TIGER KITTEN

This week has flown by! Daddio has away all week at a track and field competition, so Granny came down to visit us. What a time we had!

One day Vanners and I were browsing at a pottery shop. The shopkeeper was taken with Vanessa. She sounded a bit like Yoda when she commented, "Oh my. That one has a huge tiger in her." Later in the conversation the same woman said, "Hmmmmm, I hear many birds around her. Many birds." Granny and I aren't sure what all this means, but we decided to look it up. We found the Tiger is associated with great will and power. Granny and I laughed so hard. How accurate for our wee tiger kitten!

New things Granny taught Vanessa:

* How to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star with hand motions

* How to say Granny ("Janny")

* How to use a baby fork

* How to change out a Baby Einstein DVD

* How to get into her carseat

* How to sing along (you should have heard her in church today)

* How to say "Pssst!"

* How to collate different sized cups

* How to lie on your back and do bicycle kicks in the air

* How to kick the soccer ball

* How to blow bubbles in the back yard

* How to feed a goat (without getting bitten)

* How to roll your arms for Pat-a-Cake

* How to count to 5 using your toes as a guide

Well, some of these things were already in the works when Granny arrived, but Nanners stepped up to the plate, for sure.

This week mama had a big presentation to work on, and then a pair of migraines, so it was extra helpful to have Granny around. As usual, she took care of the two of us little princesses. No wonder we call her the Queen Mother. We were able to fit in some grocery shopping, a trip to the petting farm, and a walk to the Saturday farmer's market for sweet corn tamales and strawberry shortcake.

Last week, Baby Nessa had her 15 month check up with her pediatrician. She continues to grow, thankfully. She is in the 75th percentile for height and 90th percentile for weight. Since she's rather slim right now, we think the extra weight is in her head, which continues to be off the chart. I think her head circumference is in the 90th percentile for a 3 year old. She has big feet, too. We think she's purrrrrfect.

We are right around Embryo Transfer Day, which occurred in April 2006 after several years of anticipation. Thank you, God, for thawing us this darling little being.