"I love smiling, smiling's my favorite"

Tyler & I went to our annual Halloween party last night as the characters from Elf. Both of our kids thought our costumes were pretty hilarious & couldn't stop staring at us with this mixture of confusion & amusement before we left for the night. Tyler kept saying, "I just never knew tights were so hot." It was a fun night & now I can't wait to get the kids in their costumes & take them trick or treating. Ruby has been doing things like practicing knocking on doors in our house & saying, "Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!" for weeks now.



Friday Night Family Night

 

 

 

 

 

 



A Few Little Things I Want to Remember

Sometimes I dream about the days when my kids will be a little older. The kind of days where I feel like I have a spare moment to myself & can just catch my breath for a minute. But more often than not I find myself wishing that I could somehow bottle up these moments that are happening right now & save them for a day down the road when I don't have babies to hold & chubby cheeks to kiss. Because there really are so many times where I stop & try to permanently imprint on my mind the way Ruby's voice sounds in combination with her animated expressions as she tells me something important. Or the way Noah looks up at me with those big brown eyes & muscles his way into my lap because he just needs to be closer to me. Those are the things I hope to remember forever.

My absolute favorite thing lately is watching these two be such good friends. Ruby now wants Noah to sit right by her any time they're eating & she loves to feed him & get him whatever he needs. And Noah will eat anything that Ruby gives him & kind of seems to love it as much as her. Can this stage please last forever?!

 Noah is now obsessed with this blanket & sometimes doesn't want to come out of his crib after naptime because he's too busy rubbing his face all over it. And he's getting really close to becoming a full-time walker. I'm convinced there is nothing cuter than a baby learning to walk.

 

 Ruby got this dinosaur puzzle for her birthday & probably does it about 5 times a day. She can now put it together really fast all by herself & is super proud every time. That girl is a smart one.

 

 And look at that mischievous little face. He has the worst poker face & I can always immediately tell when he's been up to something he shouldn't be. And I'm a total sucker for this little boy. It's a wonder I haven't eaten him up.





Ruby Lately

 

Here are some of Ruby’s latest gems: 

After she came into my room in the morning & woke me up - “Mom, I love your beautiful hair. Can I watch a movie?”

While sitting at the table eating – “This cookie is delectable!”

Ruby - “Hey, I have an idea! I’ll get a sparkly white dress & get married.”

Me – “Who are you going to marry?”

Ruby in a whisper, “Everyone.”

As she watched me mop the floor, “Good job Mommy!”

When Tyler kissed me – “Hey guys, stop that!"



Friends

Lately Ruby & Noah have started to really play with each other. I've been waiting for this moment & it's kind of been life changing to have 15 minute intervals where I can do things like empty the dishwasher without a baby crawling into it. I love hearing these two laughing together in the other room & seeing all the silly games they come up with. Ruby told me yesterday, "Noah's my best friend. He's a good baby." And Noah definitely saves the majority of his kisses for his sister. These two really love each other. I want more than anything for them to be close friends & I have a feeling they're going to be. There is nothing that brings me more joy than seeing my kids love each other.



1st Birthday Celebrations

I feel like we just finished a birthday marathon between Ruby & Noah's birthdays & multiple celebrations each. But this year was a fun one. Noah & his cousin Kate had a little birthday party together which was fun since those two are only 8 days apart.

 

 

I'm afraid Noah has gotten to be a pro at devouring birthday cupcakes. He eats those things like it's his job, all with this very serious look on his face.

 

Ruby loved "helping" Noah open all his presents.

 

 

Noah's teething face - he's working on getting all 4 molars at once (?!)

 

This little motorcycle toy was such a hit! His legs aren't quite long enough to reach the floor but he figured out a way to push himself just using one foot. I'm pretty sure he'd live on that thing if I'd let him. Boys are fun.

 

There is something terribly satisfying to me about a first birthday. That first year is full of so much - all things good & hard & transitory & so many new & exciting experiences. It is a year to be celebrated for sure. Happy Birthday Noah!



 



On Living the Simple Life

I feel like the early years with my children are such a unique season of life where I have them almost all to myself & most of our living is done within the walls of our own home. Our schedule is predictable & simple & they take so much pleasure in the little things. I am so much of their world & they need me & love me in this way that is simultaneously exhausting & so fulfilling. I love watching their faces as they learn & grow & take in the world around them. They love to peak out the window & watch the garbage man pick up the trash or people mowing the lawn. These days are good in the simplest, purest kind of way & I'm certain that some of my fondest memories are unfolding right before my eyes.