Isn't that the girl from Beauty and the Beast? (and random photos)

Scott and I love the TV show Chuck and during the premier episode, they introduced a new character, Chuck's Mom.

Scott:"Isn't that the girl from Beauty and the Beast?"
Me: Are you serious?  You don't recognize her from anywhere else?
Scott: Yeah, Beauty and the Beast, that old TV show, that's her!
Me: And that one movie called Terminator... you might have seen it, in between watching Beauty and the Beast.


And now some random photos from the past couple of weeks -

"CAT"

"So if I give you the cell phone, what do I get in return?"

"And then I gave him the cell phone, and the only thing I got was a bath!"

"Visiting the Aquarium with Grandma Linda"

"Stingrays" 

"SHARK!"

And this is not Tessa (in case you didn't know).  This is Paige.  She is probably my last cake smash baby for a long time because I ran out of paper.  Happy Birthday Miss Paige!

Tessa Words - 15 Months

Tessa's 15 month words Part I from Kelly McMillan on Vimeo.

Balance Beam

A trip to Home Depot, a couple pieces of wood, glue and some screws, and Tessa has her own handmade balance beam!  With our help she walks across it without falling off, but she is getting better at it each day on her own.   Plus we can turn it vertical and it hardly takes any room to store (a bonus in the AZ!).

Keychain

I was invited to be part of a sewing group this week (how appropriate!) and we made keychains last night.  I am looking forward to learning how to actually sew with the help from others!  I have a lot of ideas, but I don't have the know-how to do them.  We started off with something easy last night (thank goodness) and the girls were so polite with me, correcting my techniques (you can do it that way... or you can do it the way I am doing it, which I think might be easier for you).

Kickoff to DIY Week

Working part-time, I am able to complete some fun projects around the house, all the while keeping updated on Project Runway, Mad Men and 19 Kids and Counting (this show is addicting).  We encountered a problem while taking Tessa to swim lessons.  They are outside, and we would repeatedly dunk her underwater, so any form of hat to protect her little head would fall off with all he underwater activities.  She needed a swim cap, which would protect her scalp and keep all that hair out of her eyes.

Onto Google looking for baby swim caps...

anyone?

nothing?

Nada.

Plan B.

I could make her a swim cap!  I managed to find a free pattern online at Sew Liberated.  And instead of buying fabric, I picked up an extra-large white SPF exercise t-shirt at Target.  With my pattern and fabric in hand plus an hours time (I am a beginner) we ended up with this - 

Sun Protection?  Check  Keeping her golden locks out of her eyes?  Check.  Super cute?  Of course!  

Perfect.

15 Months

Dear Tessa,

You turned 15 months old this week.  I cannot believe you've been here for this long, and yet I cannot remember a time without you.  This will be your second Labor Day, soon to be your second Halloween and Christmas.  This blows my mind.

You are so smart.  Your Dad and I realized this past week that you can say so many words, we just have to listen for them.  You repeat almost everything we say, but in your own way!  We understand horse, duck, quack quack, dog, cat, shoes, mama, dada, up, uh oh, fish, grrrrrr, mooooo, hi, keys, that, bath, eat  and can sound the alphabet after me.  And you have increased the number of signs you know and use!  You now can say thank you and sorry, ball and book.  And even though we cannot understand you 100% of the time, you understand us.  You are so helpful in picking things up, putting things away, cleaning and following directions.

The outdoors are still your favorite place to be.  And you are doing really well swimming.  We even put you in a life vest and you swam around the pool by yourself this past week.

Here are your 15 month stats:

Height - 32.25 inches

Weight - 22 pounds 6 ounces

Yes,  you gained 3 pounds in 3 months.  You are a great eater, obviously.

Love you lots T Bear!

Mom