Some Sparks...

Tessa's had some wonderful language bursts. Here's her latest from today:

1. We were on a walk, myself, Tessa, andTeagan in the push car. Tessa handed me her apple and said, "Mama it seems like you have your hands full, let me push Teagan for you."

2. Tessa has very much been enjoying my giving her swimming lessons. She takes them very seriously. We have also been working very hard on patience. Both of us, me with her and her in all sorts of situations that arise in the life of a 2 year old. Well, today she was at the pool when I was teaching. She asked me a few times if she could have her lesson. I told her when I was all finished with the other children I would do her lesson. She accepted this and went about her playing and swimming on her own for the next 1.5 hours.

At the end of lessons, I got out of the pool and nursed Teagan. Tessa had put her bathing suit back on and was standing on the steps, "Mama I waiting so patient for you. I so patient for my turn. Now Tessa and Mama can have swimming lesson."

1. As for Teagan... oh boy... her voice is emerging. In the past few days she has been grunting (with great irritation) if I take something from her, (or Tessa does, which does believe it or not, happens!!!). And a few times when I've put her in the carseat, she has been arching her back in annoyance. Though, humorous I know these are signs of more to come but also, I feel happy to see her sparks!

2. She is standing on her own...a lot. She's even working on it in her sleep, moving and balancing pushing up to stand.

Photos on Friendship

computer issues

our computer is having some trouble. it is getting help. so there will not be any photographs for a bit. xoooooxoooo

Over the past few days I have been thinking about friendship

I registered Tessa for school, she will begin in the fall and the application asked me, what I hoped for my child to get out of her school experience? I immediately answered that I wish for her to have fun in school, continue towards independence and lastly that she be connected to her innate joy for learning. Now, how is this related to my recent thoughts on friendship? Well, even after turning in the registration form, I am pondering what I want for her to get out of school. And I come back to friendship on a few different levels.

1. Friendship is a relationship of mutual respect, of support, esteem. I hope both my girls will find friendship of this definition in their education. A friendship with learning, an appreciation, a respect. (Is this too far out there?!!)

2. And more commonly friends. I want for them to have friends, to giggle with, to run with, to dance with, to learn with. I want them to feel safe and confident enough to share themselves with friends. For Tessa to share her humor and sensativity. For Teagan to share her kindness and unrelenting joy. For both to find themselves surrounded by friends, a few or many, who simply love them because. Just because they are who they are, however imperfect and at the same time however perfect.

Last week my friend, Maria visited for the week. We have know each other for 8 years. Our friendship blossomed in Boston as we both struggled to find meaning in our work as sales associates for a running store. Well, our job wasn't all too bad though at times we thought we might die selling running shoes but we didn't and instead we both walked away from quite full of appreceiation for one another. In those long, cold lonely winter months when few, if any runners needed new shoes, Maria and I shared the stories which make us who we are and along the way, I've come to love her just because.

Thanks Maria for your visit, for your willingness to seek out friendship and for sharing your self with first, me, then Brian, and now my Tessa and Teagan. In in doing so... you've become their friends too. Tessa keeps asking, "Where my lady friend go?

Swimming

Tessa and Teagan and I have been swimming the past few days. And Tessa's getting reacquainted with the whole process and in doing so she has been asking me to watch videos of herself as "Baby Tessa swimming." I will post a video of Teagan soon. But here is baby Tessa at 9months old.