8 months and 10 days

Happy 8 months and 10 days to my sweet Ivory girl!

Readers may wonder what's so significant about 8 months and 10 days. Well, unlike everyone in my facebook newsfeed (who dutifully mark each month of their babies' lives with a sweet picture of them wearing special, clean shirts that state the number of months they are old), I haven't had time to think about her month birthdays, let alone take a picture. So 8 months and 10 days it is. Oh, except that I took this picture a few days ago, or weeks ago, or possibly months ago I guess--I didn't write down the date.

But here goes my attempt to make it up to her:

Ivory Stats at 8 months and 10 days

Weight: Not sure, but I think I am getting tendinitis in my wrist if that's any indication.

Height: Not sure again, but her pants seem to fit fine in the waist and the length--something that her big sister has never experienced as her poor big sister will be wearing high waters for the rest of her life

Hair: 1 of them is 3'', the rest are 1''.

Favorite food: Time Magazine

Second Favorite food: Wood chips at the park

(I think both of those are healthy, right?)

Favorite activity: Watching her sister's swimming lessons. She sits on the side of the pool waving her arms up and down in utter excitement. Can't wait for her own lessons.

Sleep Schedule: Better than some kids, but still exhausting to her mom.

Enjoys finger paint (note, this is not that she enjoys finger painting, she enjoys finger paint--as in she stuck a bunch in her mouth today while Ruby and I were trying to include her and she was happy as could be about it).

Sense of humor: Fantastic (She thinks I'm hilarious.)

Tricks: loves rolling, sitting, playing with toys, tasting toys, tasting any food or anything, knocking over blocks, and tickles.

Other Trick: Can crawl. OK, that might be an exaggeration, I mean: Can Army crawl. OK, that might be another slight exaggeration as I can't imagine any Army recruiters calling the house any time soon. She can slither forward on her belly at a rate of 3''/hour. Not bad, huh? I'm actually happy as it means Ivory normally stays generally where she was left.

Cuteness ranking: #1 Cutest baby in the world

Couldn't be happier to have such a sweet girl (well, unless of course, she were sleeping just a little bit more). Seriously, though, I love her cuddles, her laughs and giggles, the joy she's brought to our family. I love the way she and Ruby are developing their relationship. I love her sense of humor. I love her little personality and I'm so happy that I am blessed to be her mom.

Ruby's precious personality

"Uh, what are you looking at?"

"Ohhhh yeah!"

"It's Easter morning and you gave me an empty egg!"

"I swear it wasn't me who ate the cake!"

"Guys! I'm naked! Why are you taking my picture?"

"Don't you dare take away my bag of snacks"

A Valentine's tribute to my Valentine: The Story of Us

I'll never forget the day we met. I was sitting in the hallway outside the sociology conference room chewing on a pen. Camm was standing above me with his backpack buckled as if he were about to go on a huge backpacking trip.

A couple days later I jokingly said "Hey Camm! Wanna run a marathon." "Sure thing," he replied and 26.2 miles later we were falling in love. (He later told me that though he never had run more than 2 miles, when a pretty girl asks you to run a marathon, you don't pass up the opportunity)

I soon was off to Peru for my mission and we corresponded only through letters

I'll never forget the day we got married. He's the best!

I love you today even more than I did when we got married. You're the best! Happy Valentine's day!

My little girl

Dear Ruby,

It is 9:30 at night and you have been asleep for a while.

I begin to miss seeing you giggle.

I walk into the hallway and stand in your doorway.

There you are. You look so peaceful.

You are wearing your brown monkey polka-dot pajamas and somehow look like an angel. I wonder if angels wear monkey pajamas.

Lying on your back, you are sucking on your fingers. I marvel that just eight short months ago you didn’t even know where your fingers were.

Your hair is finally coming in. I see it move as you breathe. You were bald for so long. Soon we may be able to do a pony tail.

I wonder what you are dreaming about. I hope it is a good dream.

I see you stir. I step out of your view so you don’t see me looking.

You roll over and resume your sleep. I marvel again. How did you learn to roll over? You couldn’t do that even 6 months ago.

I realize you are growing up so quickly. I can’t help but feel a little bit sad. What happened to my little baby?

I leave the doorway and thumb through your pictures. You have grown so much.

You are beautiful. You are perfect. You are my baby girl. I love you. I will always love you.

Love,

Mommy