The beginning of a tradition?

Ruby at the fishin' hole

We had a holiday weekend packed with fun and productive work. . . .

Click here for highlights of last year.

Well this year, we planted our garden, got the front porch and yard cleaned up, played lots, shared some meals with friends, had a campfire, watched a parade, and went fishing!

Other highlights:

• Ruby enjoyed helping plant the beans by opening the package for me
• Max has reached a new level of child development--when the going gets tough--quit.
• Cooper enjoyed being "tractor man"
• Ruby had carrots.
• Max is casting his fishing pole like a pro.
• Cooper caught his first fish.
• Max is keeping track of his lifetime catches--he's up to three now.
• Max -without being asked- takes his hat off for flags in parades (even the ones in the marching bands)
• We've kind of decided that I will most likely need to be involved in events such as our kids marching in a parade. If not, I'm likely to be a blubbering mess. I started to tear up watching Maya march in the parade!
• Ruby loves the e.rgo
• Max and Cooper like raw as opposed to toasted marshmallows.
• Max saw some Amish people for the first time. Let's just say he was very observant (read--staring).

Max with the third fish of his lifetime. . .Mommy caught a toad. . .(eeewww)Mommy and Max with said toad.Cooper being taught by Max how to cast. . .Mommy and Cooper with the fish!!Yeah for Cooper. Love for my brother, the real deal.Picture time! Notice his "smile" for the camera compared to his natural smile above. . .Scene II: fun times with Bethany!Notice Amish in background. Couldn't get Max's eyes off them.bubbles and bluffs

Maxwell T.

Recent developments. . .

Ruby says dadadadada and other vocalizations.


Ruby attempts to clap.


Ruby waves!


Meanwhile the older brothers are still head over heels in love with her. They both vie for her attention and want to be closest to her. Cooper likes to sing for her(something he's been really getting into lately), and Max mostly likes to shower her with affection--so much so that sometimes even I feel smothered for her!


I think I can safely say we are out of the infant-needy stages. Which really wasn't so bad as far as Ruby was concerned, just a bit chaotic at times when all three were needy simultaneously. It's a good thing that we're to the next level, just makes me a little melancholy that we're phasing out of stages we'll never see first-hand again.


Pictured below is Cooper as the singing garbage man. . . after this picture was taken he put on the reflective vest and strapped on a guitar. If I get time, I'll post a video clip of his singing.

poundage

Ruby gained another 1 lb 4 ounces in the last 4 weeks! That puts her at 13 lbs 9 ounces. And she's now back on the growth chart!!

She had a good appointment with Dr. I-feel-comfortable-sharing-my-political-views-with-you (We talked about Iowa, and Vermont, and his distaste for W. I'll call him Dr. Progressive from now on--Oh yeah, and we know all about the prairie land he's begun restoring, and that it takes 30 minutes by bike to get there, and, and, and,) All this said, I really, really like the guy. Ruby seems intrigued by his goatee. Gives her something to focus on as she's lying on her back getting adjusted.

We go back again in 4 weeks. I'm thinking about bringing along some incense.

It's the 15th

That means Ruby's 7 months old, and Cooper is just one month away from turning 3!



I'm going to start the post though, talking about big brother Max. Last night and today we went to some prep events for his kindergarten. We love the facility. The teacher we are requesting comes highly recommended from many different people. Max was unusually shy. Very. Very. Shy.

Couple of funny things he said: (I went outside to pick Max up yesterday and was holding Ruby. He said this to a friend. . ) "Don't throw that ball and hit my baby sitter(sister)."

This morning to me, "Do you know about Grumpelstilskin?"



So, back to the other two. Ruby is 7 months today. She will be weighed on Tuesday, but we're thinking she's close to 14 pounds now.



She eats food!! Initially, she didn't like even bananas, but we were patient and now, there's no stopping her! She eats: avocados, bananas, pears, apples, squash, sweet potatoes, beans and peas. This weekend I'm going to attempt to make apricots.



She is sitting with lots of confidence. She will lunge forward to grab at toys/things which occasionally results in a face plant.



She likes to put most things in her mouth. Favorite toys: giraffe, a purple and red spoon and a red bandana--all of which she chews on.



Her teachers are having problems getting her to nap at all at school. We're going to try to adjust her schedule a bit to help this situation.



No teeth yet.



Cooper Paul--Is still mostly sweet with a touch of sass.

Current highlights.. .. ..

Inside interests: horses, dogs, tractors, trucks, horses inserted into playdough, making playdough corn for his chicks

Outside interests: worms, baseball, soccer, football, seeing puppies outside on walks, digging in the garden

Book interests: Firefighter's Busy Day, Mr. Seargent's Busy Day, The Jolly Barnyard, Harry The Dirty Dog

If we pushed it, he could be potty trained by 3. Thing is, we're not going to push it.

Today

Today would have been Grandma [our last name]'s birthday. She would have been 67.

She and Mommy's 5 year-old brother(Paul) were victims of a fire.

There are times when this reality is hard, really hard to live with. Lots of times it fills us with questions. Why? What would they be like today? How would she have dealt with my relationships, my family?

There's the cliche that everything happens for a reason. Is that true about someone dying?
Did that "have" to happen for Peg to go on to have the life she has now?

According to Mommy, Grandma was spunky and fiesty. She suffered a stroke in her early twenties and had very limited use of her left side. That didn't stop her. She went on to have three children. She could crack and egg with one hand--in fact--she could do a lot of things one-handed. She liked to play games on her bed with Mommy. She made really good macaroni and cheese-- and rhubarb sauce for ice cream. She once was driving and raced a train. She also was adventuring outside and used her cane to ward off some snakes. She was an Elvis fan.

The fire has had lasting affects on Mommy. She is very aware of what's plugged in, what's turned on, or running if we are about to go to bed or leave the house. Her relationship with her father has left unremoveable scars. She marks time and her memories by that date--"oh that was before the fire," or after.

Each year, around the anniversary of their death, we try to make a trip to the city/cemetary where they are buried. Every year it's hard. Really hard. But it's a good hard. It's a healing hard. It's the kind of hard that's filled with love and ache and wonder.

It makes me sad and grateful all at the same time. Sad for Mommy, grateful that her life's journey led her to me. Sad that Mommy never had the opportunity to have the kind of relationship I am so grateful to have with my Mother.

Happy Birthday Margaret.

Super Cooper

Conversation with Mommy:


Mommy: Cooper, can I please have a hug?

Cooper: Nope. Not today.

Mommy: When can I get a hug?

Cooper: Thursday.

Mommy: Oh. What's today?

Cooper: I don't know. You tell me?

Mommy: It's Tuesday.

Do you think we passed?

So last Thursday was a day of prep for the upcoming Adoption day. First we had Ruby's attorney over, then it was time for the homestudy.

Do you think we passed?

• When Cooper was asked "What do you do at school?" He responded, "I spit at my friends!"
• Cooper took her on a tour and opened up his closet. (kidding, it was actually clean--but thank God she didn't go into the basement!!)
• Cooper climbed on the table and when removed by Mommy, proceeded to start hitting her.
• Cooper and Max "got into it" a few times chasing each other through the entire house.
• Max used his imagination and turned a goose in flight into an ink-shooting gun.
• Ruby, of course, was a smiley angel baby.

Oh, and thanks for all your suggestions on the pink food. Your comments were overwhelming! Three explanations: 1, You're shy. 2, You have no ideas. 3, Nobody's reading!! We did think of another one--salmon.