Sippy Cup time...

We tried a sippy cup for the first time with Tess. She's not quite sure what to think about it. She tries to drink it like a bottle. I'm on the hunt for one with a straw...

Rollin....

Tess definitely took her time with rolling. We worked and worked and worked on it but discovered as with every skill she masters, she would do it on her own time. And she finally did! She was actually rolling from her tummy to back in mid-December. But she couldn't quite get down the back to tummy part until tonight! It's awesome to see how she has put both skills together. I love how you can see and hear the determination in her. She is one determined little girl. Love her!

Giant Dog

I love this video! Tess got this giant sized puppy dog from some neighbors just after she was born. She loves it. And Dave loves to play and tease her with it. 

Family Pics

We had some pictures of Tess and us together as a family while we were down in Utah during the holidays. The talented Emilie Ralph Decker did them. She was wonderful to work with and we loved the results!

Our most favorite of our lil' piglet!

Love that face!

 

I know...she kind of looks like a clown in this get up...guess it is time to do laundry.

Eating is her fave...

 

Splish Splash in the bath

Our little squirt loves her baths! She goes crazy with the kicking and splashing. We usually have to get a towel to wipe up all the water she splashes. It's fun to see her so happy...we hope she always has good hygiene!

Poops...

For those who are squeamish, this post isn't for you since it is about poop! We're proud of our little pooper! I was just reading on the Caring Bridge blog that we kept during Tess's NICU stay and it seems like we had lots to say about poop on there including praying for poop for weeks! We were grateful for poop then and we are grateful for poop now. It's great to know that Tess's little body is doing exactly what it is supposed to do! She won't be proud of these pics when she is a teenager, but for now, she should be! She is one smelly little girl that we are so grateful for!
  

 

 

Swingin'

So, before anyone calls family services on us, just know that Tess is safe. After all, she has her helmet on. This is the difference between Dads and Moms...I cringe any time Dave plays a little "rough" with Tess and he thinks I'm an overprotective stick in the mud. Smile. Actually, Maureen, Tess's therapist, told us to swing Tess. It helps with her development. That made me a little more at ease. As you can see, Tess LOVES it!

Tiny Toes...

First pedicure for these tiny toes...

I had to paint quick. Surprisingly Tess held very still and they dried without a smudge!

 

BYU Nostalgia

When we were in Utah for Christmas, we took a trip to BYU campus with Jenny. I don't think I had been back since I graduated many years ago. It was so fun but it had been so long I couldn't even remember the names of some of the buildings. And campus has changed a ton! New buildings and new add-ons to old buildings...it hardly looked the same. Good thing the HFAC hasn't changed nor the good ol' bookstore.

We had to have our pictures taken with the "Y" in the background.

 We went into the HFAC where I took violin lessons and Dave took piano lessons. We went down into the "dungeon" where all the practice rooms were. Dave found a room and tinkered around on the the piano just like the good ol' days.

Ah BYU...fun memories. Now we are old and married! Thanks for the good times!

Shhh....

I love it when this girl is asleep...she is so peaceful and adorable.

 

 

And here is Tess passed out after eating...guess she was pretty tuckered out! So sweet.

Friends

The holidays are always so busy with holiday stuff and then you throw in seeing a few friends and it's CRAZY! But it is always so fun and memorable. We were able to see a lot of friends this time...some I hadn't seen for a long time!

This is super out of focus, but I had to include this pic because it is us with one of the best gals I know. I met Michelle Reich when I first moved to Boston. She was my first friend after a few months of feeling so lost and alone. I remember talking to her one FHE and then getting together on a Friday night for sushi. That sealed the deal on our friendship. She is one of the most Christ-like people I know. She serves and serves and serves and I never have seen her without a smile. She has the most contagious laugh. She is just a wonderful wonderful person. She was in town for the holidays and also her wedding shower. She is getting married in February and I couldn't be happier for her. I hadn't seen her since I moved from Boston. So fun to see her smiling face!

The Ghetto Gals (minus one)! These gals are just the BEST! We have been friends since Salt Lake City...some of us have been roommates and we have all adopted one another as best friends. I MISS them something terrible. I wish just one of them lived here. What I would give! These are some of the smartest, talented and most beautiful girls I know!

 {little Lucy with Josh, Melissa and us}

 {Ghetto Husbands - Dave, Ben, Josh and Chris}

 {Ghetto Aunt Cho}

And these girls...we have been friends since high school and still try and get together when possible since we are all so scattered in different states. We don't see each other near enough, but every time we get together, it's like we just continue on where we left off the year or so before. We talk a million miles a minute (some louder than others) and laugh non stop. These girls are one in a million!
 

 It's funny how there are various chapters in your life full of lots of different friends. I have to say that I have been blessed with the most wonderful friends in each chapter of my life (not all are here in pictures). They have each touched me in some way and helped me learn how to be a better person. I hope our friendships last into our golden years!

Christmas with the Johnsons

We were the only ones that made it to my parents' house for Christmas this year. Well, actually, my parents weren't even home for Christmas. They were back in Virginia with my brother and sister-in-law and their two girls, so we celebrated with them when they got home. Everyone else lives far away and has more than one child making it expensive and challenging with all the "stuff" that is necessary to spend holidays away from home. So it was a quiet little holiday celebration, but wonderful just the same. Tess got spoiled and so did we. It was nice to enjoy the solitude this holiday...sometimes there isn't much of that with all the Christmas rush. We loved it! Thanks Dad and Mom for a fun Christmas!

 {Tess's little hand print ornament}

We were also able to see some of my aunts and uncles for a little dinner that was at Uncle Jerry's and Robin's. The only missing sibling here is Johna. It was really fun to see all of them!

Here are a few more pictures that I took with my iPhone. I had just discovered instagram and all the wonderful things it could do! The iPhone is now starting to replace my camera because it is just SO easy to snap a pic here and there with the phone close by.