I Get To Be The One

well hello, 

little baby.

your eyes have never seen the sun

you should know 

little baby

that i am the lucky one

i get to be the one to hold your hand

i get to be the one.

through birthdays and broken bones

i'll be there to watch you grow

i get to be the one.

don't feel alone now,

little baby.

do you hear me singing you a song

i can't wait to show you

little baby

how to crawl

how to walk 

and how to run

i get to be the one to hold your hand

i get to be the one.

through birthdays and broken bones

i'll be there to watch you grow

i get to be the one

how does someone so small

hold my heart so tightly

i don't even know you

i love you completely

i get to be the one to hold your hand

i get to be the one.

through birthdays and broken bones

i'll be there to watch you grow

i get to be the one to hold your hand

i get to be the one

through birthdays and broken bones

i'll be there to watch you grow

i get to be the one.

-jj heller

Tessa Joy - 6 Months

weight: 15lbs 7oz (50th percentile)

height: 27 inches (90th percentile)

nicknames: tess, baby, little mama, munchery

hates: pooping, being alone, that she can't crawl

loves: any and all solid foods (will even eat carrots now), reading books, touching our faces, her blankey.

milestones: cheeses every time we go to take a picture of her, raises her arms when she wants up, started taking baths in the big bath tub, hair is getting darker and thicker, sleeping through the night again.

tessa joy,

we cannot believe you have been with us for six months already! time really does go so fast! you are a wonderful sitter now and could sit and play until you wear yourself out. you have gotten very good at grabbing anything and everything around you and shaking it like a crazy lady. you love toys that make noise. you have rolled over a time or two, but don't seem in a big hurry to be mobile. as long as you can see us, you're happy. you started taking baths in the big bath tub now. the water makes it harder for you to keep your balance when sitting, but you love to splash and play regardless. you continue to bring so much joy to our lives. as much as we'd love to freeze time just a bit, it's so much fun to watch you grow into the little person you are. we love you so much!

love, 
mom and dad

Tessa Joy - 5 Months

weight: 14 lbs 8 oz

height: 26 inches

nicknames: tess, baby, tessa munch, munchie

hates: carrots, poop diapers, nap time, when i blow raspberries on her belly (it scares her and she cries)

loves: avocado, sitting on her own to play, trying to crawl, sophie the giraffe, drinking out of a glass (dad's in particular), grabbing her feet.

milestones: sat by herself for the first time on sept 1st (and can do it like a champ now), started solid food on sept 2nd, got her first cold on sept 4th, officially packed away her 3 month clothes on sept 7th and got out her 6 month clothes.

tessa joy, 

you are the most beautiful baby in the whole world. you have really blown us away this last month. we cannot believe how fast you are learning and growing! you went from not being able to sit at all to sitting completely on your own to play. you are much happier sitting while playing. you are also quite the talker. your vocabulary sounds are developing and i swear i heard you say "mama" once. one of our favorite things to do at night is try to get you to laugh. you smile a lot, but you are one tough cookie to get to laugh. once we get you to laugh though you can't stop. i pray you will continue to laugh throughout life baby. you have such a sweet disposition and it has only gotten sweeter as you get older. especially at night when you are ready for bed. those cuddles are your mom's favorite as you fall asleep with your head on her shoulder after feeding. you had a rough last month with sleeping at night (4 month sleep regression is no joke), but when you turned 5 months it's almost as if we turned a corner. one of our favorite things is going in to get you when you wake up in the morning. those smiles and squeals of delight you give us are like none other. we love starting our morning off with your sweetness. we are so blessed to call you ours baby and we love you so much!

love, 
mom and dad

Tessa Joy - 4 Months

weight: 13 pounds 8oz (36 percentile)

height: 24.5 inches (52 percentile)

nicknames: tess, baby, squeaky, squeakers, munch, munchie crunch, tessla

hates: tummy time, getting jimmies on after her bath, when people get too close to her face

loves: being outside, being held, screeching and screaming, chewing on everything, sucking her thumb

milestones: rolled over for the first time on her own on 7/26, tries to sit up on her own, had her first belly laugh on 8/11, can hold objects and move them from hand to hand, transitioned into her own room when we moved on 7/18

tessa joy,

you have grown and changed to much this last month baby. i cannot believe how fast time is going. your motor skills have really come along this month and you are grabbing everything in sight. you are also enjoying playing with your toys. you rolled over for the first time all by yourself on july 26th. since then you do it every so often. you've gone from tummy to back (assisted) and back to tummy (all on your own). you also had your first belly laugh this month on august 11th. the six month old little boy we started watching in august got that out of you. it was so adorable. dad was sad he missed it, but we are sure it is only the beginning of how you will continue to express all your joy you have. i pray you will always have that joy and find the positives in life baby. You got your first virus on august 9th and it broke our hearts. you were extra tired and your voice sounded like you smoked 4 packs a day. you went to bed at 4:45pm that day and slept until 9am the next day (with two feedings in there). you were still the sweetest thing though. i hope you'll always let us cuddle you when you're sick. we love everything about you baby.

love,
mom and dad

Tessa Joy - 3 Months

weight: 12 pounds 8oz

height: 23.5 inches 

nicknames: tess, baby, squeaky

hates: falling asleep (but sleeps so well once she's asleep), tummy time

loves: baths, chewing on her hands, her activity mat

milestones: can hold her head up on her own, tries to chew on everything, tries to roll over on her own, took her first airplane ride to CO on june 15th, took her first boat ride over the 4th of july weekend, slept 9.5 hours straight on july 6th. 

tessa joy,

happy three months baby! you are growing so fast. i can tell you are getting heavier because carrying you in your carseat is getting pretty hard for me these days. you are also starting to get fuller cheeks and some rolls on your upper legs. i love to squeeze your perfectly squishy thighs. you started napping on your tummy this month. you love sleeping on your tummy, but i only let you during the day when i can monitor you. you usually take 3 hour naps in the afternoon lately. you've also been sleeping 7 hour stretches at night, except on july 6th when you slept 9.5 hours straight. you're becoming such a good sleeper baby. sometimes at night i rock you extra long so i can snuggle you. your motor skills are continuing to develop as you bat at your toys. you love your play mat and staring at yourself in the mirror. you still aren't a fan of tummy time, but i think that's motivating you to roll over. every time we put you on your tummy you turn to your side. you're getting so close to rolling over! it is such a joy to watch you continuing to develop and learn new skills. you've experienced a lot of firsts this month and we can't wait to see you experience more. we love you so much baby!

love,
mom and dad

Andrew's First Father's Day

this last sunday, june 21st, marked andrew's first father's day. a father holds a special place in a girl's life. a father is a little girl's first love. he shows her how she should be loved, treated, and cared for. his role has so much influence in her life, it is an important job to take on. i was so blessed to honor my husband, andrew, on his first father's day as he takes on this roll in tessa's life. 

i am thankful tessa has a godly example in her life to show her that she has value and should be treated that way. i'm so thankful that andrew models that love to her in the ways he loves me as well. every girl deserves respect and i'm glad andrew will be able to teach tessa that. he is the perfect man to be an example to her of god's perfect love for us. i cannot wait to continue to watch their relationship develop as she gets older. 

a father loves a daughter 

like no other love on earth.

from the day that he first meets her,

nothing can compare her worth.

forever are they bonded with

a love that never fails.

for always he will hug her

and kiss goodnight, with fairy tales.

he will love her and protect her with

strong arms just in case

but will also hug her tenderly

with a fatherly embrace.

eskimo kisses touch her nose, 

with a giggle and a squeeze

and that sparkle in her little eyes

could bring him to his knees.

what more could any father want, 

than a daughter so sweet and pure.

there's nothing in this world so rare,

of that he can be sure.

a father's love is so unique

it cannot be replaced.

he will always treasure times with her

and memories embraced.

Tessa Joy - 2 Months

weight: 11 pounds and 4 ounces (50%)

height: 22.5 inches (50%)

nicknames: tess, nug, baby, tessie, stinky

hates: wet diapers, tummy time, being tired

loves: when dad sings/talks to her, baths, laying on her changing table, riding in the car/her car seat, chewing on her hands, smiling at us when she wakes up

milestones: smiling at us when she sees us or if we talk to her, cooing and starting to use her "voice", slept through the night (8 hours straight) at 7.5 weeks old, can pretty much hold her head up on her own, graduated to 3 month clothing

tessa joy, 

you are two months old now and you are just the cutest and sweetest little lady we know. you started smiling this month and we melt every time you flash us your toothless grin. you also discovered your voice and we love to hear you talk to us. i pray you always have a strong voice baby. you continue to amaze us with how alert you are. your gaze follows us around the room, you are showing interest in your hanging toys, and you've started to notice yourself in your activity mat mirror. you've also discovered your hands and how yummy they taste. i can sense more of a schedule forming around when you wake, eat, nap, and are ready for bed. you sleep about six hours your first stretch of the night, but on june 5th, you slept 8 hours straight. mommy and daddy were so proud of you! you are getting so good at eating lately. you've cut your feeding time in half and have gained over two pounds in the last month. your head is in the 95th percentile. i think its making room for all your brains because i know you will be so smart! you are growing way too fast though! you are officially in three month clothing and out of your newborn sizes. maybe slow down just a little. you are getting prettier by the day, baby, and we continue to thank god for you every day. we love you so much!

love,

mom and dad