DIY Imbucare

So I don't want to see T's poor broken face at the top of the blog anymore, so I will post some of the great work she has been doing the past several months -

I made my own little Imbucare Box out of an old Quaker Oats container using dominos.  She had a great time with this activity and it only took a couple of days to realize she had to turn them just the right way to fit them in.  Too bad it took even less time to figure out she could take the top off with her teeth.  Now we need to eat more oatmeal to make another!

"I fell"

The glue came off Tessa's eye today, and it looks really good underneath.  About 1 week ago, she was climbing up onto the stool at the breakfast bar and fell, and all I can assume was that the corner of her eye hit the edge of the counter.  I was in the other room.  I felt horrible.  She was crying, and bleeding.  After some ice and loving with the boo boo bunny, I knew she needed some medical attention to help keep it closed.  It wasn't that deep, but it would look a lot better if it wasn't gapping so much.

(a photo sent to Daddy)

Since we were home alone, I brought her into my clinic to have someone help hold her head.  She did amazing!  I wrapped her up so her arms would stay down, and my nurse held her head and she laid there as calm as could be, didn't move once and never even made a peep while I applied glue (dermabond) to her eye.  And having done this a few times, most kids scream and cry as soon as it hits their wound (I think it must burn), so I was amazed how well she did.

I have been second guessing myself since gluing it because I thought I could have gotten a smaller wound by suturing it.  But today, when everything was revealed and there is just a small red line, I am happy I didn't.  I am happy I didn't cause Tessa even more pain by having to numb it up to suture.  I am happy that she trusted me and lay still when I was gluing her face, and know that Mommy was helping her, and not hurting her.  

She is still trying to milk her injury though, recalling the incident and saying "I fell" in her little girl voice, pointing to her eye.  I knew she would be okay when she started to point to the other eye a couple days ago.  Silly girl!  And here she is yesterday, a little more in her element (warmth wise) riding her bike in a t-shirt and sandals. 

Slow down dare devil... we don't want any more "ER" trips for a very long time!

SNOW DAY

We went to St Louis (if some of you didn't know)

Hooray for lots (and lots) of snow!  We had to take Tessa out first thing in the morning for her to get a good look.  After she said COLD 30 times, we brought her back in, and suited her up.

She was having fun at first, until Dada dumped her on her head a couple of times.

No smiles for Mama.

The snow really picked up, and since she hated the feel of snowflakes that stay on your nose and eyelashes, we went to the Butterfly House

It was pretty funny being in a tropical rainforest (we even recognized some plants from Costa Rica) and having it blizzard on the other side of the glass.

Back at Scott's parents house, Tessa showed us how she likes to enjoy the snow; from the inside.

Since most everyone in St Louis has not seen T since she was 3 months old, we had numerous visits from the relatives (mostly from these two).  Great-Aunt Marcie and Great-Grandma Helen

We tried one more time on our last day for more snow fun, but again all T could say was COLD!

Luckily there was a friend across the street that wanted to have some inside play time and invited T over.  (I thought this pic was too precious not to take.)

We were ready...

although Tessa had no idea what she was getting herself into...

(more tomorrow, after we all get some rest)

Lunch

Bed Head III

These just keep getting better -

Shadow Play

Yesterday was the first time I saw Tessa look and play with her shadow.  This afternoon, the three of us had an early day, and made it out to the QC Olive Mill, and after eating, we hear Tessa saying "Mama, Dada, Mama, Dada".  She was pointing to our shadows.  Funny girl.  Thanks for this memory.

Monkey

Tessa had a trial gymnastics class this past weekend and loved it!  So we changed out her swing and put up some rings for our little monkey - 

Christmas 2010

Back to December (it seems so long ago!)

This house began putting up their HUGE display before Thanksgiving.  Some say it might be excessive, although Tessa thought it was great.  Scott continues his tradition of never wearing pants in Arizona.  (FYI, it did snow the other day)

We spent Christmas Eve at the Phoenix Zoo this year, and we all had such a great time, I think we will continue on the tradition.  Tessa got to fed and pet a Giraffe

This monkey didn't look thrilled to be on display

This one was:

Happy times!

And then there was Christmas morning!

Santa brought Tessa her Balance Bike, as well as art supplies and an alligator that gets played with most out of all her toys.

After eating breakfast over at Papa and Honey's house, we came back to open up the rest of the presents!

This is now the second most played with toy in the house - Her Baby from the Coleman's.  She loves to teach the baby to use all her toys

Speaking of Coleman's, we got to see them on Christmas this year via Skype! (sorry for the bad picture KT)

I think this photo is funny because of the items in the background: champagne, orange juice, a nasal aspirator and hand sanitizer.  It just doesn't get any more Christmas than that!