3 years old!!!

Wow. We have a 3 year old Ruby! Time flies. I caught myself tearing up yesterday as Josh and I tucked Ruby into bed. How she has grown from a tiny, helpless baby into a smart, beautiful, comical 3 year old little girl is amazing. God chose Josh and I as Ruby and Violet's earthly parents, and, oh, what a joy they are...

We celebrated the big day a bit early on the 27th because the girls Great-Granma, affectionately known as "G.G.", came to visit. Ruby wanted a "Flower Birthday Party" and that's what we had. Lynn (Oma), sent Ruby and Josh birthday cake all the way from Seattle!! It was delicious. After cake and presents, my dad, Bob, G.G. and Josh got out there instruments and played some party music. Ruby danced and danced until she decided the trio needed to become a quartet...She whipped out her new HARMONICA and sat in! This was serious business for her folks. She even taps her foot as she plays...

Josh's 30th b-day was Sunday, the 28th.. (yes, 2 days before Rubys and 3 days before Halloween.) October is crazy around here! We had a great day. We ate at Noshville for breakfast with Aunt Susie, Christopher, Rebecca, Art and Katie and our family. Then we walked around the Parthenon, said goodbye to the Asheville folk, put the girls down for a nap while Art and Josh played disc golf, went to Pei Wei for dinner with The Rannells and Wolters, and then finally home for bed! How's that for a run on. Well, folks, the best husband and Daddy in the word just turned 30!

Violet also had a mini-b-day on the 28th. She turned 5 months old! Wow. Again, what a jewel. She laughs all of the time, loves to watch her big sister, loves her prescription formula, (ugh) and loves bathtime!

Today is Halloween. Ruby is moms day out. Vi is sleeping. Ruby wore her LadyBug costume to school today. Vioket is a kitten! We'll trick-or-treat in my parents neighborhood tonight.

Recent Ruby quotes:

"Dad, Jerry Seinfeld is SOOO funny."

"If that airplane is flying like a bird, why don't his wings flap?"

Daddy, Daddy, Conan is on Sesame Street!" (He really was, too!)

"But Mom!!!.. All of the other girls in my class get to bring their purses to school!!"
(I don't think so, Ruby.)


"When I bring my birthday donuts to school, my friends are going to FLIP OUT!!"

"Grandma, type in www.baby.com." ( this was at 18 months)

"Scribbling"

This afternoon Ruby was attempting to change shirts. "Mom, I'm scribbling! Can you help me?"? I said, " You're scribbling?", frantically trying to think what she could possibly mean. "What does "Scribbling mean, Ruby?" Frustrated with me, she said, "You know... having a hard time!!" Then in dawned on me...Sesame Street's Word of the day was "STRUGGLING"!! "Oh, you mean you are struggling?" "Yes, Mom, that is what I said!"

STANISH and Jesus

Ruby has a Spanish teacher come to her preschool once a week. Yesterday after school, Ruby said, "Mom!, My 'STANISH' teacher came today!!!" I asked Ruby what she did in Spanish class. She thought about her answer for a few seconds and finally said, "Well, Mom,... we STANISHED!"



This morning, while the girls and I were in the kitchen, Ruby said,
"Mom, I know... I can take my little baby American flag to church and wave it like the people do in big church!!! Can I do that, Mom?"

Dance Machine

Ruby and I attended a friend's wedding last night! It was the first wedding she was old enough to participate in and enjoy! Violet had a cold and got to stay home with her daddy. Ruby got to wear a new dress, new tights, and new shoes, but her favorite accessory was her silver heart locket that her Oma and Opa gave her when Violet was born.

It was an outdoor wedding very similar to Josh and my special day. Ruby and I sat and watched the bridesmaids and bride process and then her questions got a bit too loud to stay in the ceremony. "Mom, is Aunt Anna that bride?" "Is she marrying Noah?" Can I have more M&M's while we are waiting for the bride?"...Ummm. time to sneak out.

The reception was a blast because a big band was playing the reception. And to top it off, it was Grandpa's Big Band, The Moonlighters. Ruby danced and danced and danced and danced. When we had to get off the dance floor for the bride and groom's first dance, Ruby got pretty vocal and said, "When is that bride getting off that dance floor so I can dance?" She danced with bridemaids, including Aunt Anna, flower girls, Mommy, Aunt Laura and Grandma. On our long drive home, Ruby suprised me by saying, "Mom, I miss my sister." This was a memory she will never forget.

Our Little Tea Pot

My sister, Laura, a junior at UT-Knoxville, came home today for a wedding. The girls just love her and Ruby wants to BE her. Ruby recently announced this news: "When I grow up, I am going to UT and I will study to be a TEA POT." Hmmm.. We did tell her she could grow up to be anything she wanted to be...

Our friends, Daniel and Charissa Yusi and their two sweet kids, bennett (2) and Norah (11 weeks) come over for dinner tonight. Bennett and Ruby are great playmates. Life has sure changed from when Daniel and Josh were in a band together in high school to watching 2 toddlers bang on Josh's drums in the garage. "NEW NORMAL" is my new phrase and having our children in the mix makes it all the more special.
Charissa made great cookies for our dessert tonight. Ruby had eaten two and proceeded to ask her Daddy for more. When Josh said "No" for the 3rd time, Ruby looked at Josh with her "I am SO SERIOUS" face, gave Josh the "HAND" and said "Well, then, put those cookies away!!"

measurements

As Ruby and I were making pumpkin muffins today, I said outloud to myself, "How many ounces are in a cup?" Ruby answers, "Mom, I think it is two dollars." Who needs math class?

Concern for Others Trumps the free sprinkle cookie

"Mom, can I go to Publix with a sick nose?" -Ruby

Time

Being a mom of two sweet girls causes time to stand still and fly by at the same time. We run around all day playing, cleaning, reading, going to school, working on art projects, changing diapers, feeding bottles, and living our "new normal" life of a family of four. Life flies by and then, your daughter asks "Mom is the sky the moon's home and and the cloud's are the moon's blankets? And mom, is that where heaven is and Jesus lives?" Time freezes... The chores wait... The baby smiles and Ruby waits for my "profound" answer...

Dad, I think there's a song in this story somewhere....

"SNALLER"

For those of you who don't know, I am trying my best to get rid of 3 years of baby weight through the Weight Watcher program. I have done pretty well going slow and steady. I was thrilled today when my almost 3 year old noticed. She said, "Mom, your tummy is getting SNALLER and SNALLER and SNALLER... " I ran to give her a hug, only to realize she had not completed her thought... "But your tummy is still SQUISHY..." Hmmm..guess I still have some work to do.

Violet the Pancake

Yesterday, our sweet 4 month old decided to start flipping from her back to her tummy and back again. We are so proud of her, but it has made for some interesting nap times... We lay her on her back and she immediately flips over on her tummy. Then, she gets so mad that she's on her tummy that she screams until someone comes to flip her back. We flip her back and the whole routine starts over again! Pretty humorous. So...Miss Violet...We may have to let you cry a bit.

On another note, Ruby can quiet Vi in 3 seconds flat by singing her the Home Alone theme song using only Violet's name. It's quite sweet. You should try it sometime.

Yesterday, R and I were discussing how kids lose their baby teeth. She said , with tears in her eyes, "But Mom, if I don't have any teeth, what will I use to smile at your camera?"

I've started this blog, in part, to keep track of the girls daily commentary and milestones and to update you all on our daily lives. We still have our family blog www.jmw1409.blogspot.com. It will have any pics and major happenings on it. Hopefully, it will brighten your day.