We've had an exciting month filled with visitors. Mandy and Baby Sarah came from Atlanta to visit for 4 days and much to my delight, Ruby was really great with Sarah. She shared her toys, helped feed Sarah, gave her countless hugs and kisses and was VERY interested in everything Sarah was doing. I think she's going to make a great big sister. She's finally excited about having a sister, she was devastated for a couple of days that it wasn't a boy but has come around and tells everyone now that she's having a baby sister. By the way, Ruby has a boy and a girl in her belly. I'm 20 weeks along now and feeling great. Doug and I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going.

Dad and Gretta came for a weekend visit last weekend and Ruby has SO MUCH FUN! She had constant playmates and I was grateful for the break. Ruby loved all of Grandpa's stories and songs and of course made them chase her, A LOT. "Run! Here comes the scary witch!"

Ruby is definitely a big girl now. She can do so much by herself and, ironically, that's her favorite phrase. "I do it all by myself!" I hear it at least 50 times a day. No joke. She can get totally dressed and undressed herself, brush her teeth, get a waffle out of the freezer, put it in the toaster oven and set the timer, get in and out of her car seat as well as buckling and unbuckling herself, and the list goes on! Sometimes I'm just amazed at what she can do. It also scares me because I'm used to someone that is so self-sufficient and soon I'll be dealing with an infant. Yikes.

We are taking Ruby camping for the first time this weekend and I am so excited! She's going to love it. She can hardly wait, especially for the s'mores. OK, maybe I'm more excited for those. We're going with a bunch of friends with kids the same age as Ruby so it will be an adventure. Hopefully we'll get a little sleep.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms reading this, especially mine. I love you mom and wish I could have tea with you tomorrow and every day. xoxo

Daddy and his girl.

She told me she was going to "Nacy's" to buy some shoes.

Tea for two.

Nothing's sweeter than a sleeping Rubes.

Swaddle time!

Silly.

Bath time with Baby Sarah.

Get ready...

...JUMP!

Finger painting with Grandpa.

In deep conversation/play.

Decorating the flag pole for May Day!

The May Day Queen putting flowers on the neighbor's doorsteps.

Ruby and her buddy Lucy.

Grandpa telling Abiyoyo - it's getting a little scary.

Now it's funny!

Sunday morning tea.

Cheers!

Dress up!

Jumping the waves with Grandpa.

Hoppy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! We had a wonderful Easter and Ruby just loved everything about it this year. She surprised us by loving the Easter Bunny and insisting on getting her picture with him. We went to a wonderful egg hunt at a local park where Ruby got to pet baby chicks and bunnies and dance to a live band. Ruby was very excited to see her Easter basket this morning and she had a blast hunting for eggs. Every time she found an egg in a particularly silly place, she would crack up and slap her knee and say "that Easter Bunny is so silly!" Holidays are really so much more fun with a kid. :) We enjoyed having Pop Pop with us for the weekend too and Ruby has become a big fan.

We've had a fun couple of weeks! The NC Vogts came to visit for a few days and Ruby just loved having her cousins here and we were very thankful to have playmates for a couple of days, it was a nice break! We had a fun time, we watched rehabilitated turtles get released back into the ocean, caught a Spring Training game, celebrated Dave and Doug's birthdays and ate good food!

Ruby truly is something else. She is getting so grown up and is getting so good at expressing her emotions. The other day, she spent a half hour, naked, on the stairs with her arms crossed, huffing and puffing and growling and telling us she was mad at us. We wouldn't let her put hot pink nail polish on her toes by herself. We're horrible parents. I told her that it was OK to be mad and that she could be mad as long as she wants and to just let me know when she feels not mad any more. Seemed to work. :)

Ruby is super excited about her baby brother/sister. She insists it's a boy. She is so sweet with her dolls and other real babies and has started roll playing with her dolls and frequently tells me who is who's sister. For example, Dolly is Tiny New Baby's big sister. We have no doubt she's going to make a wonderful big sister. 15 weeks down, 24 to go!

We continue to love watching Ruby's imagination grow. She's so full of questions and her mind seems to always be working. She is especially intrigued about why people go to the hospital and daily asks for us to tell her stories about people getting hurt and going to the hospital. We're trying not to worry too much about this quirky side of her personality! :) She also wants to know what everybody's daddy's names are and what every clock says. She's just taking in so much information right now and I just love that I can experience it every day. I just love being home with her, she is so fun and just an overall cool girl.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend, wish we could be with all our family but you're all in our hearts everyday. Doug's birthday is on Sunday so here's a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best husband and daddy in the world. We love you!!! xoxo

It's rough being two and a half.

Ruby and cousin Emily watching TV.

Getting ready to go to the beach. Goofball.

Being silly with Uncle Dave.

Andy and Emily and picture-crasher Rubes.

At a play date. You can usually find her grazing the food table.

Dying Easter eggs with friends.

Great job, Rubes!!

She had a little accident so she had to borrow Jacob's undies. She loved them!

Being so sweet to Baby Ethan.

Awww.

Ruby and buddies in deep conversation at a beach play date.

Waiting to get her picture with the Easter Bunny at the mall.

A nervous smile!

Me and my best girl. xoxo

Getting ready for the Easter egg hunt.

Showing Pop Pop the goods.

Another Easter Bunny!

Checking out her Easter basket.

Found another egg!

"That Easter Bunny is soooo silly!!"

Easter Brunch with friends.

Is it really the middle of March?

My blogging loyalty has been suffering in 2010! But hey, I have an excuse! I'm sure all of you know by now but Baby Vogt #2 is on it's way. I'm about 13 weeks pregnant and am FINALLY feeling human again. It was a rough 8 weeks or so of constant nausea but we've finally turned the corner.

We told Ruby we were going to have a baby when I was about 10 weeks pregnant and she had the best reaction ever. She was so excited, she was kissing and hugging my belly and looking in my belly button and asking all kinds of questions. She continues to be excited about her "baby brother" (she insists its a boy), and proudly tells people that she's going to be a big sister. She really is going to be a great big sister. Baby Vogt #2 is a lucky little peanut.

Ruby is busy, busy and I'm happy to say - fully potty trained!!! YAY!! At least our diaper bill will go down for a few months. What a difference it is to have a potty trained kid - so much easier. I don't think I could have handled changing a poopy diaper while I was so sick so it kind of worked out pretty well.

Ruby has turned into a teenager overnight. She has started rolling her eyes at me and letting out huge, dramatic sighs when I ask her to pick something up or put her shoes on or help me with something. It's actually pretty funny but I can't let her know that. :) Her feisty personality is continuing to grow and Doug and I are often at a loss for words. I've actually found myself saying, "I'm the mom, you can't boss me around like that." OK, I really have to find some better authority statements.

Rubes did not get into the preschool I had hoped but we have signed her up for another one that I've actually become very excited about. She'll start summer camp in June, 2 days a week, just to get her used to school and then in the Fall, she'll go 3 days a week. The school is doing a soccer program called Happy Feet that I know she'll just love. Even though I'm very excited about getting a couple mornings a week to myself, the more I think about it, the more I'll miss my Rubes. She's so ready for school though, it will be so great for her.

I've joined a group called Charitable Moms were we do what we can to help out those in need. Our first big family project was to have a yard sale to raise money for 4 Kids of South Florida who were placing orphans from Haiti to new homes. It was so great to get the kids involved. Ruby seemed to understand some of what we were trying to do. She had a lot of questions about the babies that didn't have homes or mommies or daddies. I am really excited to be part of a group that will help teach my children how to help others.

We're excited for our upcoming visit from the NC Vogts! Ruby has been talking about Uncle Dave, Aunt Toni, Andy and Emily for some time now - just a week away now. Ruby got to see more cousins a couple weeks ago when Mike, Pam, Luke and Evan were in Naples visiting Pop Pop. We had such a great time, Ruby and the boys just love each other so much and had so much fun together.

Finally I want to say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Nana today. We love you!!! xoxo

The shirt Daddy made Ruby for our breast cancer walk.

After the Susan G. Komen 5k.

Ruby with her buddies at Alden's b-day party.

Ruby waited very patiently for the cake to be served.

Our little daredevil.

Up, up...

...and away!

Valentine's Day.

I love this picture.

Testing out the Valentine's Day cookies we made.

At our Charitable Moms yardsale, Ruby took to this bear. Yes, we own it now.

Painting Daddy's fingernails. She LOVED this!

Not bad for a 2 1/2 year old!

Ruby's favorite party of Savannah - the candy shop!

Trolley ride!

Arrr matey!

Shiver me timbers!

In ATL visiting Sam and Lexi. They had so much fun!

SNOW!!

Ruby got a little carried away icing her cookie.

Reading a story with Evan, Auntie Pam and Luke.

Daddy and Rubes in Naples.

Cuties getting ready to head to the beach.

Budding artist.

Rubes and her friend Bella at the beach.