Ruby Adventures...Attempting the Toddler Bed

Let me just preface this with the thought that it was not my intention to go with the toddler bed just yet...but some of the current events seemed to put us in a corner....

Now join us...on this journey...

SO - it all started one Saturday afternoon when Ruby was having one of her notorious "I'm-two-years-old-and-no-I'm-not-going-to-come-inside-and-take-a-nap" meltdowns.  Somehow the passion in this girl this time around was just a bit more than usual.  Enough so, that when Stephen put her in her bed, came out and closed the door....she made the climb, and was victorious.  Thankfully she has not figured out how to open doors yet (I haven't shown her on purpose - knowing my mischievious Ruby) so she stayed in her room.  She finally quieted after a while, and when I went up to check on her, this is what I found....

It was too cute that she had decided the rocking chair would be the place to set up for a nap :)

You would think this was a good omen for the possibility of freedom from her crib....yeah - that's what we thought too.

That night I ordered a big bed for Ross so we could switch his toddler bed to Ruby. (Yes - I ordered - that's what you do when you live in a small town!)

Until that time, Ruby would get out of her crib once or twice - maybe three times, but finally settle back down in her crib until the day before Ross's bed came - that day, no one took naps.  
 

Rubes and I had a girls night as well seeing Minions - she loved it!  I loved spending time with just her one on one.  She's just so fun. :)  She LOVED the popcorn too.

Anyway - we got Ross's bed set up and took down the crib and set Ruby's toddler bed up for her on her side (Ross and Ruby share a room).  Steve talked it up that this was going to be a good thing.  We had talked about putting Ruby in a room by herself while she got used to the toddler bed, but felt bad splitting Ross and Ruby up, so we gave it a shot.  

Ross was quite excited about his new bed.  He was especially excited that all his trucks fit underneath it and that he had all the space.  He enjoyed playing on the mattress too while we set it up.  It made me so sad seeing him in this regular bed.  What happened to my baby?!
 

He's loving his bed! (Bed skirt and sheets to come)

Ruby checking out the new pad.

It may be good for jumping on!

SO - Ruby didn't get a nap that day, so only after about 10 times of getting up and playing around, she did finally go to sleep and slept all night.  
 

She is so beautiful when she sleeps!

Right at home in the new bed!

Can't leave out this cutie sleeper!

We thought this was progress!

Well - the rest of the story goes as follows: attempted nap times, Ruby stays in her bed for a total of 15 seconds before getting up to find toys, get in Ross's bed, bug Ross in his bed, play around, come out, shut the door, turn on the lights, and ultimately NEVER take a nap.  I thought that I may just have to be getting in to the phase of no naps (SADLY), but felt like if she would at least sleep all night, then it would be okay.  That lasted one day.  It was also tricky, because Ross gets scared if the door isn't open with the hall light on, but then Ruby gets out and thinks she owns the world.  

The last straw was the night NO ONE slept (well except Ross and Rowland.  Ross has learned to sleep through even Ruby's extreme tantruming, and Rowland was in with us).  At least four different times we went in to find the light on, Ruby playing with toys, or a kite, or wearing snow boots (because the best time to try on snow boots is at 3AM) or falling out of her bed and waking up again.  It was COMPLETELY ridiculous!

The next morning we put her crib back together and I schemed as to how to keep her in there for a while longer.  We watched her climb out and noted how well she used her toe grip.  The solution we found was to put her in footie pjs.  This worked...for one night, and then the next morning when I went to get Ruby, she met me at the door.  Fabulous.

My next decision was to put a kind of cover over the top of her crib.  I found a tie fleece blanket I never use, and decided to tie it to the top of her crib - so it would be like a tent. 

She thought this was great and played with Ross in it for a good 45 minutes.  BUT when it came time for naps...she realized the real purpose for it.  She was NOT happy about it.  It worked out fine for the nap, and I was completely happy that things could go back to normal. 

The current solution! (Before the unhappiness about it).

However, she must have been studying it after her nap and making her own plans, because that night - to our great displeasure - she was right back out of that thing.  I went back up and tied more of the ties to the slats thinking that was the problem.  The blanket was a little too big for the crib, but I thought I had tied it accordingly.  

She was pretty mad, but went to sleep finally.  The next morning I came in once again to get her, just to find her meeting me at the door AGAIN!!!  This girl is like Houdini on steroids!  I still to this day have no idea how she got out.  

So the next and currently final step was cutting the fabric so it fits perfectly over the crib with the sides tied accordingly.  It has held up for two days so far which I would like to report as successful.  Though there is QUITE the protest in the beginning from this girl, I am SO happy to say that she DOES take a nap and HAS been sleeping all night once again!!!

SO - before we revisit the concept of a toddler bed, we are regrouping and then going with our gut on putting her in her OWN room without any fun play things and lights off and doors closed.  I'm still nervous to be honest.  I wonder if she will ever be able to handle the freedom of a non-jail-type-cell bed!!  She sure loves to keep us problem solving and on our toes.  We really do love our spunky, driven little girl.

6 Month Old Rowland!

WHERE did the time go?!  My heart is breaking that this boy is already now closer in age to being 1 than when he was born.  Luckily, he melts my heart with how gorgeous he is, and that helps stick the broken pieces back together.

At his 6 month check up, he weighs 16lbs. 13.5oz - 29th percentile, 25 1/2 inches long - 10th percentile, and has a 17 inch head circumference - 25th percentile.  He's perfectly little and chubby for his size.  

I can't help but feel the need to eat up his chunky cheeks, belly, arms, and thighs all the time.  He's a completely kissable baby.  And his to-die-for baby brown eyes are almost more than I can stand.  

I feel like he's looking more and more like Stephen (especially if I compare to his baby pictures), and I love it!  

One of the first things people comment on about Rowland (after mentioning his cuteness of course) is, "He's so serious!" or "He looks so concerned." I think it's partly his little angel kiss birth mark on his forehead, and partly his very defined frontalis muscle (as Steve informs me) in his forehead.  It's so funny to me!

Look at those baby browns!!  He totally looks like Steve!

In the 6 month department, Rowland has now taken to rolling on to his belly, and deciding he's stuck and forgot how to roll back - silly.  He also likes to face different directions on his tummy - by twisting his little body he can go around like a clock face.  

He is our happy screamer and recent "bah bah bahhher".  I'm trying real hard to get him to say, "Mama" but Steve is pretty confident he's going to go with "Dada" - our other two did!  Rowland has gotten pretty good at getting out of his Miracle Swaddle once a night, so he inherited Ruby's straight jacket - which helps him sleep better.  Once he gets the swing of his arm and hand control, we let him sleep freely (unlike Ruby these days - but that's another story).  

He also started solids! His reaction to oatmeal was hilarious!  He looked at us like, "Why have you been holding out on me this whole time?" and practically licked the bowl.  We've had a few touch and go moments with his digestive system getting used to it, but so far he's tried oatmeal, peas, prunes, and carrots.  He LOVES carrots.  He's so cute watching him deal with a spoon. ( I know I already posted about this - but I wanted it connected to Rowland's posts.)
 

Oatmeal!

There's that frontalis muscle - alive and well!

Peas!

After prunes!

He got moved to a high chair for comfort!

Rowland's preferences:
Being tickled when he's tired=amazing laughter
Carrots
Still being held face out
Having his legs pumped and played with
Having conversations with whoever will talk to him
Watching his brother and sister play - especially if they're talking to him.
Tickle kisses
Patting the floor with his hands and arms
Chewing on all his toys
Giving his Daddy his "Hey there" smile whenever he comes home
Seriously staring down any camera when it's put in his face
Playing with his voice "bah bah bahhs"
Getting louder and telling sad stories when he wants a nap
Kicking and pumping his legs and patting his hands when he's excited

His current schedule:
7AM - AWAKE - always at this time! eats, hangs with mom
8:30ish Nap
11:30-noonish wake up, nurses, eats some solids, plays with the kids
1:30 Nap
3:30-4ish wake up, nurse, hang out with mom and play with toys, eat some solids
5:30 nap 
6:15 wake up, play, johnny jump up, demand to be held by mom until dad gets home, play with dad (bath night every other night or few nights)
7:30-8ish nurse, pjs, scriptures with fam, prayers, bed
10:30 (or just before mom goes to bed) nurse and bed

We just LOVE this boy - he has the complete adoration, devotion, locomotion, punctuation, (just kidding...I'm exhausted as I'm typing this!) but seriously - he is thoroughly and completely loved by ALL of us in his family.  Happy 6 months little bug!  We love you! 

7 Goes to Heaven

So Steve and I had an anniversary.  Another one - can you believe it?  Time just passes so quickly.  

Who would have thought we'd have lived in three different states (a baby souvenir for each of them), finished grad school and gotten a bomb job, and be buying a house for the three crazy cute kids we have.  

I will say they have been 7 incredibly sweet years.  Steve and I have our ups and downs just like anybody else, but never, not once, have I ever worried for our marriage.  Stephen is a wonderfully devoted husband, who I know is completely in love with every part of me.  It is completely comforting to feel so at ease knowing Stephen White is my best friend for eternity, and I know he feels the same.  

Over seven years we realize we are also quite different from each other, and have to make room for the different ways we each do things.  Having children seems to bring that out more in each of us too, which has made it that much more important for us to make sure we are centered and on the same page with each other frequently.  

To commemorate our Anniversary, we decided to leave town and drive an hour...to another small town!  But this town had a Village Inn (which we don't have) and we were totally in the mood for pie. ;)  I thoroughly enjoyed this because it gave us an hour each way to just talk and hang out together.  

I won't lie - it was pretty good pie. ;)

We reflected on how we've spent other anniversaries which went something like this:
1st Year: Cafe Rio and the Provo Temple
2nd Year: St. George, Tarzan at the Tuacahn, Anasazi Steakhouse (pregnant with Ross)
3rd Year: Provo Temple and Cafe Rio - Top Tier Wedding Cake remade - delish!
4th Year: Anniversary Inn and Salt Lake Temple - The Blue Iguana (pregnant with Ruby)
5th Year: Portland Temple and Cheesecake Factory
6th Year: Hawaii Temple and D.K. Steakhouse (Pregnant with Rowland)
7th Year: Denver Temple (couple weeks before) Village Inn, and Ant Man movie

We have spent our anniversaries in a variety of ways, but truthfully, it doesn't matter how we spend them, just knowing we're together and still going strong with more potential to reach is the best part.  I enjoy celebrating by going to the Temple and renewing our covenants and being reminded of the most important parts of our marriage.  

We also talked about how our love languages are a bit different and made some goals on how to speak each other's more and spend more quality time together.

I love Stephen with all my heart and I'm so glad to be his wife forever.  He is my everything and I would marry the heck out of him a million times over if given the chance again.  He is the other pea in my pod, and the sanity to my craziness.  Seven goes to heaven!  Let's keep on the trek, Brown Eyes.  Happy Anniversary to us!

Some fun in July

Some fun things we've been up to:

Rowland has been doing the happy thing. ;)

Ross has been working on his flexibility - even during meal times.

Yell face!

Eating plastic hamburger buns

Saturday chores - I just need a hammock and a lemonade to do efficient supervising! ;)

What my mornings start with :)  Love these brothers!

Rowland's been trying to figure out the Johnny Jump Up - at least his feet touch the floor - he likes swinging around so far. :)

Ross dreaming of Halloween and living it through his shirt.

Rowland practicing rolling on to his belly. :)

Ruby getting a crazy high 104.5 temperature - freaking me out - and finding out it was the last thing I thought it was - an ear infection!

Ross seemed to catch it a few days later! BLAH

We got some cute spong curlers to try out

Turned out lovely - lasted about 5 minutes.

I love curls!

Tried it again...

And got some CRAZY curls!

My new thought next to my kitchen sink - it makes me happy. :)

This girl is GORGEOUS - it blows me away.

Seriously - look at that face!

We were fun parents and took our kids to see Inside Out - LOVED it.  Also - the LARGE popcorn apparently wasn't enough for our two children - they were licking the tub!

Rowland doing some morning snuggling with his sister.

These three are WAY too cute for me to handle. :)

Got some fun presents from Grammy Joanne and Grandpa Stan - pink shoes and Big Hero 6 T-shirt.  Awesome!

Steve FINALLY picked out his birthday present and we now have a BBQ!

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It tasted INCREDIBLE in case you were wondering.

I made some lemon and oregano potatoes - a recipe I got from my beautiful Italian companion from my mission! They were DELICIOUS and reminded me of Stroud.

Speaking of food, we FINALLY started this boy on solids - I was delaying it as long as possible.  5 1/2 months I guess is long enough.

First bite of oatmeal - he knew exactly what to do!

He's like "How did I not know about this?  How long have you been hiding this from me?!"

Ross wanted to help :)

LOVED it!

He also LOVED peas - even more than oatmeal.

We needed to switch to the high chair since this little guy was getting tired of the bumbo.

We had to add prunes to his diet for obvious reasons - just like his sister! He LOVED them though - BIG fan of food - this one.

He is SO handsome! He also loves brownie batter

I also had a need to make cinnamon rolls - we had to give most of them away for our health's sake.  These seriously are the best cinnamon rolls!

My sister commented that this picture looked like a mini Stephen, and I wholeheartedly agree with her!  Those baby browns melt me!!

Rowland also found his feet!I love that!

Steve told me he was going to go out and trim the bushes.  When I looked out the window - this is what I saw... our nice neighbors helped Steve yank these crazy bushes out.

Steve killed this CRAZY HUGE wasp outside too.  It was nuts!

Ruby and I got to have a girls afternoon and did this.  She was quite particular on what colors to paint each toe. 

Oh, and have I mentioned, Ruby has finally figured out how to get out of her crib? :(  She doesn't know how to open doors yet though thank goodness.  BUT - when I went in to check on her - this is where I found her asleep.  Stinker pants.  We've ordered a bed...wish us luck!

We had a ward BBQ and our Primary dressed up and pulled wagons and sang a pioneer song and played pioneer games.  Ross is a pretty cute pioneer.

Ruby is ADORABLE too. :)

A giant rock, paper, scissors type of game. :)

Missionary tag - Steve being a rock. ;)

Boys migrate to sticks, rocks, and streams - it's a fact.

So does a Ruby girl. :)

 We've been busy trying to get this house bought and trying to keep up with our kids!  It's been a fun July so far. :)