School's Out For Summer!

We made it! (Take a long, gasping breath right here.)  We've made it!  Steve crash landed afterwards (as in he is now combating being sick - which seems to happen after every semester), but he finished so strong and did so well on his finals.  It's strange to think that his next "test" is actually taking the Board exam next year.  He just has his clinical rotations ahead of him now.  I also think he's still in shock mode.  He told me it still hasn't sunk in that he's really done with classes.  I'm okay with this because:

A) He's become super productive at home.
B) He deep cleaned our bathroom (I know ladies - you wish you had my husband.)
C) He made me a delicious Chicken Cor Don Bleu dinner.
D) I don't feel guilty anymore asking him to get up in the middle of the night if one of our kids starts crying. 

Secretly in my mind (which apparently is now no longer a secret since I'm telling you) I think that when Steve graduates he will be home 24/7 - that's the pay off right? - and we will get this magical BIG check in the mail each month for finishing grad school to play with while Steve is home 24/7.  Isn't that what happens?  If not...it should. :)

We have celebrated by trying to get it together at home.  We did go out to dinner with our good friends the Listers and hung out at the park after.  Swimming was also on the list.  Steve has already started on his resolution for a beach bod.  He even made me take a "before" shot (which in my opinion is still attractive) so he can do an "after" shot.  My goal is just to exercise consistently and eat more healthily since my toying around with dieting didn't make Ruby very happy in the nursing department.  Steve's already gotten in the mode of exercising twice a day (overzealous maybe? - or maybe it's just because I don't want to do that). ;)  
 

Exams DONE!!  This boy came home and chased Ross around the house for about 20 minutes with all the happy freedom he gained after the final exam!

Steve made me feel good by telling me how he's forgotten how hard it can be taking care of little ones at home.  I'm sure I'll have forgotten how to do it by myself all over again by the time fall comes and Steve starts his internship (which is at St. Vincent's hospital in Beaverton by the way).  In the mean time he's doing some PT for a patient who can no longer qualify for his insurance = experience plus a little extra moolah.  Not bad. :)

Ross is quite pleased that Stephen is home.  I've noticed Ross enjoys routines (like his mama) and gets a bit shaken when it gets messed with.  Weekends are always interesting with him when Steve is home.  It's like it dawns on him that Daddy isn't going to school, so he gets super possessive of him like he could bolt at any minute if Ross doesn't keep him at arms length constantly.  Also, Daddy is a bit softer than Mommy is about things so those are a few buttons he likes to play with in addition. :)  We'll be working out a good summer routine I'm sure for the sanity of everyone.

Some nice book reading going on.

It's awesome!

That silly mouse just needs to eat that strawberry so the BIG, hungry bear won't get it!

A few hilarious things Ross is doing lately - he's pretty good at pronouncing words for the most part...but he seems to like to call yoghurt "logurt" and milk "lonk"...both words seem to sound like something gross you'd find sticking under a restaurant table.  Ross also likes to call random crumbs or gooey things "gwoss" too.  
He's my little bargainer.  I like to give him choices so I don't have to deal with the word "no" all the time.  He seems to think there are many other choices he should be able to pick from instead of the two I'm giving him.  So, he feels it's his job to sell them to me.  I'll say, "strawberries or apples, " he says, "fish".  I'll say "strawberries or apples," he says, "Mmmmm - pretzels?"....I'll say "strawberries or apples," he says, "nook nacks?" (fruit snacks)...and this continues until he picks from the actual choices or I allow him to have one of his unapproved choices along with one of mine.  This happens ALL the time.  I still find it hilarious.  He's such a little politician, that one.
 

Ross and his best bud, Wes playing peek-a-boo in our fort.

We're going to miss Wes for a few months since his fam is going to Conneticut for their clinical rotation!

He also enjoys making me come up with random songs to sing him before naps...ones about Lightning McQueen, Mac, Mater, Dump Trucks, Rollers....and the list goes one.  He LOVES singing along to songs or even singing them to himself - he's got Might Machines down pat.  A new favorite is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and he also likes a song I made up for Ruby.  I love it!  I have a video of him finishing parts of different songs - but it won't upload - I'll have to post it later.


Today at church it was our Stake Conference.  When the sustaining vote was being taken many different times for our Prophet, Apostles, and other Church Leaders, we'd raise our hands to the square.  Ross would do it too.  After a few times of doing this, Ross turned at looked at me and said "Five?" like "Why aren't people giving each other high fives?"  He's so funny.

Steve and Ross both got haircuts (FINALLY).  Steve wouldn't let me cut his hair until after finals...something about Samson and he'd lose all his wisdom.  Since I didn't want to get out the clippers twice, I just let Ross turn into a ragamuffin too.  I have to say - it's my best haircut yet.  We got Ross engaged in watching Toy Story long enough for me to do a decent job...until Ross jerked at the very end when I had the scissors around his ears and I nicked him.  Darn it!  Almost the perfect cut.
 

His hair is finally cut and he's ready for swimming!

He is SO handsome!

He's wearing my Mickey Mouse shirt I used to wear as a little kid.  I swear I remember it being a lot bigger on me when I was like 4 or 5...maybe I was just a skinny kid?

Ruby...sniff...got her hair cut too.  I've been meaning to do it forever, but I have this tie with their baby hair and I just don't want to let that first step come.  But, she had a serious baby mullet and I could only let it go on so long.  She was a little trooper about it, and I saved a lock of her hair for her baby book.  I'm sad because her dark hair is turning a bit lighter...I'm not sure she'll keep Steve's gorgeous dark hair.  I'm sure it will be beautiful though.
 

I LOVE this big RUBY RED bow - she knows how to rock it!

Steve picked out her outfit - nice job huh!  Love the skirt :)

Her baby mullet...oh my heart still hurts from cutting it off!

The makeshift barber chair.

It's gone. :(  That little red patch is actually a birthmark. :)

She's doing just fine - no tears.

Rubes is just the gem her name implies.  She is just about the happiest baby around the block.  I love going in to get her when she wakes up, because her whole body gets excited and she lights RIGHT up when she sees you.  She's fun to look in the mirror with too - it's super fun.  She LOVES smiling at everyone - especially her Mommy, Daddy, and brother, Ross.  She's figured out if she just pulls on the blanket when it's tummy time, she can get the toy she's staring at to come to her much easier.  She still enjoys playing with her voice and screaming happily about what she's thinking about.  She's pretty patient and drinks it in when you give her attention - oh how I love that girl - I could kiss her cheeks all day long...and yes, I do.  Tomorrow is her 4 month check up and shots...hope she still keeps up those smiles afterwards.

She seriously is the most beautiful girl on the planet!

LOVE this chubby baby!

She goes down for her naps really easily, but for some reason when it's the bedtime one, she prefers to cry for about 15 minutes before taking in the binky and going to sleep.  Not a terrible trade for her being so good.  She's VERY good at getting out of her miracle blanket swaddle, but she goes back to sleep if she' gets out anyway so we're good there.
We went swimming for the first time since Ruby was born and LOVED it.  Ruby LOVES the water and just floated around the whole time we were in the pool.  Her swimsuit is for 12 months...she's almost too big for it the little chubber!  Ross LOVED jumping in (well attempting to jump) and practicing blowing bubbles.  He's such a boy that kid! 

Ready for a swim!

Cute ladybug totally pulling off the chubby legs. ;)

I am trying to find the motivation Steve has for having our house in order.  I think I had the "I can make it until he's done with finals" thought in my head and now I'm trying to get myself back in the game.  I've been playing in the sun with the kids, trying to keep up with laundry, and trying not to spend to much when I go thrift shopping. :)  Now we're getting ready for our big road trip to Utah....which I'm sure will come with a LOT of stories.    
 

This expresses my feelings for the road trip ahead. ;)

 

4 Month Old Ruby

This chick is NOT slowing down for anything!  I can't believe she's already 4 months old - it's breaking my heart how fast she is growing.  And she is a BUSY bee trying to master the controlling of her cute little chubby body.
 

She needs to stop growing!  She's too adorable - I need to savor it more!

Adding some "emotion" to her pose. ;)

"This is a workout people!"

Ruby is weighing in at 17lbs 6oz - still above the 96th percentile.  Her height is 25 1/4 inches which is the 73rd percentile and her head is 16 3/4 inches which is the 90th percentile.  My babies' heads sure like to hang around there in the 90th percentile range - they're smart cookies. ;)  She is keeping up with her figure too - way to go Ruby Jubilee!
I have found that while she's nursing she is constantly arching her back and pulling away from me...I've learned this is because she's trying to practice her rolling over skills still.  There's no rest for this gal.  She's also got a set of pipes.  She chooses to use them when she's not interested in going to sleep - or after she's woken up.  Her shouts (yes - shouts) sound like she's heckling a ref at a soccer game - very loud - even a bit raspy.  However - it's like Dr. Jekylle and Mr. Hyde with her because the second you walk in there - she immediately starts grinning ear to ear, kicks her legs and waves her arms excitedly like "oh good - you heard me" and then starts talking to you, filling you in on all you've missed.  She's a very on/off girl.  She's either one or the other - never in between.

Rubes is enjoying sucking on her hands or consciously inspecting a toy placed in her palm these days.  She's has such a fascination with Ross - I think he's already her hero.  I mean - he can roll over on a whim, sit up by himself, and say about a billion words.  How could he not be her hero?  She LOVES it when he pays attention to her.  She also enjoys spending time with her Daddy - he always gets her smiles.  I won't lie - she is a VERY smiley baby.  I can't get enough of it.  

She likes to blow raspberries a lot and see how much she can drool.  She's not soaking her burp clothes as much - which is a HUGE  plus for mama (Happy Mother's Day to me)!  She loves observing everyone around her and is usually happy lying on her back playing with her toy gym or sucking on her hands in the swing.  

I have recently noticed she is just like her mommy and can't stand it when it's too hot (seriously - I become a very grumpy bear...Steve will attest to that).  Tonight I had to bring her in our air conditioned room on our bed for about 10 minutes to get her to calm down and cool down and go to sleep.  I'm glad I have a buddy to back me up when the room feels to hot. ;)  

Ruby is just our sweet filling in the cake.  She makes everyone happy and I can't get enough of her every day.  I savor the mornings when I feed her and it's just she and I for a little while.  She doesn't get a lot of just mommy and me time so it's nice to steal a few minutes with her in the mornings to give her some.  We just love this girl - she's such a keeper!

Other news includes us feeding the ducks again - one of Ross's favorite things to do. :)  

For Mother's Day we were lucky to have homemade blueberry pancakes with buttermilk syrup - mmmmm.  Steve was so nice and did all the dishes for the day and made dinner too.  Through all the sweat and tears he did it! (Okay - it was hot and humid so he was sweating...and the onions got to him) ;)  We got to skype our wonderful mothers and I got Mother's Day loves from my cute kiddos.  I'm so blessed to be a mother.  There is nothing so rewarding as this role.  My kids are one in a million!  Hooray for celebrating motherhood!

That's right - I was singing Life is a Highway once again - got the smile!

Come on ducks - eat it!

Ruby enjoyed watching the action from her carseat.

LOVE her cute double chin :)

Steve crying over onions - and Ross trying to comfort him - haha!

My handsome boy in his adorable bow tie...eating fruit snacks of course.

Mmmmm - I could eat him up!

He spent about 20 minutes playing with my tongs - he picked up every single one of his toys and put them away.  I'm so okay with this!

He's a focused little guy :)

Life As We Know It

So I've been thinking a bit about being a stay-at-home mom lately.  Whenever I've been out and about and meet new people in the outside world - the discussion of what we do with our time usually presents itself.  We talk about work or school or kids.  I'm asked if I work and I seem to catch myself feeling like I need to "justify" why I stay at home with my kids.  I'm not sure if it's because of the way the other person asks the "what do you do" question or if it's me being influenced by the way society seems to think women should be doing it all on top of having children or dare I say - having children on the side.   I feel like I have to throw out there that I DID get my bachelors in Elementary Education, I DID teach for three years before I had my children, and I'm NOT working because I didn't want to work simply to pay for daycare to raise my children.  That's not the reason why I'm staying at home full time to take care of my children - because I didn't want my paycheck to go directly towards daycare.  I'm staying at home with my children because being a mother is my calling in life, it's what is the absolute best for my children, and it's what's going to bring me the ultimate satisfaction in life.  Most importantly - it's because I know it's what God wants me to do.  I'm so sad for those who have forgotten that calling.  I'm not saying that those who need to work are not great parents - providing for a family is a necessity.  I have the blessing and opportunity to stay home with my kids and I feel so fulfilled doing it.  It has become almost a selfish thing.  I think of all the little things I would miss if I weren't so fully invested in my children - their discoveries, new words, how they work through their feelings, or develop new skills.  It overwhelms me how excited I feel being such a huge role in their lives.  It's the best job I could ever have hoped to get.  I felt a huge need to express how regardless of whether a degree has been earned, other work experience has been had, or opportunities received, there shouldn't ever be a need for a mother of children to have to justify why she's staying at home to take care of her family.  If anything - it's the job that never ends and always demands overtime.  And what's more - it grips you from the heart, because it's literally your own flesh and blood you're putting in the time for.  
I still feel the need to educate myself, to work harder, and to become my best self.  Steve and I felt it a priority for me to be home with our children.  I feel like he works so hard in his roles as well - even has to stretch himself in a few more directions seeing how he has his schooling (which will turn into his work) to balance with his role as a father and husband as well.  And there's no way I could fulfill my role as well as I want to without his support and holding up his end as well as he does as a father.  Ladies - you have no idea what a great dad Steve is.  He is one of a kind!  
I feel so blessed to be able to stay at home with my little ones.  Even if it means having 30 minute+ standoffs about eating one bite of vegetables or having two kids crying  and throwing tantrums because they don't even know what they want.  Don't get me wrong - there are moments where plans to fly to Italy on a one way ticket cross your mind . Here's a great article I liked about being a parent of small children.   :)  BUT - I just needed to share that even if I had had a million-dollar yearly salary of a job filled with tons of fun traveling, cruises, and toys - it wouldn't hold a candle to having a family and Steve and I raising our own children.  You can't have "it all" of something unless you're giving it your all.  There's no way to be able to savor those moments when your son gives your baby girl the cutest smile and she smiles right back, or when he asks you to kiss his first scraped knees of the summer better unless you're actually there for them.  Just some food for thought really.  I'm just learning more and more what actually matters in life, and at the end of mine, I want to have a family I've raised and been a part of to be around me.

I LOVE being a part of this cute family! (Note - I was belting out "Life is a Highway" to get these smiles, folks...I'll do anything for a smile!)

Rubes will hold her head now if you try to hold her hands and pull her up to sitting...she liked the bumbo for a little while too...she's going to be too chubby for it soon...just like Ross. 

Yes - she's screaming happily for this pic :)

Ross loves a good green smoothie - one of the few healthy thing besides fruit and veggie burgers that I've instilled in him.

Ross remembering some good times in the bumbo..

Best buds

Ruby pinched his arm...so he was all done holding her.

And this is exactly why my job is the best in the whole world!

On our family's note - we're just lapping up the sunshine as it comes.  I think I'm barely keeping my head above water when it comes to managing the house...outside is just too tempting.  I don't feel guilty at all...unless someone comes over...but that only lasts for about 2 minutes anyway.
Ross has decided to use the phrase "why not?" with me as much as possible.  It's hilarious to me right now - I'll let you know how I feel about it next week.  He says it with such concern in his face - like "how could you not agree with me you poor thing?"  He's doing much better eating his meals.  I think it might have to do with his improvement with handling his fork and spoon better.  I've learned the art of making cinnamon roasted almonds which is surprisingly easy, and Ross has become addicted to them - he comes up to me and says "more more!  One, two!" (One for each hand of course)  He thinks popsicles are a necessity when we go on walks and learning letters without any sort of machine involved is lame.  He acts like a horse when you take off his shoes - he turns away from you, holds onto the chair and lifts his foot up behind him so you can "de-shoe" him.  When he wants to have a turn or do something he will always proclaim "Ross's turn!!" Also I had run upstairs to grab something and Ruby squawked for a moment.  I came down to find Ross soothingly saying "Ruuubyyyy  Ruuuubyyyyy".  She had quieted right down for him.
Ruby thinks Ross is utterly captivating.  She loves to watch him and smiles at him all the time.  Ross likes to assign us our roles - Ross is a brother, Ruby - sister, Mommy - mother, Daddy - Father.  He LOVES to read the Gruffalo (thanks to my amazing friends Pam and Laura in Wales for gifting that to us three years ago!) with Steve every night and has also become REALLY good at knowing the words to just about every song we sing.  He'll fill in the holes if you leave them while you sing - or I catch him singing to himself...usually it's the Mighty Machine's theme song.  He truly knows ALL the words.  I need to catch him on video - it's adorable.  And yes it's a Canadian 90's show - we're not picky people. ;)  He also calls toothbrushes "broofbushes".  He likes to try to throw toys in his crib for "later".  Unfortunately for him Daddy always finds them.  He LIVES for helping me in the kitchen.  His favorite part is cracking eggs or doing the dishes.  He's completely over the dishwasher unfortunately.  But maybe I'll get him making the dinners. ;)  
Ruby has just tried to take of in her little chubby body of hers.  We've caught her almost rolling over from her back to her belly a few times.  She's not consistent with rolling from her belly to her back and gets really frustrated when she can't remember how to do it when it's tummy time.  (She has also learned how to scream like a girl...she's definitely a girl....she'll do it just for fun too.)  She likes to suck on her hands like crazy and talk your ear off if you let her get a chance.  Today we went and checked out the University's track meet that was going on and the people next to me oooed and awwwed over her - with good reason - she's adorable! ;)  
She's tried to get out of her nice sleeping at night routine.  I'm getting over putting the binky in her mouth if I hear her squawking and I'm just going to let her settle herself back down...she likes to yell for us - like a grumbly shout sort of thing.  She definitely has volume...like a true White - she wouldn't be one if she didn't have some loudness in her. ;)  Rubes is also the ultimate Houdini - she is getting out of the miracle blanket I use to swaddle her...she's getting too strong.  I'm toying around with not swaddling her anymore...but I need her to sleep still too...oh the internal struggles of parenting.  We'll see how it goes.  We're also getting her to take a bottle better.  She's taken it pretty okay the last two days.  We've tried a different bottle and some different techniques (aka using the TV to distract her) and she's taken it pretty well the last couple of days.  I'm going to be faithful at giving it to her once a day for the next couple weeks so we can leave her with a babysitter without me freaking out she won't eat. :) 
Steve has now informed me that he's not even trying to keep his head above water...he really wouldn't mind drowning...except for the fact that he wants good grades for when he goes back to get a PhD someday.  He's only got three more days...he can do it!!
I am just enjoying the sunshine, going on lots of walks, having book club (we just discussed The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - LOVED the discussion), cooking some a meal for a new mommy (oh how I remember those days), and playing with my kids like crazy.  Life is a blessing.  So glad to be living it.

Happy Birthday Steve! And a Rolley Ruby

We got to celebrate Steve's birthday this week which was much more fun that last year.  Although he has finals ahead of him this year instead of being in the midst of him - he at least let us celebrate his birthday on the actual day with a BBQ with our great friends the Listers and birthday cake to boot - chocolate cake with chocolate frosting of course...and milk poured all over it.  Funny this random ways we eat food...like someone dipping graham crackers in water to eat them... ;)  

Ruby was really excited for Daddy's Birthday - she gave him as many smiles as she could stand. :)

Ross clutching the blue truck of course.

Yay for friends :)

This pic is HILARIOUS - Ross was really excited for Daddy blowing out the candles...he was trying to help.

Cake and milk...mmmm

Ross was VERY adamant about Steve's birthday from him.  He told me he needed a truck...a BLUE truck (he even spoke the word BLUE with great emphasis).  We hunted around Target which had basically NO trucks and ended up finding everything he could ever want in a BLUE truck at Walmart.  It was deemed "Daddy's BLUE truck" and Ross happily held it in its box the rest of the store's trip.  When we got home to wrap it, it finally dawned on Ross that this wasn't his present, but Daddy's.  There were a few tears shed over this - poor thing.  We immediately went downstairs to dad where he opened his present...okay - Ross handed it to him and tore it open for him while Steve was holding it.  He immediately demanded that Daddy open it and then asked very nicely if Daddy would let him play with it.  Lucky for us, Daddy is very kind and sharing and let him play with his new birthday toy.  Ross VERY happily told Steve "Happy Birthday!" all day long.  He still says it occasionally - cute boy.  

The coveted BLUE truck up close and personal.  I had to take this picture after I pried it out of Ross's warm, asleep hand.  Just kidding - but he seriously has played with this truck non-stop.

Blue truck playing with Wes

Cute boys

Steve is determined to make exercising more regular this summer - so I supported that decision by NOT getting him oreos for his birthday and instead getting him some hand weights and a pull up bar (which he has already been using!)  He also got Les Miserables unabridged as well as the 10th Anniversary Musical on Audio.  We're a bit Les Mis obsessed lately.  Overall I would say he had a nice birthday (I did make him blow up two of his birthday balloons and fix his birthday sign I had up...getting the BLUE truck took a long time that day!).  I kept asking him to switch me ages, but he won't saying something about how men die earlier than women anyway so we might as well spend more time together...sigh...oh 30 - there's nothing I can do to prevent you.    

Well our Miss Ruby has decided it's time to get moving.  I hope it's not because I'm showing off her ADORABLE three layered leg rolls.  (And yes that sounds like a delicious menu item at Panda Express.) 
 

I wasn't joking about this girl's legs - SO cute!

 On Friday Ruby decided to go big or go home and did about seven rolls in a row which was lucky for me and gave me enough time to grab the camera.  

She didn't do it again until tonight when we were skyping with Steve's family.  I guess she decided she had worked hard enough to deserve an audience for any sort of encore.  She got quite the applause too - so she did it three more times. 

Along with her sweet new moves she has added talking and singing to her list of accomplishments which she so graciously shared during our Relief Society meeting today at church.  During the lesson she had A LOT to say - in a very sweet way of course. :)  

She has also found her feet which is adorable!

Ross is happily back to his old self.  I was so sad for a while to see him mope around everywhere and never be more than mildly happy for a whole week.  I think whatever bug it was is finally out of his system and he's my energetic, sweet Roscopants again.  We've been getting some color already with how nice the weather has been lately.  Today it got to 84 which is nuts!  Oh summer - you delicious drink of lemonade - you are very welcome in my house (as long as I have an air conditioner on hand).   

Trying to get Ross to let me take his picture - I have to be in it too.

Love these kiddos :)

Just chillin' in the stroller eatin' dried mango after our excursion to the library for Children's Day where we scored a free book and watched break dancers perform.

Out on a walk with our cute friend Paige and her mom - they wanted to hold hands :)