Rhyming time

After swimming tonight, Tess and I were in the locker room getting her dressed to go home. A little boy (who was a few years older) and his mom were near us and they started playing a rhyming game. Tess was pretty interested in what they were talking about and quickly turned into that child that just stands and stares, even from two feet away. I pretty much had to dress her without any participation whatsoever on her part (which is really fun by the way) because she was so enthralled with this little boy.

Anyway, the little boy and is mom started with 'cat.' He ran off a whole list of words... hat, fat, mat, etc. Then they went to frog. The list goes on.

Fast forward to a few hours later tonight when Tess was getting ready for bed. Suddenly she said, "Mommy! Let's play a rhyming game." Ha. I had forgotten about all of that from earlier, but obviously she didn't. Now, we have talked about rhyming words at home way before this and I know Meena and Tess have played rhyming card games, so given what I thought Tess may have already known and the fact that she was playing such close attention to the little boy today, I expected this to be good... or at least a pseudo-reenactment of what the boy had said earlier.

Me: Let's start with cat.

Tess: OK!

Me: What rhymes with cat, Tess?

--long pause--

Me: What word sounds like cat? K, k, k-at? (that's me pronunciating it, duh)

--another long pause--

Tess: Meow!

Hmmm. Ok, I take it all back. Maybe she wasn't paying such close attention after all. We'll keep working on this.

Little giggles!

So far, this is one of the best videos we have of Nora laughing. Tess has the touch when it comes to getting Nora to laugh. I happened to walk in the room and Tess was entertaining Nora... I couldn't grab the camera fast enough.

A polka dot manicure

How fun is that?!

And though you can't see 'em, there are sparkles too. Oh, snap!

"What are you talkin' about?!"

Nora has become quite the talker lately. Not surprising since Tess is the queen talker. Who better to teach her? Nora has already figured out that she needs to get a little roudy to be heard over the racket that is her big sister. And as you can tell by this video, Tess is loving having a pal to gab with.



And here are some pictures of Baby Cuteness just so you can get your fix...

The birthday festivities, the final chapter

So this is the last of Tess' birthday posts. Yes, there have been many. But the girl seemed to have like 34 birthday parties, so what was I to do??

Below are some videos and pictures from her actual birthday. That night, we went to Chuck E. Cheese with Meena, Papa, Great Grandma Mary and Uncle Brendan. As we explained before, Tess had a blast playing skee-ball. Check out the many videos of her breaking the place, er, having fun. I am still waiting to get a bill from Mr. Cheese for all of the damage to pretty much every other machine in Tess' vicinity. Hopefully, the security cameras in the parking lot didn't catch our license plate numbers.

Here is a video of Tess first thing in the morning on her birthday. We've taken a little video like this every year on the morning of her birthday. The videos from the last two years are super cute. This is our first birthday morning attitude video. I have a feeling there are many more of these to follow. Good times.

Here is Tess blowing out the candles on her cake

Skee-ball destruction, take 1.

Skee-ball destruction, take 2.

Skee-ball destruction, take 3.


Skee-ball destruction, new technique! (hint: check out the kick!)

Last but not least, a few pictures of Tess

and the Birthday Bear.

We hope that they had the best third birthday ever. XOXO

Trip to the park

We have been trying to capture these beautiful spring days by going to the park! This time, although we packed up the wagon with the soccer ball, we didn't quite make it that far since Tess had to use the bathroom not long after playing on the swings and the playground. Because the park is a few blocks from our house, I always get a little nervous when I hear those dreaded words... "I have to go potty..." because I have no idea how urgent it is.

And neither does she. Not yet, anyway. But we made it. Whew!

Now that it's nice enough outside to take Sumo Baby out in the Bjorn, she barely fits. Nice.

"Who are you calling a chunk?" Fonzie says thumbs up for the swings.

Four months old today!

Miss. Nora has a very busy schedule. Her days are filled with eating, working on sitting up, eating, tummy time, eating, mastering her exersaucer, eating, smiling at all of her fans, eating and even rolling over now! (We've yet to catch this fete on video yet, but when we do, we'll be sure to post it.) She is getting to be quite a big girl (I wonder why?!)!

Tess is reading some Berenstain Bears to Nora. Just after this, I believe Tess got after Nora to "pay attention!"

And better late than never, here are Nora's three month pictures and a few of both girls.

Christmas in April!

Ok, so it's not Christmas... but it's the next best thing!

Opening Day!

The sisters didn't make an appearance at the game this year, but nonetheless, they were all decked out for the occasion.

Go Tigers!

Happy Easter!

We had a lovely Easter day last Sunday. We went to Mass, followed by an egg hunt here at our house and then dinner. Tess and Nora were spoiled rotten by everyone!

Tess enjoyed her egg hunt and was SO determined to find eggs that when she came upon her Easter basket in the yard (completely overflowing with presents, I might add), she said, "Oh! Here's some more eggs!" and proceeded to weed out the eggs from her basket, only to leave the basket as if she was done with it. She didn't even take a second look at it. If you give her an assignment, you can bet she won't be distracted! (Um, not really. For some reason, she isn't quite as determined when I ask her to pick up her crayons. Or her bath toys. Or her shoes. Or her... )

All dolled up for the egg hunt

You can see what I mean about the spoiled part...

Nora all dolled up too

Tess and Papa playing with her new Lincoln Logs

(a birthday gift from Uncle Brendan)

Nora and Godfather Brendan

The whole gang!

(well, almost... Nora was napping and Bridget was behind the camera!)

The birthday festivities continue...

Tess had her official birthday party last weekend since Grandma and Papa Tillman and Uncle Mark were in town for Easter.

Tess decided a few weeks ago that she wanted a Dora party. This was after a looooong trip to Party City where she and I went up and down EVERY aisle scoping out all of the birthday loot. First, we came upon Tinkerbell. Tink quickly became the front runner... then we saw the Princesses... so long, Tinkerbell. Then, Hello Kitty. Poor Hello Kitty never stood a chance.

THEN we got to Dora. Dora it was - no question.

Yeah, right.

About a week before the party, Tess decided she wanted a Cinderella party instead. "What about Dora?," I asked. "I said Cinderella!!," she demanded. Yes, a Princess party somehow seemed much more fitting. Actually, a Diva party would have been right on the money. Do they sell Diva stuff at Party City?

Moral of the story and my lesson learned: Go out and buy the party stuff as close to the actual party as possible... no more than 48 hours ahead of time. And that still may be too early. Otherwise, you are guaranteeing yourself a fun trip back to Party City to return about 50 items and buy about 50 different ones. Good luck getting out of there without being physically assaulted by the cashier and the other people in line behind you.

So a Cinderella party it was. (And has Tess even seen the movie Cinderella? Um, no.)

Tess had a great time with all of her guests... ALL her grandparents (and she has a LOT!), Uncle Michael, Uncle Mark, Great Uncle Brendan, her BFF Kadie, Nora's BFF Charlie (Kadie's sister), Kadie's mom and dad and Tess' own personal paparazzo, Bridget.

Cinderella with sugar on top.
This was what was left of the Dora party (the NON-returnable personalized Tess and Dora poster). Remember the rule people... personalized items need to be ordered early.

BAD IDEA.

Tess and Kadie at their special princess/BFF table
Presents for the Princess

Cinderella!

She even managed to get excited about clothes!

Her first set of clubs, courtesy of Uncle Brendan. Her Great Grandpa would be so proud.

Cheese!

Look who is eyein' that cake...

Blowing out the candle

Yes, that is Tess giving a little pageant wave to her BFF in the crowd.

Trying to decide what decoration she is going to pull off the cake first.
Great Grandpa and Nora

Great Grandma's turn
And now this Great Grandma's turn
Hollywood

Hollywood x 2 - (They kinda remind me of Romy and Michele. Ha.)

Nora livin' it up at the big bash

This was after the party when she busted outside to try out her new sports gear. Notice she's sporting her new soccer cleats (she's all signed up for soccer at the Y that starts in a few weeks!), shin guards and her soccer jersey. And her tutu, of course. The bat and ball are courtesy of Uncle Mike.

Bam!

Look at that stance!

Papa the pitcher
Another action shot. Bridget has now become Tess' official sports photographer.
Look at that face
And now we have moved to soccer...

Score!

Our little Pele

Stay tuned for more birthday and Easter posts to come! We aren't done yet...