Back In Town

We made it back to Tennessee without too much of a protest from the backseat. I did have to ride in the back between the carseats for the last hour and a half or so. The weather kept getting warmer and warmer the closer we got, which reminds me - which direction is McLeansboro from Knoxville? Since we've been here, Jalen has been saying "ay-uff" (F), Uncle "Fee-uhl" (Phil), and "way-uht" (wet). You'd think he would get more of that here! Anyway, we've been loving the nice warm & sunny weather the past two days. The only thing that could make me more excited right now is a full night's sleep!

Here's what we've been doing

Hugs

I'm watching you, brother

No More Monkeys ...

Can you guess? Maybe someone was jumping on the bed? When I put Jalen in his room for his nap, and five minutes later heard that, "I'm really hurt" scream along with a loud thud, I knew it wasn't going to be good. However it happened, his forehead made contact with the dresser and left a huge goose egg knot. When he got calmed down, we called Daddy so Jalen could tell him about his "ow-ie", and he reminded me not to let him go to sleep with hitting his head that hard. So, no nap, and movie day it is! It all worked out for Jalen in the end. He requested one of his favorites, "punkin patch!" (It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown)

Mmmm...Food!

Tess has been practicing eating her rice cereal for several weeks now, and I think we are finally to the point where she is actually ingesting most of it! She is much more interested in real "meal" times, especially when Jalen is there for her entertainment. If we are all eating and she is not, she lets us know she wants to join the fun too by mashing her gums together and "chewing"! We got her high chair put together, as it was last used as Jalen's booster seat. And this weekend, we introduced her to carrots! YUM! She seemed to really like them, or at least, not dislike them.

Yawn

As an update, she has pretty much full control over her head/neck; CAN roll over, but won't; and loves to try to sit up on her own. She is doing very well and will probably be on her own with no falls in just a week or two. She has just started "for real" jumping in her Jumperoo. We are definitely into the teething stage. And we are still NOT sleeping through the night!! Ugh!

Sorry, but I don't think this looks like Jalen or me!

Miss Diva

Mirror, Mirror on the wall... Already looking at her lovely reflection

Are we done yet? I'm not getting paid for this photo shoot!

After our run this morning, we played out on the porch for a little while, soaking up the sunshine. Here is a little video of Tess laughing at Jalen jumping ( "jump over the squeaky" ). Yes, my child is outside with no pants or shoes on, but we just had an accident and we were about to go to bed, so tough cookies.

Thank You, Tess, For Sleeping In The Stroller!

This is such a big accomplishment it deserves its own post. Tessa, Lil Miss Diva as I call her, is not a fan of any restrictive seat. Car seat, stroller, or bumbo seat for very long. But especially the stroller. Which makes it difficult considering my sister-in-law and I have decided to run a half marathon (there it is, I made it publicly known so now I have to do it). I'm testing out all the variables, but going during the morning nap may be the key. I hope she starts to enjoy going for a ride as much as Jalen does and did at that age, because I am looking forward to getting out and enjoying the outdoors once the weather is nice!

Here are a few pics of our time in So IL: