"You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me." Psalm 139:5
The Adventures of our family - told through the eyes of Ruthie, the wife and mommy.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

My babies are growing up

Last week Sophia officially turned 5 1/2, Riley officially turned 21 months and Hadassah turned 2 months. How the time has flown. It seems like just yesterday that Sophia was my 2-month old and Riley and Haddie were but a dream and a wish away.

Hadassah had her 2-month well-check yesterday. She is just over 11 lbs and is measuring 23 1/4 inches long. She is wearing size 0-3 month clothes and is in a size 1 diaper. She remains a very chill baby. She is super content and loves to smile, coo and gaze into one's eyes. She is very alert during awake time and a great sleeper during nap/bed time. She naps in her swing for the most part because I'm a super freak when it comes to worrying about SIDS and so I like to be able to easily check on her when she's sleeping. At night she mostly sleeps right next to me in her pack and play and sometimes with me in bed on my chest or nestled with me (esp. if she's puking a lot after eating in the middle of the night - at those times she'll only settle if she's near my body). Riley and Sophia adore their baby sister and we do too!

Riley, at 21 months, remains mostly non-verbal. Well, that's not exactly right. He "talks" almost non-stop, but 80% of it is not English. :) He does say a handful of words pretty clearly, like Thank you and car. If he wants something - anything, he usually says "car." But, that could mean his paci or a popsicle or outside. He's super energetic and yet able to focus really well too. His favorite energetic activities are to either dance or run around in circles like a crazy man. His favorite focus activities are to either sit in his room reading books or playing with his vehicles. He's also starting to get into playing with play-doh, but enjoys eating it sometimes so we have to watch him carefully! He loves being outside. He still adores guitars and continues to make almost anything into a guitar and pretends to play on it. Riley is becoming quite the climber too, he can get up most anything that he sets his mind to. He adores tools and "fixing" things. He continues to react very strongly to milk protein and is always thankful when Mommy makes treats for the family that he can enjoy too! At almost two he is definitely testing boundaries and discipline has become a part of his daily routine, but even amidst that, he remains a super fun little boy and we just love him so!

Sophia is the whipper-snapper of the bunch. Her energy is always sky high and her need (yes - need!) to be active, creative, inventive and busy is never-ending. The busier she is, the more active she is able to be, the better she behaves. She is SO smart and is reading and writing really well for her age. She adores playing outside. One of my favorite attributes of Soph's is her ability to be equal parts girly-girl and tomboy. She loves all things pink, sparkly and princess -y, and yet can play hard with the best of them! She's not afraid to get dirty and scrapped up, and yet she adores wearing dresses and playing beauty parlor! We will officially start school with her this coming Fall. We will be giving homeschooling a try and are excited to order curriculum for that. She will most likely be doing a 1st grade curriculum because she has been learning and doing and mastering kindergarten level work this year, even though our school time has been super relaxed and stop and go. I can't believe my first born will be 6 this Fall! I love her more today than the day I found out I was pregnant!

Well, that's the recap of our kiddos! Have a blessed day!



My little decorator

"Mom! I got all of these rose petals to decorate the table!"


And decorate she did! I know I should be worried about the state of the rose bush... but somehow I'm not. I love her love of flowers and the joy she gets when she brings them inside to bring beauty to our house. My Sophia - she may be full of crazy amounts of energy and at times difficult to reign in, but she is never dull and never one to lack inspiration or invention, and I so love her.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Nice to meet you!

UPDATED: So, in the post below I call Haddie and Damion 2nd cousins. My sister pointed out that they are probably 3rd cousins. I don't really know... does anyone understand how that works? Please, point me to the truth! :)

And, while I have you here... let me tell you about my day yesterday. I had a bad dream so I woke up in a bit of a bad mood. Then, I walk out to the kitchen, where my dear husband had a bowl of grape nuts and blueberries waiting for me - all I had to do was add the milk. In some sort of stupor, I walk over to the sink and fill up my bowl of cereal with water. WHAT?! I really have no idea. I didn't even realize my mistake until I was walking away and grabbing for a spoon.

Then... see, Haddie had her two month well-check scheduled for June 1st. I've had in my head, since I scheduled this appt. that June 1st was a Monday. Then, to fully support my "June 1st is a Monday" case, I get this strange automated appointment confirmation call Sunday night (usually those come in the day before the appt). Yes, I know Memorial Day was Monday, but, don't you know, yesterday was also clearly June 1st! So, I load up the girls in the car and off we go. Never mind getting out of the house was a rather stressful event. So, you can imagine my ahem, surprise, when I arrive at the doctor's office to find the parking lot totally empty. See, in fact it was not June 1st yesterday, but was indeed Memorial Day - better known as a holiday - which means Doctor's offices aren't open! To make matters worse, Sophia was along for the trip because she needs to get two shots. I had her all prepared and she was actually not freaking out! We were both looking forward to the reward of ice cream that was to follow the shots... So, after I call Jamie to report my mistake - we decide ice cream is still in order. :) I wonder if I'd made the same mistake if I'd had my grape nuts...

So, off to the doctor we go today - again... Hopefully the shots will go over alright and don't you know, we'll be having ice cream again! :) I guess I better make sure I work out today since I'm supposed to be losing weight this summer... :)

***

ORIGINAL POST:




These two cutie pies are second cousins, exactly one month apart in age! My cousin just had his second son April 28. Damion and Hadassah got to meet each other yesterday at my family's Memorial Day picnic. I imagine they'll have lots of fun as they grow up together so close in age!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Splish Splash: Part Two


Just as her little brother is learning to, Sophia has always loved playing in water! I love this, because so many of my special childhood memories center around playing in water - whether swimming, playing in the hose, or throwing water balloons!

Sittin' pretty
Manning the hose
Filling the watering cans

Time to water some plants!
"Hi Mom!"

Sophia also loves drinking out of the hose - what kid doesn't?

And then there was all the splishing and splashing to do!






Friday, May 28, 2010

Splish Splash: Part One


Summer has arrived, and
around these parts hot days call for water play.
And for this little boy, who last summer was still but a baby...
... discovering the joys of water play
- and drinking out of the hose of course! - has been so much fun!!!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Sleeping Beauties

This is what happens when one tired, still getting over being sick but refuses to nap, five-year-old does (can you say ZONKED OUT!?) when she asks to hold her sleeping baby sister (aren't babies such heaters? Holding them when sleepy is hazardous - one is bound to ZONK out!).




This would be the edges from a book of stamps. Sophia decided to stick them all over Haddie as decoration I guess. :)


Aren't my Sleeping Beauties precious?

Monday, May 24, 2010

Update on my girls

Haddie and Soph have the croup (basically just a really nasty cough) caused by something viral, something that seems to just keep being passed around between the five of us. The girls will each be on steroids for a few days to keep their coughs from getting more serious. Please pray that Riley remains healthy and that we all get sufficient sleep tonight. Thank you!

Sisters Make the Best of Friends

Well, I wrote the following post yesterday. Last night we were up with Sophia. She's been feverish and sick off and on for two weeks. She has developed a horrible cough. Last night she was coughing so bad and having a really hard time breathing. It was so scary. We called the Nurse line at our children's hospital and did all the nurse suggested and it all helped a great deal. Thankfully we avoided an ER trip last night, but the doctor is definitely in order today!

Unfortunately Haddie is developing a similar cough. Her breathing is fine at this point, but it's so scary to hear your 8 week old baby cough and choke, especially when Sophia is coughing even worse and I can't help but fear Haddie's cough becoming what Soph's is. So... we'll take Had to the doctor too.

We'd appreciate your prayers and will update later.

***

Yesterday Sophia was playing with her little sister. I just adore the love that I see flowing between these two girls so I decided to take some pictures, which prompted Sophia to ask, "Mom, could Haddie and I be the stars of your blog tomorrow?" How could I resist?











Saturday, May 22, 2010

Saturday Play

Last Saturday was a gorgeous day and the kids and I had a great time playing outside! What will this Saturday hold? Not sure yet, we'll see!

"Me, eating dirt? No way!"


Busy at "work!"


Haddie enjoyed a lovely snooze while we all played.