Happy Birthday Sweet Ruby!

August 24th, 2007

August 24th, 2008

Well, what can I say? I wasn't emotional about Ruby turning 2 until I sat down to write this blog. What an amazing two years we've had. All the hard, trying, pull-your-hair-out times fade to the background when I think about our spunky, fun, intelligent, witty, curious, charming, full-of-personality little 2 year old. My god, she's awesome. She is full of hugs and kisses and is the picture of sweet innocence. Happy Birthday sweet Ruby -I hope we can always make you as happy as you are right now. Mommy and Daddy love you so much!!! xoxoxo

We had an amazing trip to NJ and Ruby just LOVED playing with her cousins. She had the time of her life! It was so great to spend time with Doug's family and watch the kids interact and become friends. We were always on the go, we went to the beach, had a day on a boat, went crabbing, took a day trip to visit Aunt Jayne and Aunt Carole and of course ate some wonderful food! Ruby has been talking about her cousins and PopPop and Aunts and Uncles ever since.

We had a very small birthday party for Ruby on Saturday with a few of her neighbor friends. She had a blast and has been enjoying all the many, many presents ever since. She thoroughly enjoyed her Mickey Mouse Clubhouse birthday party and we loved watching her.

As usual, Ruby is keeping us in stitches and talking up a storm. She's getting a little too smart for her own good and is copying EVERYTHING we say, so we have to be really careful now! Doug spelled out presents the other day and she immediately said, "Ruby open a present". We both just kind of looked at each other amazed. Smarty pants!

There's lots of pictures, hope you enjoy!

Ruby insisted on pulling her own suitcase ("coocase") through the whole airport. Slowed us down but was too cute not to let her.

Hugs for cousin Luke.

Evan cracking Ruby up with his silly faces.

Ruby LOVES her cousins!

Going to get ice cream. She was beaming the whole way.

Birthday cake #1 at PopPop's.

Ruby, Luke and Evan tackling Doug.

On the Jersey shore with the Snyder cousins - Anna, Camy and TJ.

Birthday cake #2 and Aunt Jayne's.

Mimi, Aunt Jayne, Aunt Carole, Rubes and Mommy.

Bathing beauty, napping on the boat.

Pretty girls! Doug's sister Pam and her daughter Nina.

Doug showing Ruby, Luke and Evan a crab.

Captain Ruby. She didn't want Doug to touch the wheel.

Captain Luke.

Captain Evan.

Captain Nina.

Waiting for her party friends to arrive!

Birthday cake #3!

Sugar rush soon to follow.

A couple of her party friends, Eva and Jansen.

Opening presents.

Minnie ears from the Leonards!

I just want to look at the leftover cupcakes.

Maybe I should take a closer look to make sure they are still good.

Wow, they look even yummier up close!

Changing Dolly in her new play house from Mommy and Daddy.

Using her compact to apply her Minnie Mouse lipstick.

Riding her new BIKE from Grandpa and Gretta.

Reading her very first Anne of Green Gables book from Gamma.

Sporting her new maple leaf head band from Uncle Stephen!

We Missed You Daddy!

We are so happy to have Daddy home after a full week of traveling for work. Rubes and Mommy had lots of fun girl time together but also missed Daddy very much. Daddy missed his girls too. Ruby decided this past week that she's done with her crib once and for all. After 3 jumps out of the crib, we decided it's big girl bed time for Rubes! She's taken to it alright but doesn't really like to have naps there too much. Right now she won the latest nap battle and is snoozing by me on the couch. She has been slinking into our room at about 5am to cuddle in bed with Mommy and Daddy. This morning Doug woke up to Ruby gently rubbing his arm and looking at him "can I come up?" How can you say no to that. Especially since she slept in bed with us until 7:30 - unheard of for Ruby! Although Mommy didn't get much sleep due to the snoring duo! Hey, but at least I wasn't up out of bed right?

Ruby is getting very excited for her birthday! We talk about it at least once a day. Her very, very favorite colour is blue so she's asked for blue cupcakes. I think we can do that! Speaking of blue, Mommy and Ruby went to Walmart this week so Ruby could pick out her very own nail polish so we could to manicures and pedicures and of course, we came home with a very goddy, sparkly blue colour. We always have to do our arts and crafts on blue construction paper - which reminds me, we're out - need more asap!! One of the things she loves to do it to draw our day. She likes to sit down in the morning and we talk about what we're going to do and then draw it out, on blue construction paper with a blue marker of course. She definitely gravitates to blue things (clothes, toys, etc...) and she tells me frequently, "blue Ruby's favorite colour".

Ruby is talking up a storm. She's putting together full sentences of at least 6 or 7 words and is saying new words and sentences every day. She copies pretty much everything we say so we have to be really careful now. I love it how she says "be right back" whenever she has to go get something. So grown up! She also loves to Skype with family and friends. As soon as anyone gets on the screen, she usually tells them she'll be right back and goes and gets a toy to show them.

We got Ruby a new little table and chairs set and she just loves it. She likes to line up all the chairs and put her dolls and animals on them. She does a lot of chair rearranging that is accompanied by plenty of huffs and puffs. She of course, prefers to sit on the blue chair.

I was trying to teach Ruby the days of the week this past week so I could better explain to her when Daddy would be home and now I think she thinks that Friday is not just called Friday but it's called "Friday Daddy be home" because that's what she calls Friday now. I'm sure we'll get that cleared up by pre-school, right? :)

We're getting really excited for our trip to NJ on Friday. Can't wait to see you all!!!

Minnie Mouse!

Helping Mommy make muffins in her big girl panties.
Measuring Daddy's leg - a favorite pastime!

We got out on a REAL date! Our first one since February. We had a blast.

That's one way to watch TV.

Going to her little friend Jansen's b-day party.

Eating breakfast with Daddy!

I love this picture!

Wow, I guess Dolly got the blue chair! She was feeling generous.

"Friday Daddy Be Home"

Where did July go?

Can you believe July is almost over? It just seems impossible to me! Time flies when you're busy and having fun! I'm happy to report that our napping issues have been solved. Ruby now naps on the couch peacefully for 2 1/2 to 3 hours a day. She just would NOT nap in her crib anymore so I've compromised and it works out fine. She sleeps pretty hard so I'm still able to putter around and do what I need to do downstairs and she gets a full nap in. Plus, I must say I love laying there with her cuddling until she falls asleep. Sometimes it takes 15 minutes, sometimes it takes 5. She'll only be little and wanting to cuddle with me for a short time so I'm going to take advantage of it. Ruby is getting very excited for her birthday. She's requested a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse party so that's what she's getting. We're just keeping it very small this year, just a couple neighbors. Nothing like our keg party for her 1st b-day!!! She's getting very good at saying she's going to be two and holding up her two fingers. When we first showed her how to do it a couple weeks ago, she got very frustrated the first couple of times when she couldn't get her fingers to go the right way but she mastered it and now is a pro. Ruby's talking non-stop now. She has taken to saying "Oh my goodness" and I often hear her saying it to her dolls. It makes me laugh every time. It has also made me realize how much I say it. I'm sure a lot of people don't believe me when I tell them how much she talks because when she's out in public and not in a familiar environment, she is very quiet and doesn't talk a lot. I do love the cautious side of her though, I know she'll never willingly go with a stranger! We've been starting potty training the last couple of weeks and it's going really well. When we're at home, she doesn't really have any accidents but when we're out of the house and doing something fun, she doesn't want to take the time to go to the potty. I'm not going to push it though, I'll take what I can get right now! Doug will be traveling for work all next week so it will be just me and Rubes. Anyone want to come visit? :) We're excited for our upcoming trip to NJ the 2nd week in August. We can't wait to see Ruby playing with her cousins. This will be the first time she'll be able to actually run around with them and keep up. For the first time Ruby has started naming her toys. She has a little fairy/mermaid that she's named Bella and a little seahorse she's name Nikko. Not sure where those names came from but we think it's pretty funny she's naming things now. Check out the video of Ruby waiting for Daddy to come home from work. Love to you all from Florida! xoxo

Big girl panties!!!

Trying to hug her buddy Eva. Eva's not too sure she wants to be hugged. Flying Rubester!

Ready...set...

...JUMP!!

First melt down of the day. I wouldn't give her candy for breakfast.

Feeding her dolly goldfish. I love that she's so maternal.

Eating cupcakes with her buddy Chris. This was immediately followed by running around like crazy wild creatures!

Daddy and his Rubes.

Ruby won the wardrobe fight this day. You gotta chose your battles.

These pictures cracks me up.

Acting silly on the couch.

Kisses (and strangles) for Mommy.

Ruby absolutely LOVES our friend's little guy, Alden.

Pool acrobats with Daddy. Doug: "I think she just peed on my head."