Happy Birthday Ruby Mae

I blame pregnancy for all the few and in between blog posts I've been dishing out lately. So much has happened lately from Bryce graduating to Gramp's 95th birthday.  But this post is dedicated to the only girl that can make cottage cheese legs look good.  That's right, Ruby Mae is a year old and with her new found age and wisdom she has taken on a whole new personality trait... sassiness.  To say I should be surprised is a slap to the face. Anyone who knows me knows it's a trait I perfected at a young age. I guess I was hoping it came later in life for her but she is my daughter so who am I kidding. The morning of her birthday I got her out of her crib like usual with snuggles and giggles and a few mamama's on her part.  But the instant we got upstairs and I sat her down she threw the biggest fit.  I mean flinging her chubby little body to the ground as if someone yelled, "hit the deck!" and whipping her head back and forth like she was auditioning for a part in Willow Smiths music video "I whip my hair".  I just sat there and starred at her and I'm pretty sure my mouth was open. It was as if I was seeing my daughter for the first time. She waited twelve long months to pull that stunt on me. And ever since than she has had this little tude about her that's so her mom.  I'm doomed. I guess I should feel lucky she only gets 50% of my genes and that her dad is a total saint.

Anyways other than this new persona Ruby has acquired, Her birthday was great.  We celebrated it early since Bryce's parents were in town for Bryce's graduation and we didn't want them to miss out on her first birthday celebration.  It was fathers day so we had a nice father's day dinner and then we dedicated the rest of the time to Rubes.  I made this awesome bajillion layered cake that I got off of pinterest.  It had every color of the rainbow and looked delicious it just didn't turn out as pretty as I had hoped. Oh well thats life. We let Ruby dig in and after a few hesitant attempts she got her stride and enjoyed making a mess.  We don't call her fatty patty for nothing. 

Ok time for some sappiness so bare with me. I still remember everything from the day she was born and  

the moment the Dr. placed her on my chest.  I had never felt that kind of love before in my life then when my sweet, precious Ruby was in my arms and after waiting 10 long months of all sorts of adventures, having this beautiful baby girl there right in front of me was perfection. 

I love you Ruby Mae

Rubster

Rubes

Ruby Booby

Rubinator

Rubius Hagrid

Fatty Patty

Boobster

rubixcube

rhubarb

Happy first birthday I can't wait to celebrate many more. Daddy and I love you so much and are so glad  you wanted to be apart of our family. Even if you do come with a little attitude.

11 Months and she's still alive...

11 months old and we have kept Ruby alive to this point. I think that is a great accomplishment in itself.

I can't believe next month Ruby will be a year old.  She's getting to big to fast.  That might be why I decided to have another one so soon... so I can have my little baby fix. I couldn't of asked for a happier little girl.  She is always smiling and happy especially when she gets to play with her best friend and cousin Liv.

These girls are really going to miss each other when we move. Bryce accepted a job a while back. Its off of division up north so we decided to move to be closer to work.  We haven't moved yet but next month we are packing up and shipping out.  I have never lived in North Spokane so this will be like moving to a new town. But I think the person that Ruby is going to miss the most will be her Poppy.

Luckily we won't be to far away that these two can't get their fix of each other.  Its been really fun living with my parents and having my brother and sister-in-law there too.  But we are very ready to have our own place again.  

Speaking of having your own space.  Violet has really taken up room and board in my belly.  Its true what they say, you get bigger with each pregnancy! I'm only 24 weeks and I am already looking pretty large and in charge. luckily I have had way more energy during this pregnancy than last so I am way more active.  Which is good because my need for chocolate and peanut butter and all things bad for you has shot through the roof. Its pathetic what I will do to get what i'm craving. I even stooped so low as to raid my dad's candy stash that he got for valentines day and eat a huge box of Hot Tamales while he was out of town and that he later informed me he was saving tell the right moment.  I blame it on hormones. They will jack you up.

Bryce just ain't got it in him...

Well last Tuesday we found out we are having another girl.  hence the post title. I thought for sure we were having a boy and I was getting really excited about the idea but alas when we looked at that ultrasound and didn't see a "little thing" poking between the legs we all knew. My mom was able to come to the ultrasound with us and crazy fact, it is the first ultrasound of her 13 grand babies she has gone to.

I got over my initial shock and I'm really excited to be having another little girl. We already have a named picked out. Thats just the way we roll people so don't hate. So Violet will be the name of Ruby's little sister.  

I always thought I wanted a house full of boys because thats what I know but the idea of having a bunch of sweet little emotionally triggered girls helping their mom make cupcakes and other delicious sweet treats gives me a big grin. So yeah thats a few of my thoughts on hearing the news that I was having another girl.

In other news Ruby turned 10 months a couple weeks ago 

and she is a blast to have around.  She is one chatty cathy, so much that her parents were told after a sacrament meeting to, "teach your child to be quiet, children don't learn by themselves." It was one of my prouder parent moments. 

She is also a beast when it comes to eating. I tell you what this girl doesn't mess around. Her favorite foods right now are peas, choboni greek yogurt, strawberries, and BBQ ribs. 

She loves music and claps every time she hears it.  

She also learned how to blow kisses, its a heart melter for sure.

We love having her in the fam.

So Bryce received two offers from a couple Physical therapy places here in Spokane.  He didn't end up getting the one in Boise so Idaho is out.  We are planning on taking one of the two offers and that means that we will for sure be living in Spokane.  I am pretty stoked that we get to stay in Spokane. Now we get to find our own place and move on out of my parents basement. Not that it hasn't been a blast.

"I"m in a Glass case of Emotion"

I thought I would share with you one of my new embarrassing moments ever.

So yesterday was my moms birthday and my dad and I went shopping for her. My dad really wanted to get her some "Red hot skinny jeans" his words not mine. So we went to Nordstroms. We found some cute blue capri jeggings and he decided we needed to accessorize with some Tom shoes. So we did.  When we got home he asked me to wrap all the presents we got. I went down stairs to start when to all of our surprise a box arrived for my mom (who by the way was in Texas this whole time) it was three pairs of Tom shoes... holy crap mom you really like your Toms. Anyways we decided to wrap them all and I wrapped the ones that we had got her in different wrapping paper so we knew for her to open them last.

Ok fast forward to Saturday, my mom and a few of us are sitting in the living room when my dad decided it was gift giving time. He went and got all the presents. (he didn't know I had wrapped the presents in a special way) while he was giving my mom the presents I tried to tell him that the polka dot wrapped presents were to be opened last. He told me to HUSH and I kept trying to tell him it was important and he then proceeded to raise his voice at me. And here is where the embarrassing part comes in. I start to cry and not just soft little no one will notice cries. This was a full blown crying fest. I couldn't control myself at all.  I was crying over polka dot wrapping paper in front of my entire family while my mom is trying to open her gifts.  I blame the stupid hormones from being pregnant. Usually I never cry... Ever. Even my last pregnancy I never cried. But for some reason this pregnancy has got me on one crazy A** roller coaster of emotion and I can't control the ups or the downs. 

Needless to say it was an awkward situation for everybody involved. My mom almost started crying, my husband wanted to hold me but I kept telling him I didn't want to be touched, my dad felt really bad for yelling at me and my brother and sister-in-law watched in amazement as I unraveled right before their eyes.  

Something tells me I am going to need to carry a box of Kleenex with me at all times. I no longer can make fun of those pregnant women I use to see in church crying over nothing, because the reality is I am that pregnant lady. Word of advice, don't try to come give us a hug or console us. Just pretend like you don't see us and go on your merry way.

Easter, Boise, and in memory...

So A lot has happened these past couple of weeks.

We had a great Easter full of lots of eating. I may or may not have broken into my child's Easter eggs to collect all the starburst jelly beans and skittles for myself.

I got all Martha Stewart and decided to make Ruby's Easter dress plus matching bow. 

Needless to say it was a fun Easter with the fam.

So this past weekend we went to Boise Idaho. "Why oh why Mal would you go there of all places?" I know that's what you are dying to ask right?  My friends I went for my true love. Bryce had an interview with a Physical Therapy company that is based there that he really really likes. There is one position available and there were 7 of them applying.  The odds not great but nobody else got to use the company car. I wish I could say I absolutely hated Boise but I just can't do it.  I mean its no Spokane but it wasn't like Idaho Falls or Rexburg either.  I am still trying to wrap my head around possibly raising my kids in IDAHO but if its suppose to be its suppose to be and I'll make it work.  Plus it has a Cheesecake Factory so if anything I can wallow in my misery while eating delicious cheesecake. While Bryce was doing his for ever long interview process the Rubinator and I really got to know the inside of our hotel room. 

 

All in all it was a fun trip and I'm slowly warming to the idea of moving to Boise if Bryce gets the job. If not Spokane isn't at all a bad second choice.

And last but not least I lost a very dear friend of mine this last week. 

His name was Amadeus and he was one of the best cat's I ever owned. I got him on clearance for 17 dollars at the Spokane Humane Society over 3 years ago. He loved cuddling, drooling, and being lazy with me. We don't know what happened to him but most likely it wasn't a good ending. I stayed strong for a couple of days and then finally broke down when I went to bed and it was some uncontrollable sobbing. I don't think Bryce knew what to do, he's never had an attachment to a pet. So the scene was definitely new for him. I still look outside hoping he will be outside sunbathing and I always feel a little more heartache when I don't see him.

I feel bad for leaving you on a sad note but thats where I've been at for the past few days.

Playing Catch Up

Every time I get on the computer I usually look to see if anyone has posted a new blog and it reminds me how I haven't blogged in awhile. (by the way just sneezed and peed a little...perks of having babies...God bless Kegel exercises) As I was saying I have been procrastinating blogging because I feel like I have had nothing to say as of late. But know I have lots of little treasures to share with you all.

First Ruby is 9 months

This girl doesn't sit still ever. She loves her Cousin Liv and loves being Liv's little puppy dog following her all over the house. She also loves all food that is presented to her. She especially loves Chobani yogurt but who doesn't. If only she would get more teeth then her world would be changed forever with all the different foods out there.

Secondly

Bryce had a two week break between his second and third internships so we decided to go to the Oregon Coast for a few days.  It was way fun even though it rained on us the whole time. We stayed in Tillamook and took day trips up and down the Coast. We visited the beach once and lasted maybe 15 minutes before turning back cause it was so cold and windy. We went to Ripley's believe it or not which is one of my favorite places to visit. We also went to Astoria and climbed the column. We also visited the aquarium in Newport and my favorite part of the trip was finding a Baby Gap outlet. We also Visited the Tillamook cheese factory and ate our way through many cheese samples and had ourselves some delicious ice cream. I think out of the whole trip Ruby enjoyed playing in our hotel room. Judge us if you want for letting our child play all over the floor but it allowed some much needed rest.

I won't lie I had no desire to even try to look remotely attractive  during our  entire trip so bare with me

and finally

This pregnancy has been a lot different then my first.  Well for one thing my nausea and constant throwing up that I had with Ruby is almost non existent this pregnancy.  I have only thrown up once while I was in the shower after eating left over Chinese. BIG. MISTAKE.

Also this pregnancy is going by way fast. I"m already in my second trimester and at the end of the month we find out what we are having. I think its a boy. I guess we will just have to see.

I'm definantly showing way faster than last time. I already have a very protruding belly and have broken out the maternity clothes. Got to love maternity garment bottoms they are a life saver. 

So I think your all caught up on whats happened the past couple months with the Ellgens. I leave you with some random pictures of Ruby cause lets be honest thats all you really care about.