Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Written by Shannon Leigh

Ain't Too Proud Monday

Written by Shannon Leigh

You know you live with a little girl when…

Poor Izzy.  She doesn't know what she's in for.

This is how I brush my teeth

Written by Shannon Leigh
So you're telling me that you don't brush your teeth naked while standing on the counter?

{Taken October 8, 2011}

She will hate me for this someday.

Since Ru was itty bitty we have always said "naked baby" when we take her clothes off.

Now that she's talking more and more when we change her clothes she says... "NAKED BABY" and runs all over the house. 

It's hilarious and she's awesome.

Men cry too

Written by Shannon Leigh


My husband doesn't generally cry.


I have seen him really cry once in my life.  
He cried like a baby at our wedding (like a big fat, red face, snotty, blubbering baby).
He likes to whip that out when we argue… it's beginning to lose it's luster.


I cry during gerber commercials (don't hate, things have never been the same since being prego).


Anyway, my point is that he doesn't really cry.  
Sometimes he get's quiet, sometimes he get's angry but he just doesn't cry.


I have learned to accept this and appreciate it, it's nice to have a steady man in the wake of my emotional breakdowns.


He doesn't cry... unless you count getting teary eyed at the end of most sports movies.


Like the story of Roy Hobbs in The Natural.

I mean don't get me wrong when Hobbs shatters the clock and breaks the stadium light and the sparks sprinkle down as he rounds the bases it's hard to NOT get goosebumps.  


This year, for this beloved of mine, Cardinal baseball did the same thing.
Like a compilation on the radio of fans calling in with "written in the stars" in the back ground. 
Like the game 6 comeback.
Like the picture of Freese throwing his helmet to the ground in glory on the stretch to home.
Like winning the world series after all odds were stacked against them.
Like this article. 


"And this was God’s design — in his universe, there is more beauty when victory rises out of weakness. The morning shines brighter after a tumultuous night. The glory is greater at the end of three silent days, when the Lamb has been slain, when all hope seems lost." 





We were lucky enough to get to go to game 2 this year. 
  
Something we will surely never forget (especially my teary eyed husband).
We argued on the way because he was SO WORRIED we were going to be late and I left my coat in the wrong car twice (long story). 

We were there 30 minutes early.
He spilled my hot chocolate. 

It was cold.

The Cardinals lost the game.
But they came back to win the series.
They rose from weakness and conquered the game of baseball.


And my husbands eyes were teary.

Someday she won't talk to the moon

Written by Shannon Leigh



Life has been crazy.

Ruby is 19 months.

In the midst of the busiest season ever, my sweet baby turned into a little girl.
I mean I knew it was coming but I've just started looking through my October pictures and I am shocked at what I see.

She's a bonified kid, not a baby!  EEK.

She talks constantly.  When I picked her up from MMO yesterday morning the teacher said she talks and interacts like an adult (it's true).

Lately, we have had our bouts of SERIOUS whining which seems to be subsiding now, thank you Jesus.  I am still convinced it was her teeth which are still coming in.  By God's grace alone I didn't chuck her out the window (I kid, kind of).

Potty training is at a stand still.
After doing so well and being so excited about it at first she has reverted back to infancy by using her diaper as her only means of excreting (yes, I just used the word excreting).
 She tells me when she's pooping and peeing but refuses to sit on the potty, oh the joys of motherhood.
We will be trying the 3 day bootcamp soon and plan to buy big girl undies in the next few weeks.

Her hair is in a ponytail or pigtails most of the time which is crazy.  She looks so grown up.

She is OBSESSED with her new black boots.  She says "boots on, boots on mommy!"  I can't help but oblige.  The only time she doesn't have them on is in bed and in the tub.

She has really started getting into "reading" books and brings me book after book after book to read to her throughout the day.

She has a thing for trains, airplanes and helicopters. She is convinced that the ceiling of Wal-mart has helicopters and tells everyone who passes "heyyichoptor up there!"  We still have no idea why.

She says hi to the moon and goodbye to the sun.

She sings "Jesus Loves Me" but calls it "Bible so."

She loves to give kisses and fist bump.  She insists that each of us "pound" even Izzy.

The whole toddler thing really took me offgauard I wasn't prepared but I feel like we are getting into a good rhythm (until next week when she changes again).

We are constantly shocked at all of the things she knows and can do.

But some days are long and tiring...

Someday she'll grow out of pigtails and snuggling.
Someday she'll think I'm lame and promise to never do the things that I do.
Someday she'll find comfort in someone else's arms.

Until then, I'll enjoy that talks to the moon.

Resemble

Written by Shannon Leigh
I usually don't think that Ruby looks a lot like me but in these pictures I think that we resemble each other a bit.
I had a lot more hair and it was darker and curlier but Ruby often makes this face where she crinkles her nose.  She definitely has her Daddy's mouth and her GiGi's chin.

Then & Now

Written by Shannon Leigh
These make me want to go back in time.
I just want to rub my lips on her bald head and nibble her baby toes.

Winnie's Gender

Written by Shannon Leigh

Recently Matt and I had the following conversation:

Scene: Matt is giving Ruby a bath and showing her a Winnie the Pooh picture book while I am in the living room

Matt:  What's the little pink guys name?
Me: You mean Piglet?
Matt: oh, so that's what that is…
Me:  WHAT did you think he was?
Matt: I don't know, a rat or something.
Me: Sigh….
Matt:  Do you know what Winnie is?
Me:  What do you mean?
Matt:  You know, the Pooh.
Me:  I know who you are talking about.  What do you mean what is Winnie the Pooh.  He's a bear.
Matt: I know he's a bear but is he a boy or a girl?
Me: Uh, he's a boy…
Matt:  Hmm, has that been confirmed?


I have to admit that I find his complete and utter ignorance of Winnie the Pooh a little charming.

On a side note aren't my anniversary flowers lovely?

Ruby seems to think so.

In the Archives

Written by Shannon Leigh

I just found all of these in my archives.

 I fell completely and totally in love with 4 month old Ruby all over again.

What a little cutie who used to stay in one place for more than 2 seconds.