Here We Are!

Ok I know, it's been too long. It's been so long and I'm so ashamed that I have thought about just deleting to save myself the embarrassment of how neglectful I've been. But I didn't. I'm not a quitter!

Where to start... Ruby is TWO! She is actually 25 1/2 months old. She is so big and so smart. She remembers everything. Even the things I don't think she's listening to or watching, she repeats and does. Sometimes it's mind blowing.

She eats GREAT. We couldn't ask for a better eater. She might be picky but if its what she likes she eats a lot of it.

She's calling me "mom" and Jared "dad". It cracks me up. I'm thinking she hears us call our parents that. I still hear mommy and mama but a lot of times it's "here mom", "no mom", "ok mom". I don't know why that makes me laugh.

We converse with her and we all fully understand each other.

She loves to sit on the counter and help us cook in the kitchen. It makes me a nervous wreck but we never go far.

She got a giant trampoline for her birthday and LOOOOVES IT! She does tricks on it already. She calls them "flips" but she just lands on her bottom. It really gets her energy out and she comes out of there sweating.

She yells at us "hey hey hey" when she doesn't want something to happen---change of diaper, lotion after bath (yes she still hates that), coming inside, anything she doesn't want to do. That's something I just want to remember so I'm documenting it.

She calls spoons "sooms"... I think that's cute too. I know you're supposed to correct them but I can't help but think she's just cute. She'll correct it when she's ready.

She still sucks her thumb and I still don't plan on trying to prevent it. That is just one more thing she'll grow out of.

She is not potty trained. I'm 99% positive she is ready and I'm not doing my part . It makes me very sad. All I know to do is keep reading and praying that God will lead me in the right teaching direction. If any of you working mom's have any advice let me know. I am ALL EARS!

She is sleeping great. She still sleeps in her bed. We've been going to Alma a lot lately so on the weekends I let her sleep with me. I love it. She used to not sleep very good with us but now she does. If it was up to me she'd be in bed with us every single night. She's napping 2-3 hours a day lately. Usually 3, yesterday it was a 4 hour nap. She sleeps 11-12 hours at night. If it wasn't for late summer nights she'd go to bed at 8:30 every night.

I think she's absolutely perfect. We are so blessed. Thank God for her!!!!!!!

Child Care...MORE MOMMY GUILT!

We made a decision this morning. Once again, I am left struggling with what I'm "supposed to do" and what my heart is telling me is right. I have been on the waiting list at a child care center for months, maybe a year actually. Well, Ruby's start date is August 18th, just like starting a new school year. Every time I speak to the sweet lady coaching me on how awesome it's going to be, I get a sick feeling in my stomach. What to do?!?!

Well, we are staying right where we are! Ruby is only two years old and she's thriving like crazy right where we are. I don't know why it's necessary to get her out of home child care so soon. It's not!

I told Jared this morning, we are doing at least another year with Kathy. Ruby has no problems around a lot of kids. I see no social issues with the fact that she's only with a few kids every day. But most importantly, Kathy loves her so much. I don't think we could switch to daycare and find that love. She has been with her since she was three months old. Kathy loves her like she is her own. When I told Kathy this morning, she was so happy I could tell it was the right decision. She believes so strongly in home care. I know it's because it's her livelihood, but I also HIGHLY trust her and think she's raised some pretty amazing kids herself.

I am constantly being swayed in my decisions by what mommy society says is next. I don't know why. I am pretty sure I've mentioned it a million times, the mommy guilt. It's so hard. But one thing I've learned in the past two years is to follow my heart and my instincts. When I don't it seems like it has always been the wrong decision.

I guess I decided to blog about this to remind myself to follow MY heart and MY instincts. And to trust it. It's so hard sometimes.

Well, shoot!

So I totally jinxed Rubes. I am constantly thinking about how she's so healthy but tell myself "don't say it out loud"... Well, I did. In my blog. And now she has strep throat. What?!?!

At 1:00 in the morning she was just so restless and crying over and over. Not just her dream crying. So I went to check on her and she was burning up. 101 or so... Don't remember, saw 10----and knew it was bad. I gave her some Tylenol and she slept with us the rest of the night. Very restless.

We get up for work (maybe) and she's totally lethargic. Fever is back up. Jared insists I take her to the doctor. Now, of course I want to but at the same time, if you've ever been "that mom" at the doctor's office insisting something is wrong and finding out its "just teeth", "just a cold", you'd want to wait too. But I asked my very best mom friends and they both agreed, take her in.

I'm so glad I did. The 3 hour wait was worth it. Poor sissy. She's so pitiful and miserable.

So we'll just lay here, on the couch, as long as she wants/needs.

Hello Blog World, HERE WE ARE!

I know I know... I totally suck at blogging. I wonder how often I say that. Maybe every single blog? In my defense, I am back to work and well, if you know me, I am doing good if dinner is on the table before my family starves. So if I'm slow on blogging and you're missing us, I'm sorry. Also, it really proves to me how long it's been since I'm just now mentioning working again. It's been good though. An adjustment, but good.

I really don't even know where to start on Rubes. Wow. 22 months ya'll! I can't believe it. I'm having mixed emotions about everything she's doing these days. I keep reminiscing on her being a baby. Just a tiny little thing that can't do anything at all. I don't know if it's because she refuses help from me these days or what, but it's sad!

She is talking like crazy. She can repeat any and everything. I really have to watch what I say and do these days. She spent the night with my stepmom and dad last night. Linda said she looked back at her yesterday in the car and she had taken her shoes off and was saying "Ewwww!!!!" and sniffing her feet. Ha! Then she was yelling at the cars to "GO!!!!!". So hilarious.

The other day Jared was vacuuming my car for me. She said "daddy vacuum mommy's car". HUGE sentence. It amazes me. She says everything. We were worried my dad and Linda wouldn't be able to understand her but they did. They were amazed by her talking.

She is in love with The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. We have about seven of them recorded but she always wants to watch "frog". The one where Donald Duck turns into a frog. It is so cute to me. It's the first time she has ever been interested in tv. I see a Mickey Mouse birthday party coming in June.

Her eating is so so. She loves to snack. She's just too busy to sit down at a table to eat for long periods of time. She has been sitting at the table in a normal chair with us. She sits at the head in between us and cracks us up the entire time. She seriously is hilarious.

She's so super sweet too. She comes up and hugs and kisses us. She pats our back. She takes care of her baby Sophia. The other night we were watching her in the monitor. She laid Sophia down, kissed her on the forehead then covered her up. Then she tossed her out of the crib. LOL!

Last night I was sitting outside with her. She wanted to walk down the sidewalk, I knew this. But I was trying to get her to say more than "walk". So she reached up and said "hand?". She knows she can't walk down the sidewalk away from the house or near the street without holding my hand. She usually fights me on holding my hand but I guess she knows how to get her way. I'm telling you, I can barely say no to her.

She has gone on the potty once. She actually asks to sit on it about five times a day. We think she is going in her diaper then saying "potty"....she's a little confused. But she'll figure it out. I'm in absolutely no hurry at all.

The girl is ornery. I don't want to talk bad about her, but I'm 99% sure her terrible twos have hit and hit hard. She's been throwing some serious tantrums. Like I've never seen before. I'm talking screaming like someone is getting murdered. It's so crazy. I'm not a fan of spanking to make them stop crying so I guess we're going to start time outs. I think I've figured out a good spot, just have to figure out how to make her understand. She's gonna have to because the fits aren't working for me.

We have been so blessed with how healthy she is. Jared and I have been sick two times more than her for sure. Thankfully she doesn't catch any and everything that comes her way. I honestly don't know if it is because she is in an in home child care or what, but we've been very lucky. She has a very good immune system.

I just can't say it enough, WE. ARE. BLESSED. It doesn't go un-noticed for me on a daily basis. So many sad things going on in the world. Every time something new goes on, I feel like I should be on my knees thanking God. Ruby can hear, she can see, she can run, talk, laugh....and so can we. Thank you GOD!

I will try so hard to post more often. Everyone knows how busy the life of being mom, wife, employee is....

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sarah

MORE BIRTHDAY PARTIES!

I don't know how I posted that last post without talking about my entire birthday weekend! How crazy. I was in a hurry.

So Jared and I had decided to spend the entire weekend in Alma at his parents. He wanted to help his dad with some stuff during the day.

Friday night my mom had a birthday party for me with burgers and hot dogs. DELICIOUS! So much fun to spend with my family.

Saturday you know we went to Doe's. My mom kept Ruby. It was weird being without her. We just don't get away from her very often at all.

Sunday morning, my actual birthday, we had breakfast with my dad and stepmom at Cracker Barrel then went back to their house to let Ruby play and spend some time with them.

Then that afternoon Angie (my mil) grilled steaks along with a ton of other delicious food. Two delicious steaks in one weekend? Yes please! She also made me brownies with strawberry icing.

Needless to say it was time to get back on the diet train. But OH SO WORTH IT!!!!

Decisions, praying, and Important Dates

This is going to be a random, what's been going on with us blog.

I kind of dealt my own hand back in January of becoming a SAHM/WIFE. I haven't shared because it's been a struggle. Assume what you will, I'm not real worried about it. But it is what it is.

I have shared with you I'm sure more than once that I can't stand how we as a society of women bring each other down rather than lift each other up. Ruby is still going to Kathy's most days, because we pay full time, while we figure out what is next for me. Starting March 1st she will be staying home with me full time if the next card is not me getting a job.

I constantly struggle with her going to Kathy's because unfortunately there are many women out there who do look down on the fact that I'm not "raising my child". I see it from a different view. I was not raised with a SAHM and neither was Jared. I just have to get past the constant judgement. I'm the first to say "I don't care what others think" but we all know everyone does at one point or another. When it comes to the way I AM RAISING MY CHILD, I do care, more than I want to.

So I have been praying so hard about what to do next. Some women just aren't capable of sitting at home 24/7 with their child. I'm one of them. So during my healing process I've just been really praying about what He wants me to do. Yesterday morning I woke up and said "ok God, I need a sign, I need your help, I need a SIGN". Boy, does He ever come to you when you need him most. Within a couple of hours I had sign after sign. So I ask for your prayers for us as well. I'm sorry I won't go into every single detail. And thank you for your prayers in advance.

Now, onto more fun subjects. MY 30TH BIRTHDAY HELLLLURRRR!!!! About 13 of the best friends joined us for dinner at Doe's Saturday night. Then we carried on to a couple of other places. So much fun!

I have to say, being 30 years old is not bad at all. I'm still in a little shock but I can't think of anything else I'd want or need at this point in my life. I feel amazing. I have an amazing life. I have an amazing family. So how do I explain in one word what being 30 feels like???----AMAZING!

I just started my second round of g-fit this morning. I'm excited to see my results the second month.

Ruby is just as happy and healthy as ever. She will be 20 months old tomorrow. So crazy. 2 years old in 4 months. I don't understand why it goes so fast. I just love that crazy little booger!

I'm going to post some random iPhone pics. Everyone have a great week!

Love,

Sarah

**Our Ray of Sunshine**

I know I'm WAY behind on a Ruby post. I was going to go look at exactly how far behind I am but then I knew I'd be embarrassed. There is just SO MUCH to tell about our sweet growing girl I don't even know where to start.

First of all, we say over and over about how blessed we are to have such a healthy child. Not only is she healthy but she's so happy.

Measurements: not sure on exact numbers. I got on the scale with her and she was 25 lbs.. She's still wearing 18 month clothes but also some 24m/2T. I think she's ready for size 5 diapers but we still have quite a few size 4's so we'll continue those for a while. She's tall for sure.

What she loves: well there's a lot so I'm sure I'll forget some stuff. Me :), her daddy, the park, all of her cousins (specifically Madi and Tucker for some reason), all of her grandparents. Tea, yes, sweet tea. She asks for it every night for dinner. She runs to the refrigerator and says "tea tea??". If I have some made I always have a glass with her too. She also loves milk and water and juice but she mainly drinks milk and water and tea. She loves yogurt, strolls in her wagon, playing "get the ball before Mommy", dancing while Daddy plays the guitar, helping me with laundry and unloading the dishwasher, OUTSIDE-every chance we get, Ms. Kathy, face timing, Sophia Grace and Rosie (look them up, she's obsessed), READING-she could sit with her books all day every day, her babies, my make up, bath time, picking out her jammies and getting her wash cloth out of the linen closet for bath time, "swimming" in her bath, her Aunt Tippy, Beth and Aunt B, puppies, CATS, Jared calls her the "the crazy cat lady" because she completely freaks out when she sees a cat, and going places. She loves to be in public.

Eating: well it's hit or miss. If its something she loves she will eat a lot of it. Her favorites are anything that has pasta, fruit, tons of fruit, marshmallows, raisins, yogurt as I said before, chips when I let her have them (I worry about choking, she mainly eats Pringles), bologna, cheese, black olives, onions, tomatoes, corn, green beans, avocado and pickles. I love trying new things too because she's so open to it. I think she gets that from her dad. It's taken him 10 years to get me to eat half the stuff I just named off that she eats. I constantly worry when she doesn't eat a lot but I think that's pretty normal. One day she'll eat two plates of dinner/lunch and the next she will barely eat two bites. Last night I had to bribe her "3 more bites of spaghetti" because she was yelling for a "nana" (banana). She understands it too. Not the "3" part but she'll take another bite then yell for her nana. I just tell myself if she's hungry she'll eat.

Talking: she's forming complete sentences so I'd say she's talking! Yesterday she asked me "where's my ball?". Clear as day. She says a lot of words. I don't remember if I blogged about this but the last time we were at the doctor she asked how many words she is saying and I told Dr. Averitts about 50ish words. She acted stunned so I second guessed myself, came home and told Jared who thought I was crazy too. So we started writing them down. That was back in December. We exceeded 50 words and I know for sure she says way more than that now. So I won't type them all out. All I know is it is unbelievable to hear her speak words. We love her voice so much. We say it all the time. So sweet.

She doesn't like: bed time. She runs from me when I tell her it's time to brush her teeth every night. Or she'll run to Jared and cuddle up to him like he's going to save her. Bows. Her hair is getting so long and crazy but she refuses to let me fix it. I have decided to choose my battles with her and fixing her hair (or not) will not be one of them. So when you see pictures of her with wild hair you know why. :) She doesn't like for me to open or really do anything for her. She wants to do it all. Open her yogurt, her cheese, clean up her mess, ETC.. Miss Independent.

Potty Training: if she's not ready she's very close to it. She likes to take her diaper off every chance she gets. She tells me when it needs changed and she says "YUCK!". I've been trying to sit her on the potty for about 10 minutes a day. Nothing has happened. She goes into my closet anytime she has to #2. Like a dead sprint into our closet. And if I peek in there at her she gets mad at me. It's so funny. So we just don't bother her.

Randoms: she's sleeping great. She has actually been sleeping in later. Sometimes I wake up when she's up around 5ish whining. I change her diaper and that makes her sleep a few more hours. She goes right back down. It makes me think she's ready for potty training even more. She naps anywhere from 1-4. She goes to sleep at around 7:30. Sometimes 8:00 if I let her. Biting. I know it's not good and I'd never tell on her and post this negativity in public if this wasn't a way for me to document it and remember. I hate it. We don't really know what to do because she doesn't do it here. She bit the little girl Shelby at school last week, and left marks. Kathy thinks she took a toy from Ruby. She put her in time out. When Jared took her back to school that next time he told her "no biting today Ruby you be nice". And she went straight to Shelby and hugged her. Poor babies. All of them.

I think that is it. We've been venturing out to new things and she's loving it. Last week it was to the library for baby bookworms and some playing on a computer she's allowed on. The week before it was Boingo Bounce.

She is our ray of sunshine. She's our best little friend. I don't know what we'd do without her. THANK GOD for her.

Here are some picture's to enjoy. Have a great week!