Outdoor Concert

Tonight we went to an outdoor concert at a local vineyard. Here's a picture of Tim and Tessa dancing.

Tessa's 1 Year Pictures

Click on the link below and you should see the pictures

http://smilestore.picturepeople.com/my/images?tk=c287313d-3556-4093-8b9e-d5fb8de92f27

Tessa and Lou playing Hide and Seek

1 Year Appt

weight - 22 lbs 12 oz 75th%
height - 30 in 75th%
head - 48.5cm 98th%

Hopefully I'll finish editing her birthday video and get the pictures uploaded sometime soon...

Quick Unexpected Weekend at Home

Quick Recap, Two weekends ago we traveled home to go to a wake for a high school friend's mom. While we were there we saw quite a few people and took some pictures:

Family Pic

Talking on the phone with Dad

Showing off "stretch"

Laughing on the swing with Nana

Walking on the beach with Mom and Dad

Picnic Lunch

Walking around with fistfulls of sand

Eating Crackers with Uncle Dan
Reading her birthday card from Uncle Kevin

Opening her birthday present from Uncle Kevin

Grandpa and Tessa

Summertime Fun

Today we took Tessa to a "splash park" complete with sprinklers, geysers, bubblers, etc. For the first 20-30 minutes she just walked around shrieking in delight. Of course she wasn't afraid of running head first into the water. We weren't able to stay too long because she got tired fast. Hopefully we'll make it back next summer and by then I'm sure she'll be able to run for hours!

Tonight, while giving Tessa a bubble bath she figured out how to squeak the rubber ducky, needless to say squeaks could be heard for the rest of the bath.

This past weekend Mark (Grandpa) came to visit, unfortunately we didn't take any pictures :(

On Thursday Nana, Jen, and Dave arrive to celebrate Tessa's birthday! It should be a fun weekend. And hopefully they'll be some pictures...

Here are a few from today:

More Video - July 17th/19th/20th

The first part of the video is Tessa opening her first, 1st birthday gift from Amy. I've been trying to teach Tessa to hold her dolls (babies) and rock them nicely...

The second part is from last night, when once again Tessa thought Lou was just hilarious.

And the last part is from today, Tessa showing how she can stand up and walk around.

Tessa Walking with Some Babbling

Walking Video

This is from last week so she's obviously gotten much better, but I thought I'd post it anyway.

Recent Pictures

Tessa is trying really hard to master walking. She definitely prefers it to crawling these days. Although she hasn't learned to stand up without using something, so if she falls in the middle of the room, she has to crawl to something so she can get up. She is so proud of herself when she can walk across the room. Today Lou was in her way (what a surprise), and she was able to manuever her body around him and back to where she wanted to go without falling. I was pretty impressed.

Here are some pictures:

Thanks to Amy for letting us use her camera...mine got fried in the car and we haven't gotten a new one yet :(

Colorado Trip

We got back earlier this week from Colorado. We had a really nice time seeing family and old friends. Here are some pictures from the trip.
CO Pictures

Since we've been home Tessa has spent most of her time practicing her walking. She can do 8-12 steps before falling/sitting down. Hopefully I'll get her on video later and be able to post it.

This week the weather is definitely that of summer so we're spending lots of time at the pool.

Jen and Dave come on Friday, we can't wait! I'm sure there will be lots of pictures taken over the weekend.

Four Quick Videos

1. From a long time ago, one of the first times Tessa ate cheerios.

2/3. From yesterday, Tessa in her bow and new white sandals.

4. Lou playing volleyball tonight.

And I'm pretty sure we'll have a walking video any day now...Tessa has been practicing lots, and can take 3-4 steps without crashing. I'm hoping to get Tim to help me videotape it tomorrow.

Weekend in CT and the Swim Club

We spent this past Fri/Sat in CT at Gran's house. Tessa had numerous opportunities to perfect her wave. She loves to wave, and will often do it 2, 3, 4, times in a row. And can be found waving at trees, lights, cars, anything really. She is so pleased with herself when she waves and we acknowledge it. Most of the time Tessa prefers to wave at Tim, no surprise there.

Sunday we all went to the pool. It was so nice to be outside! Tessa, of course, loved it! Tim and I were pleased that although there were a ton of people there it didn't feel crowded. We are very lucky the pool is so close to our house, about a 6 minute car ride. The short trip makes it great for quick dips in between naps.

Today I took Tessa back again and she had a good time going in the big pool and watching all the kids. Today was also Tessa's last gym class. She won't be taking a class this summer, but we hope to enroll her in the "Birds" class (10 - 19 month olds) in the fall.

The latest development from Tessa is her ability to climb. While Tim and I were making dinner tonight, Tessa was in her pen. Tim looked out in the living room at one point and found Tessa standing on top of her work bench (6+ inches off the floor). I went out picked her up and put her down on the floor. However I figured she'd get right back up, and of course she did. I got a quick picture, before I moved the work bench out of the pen, guess she can't play with it unless we are sitting there with her.

Her feet are on the blue surface...I am sure Tessa will continue to shock us with what she is capable of doing!

The "Wave"

Tessa Pictures and Videos

Lots of Pictures from April/May can be seen here: Pictures

Tessa "talks" to Jen at the dinner table...