Night Night Ruby

Our evening routine is:

* Ruby dinner at 6 pm (Alex and I have started eating dinner after she goes to bed...much more peaceful that way!)
* Then milk
* Brushing teeth while I sing the 'Teefers' song I created
* Cuddles with mama in the rocking chair with cat and blanket
* Then I tell Ruby it is time for sleep. She does this little wave when I say 'sleep' almost acknowleding that it is time for bed. I have been singing her a little song that goes, 'Night Night Ruby, Night night Ruby, Night night Ruby so glad you came to play. Night night Ruby, Night night Ruby, Night night Ruby, it's time to go to sleep.' (Something I adapted from a song we learned at storytime).

Just yesterday when I told her it was time for sleep, on her own, unprompted she said something that sounded a lot like 'night night.'

Fun at the pools with mama and daddy

Sometimes Alex finishes work at five and since he doesn't have a commute, we head down the street for a refreshing swim before dinner.









Ruby recognizes the pool area when we drive up. She loves it!



Isn't she cute in her tutu swimsuit and crocs!




Daddy swings Ruby around in the air. She giggles with delight.








It is such a nice amenity to have these pools, especially with it being so hot this summer!

It's offical - Smelly Cat is the 'special' thing to cuddle with

Alex's sister, Kate, gave Ruby this gray cat several months ago. It has been the favorite for some time. I try to give it to Ruby only at bedtime, but sometimes she sees it in her crib and meows at it until I get it out for her (good thing it is a cat and not something obscure like a moose, ant eater or a sloth!). I guess we could call it 'Meow' since that is what she says when she sees or wants it, or is chatting with it. But Alex and I call it Smelly Cat. The reason is that it's tag says Jelly Cat, which sounds like Smelly Cat which is a song that Phoebe sung on friends at one time. Silly I know.

When she is in a hugging mood, Ruby will tackle her cat on the ground, hug it and meow at it. It is so cute.




Here she is as adorable as can be in her footed pajamas carrying her special friend by its neck.






To be safe, we ordered Smelly Cat's twin online. It arrived last week. It is packed away in case we lose Smelly Cat number one.

I think Ruby was slightly confused when we handed her the old one and the new one at once.

Ruby at play

Here's a glimpse into where Ruby plays day to day.

We are fortunate to have a large gameroom upstairs where we can leave toys out all the time. There is lots of wide open space for balls, push toys and wrestling with daddy!

We have a bookshelf right next to the rocking chair and Ruby pulls all the books off and looks at them. I used to pick them up after every day, but now I've decided to just leave them!

Here are a few of Ruby's favorite books.

Here's Ruby's bedroom. It is hard to tell in this light, but the room really glows with a beautiful lavender color. I love it! On the left hand wall I put up 12 of my favorite pictures of Ruby from the last year. On the right hand side you can see the little lamp where I hot glued on the pom pom trim.

Ruby is still showing some interest in her activity tables. They are a perfect fit in this corner. Eventually we will probably move her little kitchen out here. She loves to 'de-gut her dragon' (as daddy says) and take all colorful balls out of it.


Here's one of Ruby's favorite perches. The window is the perfect height for spotting birds, the garbage truck, daddy mowing the yard and people walking their dogs. I line up all her little people and animals here so she can chat with them too.

Peter Rabbit Flower Houses at the Dallas Arboretum

Yesterday we went to the Dallas Arboretum to see the flower/greenery houses constructed to look like a Peter Rabbit village.


There was also a petting zoo there so Ruby got to visit with the goats. She was very curious about them and wanted to get up close. Like most all toddlers, she loves animals!

The Hendricks gave Ruby this cute dress and hat for her birthday.






Here is Ruby in front of one of the houses.





Some of Ruby's buddies went with us (Madeleine, Emory and Ryan). They all had fun exploring the little village and could barely hold still long enough for us to take their picture!

Visiting the fish at Bass Pro Shops

Last weekend we went to Bass Pro shops to check out the numerous fish in their aquariums. They also have all sorts of animals...what an exciting excursion for curious toddlers!



I recently found matching dresses for Ruby and me. It is fun to coordinate sometimes!

Jack's first birthday party

Last weekend we went to Jack's first birthday party. Alex has admitted that after going to numerous first birthday parties over the past few months he actually enjoys them (as long as there are other guys there, beer and cupcakes).

Ruby's favorite part about birthday parties are the balloons! And she also gets to visit with all her buddies!




Melissa creatively did a construction theme...all the babies got hardhats, tool belts and there were construction themed decorations everywhere.





Ruby and mama.