Godzilla

A long time ago, I used to babysit for these two American boys when we lived in Germany. They were about Tessa and Ellis' age. Both Robert and Will were obsessed with Dinosaurs. They knew every single type of Dinosaur and would correct me if I dared mix up a Brontosaurus with a Brachiosaurus. The also had every single, god-awful, cheesy Godzilla movie ever made. I have seen Godzilla terrorize the streets of Tokyo and fight some giant Arachnid.

Ellis sounds like Godzilla. He has this funny shreik and it just reminds me of the old-school Godzilla shreik. I think Godzilla is a funny nick-name also, because Kirsten calls Tessa T-Rex. Tessa got this nick-name because when she first started walking she would have her arms by her side and they looked like little T-rex arms. Also, her name starts with a T, so it kind of stuck. So now, I have my little Godzilla.

Opa Opa

My mom took Tessa to a musical at the local Elementary school last night. They were performing Charlie & the Chocholate Factory. It's her first event where she's had to sit through a whole show. We haven't taken her to a movie yet because we weren't sure how she would act. My mom said she did great and loves all the songs. After each song, she would clap and look at my mom and say "Omi, sing again?" In preperation, we've been showing her little clips on YouTube of the Oompa-Loompa sings.

This morning in the car she kept saying "Mommy, the Opa-Opa's had green hair!" (of course, Opa is what she calls my Dad and it's German for Grandpa). SO they will now forever me known as the Opa-Opas.

Weekend Fun

This was a big weekend in the Hartley household. I don't want to call it a streak just yet, but Tessa has pooped on the potty every day since Friday. That means no poopy diapers this weekend. The other big news is that Ellis took his first steps! It was great that Mike was there. We were all up in Tessa's room playing and Mike was helping him walk and then just let go. Ellis is getting more confident standing on his own and will let go of the furniture, but then drop down and crawl. So we'll see how it goes with walking, but it was so much fun to see him take his first steps.

It was another beautiful Saturday. We went to Pike's and planted some more plants in the front yard. Tessa spent the entire day in the dirt and sand. Tessa, Ellis and Mike had some great fun rough-housing on the blanket in the front yard, while Mommy was snapping pictures. I will post them on Snapfish soon. I do have this cute video of Ellis from last weekend "Walking" with Mike.

Mini-Me

Tessa is basically a tiny version of me. It makes it hard because I feel like a hypocrite telling her to be patient when I have ZERO patience myself. The fun part is when they mimic you and what you say.

Today on our way to school, Ellis was talking and whining a little. Tesa said "Ellis.....CHILLAX" I busted out laughing as this is something I say frequently to both of them. She sounded JUST like me.

Wonderful Weather

We had an absolutely awesome weekend. The weather was so nice (although it did start off almost freezing (34 degrees) Saturday morning. Iy quickly warmed up into the low 70's, and then Sunday was another great weather day. Mike had to work Saturday, so Tessa, Ellis and I headed over to my parents neighborhood. They were having a street-wide garage sale, and I had a few things I was trying to unload. We all set up shop in Vicky's drivway since they have a nice, long flat driveway. Tessa loved all of the interesting toys and gadgets around and the literally entertained her for hours. She absolutely adores Vicky and Casey, and talked about them all weekend. Dad was assembling his new grill (ALL DAY), so I could put Ellis down for a nap and still man the station (and Tessa).

After Tessa's nap, we hung out on the back deck with Vicki and Casey and Omi and Opa. Opa and Case made a house out of the GIANT card-board box the grill came in, which Tessa now calls her house. By the time we headed home to meet Mike, Ellis was exhausted (he did not take a nap in the afternoon) and Tessa was jacked up. I put Ellis down for the night and Tessa and I played outisde until Daddy got home. After dinner and her bath, she pretty much conked right out. Sunday morning, we watched some cartoons and then went back outside to play. We just hung out in the front yard and the driveway. I had to move some carseats around and Mike was cleaning out the Jeep (so that we can sell it). Tessa loves playing in the cars and was pushing all kinds of buttons and she even knew how to pull the stick in the Jeep.

After Bobby woke her from her nap, she was quite cranky. We headed back over to my parents house and grilled some burgers and played in Tessa's House. Ellis chilled in his bouncy-car thingy on the deck while Omi fed him some cheerios. Once again, both kids were exhausted by the time we got home. I gave them both a bath and put them in thier cute little St Paddy's Day jammies that Aunt Kirsten sent. I tried to take some pictures, but they weren't very cooperative.

Fond Memory

When I was still in the Hospital after having Ellis, my Dad came to visit and meet his Grandson. It was a nice, quiet visit. Dad and I rarely get one on one time, since he is usually monopolized by Tessa. Tessa stayed with Omi and Opa while I was in the Hospital, so Dad was filling me in on all of her antics and shennanigans.

As we were talking we started laughing (and almost crying) about how somewhere out there is some poor, innocent, little sucker who has no idea what is coming his way in 16-18yrs (yes I'm assuming she will start dating later in life). He's just living in this happy little bubble somewhere with no clue that one day his life will be turned upside down by Tessa.

I just loved that little thought and that conversation Dad and I had.

E

Ellis has started waving and clapping. When he waves his hand his arm stays completely still and his little hand just pivots at the wrist back and forth. The other night he woke up about 9:00pm and needed some cuddle time (he so rarely cuddles so I take full advantage of it....if I'm awake). He was snuggled up on my chest and we were rocking in the chair in his room. He had his head on my shoulder and was just looking at me. Then he smiled, lifted his head slightly and waved at me. I died, it was so cute. He really is such a handsome little man.

Strep

Well, I guess it was inevitable. Tessa finally got her first real illness. So far we have been really lucky with her. Before she turned a year we had a lot of ear infections and she got tubes in her ears. Since then, nothing. She'll get the occasional mild fever, or cough, but has very rarely missed school (thank god). She was complaining that her mouth was "hard" on Sunday and starting running a fever Sunday night. I kept her home Monday and she seemed to get worse, I kept giving her Tylenol to help with the fever, but was hoping it was just a small bug that would run it's course. Last night was awful, she was burning up, and didn't sleep well at all. She kept waking up in a daze and all she did was ask for Daddy over and over and over again. I tried so hard to console her, but she just kept saying no, no, no Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. She finally let me rub her belly and this seemed to calm her down and she finally fell asleep again.

This morning she was covered in this rash, it looks so bad because it's on her face also. I knew she was too sick for school again, and when she refused a donut this morning I immediately called the Pediatrician (seriously, she didn't want it and I knew it was serious). So, it turns out she has Strep Throat. So now she's taking Amoxicillian, Tylenol, AND Benadryl. Her rash is very itchy also. My poor little booger. Omi and I have been tag-teaming so that she can get some work done and I can get some. We'll have to do this tomorrow also, so that we have one more day of antibiotics to kick in before we go back to school.

Here's the funny part, until the late afternoon and evening, she's in relatively good spirits. She's her normal, bubbly, observant self. Besides the splotchy face, you would never know something is wrong. Here a few cute things she said.....

Yesterday, we dropped Ellis off at school and I took her to work with me. As we were entering Buckhead she asked "Where's Ellis?" And for a split second I panicked and thought "Oh my God, where is he?" Today, after we got back from dropping him off, she kept asking "Where's Ellis? I want my Ellis. I want my Ellis" She was really upset that she was home and he wasn't. Then today when we were going to the Doctor, I was explaining that she was going to listen to her heart and look in her ears and mouth. She repeated "We're going to Dr. Seuss and he;s going to listen to my heart" I started laughing because I guess they have been reading Cat in the Hat at school. Cat in the Hat actually came to their school today, but Tessa missed it. Although the Director said that most of her class was still afraid of him. Clifford came to their school a while ago and despite the fact that she apparently a little scared of the big red dog, she STILL talks about Clifford waving.

Anyway, I thought those were some cute little things she did.

Sand & Dirt

Just for the fact that Tessa may one day read this, I would like to record the following.

We spent most of the weekend outside as the weather was BEAUTIFUL (70's and sunny). While Mike and I cleaned up the yard, raked leaves, and mowed the lawn, Tessa happily helped us and played in her Sand Box.

The sand box is new. Well we got it towards the end of the outdoor season last year and didn't really play in it this winter. This was her first time back in the box. She proceeded to EAT handfulls of sand. Her cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk, I tried to make her spit it out and rinsed her mouth out with water. I know she swallowed some and then she did it AGAIN! I finally cut her off of the sand, and gave her shovel to play in the dirt. At which point she started to eat the dirt.

For real? I know she's smart and a borderline genius, but it's going to be hard to convince the appropiate school officials when she has sand and dirt on her tongue.