the happiest place on earth.

Did I tell you we have annual passes to Disneyland? We do, and we take advantage of it. Well, I mostly take advantage of it with the slew of guests we have at any given time. However, Sean wanted to take a little overnight trip to Anaheim to spend a few days bouncing back and forth between the parks. So, we got a hotel. I know--a tad ridiculous since Disneyland is an insane 45 minutes from our house. We thought it would be fun, and thanks to our cashback bonus on our Discover card, it was freeeeeeee! Here are some hotel pool pictures, because well, it was 85 degrees in Anaheim yesterday:

ruby girl. 

that girl loves her dad. lots.

 freaking cheese ball.

we call this one tankasaurus rex.

don't mind his muscles.

or is sweet side-part

HAM

waiting for the Christmas parade. that woman tried to squeeze into the approximate 7 inches of space available between me and the person next to me.

 oliver hides in the stroller whenever a parade is going on.

and he's watching Dora.

I'm officially a Disney nerd! lanyard? check. annual pass? check. wear it around my neck all day, on every ride, never taking it off? check.

the only time I like 'it's a small world'

twins :-)

aaaaaand, those are all the pictures we took. haha.

 we really need an actual camera. we took these 

with our video camera (which is a video camera first, camera second).

The trip was made even more enjoyable using the Disney dollars we got in our stockings (thanks, Matt and Shantele!). We ate (disgusting) kings.

two?!

I have TWO babies. Two babies big enough to sit side by side at Costco. Two!! Unbelievable.

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2012!

so.

I didn't do so hot on the blog thing the latter part of 2011. being flakey on your blog is soooo last year which is why I have decided that I am going to blog no less than once a week. rather than complain about how I didn't update on important events or provide documentation for absolutely anything we have done the last several months, I'll just say 2011 was very good to us and I imagine 2012 will try it's best to compete.

I should also tell you; I have a new and special person in my life. her name is Pin T. Rest. let's be honest--she takes up a lot of my free-time. like, and unbelievable amount of time and doesn't expect much in return. I use her over and over and over and over again and I know the only thing she wants in return is results. enter, book shelf (with a slight modification):

 (I promise that pocket doesn't actually sag--weird angle and stiff awkward fabric will do that, apparently).

(I haven't trimmed the dowels yet. Classy.)

obviously, the tutorial is from pinterest. It's unbelievably easy--even with the little pocket thing I added. It took me an hour from start to finish (including hanging stupid hardware. does anyone else hate hanging hardware as much as I do? The fabric looks bulky because it sort of is. I picked a wipeable fabric specifically because when Oliver eats it's like his mouth becomes a jet-powered fan and very little actually makes it into the mouth and most ends up on the walls, the carpet, his hair, and the inside of his ear. this book shelf is specifically for his art/learning/creativity stuff. This week I am going to paint the top of that table with chalkboard paint. huzzah!

uh...

...sorry about your head, Joseph. Apparently the Target sack I had you swaddled in wasn't sufficient enough to withstand the last 11 months. Don't worry; it isn't anything my glue gun can't fix.

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whoopsies

Has it really been over a month? Man. It's amazing how quickly time passes by when you are busy with a full-time law student hubby and two babies under two. And ward duties. And wife duties. And family and friends visiting duties. And lots of wonderful television shows to keep track of duties. And pinteresting, of course.

I wanted to do a really quick post to update on the babies and I promise when I upload pictures from my camera I'll update the last month of our lives since my absence!

Ruby turned 4-months October 29th--I KNOW! How is she already that old?! She weighed in at 15 pounds 8 ounces (90th) and 26 inches (97th). Her head was 17 inches or something (95th) (For comparison's sake, here were Oliver's 4-month stats: Height: 26 3/4 inches--97th percentile Weight: 17 pounds 2 ounces--92nd percentile Head: 95th percentile). She got her shots AND her ears pierced! She did exceptionally well and I was happy to have her ears get done in a doctor's office rather than dragging myself and the two kids into a Claires in the mall like a teen mom (or like I did when I was 12 and wanted a second set of holes in my ears--pre-president hinckley's talk on piercings, of course).

Some tid-bits about my Ruby-cakes:
*will not take a pacifier (much to my chagrin). she acts like I'm sticking a dagger in her mouth when I try.
*is incredibly attentive. she has been this way from the beginning. she focuses on people and follows them around the room.
*a little bit of a drama queen. i know, already you say?
*smiles with her entire face. like, she really commits to the smile.
*she often goes 6-7 hours that first stretch of sleep, but then follows it up by waking up every 2 hours.
*still has massively huge (and skinny!) feet. i've said this once and i'll say it again: i may be huge, but my feet are disproportionately small.
*looks exactly like her daddy--eyes, nose, eyebrows--with the exception of the shape of her mouth, which is a dead-ringer of mine (minus the pout of hers--she has really full lips--those are from daddy, too).
*just the sweetest disposition. really. i know everyone says that about their kids but she is just so kind-hearted and docile. it's a perfect balance from her loudly gregarious big brother.

...speaking of the big brother: he is doing awesome and talking up a storm. just recently he's started putting words together and saying 2, 3, and 4-word sentences. He is a massive (little) tank. He loves Mickey Mouse and Dora. he adores his baby sister (if she is sleeping he'll cock his head to one side and say, "where sis go?"--I'm not kidding. I'll get it on video before I post again). He's a full-fledge daddy's boy and just tolerates me. he loves 'fishies!' and chicken. he pokes himself with his finger and says, 'ow, ow, ow'.

 i love him. and i love her.

here are a few pictures to send you off...

obviously, the last one is my favorite. goob.

(*thanks to sis-in-law Shalee for the last 3 pics!)

3 months

I have been terrible at updated.

I have sooo many things to blog about, but for now I just wanted to do a quick post on my little princess, as she turned 3 whole months today. Can you believe it? I love my little lady.

Here's Rubes at 10 days 

(this picture was taken by Jennie Kunz Photography--it is one of my most favorite from the shoot)

and here's my sweetie at 3-months:

Can we say daddy's twin?

I think so.

and if you don't think so, maybe this will change your mind:

Looks like we have another brown-eyed babe on our hands...!

*notable Rubisms @ 3-months*

-loooooves chewing on her hands

-rolled over once, haha

-beginning the weaning process. maybe. 

-just so happy and content

 (which is weird, because originally she was super high-maintenance and dramatic, but as of late she has just been an absolute delight and so easy to please)

-does a pretty intense sit-up

-still has the most kissable lips 

(which I take advantage of 10939023920 times a day)

love this sweet girl of ours.

here's one of me and Rubes:

(pardon my general disgustingness

...and Rubes apparent disgust with me, too)

while we're at random pictures, how about one of me after I tied socks in my hair to make it curly?

what,  you say?

I saw some thing on pinterest that suggested tying socks in your hair overnight.

it was completely ridiculous looking.

here is the result:

(seems to be more frizz and confusion than curl)

...and another of me (obsessed much) 

and how about one more?

and how about some of Sean?

did i mention we have this obscene-sized mac?

it's pretty much the size of our actual tv, so naturally, we're always on it.

wait, did i seriously leave oliver out? 

hahaha.

Here are some of the biggest goof in the family:

oliver and his best friend, dax when they came to visit!

and oh.my.gosh. how about our dapper little dude??

(photo stolen from Khardy--at her wedding)

i just love my babes.

milk ladies-1, summer-0

Is there anything more awesome then when you leak through your shirt?

And by shirt, I mean a nursing pad, bra, tank-top, shirt, and receiving blanket.

Oh, the pains in my %$# joys of nursing.

(the things we do for the needy)

ruby ruby rubeeeeeh, ahuhahuhahuhhhhaaaa

(it's a song by Kaiser Chiefs--> listen here)

Ruby girl is 2 months old!

oh my, I just love this girl. I am sad she's no longer my itty-bitty newborn but I forget how much I love the infant stages. she is still such a sensitive soul--such a stark contrast from her psycho brother--it makes her little personality extra-special. it's a wonder I get anything done during the day since she demands I hold her every waking second of the day (oh, she just pooped on my lap. literally. i'll be right back--see?? I even hold her when I blog!)

Ok, I'm back. She had her appointment a couple of days ago and here are her stats:

11 pounds 14 ounces--75th-90th percentile

23.25 inches--75th-90th percentile

I don't remember the measurement, only that it was in the 95th percentile.

Freakin' noggin'. 

So, she's pretty big (obviously). 

For comparisons sake, here are Oliver's from his 2-month:

13 pounds 9 ounces--95th percentile

25 inches--95th percentile

95th percentile noggin.

So, there you have it. What is super weird about my babies is they weigh heavy, but they don't look chubby. Like, at all. They look super lean. In fact, a lady in the mother's lounge at church couldn't get over how skinny her legs were (although, her 6-month old has legs about as big as mine, so yeah).

She is a great nighttime sleeper. oh.my.gosh. Last night she slept from 10PM-6AM. 

it was an exceptionally good night.

normally she does between 6-7 hours after her last nighttime binge. when people find out they say, "oh you are sooo lucky" or, "not fair!" psh. when you have a toddler who didn't sleep through the night for a year and a half, we can talk.

last few noteable things about ruby cakes:

still nursing

NOT spitty at all (can you believe it?!)

thooooper sensitive

is happy when she is being held or fed

has thick brown hair coming in

her feet have grown an inch (!!!!) since she was born--they are 4 inches 

looks like her eyes will be light--time will tell.

no picture for this post--we got a new computer yesterday and haven't uploaded any. but soon!

for some reason, I debated making this post.

why?

I was worried that people (both of my faith and not) would leave me mean or non-relevant comments or start some war with words via an anonymous poster.
I just like the blog post, geesh.

it's my blog, and I can do whatever I want.

I got this from my awesome FIL a month-ish ago.

sean and I felt the message was poignant and lovely.

:-)

p.s. the man in the link was recently called to ward executive secretary in the bay area

(he was set apart by my FIL)


I just realized it would probably be better if I explained why I love his story. It isn't necessarily because I have had a difficult time understanding the church's stance on homosexuality within the church, but rather I was so curious how it felt from the other side. I am a pretty stereotypical conservative Republican (as far as my interest in politics is concerned, which isn't really that great an interest--sue me). 
I have been (I shamefully admit) judgemental and ignorant, and unfortunately, still often am.
 I am grateful for Brother Mayne's blog because in the midst of worldly anger, confusion, sadness, judgement, ostracism, pain, and whatever other emotion people within and outside my faith believe or feel about homosexuality, homosexual inclinations, or whatever-- he sees the big, beautiful picture. 
And if he can see that, I sure as heck better be able to do it, too. 
Life is all about perspective, people.

6 weeks?!

My newborn has officially graduated to an infant.

Seriously, WHERE DOES TIME GO??

(on the top is when we left the hospital, the bottom is Rubes at 6 weeks)

 So what can we conclude? Her head is the size of a fairly large watermelon.

And her sweet watermelon noggin is pretty bald.

I haven't had the chance to blog about Ruby since I talked about the delivery so I am really looking forward to this post to commemorate her first six weeks.

Here are the most notable things about our little lady:

*since we brought her home she sleeps 5-6 hours when we put her down for the night. It's totally awesome considering Oliver didn't sleep through the night until, oh, about 3 months ago.

*she is SUPER sensitive. meaning, if we pick her up too quickly or move her limbs out of motion with how she wants she will shriek. haha. she also does it when I take a break from nursing to burp her or Sean takes a break with the bottle. I am going to get it on video one of these days.

*she loves to be held whereas Oliver didn't really care either way. That makes for interesting days.

*she nurses exceptionally well--also a stark contrast to Oliver. We'll see how long I end up going for.

*I'm pretty convinced she has the biggest feet EVER for a baby girl. suuuuper long and suuuuuper skinny.

*she has dark gray/blue eyes (maybe they'll end up light like mine!)--Oliver's were black pretty much from the beginning and they are now a really pretty chocolate brown.

*she is still in size 1 diapers and they fit just fine. all of her 3 month clothes are too baggy, but too short. poor girl.

Now, onto how Rubes worked her way into the system...

Having 2 babies 18 months apart has proven to be totally awesome! I love it. Sure, it gets tiresome at times. And sometimes I want to tie Oliver to a chair so he can't run around destroying the apartment, but isn't that what makes life interesting? I feel like I have more time to myself now than I did when it was just me and Oliver hanging out. Don't ask me how. Speaking of the goofball, many have asked how he has been with Ruby. To our surprise he has been an absolute delight. He holds her hand, gives her her bink when it falls out, and kisses her about fifteen thousand times a day. However, he pretty much hated us for the first month. I kind of feel like he talks to Ruby and says, "Look, I get it's not your fault you are here. It's theirs. I guess we're cool. But as for them? They'll get what's coming." 

This is a totally disjointed and poor excuse for a blog post. Sorry, it's late! Sue me. Here's some pictures of our Ruby Ruby Ruby at six weeks:

I tried for a half hour to get one of Ruby and I where she was looking in the general vicinity of the camera. Picture fail.