Happy Halloween!!

Ready To Crawl

Look out world, here comes Ruby!

Pumpkin Patch!

Pumpkins!!

We had so much fun at the pumpkin patch!

Poor Spiegel.

Spiegel Bear has definately been the victim of an abducated throne. He has gone from walks to the dog park with squirrels and sticks.. to.. maybe, hopefully, possibly a 10 minute squirmish with his ball.

He has no idea that the very person who stole his throne is about to become his best friend! Once Ruby starts eating table food and walking on her own, Spiegel will get more snacks and attention than he ever bargained for. Still, I can't help but notice his sad little face in this picture. I didn't even notice he was in the picture when I took it, which says enough right there..

Hang in there, sweet boy! Your days of balls and walks are returning!

Shots!

Little Girl, you are such a brave baby!!
I was so worried yesterday that you'd be so sore after your shots like you were after the first round of shots, but you did great!
I am so proud of you with your pink hello kitty band-aids!

You are right on target for the growth charts, too. 50% for head circumference, 50% for weight for height, and 50% for weight for age.

All you have to say about it is Ggghhhhhhuuuuuoouuu.

Early Morning Play

Sweet Baby!
Well you have gotten into the habit of waking before 5AM to play. So, we wake up, change your diaper, have your bottle, and then we play at 4 in the morning. You were particularly cute at 4AM this morning, despite my cranky disposition!

Kisses From Ellie

Visit to Uncle Mike's House

You have had such a great Saturday so far! You saw your first movie, Mary Poppins, at the Byrd. You had so much fun! Everybody sang along to the songs and the kids were blowing their horns and causing complete chaos. It was fantastic!

Then, on the way home, we stopped by your mom's Uncle Mike's house where he played with you and gave you kisses.

Ruby's New Workout

Sitting in a chair (while being upright and supporting your own head) might look easy, but trust me- It is HARD WORK! Here's my latest workout routine

My Little Duck

Well today was a special day! Your grandma has known her best friend, Nancy Polak since they were 17 years old and dreaming of their future as nurses. Today, Nancy came to visit you and we all went out to lunch. She commented on your hair, and said it looked like it was going to be reddish. Your grandma says so too, but as of right now, it's a caramel brown with some highlights.

Your dad had blond hair, and in all of his baby pictures, his hair looked like yours does now.

What color will my little duck's hair be? I love the way it is so fine, it stays perpetually ruffed up like little bird feathers.

Your daddy was such a cute baby, just like you!

These are some pictures of your dad when he was little. This one is him and your Uncle Dave.

Well now here's a picture where I can see you and your dad's resemblance! :) You hopefully won't feel the same way about Santa, but this is a face you definately display!

I can definately see a little of you in some of these baby pictures of your daddy, but I think you're starting to look more like me.

See what you think. Here's some pictures of me that I think you can really see a resemblance.

The one picture that SHOULD be here and is NOT is one of Nancy and you.. which I forgot to take! :( Oh well, that gives us an excuse to go and visit her!

Grandma's House

Here are some cute pics from this weekend with your Grandma and Grandpa Hatch, and with Aunt Candace and Great- Great Aunt Sister Mary Leo Wirt.

We spent the past weekend attending your great-great Aunt, Sister Betty Jeanne Wirt's funeral.

She was on my mother, your Grandma Hatch's side of the family. Her brother, Thomas (Dunkey) Wirt was my grandfather. Sister Jeanne was the youngest child of Emmett E. Wirt, Sr., and Agnes O'Connor Wirt, and Emmett Jr., is the second youngest. She had three brothers, Thomas (Dunkey), Emmett (Junie), and Jake, who died after stepping on a land mine in WW2, and she was one of four sisters- Ceille (Agnes) Simpson, who lives in California, Ebbie Wirt, and one of the two sisters who became Benedictine nuns- Sister Mary Leo Wirt, and Sister Betty Jeanne Wirt. (Thank you to John for helping me to figure this side of our family out!)

Betty Jeanne, as I always called her, was very artistic and made beautiful ceramic christmas trees and nativity scenes, one of which we are blessed to have received from her as a wedding gift.

She loved to travel and to shop! There were so many funny and cute stories about her told at her wake.

Enough with the sappy stuff, mom!!

OK,ok. :) So enough of that.

I have an announcement. (drumroll, please.)

You...

Have Started Playing With... Your TOYS!!

YES! It's really TRUE!

They have sat around for months now, looking cute in pastel plastic or bright red rubber, tempting you... but you, being your father's child, have diligently kept your head down, biding your time, until the magical day- today! Today, when you learned that your fingers and hands can actually move things! What a day.

I was beginning to wonder why they market all these rattles and things to infants, who don't even know they HAVE hands. At first, they were more like annoying satellites that kept crashing into your face unexpectedly. But not now. NO! No sir.

NOT TODAY! Today, you emerge proudly, clutching your adversary like a sword! Today, you have control of your hands, AND your toys.

That's one small step for a baby, one giant leap.. for daddy's wallet.

Beautiful Girl

To you, dearest love.
You bring me so much joy! Your smile fills my whole chest with happiness and brings me to tears. You, of course, are oblivious to my sublime moments, when the world, it seems to me, is SO so very small. You just look up at your favorite old friend, Mr. Ceiling Fan, spinning merrily away. These are the moments when our planet, with you and me, is the only one that matters.

As I sit here on the couch, watching the unprompted cuteness that you exude, just in the simple act of waking up... I stare into your eyes while you beam your smile. You have certainly learned your first truth- you know that you are loved.

How many early mornings have passed by blissfully, devoted entirely to staring into your sweet face.. moments that you will never remember.. but will always know have occurred. How many mornings did my own mother do the very same thing with me?

My greatest wish for you is that I fill your world with as much magic, love, and joy as your grandma has for mine. Some day I will tell you about my mother- your grandma Hatch. Ruby, if the bond between you and me is as strong as the bond between me and your grandma, then I will have done my job in teaching you how to love.

Only when you become a mother do you realize how very much, how very purely and deeply, that love can exist. Love without consequences, Love without judgement, Love with true forgiveness. No one in the world can understand every nuance, every unsaid word, every look, every gesture, like her. No one else in the world.

Rubyeese (Ruby Talk)

I love the little made up words you say like- ggggggggah, dooooooonaaa, daaagaaa

blehruuuuhh..

Here's one of you smiling with your whole body, which Dr. Shane said we could enjoy for about 3 more months.. then you just smile regularly.

Your Grandma Hatch comments:
Your smile is a delight. I miss your sweet smell and your darling smile. I wish I could hold you everyday.Your mother was a good baby and she has become a woman that I am so proud of....loving kind responsible and so in love with your Dad.... a wonderful man... takes care of the details and talks to you like you are the most important person ever born.
October 6, 2007 12:33 PM

My Big Girl

I took you to the Dr. today, because you still have your first cold- congestion, coughs, diarrea, etc. Dr. Shane said you were perfectly perfect.

Here's your updated stats:

Gender of the patient
Female

Age of the patient in months
4 months (almost)


Body weight 13.6 lbs


Body length- 42 inches

Head circumference- 24 centimeters


Results
Length for age is in the percentile 25th-50th


Weight for age percentiles 50th to 75th


Weight for length percentile 50th to 75th


Head circumference for age percentile 75th to 90th