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!

Weekend Away

So, I'm not sure who had more fun this past weekend. I think it's a close tie.

Joe and Kai headed down to Grinnell College for Joe's alumni swim meet for the weekend and Ruby June and I spent the weekend together alone.

It was delightful to be with Ruby, since usually I don't get time with just her. We spent a lot of time snuggling, walking, and playing without any interruption or big brother trying to get more of the attention!

Joe and Kai spent two nights in a hotel, visited with Joe's college friends, and competed in the swim meet. If you were to ask Kai right now about the trip, he would say two things: first, Nora and Tess and then how he won his race.

Nora and Tess have been a daily topic of conversation here after the weekend. Kai keeps asking to call them to see if they can come over for dinner. The bummer is that they live in Colorado. But, it's great how quickly Kai makes friends and connections. I mean, he "really, really, really" likes Nora and Tess.

The second highlight was that during the meet, Kai dove in (belly flopped) and had the whole pool's attention while he swam a lap with his dad. I think he has a blend of his dad's competitiveness and his love of being a ham. (Joe just read this and siad that really he is shy...yeah, right). Joe did report that Kai was a perfect travel companion and Kai came back even more connected to his Dad's hip.

Georgie

Kai: Mama, do you think it's sort've weird that Curious George lives in Minnesota?

Mama: Well....

Kai: He seems really big too.

Ships, Sand, & Silliness

Joe hasn't been traveling to Duluth nearly as much as he was before Ruby June was born. So, we have been missing joining him on his work trips (but not missing that he used to be away from home 2 nights a week). My mom joined us for this trip and we spent three nights in Duluth at the Canal Park Lodge. We love this hotel and certainly have become spoiled.

Kai couldn't believe it when my mom told him that she never stayed in a hotel as a little girl. He walks into Canal Park Lodge and says, "I love MY hotel. Let's go swimming!" Plus, we were upgraded for free to a suite, so we had two rooms and a big jacuzzi.

It was so much fun having my mom with us. We went on walks along the lake, played in the sand, skipped rocks, watched ships come in under the bridge, went swimming, ate yummy food, and relaxed. Each night, I realized how nice it was to sit back and just relax. There were no dishes to be done, backpacks to pack for school the next day, floors to be swept, and laundry to be folded. Yes, I need a vacation.

Joe had a big event for work, so my mom was able to babysit while Joe and I got fancy and went out to the Memorial Blood Center's benefit. It was good to be there and see how much everyone loves Joe (of course) and see how important his job is. We heard from a family whose daughter, at the age of 3, got Leukemia and how blood transfusions helped to save her life. I realized that keeping my head focused on Joe's life-changing work helps me be more compassionate for his long hours. And, I also realized how much I love going on a date with Joe! We need to do it more often. Especially when it means I get to drink my first martini in over a year and a half. Now, that's something to celebrate!

Here are some photos from the fun....

Do you know how hard it is to get both kids to smile? Geez, I would make a lousy family photographer. But, the fall leaves were amazing.

Yep, that would be make-up. Thanks Tricia for the shirt!

Again, read comment above about photos and kids.

It was our first time watching ships come in at night.

Doesn't she just look like such a chunk? She is almost 20 lbs. of love!

Movin' On

Here is a peek into Ruby J's new favorite move:

Yep, she is moving on from crawling (up on all fours and moving quickly around the house) to standing! We even have seen her cruise (today she held on to the couch and walked, holding on to it, back and forth for what seemed to be forever).

It seems that once Ruby gets it into her mind to do something, she does it. And FAST! She crawls and then the next day, it's almost like she says, "Ok, that's boring now....on to the next thing."

Then, she figures out how to pull herself up and she is so proud. Now, today, she has been pulling herself up and then trying to stand without holding on. She looks at me with a big, goofy smile and then....falls. She has a bruise on her cheek and now a big bruise between her eyes. Poor lil' thing. Walking and standing is tough. And, I should have knocked on wood months ago when I said that my second baby was going to take things slower than my first. Ruby is going about this all way faster than Kai. Life is getting interesting around here...

These are a few of our favorite things...

Family

Friends

Baths (perfect photo Mom for this "G" rated blog)

Adventure

The sweater Aunt Janet knitted for Ruby J

Swings

and finally....slings!