A Few Goodmans: December 2013

At last, in the past week we all have been sleeping through the night more often than not. Yessssss!! The first half of the month, not so much. It's amazing what a good night of sleep will do to improve the enjoyment of parenting! It has been a month full of thankfulness and togetherness, and we have so much to be thankful for.

Growth: Jonah keeps on being our little dude. He seems a little taller and leaner; he is looking like more of a little boy than a toddler in his proportions. We just tried on shorts for upcoming vacation and the 18-24M fit best. Oh, Jonah.

First snow, he was so excited to wear his gear from last year,
Uncle Jordan's snowsuit

Tessa didn't get weighed and measured this month, but there is no doubt she's climbing up the growth chart. That baby has the yummiest, squishiest thighs and cheeks. She is at the upper limits on 3-6 month clothing and is comfortable in 6 month.

Sleep: We have discovered the ticket to getting Jonah to cooperate for nap time, and that ticket is Tessa. So much for spending the past 4 months finding a way to get one on one attention for Jonah at nap time. What he loves right now is teaching Tessa the ropes. He delights in showing her how he brushes teeth, reads a book, sings songs, and gets tucked in. Solved. For now anyhow.

Tessa has made the transition to the crib. We started with the crib for naps and it took a few days for her to get used to it, then to the crib at night the past 2 nights. She's still in the swaddle, but she can get her arms out. We have been working on getting her to fall asleep with less assistance; she likes to have a hand on her chest gently rocking her side to side while she sucks on her pacifier. For about the last week, she has been going to bed around 9 and waking around 6, give or take a quick visit or two from Daddy to pop in the pacifier in the wee hours. We'll take it.

Eating: Jonah has decided that he's ready to switch from the high chair to the booster seat in the dining room, which is nice because Tessa will need he high chair soon. He's our good little diner, and loves talking about how Tessa will soon he eating too. How right he is! Although she seems quite satisfied with breastfeeding, she certainly gazes longingly at each bite of food as it enters our mouths. Looking forward to feeding her in a few weeks! Jonah has also gotten into the habit of asking for some candy or a treat almost every night at dinner, sometimes well before he has eaten his share of actual dinner.

Food and a broom. Favorite toys.

Jonah selected the attire

Personality: Jonah's got a new phrase: "Talk about it." He says it all the time he wants to seek more information. For instance, "Jonah, do you know what this is?" "Mommy talk about it." He has been playing a lot with Brio trains, play and real food, books, and puzzles. He's just as happy to be a home body or to go on an outing. He has been talking a lot about our upcoming vacation and keeps telling us "I'm ready to go."

Jonah and ducky, riding the "train" (ottoman) as Tessa nurses

Showing off art on the bench outside school

Checking out the new cups/pointe shoes

This sanding attachment from Poppy's shop vac was a fire hose,
elephant trunk, snake, balance beam, and so much more

Agreed to sit on the potty at least. No more.

Tessa has been smiling, laughing, kicking, razzing, and squealing with delight. She just loves faces, especially when they start talking or singing. She's an easy-going lady who is still content being toted along with Mom. She likes to watch TV when Jonah has it on, for better or worse. When she is feeling particularly emphatic, she kicks he right leg.

Along for the ride, eyeing the food at the premier of a hot new dinner spot

Happy Whole Foods shopper

Forwards in the Bjorn for the first time and grocery shopping

Milestones: We can't think of anything specific for Jonah this month, but he seems to be right on track.

Tessa makes noises like "Agooa" and "gugugu." She lifts her head up high in tummy time, but doesn't stay there long since she has figured out how to roll to her back fairly swiftly and easily. In sitting, she needs support, but feels like she's getting close. The spit up hasn't let up, and the drool has started, so she's always wet. She can rotate herself in the crib so that her head is at the other end of the crib from how we left her, even with the swaddle on. We really need to find a place to put the camera so we can witness how on earth she accomplishes this!