Ruby Progress

Look who's holding herself up!  She is getting so strong!  Maybe those chubby leg rolls and chubby arms are really muscles. :)

 
Ruby is just plugging along growing like crazy - too crazy if you ask me!  I swear Ross didn't grow this fast.  Ruby rolled over two days ago.  Did I see it?  Of course not.  I had her on her belly for tummy time and she was just grunting away - I turned to help Ross with something and when I didn't hear anymore grunting I looked over and she was on her back!  I tried so hard to get her to do it again.  I think it was a bit of a fluke for her to do it.  She likes to pull her arms back behind her and balance on her belly like a dolphin.  I think she was doing that and managed to roll over that way.  Silly girl.  Don't grow too fast!
 

Dolphin Pose. :)

Ross wanted to hang out on the blanket.  If you look closely he's laying where Ruby had just spit up - heh heh.  About two second after this pic Ross realized it and was NOT happy about it.  Oh Ruby - you little trickster. :)

Ruby is still smiling like crazy and loves to laugh - especially if she knows you're trying real hard and she's tired. :)  Here's a few bits I caught on tape.  I'm lucky to get these - usually by the time I get the camera she's so over the funniness.

 
She also has gotten VERY focused on trying to grab her toys or things around her.  She gets this very intent look on her face and you can see her manipulating her arm over to where she wants to go.  Here's an example:

I can't get over what a good baby she is.  She's eating about 5-6 times a day.  We just moved her into her own room yesterday and we all slept like hibernating bears - it was wonderful!  I do feel a little sad with her gone - but then I remember I get my room back and I'm okay - haha.  She couldn't be happier in her own room too.  I'm excited to put things up on her walls to make it Ruby-fied.

Friday we had some friends over from dinner who are also in the PT program.  We live by all the optometry students and most of Steve's classmates all live far away and aren't in the same phase of life as we are.  I met Nicole at the BBQ the PT students do at the beginning of the year before she was having her baby and finally got her, her husband Perry who's in the PT program, and their adorable little Tate who's 7 months old to come for dinner.  I'm completely bummed I didn't take any pictures, but it was fun swapping parenting/baby stories and babies as well for that matter. :)  We loved having them over!

Now we have another week ahead of us - I can't believe it's almost May!  CRAZY!!   

Tulip Festival

With all this amazing weather - we have serious spring fever.  Steve got to take a breath...okay maybe a gasp - before heading into finals.  So since he missed the tulip festival last year we decided to go try it out this year.  

You would think this was on the way home...nope - nap time during the trip there - I LOVE this pic though - it's SO Ross. :)

The best family pic we got. I love it.  Ross had a thing for not smiling for the camera the whole trip though - little boo.  Ruby was also very distracted looking around. :)

We had a GREAT time.  It was warmer this time around so some of the tulips were already gone, but it was gorgeous and fun nonetheless.  Our only regret was that we didn't bring the stroller.  Isn't that always the case?  Whenever we bring one we don't need it, but when it's ditched, we're pining for it later.  Ross was still getting over being babied from being sick and demanded to be held a lot.  I kept Ruby in the carrier, but didn't think we'd be walking all over as much as we did.  Hello backache old pregnancy enemy - so we met again.  We had fun anyway.  

One of the few times Ross walked around by himself.  He's so big now compared to last year when he wasn't even walking!  Maybe he remembered that and wanted to have some old times and be carried everywhere again. :)

Love me some girlie tulips!

My favorite tulips

Ross took this picture haha

Ross was pretty impressed with the tractors they had around the fields.

Apparently not enough to smile at me though...

Not quite knowing what he wants there.

What are they looking at??

The steam engine!

 Notice Ross's reaction to the steam engine...classic!

Still traumatized from the train's toots...they had some teenage boys doing it who got a little "toot-happy" - Ross sure wasn't loving it.  Poor thing.

A little Rubelip

A Rosslip

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Ross being silly instead of smiling - the goon!

Ruby is passed out asleep in this pic...and Ross wanted Daddy to hold him - I'm pretending my children are taking a perfect picture with me.  Haha.

I wish I could sleep anywhere like this girl.

This face of Ross's is hilarious!  At least Steve is happy. :)

Ross was really excited to go for a ride around the fields at the end and after eating and elephant ear - he said hello to everyone and everything...literally. "Hello people!" "Hello fowers!" "Hello tractor!" "Hello kids!"

There were LOADS of people there, and lots of blessed sunshine so we mosied all over enjoying the scenery.  It was just nice to be together as a fam enjoying Oregon.  Oh how I love Oregon.  I'm pretty sure I won't be done with it by the time we have to move.  It's been wonderful living here.  Steve got an internship at the VA hospital in Salt Lake City and another internship at a skilled nursing facility in Murray that starts the end of December so we'll be heading back to Utah then for the rest of Steve's grad program until he graduates. (I can't believe he only has a year left!)   

Spring Bugs and Beautiful Beach Days

Oregon has recently gotten scrumptious.  The weather has gotten much warmer and the rainy days are fewer.  Big fan here.  Unfortunately we got hit with a little bug - well Ross got hit with some weird stomach bug.  He was a bit whiney and mopey over the weekend, but went to church just fine.  Of course after we got home and settled in, he threw up.  Hopefully, fingers crossed, he didn't pass it to anyone else.  His little buddy Wesley had it before him.  However - Ross only threw up the one time and then the rest of the week has been spent complaining about his tummy, not wanting to eat or drink a whole lot, and then being backed up in the bowels.  
I've decided reasoning with children makes me want to pull my hair out sometimes...a lot of times.   When simply drinking juice (which Ross always loves) becomes - get a syringe and force it down his throat - I'm at a loss for words.  Yes I did end up doing that (with a bit of Miralax included).  Ross has turned into a couch potato this week and would even just play with his toys laying down.  I allowed this for a total of a day and a half and then decided we needed to get going and get over whatever hit him.  He's still getting over it and even more so trying to hold on to all the babying we gave him at the beginning of the week.  Little stinker pants.  I hate it when he's not feeling well.  It breaks my heart.  Here's to a better week!

Ross was wanting a pillow in his crib so I made him some pillow cases. :)

He's quite satisfied.

Poor sick Ross last Sunday.

Rubes enduring some tummy time.

Cutie Pants

Rubbing Ross's back and belly made him feel better.  He fell asleep on me while I was rubbing his back - poor thing...he now ALWAYS wants his back or belly rubbed - preferably with lotion...we've raised a high maintenance kid!

A pic of me...trying to keep sanity.

In our attempt to keep going I got brave and decided to go to the Oceanside beach with the kids while Steve was at school since the weather was so incredibly nice.  I am quite proud of myself actually.  I did have wonderful friends to help me still, but slowly I'm starting to get the mom-of-two thing down a little better.  
My friend Kim and I carpooled to finagle the kiddos - and we only had to stop once to get the right water out and some sun out of a face which we counted as a success. :)
I was worried mostly about Ruby, but planned to have a little tent for her to block the wind and give her some shade.  Surprisingly, she was a little dreamboat and did amazing with the car ride and hanging out at the beach.  It was Ross who had the most trouble.  Apparently it's been too long since he had his feet in the sand, because he HATED it.  I had put him in his new sandals and his friend Wes started burying his feet in the sand (which, I suppose, was not okay).  Ross couldn't handle it and refused to walk on any dry sand at all.  We had to go back to the car and get his actual shoes for him to even be okay.  He dug in the sand a little and laid on my lap while I nursed Ruby.  We managed to have some fun - and I was SO happy to hang out in the sun so we did okay.  I decided we will be going to the beach MUCH more to get rid of this "no-sand-on-my-feet" thing with Ross.  That and maybe take Daddy with us next time to play. :)

Rubies set up - she's happy in the tractor tent at the beach - we're good.

Ross refusing to step onto the dry sand and calling for me to come get him...

Still not moving

Not quite getting that we're AT THE BEACH!!  Time to have fun!!! :)

We did find some fun eventually. :)

He guesses digging might be tolerable.

Yes she was spitting up when I took the picture - love her eyes though. :)

Ruby's chosen position for her nap - one happy beach girl.

Some beach bum friends - Davin and Naomi - who DIDN'T have a problem having their feet in the sand.

Marci in her VERY appropriate beach hat.

A cute sand face

Kim and Wes hunting for shells

Hooray for a reason to wear sunglasses!

Just so you know we DID get this kid to smile eventually.

He missed his daddy.

And needed a popsicle

Now he's content

Ruby relaxing as usual. :)