Week in iPhone Pictures

Yet another week down!  The highlight of this one (besides getting to spend it with my girl, of course) was definitely the Young House Love book signing!

January 20-26

Sunday:  Not a whole lot, just exersaucin'.  Monday:  It really bugs me that this says "oval" when it is actually an ellipse (and I also really wish it weren't in all-caps).  I've been looking for mini rubber ducks for Ruby for months, and we finally found some at Joann's (she kept holding them out like that to look at them, lol).  First bath in the big girl tub was not really successful.  Tuesday:  I went to grab the laundry (just outside my bedroom door) and came back to this... She had been sitting up and facing the other direction!  Playing in her buddy's jumperoo.  Just a girl and her dog.  Wednesday:  My silly girl loves to shop.  Lizard baby was showing me where she bit her tongue, after getting in her 2nd tooth!

Thursday:  When she wants more food now, she points to her tray, like, "put it here, NOW".  In baby class she absconded with my granola chips (which are soooooo good!).  Friday:  Good morning, Tacoma Dome!  Waiting for John & Sherry.  Our little play set up for our wait.  I take my girl to meet two NY Times best selling authors, and she gives one a dental exam.  She likes to cross her toes at dinner.  Saturday:  This one's "crawling" all over me.  Actual crawling?  She gives up, it's too hard.

Spreading the {Young House} Love

aka The Day Ruby Inoculated John Petersik with Baby Germs

Let me back up a bit.  Hold onto your hats, people, this is going to be long.

You all know John and Sherry over at Young House Love, right?  I feel like we've been bffs for a long time (even though they don't know me at all).  I started reading their blog about four years ago.  I pretty much just stumbled upon it, and actually, it's what got me interested in reading blogs in the first place.  So good ole YHL has a special place in my heart.  Plus, without YHL I wouldn't have my beloved little burro tail plant, or The Visual Miscellanium book (the farty animals make me laugh every time).  I might not have known how yummy Mrs. Meyer's cleaning stuff smells, and though we rent our house, so we don't do any renovation stuff, I'm a compulsive DIYer, so they are right up my alley.

Then, a couple of months ago, they published a book.  I wasn't so sure it would be anything new or different from their blog, but I went ahead and asked Santa to bring it to me for Christmas.  And it is great!  I love that a huge amount of projects in there can be done by homeowners and renters alike.  Which means I can do a lot of them.  And if Little Miss ever decides to take naps, you can best believe I will.

Which brings us to today.  See, if you publish a book, you do a book tour, too, and theirs brought them to my neck of the woods.

This morning, in true DIY fashion (pun intended?) I dressed my best girl in some of my favorite DIYed things of hers, strapped her in the car, and made the 40ish mile drive down to the Tacoma Dome for the YHL book signing.

I'm not going to lie, I was kind of bummed that that's where it was.  Not so much because of the distance, but because I had to pay to park, and then pay admission to get into the Home & Garden Show, which I wasn't really interested in.  Plus, when we got to the entrance, they made me dump my cup of water out before going in.  I think it should be against the law to not allow a nursing mother to bring water anywhere.  But I digress.  I just wish it had been a cool venue like the Seattle West Elm, or a bookstore.  Moving on!

We arrived kind of early, not knowing what the crowds would be like, and my first order of business was to find out where the whole YHL thing was going down.  Which meant that we basically wandered around the entire dome before we found it, because the maps there were totally unhelpful.  I grabbed a spot at the end of an aisle, nursed my girl, and then, because we still had time to kill, we set up camp.

I put down Ruby's quilt between my chair and the stroller, grabbed her bag of toys (you can kind of see it behind her), and plopped her down there.  I am SO glad I brought that quilt, because she played down there for the duration of some really lengthy presentation from some other speaker about shrubs or something.  There was a little toddler girl behind us who was totally enamored with Ruby, and Ruby thought she was pretty great too.

Finally, it was time for John and Sherry to come out.  They were exactly the same as they are on their blog.  They did a little talk about 7 things they wished they'd known before busting out a paintbrush.  I actually didn't get to pay too close attention to what they were saying, as Miss Ruby was starting to get antsy and needed a little entertainment.  After all, we'd been there for almost 2 hours.  However, she just got wiggly, she didn't fuss at all, and I was super proud of her baby-patience.  She was being quite charming as well, practicing waving "hi" at people, trying to "share" her toys with them, and eyeballing their food (haha).

Then the talk was over, and we had to fight our way over to line up to have our book signed.  We scored a decent spot, and Ruby continued to try to charm everyone in her path.  There was a super nice couple behind us, whose names I wish I'd gotten, who waved to her when she requested, gave her high fives, and gushed over Ruby's headband that I had made.  They also were our photographers for the photos with J & S, and managed to capture the priceless moment alluded to in the "aka" title.

After what felt like a really long time (it probably wasn't, but I was so thirsty by this point!) it was our turn!  Sherry gushed over Ruby's cuteness, and I plopped her on the table so I could hand over our book.  We also handed over a hair clip similar to the one Ruby was wearing that we'd made for Clara - which, of course, I forgot to take a picture of! Sherry complimented Ruby's little boots that I made, and I faux pas-ed and mistook John's "rapper name" as J. Petersizzle, instead of the actual J. Boom (my bad), and then it was time for pictures.  We decided that Ruby should sit on the table with the book, but she was really interested in John and Sherry...

And then this happened:

Yep.  That hand that was just in her mouth, and was now covered in slobber?  Right into John Petersik's mouth.  This picture KILLS me, it captures that moment just perfectly (thanks kind strangers who were behind us in line and took it!).

Luckily for us, John is pretty awesome, and he took it in stride, baby slobber and all.  Thanks for being so cool about it, John!  Sherry and I cracked up pretty hard about it.  I was still too shocked to be mortified with embarrassment (which I kind of now am).  And Ruby?  Well, she pretty much just wanted to look at John.  And the table.  And anywhere but the camera, while our kind strangers were yelling, "Hey, Ruby!  Look over here!"

All too soon, I was back around the front of the table collecting our book, with Sherry requesting I email them those pictures because of the hilarity, and then it was time to go.  I could have stayed a lot longer and just had a chat with those two!  They really are exactly as down to earth as they claim to be.

As we walked away, a pair of women stopped me to compliment Ruby's "r" onesie, and to ask where I'd gotten it.  I told them I'd made it, and they wanted to know how.  That kind of stroked my crafty-ego.  Ruby's headband, onesie, and boots were all made by me, and all of them got some love.  I put a lot of time and love into making them for her, so that kind of gave me the warm fuzzies.  =)

And then?  Then Ruby tried to put her left hand in my mouth.  And I was like, whoaaaaaa.  Wait a sec, that hand was just in John's mouth, and so that would be weird...  And then I realized how totally embarrassing that whole situation just was!

Embarrassment aside though, the whole experience was really fun.  I got to spend a good day with my girl, and meet some cool people, bloggers and fans alike.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.  

John and Sherry, thanks for coming to town.  And sorry about the baby germs.  She is up to date on all her shots (well, the ones she's old enough to have, anyway).

Week in iPhone Pictures

January 13-19

Sunday:  Ready to cheer on her Seahawks.  Determination.  Monday:  Trying on some shoes.  And trying on a hat I made her during nap time.  Tuesday:  Yogurt is messy!  The cutest grocery shopper.  Wednesday:  Somebody has a new favorite spot.  Thinking about maybe crawling?  She loves eating her veggies!

Thursday:  Ruby and I got these super cute Oscar de la Renta bowls at Target for Braidy, and they were finally washed and ready for her to use!  Lookin' cute at class, as always.  Friday:  Baby's first beignets are a hit (her mouth is full of them).  Toulouse's specialty. Checking out the "garage sale" at REI with Grandpa.  Reading stories with Auntie Jen and Cousin Frankie.  Friday was a big day.  Saturday:  Cooking up some yummy food for my girl.  She's a goofball!  I love our diapers.  

Nursery Progress

My accountability post (here) has really been helping to light a fire under my rear in getting Ruby's nursery done!  I'm happy to say that I've made some progress.

Here's my to-do list:

*Finish the crocheted pillow for her chair.

*Make a slipcover for the ottoman (I already have the fabric, even!)

*Create Pinterest-inspired embroidery hoop art.

*Order and frame "Wild and Precious Life" art.

*Create a custom silhouette ala A Lovely Lark.

*Style the shelf over the changing table.

*Make a pennant banner for the shelf and/or a mobile for over the crib.

*Find a more attractive toy "bin" (maybe this one in either pink or yellow?).

*Find a place to display my childhood horse show ribbons (in colors that match the room, of course), and possibly add more equestrian accents.

*Organize and box up outgrown clothes.

*Put away things no longer used, and give back to Zach if necessary.

The items in red weren't on the list before, but I realized they were necessary.  It felt SO good to get all of her clothes neatly tucked away in matching storage bins for a potential little sister someday.  And I realized that she pretty much never used the play mat anymore, and definitely wasn't using the swing.  Those things were taking up a ton of space, her room looks so much nicer with just them gone!  Both of those things belong to my brother (along with a Boppy and My Brest Friend, and bouncy seat we no longer use).  I'm dying to get that stuff out of my house, but I may as well wait until my friend returns his Bebepod (we traded for her Bumbo), and until Ruby doesn't need the infant bath tub.  Then I can get rid of everything in one fell swoop!

So, I'm about half-way done, and really all that it comes down to is art and a toy bin.  I've been holding off on the silhouette because I wanted to know what size frame I was working with.  I have it in my mind to find an oval one at a thrift store.  Maybe Miss Rubes and I will go thrifting on a day we have nothing to do.  And after that, it will be DONE, and that will feel fantastic.

Plus, it will free up some time for birthday party planning, seen as how someone will be turning one in less than four months!  Eek!

Week in iPhone Pictures

January 6-12

Sunday:  Not sure about Grandpa holding her at breakfast...  Getting a pedicure from the doggie.  Big girl tub (which was a HUGE fail, way too scary, apparently)!  Monday:  Helping with the laundry.  A gaping space where our plasma should be. =(  Celebrating getting her first tooth (!) with some upside down time.  Tuesday:  Chowing down like a big kid on some oats and nanners bars.  Puzzle time.  Waiting for her buddies at the coffee lounge.

Wednesday:  Smooches for my girl.  Feeding herself.  Thursday:  This is the only way mommy gets to dry her hair...  Drinking my water during baby class.  Friday:  Crazy bedhead.  Grandma's purse tastes good when you're hungry at Target.  Saturday:  Bear-bottom!  Sad because Daddy put her in a UW sweatshirt.  Beans, carrots, and avocado for dinner - when did she get so grown-up???

So, yeah.  Our tv?  It bit the dust right after Christmas.  Like, I pressed "power" on the remote and it just went "click click click click" while flashing it's little red light, but never turned on.  And I had to unplug it to make the clicking stop.  The tv repairman came, but in the end, had to take our tv away to fix it. =(  It's been a week and a half.  Hopefully Roger Workman (Lost reference anyone?  His name really is Roger, and he IS a work man...) will be returning it tomorrow.  

Week in iPhone Pictures

December 30 - January 5

Sunday:  Ruby played with one of her Christmas presents.  I played with one of mine. =)  Some high chair loungin'.  Monday:  I don't like being up early, but a pink sky helps.  Someone was not into NYE partying.  Tuesday:  We started off the new year with Ruby taking a nap on me like she used to do when she was a newbie.  Hey!  I finished the ottoman!  Wednesday:  A little trip to the Container Store for some new year's organization.  Rash-curing naked baby time.

Thursday:  Some sweet new toy storage.  My troublemakers.  Metered on-ramps are the bane of my existance.  Friday:  I'm well stocked... for a little while.  R-u-b-y playing with her fridge magnets.  Little Miss 8-Month-Old, looking grown up in her big kid jeans.  Saturday:  Got my organization on (and fought back tears when doing the newborn bin).  A 59 cent bottle of neon orange nail polish makes me extremely happy.  She really likes any toy with beads on a wire.

Merry Christmas to Me!

Sooooo...

That "big" present I was talking about in my Christmas post?

Yeah.  It was this:

To say I'm pretty excited about it is kind of an understatement.  I've been lamenting my little point and shoot for ages, and the majority of my pictures of Ruby have actually been taken with my phone.  Sad! But no more!  I now have the potential to take some good pictures.

I still have to learn how to use it, but it's been fun so far playing around with it!

Calendar Girl - Seven Months

Say what?  Somebody is about to be 8 months old and her mommy hasn't done a 7 month post yet?  Surprise surprise...

Ruby was NOT into her photo shoot this month, so...  I'll do the best with what I have. ;)

No doctor's appointment this month, so I have no idea how big the babe is.  I do think she's been going through a growth spurt though - at least I hope so, with the amount she's been nursing!  She feels heavier to me, though.  Then again, I thought that last month and she'd hardly gained anything.  She's still fitting quite comfortably in 3-6 month clothes, and continues to have the tiniest feet ever, wearing 0-3 month shoes.

In her 7th month, Ruby was able to sit up well enough on her own to not be in danger of constantly tipping over.  Which meant that playing has been a lot more fun!  Her favorite toy this month was her V-tech blender.  It's a hand-me-down toy from my niece, and it plays the most ridiculous songs (of course).  It comes with 5 sparkly fruit blocks, which she is so all about.  This month she also tried sitting in shopping carts and restaurant high chairs, but they were still a bit too slippery on her bottom.

Sleep continues to be total crap.  She wakes many times a night.  Occasionally, she will wake and want to stay awake, having herself a little night party, usually from the hours of 1-5am.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, will get her to go back down when she's in one of those moods.  Out of desperation, we've resorted to swaddling again.  I kind of hate it because I know we can't swaddle her forever.  But I'm also ok with it, because I know she'd rather do anything else than flip over onto her belly, so she's safe like that.  And it gets everybody a lot more sleep.  Her separation anxiety is still in full force, and it seems that's what's going on at night, too.  If she gets too awake, she can't get back to sleep without checking in with her mommy.  This too shall pass!

Another side effect of the separation anxiety?  I can no longer take showers.  At least, not if Ruby's awake.  In fact, I can't even really set foot in the bathroom at all or she freaks. out.  Like, huge alligator tears.  I hypothesized that it's because she knows when I get into "the box" (shower) I don't come right out if she cries.  Therefore, I either have to get my shower in before Mr. G goes to work, or I don't get one.  Once, out of desperation, I tried to shower with her, but that was a big fat fail, so...  Yeah.  Sometimes I'm unshowered.  The things I do for this kid!

Also?  She hates her bedtime routine now.  It's like she knows, "No!  They're going to put my pajamas on me and then I'm going to have to go to bed ALONE!"  Sheesh, silly girl, she won't sleep with us (we've tried it) and we always go to her if she needs us!

Last month, we introduced solids, and this month she's still eating like a champ.  Only purees though.  I had big plans about doing Baby Led Weaning, but she was just not having it.  She's picky about texture, just like her mama.  Awesomely, though, if you put it on a spoon, she will put anything in her mouth.  She also tried using a sippy cup this month, and though she'll sometimes take a drink, she's more interested in just playing with it.

After having previously sworn off pacis (she would act insulted if you even offered her one), she randomly picked one back up and liked it.  For about a week.  I attribute all of the above to teething, but she still has no teeth!  I swear one is going to pop through all the time, based on her behavior, but she's holding out in the tooth department.

So seven months down (well, really now almost 8).  We're on the back side of the first year.  It seems like just yesterday my big girl was a newbie, but now we're talking about food and sitting and teeth!  She's growing up too fast, but I am loving every minute of it.  Even if I am getting no sleep!

Happy New Year!