Twelve Months

If my math serves me correct, I do believe that is one full year.


Happy birthday, daughter.

Happy Birthday Miss Ruby Albina!

You have brought so much joy and laughter into our lives during the last year. We love watching you play with your dogs, love on your babies, and read your books. Thank you for your beautiful smile, silly faces, and sweet baby kisses.

Baby's First Thanksgiving

Ruby Albina was busy all morning, cooking in her fancy red kitchen from the Geeg. She made a fabulous turkey, Albina's famous stuffing, Grandma Loraine's fabulous sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach. Next year, she wants to try out Uncle Jacob's recipe for pecan pie. Everything about Miss Ruby is advanced, including her palette.

We've had a wonderful day so far, spending the holiday with David's parents and grandparents. Ruby is already crashed in bed with a belly full of turkey and all the fixin's. If Ruby was able to talk, I'm sure she'd tell us that she is thankful for many things, including her family, her new friends, her two stinky dogs, and all of her books. I am thankful for many of the same things, especially our family and the new friends we have made in the last year. We hope you and your family have had a wonderful holiday as well. Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't need no stinkin' ferber....

RUBY ALBINA SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG !

845pm until 7am. no waking, no crying, no nursing.

today is a glorious day!

And in honor of her upcoming first birthday and her new commitment to sleep, here is Ruby Albina at one week old, sleeping like the angel that she is.

Flashback Friday

The last belly pic we took before Ruby made her appearance.

Yard work is good for one's constitution

In my ongoing quest to remake the backyard into a place that family and friends actually want to congregate, I took the day off of work to build a patio in what was a rocky, weed-filled corner of the yard that we never used.

Although slightly difficult to see due to the shadows, here's a before picture:


And after:




Ruby was more than happy to help out.

Family Photos, Sneak Peek

We had our first official family photo shoot yesterday with the fabulous photographer Meaghan D. We spent a few hours exploring Austin with Meaghan and hopefully getting the perfect shots for our new photo wall and our holiday card. Meaghan shared a few sneak peek photos on facebook last night that I'm posting here. I love them and can't wait to see more! Thanks, Megs. You're awesome with the camera.

Jealous?

For Christmas last year, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law gave me a gift certificate for the fabulous Milk and Honey Spa. Then, for my birthday two months ago, my friend, MC, gave me another gift card to the same spa. Because I rarely take "me time" away from Ruby, the gift cards have been sitting in my bedside table, collecting dust.

Today, I'm finally going to use them! Gigi is here and encouraged me to make an appointment, as she wanted some alone time with Ruby. While I'm being pampered at the spa, Gigi will be at home, loving on Ruby and giving her a mini-pedicure. My Mother's Retreat will include an hour long massage and a mani-pedi with hot oil treatment. I hope to return home, refreshed and relaxed, ready to give Ruby some extra kisses and enjoy dinner with my family.

Ruby Loves her Daddy

Bean and Cheese Tacos

The Babysitters' Club

On Tuesday (while I was at the dentist), my friend came over with her son to watch Ruby and hang out for a few hours. It was my first time to leave Ruby with a non-family member and I was a little nervous. We spend a lot of time with Brandy and H though, so I knew that Rubes would be in good hands. When I came home, Brandy and the kiddos were making grilled cheese sandwiches and playing with the dogs. Thank you so much, Brandy. I will return the favor whenever you need a few hours to shop, go to an appointment, or just take an extra long nap.

Yesterday, I babysat another friend's baby while his mommy got a break for a few hours. D and Ruby had a ton of fun, banging pots in the play kitchen and hanging out in the front yard. I was able to snap a picture of them in the front yard. They really were having fun, I promise. I just don't think they were amused by the weird noises I made to get their attention for the photo.

I hope we're able to swap babysitting duties with these friends more often, especially now that Ruby is a little older and can be gone from us for a few hours at a time. It saves us money (no need to pay a babysitter), and Ruby has a great time playing with friends.

And happy early birthday to D. We're so excited to celebrate with you this weekend.

More Halloween Fun

Meaghan took some awesome pictures of Ruby last weekend as our monarch went trick or treating for the first time. By "trick or treating" I mean that Ruby walked around our front yard and went to two of the neighbors' houses to say hello. Here are the pictures to document her first Halloween. Thanks, Megs. The pictures are great, as always.

Playing with Ms. Sherrie's spider glove

Trying to fly away when she realized she wasn't going to get any candy

Pretty girl with her handsome Daddy

Posing in the sun

Posing in the grass

Walking with Daddy

She tried to fly away, but David caught her

Tio doing his best Ruby face

Tio doing his best Stella face.

I'm so excited that Ruby looks just like her Daddy

Hello world!