7 Month Old Ruby

Well our Ruby just won't listen to my when I tell her she needs to slow down!  She just keeps growing.  She's a whopping 21lbs - 95th percentile, 28 inches - 90th percentile, and her head circumference is 17 5/8 inches - 87th percentile.  

She's still got that adorable smile!

Ruby has celebrated her birth of 7 months by doing 360's on the ground.  She seems to look scooting/rolling on her belly in circles.  She can somewhat get around that way.  She's trying really hard to figure out the scooting forward thing too.  Sometimes it's very frustrating.  My favorite thing right now is when she's on her belly, propped up on her hands, and when she sees you she kicks her legs behind her really fast.  It's almost like when a puppy wags her tail.  We like to call her "Happy Legs" Haha!  Sometimes she even snorts when she gets super excited. :)  Although it does get sad when she wakes up early from her nap and I go just to put the binky back in her mouth and she does her little happy dance when she sees me, only to be sad when I go.  She knows how to play her cards that girl to play on your heart strings!

This girl is so photogenic!

 Her hair is VERY slowly starting to grow.  She has a sort of "A-line" bald spot in the back from where I cut off her mullet and she rubbed off the rest above it.  She has cowlicks like me right on the crown of her head, and since her hair is so thin and fine right now it pretty much just sticks up.  I can't decide what color I think it's going to be.  It seems to be a sandy brown right now.  I'm curious what she'll end up with. :)

Ruby LOVES to put any and everything in her mouth. (Ross very proudly put one of his goldfish in there a while back.  He excitedly told me what he did, giving me a heart attack, and I looked over and she had, thankfully, spit it out in a reflex.  

Her favorite food is carrots hands down.  Sometimes she loves pears, but mostly apples.  Mostly she prefers the veggies over the fruit.  Peas, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes all usually win.  She's been having some issues with bowel movements since starting solids so her morning oatmeal is usually packed with prunes (prune juice AND actual prunes mixed it).  I'm hoping her little digestive system is finally working itself out now.  She had a couple bad bouts of constipation before.  Once it felt like we were actually helping her give birth - poor thing.  Maybe she got a clue of what it was like for me giving birth to her!  We've been introducing the sippy cup - she mostly just chews on it for the most part, and prefers to take sips of water out of my cup.  Actually - just this morning Ross wanted my waffle with jam on it even though he had the EXACT same one...I'm not sure I will ever have my own food again.

This is right before she rolled over and crinkled my paper :)

She loves to say "Dadadadadada" all day long even though I try to get her to say "Mamamama" too.  She likes "yayayaya" and "bababababa" as well.  Ross makes her laugh incredibly hard.  She likes it when you shake your head at her right up to her face - something about it is hilarious.  

Rubio (nickname given by her Uncle Thomas - refer to the movie Hook for this one - Rubio, Rubio, Rub-i-oooooooo!) is wearing 9-12 month clothes these days (though her 12 month dress for Rachel's wedding looked more like a shirt!), and her legs are just as chubby as ever.  I eat them up all the time along with her cute little face!  She's so wriggly I've finally decided we can begin unswaddling her when I went in and found her completely unswaddled (from her straightjacket even!) on her tummy facing the bottom of her bed...that girl!  So we've experimented today with having one arm out and will slowly evolve to having no swaddle.

Her schedule got all out of whack from our Utah visit (as usual) and we're getting back to normal.  It usually goes as follows:
8AM wake up and nurse/prune oatmeal breakfast
8:45 play/roll around while Ross gets breakfast and dressed too
9:30-10ish goes down for a nap
11:00-Noonish wakes up, lunch - 1 veggie and 1 small fruit, nurses
12:30 Play outside or in, go for a walk or play with toys
1:45 Nap time again
4ish Wakes up, nurses, plays with mommy/practices sitting up/exersaucer
5ish Dinner - 1 veggie and 1 fruit
5:30 Play with Ross and Daddy while mommy makes dinner (on a good day ;) )
6 - 45 minute optional nap depending on what we're up to that night
7:30 bath, pjs, scriptures, prayers, story, nurse, song, and bed.  

I'm just eating her up like crazy.  She loves kisses and hugs and is always so fascinated with Ross whenever he wants to hold her (for the 20 seconds it lasts).  Ross is so cute with her too.  I've gotten into such a habit of taking their picture whenever he holds her that whenever I get her situated in his arms, he looks at me earnestly and says "Picture mommy.  Take a picture."  Cutest. Thing. Ever.  

Ruby's favorite toys include a little play water mat with ribbons and crinkley doodads, a plastic rattle ball, a frog ringand a soft giraffe rattle toy that Ross used to LOVE (he'd suck on the tag ALL the time).  She is fairly friendly with everyone if they don't surprise her or pick her up too quickly.  Her only stranger danger currently is if she wakes up from a nap to someone she doesn't know.  She warms up pretty fast though for the most part.  

Her eyes are as bright as ever.  They are a beautiful motivation to always stay on the right path, because it feels like she can see right into your heart and it always warms me when she smiles after she does it.  She quadruples the love we feel in our home and it's amazing.  These 7 months have gone WAY too fast and she's going to be crawling before we know it.  We love her so much and love seeing what a fun-loving, sweet and pure personality she has.  Happy 7 months to our Ruby Jubilee!

Rachel's Wedding

Well we were just biding our time until Rachel's wedding day in Utah - so of course Steve thought it was a good idea to get sick before the big day...and pass it on to the rest of us.  Luckily Ross and Ruby only got some runny noses, but Steve and I are still dealing with the leftovers of congestion and annoying coughs.  Steve always seems to get sick whenever we go back to Utah.  You'd think he's become allergic to it or something!  
Anyway - we mostly hung out and tried to lay low before Rachel's big day...
 

This boy is just getting too big!

Helping Grams get some laundry done.  He's always helping! :)

Playin' in a pool is a must.

 

Brother dog pile.  A rare moment when Steve is on the bottom - you can see his legs to the left. ;)

The Duck Dynasty Trio - from left to right: Si, Jase, and Willie - spraying for some bees and running away like girls. ;)

Ross entertaining Ruby at lunch

Beautiful girl!

 

Chillin' with Gramps

We did manage to see our Dille friends one night lucky us. ;)

This is the pose they gave us!

My sister decided to go through the Salt Lake Temple to receive the Endowment.  It was nice to visit the temple Steve and I were sealed in once again.  It's so beautiful and I can feel all the love and sacrifice that went into building that temple so long ago.  It was pretty full when we went since there are so many missionaries getting ready to go on their missions these days.  Rachel was a bit overwhelmed which is expected, but it was a beautiful session and I was grateful to be there with her when she went through for the first time.  It's always better with family there. :)  

A very happy evening for all of us!

While we were there, Steve's fam decided to up and go to Europe for some fun - without us!  Boo.  They left on the Tuesday and we stayed there in their empty house until Saturday.  We tried to rub it in that they were abandoning their grandchildren/niece/nephew...but they still went.  Someday we'll get back to Europe.  Someday!  Steve has yet to go too.  

The day before the wedding we helped set up at my Uncle's AMAZING house.  I forgot how grueling wedding set up and take down can be.  I miss being the bride and being able to just leave it all. Maybe Steve and I should just get married again.  Then we could leave the mess AND get oodles of presents.  We wouldn't mind that one bit. :)  It was good helping for her wedding though. :)

We headed down to Manti for the big day.  We, of course, left our trademark 30 minutes late, but got there in time anyway.  On the way down Ross decided he wanted to go swimming.  I kept trying to tell him "No, we're going to the Temple buddy!" and he would say, "No temple.  Swimming!"  (Too be continued later.) My brother Dallas and sister-in-law, Janae, were so nice to watch our kiddos while we attended the ceremony.  It was beautiful and the whole time I was thinking how Rachel and Dain seemed so fully committed to each other and ready for their future together.  The sealer talked about how important the covenants we make in the temple are and reminded us of the endowment we receive as we enter the temple.  I remembered my wedding and how there wasn't a whole lot I remember the sealer telling us, but I remember my heart swelling and how excited I was for the life I was beginning with my incredible husband.  Five years later I have done nothing but love it and look forward even more to all the future we get to enjoy together.  If you do it right, married life can be incredible, and I will say, mine sure is!

Coming out of the Temple. :)

Hugs!

An excited grandpa and Ross showing off his color coordinated car and truck

Two peas in a pod.

Dallas always ready to pose.

Some girliness :)

This was our attempt for a family picture - haha!

Happy day!  Ruby's 12 month dress looks more like a shirt!  She needs to stop growing!

My pretty sis with her bridesmaids

After the ceremony we went outside for pictures.  While we were waiting, Ross decided he wanted to hike up all the steps to the top of the temple.  As he was recapping to his Uncle Garrett later on the conversation went as so:
Garrett: So did you climb up all those steps to the top of the temple?
Ross:  Yeah climb up steps and pooped!
Garrett:  What?
Ross:  Yeah.  Pooped and funny!
I'll leave it to you to know what happened after he climbed up all those stairs. :)
While he was at the top he kept saying, "Up high!  We're up high on tall building!"  I love that boy.  He's so adorable.
 

Ross saying cheese!

Ross ready to hike some stairs!

He's ecstatic ;)

Checking the Staheli squinch pic :)

Hiking the stairs

The boys saying "Hi!"

We then headed to a nice park for their luncheon.  It was nice and relaxed, and right at the end a pretty sweet awesome lightning/thunder/rainstorm hit Manti pretty hard.  We thoroughly enjoyed it except for wondering if it would travel up to Provo right when Rachel's outdoor reception was supposed to go on. Once we got in the car, Ross and Ruby immediately crashed.   We took our time getting back and took a mini tour of where Steve's Grandpa White used to live.  It was fun listening to some of his reminiscing from when he was a kid.

Ruby chillin' at the luncheon

 

You would think this was after the whole day was over!  But - no - just half of it! ;)

We recooped at home and then headed to help set up for the reception.  It started a little late, but went fairly smoothly.  The giant storm didn't even touch the reception.  Magleby's catered the desserts (I know - I had like 4 pieces of their chocolate cake!  I couldn't help it!), and we enjoyed seeing old friends and family come wish their best to the newly weds.  I got to see my old 5th grade teacher, neighbors from Orem and Mapleton, and show off my cute kiddos.  Although... my Uncle's pool was a center place around the whole reception, and remember who wanted to go swimming that day????  Ross tried to throw himself in - tie and all - about 50 times.  Luckily Steve saved him 49 of those times.  Haha - just kidding - 50 of them.  We were blessed to have my brother-in-law Nathan and sister-in-law Beka take them home and put them to bed while we finished everything up.
 

The reception

The pool Ross wanted to throw himself in.

Can you tell his didn't want to be saved?

My wonderful Uncle Joe commandeered Ruby for a while - they got along really well. :)

A very yummy cake :)

Another rescue :)

Socializing.  My cousin Austin with his daughter Aleah.

Cutting the cake

Some dancing

Throwing the bouquet...or the fake throw for the picture. ;)

The help. ;)

The clean up wasn't too bad - and we ate some of the wedding cake....boy did we have eater's remorse later, but it sure tasted good then!  All in all - it was a beautiful day.  Congratulations to my sweet baby girl sister Rachel and her new husband Dain!  Love you both!   

Just Not Enough of Utah and My Baby Sister's Bridal Shower

Since my sister decided to get married in August we found out we would be making yet another trip back to Utah.  So everyone got extra doses of everyone :)  and loved it.  Especially grandparents and grandkids.  
Our flight to Utah went pretty effortlessly.  It was nice going in the morning - it didn't feel like so much traveling, and everyone was much happier.  Ross was more than thrilled to be on an airplane yet again.  He was so excited he crashed the second we got in the car after we had landed. :)
 

Gotta love the mouth open and him hanging out with the luggage.

This little girl wouldn't fall asleep though - stinker pants.

We celebrated by making the rounds visiting all the fam.  It was Nathan's birthday so we celebrated with some delicious Mexican and some volleyball.  Ross enjoyed hoeing in the garden with nothing but a diaper on with grandpa  Classic.
 

Ruby and Great Grandma Staheli back to work enjoying some toys.  My grandma's health has been going down hill and she felt pretty terrible most of the time we were there.  She would always perk up though whenever Ross and Ruby were around. :)

Working in the buff with gramps - enjoying the freedom. ;)

So my team with Steve dominated the first game...and then we were crushed the other two.  At least we know how to pose (namely Steve and my mom).

Happy Birthday to Nathan!

Ross waiting patiently for some cake.

Our party faces!

Enjoying some rain - Ross calling it down.

Sisters!

Auntie Time

Grandma Time!

Relaxing

We headed up to Timpanogus Lodge for an Esplin family reunion.  We had a great time visiting, eating, and throwing my sister-in-law Beka a baby shower.  Yes!  I will finally be made an aunt!  I am SO okay with enjoying another baby in the family without having to do all the work for it. ;)  We're mostly excited for a cousin for Ross and Ruby!  Little Alex will be joining us hopefully September 26th.  

Beka getting some cute baby boy clothes.

Grandpa cuddling with Ruby and trying to get Ross to eat his dinner!

The new splash park in Springville was calling our name - so we headed there for a bit to enjoy some cool water and sun.  We visited my Grandma and Grandpa Grenny as well.  My gramps is 86 and can still get down on the floor to play with the grandkids!  Way to go!  I still have to wrap my head around the fact that they've actually moved from Fort Bragg, CA to Utah.  It's crazy that I can visit them so easily.  We also managed to fit in some lawn mowing for Ross's sake. ;) 
 

A sun baby with gramps!

Ross wanting to get going in the water!

Great Grandpa Grenny and Ruby getting to know each other. :)

Ruby giving Great Grandma Grenny a nice little workout.  Ruby is like a shake weight!

Big hugs good-bye

Mowing that lawn is hard work!

Ross also got to go with Steve to a White family reunion in Scipio (I always laugh when I say Scipio since Steve thinks it's an ugly word.)  I kept Ruby home since we'd had some bad/no naps the few days before.  Ross had the time of his life enjoying his Great Grandpa's tractor - he even got to go for a ride. :)

 

This kid is dying to drive this!

Ready to go with Gramps

So - conveniently - my mom and I threw Rachel a shower after we arrived.  I was very excited to throw her a purple themed bridal shower.  It turned out beautifully.  We had a nice showing, and she got some great gifts - including a purple ice cream maker, purple toaster, purple frying pan, and a purple ice cream scoop.  I hope her husband, Dain, is okay with purple - wow.  I gave her a crock pot (not purple - you're welcome Dain) and made her a cook book with some of my own recipes to start her off - and yes the cook book was purple. :) I got the idea from Steve's Aunt Kaye who did it for me.  I think it's such a great idea!  

The spread

Blackberry frosted cupcakes - delish!

I even found GRAPEvines. :)

We HAD to have chocolate covered strawberries. :)

Purple chocolate dipped pretzels too!

These were my favorite - baguettes with Knorr Vegetable Dip lining the bottom filled with veggies - yum!

Chicken Salad Sandwiches with purple grapes.

The load - Dain's grandma made her this beautiful purple quilt!

The bride to be!

So happy to throw my sis a party!