Remote Rally

Me: Ooh, I forgot the Olympics were on.

Ben: If you switch channels, it will stop recording.

Me: That's okay...here's the remote. You can choose.

Ben: REALLY? My choices are American Idol or Men's Figure Skating?!?

hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe

We watched a movie...his choice while 24 & Biggest Loser were recording.

Ruby's 3...months, that is!

I just can't believe my baby is 3!

Ruby is holding her head up really well, giggling & cooing more, doing better with tummy time, & loves to do super crunches. She also loves sitting up and looking around. At 3 1/2 months, when I'm really recording all this, she's teething. She's been drooling for a week now, and not her usual happy self. I feel like the newborn in her is already gone. She' s definitely outgrown all her cute newborn clothes and seems to be in the midst of a growth spurt. Ruby's also reaching for her toy mobile that's attached to her car seat, and seems to need extra attention around dinner time. I've always felt like she didn't want to be left out, so last week I sat her on my lap at the dinner table, facing the boys. She was so happy, she looked at Kaleb & Dylan and laughed & laughed. New nicknames include: Rubes, Her Royal Rubyiness, Principessa, & Ruby-bug!

My Pretty Valentine

Ruby & I are typically flower girls, but I couldn't resist this vintage bonnet that was my mom's when she was a baby.

What a doll!

Ramblings from a romantic who's still so in love:

Ben and I have been together for 10 Valentine's now.

Both the boys whistled when they saw their sis all dolled up for church today! Ben made me a sweet card and promised a ring I've been wanting for a very long time. He also told me I looked cute, which is still nice to hear every once in a while. I promised him a cologne we both like. We cooked dinner together, (ah...the romance!) and thoroughly enjoyed our Valentine's feast as a family: grilled steak, shrimp & asparagus, fresh dill dip & veggies, along with potato skins. As a Valentine's gift to myself, I took the time to snuggle, hold, kiss & cuddle my baby girl even while she was sleeping. I typically make myself put her down so I can get some menial task done. Not today, my friends! The boys sang Skinnamarink to Mom and loved their Nerf hoop & chocolates. Kaleb tried to make 100 points. Dylan pronounces it choc-O-late. Many hugs, kisses, and cuddles had by all. I love that Valentine's just gets better and better with each passing year...my heart is full!

Love the Ones You're With!

Our beloved Ruby has such a rough life.

Two brothers who want to hold her,

kiss her,

snuggle her and

maybe smother her?

Love Bugs

Heart Breakers

I just want to kiss their smooshy cheeks forever.

Ups & Downs, Smiles & Frowns

A week's worth of the good, bad & ugly:

*Learned to make hair bows, bands and flowers for Little Miss Ruby. Had fun making them with girlfriends.

*Hair pretties made by me seem to fall apart. Hairbands are still sliding off Ruby's little head. Somehow I keep losing them. This goes along well with feelings of losing it and falling apart on a daily basis.

* 3 wonderful walks to the park this week...thoroughly enjoying the amazing February temperatures of upper 60s and sunny.

* Started a diet, discovered milk chocolate almond kisses. Need I say more?

* Rekindled a friendship with Emily. Unforgettable & hysterical play date with our kiddos at Desert Breeze complete with train ride, a loaf of fiber-enriched bread, and a flock of very aggressive pigeons. Poor Dylan may be scarred for life!

* 1 successful (?) day of potty training where Dylan spent the majority of the day on his potty frog going pee & getting loaded with sweets and drinks.

* 1 insane 2 year old screaming bloody murder at his mama the next morning for suggesting we use the potty frog. I could see the blood vessels popping out of his little neck, he was screaming so loudly & passionately. I'm sure the neighbors thought we were beating him.

* Ended the week with a poop and pee on the potty frog. The long, drawn out process continues.

* Another attempt at GNO for shopping & dinner for a friend's birthday. I think Ruby has decided she'd much rather have GNI with just the 2 of us. 2 hours of shopping, 2 feedings for Ruby, 2 broken nails for me, too frustrated to even try dinner. Left with a pretzel & drink in hand, and drove home with a crying babe in tote. Thankfully Ruby does know how to self soothe and fell asleep after about 10 minutes of fussing. It was nice catching up with friends and getting out a bit.

*Ben's MURDOX license plate arrived. He was so cute about it and had it on with in minutes of its arrival.

* Missionaries for dinner always bring out Ben's best mission stories. Other bonuses: clean house, Ben home by 5 from work, & a new family fav: french dip sandwiches.

* Got my way. Once. Ben did too, funny how that works.

*Noticing a stunning sunrise & sunset.

*Coming to terms with being here for the long haul. But not 28 years.