Ten Months

Our little girl is now ten months old. Insane.

Wordless Wednesday

Miss Blue Eyes

Photo by the talented MC Urban.

Bed Head

Ruby after her morning nap today. Some of the pics are a little blurry, but still super cute.

Ruby Walks!

So it wasn't on Emilia's birthday, as she had requested, but you won't hear us complain.



Ruby has strung together a couple of steps previously, but this was by far her longest stroll yet.

San Diego!

Lauren and Jacob opened their home to Ruby, Emilia, and me for the past few days as we visited San Diego. Just like our previous trips out west, we had an absolute blast. Ruby got to go to the beach two more times (she loves it), took a trip to the famous zoo (everything was a "dog"), and watched UT exact a little revenge as they beat Tech.

Despite our best efforts and repeated requests, Ruby didn't say "Lo" or "Jake." She did, however, fall in love with their semi-adopted cat, Sylvia. Ruby speed-crawled after her whenever she was in the house, something Sylvia didn't really appreciate. And, yes, Sylvia was a "dog" in Ruby's eyes.

Thank you again, Aunt Lolly and Uncle Jacob. Ruby can't wait to see y'all in December!

Two Months Early

Ruby's first birthday present arrived this week. David and I had been planning to buy her the Anywhere Chair from Pottery Barn Kids for her birthday, and I couldn't resist ordering early when it went on sale a few weeks ago. Here she is, 9.5 months old, in her first of many "Ruby" chair photo shoots.

I also want to add that while uploading the picture for this post, Ruby looked at it and said "baaaybaay." She is so smart.

Mimi Loves Ruby

Meet Mimi.


Mimi is friends with Gigi.


While Mimi and Gigi clearly do not enjoy posing for the camera, they do enjoy loving on Miss Rubina. They came to Austin to pick up Stella and Stanley for doggy day care while we vacation in San Diego.

We've been eating and shopping a ton the last few days, as evidenced by Ruby's new fall/winter wardrobe. Gigi and Mimi got a little crazy at Old Navy this afternoon, and Ruby and I couldn't be more excited. She's going to be the best-dressed baby on the block! Thank you Mimi and Gigi, y'all are the best.

Happy Birthday to Me

I'll admit that I was feeling down the last few days about my upcoming birthday. For the first time ever, I was concerned about getting older. I'm happier than I've ever been in my life, but my face has aged in the last year, a lot. I'm tired from a lack of sleep and it shows.

But I realized while nursing Ruby in the early morning hours of my birthday that it's ok if I look a little older. It's ok if I have laugh lines and wrinkles around my eyes. I'm a mom and I work hard at it. I've smiled more in the last year than I've ever smiled. Two years ago on my birthday we had started trying to conceive and I wanted a baby more than anything. Last year on my birthday, I was a hugely pregnant lady and wanted to hold my healthy and beautiful baby in my arms. This year on my birthday, those dreams had come true. As I was sitting in Ruby's nursery, holding her in my arms and watching her sleep, I felt my sadness disappear.

My birthday ended up being a great day. I got to sleep in while listening to the rain, David and Ruby bought me beautiful flowers and my first "Happy Birthday Mommy" card, we had a delicious lunch with friends and the Longhorns won. Friends and family called and sent messages all day telling me to have a wonderful birthday. One special friend even stopped by with an awesome gift, fabulous cupcakes, and some mommy words of wisdom.

And because no post is complete without a picture of Ruby Albina, here she is. With the birthday girl.

Flashback Friday (on a Thursday)

Mom and Dad with their first baby, Stella. Not Ruby related, but still super cute :)

Edit: I thought today was Friday. I'm home all day, so I get confused sometimes.

New Mommy Lesson #3

They say that sometimes you have to learn things the hard way. This is very true when you're a new mom. I'll admit that while I try my best, I occasionally make some parenting mistakes. For example:

New Mommy Lesson #1: A swim diaper does not hold liquid. It's only purpose is to prevent poo from escaping into the pool. Do not dress your child in her swim diaper and swimsuit, load her into her car, then drive to meet friends at the pool. She will definitely pee during the car ride to demonstrate to you that these nifty swim diapers aren't all that nifty. On a related note for new dads- it is not a good idea to place your child on your head when she is wearing a swim diaper. As previously noted, they are not very absorbent and the diaper contents will squish all over your head.

New Mommy Lesson #2: Popsicles are not a good idea before bedtime. Even if they do make for some super cute photos, you will pay for those photos by having to stay up two hours past bedtime watching your sugar high child push the dining chairs back and forth across the living room floor.

New Mommy Lesson #3: Do not let your baby take a nap at 5pm in the afternoon when she is usually done napping by 2pm. While she might be cranky and need the sleep, it is much smarter to push through that last hour of crankiness and put her to bed a little early instead. The 5pm nap will result in another night of the baby being awake for several hours past her bedtime, while you watch her push the dining chairs, jam on her piano, and clap her hands for you.

Ruby the Beach Bum

A quick video from Ruby's first trip to Galveston:

Hook 'Em!

Not only did our Longhorns win big tonight, but the Sooners also lost. The perfect way to start a stellar college football season! I think Ruby is the good luck charm we need for another National Championship victory. She actually refused to go to bed tonight until the very end of the fourth quarter- she wanted to be sure we won the game and also wanted some extra time with Tio and Megs. What a devoted fan.

Ruby Can Talk!

Well, at least a bit. She's for sure learned to say "dog." We've been trying to capture it on video for a few days now, and I finally had success this morning.

She's also figured out the best word in the English language: daddy (pronounced "did-ee"). We don't have that on video yet, but we're trying.

Attack of the Orange Popsicle