Doctors, Doctors Everywhere!

Tessa and I both had doctor appointments today. My little sister, Bethany, came down to help me with Tessa. My appointment was actually my annual orthodontic check-up. All is good. They even complemented me on the cleanliness of my retainer multiple times! As if I'd let my retainer get grimy! And if it was grimy, you can guarantee I wouldn't use it! My ortho office is in Ocean Beach, so Bethany, Tessa, and I walked around for a bit after my appointment, went to Starbucks (of course), and walked the pier. As you can see, Tessa enjoyed a nice nap!

This afternoon was Tessa's 4 month well-baby check with her new pediatrician. And, just like her momma, all is well! She is one healthy baby girl! She had to get the next round of shots, but this time I didn't cry! She did a little, but Aunt Bethany was impressed at how quickly she calmed down and how mellow she was afterward.

So, here's where Tessa is at 4 months old:
Weight: 14 lbs., 4 oz. ~ 50-75%
Length: 25 in. ~ 50-75%
Head Circumference: 15.5 in. ~ 5-10%
All percentiles are based on the Baby Growth Percentile Calculator on BabyCenter.com

So she has a little pea head like her Daddy! Her doctor said not to worry because in her small head she has a nice big brain! (We already knew that, though!)

Four Months!

Tessa, you are already four months old! This has been a big month for you! You are growing so quickly! We have your doctor’s appointment on Friday, so I’ll post your specs in a few days. Here’s what you’ve been up to this month:

• You are starting to outgrow your 0-3 clothes, but still fit into most. You have to wear 3-6 jammies because you are a long lady! You wear a size 1 diaper still, but I think we’re about a week or two away from size 2.

• You discovered your voice! You talk all the time, often shouting! You also like to “sing” along with others whether it be the radio or worship songs at church.
• You went swimming for the first time! You didn’t like the pool much, but you loved the spa! It was warm, and you loved the bubbles.

• You love to grab objects to taste or lick them. You even grab Mommy’s and Daddy’s faces to give kisses!
• You have learned to scoot around by using your lower abs and lifting your rear. When I get you out of your bassinet, you are often sideways with your legs up the side!
• You are transferring toys from one hand to the other, and playing with toys in both hands at the same time.

• When I sing to you or give you a kiss attack, you just laugh and laugh!
• You “help” me change your diaper by lifting your bottom for me.

• We video chat with Daddy up in Sacramento. You get so excited to see him on the computer and lunge toward the screen!
• We went to the beach for the first time. We went to OB and La Jolla a few times, but didn’t go onto the sand until last week when we went to San Elijo. It was so cold, though, that we stayed bundled up the whole time.

• You don’t roll over a lot, but when you do, you work so hard to do it! You are almost there!
• You love to stand with me holding your hands. During yoga, you stand on my belly and look so proud!
• I let you taste hummus. You did NOT like it at all! It was pretty spicy hummus!

Look how much you've grown!

Another Day in La Jolla

Tessa and I had such a nice time in La Jolla on Thursday, so we were very happy to go again on Saturday. Our friend invited us to spend the day on his front lawn across the street from the beach to enjoy the ocean breeze and BBQ. It was a perfect day!

Kristy was down for a wedding, so she was able to stop by and meet Tessa!

Relaxing in the shade!

Mama and Tessa

La Jolla Play Date!

Tessa and I had a busy morning today! We had two play dates scheduled, the San Diego Babywearers and our Baby Mamas group! We stopped by the park where the Babywearers meet for a few minutes, mostly just to drop off the water wrap we borrowed and to chat for a few minutes. Our play date with the Baby Mamas started 30 minutes later, and it was up in La Jolla, so we got there a little late, but it was totally worth it! I love spending time with these mamas and babies! The oldest baby there today was 6 months old, so all the babies are very close in age. I met most of the moms though our maternity group, so the babies have literally known each other since they were born!

We had a great turn out today! I think there were about 15 mamas there. The weather was beautiful (although a little humid, thus my frizzy hair!). We picnicked at the wedding point off the cove, which has breathtaking views! Good friends, good conversation, good babies, and good scenery makes for a perfect play date!

During the photo shoot, most of the babies started crying. One seems to set off another until most of the babies are crying! These are the non-cryers who were left:
Doesn't Jonah have amazing hair? He's only 4 months old!


Tessa was so relaxed and enjoyed being outside, I didn't want to leave!

Fill in the Blank

Shannon at Luvin the Mommyhood posted this and I thought I'd give it a try since Tessa is down for a nap and how else could I waste my precious free time?

Making : a stocking for Tessa. I started in January and haven't picked it up since Tessa was born. I'm feeling the deadline start to creep towards me!!
Cooking : Chicken Spinach Artichoke Squares from Kelly's Recipe Blog
Drinking : iced coffee (Via from Starbucks. Not bad!)
Reading: "Baby-led Weaning" (see previous post)
Wanting: Ryan to finish working in Sacramento and come home
Looking: for fun crafts that I can try now that I'm a SAHM
Playing: on Tessa's floor jungle gym with her
Wasting: my precious minutes of Tessa's nap writing the second blog post in one day!
Sewing: a rag doll for Tessa
Wishing: I still got paid while I'm on leave!
Enjoying: staying home with Tessa and not having to plan for the next school year
Waiting: for So You Think You Can Dance to start
Liking: finding new mommy blogs to read about others' adventures
Wondering: the last time I changed Tessa's diaper before I laid her down for her nap
Loving: being a new mom!
Hoping: Tessa sleeps well tonight so we can enjoy our play date tomorrow!
Marveling: at how Tessa changes every single day
Needing: a pedicure
Smelling: the oatmeal spice cookies Tessa and I are baking for Daddy
Wearing: shorts and a tank
Following: too many blogs to keep up with
Noticing: a strange bump on my finger. Did I "catch" Robbie's wart yesterday?
Knowing: Ryan will be home tomorrow night makes my day so much brighter!
Thinking: Tessa may have just woken up. I heard some stirring...
Bookmarking: articles about Tessa's development
Opening: a package that came from my mom-in-law in the mail ... oops! I guess I left a couple of books in Ventura. Thanks for mailing them back!
Giggling: at Tessa's new found laugh when we sing!
Feeling: tired, but that I wouldn't change it for the world!

New Moms, New Babies

While I was pregnant, I had the opportunity to be on PregTASTIC podcasts. You all know how much I loved that! Well, I've now graduated to New Moms, New Babies! This podcast is full of information for new moms, just as the name suggests. Because we are a group of new moms, we don't have the time and convenience we had while preggos, so we record on a semi-monthly basis, record multiple shows at a time, and the shows are about half the length of a PregTASTIC show.

Back in May, when Tessa was just over a month old, I went in to record three shows. Two of the three have finally posted to newmomsnewbabies.com and are available on iTunes! I'm so glad because I've been referring to them for two months, and now everyone can hear what I've been talking about!

The first episode we recorded was about co-sleeping, more specifically bed-sharing. Ryan and I have a co-sleeper bassinet, but we don't bed-share very often. In fact, this past weekend, we were in Ventura and I didn't bring Tessa's travel bassinet, so we had to bed-share. It was not easy for us, and I think the only one who slept well was Tessa! I know a lot of people bed-share successfully and love it for their family. If you are one of those people, or would like to be one, listen to this podcast. It has some really important information!

The second episode we recorded was about baby-led weaning. This topic was really exciting to me! I actually ordered Gill Rapley's book and have been reading it, even though Tessa is still about 3 months away from solid food! I highly recommend listening to this podcast, and even buying the book, if the topic interests you! There is a link on the New Moms, New Babies website that will take you to Amazon, and a portion of your purchase goes back to support NMNB and PregTASTIC! Anyway, as I mentioned, I'm excited about baby-led weaning, I think I'll have to do an entire post about it! I've actually thought about starting another blog specifically dedicated to our adventures with BLW when we get to that point in Tessa's life. Although I have a hard enough time posting on this blog, I doubt I'd have time for a second blog! I was talking to Tessa's Great-Great Aunt Joanie about BLW this past weekend, and she said it is very similar to how her mother and grandmother did things! It's nothing new, in fact, it's more like going back to the way things were done before people changed everything!

The third topic we recorded was about colic and acid reflux in infants. It was also a really good episode, and I just loved our expert! I'll try to post a link to that when it is up on NMNB's website for any moms struggling with that!

And finally, I have to post an adorable picture of Tessa, just to make this blog worth your while!

Today I marry my best friend

Three years ago...

 

...and I love you more and more every day!
Happy Anniversary Ryan!

Fourth of July Weekend

Once again, in typical Lopez Family fashion, Ryan and I had a packed weekend! Ryan flew home on Friday morning, and we drove over to Ocean Beach for breakfast burritos and to take Tessa by the beach! We didn't stay very long, but it was nice to walk around our old neighborhood and talk to old friends!

Later that day we went back to the Kilbrides' to swim and BBQ. We took Tessa in the spa this time, and she enjoyed it much more than the pool. In fact, she fell asleep in my arms while we were in the spa!

On Saturday, we went to the Padres game. We had a great time, and the Padres won, which made it even better! The only bummer was that it was beach towel night, but I guess 25,000 people got to the park before we did, because all the towels were gone by the time we got there.

Sunday, the Fourth of July, was a pretty mellow day. This is my favorite holiday! I love how patriotic everyone is with all the red, white, and blue. I love BBQs and fireworks! It is such a fun holiday! I started off the day at the gym. (Sundays are the only day I get to go to the gym right now, so I try to make it every week.) Later, Bethany came down and we made our traditional Fourth of July dessert ~ this is now a two year long tradition!
Last year's flag fruit pizza and this year's star fruit pizza!

We all headed over to our friends, the Elliots' house for more BBQ and fireworks. It was fun to see everyone and for them to all meet Tessa! She looked so cute in her little Fourth of July outfit! (I dressed her in the same outfit I took her 3 month pics in. It is just too cute!!)


Tessa took a really good nap while we all hung out, but woke up before the firework show, so I took her outside to see the fireworks with everyone. I thought she'd be scared or nervous because of the loud booms, but she did very well! She actually fell asleep half way through the show!

Ryan had Monday off, so we just spent the day relaxing at home before his flight. We got Tessa's size 3-6 month clothes out of storage. They are still too big, but I think they'll start fitting soon! The pjs already fit, since she is such a long girl! It was nice to have Ryan home for that extra day. I just dropped him off at the airport a few hours ago, and I already miss him! Can't wait to see him on Thursday night and celebrate our anniversary on Friday!!
This baby girl loves her daddy!

Pool Time!

Today I was supposed to take Tessa for a play date with my small group at one of the girl's condo pools. Well, it wasn't even 70 degrees here today, so I canceled that for Tessa and I. I was pretty bummed because I have been looking forward to taking her in the pool for weeks, and this was going to be our first opportunity! Who would have thought it would be so cold on July 1st!
I didn't give up, though. I knew it had to be warmer in East County, so I called up the Kilbrides to see if they were around. Nobody loves a good pool day like the Kilbride boys! Sky was home, so Tessa and I headed over there for a few hours! I used the water wrap, which worked well. Tessa didn't like the water that well, so I'm glad I had her wrapped up against me. We slowly lowered ourselves in and I waded around, trying to stay in the shade as much as possible.
Even though Tessa didn't love the pool, we're going back tomorrow, when Ryan is home, so he can swim with her, too! I know she's going to eventually love the pool, it's only a matter of time!
Here are the smallest pair of swim diapers on the market. They were HUGE on her! She sure looks cute in her swimsuit, though!

Ryan loves Tessa! He was so excited to have her over!

Swimming with Mommy and Ryan

Hanging out on the step

Tessa and the boys