So much to post.....

so little time, yada yada, yada. I've decided instead of dreaming up all of these long, fancy posts with pictures and videos that I never get around to actually blogging about, I will start short and sweet, slightly themed posts of random things that should be remembered.

For instance, today, the title would be "Weird things Ruby eats." And the entry would be: For breakfast today Ruby asked for cereal, and a bologna sandwich with cheese and lettuce inside. We never even eat bologna! Where does she get this stuff?

So, she has just eaten her cereal, and I'm off to make a turkey and cheese sandwich. With lettuce inside.

The Potty Training Chronicles: Part Two

Holy Crap!!!!!

Well, I actually should have posted this a little while ago, but you all know how it goes with me! Ruby did go poop on her potty one time, without any encouragement, or even our awareness! She was just hanging out naked, which is usual around here with me, and Aaron and I were looking at something on the computer. Ruby came in very excited saying, "I went poo-poo! I went poo-poo!" And I was of course thinking, "Oh crap!". So I said, "okay Ruby, show mama where the poo-poo is," as I was already preparing myself to the task of cleaning up poop off the floor. Needless to say, I was pretty shocked when she proudly displayed a huge turd in her potty. We were so proud of her! I wasn't expecting poop on the potty for a long time to come. I was very pleased with the progress she had made so far. Dada and I made a big fuss over her accomplishment, and she also seemed very pleased with herself.

Fast forward to today, which is probably two and a half weeks from the potty poop. There has been no more poop on the potty, or any interest to try that again. But, after a few days of regressing to not wanting to pee on the potty, Ruby is in a very good habit of always using the potty to pee. If she happens to be wearing a diaper, she takes it off to pee. This is great! The incentive of stickers and treats definitely keeps her constant. However, she will not poop! If she is not wearing a diaper, I think she might hold in her poop, because her "schedule" is not predictable any more. So far I really haven't read any advice about potty training, but perhaps now is the time to add to my repertroire of mommy tricks. We have not started to leave the house (unless for very short trips) yet without a diaper on.

Here is the open call for advice, tips, and tricks to continue on with our potty learning success!!!

The Potty Training Chronicles

Part One:

I haven't wanted to jinx it by gushing too soon, but at last we have a little girl who is going pee pee on her potty!

I was starting to think she'd be wearing diapers in her teens, because she has maintained such a vehement aversion to the potty for the better part of a year now. I have tried to remain sensitive to her feelings, while still encouraging her to try the potty, but not making a big deal out of it when she would refuse. So, just like all other milestones with Ruby, last week she just made up her mind that it was alright, and actually replied yes when I asked her if she wanted to try and sit on the potty! My first instinct was always to be very nonchalant about the whole potty thing, but this is Ruby we are talking about! The little performer that she is, she has responded very well to generous accolades and encouragement, as well as stickers to put on her potty, and.... yes, sugary treats. I never wanted to stoop so low as bribing my kid with promises of ice cream, cookies, and m&ms, but hey, whatever works. Mama can't afford diapers anymore!

We have a long road ahead, but at least we have started the journey. It is funny for me to think about, because when Ruby was a baby, she was so fiercely determined to achieve those initial physical milestones of pushing up, rolling over, standing up, and walking. She did all of those things extremely fast it blew my mind, and left me more than a little bit wanting that she would stay a "baby" just a little bit longer. Yet as a toddler, the emotional milestones of weaning and learning to use the potty have been difficult for her to fully embrace, and it seems as Aaron and I are encouraging her to become independent, she desires to remain a baby. I can identify with this mental state. Change is hard, and can be really scary for some people who are comfortable with routine and knowing what is to come next.

But I digress, Ruby is doing an excellent job at navigating this transitional time in her life, and I am so overwhelmingly proud, touched, and honored to be her mother, and witness the beauty of her blossoming spirit. One thing hasn't changed, the girl is a firecracker!

Port Aransas, June 2009

Finally here is the promised video of Ruby experiencing the beach for the first time!

Coming soon.....

Lots of new posts, updates, pictures, and (drum roll, please), even a VIDEO!!!! Yes folks, you heard it right. My new camera and software makes it super easy to upload videos. Well, I haven't exactly tried it yet- but it seems Sarah friendly, only time will tell. Here is a little tease of our family vacation to the beach:

BUSY!!!

School is over. Commencement is complete. The move is heating up! We will officially be at the new place by Friday, so until then, it's all boxes and stairs.

Someday I will find the motivation to update this blog, and post new pics of Ruby in her ever-increasing cuteness. In the meantime, enjoy this post by my longest running and dear, dear friend, Alicia. And while you're at it, check out her wonderful arts and crafts site!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Sarah

What can I say...at least one of us made it! I am unbelievably proud of you...


Of course, I'm talking about your graduation this past weekend {not that I'm not proud of you for other things, like being a great mommy!}


It took a lot for you to keep at it, and while pregnant, and then with a baby, and to graduate while said baby is now a toddler! Whew!

You are my oldest friend, one of the dearest people in my life. I think one of my happiest days ever was when I had you, Aaron & Ruby at my wedding. I want to go over some of my favorite memories, I wonder how many of these you will remember...21 years is a long time to keep them!



1. Doing gymnastics {cartwheels for me} in your front yard at your 5th grade birthday party.
2. Daniel Day Lewis...enough said.
3. Your music collection
4. DJ the cat
5. Raja the cat and his fat belly {I loved getting to see him this weekend!}
6. Mrs. Blaylock and our MASH books!
7. Yanni concert
8. Tennis
9. Lunch at the country club
10. Your dad asleep on the couch with a game on.
11. Vegas
12. La Femme Nikkita
13. UTA mornings
14. Going to El Arroyo the 1st time I came to Austin and drinking margaritas
15. You being my wine buddy
16. Your mom...Oh how I love her!
17. Planning your baby shower
18. Seeing Ruby the 1st time at a Denny's on the side of 35 because we were both sooo busy with the holidays to have time to spend together...she was so precious...
19. Your apartment in Arlington
20. Being there this weekend to watch you graduate college & celebrate with the Baker Clan.

At Graduation: Jennifer, Joyce & Ruby
They Are Sarah's: Sister, Mother & Daughter

Trying to get our kiddos to cooperate

2nd attempt

Sarah & Ruby at her graduation dinner

Her sister Jennifer & her new beau

Ruby really enjoying her orange at brunch

We had such great plans this weekend, and they got rained out...
so the girls wanted to just play in the rain!

You are such a beautiful person Sarah, and I love you for all that you are. In your own words, your a witchy, woodsy woman...my words, your my nature loving, free-spirited, semi-hippie friend. Basically your you, and that's what I love. There are a lot of differences between us, and I guess there always have been, but we have never cared about that, and I don't think we ever will.

Ruby Claire

You share my love of tea tree oil, patchouli, nag champa, aveda, literature, oils, candles, wine, food and being a mommy. We never fail to have a good time. We can sit for hours and talk, not just girl talk, but deep, mind titilating discussions. In our younger years, we could stay up all night talking and polish off quite a few bottles of wine, I'm not so sure about that now, we didn't even finish one bottle this weekend!









I truly hope you know how much I love you & Ruby, although, I'm guessing you do...

Sláinte!

Posted by Murry Mayhem at 12:33 PM 2 comments

MEMORY

Yes, you are supposed to sing the title, because that is one of Ruby's favorite past times at the moment. That, and reading. Which leads me to the purpose of this blog. Ruby has made, of course, beyond a ton of developmental leaps since my last posts. She is still quite the little performer, and I'm already preparing myself for dance classes, theatre camps, or stand-up comedy. Everyone is always impressed by Ruby's vocabulary and language ability, as am I, but I think I'm just used to it. But the other day I have to confess I was so proud of my little girl, and in awe of the developing toddler brain. Ruby was reading her books in her room, and she has several memorized, but until now the memorization has consisted mostly of random words, strung together in "Ruby constructions" to describe what she knows is happening in the pictures. So when I walked into her room, saw her open one of her favorites, "Night Walk", and heard her read the opening page- "Outside in the garden, the blackbird sings her morning song" perfectly verbatim, I was so delighted!

Also, her Spanish vocabulary is growing, in part, thanks to Dora, but remember I took four semesters as well! She can now count from 1-5 en espanol, and has added "Hicimos!". She already says "vamanos" instead of let's go, and is working on "adios", "gracias", "permiso", and "salud". It's so much fun! I'll have to teach her "beso", so she and Julian can give each other muchos besos.
She also loves to toast now, and says "CHEERS" every time we sit down with drinks. So precious.

On to the singing. When we weaned, we replaced nursing before sleepy time with rocking in the chair and singing songs. I have been kept quite on my toes trying to learn words to tons of new songs, so neither of us get bored. Insodoing, Ruby has memorized quite a few herself and loves to belt them out to her heart's content. I'm not joking when I say belt, the girl is LOUD, and let me tell you, she can hold a note. Watch out American Idol, you ain't got nothin' on my little Ruby Claire.

I still can't believe how fast they transition from crying, helpless babies, to walking, talking, intelligently thinking, running, jumping, counting, singing, dancing, joking little people! It's still incredibly hard sometimes, to be the parent of a two-year old, but man the love is overpowering!


more posts to come about our wonderful Easter weekend visit, Scarborough Faire, and..... dadadaDA...... my impending graduation! Keep hangin' on, pictures are coming!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Ruby had a wonderful day, filled with outdoor fun and friends, pizza and cupcakes, stickers, and a new Dora movie. Mama and dada had steak, asparagus, and herbed risotto cakes. Not to mention Ghiradelli chocolates. Mmmmmm. Still working on the camera, but here are a couple of pics of Ruby playing at the park with a new friend, Connor.