Happy Fall!

It seems Oregon kindly hung on to summer until that last possible second.  We had some toasty temperatures for quite some time.  Then, when the first day of autumn presented itself, Oregon seemed to let down its walls and let the rain dancing begin.  It's been nice and cool as well which has been a nice change to be honest.  I don't mind the rain here.  It's quite refreshing to me actually.  
We've spent most of our time around here.  Steve's work schedule has been a bit all over the place and he's ended up working 10 out of 11 days this last week, 12 hour shifts each day...I am not a fan of the hospital work setting to say the least.  He works in Portland, so sharing a car is not really an option with how early he goes and late he gets done.  So, we hang around home for the most part and find things to do here.  :)
 

Ross and his buddy Wes holding hands on the way to the library.

Some library play time.  Ruby wanted what everyone else was playing with.

How could you not want to give this little somethin' whatever she wants? :)

September 19th was National Talk Like a Pirate Day.  If you dressed up as a pirate you got a free dozen donuts at Krispy Kremes.  We all love a good donut - as well as exploiting our children for them. :)

A front shot

A Thug Shot :)

Ross doing some modeling (pirate attire thanks to my friend Kristen)

Ross's "AaRrrrrrr"

Boys out playin.  Ross got to ride in our neighbor's toy jeep - he LOVED it!

This is how Ross sits when he's watching a "little show" :)

Smiley girl

Ruby LOVES pushing buttons - it entertains her for at least 15-20 minutes at a time.  Ross's garbage truck is perfect for pushing buttons. :)  He's so nice to share with her :)

 Ruby has really been into clapping too. :)  She likes to clap her hands while she stomps her feet at the same time while laying down - she's her own circus!

We also braved the weather and headed to the beloved Farmer's Market

She's just happy to be there!

This kid downed half of my strawberries buy - he's been sucked in to the berry obsession like the rest of us here in Oregon.

And he's totally happy to be sucked in!

Ruby is on the rampage.  She's gone from a mosying little army crawl to a full blown I-need-to-be-in-the-middle-of-whatever-action-is-going-on army crawl.  Heaven help us when she gets completely up on her hands and knees.  I have had to have my eyes on her WAY more often.  

We've also find this girl has a shoe fetish!  Anytime she spots a shoe, she's on it like a fat kid on chocolate.  Seriously.  I'm pretty sure we're going to have to adopt the "above the ground" shoe policy soon.  I've also realized I have to start sweeping and vacuuming way more often.  Oh the busy baby days are back. :) She's also way into feeding herself now.  She would rather do it all herself and gets impatient when she's spoon fed, but can't completely control her arms and hands like she'd like to.

Ruby LOVES to observe from her side - all casual like (nice bum picture I know).  She even sleeps on her side too.

Ross has been realizing that Ruby prefers his toys to hers, and he is not so into it.  He's a good sport for the most part.  

Ross has been a pretty good champ for taking his naps lately; however, as of yesterday he realized he can open his door, but hasn't toyed with that yet other than letting himself out after his nap.  We'll see how it goes.

Ross wanted me to take a picture of his plane.

Another "cheese" face

Cute boys horsin' around

Ross wanted to hold Ruby - of course that means pictures need to be taken.  They were snuggling :)

I LOVE these faces.  They are the most beautiful things I get to look at EVERY day.

LOVE my family!!

I, have been on a reading binge lately.  You know how that goes.  Whenever the decision to clean, do laundry, possibly even shower, gets weighed in against reading - you can guess which one gets picked.  It's a serious problem.  I at least feed, clothe, and entertain my kids in between though so I'm good right?  Even if we're eating off of paper plates and wading through laundry while we play? ;)  My current list of books on the menu include Carly's Voice (for my book club) which I have actually been quite intrigued by.  It's about an autistic girl who found a way to communicate when she was 10 by typing on a computer.  It gives a very insightful look into the life and family of an autistic person.  A good read I think.  I'm also starting Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker (recommended by my mom), Edenbrooke, Ender's Game, and Blackmoore.  Nothin' like a good book!

Another read I have been delving into, loaned to me by my friend, Kim, is The Power of Everyday Missionary Work.  It gives some great advice and counsel on how to be a missionary in your every day life.  I like how it mentions that too many people today see talking about religion and your belief in God as taboo or not for the workplace or any place for that matter.  That is exactly how the adversary would have us think.  It really is amazing how many actually do believe in God and really don't have a problem sharing or having that faith in God talked about.  It is never wrong to invite someone to have a better life, to know their Savior, and to know why you are happy or satisfied with your own life.  Being a missionary for the Savior doesn't mean you are forcing your beliefs and religion on someone - it means you are living your life as an example of Him and are always inviting others to be closer to Him through your actions and words.  Anyway - definitely a great read.  I know following the Savior and living His Gospel truly is the most satisfying and fulfilling thing one could ever do with their life - with all my heart I believe and know that. 

So life goes on and we keep trying to be and get a little bit better here in Oregon in our little family.  One day at a time - one blissful day at a time. :)

Ruby at 8 Months

Well my little baby is a little too busy leaping over milestones.  I think she feels she's been watching her brother run and jump around too long and she's determined to figure out how to keep up with him.  

She is SO full of life!

She's weighing in at 22lbs - 95th percentile, is 29 inches long - 95th percentile, and her head circumference is 17 6/8 inches - 85th percentile.  Growing, growing, growing.  I'm so over it!  I need this girl to stay my baby longer than she's planning.  

Her schedule has been a bit all over the place.  With Steve's internship taking him from us pretty much the whole day, he gets home and wants to play with the kids for a while (while I'm counting down the seconds for them to go to bed).  Thus, bedtime has gotten later, which then makes us get up later.  SO - her schedule is roughly wake up around 8 (sometimes even closer to 9), nurse, eat her usual oatmeal with prunes, play with Ross and Mommy, naptime anytime between 9:30 and 10:30 until 11:30-12.  Nurses around 12:30, eats lunch (a veggie and a fruit), maybe play outside, or read some books, 1:30-2 down for nap number 2 until about 3:30 or 4.  Wake up and play, nurse around 5, dinner around 5:30 or 6, play outside, practice crawling, try to eat wood chips, 7 or 7:30 - be thrilled that it's Daddy time.  8 - bedtime routine (bath every other night, pjs, scriptures, prayers, stories, songs, snuggles, and bed by around 8:30.
 

I love the phase when they can sit up and play with their toys, but not go anywhere.  I LOVE it.  Just when she was pretty independent at sitting without any pillows, she figured out how to tip over onto her belly (yes it's a tip) and proceeded to figure out how to do some army crawling.  However, she usually needs a charge up first before the scoots - so she gets on her hands and knees, rocks madly back and forth, gaining momentum, and then projects herself forward, landing on her belly and scoot, scoot, scoots to wherever her heart desires - much to Ross's dismay, who's become a bit more protective of his cars and trucks he doesn't want her sucking on.  He's gotten into grabbing a "Ruby/baby toy" to hurry and switch with her.  She still doesn't mind...but I'm pretty sure she will soon.  Ross is going to have to really learn the meaning of the word "share" then...not just sometimes, but pretty much all the time. :)  Ruby also has been figuring up how to push up on her hands and feet even if she's feeling particularly energetic.  This girl better wait until she's at least a year till she walks!

 

Sportin' the sittin'

She shes her next victim

She knows exactly what she's going to do

 

Mission accomplished

Ready for take off

Goal in sight

Add caption

Sorted!

Ruby is also experimenting with growling these days.  She likes to see what different levels and tones she can manipulate her voice to do.  Ross has been the master teacher with all his machine sounds he makes all the time.  

She knows how to drink out of a sippy cup - and can feed it to herself - not continuously, but she definitely knows how to get herself a drink.

As of today she knows how to clap her hands!  She thinks it's hilarious when you clap them for her though.

She's figured out I put headbands on her and if she remembers, she tries to take them off.  It's a battle I'm not going to give in to.  She doesn't have enough or thick enough hair for barrettes and she looks adorable with headbands.  I will win the battle over her cuteness!

Ruby loves making different faces and when she's so "over" what's going on - she usually raises her head, looks at the ceiling, and proclaims her moans to the world.
 

Sittin' up these days

She seriously has a thing about my signs!

This is Ruby's "I'm taking something in" face :) a usual

Ruby's current favorites:
Spinach/Carrot/Peas
Popsicles (it's a love/hate relationship for obvious reasons)
Chewing on Ross's cars
Being tickled
Sleeping on her side (not surprising since she decided to enter this world sideways)
Being held by her brother - she always laughs when he snuggles her
Puff snacks - she can feed them to herself, but only if she happens to grab it the right way.  She usually prefers to lean forward and eat them out of your hand.
Scratching at different textures - her pack 'n play, our metal waste basket, the couch, her car seat, her diaper - you name it - she'll test it out.
Calling for you like she's in dire distress, only for her to be ready to party the second you walk into her room.  Faker!  We still fall for it too.

I love my Miss Rubies!

Thank goodness she still has her chubby legs for me to squeeze, and adorable baby face to kiss.  She does get more and more fun - she is just so excited about life in every way and doesn't want to miss a second of it.  I love that about her.  She has a gift for lighting up the room with her constant smiles and laughs for everyone.  She has a real gift for making people happy.  I'm so grateful Heavenly Father blessed us with her.  She adds everything and more to our lives.  Our family rocks!

Things That Don't Get Old and New Beginnings

We've had the luxury of experiencing some 97 degree heat lately....fabulous.  I just love feeling sweat dripping constantly - even when I'm not moving.  Fall sure is taking it's sweet time getting here.  During all this heat, I have boycotted cooking (which results in cereal, sandwiches, or pizza for dinner) and we have played outside as much as we can (since it pretty much doesn't matter if you're inside or out - you're still going to sweat).  You might as well make the kids happy and let them play rather than be stuck inside, sweating, while you clean.  At least - that's what I tell myself.  We've had some fun play dates, and even babysat my friend's little girl, Paige, while she went to a doctor's appt which turned into her being admitted at the hospital to have her baby. :)  He's a beautiful baby by the way.  Gorgeous head of dark hair.  I digress...

Back to the heat.  It's been hot.  BUT - there's nothing like a couple of boys hearing those sweet sounds of a garbage truck approaching.  It's like catching Santa Claus come down the chimney or something for them.  Ross always freezes in his tracks, perks up his ears to make sure he heard what he thought he heard, proclaims the garbage truck is really here, and bounds for the window to catch a glimpse, or if mom's really nice, the door to see the magical moves of the garbage truck.  This happens regularly...like since he was a baby.  He really is all boy.  I figured we'd catch it on camera for once.

Scampering seems to be the best word for what these boys were doing on their way to the garbage truck.

The dumping is the best part!

Watching and starting the trek back.

Saying farewell to our beloved garbage truck and garbage man - he always waves.  I think he may be every 1-5 year old boy's hero.

I think these faces explain exactly how these boys feel about the garbage truck's performance.

Cute Ross story:
One morning this last week at breakfast, Ross bit his cheek while he was chewing his food.  He was pretty sad about it (okay overly dramatic to put it plainly).  I had him drink some water, even rubbed some salt inside his cheek thinking maybe he had a canker sore, but none of it was satisfactory.  Ross kept telling me something which I couldn't figure out until he got out of his chair and walked over to the closet where he stated through his moans, "Batteries fix cheek!  Mommy get batteries to fix my cheek!" - Side note - from the first time we ever changed batteries in one of his toys, he's been excited about getting tools and batteries out to "fix" anything he can - whether or not it needs to be fixed.  So new batteries make toys all better and working - why the heck wouldn't it make a Ross feel better?  Right?  He's very logically - unfortunately I didn't feel it quite safe to try out this hypothesis of his.  And, for the record, his cheek did feel better later - mostly after we got him distracted. 
 
In other news - I've been putting off transitioning this kid into a toddler bed for many reasons: A) He goes RIGHT to sleep and stays asleep for a solid 3 hour nap and 12 hour night.  2) He never tries to get out of his crib anyway. And D) He needs to stop growing up so dang fast!  Just thought I'd put those out there.  My good friend, Michelle, told me her son, Davin, would still stay in his bed until she came to get him for a good while when they switched him.  Ross knew right away he could get out and took full advantage.

First encounter with "the bed"

He's like "you know I can get out this right mom?"

His "cheese" face once again. :)  Do you like those stacks for diapers in the background?  This toddler bed is prep for those babies getting cleared out!

The first nap in the new bed resulted in every toy being pulled out of it's place onto the floor.  After going in there, cleaning it up, and getting him back in his bed, we tried again...which resulted in round two of every toy being cast onto the floor.  Don't worry - I learned this time.  I just left it all and tucked him back into his bed.  After the 45 minutes of all the fiasco, he finally went to sleep and slept 2 1/2 hours.  I realize we gave him no real explanation of how you stay in your toddler bed, and he thought it was really cool that he could get out of it.  (He does stay in his room though and doesn't try to open the door yet - hooray.)  That night he it took about 45 minutes to get to sleep.  Win right?

The next day - it took an hour and a half for him to get the message to stay in his bed and go to sleep.  I caught him sitting on the floor reading a book (so hard to be mad at that) multiple times.  The problem was, I found, I didn't interrupt his "play time" enough for him to realize he was tired and to lay down.  My good friend, Kim, was having issues with Wesley - who's even still in a crib - playing instead of going to sleep.  She mentioned what worked for her was interrupting him every few minutes to cut to the chase of "it's time to go to sleep."  I tried this out and the next day it only took 15 minutes before he was out (I'm sure it had to do with missing out on a good few hours of sleep the previous day too).
 

Ruby doesn't see what the big deal is.  I love Ross's face here. :)

Glowing McQueens are always cool (Thanks Uncle Dallas and Auntie Janae) :)

He's also been experimenting with places to fall asleep.  His favorite place is the floor, but he's also fallen asleep in the rocking chair as well.  Silly boy.  

So the transition hasn't been as terrible as it could be, but I do miss him realizing he's got his four walls and to just lay down and go to sleep.  Oh well - at least I still have Ruby imprisoned for the time being.  Good thing she's got those walls too - that girl would roll or scoot off a building if I let her - she's a busy girl!

Our last bit of news is our revisit to the Swifts.  We took a picnic with us and headed for the show.  Conveniently we found an excellent parking spot (don't you just love those?) and moseyed over to the elementary school where we settled at the corner of the soccer field.  Steve was really itching to go play since it was a pick up game - he was a trooper to us though. :)  The swifts started gathering and swarming all over the sky.  Steve compared it to the EAC (from Finding Nemo - one of Ross's current favs).  You could see them follow a swirling path that laced around itself before they would dive bomb into the chimney.  The concentrated dive bombing only lasted a few minutes this year (I think it's because there's not as many since it's still pretty warm outside).  We did enjoy seeing the falcon ( or hawk - we have no idea) that would try to go after one of the swifts and then be swarmed by all its friends and chased away.  It was a like a giant wave trying to crash over it.  Great action my friends...great action. :)  
 

Another "cheese" face from Ross and Ruby's shirt (that really does fit her) that keeps scrunching up above her belly!  We had a cardboard box for sliding down the hill, but didn't get around to it.  Don't worry - we don't pack boxes of pampers around with us everywhere. :)

Ross showing muscles

The swifts are gathering - a repeat picture like the one from last year. :)

My cute kiddos

I think it's much more exciting for this girl this time around. :)  Better view anyway.

If you look close you may be able to see the EAC path :)

Some swirling :)

The dive bomb!

It was fun having Ruby actually be able to see it this time around instead of just present in my belly.  She mostly enjoyed the snacks and when Ross would run in circles around her.  It was also nice having Ross be able to actually stay by us this time instead his crazy determination last year to run away every 5 seconds.  All in all - a great family outing which ended in a Voodoo donut run (hey - it was only 10 minutes away with only a 5 minute waiting time - we HAD to) where I enjoyed their delish Mango Tango and my always favorite - blueberry cake donut.  Ross enjoyed his plain one (Voodoo donuts being located next to a stripper bar and it also being night - we opted for the kids and me to stay in the car while Steve grabbed the goods) which was chosen for the desire for less mess.  Ruby enjoyed hers later after it was converted. ;)  

This girl is rousing the crowd!

Cutie

My cute boys :)

I love enjoying the simple pleasures that happen every day, the traditions we do and create, and, yes, even the new things we encounter as our family grows.