Tim putting Tessa to Sleep...

Sleepy Tessa

I put an awake Tessa in her bouncy seat so I could do a few things. When I didn't hear her crying after a few minutes, I was shocked, until I found this.
Apparently she can nap on her own...on her terms of course.

Bath Video

First Day Home Compared to Today

What we've been up to...

Tessa hanging out in her bouncy.

Grandpa stopped by to see Tessa again, and got to see the much LARGER and more DEMANDING Tessa. He said she's high-maintenance...yup she is.
Tessa is so blurry because she demands to be bounced almost all the time!
Sleeping in her pack n' play with the Bjorn on, she lasted for 30 minutes, much longer than she normally lasts.
On Saturday we went to see Jen and Dave who were visiting DC. Tiny Jen makes Tessa look enormous!

Tessa's Working Hard

6 Week Picture

The One Way that ALWAYS works

When trying to keep Tessa awake, if all else fails bathe her. The results a very awake, happy baby. That is until you dress her, then she's back asleep again.

Wake Time - Play Time

Last night we were trying to wake Tessa up for one more feeding before bed...this was her reaction.
So after cold cloths and lots of poking we put her back in her crib. She slept from 8:30 to 2:45 so it wasn't a bad night.


And today, during one of the many times I was trying to keep her awake. She's starting to enjoy her playmat! Hopefully soon she'll really like it, and stay there long enough so I can take a shower.

On other news, I've been cleared to run and can't wait. The weather is perfect today so I'm hoping to get out this evening (especially since the forecast has lots of rain in it for the rest of the week and weekend).

Repeat Granted

Can I hit repeat?

Well I went and bought a "bouncy seat" today, as Tessa loves to be bounced. This picture of her was taken after being awake...notice she's NOT sleeping on me! I'm not betting on a repeat performance tomorrow, but I can always hope.

I also bought a "Baby Crack Machine"... the Sound Spa is supposed to be loved by babies. Well Tessa does love it, as long as someone is holding her. Guess who else loves it...Lou, he thinks its his own personal flashlight show. Hopefully Tessa will learn to be addicted to "crack".

On a completely unrelated note, I think she grew another roll last night on her thighs, guess she really does take after Tim.

Quiet Weekend

This is the first weekend since Tessa was born that we didn't see family. Yesterday we spent the afternoon running errands and Tessa was great! She slept through Wegmans and Target with no problem. Today we were ambitious and took her to church. When we walked into church with a VERY awake Tessa, Tim and I were taking bets on how many minutes we would last. Yes, minutes. But luckily we had timed her nap well and she slept through most of the service. I of course didn't sit down for the whole thing, but oh well. And on that note, Tessa almost always refuses to nap anywhere but on us. So we're taking suggestions of any kind on how we break this habit. Or do we just wait it out til she is older? Luckily she does sleep fantastically in her crib at night.
Here are a few pictures of Tessa dressed for the fall weather that has started in MD.

Can she see it?

So I think Tessa can see her mobile now...She stayed in her crib wide awake for a really long time (okay long in baby terms, about 10 minutes) so I'm guessing she was able to see it or she must really like the music.

5 Week Picture

What a Cutie!

Tessa went on her first trip to Wegmans today. I'm not sure she realized just how great that store is, but she will someday. We also took a 4 mile walk with Louie. Louie was better behaved than Tessa...she lasted about 2.5 miles in the stroller and then decided she'd had enough. But thanks to a recommendation from a neighbor I had the Bjorn stashed in the stroller, so we made it home without too many tears.

The Happiest Baby Around

"Chubby Cheeks" Weighs In...

Yup that's right, Tessa was 10 pounds 2 ounces today at her 1 month doctor visit. She is gaining approximately one pound per week. Let's hope she starts to slow down soon. Otherwise we'll have a 60 pound 1 year old...

Dara did not get to this weight until she was 4.5 months old (only 5 ounces less than Tessa at birth though).
Tim was born weighing 10 lbs.

In other news, Tessa slept from 8:30pm til 3:00am!!! We were quite pleased with the uninterrupted sleep, but we are not expecting a repeat performance anytime soon.

"Chubby Cheeks"

Tessa's First Trip to the Nation's Capital

Tim and I had been planning to take Tessa somewhere in the car today, so when Cole called and said he was in DC we decided to attempt the trip. Tessa went to her first sporting event, bicycle polo (Cole was playing in a tournament with some guys from Boston). This was also the first meeting between Cole and Tessa. Here are some pictures of bicycle polo for those of you who have never seen/heard of it before.


After we watched Cole's team win, and him score a goal we headed to the Pentagon. We met up with Uncle Dan there and went to the 9/11 Memorial. It was really hot (90+ and super sunny), so I didn't last too long. But it was still nice to go see it, and hopefully we'll get to go back when the weather is a little better.

And on the way home, Tessa and I slept! Actually Tessa slept pretty much the whole time we were out. She did have a brief screaming fit in the car, but thankfully we were only minutes from our destination. We're hoping to have the same kind of luck when we head north in 3 weeks...6 hours in the car, let's hope she sleeps!

Link to Professional Pictures

Here are some (yes there are more) of the pictures we had taken.
Pictures Here

4 Week Picture

A few professional pictures...

We will get the whole set tomorrow but I couldn't resist putting up a few that I got from the photographer early. Isn't she cute!!!

Another Good Day...

Tessa and I had a really relaxed, basically cry-free day today. And she slept until 7:00, and then when back to sleep with me til 8:30. Now that's my kind of morning! Hopefully tomorrow, when Tim is gone for the day, there will be no crying either.

Her little arms are getting chubby...

Family Picture

A couple cute pictures...

The Last Round of Visitors

Mimi, Pop, and Kevin came to stay with us this weekend.

Tessa was pretty well behaved all weekend. Only a little fussy at times. She is still doing pretty well sleeping at night. She seems to have her days and nights figured out (she has from the very beginning). We would love it if Tessa would just wake up a few hours later...she thinks the day should start somewhere in the 5:30-6:30AM timeframe.

3 Week Picture

Tessa's First Visit to the Neighbors

Last night Tim participated in a neighborhood fantasy football draft. Tessa and I went along for a little bit, but then we had to head home because it was past her bedtime. (In other words, she had been sacked out for hours and needed to get pjs on and get in her crib.)

I took her down the street in this sling. She is good at sleeping in here. I'm not sure how she would feel about being in there while being awake, I'm sure we'll test that out soon.

Yesterday I tried to take Tessa for a walk, well we only made it to the school (about .5 miles away). A lady who was dropping her kids off at school suggested bringing the Bjorn with me in case she gets fussy. So this morning I tried out the Bjorn (thanks Amy!). Tessa was awake when I put her in, with the hiccups. Moments later she was fast asleep. So from now on when I go for a walk with Tessa in the stroller I'm going to have to stash the Bjorn in it.

Tessa's Getting Big

We no longer have to roll the newborn pants to make them stay on her!
Here Tessa is enjoying some "tummy time". Okay maybe "enjoying" is going a little far.

Yes she's wearing fleece...Tim likes to keep the house a chilly 74 degrees, not good for all the cute summer dresses Tessa owns.