Friday, December 15, 2006

All I Want for Christmas is Anything But Santa





Daddy Post: These aren't the "official" pictures that we had to buy at Macy's for our visit to see Santa, but they aren't much different. Ruby wasn't as amused as Marty and I were, but I'm sure she will find the humor in it eventually. High School prom perhaps.

Also, congrats to the Fitzpatricks who had their second beautiful daughter today. Her name is Amelia which coincidentally was what Ruby was going to be named until we thought of Ruby as a better fit for her personality.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Memories of Christmas Past


Momma Post: As we're approaching Christmas this year, I'm reminiscing Ruby's birth and being rather nostalgic about my maternal experiences over the past year. I remember the emotional release of hearing and seeing my baby girl for the first time, as the doctor held her over the C-Section tarp. Weakly holding Ruby with one arm in the recovery room for the first time and trying to stay awake to cherish the moment. Smelling her sweet infant skin. Sleepless nights with a newborn snuffling and snoring on my chest. Feeling incredibly proud to have a healthy, fuzzy-headed baby. Feeling like a hormonal Mother Bear for several weeks following her birth.

The pictures shown here are Ruby one day old and Ruby 11 months old with Dad. The red stocking was given to us at St. Vincent's Medical Center, a tradition for Christmastime babies.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Momma Post: Thursday of last week, our family drove to Sauvie Island to cut down a Noble Fir from Bender's U-Cut Tree Farm. Matt and I discovered the family-run operation last year, when at 30 pounds heavier with nine months of pregnancy, we were determined to select and decorate a tree before Ruby arrived and was brought home. Creatures of habit, we went back to Bender's and took more time in the selection process, than the actual cut down and tying the tree to the roof of our Subaru. Ruby was a little awed by the green newcomer, hovering in the corner of the living room, but soon made friends and loved wrapping her self up in the tree's string of beads. My dear childhood friend Meg, stopped by for a visit and presented Ruby with a very practical/warm knit hat and mitten set. If the weather improves, Matt and I plan to take Ruby up to Mt. Hood Meadows tomorrow for her first glimpse of snow, so the new warm accessories are perfect. I wish Auntie Meg lived closer than her current residence in Seattle, but it makes our visits that much more special.

We'll...we have quite the little character on our hands. Ruby's quickly approaching "toddlerhood", even those she'll always be my baby, I'm recognizing she's her own person with her own mind and opinions. For example, when she's done with an object (e.g., bottle), she'll toss it. One lesson we're working on is when Ruby starts throwing food/feeding the dog, mealtime is over. Ruby's very expressive about saying no (vigorously shaking her head and waving her hands simultaneously) and is beginning to point at what she wants. Ruby loves books and will carry a book over and plop into a ready lap. She's very adept at turning pages and pointing to illustrations. We're doing a lot more with signs and words. Ruby loves learning and patting/pointing to her body parts, "head", "nose", "belly button" being favorites.

The pictures below involve Ruby attending Jackson's 2nd Birthday Party at Pump it Up, a gym for kiddos. I was co-hosting my friend Carrie's baby shower, so Matt will have to write his observations - looked like a lot of fun.

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Where's Ruby? There She Is!!!






Daddy Post: Lots of activity last weekend. Ruby attended her friend Conner's 1st birthday and then we celebrated Marty's birthday at the Russell St. BBQ with Alice, Anne, Bill, Janet, Amy, Joe, Andrew, Tia, & Simon. Happy birthday Marty! The group kid photo at Connor's was a bit unruly. Ruby joined in the crying immediately after the picture.

Baths have been fun and Ruby's new favorite game is peek-a-boo behind the curtains. This is a step up from her former favorite game which was "bolt for the dog bed and roll around as much as possible before dad catches me and lectures me about how gross dog hair is when mixed with drool". Unfortunately, she hasn't completely abandoned that game but I'm working on it.

Hope all is well with everyone and we're looking forward to seeing you all in the coming weeks.