August 2016

I don't really know how to keep Ruby's updates separate from the rest of our family's goings on, so I am just going to have to try monthly updates in hopes of keeping up with her milestones.

 My mom was so helpful to come whenever I needed her this summer. Here she is for another visit 8/11. She is totally smitten with Ruby and loved talking to her on this visit. This pic reminds me of Henry. I see more similarities between his and Ruby's looks.

Ruby is so attentive now to us talking to her and she "talks" with her eyes and mouth movements. So sweet!

8/12-One of our last days at home before school started...tried to stay in PJ's and do things at home. Henry was working on ordering the alphabet on clothes pins and Annie putting marbles in the bottle.

Not sure why, but these 2 ask for their pic to be taken when we are at the grocery all the time! Who am I to refuse this? They know I'm a sucker for getting their pic!

On 8/13, Henry started soccer! He was so excited to start, and was especially pumped over the equipment he got-cleats, socks (which he insisted needed to be pulled all the way up), shin guards, ball. He did good his first practice and we've had fun since then going to his little Saturday practice/games. He's not the most competitive, but he seems to enjoy it, and we are taking it as good exposure to a team sport at this point!

8/14-Grandma came for a visit and watched Ruby for us quite a bit so we could swim with the big kids and even go out after they went to bed one evening. Our anniversary was on the 10th (14 years!!!), so we celebrated then and also Ben and Melanie watched Ruby while the big kids were with Grandpa the weekend prior so we could go to dinner.

Jammie kids after bath one evening!

Hard to resist snapping a pic of that sweet face

And snuggling that sweet girl after her bath one night!

8/15-our LAST day of summer! We went to a splash pad nearby that I had never heard about before that was awesome! We will definitely be visiting it again next summer. We packed a lunch and had a good time.

And another shot of this girl's crazy hair! She has blonde/light hair underneath, but it is mostly dark still. It looks like a reverse highlight or like an old lady's color growing out with gray roots showing!

Sweet swaddled baby

First day of school on 8/16! I am teaching 4th grade half days (7:30-12:30) this year with a class of 13 wonderful students, Henry is in pre-K, and Annie and Ruby are in the same nursery room (Annie the oldest and Ruby the youngest!). We had a great first week, although it was exhausting to say the least! Steven and I tag teamed that first week-He kept Ruby at home in the morning while I taught, then he went to work in the afternoon while I went home with all three kids. Ruby wasn't even 6 wks old yet, so I really wanted her to stay at home that first week if possible. She struggled with a bottle the first day, and it stressed Steven out so much that he brought her to school for me to feed her! That night I worked w her to take a bottle, and the rest of the week he said she took it like a champ! Henry and Annie love school and feel so at home there. They were excited to see friends and teachers and to get into a routine. Ruby started to school the following week, and she has done amazing. I was nervous about it all, but it has far exceeded my expectations and has got so great! I'm so thankful!!

These aren't the best pictures, but I wanted to document that our friends the Rollins came for a visit from Kansas City the weekend of 8/19 and we saw them several times. Their boys are so big! Can't wait for them to get back to the South!

Our small group met at IHOP before church. Annie was proud of her smiley face pancake that she ate none of.

Annie went to friend Heather's second bday party-so cute!

Ruby having tummy time and Annie joining in!

Snapped some pics after church one day...her smocked Sunday dress and crazy hair do not match! I tried putting a bow in, but it was no use! Just too wild at this pt.

Happy girl-such big smiles!!

Henry so proud of treasures he found on another trail walk.

Such a little explorer!

Annie had her 2 year check up on 8/22 (3 months past due!). She did great and was almost 35 inches tall and 29 pounds (both 75%). 

These 2 had such fun playing in the dirt with tractors and potting soil one afternoon

Teamwork!

On August 26, Henry officially turned 4 and a HALF! We went to Sugar Belle for cupcakes (any reason for a cupcake, right?!)

The kids get a kick out of tiny Ruby in her crib and want her to have her blankie and stuffed animals when I lay her in there.

Another sweet face with party hair. Henry says Ruby has rock star hair!

One day after school while I was putting the girls to nap Henry was working on this creation...we had gotten the mail and I guess the newspaper baggie inspired him. He used that, paper, and his duct tape to make a hat!

Annie wants to hold Ruby all the time-"I wanna hold huh. Can I hold Wooby?" are Annie's exact words. We don't usually add in Ruby's middle name, but more often than not, Annie calls her sister "Ruby Jane". It's so cute!

The last day of September I put Ruby in her swimsuit! She got to take a dip with us and she was so calm and chill about it!

She just took it all in and never fussed!

Here's a pic the Kentucky family got of Ruby during a FaceTime call. She's a charmer!

Swinging it absolutely one of Annie's favorite things to do outside. She begs to get in and fusses when she has to get out-even if it's been like 30 minutes!!

This girl has some serious spunk-she's a mess!

Daddy holding BOTH big kids one night to read books before bed!

And this is "Jumpy" our resident frog. Steven kept finding him in the pool over and over-he's the biggest one yet! Steven would fish him out and put him out of the fence and the next day he'd be there again. The kids named him and loved seeing him daily. This isn't the best pic, but he was a good looking frog-kind of like the classic kiss the frog and he turns into a prince type. After he started to bring dirt with him to the top steps of the pool, Steven decided to make the transport permanent and they made the trek to release him in the creek. There was a tiny part of us that thought he might make his way back in a few days, but not yet. Bye, Jumpy!