Sunday, December 31, 2006

Happy New Year!

As I sit nursing sweet Ruby to sleep, I can't help but reflect on what a GOOD. YEAR. we've had. All told, 2006 was pretty much the BEST. YEAR. EVER. I'd love to regale you with my thoughts, memories and heartfelt words, but... with the new year, comes change. Yes folks, we're moving. I've set up the new blog, and should start emailing out the new info soon. If you don't get an email from me, and want to keep reading, email me at knittingzen@gmail.com.

In the meantime, I hope your celebrations are safe, and the new year filled with hope, peace, love and the realization of your dreams, whatever they may be.

PS. I'm going to attempt Project 365 and post a picture a day, although it may not always be Ruby.

Friday, December 29, 2006

So... I haven't posted in a week. SOMEBODY (not naming any names or pointing any fingers) refuses to go to sleep before 11PM. So I'm trying to put these up before we head out for the weekend to my parents house for the Mout Family Christmas Bonanza. It's not easy when she's shouting at me... but here you go.
The other outfit by Aunt Mary. OMG she looks so chunkalicious in this!

Showing Santa how to get around the globe.
Opening presents with Daddy and Mama at Grandmas house (can you see she gets her good looks from her Dad - cause I look like poo in that pix!)

More present opening. Lots (well only a few, which is what we asked) wooden toys. :D Great stuff!

Ok i'll try to post one more time this year.. but no promises!
So... I haven't posted in a week. SOMEBODY (not naming any names or pointing any fingers) refuses to go to sleep before 11PM. So I'm trying to put these up before we head out for the weekend to my parents house for the Mout Family Christmas Bonanza. It's not easy when she's shouting at me... but here you go.
The other outfit by Aunt Mary. OMG she looks so chunkalicious in this!

Showing Santa how to get around the globe.
Opening presents with Daddy and Mama at Grandmas house (can you see she gets her good looks from her Dad - cause I look like poo in that pix!)

More present opening. Lots (well only a few, which is what we asked) wooden toys. :D Great stuff!

Ok i'll try to post one more time this year.. but no promises!

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Christmas outfit

Aunt Mary made Ruby a sweet red outfit for Christmas.


Complete with sweet little hand knit baby legs.


Seriously. Can she be any cuter?

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Six months

Dear Ruby,

Today you are six months old. You have been in my arms for 6 months. You've lived in my heart for a lot longer than that, but as of 1:46 this afternoon, you've been earth-side for 6 months. It simultaneously feels like you've been here forever, and that you've only been here for 5 minutes. You've changed our lives in so many ways in the past half year, and i can't wait to see what will change next.


This month you've learned so much. You've started to blow raspberries, and it's quite possibly the funniest thing EVER. You seem to amuse yourself just as much as you amuse everyone else in the room. Some nights while you're trying (not) to fall asleep you'll blow them in the dark, and it's so very hard not to laugh at you. You are JUST. SO. FUNNY. You've started to full on belly laugh now, and you've also developed a sweet little giggle when daddy snurgles on the back of your neck. Oh god, it's to die for.

You just recently developed the ability to entertain yourself for short periods of time. You've perfected sitting up on your own and with a few pillows (or the boppy) around you, you'll sit and play with your toys for 20-30 minutes all by yourself. We sit back and watch you, amazed at your independence and inquisitive nature. You are a wonder to behold.

You've found your feet and think they are quite interesting. It's good because it keeps you occupied during diaper changes, and you're less likely to try and roll away. You love rolling over. and over. and over.
If you could crawl, You would be all over it! When you see your toys just out of reach you have this look in your eye like "oh man, if I could just get over THERE"... but you're not there yet. You seem content to focus on mastering hand control and squeals and laughter, crawling will come later.

You have been acting like you are about to get teeth for quite some time, yet have nothing to show for it yet. Your gums don't even look like they are about to change... this is fine with me, as sometimes you bite down when nursing that's not too fun for me. Thankfully, you're not much of a biter, just when you're overly tired, or fighting sleep.

You're still a pretty good sleeper. You're not sleeping "through the night" but once you go to bed, you only wake to eat, and not to play. And since you sleep with us all night, I hardly wake up to feed you. (yeah for breast-feeding and co-sleeping!) You've recently changed the time you like to go to sleep from 7-8 to 10 PM, but since you still get a full nights sleep, we're not going to fight you on that one. At least this way you get to play with daddy a little more at night when he works late.

You're just about ready for solid food. you can sit on your own and can grab things with your thumb and forefinger. You've started watching us eat intently and occasionally shouting at us during meals as if to say 'hey, I wanna try that!' I think we'll ask santa to put a little avocado or sweet potato in your stocking, so that after the holidays you can try something besides breast milk. I can't wait to see your face when you try different things!

You've also just started to notice animals. Mik and Oscar (those are the two black cats that run our house) aren't sure about you, but they occasionally let you pet them... and when you do, you think it's THE. FUNNIEST. THING. EVER. I'm not sure what you make of those furry guys, but you sure love the way they feel. we are in Michigan visiting Grandma right now, and last night you met Leo her puppy. OH. MY. GOD. you were so amused by him. Sorry to say, but mama is allergic to dogs, so we won't be getting one any time soon. (and besides, we can hardly keep house with you and two cats!)


You are truly an amazing creature. Watching you learn and grow is the most precious thing I've ever witnessed. I love you so very much, and yet I love you more each day. Every day I am thankful that you chose us as your family, and that we didn't give up on you. I knew in my heart that you were out there somewhere, (although I admit there were times that I was less than faithful and quite impatient) and I'm so glad you're here. Thank you for coming into our lives and for showing us our true capacity for love. You are proof that god exists, and that she wants us to be happy. You are truly the best thing I've ever done, my proudest moment, and my greatest challenge. Thank you for making my life complete.

All my love, Mama

Sunday, December 17, 2006

House of sick

Sorry we've been gone.. We took a little vacation to the house of sick. By vacation, I mean, we've all been sick. By sick I mean, every nature of sick has been in this house this week. Barfing, snotty noses, coughing. Good times, I tell ya, good times. So not many pictures have been taken this week. However, I do have a sweet video of Ruby under the christmas tree. You want to see it? no? ok then. Maybe next time.


Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Ruby blows raspberries

It's short, but worth it. (just like me)


sigh. can't seem to get it to work... you'll have to go toyou tube

Sunday, December 10, 2006

In the wee small hours of the morning, while I was rocking Ruby back to sleep after a rare late night waking I found myself thinking about Kati Kim and her family. Kati and James Kim and their two daughters (one not much older than Ruby) were traveling through Oregon after Thanksgiving, and were lost, stranded in their car in the snow for nine days. They rationed what they had, burned tires for warmth and did all they could to stay alive and stay together. After seven days, James went to look for help, and Kati and the girls stayed in the car. Kati and her daughters were rescued. James' body was found two days later. Kati kept her daughters (4 years old and 7 months) alive by breastfeeding them. This story has broken the hearts of many Oregonians, and it's weighed heavy on my mind.

So as I rocked and sung to my sweet baby at 5 am on sunday morning, I thought of this family. As tired as I was, I was still in my warm house, with plenty to eat, and my husband was safe and alive sleeping (or trying to) in the bed next to me. My baby was warm, safe and her biggest concern was trying to fall back to sleep. Everything I hold dear was in it's place. Everyone I love more than life itself was safe. I have no reason to complain.

I just kept imagining this woman sitting in her car, trapped in the snow, watching the man she loves walk away. And the hours, upon hours waiting for his return, alone in the car, in the snow with her two babies. And I wept. I kissed Ruby and tears dropped on her sleeping face. I thanked the universe that my family is safe. And I prayed that in his last moments, James Kim somehow knew that his wife and daughters would be safe. That where ever he is now, he knows that his family made it home alive. Because I just can't bear to think otherwise.

May his soul rest in peace, and may his family find healing as time passes. Please hold your loved ones close tonight, and say a prayer (if you're the praying type) for this family.

I won't leave you with complete sadness, here's the fam at my work holiday party. Ruby came as Santa Clause.

Friday, December 08, 2006

sleep? what's that?


Somebody found their feet this week. Somebody also has developed the innate ability not to fall asleep until much later than a baby should. MUUUUUUUCH later.


But can you blame her? how can you sleep when you are THIS cute?How can you sleep when you have THIS MUCH cute to share with the world!

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Ruby and the cats...

Well Hi. Who are you?

Who is this guy mom? He's kinda furry!

Ooooh he's so soft! I love him!

Oh, I don't think he likes me...

Wait! Where are you going! We're just getting to know each other! I can be gentle! I won't pull I promise!

Aw. Crap. Now who am I going to play with?

Daddy!

Saturday, December 02, 2006

back to sporadic posting....

I'm trying to do everyday, I am.... really! but its hard when you have a cute sweet baby distracting you from the computer!

Ruby and I just spent a few days last week at Nana and Grandpa's house.
She loves her grandpa!

She's started to stick her butt up - like a downward dog yoga pose - she really really wants to crawl. It's hilarious. She also found her consonants last night! all of a sudden, instead of saying aaaaoooaaaaa, she was saying aaadaaa aaaadaaaa. It's pretty darn cute I tell ya. You'd think that all of these physical and developmental changes would make a girl sleepy. Not my Ruby. No... she regularly stays up until 11 pm or later, and still wakes up at 8:30 (with short or minimal naps). I'm looking forward to the 7pm-7am schedule, with the 2 long naps a day (( I'm fooling myself, aren't I - hey but a girl can dream!)).

Here is just a preview of a cute set of pix we just took. I can't tell you what they are for until after christmas.... but eventually you'll see them all. Prepare yourself... they are to die for!