Did you think the giraffe pics were ending?

(1 year, 1.5 years, 2 years)

and as a reminder - 

And now she is TWO

FL 2011

A quick (or long) florida post before birthday pictures...

Hooray!  Our hotel was right by the pier on the beach.  Awesome location.

Tessa checking out the ocean

After a much needed good night's sleep, T was ready to go to the Ocean!

We did come down for a specific reason - To celebrate my cousin Meredith's high school graduation

The next day we headed to their house to celebrate poolside with Aunt Dana, Uncle Steve, Fawn, Jay and Meri-D 

I spotted some manatees behind the house in the canal, but much to our avail, these sea cows were content sleeping like logs.

We had to make a stop at Ron Jon's.  It's a must.  There's something nice about vacationing in a spot that you know so well.  Knowing this place well is an understatement for us.

By the third day, Tessa was a regular beacj bum.

That day we also had NASCAR on water.  

If you ask Tessa about our vacation, she will say - 

"Boats go fast"

"Cover your ears"

Well said, Tessa.

And just a few from our way back home - We rigged T up like a draft horse.  She thought it was fun.  I did get stopped by social services, letting me know this was child labor.  I call it helping.

FL 2011

Tessa, Honey and I went to Florida this weekend to celebrate my cousin Meredith's graduation.  It was fun.. but the 3 hour time difference left us all tired.  I think it is crazy how sleep depravation manifests itself as ADHD type symptoms in kids.  It was evident today for sure on our way back (a total of 11 hours of traveling today).  Hopefully we will have this bright smile back tomorrow.  More pictures to come (of course).

more photos that I love... but not so random

Tessa

random photos that I love

Just a few more weeks -

Tessa's 2 year photo shoot

Tessa's 1 year photo shoot

X-Rays and A Book

This does not belong to our family.  Scott was just proud of work today.  Call it show and tell I guess.  The picture of on the left is obviously broken.  He had to get creative to put the bones back into perfect position to have this guy avoid a trip to the OR.  A spacer in between the 4th and 5th fingers did the trick.  Good job Dr Scott.

You probably don't want to know about my day at work.  Maybe Tessa can go to work with Scott during "take you daughter to work day", because anything she might encounter at my office will scar her for life.

I can show you what I've been working on at home.  A new website opened - Paper Coterie - and was having some great deals for their open house.  I got my book today, and love it!  It's a small collection of Tessa @ One.  You should go there and make one for yourself!

Mother's Day 2011

Best Mother's Day EVER!*

*This is only my second Mother's Day... and the first was spent trying to console a crying 11 month old on an airplane during a 3 hour flight, which turned into 4 because of headwinds back to Phoenix.  Not too hard to beat.

After a breakfast of french toast (my favorite of course) we headed to Schnepf Farms to check out the 

U-Pick Garden which included these beautiful flowers.

We also had to catch the petting zoo, where Tessa tried her best to pick up the baby goats

We also fed the friendly cow, and the cow managed to get a mouthful of her dress as well.

Highlight of the day was swimming -  

We got her a little life vest, and she was swimming around the pool by herself in no time. 

Scott made my Mom and I an amazing dinner tonight, too.

Happy Mother's Day to you all!

Tot School

Tessa is 23 months old

We continued to work on our dot pages and letters.  I am happy to report that she knows the colors red and blue by heart.  The others... we're working on it.

Writing the letter A she would say up, down, across.  But I think she had the most fun wiping the paper clean.

Speaking of colors, I brought out her color box 2.  She enjoys dumping them all out... but will make matches as well.  They slide across the floor really easily, so our play sessions are usually short as I put it away for a different time when she abuses the materials.  Hopefully she will learn to keep them on her play mat in the future.

Practical life activities included folding towels -

and watering flowers - 

We also had lots of outdoor time this week... because it has hit 100 degrees already, and we know it's only going to get hotter!  100 is a lot better than 115 :)

Book of the week - We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

We have ours from the library... but I saw on Amazon that it is a pop-up book!  We might have to add the pop-up edition to our permanent collection.