But Don't Touch My Hat

These last few weeks of the summer have been pretty fun. We took Tessa to the city pool for the first time. She actually had a pretty good time! She talked about it for days, and she even has a slight tan line! She has been outdoors as much as possible. She also has two completely skint knees (or as we like to call them--summer merit badges).

Anthony was out of town last week on business in D.C., but he brought home a present for Tessa. She was so thrilled to see him and talked nonstop the rest of the evening.

I have been playing around with painting. As in canvas. I actually really enjoy doing it more than I thought I would. And I found I had more "talent" than I thought.

Tessa started teething again. She is getting her two-year molars. (cringe) So far, it has only been crankiness and a few...uhhh...diaper...ahem...problems. That is why the following shots are of a near naked Tessa. Trust me, no more details are needed.

OK. Sorry. It's hard to pick just one. Tessa loves her cowboy hat. She wears it every time she goes outside. She also likes to dip it in the pool and then put it back on. You know--for a quick cool down.

Anyway, that's all from the Todd household. Hope your summer is going well!

Slingin' the Slang

This was a converstaion Tessa and I had this morning:

TESSA: Momo? Makin' lunch?

ME: No. I'm making breakfast.

TESSA: Ohhhhh! Cool!

ME: Did you just say cool?

TESSA: Yes. Cooooooollll.

ME: You are so silly! Do you even know what cool means??

TESSA: YES! It's chilly!!

At this point, Tessa danced in a cirlce and ran into the living room. I guess to go do more "cool" things than stand and talk to Momo.

Gianna Jessen Saline Abortion Survivor

Prayers Needed!!!

A very dear friend to me is in need of prayers. Specifically her sister Cari, and 10-month old son Drew. Basically, about a month ago, Drew started having long seizures. He has been in the hospital since then. It has been a ragged month for Cari and her husband, Jordan. The doctors seem pretty baffled. They keep going towards a prognosis only to back away from it. Here is the latest update as I know it:

Finally! Some hopeful news out of Canada!The tests they have done with Drew are coming back negative for mitochondrial disease. Apparently with that, the liver and the eyes are the most impacted areas of the body, and all the tests from the last week that they've done have come back negative. This, along with the partial results from the muscle biopsy so far indicate that it may not be that. I guess one of the major doctors this morning said that maybe it's not epilepsy or mitochondrial disease, but maybe it's something muscle related. So, we think that at some point they might run out of tests, but at least they are getting closer to ruling out some terrible possibilities. Also positive, Drew's seizures have calmed down a fair amount. Instead of seizing continually he is now having 3-4 minutes of calm, followed by 15-20 seconds of seizing, and he is now not seizing much while he sleeps. I don't know if that is thought to be because of the medications, or what, but it is definitely easier on all of them. Apparently Drew is trying to use his hands between seizures, which is also good. He continues to have little neck and back strength--he feels like a 10 month old newborn in that regard. They got a day pass from the hospital today, and took Drew to church, where their church family there had them take him up front and prayed over him, and then they had a picnic lunch. It sounds like yesterday and today were just really good for everyone there. I'm including a picture of Drew from last week, and of course, even though this is hopeful news, please keep praying. My sister almost started crying when I told her that I had a group I emailed with updates, because she was afraid that after a month people would be forgetting about Drew. Thank you all for your help. Nicole

Park/Petting Zoo FUN!!!

Here are some pictures from our fun outing this morning. It ended in the old downtown Littleton at a little bistro that had sidewalk tables with big umbrellas. It was the perfect temperature, and Tessa ate a whole slice of pizza by herself. We had a very fun morning! By the way, I think you have to tell the music to start playing on the slideshow, and if anything pops up to cover the slideshow, just click on the "x".

A Pregnant Pause...On Sleeping

I have had insomnia for two weeks now. I can't fall asleep until after 12 or 1 and then wake up before 5 and can't get back to sleep. Besides being pregnant, there are a few other causes. First, Anthony has had a cold which makes him cough a lot in the morning. Second the room is light by 5. And last, it is hardly ever below 75 degrees in our bedroom. So I have suggested we get an air conditioner for our room. I am feeling miserable from lack of sleep--like a zombie.

Anthony came home and suggested I go stay in a hotel room tonight alone. He was actually serious. Why didn't I do that???? What is wrong with me??? I told him a hotel would cost half the price of an air conditioner, so we should just get one of those. We went to Penny's and bought blackout curtains for our bedroom window. Then we put foil on the top little skinny window. It is so dark in there right now! I am hoping that will help me fall back asleep better when I get woke up at 5:00 in the morning. We are going to try the fan on for a little while. Anthony always says the fan dries him out and complains about it, but in the face of spending more money, he is relenting. I will probably be just perfect with a fan.

Tessa was a terror in Penny's. This is because Mommy was talking to the salesperson so she realized only Daddy was watching her. At one point I heard her squeal from a long ways off. I looked back to where the stroller was and her sandals were on the floor about four feet from each other and she was running as fast as she could barefoot through the store. Anthony was quietly chasing after her saying, "Tessa" in a nice sing song voice. She knew she had him beat. After I bought the curtains, I saw Anthony losing Tessa again. I waited around a minute or two while he chased her through the maze of curtains. Then I got fed up with it and said (in my best scary mom voice), "Tessa! Come here right now!" She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around and looked at me. I started to walk to her and when I got within 2 feet, she tried to run for it. Too late! I grabbed her by the arm and wrestled her into the stroller and strapped her in. She did not like being strapped in that thing. So we pushed a screaming toddler out of Penny's into the mall. That was about when she decided to accept her fate. She immediately got quiet and hummed a little song to herself. Pleasant and peaceful. As if Penny's never even happened.

Sometimes I wish I could move on from negative experiences as quickly and seamlessly as she does. I would love to have someone push me around in a stroller while I hummed contentedly to myself. Pleasant and peaceful. As if today never happened.