Things To Remember

I can't believe how fast you are growing up little Ruby girl. You are full of personality. You are a total girl...you love to play dress up, and the moment you get your princess gloves and dress on you start singing, "be the good girl you always have to be..." from the movie "Frozen". It is adorable. You like to do my hair and "make-ups". You like me to paint your nails, and then you usually pick it all off in the car when we are driving somewhere. You always are picking something...a scab, your nails...ahhh..it drives me crazy! Today in church you snuck to the end of the bench to pick at your toenail...you thought you were being sneaky, but I knew what you were up to ;). You are so independent...getting in the car and hooking yourself in all by yourself (even if it takes 10 minutes), putting your shoes on all by yourself. I love how you want to do things yourself...it is teaching me a good lesson on patience ;). You are going to be a great big sister in a couple months. You are loud and crazy and fun and shy all at the same time. With big groups of people and kids you usually stay close by my side and want me to hold you. You like to observe and see what everyone else is doing, and sometimes will join in with the big crowd.

At night when I lay by you before you go to sleep you show me your pretend, "baby chicks". I hold them and feed them, and we put them to bed. I love your little imagination. You like to pretend you are a cat sometimes, and eat pretend food out of my hand. I love in the mornings when you come in my room with your crazy hair and come snuggle me in bed. It is the best part of my day. You love chocolate milk, shredded cheese, chocolate, ice cream, and noodles.

You love to color with markers and cut up your coloring books. I pick up little tiny pieces of cut up paper everyday from under that little red table that you sit at. I love your creativity and how detailed you are with your coloring. It is so fun to watch, and see what you draw and come up with.

You are often found singing a song...usually a primary song or a song from Frozen or Tangled. You are the sweetest little girl, and I love being your mom.

A Rough Week and A Good Week

This past week we had one really warm day...it got up to almost 70 degrees! It was beautiful and we spent it all at the zoo. The next day it was down in the teens and beginning to snow again. :( That is the weather here in Ohio. We had so much fun at the zoo with friends. You love running around with all the kids, but also like to stay close to me and ride in the stroller. When there are lots of kids you get a little reserved. I like that you come to me and hold my hand, and want me to go on the playground with you.
The rest of this week was good. We had our friends, the Israel's come and visit on Friday and Saturday. They have a little boy Jacob just a little younger than you and probably twice your weight and size.
This week was much better compared to the week before. You were sick the week before, and had tantrum after tantrum everyday. I felt like you were always screaming, and kicking and crying about something all week long! I didn't always handle every situation how I should have, and was on my knees asking for forgiveness a lot. Then, Sunday came. Your dad was on call and gone all weekend. I just needed a peaceful Sunday. We had a good day at church, came home, and you took a long nap...which you haven't been doing lately. Gavin and I played games and listed to church music. I made some banana cake for after dinner later with the missionaries. It was such a peaceful day...just what I needed, and just what Heavenly Father knew I needed.  I am so grateful for the small blessings in my life and I know that Heavenly Father is always looking out for me. I hope you know how much he loves you, and that is is always there for you.
I am grateful for Sunday's to recharge my soul, and to give me a new start to the week.
Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, so we made homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream today in preparation. You and Gavin sat on the table and finished off the leftovers from the bowl with giant spatulas. :) Then it was time for bed. I laid by Gavin and Dad laid by you in your bed. We all fell asleep and then I woke up and woke up Dad. We went out, but your dad had me go back in to look at you. At some point you had taken off your pants and your pull up and were laying spread eagle in your bed. Such a silly girl.
Love you Ruby girl.

Sunday Journaling

I am off to a good start in journaling in here once a week. This was a good week. Nothing special...we took Gavin to preschool and then you came with me to the YMCA where I exercised and you played in the little daycare there. Whenever I go to pick you up you are either playing in the kitchen and pretend food area or with the baby strollers, babies, and baby car seats. You always have to put everything away before you come with me to go home. You are definitely a girl, and love to do motherly things. It's fun to watch you play.
You are not taking naps anymore so by the end of the day you are tired and grouchy and ready for bed. You fall asleep after singing a song or two or talking to your pink bunny that you sleep with every night. You love that bunny and your "bee blankie".
You are getting quite the personality...so sweet, and so spicy too. I love it all. Today in church you were flipping through a farm animal book singing Ol McDonald pretty loud. It was so cute, but I was trying to teach you to whisper. That didn't work out too well. You love to sing and dance and read books to yourself. It's so cute to hear you read...always making up silly words. Your voice is so cute and little.
You love your dad and get so excited when you see him come in the door from work. I love you sweet and tender heart and for how much love you have for your family.
We went on a walk the other day. It was so nice and sunny and fairly warm out!

 This was at Costco a few days ago. You and Gavin just sat there watching the big machine with arms wrapped around each other. So sweet.

 Gavin was tucking you in saying, "shhhh....it's okay....Daddy's here."

 You told me you wanted to take a nap around 4 the other day so I put you in your crib and came to check on you about 25 min later...this is what I found. :)

 I was taking a shower and somebody decided to get out the Costco size bag of Craisins and dump them all over the floor. You did this a few days ago too. Hmmm....little mischievous you are.

A Few Things

Some things I want to remember:

You call chap stick/lip gloss "chip chips". You call your beanie your "bean". You love to sing and are very into the movie "Frozen" and "Tangled" right now. The other night you had been up watching the "do you want to build a snowman" song from Frozen on you tube before bed. Later that night when you were asleep your dad went to check on you and you turned over in your sleep and sang "do you want to build a snowman" then turned back over and were back to sleep. So cute. You also love singing many of the primary songs: "I Am a Child of God", " I Love to See the Temple" are amongst your favs. You love to read books. Tonight before bed you laid me on the floor and tucked me in with blankets, pillows and stuffed animals. You then made a little bed for yourself and brought over a stack of books which you read to me in your cute little 2 year old voice. Nothing better than those little moments with you.

This week has been rough. We took your binkie away a couple days ago, and you weren't too happy about it. You haven't taken any naps all week, and have been grouchy and tired, and I have been grouchy and tired. But, you are getting better, and don't really ask for it anymore.

We went sledding and played in the snow for a while yesterday morning. You love being outside in the snow. Your little cheeks are always red and snot dripping from your nose, and a big smile on your face. I love that you love playing out there, and shoveling the snow. It is pretty cute to watch you.

Tonight while I laid by you and Gavin while you went to sleep I felt so much love for the both of you. I feel so blessed to be your mother, and to be with you every day. You make me so happy, and teach me so many things each day. I know Heavenly Father loves you and Gavin so much, and you are so special to him. You are so special to me. I love your innocense and joy for life. I love watching you laugh and learn, and I love how tender your little heart is.

My goal is to write in here once a week, and to do a better job at recording and keeping your life/my feelings update in here. Love you Ruby girl.