7 Months next week!

getting ready to crawl...?

swimming!

Papa and Nana Lola

swim class
Waldo Pass Trail

Our little hitch hiker!

bubbles with Papa Kent

Uncle Josh

Tessa loves the drum!


...And the laptop!

Grandma Karen and Grandpa Michael

Is she not the cutest thing!?!



Where to begin...Tessa has been doing great! She sits on her own and lunges forward for toys, rocking on her hands and knees before she falls on her tummy. She's not crawling yet, but I bet it won't be long! She loves pulling herself up to a standing position; she's so proud when she stands on her own! We officially started her music class at Gymboree this week. She loves playing with other babies and learning about music! She has been in swim classes for a few weeks now--she loves the water, but hates the shower at the end of class. Her teacher says she is a natural; she kicks her feet and paddles with her hands at the same time and is not afraid to float on her back with her ears in the water. We are still doing the See Mommy Run stroller walk on Friday's with Mona, Avery, Alexis and Harlin. The weather has been fairly warm around here, but we're getting really excited to put our Colorado Ski Passes to use this winter! Tessa just got her first snowsuit and is ready to snowshoe and cross-country ski with Jesse and me. We've also been getting out on a few hikes and a couple of camping trips before the snow falls. She has been doing a bit better with her solid foods, though all she really likes is fruit (pears in particular). That's fine, she doesn't have to try anything else just yet (her Pediatrician says she needs to gain more weight). She just got over a UTI and cut her first tooth, so there have been many, many long nights for Tessa and I. We tried moving her to her own bed a few nights ago (pack-n-play in our room), to see if her every hour waking pattern would improve, and it did! She must have just needed her own space. Boy, is she a big girl!
Papa and Nana Lola came to visit from Minnesota two weeks ago. We had a great time, of course! Grandma Karen and Grandpa Michael were just here last night for Jesse's birthday and took us out to dinner. Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Terry had a barn party to celebrate their 20 year anniversary this past weekend--it was a hoot! They had a good bluegrass band, good beer, good food and good company (probably 100 people showed up to celebrate)! We are all going to San Diego in a few weeks to visit Great Great Grandma Powell for her 95th birthday! Tessa and I are then going to stop in Scottsdale, Arizona to meet Nana Lola and Papa (Papa has a anesthesia conference at the Phoenecian) and we can hopefully see Great Papa and Great Grandma Dianne as well. Then, it's off to Minnesota over Thanksgiving to see family and for Christina's wedding!