Happy Holidays!

Kai had his holiday concert at his school yesterday. We have been listening to him sing, "I've been working on the railroad" and the "Snowflake Song" for the past month. He has found a new love of singing and I often have to remind him to use his inside voice when he sings because he screams the words and does break dance moves. You've never seen a more lively version of the classic, old time railroad song.

Here he is all dressed up for the big day! Note: He wanted to wear the buzz light year shirt that his neighbor gave him (Thank-you Liam for all of your hand-me-downs) but I had to bribe him to put on something a bit more spiffy. He said, "But, mama, you never pick out my clothes. I always do and I do such a BETTER job than you do." You could be right, little man.

If you're lucky, I just may post a video of it and maybe two other people will watch it (Jen and Tricia?).

Then, there is this little cutie (snotty from her cold, but so cute)

My mom (Nonny), Me, and Ruby J

RJ with her two grandmas

Nana Kit and Roo

Party in the Potty

So, many of you know all about the pooping drama in our house. I know, I know, poop, poop, poop. It feels like all I talk about.

But, those days could be over. I certainly hope so.

Ruby just turned 9 months and she finally is pooping just fine. When she was born, she didn't poop. We went through tests and saw all sorts of health practitioners to try to help her (doctors, chiropractor, cranio-sacral therapist, applied kinesiologist, and homeopath). But, we were stumped. We did find out she had an "abnormally" long intestine, but the doctors said it shouldn't prevent her from pooping and she certainly shouldn't be so uncomfortable by it.

But, finally, the combination of her learning to crawl, seeing the cranio-sacral therapist weekly, and introducing the potty did the trick!

Now, Ruby June wakes up in the morning and the second she is put on the potty, she does her magic! I bet most people wouldn't write a whole blog post about it, but it truly has made Ruby June an even happier baby and we love not needing to change so many diapers. Like Ruby's doctor said today at her 9 month check-up, it certainly is "green."

In fact, if we are around the house, Ruby will pee and poop in the potty all day long. I've gone all day without her needing a diaper. It's called "elimination communication" by some folks and I tell you it certainly works for Ruby.

We did this with Kai too, probably when he was a bit older, but it didn't work as good as it is working with Ruby. He always just crawled off the potty and went on his way (and usually peed in his diaper). We initially did it to try to help Ruby get used to relaxing her muscles in order to "let go." I'm not sure if we were more surprised or she was, but now I'm a believer!

Oh, the things they say...

Kai: Mama, do you have a baby in your belly again?

Me: (wearing Ruby in my new Boba baby carrier, straps cinched tight, with plenty of mushy fat spilling over) No, Kai, I don't have a baby in my belly.

Kai: Are you sure? I'd like a baby brother now.

Me: Nope, I'm positive. No baby in this belly.

Kai: Well, it looks like you have one with all of that fat in your belly. It looks like my baby brother is just about to come out!

I laughed out loud and patted my little pooch and felt good remembering what this leftover mush kept so safe and sound for all of the months before Ruby came out. It doesn't bother me that it is still keeping me company. To say thank you, I went and fed it a cookie.

Teeth

I am posting these photos tonight to remind me about how happy Ruby June is when she is NOT getting her top front tooth in....my goodness, the bottom two teeth came in without all of this fuss and pain. The poor girl is in agony and we have tried so many different remedies (Homeopathic, Flower essence, Orajel (Have you tried this? I did and it burns. We will not be using this again), wet washcloths, teething toys, lots of nursing, sling time, and sleeping cuddled up to me all night long).

We are taking suggestions if you see we've missed something...so far, frozen bananas and an amber necklace (This is pretty woo-woo, therefore I'm surprised I haven't heard about it) are on the list for things to try tomorrow.

Poor little Roo-Roo. I keep trying to imagine how it would feel to have a big tooth come in. I think it probably sucks.

I asked Kai if he knew what a blizzard was and he said, "Yes, and I love going to Dairy Queen." Good boy, he takes after his mama!

But, here in MN, we are having a blizzard and the Zimsen-Campe household is loving it! When else do you have a wonderful excuse to not leave the house all weekend?

We spent a lot of time shoveling today (they say we got over 16 inches in Minneapolis), going on a snowshoe hike down the middle of the road, and playing games inside. Ruby lasted only a few minutes on the hike since the wind was whipping her breath away. The snow was up to my thigh in spots in our backyard. It hasn't been this crazy, wild with snow in a long time. Our agenda tomorrow includes snow tunnels and Russian Tea Cakes. A perfect combo.

Tree

Kai picked out our Christmas tree this year and it was quite the event. He wouldn't stop hugging it and telling it what a nice family we were and to not be afraid.

It was a VERY cold day when we went, so Ruby and I had some fun hanging out in the car waiting for the boys to strap the tree to the car. It feels like we include Ruby in just about everything, but now in the chilly MN winter, she spends a lot of time getting dressed in her snowsuit, then just a small amount of actual time doing the fun activity. Darn cold weather.

Kai has this new posed smile he uses when we say smile...it looks very strained. He was actually quite happy in the moment.

We love taking "family photos" this way.

Long Hair

So, this post is about hair.

Ruby's hair is starting to grow back, after having fallen out a bit. People used to think she was going to be a redhead, but now it seems like she has a bit more blond in it. I'm sticking to brown. We are all brunettes around the Zimsen-Campe household.

Next, Kai had a haircut about a month ago and Joe brought him. Can you tell? It's Short. Joe lets Kai decide completely what type of cut he wants. I go in and try to be that type of parent (the good one who lets their children decide what feels good to them with their hair) but I always end up saying way too much.....like, keep it a little longer over the ears and oh, keep it a little longer to give it a little curl and do you mind just layering it in the back, etc. I'm probably the most annoying type of mom: I try to be low-production, but yes you guess it (especially if you know me), I am anything but this!

Then, there is my hair. I am growing it out! I know, crazy, right?

Since 1997 (when Joe and I were about to move away from each other and possibly break-up and I walked by a hair salon and went in out-of-the-blue and had them cut all of my hair off, just because it seemed like right thing to do in my out-of-control world), I've had short hair and I love it.

But, after having Ruby June, I never got around to getting my hair cut, so it started to grow out. Then, finally, when I got around to seeing my friend who cuts my hair, we realized if I ever wanted to grow out my hair, the time was now (since I was well into the growing out process). So, I thought, why not? So, I'm growing out my hair really because I was lazy and because now I want a fun change and since we can't afford a new house or to go on vacation, I guess I'll use my hair, once again, as a way to spruce up life around here.

I can't say it looks super cute right now, but since I don't really care that much about how I look (otherwise I'd take a shower every day, right? or change out of dirty sweatshirt that I've been wearing for 3 days in a row), I'm going to have a little fun with it.

My heart melts...

"I love you Mama. I love you so much I can't even hold my breath." - Kai

Cassie, the tortoise

Over Thanksgiving break, Kai's name was drawn from a hat to watch his classroom pet, Cassie. She is a tortoise and we loved having her. I've never spent time really with a tortoise and I was amazed watching her move, eat, and claw her way around her cage. We would let her out and that gal can move!

Kai told me exactly what to write. He has another sign on his door saying, "No girls allowed in my room (except for Ruby June)"

Pure mushy love

My favorite day of the week is Monday. I love Mondays when the work week starts for most people heading off to work outside of the home, but Ruby J and I get to start the week off in the house surrounded by quiet and lots of cuddles. I feel like I have time to get caught up with caring for the home (trying to think positively about housework) after a weekend of fun and I make sure I take plenty of time to laugh and play with Ruby while I follow her around as she pulls herself up on everything (yep, she still has one focus in life) and plays her little games with me (when you see her next, ask her how big she is and be prepared to laugh yourself silly).

Then, we pick up Kai from pre-school and life becomes much louder and much more active. But, still nice and familiar. Today, friends at school commented how Ruby basically leaps out of my arms to hug her brother when we pick him up. I watched more closely and noticed how he wraps his arms around her and kisses her and says in his sweet, quiet (note this peculiarity) voice, "Oh, how I love you Ruby June."

See, you'd love Mondays too, if you were me.

Aunt Baba

I felt like the luckiest girl in the world when Christa came to visit a couple weekends ago...seriously.

Let me tell you about it--

It's going to make you want to call your friend - the one who it doesn't matter how long it has been since you've seen each other, but it picks up just where you left it - and plan the exact weekend with them. I don't mind-- copy us, it will be so well worth it.

So, Saturday was a no kid kind of a day. Christa and I left the house in the morning and drove to Stillwater to have lunch and look around. Then, we drove up to St. Croix Falls and went to a spa for the most decadent facial either of us have ever have (ok, so we aren't really foo-foo gals, so this isn't saying much). They were 2 hours long each!! 2 hours of pure relaxation. Then, we drove back to Minneapolis and ate at a yummy Indian restaurant and shared a bottle of wine.

Did I mention we didn't stop talking (except for during the facial) for the entire time and we still had things to talk about on Sunday (which was equally as fun with a night out on the town with the girls- Ally, Kt, and Molly Cooney) and Monday too.

We just couldn't get enough time together. When she left, I realized the weekend was way cheaper than therapy but equally as good. Thanks, darling, for a wonderful weekend!

It was Christa's first time meeting Ruby June. Ruby was in love at first sight. Although Christa arrived to a sick household, with Kai was puking on the couch, she didn't run away. This is a real friend. She came in and entertained Kai on the couch while I tried to clean up the vomitorium. Kai cried in the car when we dropped her off at the airport which tells you how much he loved hanging out with his Aunt Baba!

Post-facial: we have that glow don't we!!??

Snow

Well, it snowed here this past weekend. We received 8 inches of snow. It went from beautiful 60's weather during the week to a snow emergency on our streets. It was beautiful and we are enjoying playing in the winter wonderland.

Ruby's first snowfall - she sat in her little chair and was amazed at what was happening.

Ruby in the beginning of the week playing outside in the warm weather in the grass.

Movin' On....

As many of you know, our house was broken into on Friday. The kids and I left at 4 pm and when Joe arrived home at 6 pm, he found the side door kicked in. The two laptops are gone, my Nonny's ring, and our jars of change are gone. We're all safe and it's just "stuff," but it was "stuff" that had the past 8 months of photos and videos that I had not backed up. What a tough lesson. Ugh. But, luckily, I have this blog and facebook, so I think we will be just fine. So, we are moving on!

Just look at this face! I've had a request to do a post about all of my different slings which I will do soon.

Oh yeah, this girl can stand! Still not tons of crawling, instead she is cruising. Kai and Ruby are just both so in love with each other. Kai is gentle and caring with Ruby and will help her in any way he can. Ruby just laughs and laughs around Kai and when Kai is throwing a temper tantrum, Ruby will cry too! I just know these two are going to be bosom buddies (until, what, middle school?)

Las Mujeres

Rescue

Batman comes to my rescue!

Delightful Roo

Ruby June is delightful. I say this to people over and over again. She is just such a wonderful baby. If you were to walk in our door, you'd probably find Ruby J standing. When she was finished standing, she'd wave to you and then give you the biggest smile ever. This is what she likes best. She just started to stand without holding on to anything and really you'd be amazed at her endurance. All the girl wants to do is stand!

We are working on getting her to crawl more though (which she can do very fast!). All of the studies show that crawling helps with her neurological development, but we can't get her to really care. Crawling to her is so...yesterday. Today it is all about being upright.

She eats with the same stamina that she stands. She loves anything we put in front of her (specifically meat) and she drinks water out her little glass very proudly. Kai is her absolute favorite and the two of them are wonderful together. Kai already "babysits" while I am in the next room and I hear him say things like, "It's Ok, Roo, I'll help you...." and "Be careful, Ruby, I don't want you to get hurt" and a lot of "I love you, my baby sister." It makes a mama's heart melt.

I was just saying to my neighbor tonight that it just feels so much easier my second time around. Sure, Ruby J is a much easier baby than Kai, but I think it's also because I know how fast this time will fly by and how wonderful it is to snuggle Ruby and remember how lucky we are to have such a delightful little girl.

Trick or Treat, Give Me Something Good To Eat

We love Halloween in this house. I mean, we REALLY love it. We dressed up and celebrated 4 times this year and wish we could have done it more.

Ruby June as cute as a bug

Joe as a warthog, Kai as batman, Molly as the Northern Lights, and Ruby as a lady bug for Party #1 The highlight of this party was Joe chasing all of the kids in the dark. He was drooling and snarling just like a warthog. I'm not sure if Kai or Joe had more fun.

Kai and Soren out trick and treating (with Joe trying to not be in the photo). We were glad that Soren's folks FINALLY let him out to trick or treat. We were going to have to do an intervention this year if they made him stay home. I mean come on, it's the BEST holiday of the year.

The neighborhood kids who have been going trick and treating for 4 years together-- this year, Kai was sprinting from house to house with his buddies. They are getting faster and faster each year.

My mom comes to our house each year to hand out candy while we are out getting the goods and chatting with all of our neighbors. Halloween is truly "the" event on our block. This year, we decorated with spider webs, spooky eyes in the hedge that growl at you when you walk by, plenty of pumpkins and ghosts hanging from our trees. Joe has plans for a fog machine next year...watch out!

Here are Kai's buddies from Sunny Hollow at our park's Halloween celebration-- Kai asked every day when the party was going to happen. It reminded me so much of growing up myself- the anticipation of Halloween was almost as much fun as the actual day. Kai came home from school every day and told me what a friend was going to dress up as. I kept suggesting different costumes to Kai (maybe something a bit more creative) and he was firm that they only thing he wanted to be was Batman.

Costume Revivals

Kai and Soren- Halloween 2007 (9 months)

Ruby June (7 months) and Sevi (11 months)

I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long time trying to get Ruby and Sevi to pose for the photo. If a neighbor was watching, I'm sure they think we are all nuts!