A morning exchange

Tessa and tosh converse

I thought this was such a treat, to witness the interaction between Tessa and her friend, Tosh, who is just a month younger than her. This particular day was filled with very little conflict and incredibly mature exchange of conversation.

halloween bunnies

"Look at the Child"

Sorry for the delay in posting... computer was being repaired. Here's a morning in October. Both girls nearly ready to get out the door and I so wanted to just look at them.. take a moment and see them. Montessori has a phrase "Look at the child." This is helping me cope with the waves motherhood brings, the sometimes crashing and the sometimes rolling waves. The phrase is the basis of Montessori philosophy, and translates into seeing the chid for what and who they are. For instance, if I can catch Tessa in a moment that might be for her challenging, (which, of course, translates into a challenging moment for me) and look into her eyes, really look at her and see her for a tiny little person in this great big world, just trying to communicate in words what she needs. If I can see that she is such a little person, still very much a baby, with countertops that she can't reach, a toilet that comes up to her chest, a bed that is nearly as tall as she is, these things and looking at her help me to see her and in turn, help her through whatever developmental phase happens to be taking over her body and mind at that current moment... then... I can breathe and then I can help her breathe and then "I have truly "Looked at the child." http://www.amazon.com/Look-Child-Expression-Montessoris-Insights/dp/0960101624.

Just a thought

Truly Happy For Her Happy Birthday

Teagan finds such delight in Tessa. How lucky I am to witness such a bond

On her actual birthday, Tessa's best friend came over for lunch. We had an impromptu party and instead of cake, I put 2 fig newtons on a plate and put candles in them. The girls LOVED the "little happy cakes."

Here is Tessa, first thing in the morning on her bday... opening her gifts from her aunt Christine and her cousins Kaylee and Allison... Tessa thought the butterfly wings were "nice!"

Tessa opening her presents from Grandma Kathy. She finally got some play doh (Sp???) When she opened it, along with all the markers and crayons, she ran to get Teagan..."Teagan see... markers... oh my... play doh... Teagan see??.... oh my... wow!"

We went to Cooks, Inc. in Abacoa for Tessa's family party. It was so nice to all be together. It's super cool there, you get to go into the kitchen and make your own pizza. (Thurs. is Pizza Night) abacoacooks.com

Here's Tessa's great aunt, Doreen.

Tessa and her 2nd cousins, Claire and Ayla
Here we are with Tessa's other 2nd cousin, Kelli. We are putting on our gloves to get the pizza making started.
Tessa chose red sauce, olives and monzerella. And using her fork very intently.
My dad and Tess

Teagan rolls...

Meal of the Past Few Weeks

This has been our staple for the past few weeks. We have all enjoyed it, including Tess.

I basically just put all this stuff together and don't really have a reciepe that I follow but here's what I do:

Corn and Shrimp Chowder

3-4 Small Potatoes diced (I've been getting beautiful Organic Yukons from our good friend Chris at Palm Beach Organics www.palmbeachorganics.org)

1/2 an onion chopped

3 cobs of corn cut off cob or about 1/2 bag or frozen

olive oil

good size pat of butter to saute onions in

salt and pepper

cream

Shrimp (1/2 lb to 1 lb depending on how much shrimp you want)

any herbs, can use dried too: bay leaf, rosemary, thyme...

First, thaw shrimp and once thawed cut into bite size pieces.

Okay, saute onions with some salt (my sister taught me this, sautéing onions always need salt to release their best flavors) . Once transparent, add diced potatoes and cover potatoes w/ water. Add a decent amount of salt, pepper, bay leaf, rosemary (whatever else you want) and let those cook on med. to bring to slow boil and until potatoes are soft.

Pour mixture into blender or food processor or something like that and add about 1/2 c. of cream and blend just a bit until thick. Add this back to the pot and stir, add more water if too thick, add corn and more salt if need be. Keep warm.

In frying pan, heat olive oil, cover shrimp pieces w/ some pepper and salt and saute until pink.

Add shrimp to soup mixture. That's it.... tasty w/ a nice salad.

A few days before 2

These photos were taken a few days before Tessa turned 2. Lately our days are marked by an ebb and flow, well, a rather strong ebb and flow. Well, some pulls too. I keep asking myself if things are challenging because I have two children. And I think not necessarily. Tessa's growing need for independence is lovely and tough at the same time. Caring for Teagan is not really difficult, she is happy doing what ever it is we are doing. She's easy to sleep, easy to rise, and smiley nearly all the time. Extremely relaxed. And Tessa's happy too, she's delightful, charming and these are the qualities I have to remember as I navigate through her increasing demands that bring frustration, and yelling and crying. She is, as my mother tells me often, very much like me. And the same goes for me. I have to remember that in this time when I am sleep deprived, emotionally drained, hormonally taxed, I too, possess a kindness and life force that pulls me through. I, too, can be delightful. I must remember this and not judge my self harshly. Forgive myself for my at times, impatience and faults. I can thank Tessa for this lesson!

This past weekend we attended a La Leche League Parenting Conference. Sat. night was a family fun night, full of games and music and kiddie pools with floating, plastic ducks. Tessa had fun in the water and when I turned around, she had taken off all her clothes. So, here, in a room of about 300 people, Tessa wandered through the crowds naked. I took some photos and then proceeded to wrap her in a towel. But, the crowd of parents enjoyed it and she wasn't phased in the slightest. Such is childhood.

Teagan's eyes continue to enhance her every expression


Most days after the girls wake from their naps, (that is, if Tessa will nap... but that's another story!) I give them an opportunity to interact without me interfering. On this day, and increasingly so lately, Tessa is more and more gentle.

Teagan 12 weeks and she got her first tooth!!!!

It's been a few weeks....

Teagan and baby Will (Molly's second child) finally get some photos together. Finally. Will is 2 weeks older than Teagan. They are both really chill and don't mind the chaos and demands of their older sisters, Libby and Tessa. That's how it goes!!!

Nana and Teagan. People often tell me they look alike. It's in the eyes... Teagan's are still changing but seem blue.

Tessa and her best friend, Libby spend some time by the pool.

Libby's mom, Molly and I feel so lucky to have each other. At least I know I feel lucky! She and I have known each other for years and years, our mothers were friends when we were about this age. We reconnected several years back as running partners, and have spent many very early mornings, running in the lovely Florida heat. It's been so nice having established our relationship before children, and now with the children I am finding even more so, how much I cherish her. We talk each morning and if it's past 9 and we haven't spoken, then we know it's either been a REALLY bad night or one of us is running. To have this unspoken agreement of support and kinship gives me comfort in this territory of unknowingness and at times, complete chaos. Molly helps remind me that all this is normal. All the feelings of isolation and at times, despair, the quiet joy of toddlers, the non sleeping, the pains in our stomachs that we feel when leaving our babies... we both speak to our children with kindness, we have respect for our children, we nurse together and want the same things from this experience of motherhood. Of course, we don't always know how to get what we want but I look to Molly to help me find it. And ultimately, what we want is children who grow to be individuals, kind and compassionate and confident. And not so remarkably, these are the qualities I honor in Molly. I'm so glad our children are growing together.

Tessa eats pasta... even though I'm her mom, I still have to say...look at those eyes!

My girls. This photo was taken last week. Tessa fell earlier that day. Cooper, the lizard chasing puppy and she collided. Within seconds, the bump on her head was purple and the size of a golf ball. We were at my moms and she said we had to go to the Dr. We went to Urgent care where they sent us to the ER for a cat scan. All seemed okay but just to be safe, we went. Brian and I and Tessa spent 6 hrs in the ER. My body was full of fear for the first time in Tessa's life. I was scared. Tessa did wonderfully, she laid still in the cat scan and was a charming patient though when we left, she cried and cried and told me the story of what happened..."Cooper, Tessa boom boom, Cooper sad. Tessa sad. Tessa cried...Cooper sad... Tessa band aid, medicine, doctor..."
So really, Teagan looks like Colleen's baby, right? And quite similar in temperment... those eyes are the watching kind... still and observant. Kind. Very kind.

And we finally met Jewel. Our friends, Barbara and Glenn's granddaughter who lives in California. She is a bit older than Tessa and they loved each other. Lots of kisses, running, and eating. Jewel introduced Tessa to nori and clams, though Jewel doesn't like clams. Tess ate about 30 of them and woke up the next day a little under the weather... and still asking for more Jewel.

Vacation: Tessa says it was "fun" we did "eating, playing, and swimming"

This past weekend we took a trip over to Sanibel Island.  We had fun, especially in retrospect... it was lots of fun.  Hard though, this traveling thing with children this age. But we faired we despite the stop and go traffic on the way there, crying children, hard to get to sleep toddler, several rooms and a not that fantastic hotel... (by the 3rd room we were satisfied)... and a LOT of togetherness, which of course is the point but also, of course, trying!  That's the way it goes though, and Brian and I are glad to have made something worth remembering.  Even more than ever, I know these times are only what we make them.