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

Tessa Joy - 1 Month

i cannot believe tessa is already one month old. they say time flies and to cherish every second with them... boy, they were not kidding!

weight: 8 pounds and 11.2 oz (at three weeks)

height: 22.5 inches

nicknames: tess, nug, baby

hates: getting dressed, wet diapers

loves: baths, riding in the car, when dad talks to her, staring out windows

milestones: can follow the sound of our voices by moving her head back and forth, has a very strong neck and can hold her head up pretty steady on her own for a good two minutes or so. 

tessa joy,

you are one month old. i tried to soak in every bit of your newborn sweetness, but your first month still flew by. you just grew out of some of your newborn clothes (you have long legs!). you eat every 2 - 3 hours during the day and every 4 - 5 hours at night. you have always been a good eater! you gulp down milk as fast as possible sometimes making yourself choke. you also take a bottle from your dad with no problem (the couple times you needed extra). you went on your first target trip with me when you were 3.5 weeks old. you did so well until we got to the checkout. you decided it was time to eat and you wanted to eat now. you screamed so loud i think the whole store heard you. i hope you always have a strong voice baby. your daddy and i praise god for you every day. we are still in awe that he blessed us with you, a baby girl. you are such a good baby. you love to be cuddled and talked to more than anything. you have been a great sleeper from the beginning, and those few hard nights we've had have only given me the opportunity to pray for you as i try to rock you back to sleep. the only time you seem to cry is if you're hungry, or have a wet diaper. we are so blessed to have you baby! we love you more than anything and you have our hearts!

- love mom and dad

Tessa Joy Stokes

meet our sweet baby girl, 
tessa joy stokes

april 14, 2015
8lbs 11oz
21.5 inches long
born at 1:45pm

if i could freeze time so i could soak in her tiny, delicate features, her whimpery newborn cry, and her soft, wrinkly baby skin i would. i never want to forget these newborn days.

we are completely smitten

and we love her so much! 

Maternity Pictures

i am finally getting around to sharing our maternity pictures taken by the lovely kelsey englund. you can check out her website here or you can give her some facebook love here. 

we went to minnehaha falls in minneapolis for our pictures per my request. i never thought about the fact that a frozen waterfall doesn't mix well with a preggo lady... i only hopped one fence, climbed a minor mountain, and almost got pushed off a cliff to get theses shots. needless to say, andrew was thankful when the first series of pictures were over.

i love how kelsey captures the moment so perfectly. she will do just about anything to get the perfect shot for you!

we decided to take some less dangerous shots on solid ground after my near death experience. 

one of my favorite photos! so sweet!

we just can't wait to meet this baby girl! thank you so much kelsey for taking our maternity photos!

Week 40

week: fourty

fruit size of baby:  watermelon

cravings: lemons or anything lemon, pineapple, anything really cold - smoothies, ice cream, ice water, etc.

aversions: don't really have any aversions, but preferring to eat more bland foods lately.

weight gain: 30 pounds

exercise: making myself take longer walks one or two times a day. also walking the stairs at our building and at work.

sleep: thankfully i'm getting restful sleep still. i wake up to use the restroom or readjust, but i fall back asleep pretty quickly and wake in the am feeling rested.

belly: about to pop and full of stretch marks. it amazes me that it continues to grow. also very very itchy lately to the point of lotion not even being a relief. 

clothes: squeezing into what maternity clothes still fit over my belly for work and wearing andrew's clothes on the weekends. my bright orange tennis shoes are still the only shoes that fit me too.

movement: not quite as active lately, but i don't blame her as i'm sure it's cramped in there. she still pokes out body parts here and there and gives my ribs a kick or two.

gender: we are having a baby girl and we are both so excited to meet her!

names: we have our "hospital list" that consists of three names. we will choose her name when we meet her.

worries: having to be induced because of going way over-due. having a long, hard labor and not being able to do it naturally without drugs - mostly fear of the unknown. 

what i love: knowing that i reached our "due date" and it could be a matter of days/hours that i go into labor. we are so anxious to meet her!

what i am looking forward to: being able to bend at the waist, wear normal clothes, walk without waddling, not itch everywhere, but most of all hold little lady in our arms!

milestones: making it to 40 weeks! you can come any day now little lady!

best moment of the week: going to my appointments and making progress each week. at my 39 week appointment i was dilated 1 cm and 50% effaced. at my 40 week appointment i was dilated 3 cm and 80% effaced. We are getting close!

amusing comments from the general public: a random woman asked me when i'm due. i told her i was due yesterday. she looked at my stomach and asked if i was having twins. i told her just one as far as i'm aware. she then proceeded to tell me that there has to be something medically wrong if i only have one baby in my stomach... 

baby mama drama: thinking i'm in labor only to have my cramps and contractions stop until the next day.