Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Only 1 month to go until the big ONE!

Ruthie turned 11 months old on Sunday! I can't believe that in less than a month we will have a one year old! I feel like just yesterday I was about to burst and here we are a year later ready to plan a party for our one year old!

Here Ruthie is the night we got home, but I didn't think they turned out too great. Turns out there were a few really great ones. So let's look at the good ones!





 And here are the ones from the next day that were also pretty good and she is in her festive red outfit with a white poinsettia bow. She did not want to sit still though so most were her on the move.
See, on the move and it's only the first one!

Cheeser
 




Sticking her tongue out
 She wanted everyone to see her beautiful bow from the Groth sisters
 She does not want to sit still
 And now begins the pictures of Ruthie standing up in the chair



 She likes to play with her ears
 She was so happy, maybe it was b/c her momma was tickling her...
 "look mom, I found my foot!"
 "And now I want you to look at Cinderella"


 Oops, she dropped Cinderella
 hahaha
 Best shot of the day
  She crawled away and left Cinderella all by herself
"Mom, can we be finished."
 Last one baby girl!
 This month:
We have no idea how much Ruthie weighs or her length, but she is definitely growing.
Ruthie has moved to 9 to 12 month clothes, but can still wear some of her 6-9 months stuff.
She has not actually gotten in her 10th tooth fully, but she is teething her 11th one as well.
She is much more steady with her pulling up and walking while holding on  to stuff. 
She still loves her jumperoo.
Ruthie is eating a variety of foods and really hasn't turned away anything. She loves spaghetti the best though.
She is clapping more and will occasionally say "Yay" while clapping.
She is dancing when there is music and it is oh so cute. She loves music and dancing. It makes this momma very happy.
She can crawl so much faster than last month. It is insane! She can zip across the living room in seconds these days. It is so great and scary at the same time.
Ruthie spent the most time away from Dad that she had ever spent this month. I do not want to do that again any time soon and neither does she or Dad.
She is a great traveler already. There is always some crying at some point, but over all she does great. If Ruthie is upset, we just put on some Elvis and all is good. It still works people!
She is down to 4 breast feedings a day and 3 meals with 2 to 3 snacks along with way. It is so much fun to get her to try new things! She really loves puffs, yogurt melts/bites, veggie straws/sticks, and string cheese. We start weaning this month and I am torn. I will miss it and yet not miss it that much!
She is getting to be much more interactive. She plays patty-cake, peek-a-boo, and hide and seek. It is so fun to see her little smile when she gets excited about playing games.
Ruthie had to say good bye to a friend, Miss Sophie. It was so sad for us mommas and daddies. I think they miss each other too.
Stop if you don't want to read about breatfeeding stuff!!!!! Ruthie has started straddling my leg while she eats and sometimes she will pull up while I am laying on the couch and will eat standing while I lay on the couch. Also, if she comes to the bed to eat in the morning she will stand up in the bed and eat standing while I lay on my side. Apparently, she is too big of a girl these days to just lay and eat like a baby and has moved on to more difficult eating positions. Also, there are too many teeth and therefor we are weaning and will no longer be breastfeeding much past her 1 year birthday. Just too many teeth and she forgets she is not eating table food and will chomp down. NOT COOL!
Ruthie celebrated her first Thanksgiving and she loved the turkey, dressing, rolls, green beans, and sweet potatoes. I'm telling you, this child loves her food!
Finally, She is feeding herself. Sometimes she even shuffles all the food into her mouth at once if we don't keep an eye on her. Ruthie is our little chipmunk. 
We love you Miss Ruthie Roo and are so proud of you!

Georgia Christmas Celebration

After Graduation, as I mentioned before, my mom stayed for a few days. She stayed so that I would have help with Ruthie while Matt was gone to TX for a conference and interview. Matt left on Monday for TX and on Wed we left for GA. We picked up Matt from the airport late on Thurs night/Fri morning at the ATL airport. We spent a few days just visiting family, shopping, opening presents, and enjoying some yummy food.

Here is Ruthie enjoying her first taste of spaghetti. She loved it and just kept eating!

 Here she is in front of my grandparents tree ready to open presents.
 "Look, an ornament!"


 Ruthie and Aunt Hannah Leigh
 Aunt Hannah Leigh, Uncle Seth, and Ruthie

 Ruthie with the great grandparents

 Kisses
 Opening her toy horse


 gloves and glove clips

 Books! Ruthie loves books and especially loves turning the pages!


 "Are there more presents?"
 "I love my sock monkey"- this was a sock monkey that my great grandma Chambliss made me when I was little. My mom found it and cleaned it for Ruthie! How special is that!

 And now for the mommy horse
 Big Bird- this also was mine and my siblings growing up. It is the one that you put a cassette tape in the bottom of it and it talks. We don't have a cassette, but we do have big bird and that is good enough for this Sesame Street loving baby. Aunt Hannah Leigh also send Ruthie her Tickle Me Elmo from when she was a child. Ruthie is has so many new toys now- there are a few not even pictured!
 Here is Ruthie in her Christmas PJs
 Opening her presents from Nana and Papa Greene

 It is a My Pal Violet. It is so cool. Violet plays songs and even says Ruthie's name (after we programed it of course). She loves it and dances to the music when it comes on. So cute!

 Here is Ruthie opening another First Christmas ornament. So cute!
 She loves it!


On Saturday night, we went to the Annual Daniel Dean Christmas party. Daniel was the best man in our wedding. It was great to see some friends and celebrate Christmas as well as Daniel's Birthday! Ruthie really liked the yummy lasagna and ate a whole piece by herself. She is really starting to have an appetite! 
Then that evening we headed to Brunswick for another interview for Matt. It was a whirlwind trip so if we didn't see you that is why. We then headed to Augusta to cut out a very long drive for Monday and that we only had a medium long drive of 9 hours. We stayed with Matt's high school friend Amanda and her husband (Gary) and 14 month old (Lainey). On Monday morning, we went to a breakfast diner with Amanda and Lainey and met up with Mary and Charlene Green (Paul Green's mom and sister, Paul was also in our wedding). Here are some pics from breakfast. 

Ruthie and Lainey



 The kids and the parents

 Mary, Charlene, and the girls

We still have no answer on either job. Just pray for a quick answer from the churches and the right salary and benefits that he will need to sustain our family. We will keep you updated when we know something!