SD Children's museum trip

We have an awesome children's museum here. And awesome libraries, because they have passes you can check out for the museum. It takes a couple of months to go up the waiting list, but being able to go every couple of months for free sure beats shelling out the money for the pass!

Our turn came up this week and Abby was sooo excited. She remembered everything (it's actually been a while since we last went), and was talking about all the things she wanted to do. I decided to try running there to save on having to find and pay for parking. It worked out great, it is always a gamble on how Rua will hold up during a run, and especially since this was about 4.5 miles each way. But little girl conked out both ways. Yes!

And the real reason I made this post: 

Look at this face!

Snapshots

While Abby slept...we played! We ran one afternoon to the rose gardens (these are awesome!) per Abby's request. But Abby fell asleep on the way over and wouldn't wake up. So Rua and I got some super fun Mommy and Rua time. Loved it.

I looked over one day while doing something in the kitchen and saw this. I laughed pretty hard.

 We love the zoo. As in, we go every week, sometimes more than once a week. We've had lots of adorable babies born recently (hippos and jaguars, so cute!!). But Abby's favorite spot seems to be the hippo statue. We spent about an hour there one day last week.

Abby loves these boys. William and Sebastian are good friends we met through our birth class before they were all born. This is them running in circles at our latest Thursday meet-up.

Sunset cliffs pics

Love, love this place. One of the most beautiful spots in SD, and there are sure a lot. We went here again after Easter dinner and got some fun shots. It was also Rua's 6 month day so we spent some time trying to get good pictures of here while making sure Abby didn't try to go off the cliffs. I don't think Eric was really worried, but I sure was! Heights and my kids put together scare me. But it was so fun and so pretty. And we got to see an amazing sunset.

Rua - 6 months

April 5, 2015

Dearest Rua,

Six months old today. Wow. My beautiful little baby girl is 6 months old. This weekend was general conference for church, as was the weekend you were born. So this whole weekend has brought back so many beautiful memories and thoughts from that weekend. 

                            

You just keep growing and growing and stealing our hearts more and more each day. When we were last at story time, Abby just stood by me the whole time, hugging and kissing you telling you she loved you, hardly paying attention to the stories or songs. Exactly how we all feel!

 

Some things about you from this month:

• Biggest accomplishment: You can sit up by yourself! You are still a bit wobbly and will fall over easily after a few minutes but every day you are getting better. It's so nice to be able to set you down with a few toys. You are much happier being able to sit up and see things!

• You are so happy and love to let everyone know it! You squeal and make all sorts of cute noises.
• You are very attentive and enjoy watching other people, especially other kids. Even more so if those other kids happen to include big sister Abby. You laugh and laugh at her crazy antics, which of course makes her do even more to keep making you laugh.

• You want to hold everything in your reach. This makes Abby a bit upset multiple times a day as these things often are her toys or books. She is very willing to share if the things you want are your toys and is very sweet about it, but it is a completely different story if it is hers. Will work on this!
• You can push yourself up really high with those arms while on your tummy. Once you pushed yourself up on your knees.
• You suck your thumb and want to hold onto things while you do. Sometimes this is just holding your hands together while you suck or my hair if I'm holding you, or my shirt, your shirt, or a blanket or toy. 

• You can reach those little toes of yours

• You love to watch the ceiling fan
• You still don't like the jogging stroller very much. 
• Your sleep has really gone downhill. You've gone from sleeping 6-8 hours straight to waking up multiple times at night. Naps are hard too. 

• You celebrated your first Easter (today!). 
• You got your first little sunburn. (sorry!)
• You swung in the swing at the playground for the first couple of times this month. You thought it was just great. You look so tiny in there compared to Abby!  She keeps telling me to make you go really high, I have to keep explaining to her that you aren't quite ready for that. 

• We tried putting you in Abby's booster chair with tray last week to see how that would work (looking forward to when we start solids). You thought it was fun, throwing your toys off the tray onto the floor. Abby decided that this wasn't a good idea yet and has banned you from her chair. So you are back in your bumbo during meals, chewing on a spoon while we eat. 
• Speaking of eating, you aren't yet. But Abby sure loves to feed you the food she 'makes' in her little kitchen. She comes over to you on the floor and feeds you with her spatula the pretend food and you both laugh and have fun with it. 

You are just so much fun! This is going to be an awesome month. I love the time I have with you, little one. 

Love, 

Your Mamma

The sound of Abby

These are too adorable not to share. This type of quality singing typically only happens during potty time, so when she started belting out songs after dinner, we had to capture it on camera. Abby really has a knack for picking up songs. Last week she came home after nursery and surprised us by knowing all of the words to "I Am Like a Star Shining Brightly," which was learned completely from nursery singing time. (And, according to her nursery leaders today, she never actually sings during nursery--just sits there and listens attentively. We'll have to work on her stage presence.)

Rua - 5 Months

Dearest Rua,

Five months old! This past month has been so fun. You have been a ton more active and interactive and so so happy.

                                                   

Some things from this month:

• You have finally started using your rolling skills more. Especially at diaper changes. When that diaper comes off, off you go. You seem to be having more fun with moving around now too, like you are playing more than just practicing moving. 

• Bubbles, bubbles, all the time. You have really perfected blowing raspberries and sometimes get so into it that spit comes flying off, covering your little face in drops. 
• Speaking of being wet, all your drooling has indeed been teething, you got your first tooth two weeks ago. Along with that came the first signs of biting when nursing. Not ok, little one. Hopefully we can curb that quickly. 
• You have sure found your voice, and it is a loud one. You like to make all sorts of noises, and when you are the happiest, it escalates into a loud happy screech. Yikes, you really know how to be heard. 

• You have finally started to grab and hold onto things more. Your toys (favorite is definitely Sophie the giraffe), blankets, fingers, shirts, bibs, whatever comes in your path. And of course, all of these head straight into your mouth.
• You still love your thumb. I have given up trying to convince you to take a pacifier and have accepted that both my girls just prefer their fingers. Honestly though, it is so nice at nights especially for you to be able to soothe yourself with your thumb. 

• This love of your thumb though has made it hard wearing the splint that you got this month. We visited the occupational therapist for the first time this month and she made a splint for your left hand, which is to help straighten out your middle finger which is bent. She tried to make it so you can still get your thumb in but it doesn't seem to be working too well, and you sure don't like having that thumb out of your reach. Thankfully you only have to wear it at nights. 

• Still love baths

• You love watching Abby. You start cracking up laughing so easily, she doesn't even have to been doing anything funny. 
• And your sister sure loves you. She is always asking if you are awake yet when you are sleeping and always wants to be right there playing with you.  

We love you too! Happy five months, little Rua.

Love, 

Your Mamma

Abby's baby carrier - sewing project

Probably one of my favorite sewing projects in a while. Loved how this turned out!! Now Abby has her very own 'ergo' as she calls it, though it is actually a mei-tai carrier. Here is a link to the tutorial I used.