Merry Christmas from Ruby the Elf

Another Ruby Conversation

I need to think of a catchier name for posts about these little conversations with Ruby. Here's one from last night, as we were reading books in bed.

Me (reading from a book): "Momma Bear cooks food for lunch."

R: Momma, YOU like to cook.

Me: Yes I do, Ruby. Do YOU like to cook?

R: Yes. Does Dada like to cook?

Me: No, not really.

R: Yeah, Dada likes to lay down.

Such a smart girl! David actually does a lot to help around the house, but had some back pain last night and was lying down after dinner.

To Brighten Your Day

Warning: A Post about Poop

I have a rule that I don't post about poop on the blog too often. I consider this blog a diary of sorts, but I would hate for Ruby to be embarrassed by it someday. Today's conversation, however, is just too cute not to share.

Me: Ruby, did you poop?

R: No.

Me: I think you did, Rubina. I can smell it from across the room.

R: It is POTENT, Momma.

Not only did my two year old use the word "potent," but she used it correctly. I'm impressed.

Fun with Photobooth

Ruby is really into the Photobooth program on the computer. I have to admit, it cracks me up too.

Happy Birthday, Sunshine!

Happy Second Birthday, Ruby Albina! You have brought so much sunshine into our lives and we love you more than words can describe. We hope you have a fabulous special day and a fantastic year as a big two year old!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gigi and Baba came to Austin to celebrate Thanksgiving, and we devoured a feast of turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, onion salad, and asparagus.  Ruby saw the awesome spread ... and immediately and repeatedly requested a waffle, which we provided.  She later came around and enjoyed some of the deliciousness that is Thanksgiving dinner. 

The Urbans joined us later for dessert and drinks and a football game that, well, sucked.  Dessert was vanilla ice cream, the-best-ever pecan pie by Emilia, homemade peppermint marshmallows, chocolate bread pudding, and pumpkin roll (all by MC).  Homemade hot chocolate with schnapps and a steady flow of bourbon at least made the game less painful. 

I hope everyone was able to spend their day with someone they loved, as having friends and family that I love dearly makes up the bulk of that for which I am thankful. 

Ten on Tuesday

This week, I decided to post ten cute things that Ruby has said recently.

1. I was very red when I was born. I was crying. I feel better now.

2. I dance like Aunt Lo. (proceeds to shake her arms and bottom very quickly while going up and down)

3. Listing the friends at her birthday party: Odidia, Hemick, Jack, Toppy, pita chips, Amery, Desmond.

4. My dad is very handsome.

5. (pulling up her dress for a friend's dog) Hello little dog. Look at my baginey.

6. We are spooning. I am the tiny spoon. You are the big spoon.

7. I need a massage. Get the table. (hands me her lotion)

8. I have patience. (HA!)

9. EAT MY HINEY! (running around the house naked, trying to get us to tickle her.)

10. Let's drive to San Diego!

Birthday Fun!

Ruby's birthday party was over a week ago, but I'm just now getting around to posting the pictures from the party.  We had a fabulous time at her backyard cowgirl celebration! Ruby and her friends dressed in their western best for a rootin', tootin' good time! We spent the afternoon jumping on the trampoline, playing on the bales of hay, and eating yummy cobbler and ice cream. Ruby loved having all of her friends and family (minus a few special people) in one place. Some highlights from her special day:

 

 

As always, there are a ton of shots that I wish we had gotten.  There are no pictures with any of the grandparents or honorary grandmothers who came from out of town, there are no pictures of Ruby's fabulous outfit from head to toe (including my twenty-nine year old cowboy boots), no pictures of all the favors set out on the table.  There are some awesomely bad group pictures that I tried to take that we'll post later this week.

Flashback Friday

If we HAD done Christmas cards last year, this picture would have been a definite finalist. Gotta love a family in coordinating denim!

Christmas Cards

We decided not to do holiday cards in 2009 in order to save a little bit of money. I really missed doing them and wanted to find a way to send one out this year. They're such a great way to share a cute picture with family and friends. And we have no shortage of cute pictures of Ruby this year, thanks to David's awesome camera and my talented photographer friends.

This year, I was excited to see that Shutterfly was offering 50 free holiday cards for bloggers who posted about the awesome shutterfly card options. A win, win for everyone. Now I just have to decide which card to send.
Some of my favorites:

Sending Holiday Cheer

Oh Holy Night (D's favorite Christmas song)

Merry

Holly Jolly Christmas

There are about fifty other ones that I also love, but I figured I would just choose a few to share. I'm sure the final decision will be made by David, as he makes all "artistic" decisions in our household. He has an eye for these things, you know :)

Extended Breastfeeding

Before having my own children, I always assumed I would breastfeed for the first year.  I thought that once my child was able to walk up to me and unbutton my shirt that I would be done.  HA! The crazy parenting ideas we have before actually becoming parents....

Ruby is almost two and still nursing, four times a day actually.  Most days I love the nursing relationship we have.  I truly believe it is why she is so smart and healthy.  Ruby has definitely moved beyond being able to unbutton my shirt and latch on herself, waaay beyond it.  She now has the ability to bargain for her "milky", as evidenced by the following conversation:

Ruby: Momma, I need milky.
Me: No, Ruby.  It's not time for more milky yet. Would you like some cow milk instead?
Ruby: No cow milk. Momma milky... please?
Me: No, not until bedtime.
Ruby: Just a lil' bit? (smiling sweetly and tilting her head)
Me: No. Not until bedtime.
Ruby: I have a lil' bit? Just a minute, Momma?

She definitely gets an A for effort :)

My Cowgirl

Our Friday Jam

I've already made Ruby listen to this song six times today. As Ruby would say, "I LOVE IT!"

My View

I was in the kitchen doing dishes this afternoon and looked out the window to see this. 

It made my heart happy.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Ruby loved trick or treating... once we got her out the door and walking around the neighborhood.  We literally had to take her outside and to the neighbor's house to get her into her costume.

2.  Once she put her tutu on, Ruby became a beautiful bal-reena.

3.  While trick or treating, Ruby was cracking us up.  Some of my favorite things that she said:  "It is very dark."  "I LOVE it!"  "All of my friends are here."  "I can hear the crickets."

4. One more picture of the bal-reena and her mom, who went as a tired housewife. 

5. Somehow, we made it through the night with Ruby eating ONE piece of candy.  I was shocked.  She had one piece yesterday and one piece today as well.  Tomorrow, I'll be telling her it's all gone.  That doesn't make a bad mom, right?

6. That actually might be true by tomorrow, as I cannot stop myself from eating the candy.  I've had two mini bags of m&m's today.  They were delicious.

7. Speaking of eating, Ruby and I went to Houston last week to hang out with Gigibaba. After a super fun morning at the zoo, we ate lunch at Fadi's. OMG. The spread at Fadi's is phenomenal. Ruby agreed, as she ate the most I had seen her eat in over a month.

8. Ruby was tired by the end of the meal and kept "pretending" to sleep in the booth.  She fell asleep on the ride home.

9.  I wish I had final pictures of Ruby's big girl room ready to post on the blog, but it's slow to come together. I have a special Albina inspired project that I'm working on too. I'm excited.

10. I have been sitting here for ten minutes trying to think of something else to write.  Cleary, I did not think of anything clever.  I will note, however, that I didn't nap when Ruby did today because most of the time it's such a tease.  Right when I fall asleep, she wakes up.  Yet today, she has been asleep for two hours and I still don't hear her.  I can't believe I didn't try to take a nap.

Twenty three months

Sneak Peek

We had a super cold, super early morning birthday photoshoot with Brandy of Brandy Leigh Photography this morning. We were there to celebrate Ruby's second birthday AND Brandy's one year anniversary of being a family photographer. Happy Birthday and Anniversary to two of my favorite girls. There's nothing like freezing your buns off to celebrate two important milestones.

Brandy perfectly captured Ruby and her fun-loving spirit. Thanks, B, for the gorgeous shots of my sweet toddler.