One Year Update

Tessa had her one year check up today with Dr. Slaven. She is meeting or exceeding all the milestones. She maintained her weight and height. Here are the stats:

Weight: 19lbs 14ozs 31st percentile

Height: 30 1/4inches 85th percentile

She continues to amaze us daily! Here is what she is up to....

• -walking all over, she now prefers to walk instead of crawl
• -loves to say dada all the time, but wants her mama to hold her all the time
• -she understands EVERYTHING, literally
• -follows simple commands like, open, close, squeeze, stand, sit, go upstairs, take a bath, brush your teeth, get your baby, etc...
• -loves playing with her babies, she will push the stroller, feed them, rock a bye baby, kiss and love them, it is adorable.
• -loves to be chased around the ottoman and will crack up when you get her
• -dancing is her absolute favorite thing to do, she will dance to anything and sometimes does a crazy dance where she swings her head back and forth, it is hilarious
• -she is on whole milk and we are working to get rid of her last 2 bottles and drink milk in her sippy cup only.
• -taking 2 naps a day and sleeping about 11 hrs a night with a bedtime of 7:30
• -switched to a big girl car seat but still rear facing until she meets the weight requirement to face forward. Still not a big fan of the car seat.
• -she LOVES other kids, will break her neck to look at any kids in stores or restaurant
• -she is a really loving baby, gives kisses all the time and is so cuddly
• -she is both independent and needy which can be difficult at times
• -she will make a whiny face when she wants something, and continues to have a defiant streak. When I tell her no she tends to smile or laugh at me and when daddy says no she usually cries. So she is figuring out how to work us both we think.

I think that pretty much sums it all up. Being a parent is the most important job and the most fun job all at the same time. I wouldn't trade it for anything, and constantly feel so blessed to be able to spend so much time with Tessa and see everything she does. I think she learns or starts doing something new on a daily basis which is amazing to us. It really is difficult to remember what I used to do with my time before Tessa was here, she is our world in every way. This year has been both the greatest challenge and the most rewarding and we both know that there are only more wonderful years to come as Tessa grows up.

Polka Dot First Birthday Party

We had Tessa's party on Saturday. We invited family and friends and had a really great turn out. We were blessed to have such a beautiful day so people could go outside too and it wasn't as crowded. We had chili, cider, cake and cupcakes for everyone. Miss Tessa was happy and social with everyone but had to make sure one of her security people (me, Dad, or Grandma) were nearby. She had fun playing with the kids, it is really eye opening to how much bigger she is when she goes off in the other room to play with the "big" kids. She liked opening gifts, and tearing the paper off the boxes. She was showered with wonderful, fun, and perfect gifts from everyone...THANK YOU SO MUCH! The only thing that she was not into was the cake, it got on her fingers and she wanted it off and did not want to try it at all. So, after dinner that night we tried again with just Mommy and Daddy and I believe the pictures tell it all! :)
What a great way to celebrate our little girl's first birthday, with our closest family and friends!!
I didn't get to take any pictures during the actual party, Aunt Janelle was the photographer, but I do have the pictures of the decor, a couple of the birthday girl, and the cake eating! ENJOY!!

The theme was polka dots, in girly fall colors (pink, red, and orange)

Favors for the kids

This was the cake I made especially for her to dig into.

This was the sign on the front door I made.

We had balloons everywhere and she really liked them.

I ironed on the cupcake on her birthday dress.

She looks so tiny here. We are going to try to take a pic on the front porch each year to see how she grows.

All the kids playing together. You would think she didn't need any toys right? She was getting bored with her baby stuff and has been so entertained by the new ones!

Cake Time!!!

That face says it all!

STRAIGHT TO THE TUB

Then and Now!

Tessa Rose Oliver

November 6th, 2008

7lbs 8ozs 21inches long

After my water breaking at home after work, no contractions, induction, 12hours of labor (with an epidural) and pushing with 5 contractions she arrived at 12:26pm healthy and beautiful. This is where her story began and it has been the most wonderful and amazing one.

Today is the day that our baby girl turned ONE! It is so amazing how they grow and learn so much during their first year. I didn't take many pictures because I was busily getting ready for her party the next day, but we did get outside and spend time doing something she enjoys for a while and I snapped a few pics. She doesn't go to the doctor until the 12th, so I will do a big post then with her stats and all she is doing these days. So for today I am going to show a little from where we were 1 year ago just to reminisce.

Yes she does know how to climb onto her 4 wheeler and push the button to make it drive! She was craking up and making the construction workers across the street stop what they were doing and laugh! She just lights up the world!

Halloween Fun

Sorry for the delay in posting but we've been busy celebrating a first birthday at our house!!! Tessa enjoyed her first Halloween this year even without getting to try the candy. She was a pink leopard. She got to see her friends and some of her family, and of course everyone thought she was so cute. I think her favorite part was handing out the candy to all the kids, she would put it in their bag and then shake more at them as they left to try to lure them back! She understood that each time the door opened there would be another kid, and as you know she is obsessed with kids right now!

I thought this look was funny..."what? I wasn't doing anything!" Grandma said she was trying to figure out why all the kids like this stuff so much!

Aunt Natalie and Uncle Josh - they still have the spirit!!

Great Grandma Henderson sent her a Halloween card and for some reason she thought it was really funny. I was able to capture a picture of her laughing at it. If that doesn't make you laugh who knows what will!

Mommy and Daddy took her to the Headless Horseman at Conner Praire to meet up with Grammy and David. It was a pretty nice night and we were so happy Daddy could get off work and go with us! Tessa's favorite part was seeing the baby animals and watching all the kids!

Tessa's and Mommy's friends Abby, Ella, and Cole had a Halloween play group a couple days before the actual day. It was a fun chance to dress the kiddos up an extra time. Abby had cookie decorating, lunch, and good bags for all the kids. We love to go to this so Tessa can play with some other kids, she really enjoys it!

If you haven't been around her lately this is her favorite whiney face to make. She will just hold her mouth like this and OAHHHH away. It is actually really funny, but maybe laughing encourages it!!! Anyways, it looked so funny when she was in costume because it looked like she was roaring or growling! I'm telling you this girl is hilarious in so many ways!

Fall on the Monon

Today we went to Janelle and Matt's house in Broadripple for brunch. We also got to meet their newest addition RUFUS!! He is so adorable and seems to be a perfect fit for them. They like everyone else didn't plan on getting a dog so quickly, but this just seemed to be fate for them and Rufus. They have a great story of how they were connected to each other!

Once the Colts game started us ladies thought we would rather go to the park by the Monon. We were so pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous fall weather today and happy to get some fresh air before winter begins! Tessa and Rufus were in heaven. He got to run around and sniff everything and Tessa got to see kids, go on the teeter toter, walk, swing, and explore. She is so curious and independent, it is really entertaining to watch her. She was screaming and laughing at everything. She is also Miss Social; everyone she sees she must go right over to say "hi" and also gives them her little piggy nose face. If you've been around her lately you know exactly what I'm talking about! It was a great day spending time as a family and enjoying Fall.

Janelle and Rufus (First Halloween)

Little mind at work

She was playing "monkey in the middle" and kept escaping to the other side when you tried to grab her! You can see the mischeif in her face!

She loved this teeter toter! She also loves her Grandma!!

Skeletons...

I guess skeletons aren't scary for a 11 1/2 month old. She danced with him, hugged him, and even was giving him kisses. I bet this will be different by next Halloween!

Amazing Mommas

I am actually going to blog about something besides Tessa, I know shocking right?

In my field of nursing we are constantly working with families who have suffered with infertility and who are trying to cope and learn how to take care of a preemie. I always try to be compassionate and understanding for them, but can't truely relate on a personal level.

Well, this is changing somewhat....

although it is not me directly I have both a friend and a cousin experiencing these things in their life. Hopefully you guys don't mind me talking about you!

My friend delivered her adorable baby boy last week when she was only 32 weeks in her pregnancy. After weeks of worry and praying Gabriel entered the world at 3lbs 14ozs, and in just one week is growing and make amazing progress. I think he has been listening to his Mommy at work so he is a pro at all this preemie stuff! He is a very lucky little boy to have a Mommy and Daddy that took such good care of him both on the inside and out and will get him strong so he can come home soon!

Gabriel Wetherbee Johnson

(I stole his picture from his blog)

At the same time my cousin and her husband have been enduring the challenges of infertility. After multiple procedures and painful tests they are doing invitro. They implanted their eggs this past week and are now in the waiting process to hopefully get the + pregnancy test! You hear about people having these procedures done, but I don't think I really ever realized the pain, emotions, and dedication that this process takes. She has to get a shot every day with a HUGE needle for up to 16 WEEKS, and is on multiple prescriptions. Again, this is one lucky baby to have a Mommy and Daddy who already had such great love for them that they would go all measures to welcome them into the world! They are always so positive about everything and I am amazed at their strength and courage! I absolutely can not wait to hear the news of a baby on the way and maybe even two!

I know weird pic, but this is my cousin (on the left) drawing up her shot. I can't imagine this every day!

Doubled....

The other day while I was again switching out clothes for a bigger size I came across Tessa's newborn clothes. I started to go through the box and reminisced about when she was so tiny and how different things were compared to now. I remember how sweet, completely dependent, and sometimes challenging a newborn can be; but also am beginning to think about the fantasy of having another newborn in our house. Although it will be challenging in different ways (Tessa running around) it will be just as amazing. And hopefully I will get to use all these cute clothes one more time. :) Don't get the wrong idea though... it will still be a bit before we have another!

So...this is the reason for the title Tessa has DOUBLED in size based on clothes!! Here is a pic just to emphasize :)

Big Fun for an 11 month old...

"I think this is how you get up here?"

"O.k. now I have both feet off the ground!!"

"Mommy always tells me to sit, but now I can do it all by myself!"

"What are these for? My thumbs look funny!"

"But I think are pretty fun anyway!"

How entertaining it is to watch an 11 month learn something new atleast once a day if not 10 times, her mind absorbs everything you say and do! I try to capture everything because time flies by!

11 Months Old

I just finished putting my beautiful, funny, independent, ADORABLE baby girl to sleep and was thinking about how much she has changed over the months as she drifted off to sleep in my arms.

Here is what our girl is up to these days....

-She has started to take some steps!!! She is taking up to 8 steps at a time and it is so unbelievable! We estimate that she will be walking pretty good in another week.

-She can crawl at lightning speed

-Loves to be chased and for you to "get her"

- Will rock her baby and sing to her

-Loves to chase the ball and will throw it and try to bounce it

-She loves to get into the toilet paper and eats any paper she can get her hands on

-We are down to nursing once a day in the morning, so still on track to wean around a year.

-She can understand EVERYTHING, you ask her a question and she will answer with actions. some of her faves....Do you wanna....go get the mail? take a bathtub? go "night night?" Where is your....baby? doggie? ball? Are you all done?

-taking 2 naps a day usually around 9 am and 2 pm

- we just started to introduce some Vitamin D milk in her sippy cup with her snack and dinner. She atleast takes a couple drinks of it. She wouldn't drink formula from a cup AT ALL.

- As far as talking. She is saying most of the usuals mama, dada, doggie (dgee), ball (ba), all done (a da). But also what I have noticied is she is repeating the cadence of what you say. She makes noises that immitate how you just said something.

She is just a bundle of energy, has SOOO much to say, the happiest and most loving as they come, and brings a smile to my face every hour of every day! I'm definitely at the point where I don't remember what I used to do with my time before she was here.

Only about 3 weeks until she is one year old and the preperations are in progress for her celebration. I just recently started looking back at my blog entries that were the same date a year ago. Here is a pic of us then...

And here she is now!!! I can't believe what a big girl she is. It is getting much harder to take pictures because she is on the move so I was chasing her all around trying to get these! :)

Standing all alone. Her balance is really good now.
(she kept picking mums and trying to eat them)

This look is priceless, she is always so aware and so curious and this just captures it perfectly!!