Ruby 7 months

As always, Ms Ruby takes all of our attention happily and with so much glee and love in our hearts! She continues to be so smiley, social, curious, serious, alert and patient. The brothers grab at her, try to scare her with weird faces, toss balls in her direction often hitting her, want to take baths with her, feed her table foods, let her play with figurines that are hard and with plastic, and spin her around until she throws up mama's milk. She is now beginning to rock on her arms/feet and moving around like a rolly polly all over the floor. She often finds refuge in our closet full of shoes and can hide from the brothers with just mom and dad in sight! Taking the 7 month pic was tricky b/c she kept wanting to eat the sticker! She sleeps a quick cat nap in the am and then a long afternoon nap. She loves table foods; blueberries, pasta, chicken, cheese, grapes and toast.  

One on one time

Having a large family, Jared and I are always trying to help make our kids feel special. So, we started doing some one on one dates a few times a month. I took the boys out during the summer time, and now that school is in session, we take them out and let them pick out a restaurant when Jared and I are together. Grateful that we can let our kids be home alone with a sleeping Ruby and home phone so that we can make this happen, and just go down the street to Home Depot, etc for our outings. Jared has started taking the boys to the local YMCA (where I got a job) a few times a week, including running around the neighborhood too. Other trips include Peter Piper Pizza, Marshall's, haircuts, Walmart (Austin lost his tooth) Donuts, spending Kohl's cash, setting up for homeshow booths with Merrill Lynch, Yogurt, etc Levi is a rascal for one on one time too; sneaking oreos and also waking up with Ruby in the mornings in her crib (where she made her first laugh on camera!) We don't want any of our kids to feel like a "middle child" or left out...small efforts for happiness.

Scout badges

Tuesday night scouts! Most pack meetings are uneventful, but this week Austin and Wesley earned quite a bit of awards. Proud parents! Wes worked hard to get his arrow of light, with this great plaque and real arrow! They are both now moved on from wolves and bears.