Ida, Ida, Ida

One of the most exciting aspects of this weekend was meeting dear little Ida Ellsworth. Ida is the daughter of Eric's cousin, making her...a second cousin? I'm not sure of the proper English labels for such things, but she will simply be known as cousin Ida.

Tess was totally and completely in love with Ida. She wanted to sit as close to her as possible. She wanted to chase Natalia around, desperate to be near Ida. She poked her head, her face, her ears, her hands, and got pretty close to her eyes. She told me all weekend that Ida had a "meow, meow" on her shirt. (because she did the first day we met her.) She also like to point out that Ida wore a hat. And that she was nursing, and wouldn't it be a good idea for Tess to nurse, too?

A while before the big dinner, Tess had wanted to follow Natalia and Ida outside. Natalia told Tess to go find the table for dinner and that she and Ida would meet Tess there. We then went and joined Eric at the table, and initially Tess was caught up in playing with the other new friends at the table. Then the bride and groom were introduced to the huge banquet hall full of over 200 guests. We clapped, and then everyone got quiet in anticipation of the bride's father's speech. At that moment Tess remembered that Ida was going to meet her at the table and she screamed out for all to hear, "Ida, Ida, Ida!"

Looking Pretty

Here we all are dressed up and fancy for cousin Serge's wedding. We were bad about taking pictures and never got a family shot. Of course there were many cameras present, so I'm sure some other shots will surface. It was an amazing event that will take a little time for me to record in its full glory. For now I'll just share a few shots.

 She has totally figured out how to "cheese" for the camera.

Babysitters

Tess is now spending time with a babysitter three mornings a week. On Monday and Tuesday mornings, she joins a woman, her son, and a little girl for 3 1/2 hours. The woman's name is Sandra, and she is a stay-at-home mom and nanny. The kids are about a year older than Tess, and I think it's a great experience for Tess to have the play time with other kids.

I was worried about the transition, but having the other children made it much easier! Whenever Tess would ask for me or start to cry, the other children would rush to her side to comfort her. On the second day, Tess didn't want to leave when I came to pick her up. She played for another half hour while I visited with Sandra. When we left, Sandra and the kids left the building shortly after we did. When Tess saw them on the sidewalk, she was so excited! She ran toward them and then turned around to follow them when they went running past her.

On Thursday morning, Tess spends the morning with Yulyia, her babysitter from last year. They go to the park, eat lunch, and then pick up Zachary, Yulyia's son, from preschool. She then gets to spend another hour playing with Zachary, who she also loves.

I'm using the time to write, catch up on chores I don't want to do with a child in tow, and just for my own sanity. Part of me feels strange sending Tess away three times a week. I kind of miss her. And another part of me loves this new fall schedule and the time and space it grants me.

Robyn Photos

Eric and I have benefitted greatly from the photography skills of our friend Robyn Rice. She took these two great shots last Sunday, and I wanted to share them here.

Ida

In July, we all traveled up to Cambridge to see Eric's cousin and his wife, Natalia, who was expecting a baby. That baby, baby Ida, arrived about a month ago. During the trip, Tess was fascinated by Natalia's big belly. Now, she loves to say her cousin's name, it being one she can easily pronounce.

Tonight after dinner, I was telling a friend about the amazing dinner we had that weekend in Cambridge. I mentioned that Natalia babysat Tess. Tess looked up from what she was doing and started saying, "Ida, Ida," and then started rubbing and pointing to her belly while babbling to us about Ida. I realized that she remember Natalia's belly. I asked her about it, and she nodded, saying, "baby!" It's so crazy to me that she put all of that together.

How Our Mornings Begin

Monkey

Monkey, or as Tess calls him, "Oo-ah-ah-ee," has become our steady companion. Here Tess is carrying him on her back during a walk, just as she so often rides on her Dad's back. This is the compromise we worked out when the doll stroller couldn't navigate the dirt path.

Super Kickers

Tess started soccer classes today. Soccer classes for 18 month olds is like herding cats, but way cuter to watch. She sat on a little square, followed directions, kicked and ran with a ball (while I held her hands and guided her), kicked (or in Tess's case: pushed) the ball into a goal, and played with cones. The class was scheduled much too close to lunch, and about half-way through class, Tess decided that a friend's cheerios were way more important than soccer.

However, for all the lack luster enthusiasm during the class, Tess was very excited to tell her Grandpa Len all about it when we saw him for dinner tonight. She told him "ball" and then kicked her feet to show him what she did during soccer class.

After class, Tess and I joined two other mothers and their sons for lunch out. It was a lot of fun for both of us.

Florida Photos

Listening to Wheels On The Bus on YouTube.

Playing in Nana's bathroom.

Water fun at a friend's house. They generously let us use their wonderful pool and kid toys.

Fun with Baba:

Fun with Uncle Jim

Here's some more pictures from the Florida trip.

September

It's already the middle of September, and I haven't written anything here. I've had grand plans. I want to add more summer photos, share some more of those stories. But time is getting away from me, and now we are half-way through the Jewish holidays, almost at the family wedding, and speeding into our busy fall.

Today I'll just leave with one little picture of Tess, a verbal picture.

I was making my green smoothie, and Tess wanted one of my frozen strawberries. I wasn't sure what she'd think of it, but I gave her one, interested to see her response. She walked out of the kitchen, holding it in her hand, touching it to her mouth from time to time. Then she climbed up on the big white chair in the living room. I draped a towel over her legs, not wanting strawberry stains on the chair, and she sat there eating the frozen strawberry. She had to eat slowly, waiting for it to thaw. When she finished, she sat there with a look of concentration on her face, her legs stuck out straight in front of her, the towel over her lap, her face scrunched up, sitting perfectly still. I waited, and then she looks at me and says, "mahr."