Ridin' the Wave.....

Hello Peeps!!  I feel like it has been quite some time since my last post...even though it really hasn't.  Maybe not alot of time has passed..but it seems alot has happened.

I have been putting off writing partly because I have been super busy with everything "holiday"...and partly cuz I was waiting for the "funk" to settle....and boy has it settled.  Let me explain...Ever since Doobers came to us so unexpectedly we have  been riding this wonderful ginormous wave, so strong and with so much energy and power I have never felt anything like it. It has brought me nothing but positive, happy feelings, but I have never forgotten we were on this wave, riding high above it all.  Ruby just turned one, and with that comes alot of appointments, evaluations....and some realizations. Like I said...I have never forgotten about the wave, but suddenly I was feeling a bit out of control.  Don't get me wrong, The Rubinator is still killin' it, but going to these appointments and filling in all the "not yet's", and, quite frankly, the "not even thinkin' about it's", when charting her development for all the doctors and nutritionist and therapists (Rubster has quite a large entourage)...It was a bit deflating.  It was the first time I have felt disappointment since her birth...and it certainly was not a disappointment in our lil lady.  The disappointment was in myself...and that's the worst because you actually have control of that.  I kept thinking "if I had only worked with her longer on tummy time"..or "if I had only done more baby sit-ups".....If I had only done more she would be farther in her development.  It sounds silly even now as I write it cuz I know my hubby and I provide a loving, engaging environment for her...but the feeling of helplessness when it comes to your kiddo is no bueno. You want to ensure she gets all the right opportunities to be the brightest star in the sky...all the while protecting her from the super nova's of the world who may not see her for her amazing beauty.  I realized through my two week "feelin' the funk" period (it sounds like a fun party in the seventies..but it wasn't :)) that I have to ease up on myself a little....I need to let this wave take me wherever it is headed...fast or slow.  The most important thing is lovin' that lil' lady with every fiber of my being....I've got that one covered..


Besides...if we had taken those silly tests and evaluations a mere two weeks later......

                                                       


I mean it was like a light bulb turned on in that sweet lil' head of hers.  Although I am pretty sure she was over "feelin' my funk" and thought she would give us a lil' teaser of what's ahead.  She is truly motivating now to crawl forward, stack blocks, figure out what the heck all these crazy toys are suppose to do, she is even taking steps all by herself (holding on to fingers of course)....and my new fave......

goin' in for some lovin' with her bear!

                                                                        


Those big wet kisses will snatch your heart up and take off runnin'....She isn't stingy with them either, which,  as a Conwachta, hugs and kisses are fruitful..if not sometimes annoying. Bananas and Biscuit are especially excited that their advances are now reciprocated! Ha!!

Done with the funk...moving on to Christmas cheer!!

This was Ella Mae's first Christmas where Santa was BIG BUSINESS!  I mean..seriously folks...it brought back all that excitement I felt for the big bearded man as well.  We went to a holiday party and informed her that Santa was going to be there..we prepped her with the "well you know he likes you to sit on his lap and tell him what you want".....her response " I'm gonna tell him I love him and give him a big hug!" (there's that crazy Conwachta lovin again :)).  That was what we were hoping was going to happen..but you never know what they will do when they actually  get a glimpse of this big ol' jolly guy with a fake beard and red outfit.

Sure enough..we get there...she sees him.....there is that look of amazement in her eyes...pure wonderment.....she had one split second of hesitation...and them she marched her lil' "booty" right up there, sat on his lap, handed him her list and spouted off without hesitation.."I want a Flynn Ryder, castle for Tangled and a Prince barbie".  It was all business...she gave him a big hug and was out!!  Doobers just sat and stared at his beard while this was all going down.....

Doobs scopin' the beard....she is not convinced...

                                                           


Christmas morning was even cuter as she comes out to see her gifts by the fireplace and then proceeds to yell up the chimney.."THANK YOU SANTA!!"

                                                     

Rubers with her fave cuz Autumn

                                                           
 What amazing lil' ladies I have!  Ella Mae got an easel from G-ma and G-pa..here is her first creation...

                                                                     

Pretty darn good..right??  I mean..I know I am biased and all...but the colors are all brushed on with intent....serious intent.  My lil' Picasso....I will have to add that to the long list of ballerina, gymnast, professional trampoline jumper, softball player...and her newest...golfer... The hubby scored her some new clubs at the Salvation Army (in a pink bag of course) and she's already got a swing like Tiger...ok..I may be exaggerating a little....


She also created her first gingerbread house with the culde crew.....also, in my opinion, a masterpiece...

                                                     

           

Culde crew luvin on Culde Santa..

                                                                                                           
Anywho...hope everyone had a rockin' Christmas!!  We sure did.. and we'll just keep ridin' the wave until it inevitably comes crashin' to shore....but hey...the beach ain't a bad spot to hang for a bit...  and when we are ready...we will paddle back out....

Huggin' it out with Santa..again.

                                                 

A double dose..

OK...both my ladies have had some b-day action, so let me just catch up and chat about both...

First off...WHERE THE HECK DOES THE TIME GO??   I mean it seems like only yesterday I was "curb walking" 5 times a day to try and get my 2 week late Ella Mae out of my belly...and in the blink of an eye, or so it seems, she just turned THREE!! She is her own independent lil' person, with likes and dis-likes, opinions...very strong opinions, on what she wears for the day, what she wants from Santa (we just wrote him the letter today and am 'sending' it in the mail tomorrow)...and most importantly, how much she loves her family....she tells me at least two times a day how much she does, and it melts my heart every single time.  She likes to do things as a family, which she will say in sign language, wether it be sharing popcicles or just watching a movie.  She squeezes her sisters cheeks so passionatley sometimes to kiss her I have to do an occasional mediation.

                                                                              

 And Ruby Doobs..oh sweet Ruby Doobs!!  Her birth is a little more 'at the surface'...I look down and see the scar on my belly everyday and am reminded what a miracle she is in every way.  She came so unexpected in every way...yet I would not change one single thing about her or her birth.  It does not seem like a year ago she came to us, but the emotions are still with me like it was yesterday. In just her short year here on this earth she has already taught me so much more than I have learned in my entire lifetime.  About resilience, about patience even when nobody is looking, about accepting and loving differences in others..even your own,about seeing every person as an idividual with love and worth...even if I don't know or care for them much,  about not just saying you will do or be something..but doing and being whole-heartedly, about being 100% present....today...now.  I don't want to miss a minute of this..........

        

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET LIL' LADIES!!  YOUR MOMMY AND DADDY COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD TO CALL YOU OUR OWN!!  WE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU BOTH ALWAYS MUCH AND FOREVER!!!

Here's a few B-day pics to recap the par-tay action........

This was Ella Mae's "first costume" when she came home from the birthing center at one day old...G-pa had to modify it a little to make room for her legs...but it still fit Doobers at 11 months!!  What a pip-squeak!!

Grandmother's cake creation...princess of course!!

Chaos came with the 'unveiling' of Ella's new dollhouse Grandmother got for her..the claws were out so I had to quickly distract and hide while no one was looking...

Matchin' outfits from G-ma...what a pair!!

Culde Crew ready for some trick or treat action!!

The girl can sleep...Doobs "passed out" (Ella's words :)) on our adventure through the hood...

OMG!!

Doobs first B-day cake from grandmother!!

Birthday girl!! (Sorry I can't figure out how to rotate the pic)

Rubinator's first cake!!!

                                                                    

That's all for now folks!!  I hope everyone is as good as we are over here!  Loving life and our girls :)

Gobble Gobble!!

Today is Turkey day and I have feel the need to give some shout outs to things I am most thankful for.  I realize I still need to get to Octoberfest part dueax but will chat about Ella Mae's B-day soon...

This year has been a very eye and heart opening year....although I never considered myself a person with a closed heart, I have to say that I am thankful for the "Doobers" extra 21st chromosome.  It has helped me see the world and the people in it with an even broader scope.  Not that her extra chromosome defines who she is, she is an individual first..an AMAZING individual first...but it lets other people know and see just how special she is. You can't look into these eyes and not see that she is going to change the world for the better..

It is ri-DONK-culous!!  I thank my lucky stars everyday for both my sweet girls.....

Not just because it is Turkey Day!  Luv to the peeps!! And Happy Thanksgiving! Check out the wonderfullness in all our rockin' chromosomes :)

Oh yeah..the hubby is pretty cool too....I have to say I am thankful for my Sweet lil' family  :)

                                               

                                                         GOBBLE! GOBBLE YA'LL!!
                                                     
                                                                           

Octoberfest

GEEZ!!  October is was a busy month even before Doobers came our way...now throwing the Buddy Walk into the mix....WHEWW!! Glad it has started to die down a bit before the holiday season starts!

Where to begin.....let's start with this

                                                                           

The Ruby Racers had over 50 walkers (the second largest team)....so much love and support for the Doobs!!  Aunt Terri (AKA Aunt TT) experimented with her new silk-screening doo-hicky and made us some shirts..                

Turned out pretty darn good for a first go around..Thanks Aunt TT!!      It was so wonderful to be surrounded by all these amazing peeps like my Ruby Doobs...not to mention surrounded by my amazing friends and family who give us so much strengh, love and encouragement...Doobs is one lucky lady and I know she gives back the love ten fold :)

"huggin it out' with G-pa

Luvin on her second family...Uncle P Aunt Lisa and Scarlett

Huggin it out again with Tatum

Enjoying a tasty beverage with G-ma

                                      

We also raised the 3rd most amount of duckets as a team...RAISE THE ROOF!!  Not bad fresh out the gates...if I do say so myself :)  Couldn't a done it w/out my peeps!!

G-ma and G-pa drove down from Michigan for Octoberfest 2011...we love havin' us some G-ma and G-pa!! I have to say I think they were equally impressed with our lil' lady...Both my ladies are pretty infectious....Octoberfest part two up next...but for now..sleep....

I love you always much....

That's what Ella Mae told me this rainy, lazy Sunday morning during our family "group hug"....I love you always much...  I love that...I think I am going to steal that one from her.

Ella Mae luvin' Rubers Always Much

                                                                                                                                                              

Ruber Doobs has been diggin' a little bit of independence in her excersaucer (luv that name)....she bounces up and down and is quite proud of the fact she can stand on "her own" when in it...



Ruby "gettin down" in her excersaucer!!



I think Ella Mae has gotten a little bit jealous of all the Rubinators "hardware" and has decided to take a few of them for "joyrides"...........

Ella Mae "saucin'" it up!

 She was swingin' in Ruby's swing this afternoon which I explained to her that is where she slept the first six months of her life...along with a blow dryer humming underneath...the things you do to get them to sleep!  How does one even figure out that the swing/blowdryer combo works??  Oh yeah...sleep deprivation will get you to try all sorts of things!!  Good thing the Doobers loves her some sleep..I am now that mom that I hated when they said "oh yes...she has been sleeping through the night since she was 4 weeks old!"  I never believed them...but now am glad to actually experience it first hand!  Now if I could only get the kitty to sleep through the night....Here's a pic of Biscuit luvin Srgt Pepper always much...    she still has a bit of a problem with "personal space"........

They are all getting along just fine though..I think it is hilarious in the morning when they all come runnin' to the kitchen to get fed and they all just kinda snack on each others food.  Nanners takes a lil' of Peppers, vice versa and then they all switch...it's kinda like a "musical chairs" breakfast. 

The girls have been enjoying their bathtime together...here's the proof...

Future hair stylist perhaps??

I think Doobers likes her new do!!

I am going to end this post with my girls before going to a "princess bike party"...

I sure do love those girls ALWAYS MUCH AND Forever!!

                                                                                                                                                                                       

And thus it begins....

A tale of a Princess and her Prince...and two cute sisters...

So we have been having playdates with another sweet lil' family that has a daughter Bailey with the same extra special chromosme as the Doobers who is only a month older....well...Miss Bailey boo has a older brother.  Do you see where this is going??  Ella Mae informed me the other day on the way over to our playdate (after squealing with delight when I told her we had a playdate with Taylor) that she was going to "wave her magic princess wand" and she was going to be a princess and Taylor was to be a prince!!  She said it with such enthusiasum and determination that I would not have been suprised if it actually happened once we arrived at thier house...it is also not like she has forgotten about her "magic wand" since then either.  I was asking her tonight after reading her bedtime book what kind of birthday party she wanted...to which she replied "a princess party " (big shocker)...and then she added "and Taylor's gonna be my prince"....

GEEZ..does it have to begin so soon?? It is so stinkin' cute though it kills me...I wish I could take a picture of her face when she says his name, or if I even mention it.  It is like this excitement she can't contain..yet shy look she gets....It makes me soak up and cherish every moment more with Ruby because I realize how fast they grow up!  I was thinking the other day about how at  Ruby's age now, Ella Mae was about 2 weeks away from walking...I wanted it so bad with Ella...and since then she has been a torpedo!  I am quite alright with the Rubinators pace..she will get there when she gets there and I will soak up every moment and spread my peacock feathers with every lil' triumph. Although someday I am sure she will find her "Prince"...and I will be sayin' the same thing..and thus it begins.....

Happy Monday Ya'll and luv to the homey's!!

Silence..and a little bit of the "Lord of the Flies"...

Let's just kick off this blog post with a lil' of this...............

So "silence" in the house when Ella Mae is around usually means she is up to something...for instance, she was silent for a few moments the other day and I went looking for her and she had a tube full of lotion and had lathered herself (among other things in the room) to the point where she was so slippery I reached to help her up and could not get a grip on her, and she fell (giggling all the way) back on her "bootie".  Long periods of silence usually mean extra trouble-making...but sometimes it is just worth it to have a few un-interupted moments.....so when I was feeding the "Rubinator" to sleep a few nights ago, enjoying a few one-on-one silent, quiet moments with her as she drifted into la-la land.....I knew my "payback" was coming.  I heard her calling my name and when I pulled the curtain to the back porch..........

It felt slightly "Lord of the Fly" ish to me...as I mentioned before, they do alot of exploratory play at her new school..so in her eyes this was just slightly "normal". She came home the other day from school and it was as if someone had dunked her from the thighs down in a vat of green paint.  I can't fault her..I mean, I left the finger paints there just begging to be, well..finger-painted.  Needless to say we had a good laugh about it and gave her a good scrubbing!  Not so funny when the "silence" led to marker on the wall yesterday...you win some you lose some...

It's finally not so hot, so Ella Mae, her BFF from the culde, and  Ruber Doobers decided to plant a few things from seeds to bring some color to the culde...

Cousin Courtney  brought it "old school" and loaned us her VCR (yes they do still exist!) and a bunch of Disney movies. You completely forget how good we have it these days until you are waiting 20 minutes for a tape to rewind...ridiculous!  Anywho...one of Ella's new fave things is to gather her "family" to watch...

even Captain Bananas and Biscuit wanted to watch "Lady and the Tramp"


We have been missin' our Sunday morning bike rides to Maudies for breakfast and down to the park  cuz we didn't have a melon protector for   Ruby-kins (new nick-name from g-ma)......she has such an itty bitty nogin to boot, but I finally found what I was lookin' for today (10 bucs on Craigslist..new in box..SCORE!!)   She had fun..but ultimately this was the end result.....

She has been rockin' it in the eating department...even started drinking from a straw today!  WOOT! WOOT!  It is really good for her oral motor skills to be able to do that..baby steps!  Here are a few pics from a typical eating session

you can see her tooth!

she has a second chomper coming in next to the other one!

Her second chomper came in today next to the other one on the bottom..she is feeding herself just about anything you put in front of her!  (taking after her mama :))

That's all for now folks!  Happy Monday!!