It's Really Not Mitten Weather...

But Ruby wants to wear them all day long. I swear this girl gets more personality by the day. Her latest thing is anytime I catch her getting into something she's not supposed and I say, "Ruuuby" she freezes & starts waving and saying, "Hi, hi, hi" in her sweetest voice. And then she starts blowing me kiss after kiss. It's hilarious & a rather genius move on her part. And if that doesn't work she walks over and hugs me & starts giving me kisses. And by the time I stop laughing I have to think really hard about what I was mad about in the first place. Man, I love that baby.

 

 

 



Christmas 2012

The Christmas craziness has come to an end & as we do every year, Tyler & I agreed this was our best yet. We kept it pretty simple around our house for Christmas & I think that might be my favorite kind. This really is my favorite time of year. Ruby wasn't very interested in opening presents, in fact at one point we were chasing her around the kitchen trying to get her to come back to the tree & finish. That poor child, being forced to open presents! It's a hard knock life.

 

 

 

 

 Popping bubbles. $2.00 brought a lot of happiness. This child has taught me that there's great joy in simplicity.

 

This baby doll got the ride of her life all day long. She went back & forth between toys & books & treats that she usually never gets. She hardly napped with all the excitement & I have a feeling tonight will be a good night's sleep for all. Merry Christmas!



We Wish You A Merry Christmas

We're pretty excited about it around our house.



iPhone Update

Ruby can't get enough of being outside these days.

 

Still a climber

 

We always check out the over-sized stuffed animals at the grocery store & then wave goodbye. This surprisingly hasn't resulted in a melt down yet.

 

 

This girl is a kisser, heaven help us.

 

Leopard tights are awesome. 

 

Our bathroom doors now stay closed.

  

Temple lights with friends 

A Glimpse of Life Lately

 

 

 

 

 

 



An Apology of Sorts

 

Before I became a mom I judged other mothers like crazy. My children we're never going to do "this" or behave like "that". I would have control & I would do it in a kind & loving way & yes it would be hard, but it's just a child for crying out loud. And now I have a 15 month old. And let me tell you, we are reaching the sassy, strong-willed stage much sooner than I expected. And there is nothing like a child making you look like a fool in public. I mean, it's like they know they suddenly have the upper hand. And we are constantly working at home on this & although we've made some great improvements, 15 months is still a whirlwind stage that sometimes I feel like it's a wait out the clock kind of situation. What I wouldn't give for a pause button! I've been struggling with this lately & trying to figure out how to tame this little savage of mine. And I just want to go back in time & give my very deepest sympathies to those mothers that I judged when their kids were going berserk. When I see mothers in grocery stores with kids throwing tantrums instead I now smile at them & I just want to walk over & hug them & tell them, "You can do it! You're amazing!" This motherhood stuff is hard. It's the most awesomely hard thing I've ever done. Ruby had a miserable time at our family pictures & I was ready to throw my hands up in the air after it was all said & done because I felt like all my work went out the window. And then when we got home I sat her in her high chair & gave her dinner & while I was working in the kitchen I notice this little hand waving at me & then she blew me a kiss with the loudest mmmwahh sound. And right there in that moment I was so overwhelmed with love for that perfect, beautiful daughter of mine. She is my greatest adventure. I am fiercely devoted to being the very best mom to her. And while it's hard, if I've learned anything by now it's that I can do hard things. And regardless of these trying moments, she still fills my days with incomprehensible beauty & love. And I wouldn't trade her or change her for anything in this world.

 



Family Pictures

Thank heavens for bubbles, suckers, & really patient photographers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 2012



Out For a Walk

We live right by a neighborhood of acre properties where people have horses, goats, chickens, & dogs. Ruby is in absolute heaven any time we take her over there to look at the animals. I've always sworn we would never have a dog but something about hearing Ruby excitedly scream, "Dog dog" anytime she sees one slightly weakens my resolve.

 

 

 



Good Days

Ruby has been sick. Twice. Just weeks apart. She is finally over her most recent illness and I'm so grateful she's past the fussiness, & the up all night, & the crying, & the fevers. And I survived it all which sometimes I wondered if I would...

But this is a new week & it's been the best one we've had in a while. And it seems like she's reserved her very best self for our days together & that usually doesn't happen. Why are kids always the worst for their moms? The irony of that kills me. I turned on Christmas music yesterday & as soon as Ruby heard it she got a big smile on her face & started dancing. Sometimes it's so ridiculously fun to have a little sidekick all day every day. She's always doing something new & repeats everything I say. She loves books even more than I do & kisses the animals on the pages while making a loud "mmmwahh" sound. And her new favorite thing to do is feed me. And for some reason I always let her, even when her hands are covered in food as she sits at her highchair. And despite the fact that this past month has been rough with her being so sick, this week has totally made up for it. Being a mom is hard work but I always find that the good far outweighs the bad.

 

 

 

 



Ruby at 14 Months

The perfect blend of sweet & sassy:

 

 



Our Little Indian

There is something so irresistible about dressing a baby up in a costume. I love that this child of mine will let me put her in absolutely anything, including giant tutus & feathered headbands. And I love the way she smiled & looked so pleased with herself when we showed her herself in the mirror.