Ruby Rubes and Charlotte Too!

Happy 2010 everybody! Wow, we have a lot to cover since my last post!! El and B came on the 23rd and stayed until the 26th and we had the most WONDERFUL time. Ruby was so happy to have their undivided attention for 3 whole days. We had our annual Christmas Eve fondue championship which B won this year. Doug didn't have a chance!

Ruby was really into Christmas this year, which made it so much fun. We put out cookies and milk (she insisted on soy milk) and sprinkled reindeer food outside. She slept until 7:30am and was so excited to see all the presents under the tree when she came downstairs. Santa did not disappoint this year and brought Ruby the coveted double stroller she'd been talking about for months along with lots of other fun toys and goodies.

The weather was beautiful and we got to the beach on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We were sad to see El and B go on the 26th but with that came the excitement of Auntie Em, Uncle Stephen and Stephanie arriving that night. We had so much fun with our second group of visitors and Ruby was in heaven again with all the attention. Ruby's favorite thing was for Stephanie (or anybody within range) to pull Uncle Stephen's beard. Hard. "Pull Uncle Stephen's beawd bawy, bawy hawd." We heard this many times over the time they were here.

We got to the beach two more times before New Years Eve and Ruby discovered that feeding the seagulls is really fun. By the end of it, she was getting so brave that she was letting the seagulls take the french fries right from her hand. Ick.

The visit ended much too quickly but just in time to start planning for our NYE block party. We had the best NYE here with our neighbors! We all gathered out back and ate, laughed, played cornhole and toasted the New Year while the kids all played together and were entertained with a magic show. One of our neighbors constructed a big ball to drop, which we did at 8pm for the kiddies and again at midnight. So much fun! I know I've said it many times before but I just have to say it again. We LOVE our neighbors!!!

Ruby is quite the character and is growing every day. The other night, Doug and I were tucking her into bed and laying on either side of her, she put one arm around me and kissed my cheek and then put her other arm around Doug and kissed his cheek and then said, "I love you guys". We are so in love too! She's also mastered the song, "I'm a little teapot", actions and all, thanks to Gamma. I'll have to get it on video, it's pretty darn cute!

Ruby's imagination is in full swing and she still loves to run from pretend scary witches. She also is playing with her babies and dolly a lot more now and is incredibly maternal and sweet with them. I could watch her play all day. Gamma's here for another whole week, I really don't know what I'm going to do when she's gone. :(

2009 was a great year for us, full of exciting changes and new friends and places. We're so excited for 2010 and all the great things ahead for our little family.

Has anyone seen Ruby?

El and B arrive!!

Mr. Fondue Champion 2009

The loot on Christmas Eve.

A DOUBLE STROLLER!!

Getting situated.

And away we go.

Her first creation on her new easel.

The finished masterpiece.

Opening her new Hess Truck from Pop-Pop.

Wearing her necklace Grandpa made her when he was in the hospital.

Sporting our hats Ruby made us (with Gamma's help).

Ruby's gingerbread house from Uncle Donnie. A big hit!

Christmas Eve Day at the beach.

El and Rubes waiting for a big wave.

On the breakwater.

Ruby and her shell collection.

Ruby definitely did not inherit her mother's fear of birds!

Daddy and Ruby taking a run on the beach.

CUTE.

Throwing food for the seagulls.

Getting brave. This seagull took the french fry right from her hand!

With Auntie Em and Uncle Stephen. Being caught by a wave.

The cornhole crew minus Doug.

Stephen actually put her to sleep, she slept like this for over an hour.

Party like it's 2009!

The NYE Ball on it's first drop!

She went a little crazy after hanging out at the chocolate fountain for a good majority of the night!

Ruby loves to climb this tree in front of our place.

Gamma and friends.

Making breakfast in bed for Gamma.

She got soap in her eye in the bathtub and insisted on putting a band aid on it.

Tea party with Daddy.

Ruby and her BFFs Eva and Ellie at the zoo.

Pigtail cuteness.

We have a climber on our hands.

Carousel cuties.

Ruby thought it was stinky in the bat cage.

Yay for Gamma! Mom arrived on Wednesday and Ruby is in heaven! Not to mention Mommy and Daddy are LOVING the extra help and date nights!! Ruby and Gamma bonded right away, Ruby ordered Gamma to sit with her in the back seat on the drive home from the airport and has been ordering her around ever since. Gamma doesn't seem to mind. :) At night time, Ruby "requests" that Mommy, Daddy AND Gamma get in bed with her (in a specific order, of course) for her stories and songs. It's a pretty funny sight to see, I would imagine.

Ruby seems to have grown right before our eyes in the past month. Not only physically but mentally. Now when we ask her why she did something, she says, "because"...and then goes into a long explanation. She also asks "because why?" When we tell her to do certain things. She's a pretty smart cookie and knows exactly what she wants. I overheard her counting backwards from 10 the other day! She's very particular on how she wants things done. A lot of the time, I'll come into the living room and she'll have each of her babies and dolly sitting on different chairs. If you ever come visit, DO NOT move them. They are there, on those particular spots for a very specific reason.

Ruby had her very first haircut last week. We went to this really cute salon that's specifically for kids. She was really excited but started to get a little nervous as she was waiting. She did great and even got some glitter hairspray at the end. She loved that part!

Ruby is pretty excited for Christmas. She really, really, really wants a double stroller for her dolls!?! Yes, I found one. We walk down the street frequently to a neighbor's house to look at their huge blown up Santa and the other night when we were leaving she turned around and said, "bye Santa, don't forget my double stroller!" We just about died laughing.

We are SO excited for Auntie El and Uncle B to come on Wednesday. An LL Bean commercial came on the other day and Ruby was playing away and all of a sudden looked up and said, "El and B???"

Have a great Christmas all! xoxo