The best recipe for happiness? An epic weekend.

Our weekend consisted of:

^Eating so much our tummies hurt.^

^Kneeling to say family prayers.^

^Baby Einstein videos while holding "hands" with a new friend.^ 

^Naps at the park.^

^Eating daddy's face.^

And finally, getting to wake up to this sweet face every morning!

The best recipe for happiness? A healthy appetite.

A couple of days ago, at the dinner table it finally dawned on Tessa that we were putting some yummy stuff in our mouths and she wanted to be a part of it. "Hey!" she seemed to shout with her eyes, "I want some of that, too!" Since then she has been eager to try anything we'll give her. Every time mom takes a drink she opens her mouth expectantly. Little bird. We've realized we can no longer hold her and easily get food to our mouths because our little "piranha" is waiting and ready to attack. See video below:

^I wish I could be that eager to put an apple in my mouth. Once again, Tessa is teaching me a valuable lesson. To be enthusiastic about the healthy stuff!^

The best recipe for happiness? Becoming like a little child.

^Over the weekend we went to Green Lake for a walk. Have you ever seen a pair of rosier cheeks and nose?^

Today, I looked in the mirror at the dark circles under my eyes and my make up-less face. I sighed, I've had better looking days. Tessa put my face between her hands and pressed her cheek against my own. To her, my face is flawless.

Today, I spent a little too much time working on an email I really wanted to get done and not enough time comforting my distressed daughter. I sighed and apologized to her for the umpteenth time that day. She snuggled up close to my chest as if it never happened. To Tessa, there couldn't be a better mother. 

Today, my house was messier than usual and didn't get picked up until late that afternoon. I sighed, wishing I had it more together. Tessa played with me on the floor, hardly noticing the mess. To Tessa, there couldn't be a more comfortable, safe place to be. 

Today, Tessa told me I was beautiful, she frankly forgave me, and she reminded me that even the best homes don't always have the cleanest kitchens.  Maybe that is one of the things Christ meant when he asked us to become more like a little child: to understand that people make mistakes and love them regardless. To see the beauty and goodness in others and remind them of that goodness and beauty when they forget. 

Someday, I'd like to be more like Tessa. 

The best recipe for happiness? Milestones.

Tessa is so fun. I thought I'd take a moment and update you all on some of the things Tessa's been up to lately. She's a busy little bee, that one.

- She is rolling over from her back to her tummy like a pro. Apparently, babies normally go from tummy to back first? Not my girl Tessa. She likes to roll over and then yell because she doesn't want to be on her tummy, get put back on her back, and then roll over immediately and yell some more. Repeat about twenty times.
- She's eating rice cereal in the morning and just started wearing eating her sweet potatoes. She'll only open her mouth if I let her help hold the spoon. She is mommy's little helper and every once in a while the spoon makes it to that pretty little mouth of hers.
- As of yesterday, she's found her feet and now you couldn't find a better pair of friends. She just loves grabbing those little guys and rolling from side to side. She also loves to pull off her socks because, as you know, life is more enjoyable with bare feet.
- She loves my hair. To eat it that is. She'll just take fistfuls and stuff them in her mouth as fast as she can before mom can stop her. Maybe I need to stop using such great shampoo.
- She doesn't like any over her toys. They bore her. The only "toy" that she chews on without crying is my smart phone. That girl has expensive taste (pun totally intended).
- Let's see, what else... she's currently adding and subtracting. Just kidding .

Gosh, we just love that little person. And I'll be darned, she just loves us right back.

The best recipe for happiness? Not getting pertussis.

Yesterday Tessa got her second set of immunization shots. Nothing like a shot to bring out your mother bear instinct. The nurse was the sweetest woman in the world but as soon as Tessa started wailing I wanted to take her out. Tessa has definitely had better days. She's normally all smiles when she goes to see Dr. Bratt but she's currently going through this "stranger danger" stage. As soon as the doctor picked her up Tessa lost it. She hadn't even had her shots yet! Then when we finally got her calm they came in for a second helping of tears. You can imagine the rest. I had to take a picture of her poor little legs. Three shots. Three! Needless to say, the day was full of hugs and kisses and Tessa wanting nothing but mom. Which I didn't mind in the slightest. 

The best recipe for happiness? A little Christmas spirit in March (Part II).

^Every man in Seattle seems to have a beard. I think it looks pretty darn good on my hubby.^

^Brady built this huge train track around the tree. It wound through presents and under the couch and even went up a ramp. Pretty awesome.^

^I made Brady take pictures of my favorite ornaments. I was so in love with that glass ballerina. Someday, maybe Tessa will be my little ballerina. One can only hope.^

^Since we never seemed to get the chance to take newborn pictures we had a special photo shoot with Tessa. Isn't she just precious!^

I can't tell you how much I love this picture of two grown men playing with an old train set. Here's why I love it. One of my "must haves" on my list for my future husband was that he had to be invested in his children. I thought Brady could be that way but I wasn't sure. Then I met Ron (Brady's dad). A couple evenings with Ron and I knew Brady was the right man. Ron is as invested in his children as someone could possibly be. He never missed a game, a choir concert, or a dance recital. Wherever his kids are in the house, you'll find Ron. He knows how to play and he genuinely loves being around his family. Brady is 25 years old and Ron will still take him out back to play catch. I knew that Brady would love my children and nurture them always because he grew up experiencing that. I love this picture so much because it shows perfectly the kind of dad Ron is and the kind of dad Brady will be.  

The best recipe for happiness? A little Christmas spirit in March.

I never really had the chance to document our adventures during Christmas on the blog. Or maybe I had the chance but I just didn't take it. Pretty sure it's the latter. As sad as it is that it's March and I'm just starting to post about Christmas, it's better late than never, right? Honestly, Tessa and I have been singing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" since December anyway so it's pretty much like the holidays never ended. The main reason I'm doing this though is because I realized Grandma and Grandpa Johnson never got to see Tessa's first Christmas. No bueno! Isn't technology wonderful? I love that not only am I able to capture those moments but I'm also able to share them with people states away. Here are a couple of videos from Christmas morning:

^Tessa's Christmas pajamas were for a six-month-old so that's why her legs look unnaturally long :)^ 

^I don't know why I had her swaddled. One of my many "first time mom" hiccups.^

Thanks for the fun day Houston family and I'm glad, in a way, you get to experience it with us Johnson family! Happy it's-march-but-we're-still-having-Christmas-on-this-blog-Holidays!