as to not offend those of other beliefs. I do have a hard time believing Valentine's day falls in that category but perhaps so. It is all about love. Didn't the Beatles say that is all you need?

Friendship day occurred on Valentines day at Tessa's daycare, and although I am about week late at posting I wanted to share some pictures. My sister embroidered the outfits for Tessa and her BFF Abaigh. Abaigh, who is an absolute doll of a child. Her smile is to die for - look out boys! Needless to say the 'Diva Girls' as Abaigh's Mom calls them were a big hit. What can I say my sister is grand - even if she is in ALL pink.

Tessa was shocked I came early and proceeded to show me her classroom fish and the reading corner. We did a family project with the assistance of every other child who wasn't occupied by a parents at that time. Most of the kids kept bringing me objects - hats to put on (no thanks), books, drooled upon toys. I couldn't work in daycare - I would turn into such a germ-a-phobe that I would need to join a support group. Ick.

Lets talk about the tiny chairs with the arm rests. Cute as they may be, they are horrible for anyone with hips, not to mention the fact that I am tall so my knees were at my chin. I didn't get stuck thank goodness, but I can see how easily one could. I don't know how the teachers sit in them...seriously they must have deformed sides from years in that position.

When we got home Will gave Tessa a Valentine. He is in love with his baby girl. I had no idea he shopped for her which makes it all the more sweet. He wrapped the gift and bought a card - my goodness. He is a good gift giver, much better than I am so I shouldn't be surprised. Tessa, by the way, has thoroughly enjoyed her car racer. Blueberries also roll on the track nicely.

Tub time

2011-02-13T12:48:00.000-08:00

Tessa loves the water, no doubt about it and now she is getting brazen about putting her head under the spout while it is on. Full on, not a trickle. She submerges her entire body with only her head out and kicks like a wild women. Buckets of water on your head....but of course. Drinking soapy water...you got it. Baths are the highlight of my little fish's day. As soon as she hears the water running she takes off toward the bathroom and flings her leg up on the side of the tub. Clothes, who cares about those. If you take too long to get the temperature right, she stomps her foot in anticipation. Toys just get in the way of swimming. She wants the hair rinsing cup, the washcloth and her Daddy there to blow bubbles.

Complete bliss.

Snow day with Aunt Tracey

2011-02-06T14:07:00.001-08:00

I love when my sister visits, love it love it. We have so much fun together and she is a delight to Tessa. Tracey and Tessa made cookies, well Tessa walked around eating batter while Tracey made the cookies. She wore a little apron Tracey gave her and felt very important. We also played a bit with playdoh for the first time, which Tessa isn't so sure about - it tastes yucky and feels weird. Funny enough she was more willing to step on it than to touch it with her hands. Lexi, however, found it quite tasty. Tessa also entertained us all weekend with her harmonica. She has been walking around playing this for weeks, well since Christmas when Santa brought her one. She is quite into musical instruments at the moment.

I am sad my sister had to leave the frozen tundra, but we will see her very soon. Yay!!

What Tessa is doing...

2011-01-26T17:26:00.000-08:00

I am sure Tessa's vocabulary will pick up one day where I can't easily list in detail but for now I can so here goes: up (she says this a lot), blue (for blueberries), abath (two words she has made into one), bubbles, hot (said in a whisper), mama (she doesn't say this nearly enough), dada or doodoo (same thing, I personally like she calls him doodoo), baba (bottle), Abu (her stuffed monkey), Abaigh (her best bud), out, open, shoe and of course random other babbling while pointing and looking at us like we are nuts for not understanding.

added 27Jan - I forgot help and hi, she can say these too!!

One of her favorite activities is to feed the dog and cats. She knows where the food is, knows where the bowls are, can kind of dump it but hasn't quite gotten how to carry the container over - it can get messy if you aren't paying attention. She also likes to throw stuff in the trash, put her dirty clothes in in washer and push around the Swiffer. It may seem like I am preparing her for a life of chores, I promise you I am not.

Tessa is well aware of the pantry and is very particular what snacks she wants. She gravitates towards crackers - cheddar bunnies are a favorite. She likes snacks in a cup that she can carry to her table. Tessa is into dumping things from one container to another. Most often snacks end up on the floor, so Lexi is in heaven - chubby dog heaven.

Buttons are fascinating to Miss T. Not the kind of buttons on your clothes, buttons on electronics. Our remote, phones, DVD player and cable box are the most commonly abused items. You know how boring toys with buttons can be. I am feeding her button passion allowing her to push the buttons to start the washer, dryer and coffeemaker. No worries people they are high off the ground.

She is also into dressing up, well not exactly, but she likes to 'put on' her shirt, her hat, her socks, her shoes. Will put her in the lamb costume and she thought that was lots of fun.

This age is great, I know I have said this before but each stage brings new adventures. Are tantrums in my near future? I am not sure I am ready for those.

"I love this monkey!!!!!"

2011-01-20T17:14:00.000-08:00

The Little Gym - Ceremonies

2011-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

Today was the big celebration for the 'Bird's' class at The Little Gym which concluded with the kids getting ribbons for their participation. We were debating whether we were going to sign up for the next session as Tessa doesn't really seem to enjoy the gym part of the class. Today however she actually seemed to like being there, so now I am unsure. I was hoping to find a music class nearby as she loves to listen/dance to music. But unless I want to drive 34 miles there are no music classes on Saturday near us. Unlike her friend Abaigh, who is a true gym monkey, Tessa's favorite part are the balls and the stamp at the end of the class. I guess we can kiss the Olympics goodbye! :)

Seriously?? Out??

2011-01-09T15:03:00.000-08:00

The little miss is back! She is eating, playing and being a goofy little toddler. Now to keep her healthy....that is the challenge.
Tessa asked to go out today. 'Out' is a new word for her most likely picked up from us asking Lexi. I guess we are moving into the stage that Will and I need to be cautious what we say...LOL!
I tried to dissuade Tessa but she was determined. Forget trying to reason with a 15 month old. She got her hat, pointed to her coat and started crying...out, out OOUUTT! Oh brother, the drama. Today was one of those cold windy terrible days that was a perfect excuse to stay inside in your PJ's. Tessa actually has yet to play in the snow because we haven't had a "warm" day. In the end it took longer to gear up than walking to the end of the street and back but she was happy.

cough, cough, cough

2011-01-03T18:14:00.000-08:00

Lordy this poor child goes from one coughing yuk to another. We are in some crazy cycle right now that is in desperate need of a tropical location to break. My little one is sick again, with a chest cold. Keep in mind she has been coughing for the majority of the time we have had her. We took a nebulizer to China in case I needed it and we used it for her. The machine I took was small and light, quite fabulous actually, but alas I fried it in the outlet on one of the last days. You see it needed charging because when our bags were brought to us after the last flight the porter said one of the bags was vibrating. LOL! The machine I have at home is larger but does plug into a car which by the way we used on the way down to GA and are once again using for this round of illness. I was so happy for about a week in December when she was free and clear of snot and coughing. That was short lived. Perhaps she does have allergies, perhaps it is asthma but whatever it is her illnesses (so far) always end up in her chest. I grew up with asthma so I know what her little chest must feel like with a constant cough. I started working on teaching her to cover her mouth when she coughs, it is the least I can do for those around us. I also know we wipe her nose a lot as she not only points to the tissues but wipes her baby's nose. Good grief.
Daycare hasn't helped as it is a petridish of viral and bacterial delights. I watched a child pick up another child's sippy cup for a little drink while the teacher's back was turned. Friends share, what can I say.
Keeping her home is a decision I hope other parents would make, but I know not everyone does therefore the cycle continues. So Will stayed home with her on the first day back to work of 2011 and I will stay home tomorrow. Hopefully Wednesday will be better - the antibiotics will have kicked in by then. I'm not looking for sympathy here, just stating the facts...my child needs a jump start for her immune system and the conditions are lousy right now. I AM thankful I have been spared digestive upset, very thankful!
I decided to post a few pictures of the week we were home, pre sickness.

Christmas

2011-01-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

Call me a bah-hum-bug but I was anxious about Christmas this year. I can see how one would get wrapped up in the giving as toys/clothes for Tessa's age are fun. And of course the holiday spirit through a child's eyes is magical. I wasn't sure what to expect I guess is what it all came down to...

Tessa, in true style, was entertaining, but really could have cared less about opening gifts. And she wasn't thrilled about reaching into the stocking either. Tessa sat in some boxes and sat on some boxes. I attempted to make the easiest recipe in the world and managed to ruin monkey bread. Oh well, we ate the guts and left the edges. I had better luck with crepes, of course that was pre-baby. :)

Each year my SIL hosts dinner and always makes a delicious meal - this one was no exception. How so very nice of her to want to continue this tradition forever. Tessa wore a dress made by my Mom's friend Sally and looked very cute if I do say so myself. We already received the best gift we could ever hope for, but Christmas was extra special as my MIL was home to join in the family gathering. Something we often overlook, the simple fact of being surrounded by those you love.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

2010-12-24T20:45:00.001-08:00

For all of you who are waiting and dreaming of the day you will hold your child my heart is with you. Do not loose faith....although the timing makes no sense at this point, perhaps it will once you look into the eyes of the one you will call son or daughter. My fingers are crossed for a speedy match for each and every one of you. May your heart be filled with joy this Christmas as always.

Tessa and the Christmas cookie

2010-12-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

Post cookie the tears were flowing...I denied her a second cookie, I mean icing.

Next time I will make smaller cookies!

Tree hunt

2010-12-15T17:17:00.000-08:00

Hunting for a Christmas tree in three layers of clothes, a big puffy coat and holding a candy cane in temperatures hovering around freezing is no fun. Even, if you are pulled out of the truck plopped down by the first tree and then put back in the truck. Your parents are trying to capture a good picture for holiday cards and attempting to make you smile which is rather annoying considering the conditions described above. What is worse is when you lose your balance due to all the clothes and fall on your face emerging with pine needles stuck in your skin and one in your eye. Then your parents realize they took a wrong turn at the poorly marked tree farm and discover they are no where near where you are suppose to cut down a tree but off in some random field that may have an owner toting a shotgun. And even though you are de-pine needled, you are still crying a little from the face plant incident so your Mom tells your Dad to cut the first tree they see because this day wasn't creating a good memory and she wants to go home.
Oh well.

In the end they did get a good shot which wasn't at the tree farm but in your own front yard. The tree that wasn't the best turned out decent and and you gave a resounding 'ooohhh' when you saw it lit up the first time. Funny enough you keep a respectable distance from the tree because in the end the pine needles do hurt.

Tessa and Santa 2010 - shock and awe

2010-12-10T19:47:00.000-08:00

To say it was without tears would be a lie. To say Santa caused the tears would also be false when in actuality it was the photographers assistant that brought her to tears. Oh sure she wasn't too sure of Santa, but then again she didn't have to look him in the eye. He was a right jolly old fellow, but once the tears began he handed my baby back quickly. Who wears a red suite with fur anyway?

Heart and Soul, as promised

2010-12-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

Rama Bhumibol

2010-12-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

We are proud owners of two very social, very vocal and loving Siamese cats. They have been with us for 10 years. Going into cat ownership we were hoping our cats would be more 'dog like' rather than aloof and that is exactly what we got.

In particular I feel Rama needs a special post dedicated to his patience and love for Tessa. In the beginning we called him 'the nanny' as he was always hanging around Tessa...meowing when she cried, following me around while I carried her. I have also tossed around the idea that perhaps, just perhaps he isn't very bright. Maybe he knows if he is near he will get attention and food. I don't know but regardless he is kissed, he is bear hugged, he is patted and he is tugged on all with barely a flinch.

Tessa loves him and he loves her - what more can be said.

A family tradition

2010-12-03T04:47:00.000-08:00

Growing up my grandfather would take us to downtown Atlanta to see Santa at Rich's department store and to ride the Pink Pig around the Christmas tree. This ride was on top of the department store outside and the line was always so long. I have so many good memories of these trips, memories of riding with my uncle and Mom. Memories of picking out my yearly ornament. My mom rode it while pregnant with me - it has been running since 1954.

My neices had never been so we ventured downtown. I was surprised to discover the Pink Pig is now housed in a tent in the parking lot and the cars are open air and ride on a track. It orginally had overhead rails and resembled a caged capsule you were forced to squeeze into. They did have one of the cars from the old days - it was tiny. To top it off, there was no Christmas tree but this weird storyland you rode through. Times do change and perhaps in my kid mind it was more fabulous than it really was, but that might be our only trip to the Pink Pig. We will have to search for a closer tradition.

PS - the Pig is still named Priscilla, but alas she too looks modernized. And yes, she does have a brother Percival - he was no where to be found.

adventures and discoveries

2010-11-29T06:58:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving week provided Miss Tessa with very busy days, new skills and discoveries...

1. musical instruments and 'playing' the harmonica (will post video)
2. champagne bubble baths (we can never go back to the little plastic tub)
3. riding in an umbrella stroller
4. throwing - balls, food (reactions are fun)
5. the joy of a little table and chairs
6. sand, which isn't good in your mouth
7. rock climbing
8. making cookies

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T17:33:00.001-08:00

PIG

2010-11-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

I have watched as Tessa has developed the wrist skills needed to work this piggy bank. It is that delicate wrist movement we take for granted and a bit of trial and error. Her progression started with being able to open the bank, which she repeated over and over taking the coins out. Eventually she mastered putting them in but didn't want to let them go as perhaps she was unsure if she would get them back. Then she watched as I dropped them through the slot- because you know how exciting that can be. Now she strings all these pieces together like she has been doing it forever.
I know many of you don't find this fascinating but I do and well, you are reading my blog. :) I just eat this stuff up. I can visualize those those synapses firing as she learns new skills. Seriously childhood development is incredible.

art work and stolen ideas

2010-11-13T09:51:00.000-08:00

Three pictures to share:

Tessa's homework...yes, folks that is correct, homework. :) Will told me I wasn't getting graded. Whatever! Okay I might have gone overboard with dying the cottonballs for the broccoli floret and perhaps the pictures didn't need to be mounted on 'frames'. Oh how I do love a good craft project.

My sister is fabulous and I probably should tell her this more often. Don't get me wrong for many years we loathed one another but time has changed both of us for the better. Anyway, she always has great ideas, one being a kid level drawer for plates/cups etc. This has been a big hit with Tessa. I can't find anything in the drawer but it provides entertainment so it is well worth it.

The last picture was a fuzzy color self photo from my phone. Tessa finds looking at herself funny so we have many of these shots, however none with such a great toothy smile. I changed to B/W and sharpened the image. This is now one of my favorites of us.

Tie Dye and Tutu's, the rejected costume

2010-11-07T06:16:00.001-08:00

I made a tutu to go with the monkey costume and one for a friend. Tessa's ended up huge and took away from the monkey cuteness so it didn't make the cut. My girlfriend however looked fabulous in her take on the mad hatter with her pink tutu and top hat. I wish I had a picture. So, the purple tutu has found itself in the dress up trunk for a later time.

Halloween - In Pictures

2010-11-01T18:03:00.001-07:00

Starting with Friday's school outfit and ending with...well you will see!

Court - the process

2010-10-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

I decided to forge ahead and attempt the court system without hiring an attorney. There are about a dozen forms to fill out, certified copies required from your paperwork received in China etc but if you have come this far in an adoption what are a few more forms. Right??

Now that I am done I am so happy I chose not to hire anyone. Keep in mind this process completely depends on the type of visa your child gets from the embassy. Tessa came in on an IR3, so a re-adoption wasn't necessary as she became a citizen when we landed.

I arrived 10 minutes ahead of time, walked into the court room only to discover it full of "suits" (AKA attorneys). Undeterred I marched myself to the sign in sheet and had a seat. Come to find out that civilians go after attorneys, which I now understand is a courtesy as attorneys are expensive. I am fine with this, however the judge was late, many of the attorneys were late, while others would come in get their name of the list and not be there when they were called leaving this civilian constantly getting bumped for these chumps! Hey you can read..there is a 30 minute window to get on the list, I made it. GRRR. Good thing I didn't have to go to work and that I didn't have Tessa because the wait was over an hour for a 10 minute meeting with the judge. No drinks, no phone just the constant murmur of the cops talking about nothing in particular. Civilians are required to have a cop escort them to the judges chambers. The judge was a bit stiff, if I am being honest, and asked me to come back with the file number. Listening to him attempt to pronounce Tessa's Chinese middle name made me giggle. I ultimately had to pronounce and spell it for the stenographer.
After you go to Motions Court you have to go to Orphans Court which was very pleasant - the lady was wonderful. She told me I didn't need to go back and she would take the blame. I explained to her the judge specifically asked me to come back and she rolled her eyes! Ha, this man must have a reputation. So I marched myself back to Motions Court.
And that was it! Tessa is officially in the courts and her birth certificates will be here soon! YAHOO.

6 months people (then and now)

2010-10-22T17:49:00.001-07:00

Wow, does time fly. Six months ago today we met Tessa and although it doesn't feel like she has been with us that long it does feel like I have known her forever.
In my heart they say, but I don't know if I buy that. My image of her changed so much over the 4 years, so much I can't remember what I thought she may look like. My heart ached for her a long time that feeling I know well.

I look back on the pictures from April and I am not sure who looks more in shock us or Tessa. She is so melancholy it is hard to believe she is the same busy little girl. Will and I look dumbfounded, not to mention the nice greasy sheen we have because of the heat. Seriously, they just hand you this baby, allow you to ask a few basic questions which you aren't even paying attention to what the answers are and then you are off. Figure it out!! Similar I suppose in some ways to bringing home a newborn. The main difference being that you are in a foreign country, with few choice supplies no family to ask questions and this baby who looks at you dazed thinking 'oh boy this is NOT how it is done'. So surreal looking back, what a weird amazing experience.

We plan to celebrate our Gotcha Day each year as a family, though at this point I am not sure how. Right now I am thankful every day for the little girl we were matched with and I am also thankful for all those people who helped us along the way.

Pumpkins!!

2010-10-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

Clearly Will and I are clueless as to the massive amounts of people a pumpkin patch draws in on a gorgeous fall day. I saw this add for what I thought was going to be a small farm...OMG! We got there right as they opened, thanks to Will. Little did I know that behind the farm house and barn was a mini carnival complete with rides. We decided to skip the corn maze and head out on a double tractor to the pumpkin fields. These were fields, not a set up with loads of pumpkins in one spot just acres and acres of pumpkins and gourds.

We ventured out looking for small pumpkins only to learn we were in the wrong spot. It didn't matter because the day was so beautiful. Tessa was so entranced with the large pumpkins that we had a hard time pulling her away. She also preferred to walk than be carried but that was difficult among the pumpkin vines. We finally found the small pumpkins and little gourds..chewed on a few, tasted some vines and headed back. We arrived back unscathed after a very bumpy ride and the line for the tractor was as long as a football field. Thank you Will for suggesting we go early, thank you. So, we survived our first visit as a family to a pumpkin patch. Up next...dare I say, Santa???

Moon Festival

2010-10-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

We celebrated at the local FCC Moon Festival on Saturday night. Over 40 children from various countries were in attendance. Yes, I know it is Families with Children from China but we voted to include all children. There were even some kids there from Ethopia. We march behind our province flag and I cried - some crazy emotion of finally having her here got to me. I have no pictures of the line up but I wish I could have captured the 6 other girls from Hunan province entertaining Tessa. It was so sweet.

I had multiple parents come up to me and tell me there daughter had hair that grew straight up. This was followed by the mothers calling to the daughters to show them her hair. I am telling you once it falls it will be the end of a true conversation piece.

Tessa has discovered the taste of duck sauce and very much approves. Luckily she ate a lot of veggies as she is still not a fan of pasta and lets face it rice is way to difficult to pick up.

I posted a picture of the girls on stage doing a skit the local college kids put together. We watched, chewed on a dried up marker and crawled around on the very, glup, clean floor. The kids were having so much fun and I can honestly say Tessa looked as though she enjoyed herself.

Pictures are from my phone, no Tessa is not turning orange nor is she supposed to resemble an O0mpa Loompa...it is just the lighting.

Random thoughts...

2010-10-06T18:08:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is our 6 months post adoption evaluation, which makes me pause as I can hardly believe Tessa has been with us for 6 months. We looked back on our trip photos recently and are amazed at how much Tessa has blossomed both physically and in personality. Her little legs were so tiny when she was placed in our arms. There was little muscle tone in general and she stayed in any position you placed her in...that didn't last too long. And now to think my girl is on the brink of walking, oh yes she has taken a few tentative steps on her own. She also is pushing babies (and books for some reason) in her stroller on a daily basis.

Tessa is on her second week of daycare and I am not sure who is more exhausted. It is a royal challenge to get home and have dinner on the table by 6. I can honestly say we were late eaters up until she came along. Tessa isn't sleeping well at daycare but other than that she is settling in nicely. The sleeping will hopefully adjust itself, she slept soundly through all manner of tours and appointments in China but daycare is a different story. Too much fun to be had to sleep.

Tessa has begun to copy the hand moves to the Itsy Bitsy Spider which is pretty funny. I sing to her all the time and she just smiles at me. Love her!! Her teachers asked me if I sang to her...hello I wrote it on the 10 page form I filled out. :) Anyway, they said singing seems to calm her. And here I thought it was my angelic voice!

Hair fun!

2010-09-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

I considered calling this post Taming the Beast, but I do think her hair is fabulous and really quite easy to fix. That's because there is no fix, just wake up and go - perfect! Oh she will hate all the cowlick(s) when she gets older but most of them are in the back so it shouldn't be too bad. According to Wikipedia, because I am a dork and needed to know the origin, most people have 2 hair whorls - I dare not try to count how many Tessa has on top of her lovely head.

I have posted the infamous shadow picture so everyone knows what we are dealing with here. We have measured the height and at that point it was 2.5 inches. Tessa wasn't having it when I tried to document via a photo so you will just have to trust me on this one.

It takes approximately 5 bows to control the spike, 4 if your sitting really still. Alas not even chewing on Mommy's toothbrush keeps a 12 month old still for long. I have lost a toothbrush with this fun activity but I would like to think she has lost some plaque in the process as well.

The next idea was to try some 'product', well it was water, which gave her a slick 'greaser' look until it began to dry. Then little by little the hair stood up again. You can see in the last picture how the hair is popping back to its natural position.

We get some fabulous comments, mostly suggestions to help her static. Rub a dryer sheet on her head...uh, no thanks. I try to explain that she isn't just an unkempt child with severe bedhead that this is how it is growing, like a flower reaching for the sun. Okay that last part I haven't said.

Regardless, I do love her hair. I will miss it when gravity takes over. It is her statement and it makes her, well her.

Monkey Puppets are Funny!

2010-09-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

This week..

2010-09-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

I have a feeling Tessa will be walking shortly based on her desire to walk her "baby" in the stroller she received. She took a few steps without my assistance on the carpet pushing the stroller but is still hesitant to break away from us otherwise. She has stood up on her own twice, both times she looked at me in shock.

On her birthday she received a flower cake from her Granddad. She tried to eat it so taking a picture was tricky. It looked very similiar to an edible cake she had at the photographers the day before. The cake is a really cute idea and certainly last longer than a real cake does! It looks nice on our table and is a little reminder of her big day.

Tessa also had her year visit to the doctor and although she can't be turned around in the carseat because she is still under the required weight, the doctor feels she has caught up on all development! Yahoo.

It was 92 degrees today so we busted out the baby pool, the bikini (no diaper) and played for about an hour outside. She still loves the water...especially when we add bubbles to it! This bikini is fantastic - check out her lovely round belly. Perfect.

The party...part 1

2010-09-20T18:19:00.000-07:00

Tessa's party was a lot of fun! She took a good nap that afternoon so she was well rested. And it gave Mom and I just enough time to decorate. She was a little overwhelmed at first but slowly got use to the amount of people. I was thinking to myself oh this is going to be too much for her but she was just fine. Certainly this is the largest crowd we have had at our house.
We started the day by opening two gifts in the morning - a huge play hut from Aunt Tracey and a huge monkey from my Mom. The play hut we thought would be a hit with the kids so we wanted to make sure we got that set up. The monkey was a huge hit for Tessa. Her unwrapping skills are pretty good as she is fond of ripping paper - remember her information from China had this listed as a activity she enjoyed - it is true. :) Apparently she is fond of eating paper too.
She received many fun gifts from family and friends....but alas as with most first birthday's the paper and ribbon were the most fun. I would imagine over the next fews days she will discover all the great gifts she received...
Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!!!

The cupcakes...part 2

2010-09-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

She started off tentatively and once she got a taste, forget it. The ice cream was the biggest hit however....she had two scoops! What fun for the little monkey, who by the way slept until 8 the next morning.

Birthday!

2010-09-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

We are considering a Disco theme for Tessa's first birthday. What do you think?

Planning is in full swing for our love's first birthday party. It is going to be a small affair with close friends and family. I am very excited and frankly it is hard for me to believe she has been with us for almost 5 months. Time has gone by quickly and she has changed so much.

I have been thinking about Tessa's birth Mom lately and I get choked up. I seriously cannot imagine being in her situation - I hope she had faith in the system knowing that her daughter would end up with a loving family. I don't know her but I feel like I do in some odd way. I owe her so much. I can't exactly find the words at the moment. From every cry to every giggle I am thankful to the women who gave birth to my little girl.

Our baby is turning one and you might not know it but she is doing fantastic. :)

Shadows and Bubbles

2010-09-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

Just a few things that Tessa has discovered...

One would be our shadow as we are rocking to sleep. She saw us move which got her attention then decided to wave. Well of course 'the shadow' (that would be me) waves back. As long as it doesn't scare her we will continue with the waving until she can't lift her little head because she is so sleepy. Shadows, it is the little things we take for granted.

Bubbles, we have had them for a while but lately she has grown to love touching them. She tries to pick up the bubbles in the tub and put them in her cup. She has tasted them, she has taken them from my hand and stared at them up close. She chases them at The Little Gym. She also wants so desperately to be able to blow bubbles. I don't recommend this last piece, it is very messy. :)

Ah yes, and the stairs..those have been discovered too.

Smiley - Randoms!

2010-09-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

Fairs and Festivals

2010-08-29T17:49:00.000-07:00

We just barely made it to the fair this year. In what could have been a true family disaster my FIL was able to continue the streak of going to the local fair every year since he was born (so the story goes). The weather last week was terrible and plans shifted to the last day.
The animals are my favorite part but Tessa seemed most interested in the people. And let me tell you there are some characters at our local fair. My FIL paraded Tessa around to meet all his buddies - he is so proud. Next thing you know he will have her entering wild grapes and nuts in hopes of winning a blue ribbon. :)
I dragged Tessa and Daddy to an art and craft fair on Sunday. Will hears the word "craft" and thinks macrame owls and suncatchers, but this was a little different. The fair was sponsored by the local art council so the vendors were a nice variety of established artist/crafters. Plus it was held at a living farm (1894) so there were more animals for Tessa to see. She stared at the baby cow for about 1o minutes and decided the rooster was interesting enough to get some attention. Her wonder at new things continues to amaze me. I am so curious what she is thinking when she furrows her brow or points in random directions. Most of the time we have no idea what she is pointing at exactly. When she gets excited about something she kicks her legs - that is our only indication that we are guessing correctly.
Babies are amazing, truly. So much to learn, such innocence of the world.

Daddy Random Shots

2010-08-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

Well my first week back was uneventful. I hoped I wasn't going to have too much anxiety about leaving each day. I was gone before Tessa woke up to ease the transition for all of us. Will kindly sent me a picture every day to make me smile. The thing that stinks about being a working parent is that you only see your baby awake for a few hours a day. This is the part I find hard to take and it makes me sad. My coworkers were very kind and inquired about Tessa, our trip and my time off. By the end of the week it was almost like I had never left - I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing. :)

Daddy's Turn

2010-08-24T02:48:00.000-07:00

Well folks yesterday was my first day back at work. It was inevitable. We however continue to be blessed with our time off and Daddy now gets to stay home for a bit with his little girl. My transition was less stressful knowing she was able to stay in a familiar environment and stick to a similar routine. I love the fact that he wanted to spend quality bonding time with her as well.

So starts Daddy's turn.

Beautiful day for a picnic

2010-08-21T04:34:00.001-07:00

Check out my little gangster. I did not dress her intentionally in character but the ensemble ended up looking as though I did. Those are gauchos people, for babies! Too much.
The day was perfect to hang out under a tree and have lunch. Tessa opted to only eat fruit and of course I let her stick her hands in what was enough fruit for both of us.
Daycare is requiring her to wear closed toed shoes just like we have to at work. She is wearing Roobeez in the picture and at first was reluctant to take a step. Shoes are a fascination for her as her toes have been breathing freely since we got home. She practically tips over looking at her feet, especially when she has on the squeaky shoes we bought in China and the Tiger shoes a friend from work gave us.

Reading and Kissing

2010-08-19T04:29:00.001-07:00

Tessa is starting to become more interested in books. She is still most attracted to books that do something - touch books, flap books etc. She is also beginning to kiss certain characters in her books. Baby kisses are the tongue out kind adding to the tactile experience. I never understood why the used books my sister passed to me had pages that stuck together but now I know it was slobber.

My favorite book she has is called 'I Love You Through and Through' by Bernadette Rosetti-Shustak. It has big vibrate pictures and a nice rhyme that happens to end with a line from a Willie Nelson song (a little "factoid" for your day). I got the book at my shower and I can't for the life of me remember who gave it to us. If you are out there thank you.

Tessa's favorites include 'That's not My Frog' by Fiona Watt. Our friend from Canada brought it to her with some other books. This is a touch/feel series which is more than just soft items. Tessa likes the rough feel of the velcro. We actually went and opened each of the series at B&N to find another one with velcro. We came home with 'That's not My Dragon'.

For those who don't know my husband is a big reader. I read quite a bit too but can't match his obsession. He is one of those odd balls that can read multiple books at a time and not get the stories confused. Needless to say we have our fair share of books and of course magazines...Tessa has found that pile too.

Oh my aching back...

2010-08-16T19:17:00.001-07:00

Tessa is in serious walking with assistance mode. This doesn't work well when you are my height and she is her height. I have some serious muscle aches right now. Apparently leaning over multiple times a day isn't easy on the back...and I am in tip top shape so I can't imagine why I ache!
These pictures crack me up as they were taken in succession of one another...look at the determination on her face to get to Daddy and then the huge smile once she gets there! LOVE this girl.

Sleepy Time

2010-08-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

And so it happened that Tessa fought sleep all afternoon and dozed off while I made dinner. She went from jumping to silence instantly. She spent much of her day watching the dead trees being removed from our yard and she couldn't possibly be pulled away thus missing the excitement. Trust me I tried. Plus she is the queen of power naps - seriously she was asleep for 15 minutes. I thought for sure she would zonk after dinner, but noooo she maintained her same bedtime.
Speaking of my little monkey is waking from her nap...

Purple is her color!

2010-08-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Lucky is the little girl who has a Nana that can sew. My mother-in-law is a whiz with the sewing machine. She made Tessa's birthday dress and it is fabulous - don't you think? Tessa will look adorable. Thank you Nana, love you.

Georgia Love Part 3

2010-08-09T12:31:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful weekend. My father and his lovely wife came for a visit. It was so nice to see them and for them to not only meet Tessa but to see our new home.

Tessa took a bit to warm up to Granddad but when she did he was a hit. He was able to get big 4 teeth grins on her little face. Tessa held my Dad's glasses about 90% of the time he was visiting. It is loads of fun to take them out of his pocket, chew on them, put them back in his pocket and repeat. Constance made Tessa knitted balls which she loved as well, but alas the glasses were the play item of the weekend.

We went down to Musikfest on Sunday and Tessa experienced a few firsts. First taste of, dare I say, "hot dog" (Daddy was so happy) and first taste of funnel cake. Thank goodness I brought along some vegetables to supplement. I have no plans to feed this child hot dogs because I know what is in them and it isn't good. Yeah, Yeah I probably ate my weight in them growing up and I am 'okay' so far. She of course loved the hot dog more than the funnel cake. Tessa did great being in a stroller for 3 hours because there was so much to look at as we walked around.

One night I made banana's foster on the stove. That is good dessert and using 151 rum to flame the pan adds to the excitement. I will be forthcoming and say the smoke detector did go off at one point, and yes it is hardwired. Miss Tessa slept through all the commotion.

Tessa has been wanting to walk with support the last few days. It started after her first time down a slide when she grabbed my hands and walked back around to go again. I about fell over. She keeps pushing herself into downward dog and has become a speed demon in the walker. My ankles will never be the same.

So this visit marks my last few weeks with her during the work day. I am very sad but she now gets to spend five weeks with her Dad and that part I am happy about.

My New Wagon

2010-08-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

You have got to love consignment shops!!!

Busy, busy, busy

2010-07-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

Tessa and I had one of our busiest weeks yet. The week started with Tessa getting stung by a wasp. Oh my what a scream. The wasp got her above the eye and it began to swell immediately. We of course were wondering how in the world we would be able to get her to keep an ice pack on her face. Needless to say it didn't happen. She looked like she was in fight for two days. We took a picture, because that is what we do but I will spare you.

Luckily this incident didn't slow us down too much. We were all over the place from experiencing her first pony ride, to her first time at The Little Gym which included lunch with her friend Abaigh, to going to a FCC pool party - all this activity makes for a very sleepy baby.

We are planning a day trip in a few weeks to the beach with Abaigh's Mom (or seasoned Mom as I like to call her). Next weekend we are getting some more Georgia love! Yay!
What can I say we are enjoying are summer. :)

South Carolina Love!!

2010-07-24T07:54:00.001-07:00

Well, we just concluded one of the nicest visits. My best friend from high school drove up from SC to stay a few days. What a wonderful treat for me. It is amazing how you can loose touch with someone, find them again and it is like that time never was lost. This is the sign of a good friendship.

She went with me to get Tessa's SS card corrected and we went to the court house for her birth certificate only to find out we have to go to the capital courthouse. Uh, that isn't going to happen. I suppose I will be attempting to handle this by mail or possibly hiring a lawyer. So one out of two isn't bad.

My girlfriend also forced me to buy a walker for Tessa. It isn't that I am against them but it represents one more piece of plastic. She gave Tessa a lesson in Newton's third law to motivate her to push forward on her legs. It may be obvious to some based that she is a high school physics teacher. Cracking me up.

So I have posted a picture as proof I have put Tessa in the walker. She is chewing on a rubber banana toothbrush in case you are wondering.

Jumping, Giggles and Italian Delights

2010-07-15T17:01:00.000-07:00

An update...

Tooth number four is trying to make an appearance. It just looks painful and is causing some of the family to be awake at night. The working parent gets weekend shift....ahhh. Tooth three just came last week and Tessa grinds the top tooth and bottom teeth together - it is a horrible sound.

Tessa has started to crawl, army crawl to be exact. It is nice to see her moving forward rather than log rolling places. But to be fair each got her where she wanted to go. So, what makes a baby crawl - or our little girl at least?? A blue star guitar pick. Will is great at encouraging her - he was the one who got her to rollover in China.

Tessa is pulling up on things, rather than just using your fingers for support. She can't quite get herself all the way up but it is just a matter of time. She can get to her knees or one foot flat and that is about it. The danger in this is of course increased falling. Tessa likes to fling herself backwards because you know someone will surely catch her. It reminds me of the trust fall everyone has tried. In her crib she flings herself backwards onto the bed from a sitting position. She totally looks at you for a reaction first and then giggles. I can't help but laugh which just encourages the behavior (I know, I know). Add to this all the jumping this girl does and the fact that she flips over when you change her diaper. Yeah, she may be a busy little girl.

Tessa has also decided that feeding yourself can be quite enjoyable. It only took some cantaloupe to do the trick. She is also fond of raspberries, but lordy they make a mess. She isn't the cleanest of eaters, licking all the way down her arm if a little morsel gets away from her. If you can't get messy as a child then it really isn't all that much fun is it?

I am so incredibly thankful I took this time off to be with her. I have experienced many of the milestones I may have missed otherwise. Thank you Bill Clinton for signing this labor law.

PS - what has Lexi learned? That stromboli does come out of the bottom oven.

Chinese Dresses on Little Girls

2010-07-15T11:07:00.001-07:00

Okay, so you may think they are goofy - I did. That is until I saw a gaggle of girls in them at a local FCC (Families with Children from China) event. Then when I saw my daughter in one in China and realized how stinking cute she looked I couldn't stop myself. I bought her two, one for now one for later. And yes, over the course of the photo shoot the words "I wish I would have bought more" was spoken. Little girls love to dress up...and some big girls do too. Before you get all crazy, no I didn't buy one for myself.

Georgia cousins part 2!

2010-07-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

My sister and nieces are gone. Tessa spent part of her morning pointing me to various rooms looking for them. I swear she sighed when she realized it was just me to play with today. The girls were very helpful and as always made me laugh throughout their time here. Every time Tessa babbled they would mimic her, every time she made a peep that may be construed as her being upset they picked her up (which I am paying for a bit today, but I wouldn't change a thing). They sang to her and made her a zoo in a little space we had designated for her fort in the house. Cousins are so much fun!

My nieces are into helping you out for pay - so while they were here Lexi got a bath (they got wet) and both girls weeded my flower bed. Had I been prepared I would have come up with a longer list. As you can imagine any money they earned was quickly spent.

My sister is fabulous, truly. There is never a time we can't bust out in song and dance. Lets just say we watched A LOT of musicals when we were young. We enjoy each others company.

Tessa babbled like crazy while the girls were here and she has now started to rock when she hears "music" she likes (probably due to all the singing that took place over the weekend). We had all the girls pictures taken together which was fun. Both my nieces wanted a dress from China so they all were photographed in them. Just a hint for those going over, the dresses run small. Remember the size 1 Tessa barely fit into, her size 4 isn't much bigger. The number sizes definitely don't match those in the US. Anyway, I will scan a photo in this week.

The visit went way to quickly. My youngest niece asked what would happen if she put her in her suitcase and took her home. We had a great visit and I missed them as soon as I dropped them off at 5:15am (uggh) for their flight.

Georgia Cousins

2010-07-10T03:58:00.001-07:00

Yay! My sister and nieces are up from Georgia. Tessa is loving all the attention and interaction. I of course love having them here. My nieces have always been very special to me and seeing them with Tessa brings back so many memories of when they were little. I am still getting requests to move back to Georgia which have now intensified that they have a new cousin.

We went to a local water park (thanks to my BIL) under overcast skies. Will brought Tessa up after her lunch which worked out perfectly. This gave the four of us time to hit the rides of choice before she arrived. I don't think she would have made it all day. She was fascinated with all the water attractions - very colorful and lots of people.

The visit continues...

It is all about swimming...

2010-07-07T03:53:00.000-07:00

Will came to see Tessa swim yesterday. It was so hot the car never cooled completely on the short drive. Tessa's head was sweaty when we got there. The carseat is very plush, which is nice unless it is close to 100 degrees. Even though it was an indoor pool the water felt heavenly. The babies teeth usually chatter before the end of the class but not today.

Her favorite activity is the kickboard, not so much that she kicks but she likes the texture on the board. She is starting to expect the dunking that we do and will probably hate the song Humpty Dumpty for the rest of her life. I don't think she is real sure about the teacher as she seizes up when she comes over to encourage Tessa. Please don't let this be a sign of her school days. :)

BBQ

2010-07-05T04:13:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely weekend. Tessa continues to meet friends and neighbors as this weekend took us to a few BBQ celebrations. I spared her from seeing the pig roasting at the first place. No, it isn't like the image will be burned into her cortex and cause pig fear later in life. Poor Wilbur, Charlotte can't save you all. I don't care for the sight myself - however the meat eaters said it was quite yummy.

My friend Alison was matched with her son, Anthony the same day we were matched with Tessa. Of course she traveled to Texas but the emotions are all the same. We cried when we finally saw one another. Saps.

We of course brought no camera to either event, so I attached some random shots from the week. The one where she is in a polka dot top I had unbuttoned her pants after a big meal. Always makes one feel good to let the belly hang free. haha.

Teena: Tessa'a weight was about the same from her referral. We received her picture at 5.5 months and at 7 she still hadn't gained much. I would suggest bracketing the size you think she fits into by taking various sizes of clothes (we took a couple of 6 months which she fit into). The majority of the clothes were 9 months but they were large. You can always give them to other parents or donate them to lighten the load on the way back. Once in Guangzhou clothes are cheap so no need to worry. Tessa was dressed in puffy clothing in her referral and puffy clothes when we got her, but under all that she was small. What an exciting time for you and your family. Enjoy every moment!

Picnic with Mommy

2010-07-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

Today was just too pretty to sit inside. We needed a big tree, some green grass and swings - yes that is what the day called for. I decided at the last minute of morning nap to organize myself. One stroller, two bags and a baby at the park.

What I did not consider was the YMCA has summer camp at the park so it was teaming with kids. Tessa did enjoy watching them, but we found a relatively quiet place away from the noise for lunch. Cantaloupe is quite delicious in a park setting you know. We are exploring more food options, although she isn't fond of touching the food unless it is hard. My attempts at steaming to help her feed herself aren't working out as I had hoped. Oh well, she isn't going to starve.

Part of the early intervention lessons we received involved putting an object on my head and letting it fall to help improve her eye coordination. Tessa thought it was funny so I started putting it on her head too. However, she would rather balance her object and giggle. I swear she could carry a water jug up there.

All in all it was a nice day with my girl. We so wished Daddy could have been with us. :(

Monkeys

2010-06-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

My girl loves her monkeys - it is serious. Certainly encouraged by yours truly, although frogs would have been my top choice. Poor 'Not Quite Right Kermit' may have some competition.

Look at that monkey imitation - spot on!

Being Petite

2010-06-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

Our highchair isn't cut out for petite babies. Poor Tessa could never use her hands to eat and that is just no fun at all. The highchair is adjusted as far up as it will go. We tried the Bumbo with the tray but the tray on those seats is a poor design. Putting them in place takes work.

So a more seasoned Mom suggested a sassy seat. Duh, of course! And to top things off I purchased one at a great little children's consignment shop. After my visit I may never shop for toys anywhere else. Everything was practically brand new, or should I say gently loved?? Regardless my girl is sitting pretty and the food is flying!

Lexi

2010-06-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

Lexi is coming around in dealing with Tessa. She is less anxious around her and we have stopped the doggie downers the vet put her on. The food Tess is dropping is helping as is time. She is in the licking stage whenever Tessa seems upset or restless. Frankly it is to the point where I am pushing Lexi away at times. Her mothering skills are a bit overbearing - good thing she never had puppies they would be bald and raw. :) We have mastered the leash and stroller combo, okay mastered may be a stretch but I have gone out alone with Tessa and Lexi and all went well.

Photos include a relaxed Lexi next to Tessa and a Lexi sleeping at the end of a rough day being a mother. Her tongue is probably dry.

up too early

2010-06-17T03:11:00.000-07:00

I have no idea why I was wide awake at 5:15 today. I got to walk the dog which I am sure Will was heartbroken to give up for the morning. It is going to be a lovely day - nice cool breeze after a hard rain. Just perfect.

Tessa got up on her hands and knees yesterday and immediately face planted so it is just a matter of time before she is crawling. Watching her try to coordinate all the limbs makes me giggle. She is using her hands more and swinging her arms madly about like she just realized they belong to her.

We had her evaluated for early childhood intervention as recommended by the pediatrician. For the most part she is on track for kids her age however there are a few things we need to work on a bit. They test the children in 5 areas - cognition, motor, social, self care and communication. It was a long afternoon of interactive play and she loved all of it but the occupational therapy (OT) work.

A few pictures for you to enjoy. My favorite is the one with the cookie - just pure delight in her face.

Playdate - Abaigh and Bailey

2010-06-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

We had a cookout with Abaigh and Bailey yesterday. Bailey is the big sister and I love the picture where she is explaining all the bells and whistles to the little girls. She told me being a big sister is hard work - I suppose it is.
Will and I have always been impressed with the parenting skills of Mom and Dad. They are fun, involved and the girls are adorable. Their house is a childs dream - tons of great toys and things to do. I am surprised any kid wants to leave after a visit. :)
I hope that Abaigh and Tessa will be in the same class at daycare as they are only 2 months apart. Tessa still has some catching up to do before she is motoring along like Abaigh.
Tessa slept on the way home, through the terrible downpour and was wide awake the rest of the afternoon. She crashed after her bottle on top of Will. I guess the play date wore her out.

Daddy's choice

2010-06-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

Will bought this in the PJ section, seriously it is too cute for PJ's so we wore it one chilly day. Socks are compliments of 'Aunt Cathy', oh about 2 years ago!

Tessa is loosely attempting to crawl. She gets so frustrated and screams at whatever she is attempting to reach - poor thing. So much to learn and explore and you are at the mercy of adults to get you there.

This rattle is one of her favorites and hasn't been safety tested I am sure. See those little holes - perfect for fingers to get trapped. She was given this in a gift shop in China as a present for being from Hunan province as they supported an orphanage in that area. It is a loud rattle and she loves it.