Get Your Motor Runnin'!!

Daddy Post: Not much new to report this week. Ruby has been a little supernova of positive energy which has been a real joy. She's become quite the little explorer and has no problem venturing off on her own. Her vocabulary is building at a steady rate, but it hasn't stopped her from being highly communicative with lots of pointing and babbling. I had a great trip out at the beach this weekend with my college bros, but I was excited to get back to Marty & Ruby. On the way down my friend Jeff and I joined Zeus and Andrew for father's award ceremony at the Oregon State School of Engineering. In addition to Zeus we must now refer to him as "Grand Engineer of the Universe." Congrats father. We're very proud of you and fortunate to have such a great presence in our lives. We're looking forward to spring break in the coming weeks.

Ears to You Kid

Daddy Post: Ruby spent the week exploring the arts of drawing, music, and comedy. Valentine's day was a treat for me to spend with my two favorite ladies even though Ruby decided that she would rather have our romantic meal at home. Fortunately, the restaurant we were at was accomodating and packaged our order to go. On Saturday we had a chance to take a ride on the new OHSU tram. Ruby was curious and very interested in what the big fuss was about. She has been a real source of positive energy lately which has been very tiring, but incredibly rewarding. Her newest trick is talk on the phone (or whatever closely resembles a phone). She also has a whole bunch of teeth coming in. Lucky for us and the pets, she hasn't started biting yet.

Playground Playmate

Momma Post: Ruby and her friend Suzanne spent Saturday afternoon at Grant Park. Ruby showed Suzanne how cool the swings are, while Ruby decided digging in the dirt and kicking bark dust was how toddlers strut their stuff. Happy 1st Birthday, Suzanne (February 13th)!

This week Ruby showed us her developing interest in drawing/writing. She grabbed a pen and with pretty good form started practicing her signature, at least I thought I could read it. Amazingly we hadn't consciously demonstrated to Ruby usage of pen and paper, but she obviously has a clear understanding of the mighty pen...next lesson, editorials to The Oregonian. Best yet, Matt and I now have another distraction tool. Ruby still is switching the pen between left and right hands, but seems initially more comfortable with the left.

Matt and I are feeling a bit winded after this weekend. Ruby is officially a handful...in a good way. Ruby wants to get into everything. Matt calls her the "little explorer". We're trying our best to communicate appropriate things to manipulate and what is best to leave alone. Ruby tests these efforts frequently with a mischievous grin and occasional cackle. Opening up cupboards is a new interest. On Saturday, Ruby stubbornly refused to take a nap from her usual nap time at 10:30 am with a couple failed attempts leading up to 3:30 pm. With optimism (or naivety) we took her to the Academy, a local theater that provides childcare and second run movies. Matt and I dropped her off in the colorful playroom, while we watched "The Departed" matinee. With 20 minutes till the end, Ruby had had enough and we were paged to pick up our child. Upon returning home, this is what Ruby did on the kitchen floor (see below). Bedtime arrived at a very early 6:15 pm.

Ruby's Raptor Roadtrip

Momma's Post: This Saturday we ventured once again to Sauvie Island to enjoy the Audubon Society's "Raptor Roadtrip". I had been looking forward to this event, as it was well advertised as a kid-friendly outing. Matt and I laughed at there being only a few kids in attendance and the high middle-age, middle-class, liberal turnout, which apparently we're are beginning to morph into... you could count the Subarus and OPB bumper stickers. As mentioned in previous posts, Ruby is frequently signing and pointing to birds, so we feel the need to nurture her knowledge of our feathered friends. At Howell Farm on Sauvie, we got up close and personal with a Great Horned Owl, an American Kestrel, a Peregrine Falcon and a Barn Owl. Ruby respectfully gazed at these birds. At the farm, Ruby insisted upon walking up to the barn herself, extending her arms behind her back when we tried to take her hand. This made me think of a little fledging attempting to take flight. While there were four destinations along the roadtrip route, we only made it to one other and were fortunate to see Bald Eagles, Sandhill Cranes and a Harrier (a hawk like bird that has incredible hearing and nests on the ground) through telescopes. Ruby's naptime and a gentle rain wrapped up our roadtrip, but definitely a lovely morning.