Tuesday, March 25, 2008

technical difficulties


Issue one: I'm switching this blog to a different website, more later, and am having issues learning the new site's stuff. I'll get there.
Issue two, three, four....: John is out of town. For a week. He is in Kansas City, MO for a sustainable agriculture conference. We're all a little loopy trying to cope without him (and he away from home, among other things).
Oh, and another issue: Ruby only took one 45 minute nap today. Apparently she's, like 4 years old or something. So, from 11:45 am until 7:20pm today, I've been trying to entertain her. It hasn't exactly been easy. John quit taking naps at a young age and I'm trying hard not to think about that, but Ruby is in so many other ways like him (except that she really likes to scream) so I'm afraid I'm in trouble.

I don't know if I've ever written about it before, but Ruby LOVES music. She is so excited when John plays the guitar and has to go over and strum a few chords herself. She usually calms down instantly when we start singing, and already recognizes several songs. She shrieks over the record player. Our (the 3 of us) favorite music to listen to lately is Elizabeth Mitchell's Little Bird album. If only we had it on vinyl for Ruby. Do they still make those Fischer-Price record players? I got that when Brianne was born. Maybe I should dig around on ebay or something. If Ruby naps.

Friday, March 21, 2008

another book


I just finished reading this book. I've been reading a lot about food lately. It's funny how that happens - it seems accidental. I have a long list of books that I want to read and yet the food related books are the ones that keep becoming available at the library.

It is a very thorough look at the history of food in our country and with that women's history as well. It is fascinating and troubling. And yet at the end, I was inspired. We live in a time and place where finding locally grown, organic produce is fairly easy. We can raise some of it ourselves, but we don't have to. Its a good thing, because I don't know if I'd survive.

John and I think and talk a lot about food. We eat a lot of food. We've been making a lot of our own food now that we're attempting (struggling?) to cut our grocery budget in half. We're trying to balance our financial health with our physical health. So far, we think we've been eating better actually. We're becoming better bakers and really enjoying what we eat and the effort it takes to make it. We have chosen to live a relatively simple lifestyle so that Ruby & I can stay home together and this is part of it. Another unexpected benefit of Ruby becoming part of our family.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Ruby Dragon



I love how nursing can convince a very sleepy Ruby that it really is time to fall asleep. And I love how nursing can remind me that this very wiggly, independent, and opinionated baby is so sweet and peaceful and loving. She fell asleep nursing, holding onto my finger and my heart melted.


Look what Ruby Dragon got in the mail today. She earned her nickname. So cute & creative! I better start thinking about Ruby's first birthday - 2 1/2 more months.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

ruby rocks

Ruby loves to rock in her old rocking chair. I especially like it when she stops to gives me hugs.
-john

Monday, March 17, 2008

happy st. paddy's day


Ruby is festive today with her shamrock barrette in her hair from here. She got a couple holiday clips in her stocking at Christmas.
She is a big baby now. She crawled(!) and only took two short naps today (boo). Also, she is really into her books right now which makes me so proud. She loves other toys too, but thats not so exciting to me. Anyway, one book she lovesFrom Head to Toe, by Eric Carle and each page has a different animal moving some part of its body that we can do as well. John and I act it out as we read. A couple days ago, Ruby was looking at the book by herself, turned to the page where the seal claps his hands and started clapping her own hands! I wasn't clapping or reading or anything! When I told John about it on the phone later, she started clapping again when I said that she clapped. Its amazing that she can understand this already. She waves when you say good-bye, claps when you say clap or "yay, Ruby!" and hides her face when you say, "Where's Ruby?"

Sunday, March 16, 2008

new toy

Here is Ruby in her new exersaucer. She and the dragon puppet are getting along swimmingly.


We have more new videos posted - follow the link on the right.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

flower power


I never really understood daylight savings time until we moved to Oregon. Everything feels so different now that it is light an hour later. That and the fact that the trees and flowers are blooming everywhere is enough to make me think about summer and tank tops and swimming. I can't wait! I had no idea how much I'd love spring. And at the end of this spring, we get to celebrate Ruby's first birthday. How exciting. But now I have to try to convince her that she is sleepy.


Oh yes, I'm reading this fabulous book. I recommend it to all parents & teachers. It is full of practical suggestions and everything is simple enough to make part of daily life. It is my favorite book about children right now and it makes me excited to think about Ruby being a kid, not a baby. See, I never really pictured a "kid". I just wanted to have a baby. I don't really know what happens next or if I'm ready for it. I guess thats how it goes, right? I didn't go into this thinking, "I want a teenager." Does anyone?

Craft show news: We're still searching for the right venue. Does anyone know Eugene well enough to offer suggestions???

Saturday, March 08, 2008

spring hike


We finally took Ruby on a hike in OSU's forest recently. It was a beautiful day, and she loved it. She giggled and shrieked the whole time. We can't wait until it warms up even more so we can do this all the time.

We went to Eugene on Friday so I could go to a meeting. Ruby still nurses every 3 hours, so she had to come as well, but she couldn't come to the meeting, so John took the morning off and took Ruby to the Eugene library for infant story time. He said she had such a great time, although I think he may have enjoyed himself and watching Ruby more. She was the loudest baby there (except for the crying babies). She liked the puppet show, but got really excited when the duck puppet came out. She LOVES ducks. We were pretty impressed that she recognized the puppet to be like her favorite animal.

She has also discovered that she has a 3rd hand:

Friday, March 07, 2008

stop worrying!

I have a flood of emails, well not a flood, but a bunch, from worried friends and family about Ruby's bed. We put the mattress down as soon as she pulled herself up. Don't worry! I couldn't do it myself, so Ruby napped in another safe place until John got home to do it. She hasn't even come close to doing it since. She never did it before until that day. I am the last person who wants Ruby to get hurt, I'm doing everything I can to prevent it.
More soon...just wanted you to stop worrying.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

happy birthday!


Happy birthday, John! Here he is as a proud papa 9 months ago (as of yesterday!) with his baby girl. We're celebrating today with John's favorite foods: eggels (bagel, egg, cheese & fake sausage sandwiches) for breakfast, burrito & beer for lunch, lasagna & wine for dinner & molasses spice cake with cream cheese icing and brown sugar glaze for dessert.
Here are the socks (from Weekend Knitting) & card I made for him. I hope the socks fit!