Happy 4th!

We had a very low-key 4th of July. The weather inhibited most outdoor activities, and my parents came over to help finish up the work in Tessa's room and stayed for burgers. I am proud of my mom and all of her hard work. And the best news of all is it is FINISHED, except for touching up the stripes. I'll post pictures soon! My mom really logged a lot of hours in there and we are thankful for all her help. (My dad also helped-he measured all the stripes in the beginning and helped with the extensive wall patchwork in that room). It is definitely not a design Nate nor I could have done alone. Tessa wore her "Firecracker" onesie yesterday...what a perfect nickname for her personality!

Someone in our new neighborhood shoots off a massive firework display. It was like we were down on the river, but on our own deck (in the rain of course, but on our own deck). We had heard about the fireworks, but they definitely exceeded our expectations. Tessa went to bed at 8:30 and slept right through them. I debated keeping her up to watch them, but I'm glad I didn't. Who knows if she would have been scared, and the fireworks went on well past 10:30 (when Nate and I went to bed).

And this photo was from the other day when I took Tessa with me to the bank. She insisted on bringing both Baby Stella as well as a beach towel. She's really been into comfort objects recently, and not just doggy. Anything and everything is fair game as something that HAS to come with us, wherever it may be going. The little people animals have also made some regular public outings. Somehow she managed to sneak four of them into the stroller for a walk and lost the reindeer partway through. Fortunately, Nate and I did a driving Operation Reindeer Recovery, and were able to find it. The Little People sheep came to Gymboree class last Friday. You get the picture. It is kind of cute, but also awfully hard to keep track of all of her things.