The Force is Strong with this One!

Daddy Post: Happy Halloween everyone. Ruby had a great time Sunday night at a lantern walk through Fernhill Park that was sponsored by our daycare. Not much candy for her tonight, but we set aside some tootsie pops for later. As you can see, we tried to recreate the Dagobah scene from The Empire Strikes Back but with only limited success. It was difficult to get the lighting right so that is why there is a blurry photo included in this set. I just liked that you could see the lightsaber better without the flash. The downside was that the exposure was longer hence the greater propensity for blurriness. Plus we had to cut our photo shoot short because Yoda wasn't very fond of my new lightsaber and I was constantly stepping in dog crap much like the swamps of Dagobah themselves. In all, lots of fun. Hope everyone else is doing well.

The Missing Link

Daddy post redux: Here's the picture that I originally had on the sugar & spice post. It was meant to be the spice but Marty thought it was too big. Nuts to that. Here she is in all of her glory.

Sugar & Spice

Daddy Post: Just a few more pictures. Ruby's toothy angry face is a precursor to the best Halloween costume ever. Be ready!!! In other news Marty decided that she had had enough of hosting Ruby's all night buffet in our bed. Thus, she sought out the advice of Dr. Ferber and we're happy to say that it worked like a charm. Ruby no longer has to go through a bedtime routine nor does she have to be pampered throughout the night. She knows that her crib is where she sleeps and when she's in it that is what she is supposed to do. Little to no fuss which has been awesome. We're very proud of her and the fact that she's become quite the big girl.

Momma Post: Yes, another picture of our cutie pie and the pumpkins. Thanks for humoring your parents, Ruby. On Saturday, we had a nice lunch with Dad and Janet at Skyline Burger. This was followed by a trip to Sauvie Island to experience some of Multnomah County's finest rural landscape. We quickly learned that Sauvie Island and Saturday's in October don't mix. Traffic on Highway 30 was backed up as folks waited to cross the bridge to reach the island with the main attraction being the haunted corn maze. We bypassed this attraction for a local farm of dahlias, apples and of course pumpkins, my favorite being the moon (white) pumpkins. Ruby enjoyed tackling the gourds, but was dismayed at being strapped up in the car seat again, apparently not getting enough of the farm life.

Fun in the Bathroom

Daddy Post: For the sake of "cuteness" Marty unleashed our beast on the bathroom last week. Toilet paper = cheap fun, but bad food.

It Never Rains in Autzen Stadium

Momma Post: Ruby and the Ducks were equally impressive yesterday. Ruby for being in great spirits throughout a very long day down to Eugene and back. And, to the Ducks for their victory over UCLA. Before the game, we met our friends at Rennie's for breakfast. This was followed by a beautiful, crisp walk through part of the UO campus and joining hundreds of fans across the foot bridge to Autzen Stadium (thank goodness for our new Ergo carrier). Ruby withstood four quarters in a crowded stadium by napping; being passed back and forth between mom and dad; attending her first tailgater during half time; and discovering the duck quacker. We think Ruby has also added the word "Duck" to her vocabulary. A fun day ending with a two-hour snooze in the car ride home.

Sword Swallower

Daddy Post: A recent venture to Stanich's for a burger and a beer also managed to introduce Ruby to Tootsie Pops. As you can see by her picture, she relished the experience and declared herself Queen of the Tootsie Pops. Fortunately, she doesn't have enough teeth yet to get cavities in.

Tunnel of Love

Momma Post: The picture above was taken at Dave and Jenny's on Saturday. Playing and/or sharing with their daughter Stella and her toys was great fun, especially the fabric tube as shown.

Our family is working on new and improved forms of communication. We think Ruby is correlating the word "Jack" (said with a high pitched "Jac" or "Dac") with our white and furry family member. Thursday morning from the window in the nursery, Ruby and I were watching Jack run around in the backyard. I pointed out the sniffing dog making pit stops on the lawn and Ruby squealed "Jac", "Jac". She has repeated this a few times this weekend, so we'll be continuing the game whenever Jack is with pointing distance.

This weekend Ruby had an upset tummy, which hasn't made her interested in solid food. We've been trying to feed her more during the day based on advice from her pediatrician to reduce the nighttime snacking. Ruby's enjoyed playing with her food at recent meals, but when offered a spoonful, she dramatically waved both hands and scrunched up her face. We're hoping that after another day and a few large pulls off the Pedialyte, things will return back to normal. During her solid food hunger strike, Ruby was caught handing food over to Jack from the high chair.

For brief moments, Ruby has been standing on her own with no assistance from nearby furniture or a parent. This new skill was observed was at Great-Grandma Alice's last Tuesday, at Uncle Johnny's retirement party on Sunday and when Matt picked up Ruby from daycare yesterday. She is definitely testing the waters of walking and vertical independence. Yikes, it's only a matter of time...

The Great Pumpkin

Momma Post: Yesterday was a beautiful fall day in the Northwest. Along with our friends Jeff, Kari, Dave and Jenny, we took the girls, Izzy, Stella and Ruby to a pumpkin patch in Washington County. The country visit was complete with a taste of kettle corn thanks to Jenny's mom Carol, a hay bale maze, sheep and goats to pet and a tractor pulled wagon ride. Ruby quietly absorbed the farm landscape, marveled at those amazing orange globes and crawled in the hay. Watching Izzy and Stella running through the fields, Ruby looks forward to having a bit more freedom next year rather than constantly being carried by a parent this season.

Watch Out World!

Momma Post:
Our Ruby has reached nine months and marked the occasion with a doctor's appointment. Ruby weighed in at 19 pounds and 15 ounces. But, it was her height and head size that was off the charts (percentile that is). Neither of us are sure where she's getting her tall genes at 2-feet and 5.75 inches, but her head size at 46.4 centimeters is a definite Stockton trait (according to Grandma Joan and just by looking at Matt).

Ruby is becoming more assertive. Changing her diaper is a challenge. Dressing and undressing is disruptive to whatever Ruby would rather be doing. Wiping her nose, brushing her hair, Ruby scrunches her face and waves both arms with a "don't bother me" annoyed expression. All of this recent behavior has made evident the need for a more creative approach, such as, impromptu songs, dancing, new uses for everyday things...

Ruby knows her name and she also recognizes the sound of a concerned parent command like "hot, no touch", "gentle", "kisses, no bite", etc. I like the fact she will stop what she's doing and look me in the eye, watching my expression. How exciting that we're beginning to communicate at this new level.

Daddy Post: Ruby's head is regulation size and well proportioned to her body. If there's any extra girth it is only because she needs the extra room for her intelligence and ego.