Favorite Reads of 2009...

The Last Time I Was Me and Henry's Sisters by Cathy Lamb

Water for Elephants by Gruen

Hand of Isis by Jo Graham

The Night Villa by Carol Goodman 

The Sugar Queen and Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum books are all laugh out loud funny)

and the best...  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  

Enjoy!

Curiouser and curiouser!

Here is a photo of Ruby at the beginning of her nap (recreated for visual effect).

Here is how I found her when I went to get her up.

And here she is cracking up at her own cleverness. 

How did she get turned around like that!!??

And here she is this a.m.  Notice anything funny about her pacifier??  She can put it in herself, but sometimes it's upside down.  :D

5 months old...

Our little peep is 5 months old today!  I can't believe how the time has flown...  

She was waking up lots in the night through October.  Finally realized she was teething when a little tooth poked through (you can just see it in the pic!).  Number two peeked out Sunday. Hopefully she'll have a little reprieve before the next set comes in.  I can't believe my little baby has teeth!!

She is such a little people watcher.  Her grandpa and cousins from Indy were here for the weekend and she stared and staaaared at them.  Most of her smiles were put on hold until she's had a while to check them out.  Funny inquisitive girl...

Every now and then I make her chuckle, either by wiping spit up off her or by raspberrying her belly, but it's still too spotty to catch on video.  It is the cutest chuckle, it just bowls me over. Can't wait to share it.  :D

We take lots of walks out back to watch Max zoom around and look for deer, frogs, and the blue heron who sometimes visits our pond.  I'm so grateful for the lovely weather we've been having!  

Seeds...

We had a mouse in the house a while back.... I finally found what he did with the bird seed he cobbed. :)

Happy Halloween!

Toes and whatnot...

This is my you weren't in this position when I put you down for your nap picture (should that be hyphenated? ah well, too many hyphens for me, italics will have to do). She's so adorable, she just melts my heart down into my shoes several times a day.


Saturday night we went to Jim and Becky's wedding reception. A cute couple there came up to talk to me about Ruby. Apparently they have a baby about the same age, or so we thought. Comparing notes, we found they were born on the same day! They inquired if Ruby was chewing on her toes yet. "Not yet," said I. Then Sunday morning the pjs were off for a diaper change and the toes went up to the mouth, not for a chew though, just for a lick. Toe lollipop anyone?

What's in the bucket?

About a month ago I went out by the back porch and grabbed this blue bucket to water some plants.  When something rustled in the bottom, I dropped it (and screamed if you must know). I have NO idea how these little guys got in there!!  

I'm on an ocean kick

Ocean Tranquility from Hampton Jewels.

A picture of a gagillion hermit crabs in a tide pool in Akumal...  

Cute as a button...

Our little love - could she BE any cuter?  :D

We have gone to so many festivals and outdoor events and sites since Ruby's entered the world.  She has been to a Mud Bog, Applefest, Jesse James Days, Watkins Mill, even the annual picnic of our utilities company.  She LOVES to be outside and to people watch and she's as good as gold.  I think we both might get cabin fever this winter.  

I'm thinking that perhaps we should take a cruise.  Now if I could just remember to buy a lotto ticket so that I'd have a slight chance of winning!

Warm thoughts

Picture from our babymoon in Akumal - some flowers near our bungalow.  *warm + sunshiney + ocean for snorkeling = bliss*

Cold avoidance...

I'm SO not ready for winter.  Today the high was supposed to be 48, but I don't think it actually got over 40 degrees.  *sigh*  I'm thinking it'd be nice to move to Mexico, or maybe even Arizona for the winter.

Pretty ocean pendant from Texas Woman.

Tropical Ocean - Blue  Quartz and Sterling Necklace from Theresa Rose Designs.

Ruby at 4 months

It's so amazing to look at old pictures and see a skinny little Ruby.  Was she really THAT little?

Diaper changes take longer now because she grabs my pinkie with one hand and my sleeve with the other and then tries to chew on my sleeve.  haha!   She's also found her feet and likes to grab her toes mid diaper change.  She drools like crazy most of the time and blows a lot of spit bubbles.

You can tell when she's excited to see you or is having fun because she waves her little arms around and whacks her side with them and smiles her funny wide mouth smile.

She's rolled over from her stomach to her back several times, but she can't always do it, yet. Yesterday she did it 4 times in a row, like a champ and then today couldn't seem to figure it out. I'm sure that in a week or so she'll have it down pat and then tummy time will be on her terms!

Sometimes I have to go in and peek at her at night to make sure it's real.  I'm a parent? And some mornings when she wakes up and I go to get her, I'm astounded again by this perfect little person Chuck and I made.  Amazing....

Etsy cuteness...

Super cuteness from Zooz Handmade Jewelry.

Ruby Growling....

Ruby was growling in her crib one morning last week.  She's a funny girl.  :D

Etsy Love...

This just cracks me up!  Dork plate from Vandalized Vintage - Trixie Delicious.