A Few Goodmans: August 2014

It's been another fun month (or so) full of laughs with our little family. We got way behind this month, but we have a new camera, a new hard drive, and lots to share, so stick with us for a nice long post!

Tessa "helping" Daddy write this blog.

Growth: Tessa had her one-year appointment midway through the month. She is 23 pounds, 5 ounces (89th percentile); 28 3/4 inches (27th percentile); with head circumference 47cm (93rd percentile). She is constantly surprising us with how high she can reach to get things that we are trying to keep away from her. Jonah keeps getting a little bigger as well.

In preparation for fall, we tried on Jonah's clothes from last year.
Here he is in 18-24M skinny jeans and shirt. Ha.

Tessa at her 1-year visit with the pediatrician

This would be Jonah's idea. Yep, she's too big. Overdue to put it away.

Sleep: Tessa is gradually phasing out the morning nap. She still starts acting tired mid-morning, but more often than not she is skipping a morning nap altogether and just taking her usual afternoon slumber. She did have a couple of days where she did not go to sleep in the afternoon after taking a nap in the morning. Otherwise, the kids' sleeping schedules have been pretty consistent. In the morning, the kids like to watch TV in our bedroom. Well, mostly Jonah, and he insists that Tessa sit next to him.

Jonah reading to Tessa on our new chaise in our bedroom. Such a cozy place to read!

Jonah loves to press the coffee in the morning and he enjoys the smell.

Tessa wakes up like this. No. Joke!

Eating: Tessa still goes for all of it. With gusto. She doesn't yet know her limitations and if there is food in front of her she will shovel it in enthusiastically until she is all done, at which point she will start either handing pieces of food to whomever is sitting next to her or else dropping them on the floor. She has been improving somewhat on her drinking skills, but still needs a good deal of work. She will eat basically anything we put in front of her but has a particular preference for fruits. Jonah has had a bit more of an appetite lately as well. There have been a few nights when before bed he told us that he is still hungry and insisted on a snack (normal toddler stuff like applesauce, pretzels with salmon dip...).

The kids still love eating on the front porch

Playing peek-a-boo with her bib

Cool dude on the porch

Getting breakfast at Scrambler Marie's. These two. Such trouble.

Meanwhile, across the table, Tessa steals my food.

Enjoying a Shabbat dinner at home

Tessa and I had a girls' lunch at Cest si Bon for crepes

Jonah has learned to crack eggs himself. Sure, some eggshell gets in, but it's a good start and it brings him such joy.

Tessa beginning to dabble in the kitchen. It starts here.

Personality: Jonah remains inquisitive as always, asking questions about anything and everything. Many times over. He is very funny, friendly, courteous, and caring. He has an occasional episode of over-rambunctiousness with Tessa but has been doing a little better on this front as well as having fewer tantrums in general. Tessa is hilarious as always. Her favorite things are laughing and making others laugh. She gets excited any time she sees Jonah, especially if he's running.

Jonah likes to make a "forch" with blankets and pillows

He's "being a restaurant" as in pretending to be the restaurant that's under construction and covered in plastic

He loves being dragged around on the blankets

Fun times in the sandbox

Both kids love the baby pool and water table

She loves to crawl over to the little chair, grab a book, and give you this look.

Jonah lets Tessa take turns in his fire truck

If a breeze comes up, Jonah gives the kite a try

Jonah offered to set the table for dinner...with Tessa's teacups.

Enjoying some time outside

Sharing the tub of magic sand

Digging in dirt Jonah style

Digging in dirt Tessa style

We were so surprised to see Jonah doing this to himself

Goofing around on Skype with Grandma and Grandpa

Little gardener

Picking green beans at Mimi and Poppy's

After dinner, we looked outside and spotted this sight.

Biiiig wet kisses for Daddy

First time sliding without someone holding onto her

Swinging at Schiller Park

The kids enjoyed the rest of the summer session of gymnastics. Jonah was by far the best listener in his group and did a fantastic job with the routines...except for the warm-up. (Hence, he is goofing off with Daddy)

Tessa, who can't walk yet, obviously doesn't do much gymnastics per se. BUT, she does have a ton of fun. Her favorite things are climbing through the tunnel and bouncing on the trampoline.

Gymnastics graduation day. Comparing ribbons.

He wanted to be the "banana faced-man" from the art museum in his book

Little welder

Jonah and Tessa had a blast at the Bexley Pool.

Jonah attempting a field goal at the Bicentennial Park

The park also had animals that day. Tessa has overcome her fear! She was not only confident, but happy to see them!

Just hanging onto Jonah's sunglasses while he splashes

Jonah has also overcome a fear, and enjoys splashing in the water.

Playing pirates with Jonah

Teaching Ducky to throw a frisbee

This girl is JUST SO HAPPY!

Milestones: Jonah is getting better and better at recognizing numbers and letters. He loves counting backwards from 10. He can with some prompting determine the sounds that letters in a word make and figure out the word. He is also getting better and better at describing things to us. He's becoming more comfortable in the pool, which has made for a couple of fun outings to the Bexley pool.

Tessa is getting very, very close to walking. She is cruising like a champ and can really walk fast when holding onto one hand. She also really, really wants to talk. She can kind of say hi, bye, mama, dada, and Tessa. She's on the verge of teeth 15 and 16.

Tessa has learned to climb upstairs rather effeciently

Jonah scribbled his name beautifully on the pavement

First pigtails!

She seems to enjoy having hair accessories

Tessa can walk with one hand now. So close!

She can balance without holding on for brief periods. She's at her best when she is holding something.

Trying to walk to a ball. She has successfully taken 3 tiny steps without holding on, but it was in the living room from the chair to Mommy and Daddy.

Tessa doing her bear crawl.

Trying to catch a pine cone and missing

Demonstrating his new more mature throwing form

Tessa is pretty steady on her little car

Tessa's response when asked "where's your tongue?"

She has started washing her hands standing up at the sink

Events: We had some fun playing with cousins in town for the summer. Jonah had a ball playing with Ella; they picked up right where they left off the last time they saw each other. Ella came to soccer class with him and they enjoyed a lovely dinner al fresco where we think they decided to get motorcycles together. Tessa and Noah played as well. We also had fun playing with local cousins.

Picnic with Ella

Trying to fly a kite

Baby time with Tessa and Noah

Ella came with Jonah to his soccer class. These two had so much fun together and picked up right where the left off.

They sang songs from Frozen in the back seat

Stretching for soccer

Holding hands through the restaurant. It was their idea.

The laughed, told stories, and ate dinner together.

Ainsley and Jillian took the kids on a wagon ride

We took a trip to see the Clippers play and run around in the fountains in the outfield.

We went to the fair twice this month, first with Mimi and Poppy and then with Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Lauren. The kids saw all kinds of cool things like horse-drawn carriages, sheep, and toy trains. Jonah especially loved the rides including bumper boats, motorcycle, car, and sky ride. We got some fried Oreos which Jonah didn't really care for but Tessa devoured.

We visited Alana's new place for a fun night. There was supposed to be a concert, but it got rained out...and then it didn't actually rain.

Jonah re-invented ladder golf

We took a trip to Easton with Grandma and Grandpa for a Frozen event. The event information led us to believe that Olaf would be there, but it was just a cardboard cutout. Jonah is still asking about that one. Regardless, the kids had fun, Jonah sitting at story time with Grandma and Grandpa while Tessa played with toy trains.

Jonah's last day of soccer didn't go so great. Even Jonah can't tell us why, but he did not want to participate. There were tears, whines, and clingy moments. Then, Coach Clay said the parents were to join in for sharks and minnows at the end. That changed everything! He lit up and had a ton of fun!

Did you know there's an Aunt's Day? Now we do! We celebrated by going out to dinner with Aunt Lauren and Aunt Alana.

Speaking of aunts, Alana came to soccer with Jonah and out to dinner after. Check out Jonah's aim with that straw wrapper!

COSI had an event with real farm equipment out in front, so we went with Ainsley. Jonah of course loved climbing up in the cabs of these giant tractors and pretending to drive. His favorite part was being buckled in. We hopped in the car and drove to the Topiary Park next for PBJ and Jazz next.

We took a family trip to the Columbus Zoo. Jonah loves the airplane in the new Africa area and this time they checked out the reptiles for the first time. We also took a trip there the 4 of us and Jonah obsessed over the shelter exhibit while Tessa further overcame her fear of animals at the petting zoo.

This was also the first time Jonah overcame his fear of costumed characters. He asked to go see the polar bear, and we were dubious that it would go well, but we let him and he was very happy!

The kids and Lindsay visited the butterfly exhibit at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Jonah has his whole routine down there: train, parrot, light-up game, fish, butterflies, done. But this time he allowed us to deviate a bit and explore outside. It was so cute and fun!

We celebrated National Dance Day at BalletMet, where Jonah took his first dance class. There was a story told and the kids moved in the ways of the characters in the story. Jonah liked looking in the costume shop.

Celia came into town briefly and the kids had a lot of fun playing with her.

Jill also came in for a weekend and we had fun together. When we told Jonah that Jill was coming he raced to the kitchen saying "get me the mop and broom! I need to clean up!"

Jonah had a break from JCC and spent a few days at "space camp" at Piccadilly. He made his own space helmet and rocket ship as well as his own moon landing and alien cookie.

As we often do in the summer, we took some trips to Columbus Commons for their food truck court. Jonah has taken a liking to the Angry Wiener truck this summer. Last year it was the tofu he went for.

Carouselfie

The library brings books into the reading area

While Jonah was at space camp, Tessa and I met Laura, Abby, Dave, and Ben.

Mid-lunch, Tessa grabbed a fry, dipped it in salsa, and ate it as if she had done that for years!

We celebrated Julian's birthday on our own while Poppy and Alana babysat (thanks guys!!) and then all together for mini golf and dinner at Mad Greek.

After a couple of weeks off Jonah went back to the JCC for his first day in the Fish classroom. One of the teachers from last year has moved up with him, which is nice for him.