Ruby is 6 months old!

Dear sweet Ruby, WHY are you growing so fast??? Seriously, time is flying by faster than I can say. Baby girl is already 1/2 a year old. Unreal. A quick recap of jolly Ruby girl 6 Month Check Up 19lbs 11oz (98% percentile) 27in (99% percentile) Head was off the charts, but can't remember the circumference. Skills Sits on her own Rolls and rolls and rolls Can grab at small objects and trade from hand to hand. Loves to find her paci and flip it around into the right position then pop it into her mouth. Loves Bath time. Kicks when she sees the tub because she is so excited! Once in the water, she kicks and splashes around like crazy. Not being swaddled. We stopped swaddling around 5 months and now she's a free girl. Going in to get her in the morning is a joy, she's kicking her chubby legs like crazy but it's also so funny to see which direction she's squiggled herself into. Food. She loves most fruit (baby food), bananas (in that mesh snack thing), and her big 9 oz bottles. Life. She's just so happy. She loves being sung to, tickled, snuggled, kissed. She rarely ever cries. I am just so in love with this child!!! Hates Strangers. No, not really. But she does have bouts of stranger danger already. We're trying to get her out more so she sees more faces. Here are few pics of the sweetie. I can't believe a half of a year has already passed!!!

Hablas Espanol?

So....the kids are really picking up Spanish. It's totally nuts.....but because this blog USED to be a place where I'd document all things and has lately just been collecting dust.....I am going to record their adventures in learning Spanish. Ivonne can't be a part of their lives forever....unfortunately. I think we've convinced her to stay another year with us. I pray that is the case anyway. We will keep the kids immersed in Spanish always.....so this is the start of their learnings. :-)

Words learned since Ivonne arrived on Oct 21st, 2011
Agua- Water
Pan- Bread
Uvas- grapes
Leche- Milk
Fruta- fruit
Pajaro- Bird
Elefante- Elephant
Boca- Mouth
Cabeza- Head
Ojitos- Eyes
Orejas- Ears
Dientes- Teeth
Manos- Hands
Pies- Feet
Nariz- Nose
Chichi- pee pee
Cuantos Anos Tienes?- How old are you?
Como te llamas?- What is your name?

Somebody Pinch Me...

That's what way I feel these days.
Seriously.
Yep, I'm sleep deprived b/c Ruby girl is going through a little phase of waking a TON at night.
And yes, we've entered the terrible two's where both say "uppy" all day long wanting to be held OR have a meltdown over the teeniest little thing (Hello, how could I put water in THIS cup not THAT cup and without ice? Ugh, the little specifics)

BUT.....the pure JOY of being a mom, and not just a mom to any children but to MY 3 children is overwhelming.
They are so incredible.
Little people that Blake and I get to wake up to each day. Smiley Ruby, cuddly Hudson and chatty Harper. I'm greeted literally EVERY MORNING with the biggest hug from Hudson as he wraps his arms tightly around my neck when I lift him out of his crib. Harper quickly scrambles to her feet and says "Good Mornin, Good Mornin". And Ruby, sweet Ruby is usually all smiles with her chubby face poking out of her tighly swaddled body.
We have been so incredibly blessed with our au pair, Ivonne. I'm not convinced that she is real. She seriously just laughs and shrugs off the meltdowns the twins have or the fit Ruby has...she just seriously fits into our family and makes us so happy.

Yes, there are days when we collapse on the couch after putting all 3 in bed and look at each other in disbelief. They are exhausting. And we do get frustrated. But overall, above everything I feel like I'm the luckiest woman alive. I do feel like I need to be pinched...this is really MY life!

A post for Ruby Anna

4 months old already.
Seriously...where does the time go?

My- er... OUR Ruby Anna is a true joy. This child wakes up smiling and cries when hungry or tired. That's it.
Extremely happy and loving baby.....our world is so incredibly blessed. Ruby loves to be tickled, loves to be bounced and loves to be sung to. Any song will do....she just loves hearing voices.

Ruby had her 4 month Dr appointment yesterday, 16.2lbs which is 90%'th percentile for weight! Height is 26inches and she is all around healthy.
Developmentally, she's so smart and strong. She loves the Bumbo, lately has taken to the Jumperoo and can push WAY up when on her tummy. She loves her hands....wants them in her mouth non-stop. Sadly, she'd probably love Sophie the Giraff but everytime we get it out for her....the twins highjack it. Poor Ruby, all of her toys are not very interesting to the curious 20-month old twins that are always poking, kissing, "helping" her.

I love this phase, her awareness has really changed and she is constantly looking around in amazement at the busy life around her.

Lastly, sleep! She's rocking 12 hours at night. Sometimes she wakes up for her "chupo" or "cupo" as Harper calls it (pacifier for the non-Spanish speakers). And sometimes she needs a few ounces in order to doze back into Rubyland. But she's a pretty amazing sleeper!
We feel so blessed. It's incredible how after a long day of work or a rough night of sleep....the faces of our children wipe away everything. Life is quite amazing for us.....counting our blessings daily!

The picture collage is from Ruby's 4 month birthday...complete with a celebratory trip to the Dr for shots :-(

January 11 (2010 vs 2011)

Last year on January 11th......

This year! What a difference 1 year can make!!!

Home Sweet Home

There is too much to update on and too little time. My kids are talking machines. Santa, Ho Ho Ho, I love you, Baby.......the list goes on and on and on.
I love that each day, a new word is spoken from those two little mouths. Keeps us laughing constantly at how adorable they are.
And Ruby.......she's the happiest, chubbiest, smiliest (is that a word) baby. Ever! I love this little chunker so much....she is so pretty, and alert and happy. She's such a joy.....we love her more and more every day. Not just Blake and I, but big brother and sister too!

Ok, on to the update. Our home is done. It's got a few tiny little things here and there to do like knobs, outlet covers, etc........and of course decorating. But the project is 98% done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Without further adieu.......some pictures!!!!!