Rain and Romance

Our rainy season has begun, so of course we had to dance in it!  Ross LOVES jumping in puddles (I say that like no other kid in the world likes it too).  Since it was one of Steve's random schedule weeks of being gone, Ross and I took advantage of Ruby's nap time and headed outside to break in our rain boots for the year.  
 

"Let's do this mom!"

Every once in a while I get a really good pic - this is one of them. :)  He's GORGEOUS!

Nothin' like an umbrella while you're singin' in the rain.

Great postcard picture right? :)

It wasn't very cold, just incredibly rainy and wet.  Ross's favorite puddle is located near our mailboxes...I should really call it a small pond for toddlers.  You can see now why he likes it right?  We tromped through it, stomped, jumped, hopped, and skipped (well he's still learning) while singing, "The Ants Go Marching" and "It's Raining, It's Pouring" at the top of our lungs.  We also found a sweet awesome worm that was trying to find a place to hang out during the downpour.  Our activity would go as follows: stomp around the puddle while singing one of our songs, remember the worm, run back to check on him to make sure he was still there, followed by another round of jumping in the puddle.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.  
 

Ross in our miniature pond of a puddle!

Love the raindrops all around him.

Sportin' the soaked pants and trying to let the rain actually get directly in the boots. :)

A pretty fun day!

Once I noticed Ross's pants looking especially soaked (I decided toddler rain boots should really be waders if you even hope to have your kid come out of puddle jumping undrenched.) I thought we should probably call it quits even though he wasn't complaining about his pants clinging to his legs.  We made it inside and de-rainified our attire.  As I went to pull off Ross's boots, I heard some sloshing around.  I looked in both of them and AT LEAST 1/3 of his boots were filled with water.  (I think even a week later, his boots STILL are drying out.)  You see why toddlers should have waders now?  I poured out the water - it was like in the movies where it's like a never-ending fountain streaming from your boots, and completely changed Ross's clothes since nothing really made it without part of all of it getting wet.  

Afterwards we just HAD to enjoy some hot chocolate.  Ross was EXTREMELY excited about this.  Especially since our Cocoamotion (anyone who loves hot chocolate should have one of these) wasn't so noisy like our blender is.  Then, when he actually tasted it, he died and went to heaven.  He keeps asking for it now - like it should be a staple in our house (well - truthfully I'd also like it to be a staple here...my hips can't afford it though).  I think he also liked having it in a mug.  

This kid is the pro at making hot chocolate. :)  Just ask him for some - I'm pretty sure he'd share. :)

Sampling the goods

Yum!

Ready for more

Ross is pointing out that my hot chocolate is "hot."  Thanks for the heads up buddy! :)  Headband piece bestowed upon me by my husband!  Love him!

Well when it rains and it's nap time, and you're a stay at home mom - sometimes you just have to give in to the guilty pleasure romance novel!  I got sucked into the book Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson - it was clean, in the 1800's, and a bit cheesy - hence the guilty pleasure.  Since it was written by someone nowadays some of the dialogue and descriptions didn't really match the tone and culture of the time period.  I liked it nonetheless.  

Of course I finished it in the middle of the night (since the build up for the relationship went all the way to the end) and then promptly woke Steve up demanding he give me a romantic good night kiss which then was followed by my interrogating him as to why he doesn't constantly write me passionate love letters or poems about my beauty and how captivating I am.  When he finally woke up enough and realized I had been reading a romance novel, he just laughed at me and told me not to be silly - that he loves me all the time.  I then told him he better start wooing me again and planning romantic dates.  I'll let you know how it turns out. ;)

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!