Week 47

Size: ?? But I did get out her summer 12 month to wear for what’s left of the warm weather and for NM, and for the most part it all fits. Some things are a bit big, but everything has worked out so far.

New things: Ruth can now say “chicken” and can say “bok bok” for it (it sounds more like “ba ba”). If you say chicken, even referring to what you are eating, she’ll say “bok bok”. It’s cute!

“Dada” really has meaning now. When Tom was at the conference center, and Ruth and I were at the B&B, I would ask her if she wanted to go see Daddy, and the way she responded made it clear that she definitely understood.  Or when we would meet him or something, she would say “Dada”. Perhaps it has had meaning before, but it just seemed like this week it really clicked for her. It was cool!

Ruth isn’t making all of her loud noises when she eats any more. She’s changing!

At the end of some of her books, they read “And God loves me!”. Well, I started saying, “And God loves Ruthie!” (because it rhymes) and pointing to Ruth, so now when we get to the end of the book, she points to herself. Super cute!!

Ruth can point to her heart now if you ask her where it is. Again, pretty cute!

I gave Ruth a whole cracker to eat this week, and she was able to take small bites and eat it on her own! When we have tried to give her whole things in the past, she prefers to put the entire thing in her mouth, so we’ve stuck to breaking things up for her. So, this is great!!

Ruth and I do a little activity where she rides a bucking bronco on my knees…”Tornado”. Well, now, when I asked if she wants to ride “Tornado”, she understands! It has meaning to her!

Ruth has started giving us a finger to lick when we're all eating. I think I licked her fingers this week to keep her clean (maybe it was the best option at the time or something), so now she thinks it’s fun and offers her finger willingly.

Fun things: Tom’s parents hung around Monday morning to help me as I finished packing for our trip. They watched Ruth, folded laundry, and did the dishes…so helpful!!! What a wonderful time we had with them over the weekend!!

Tom got home after lunch, and we headed to the airport (about 1 ½ drive). You know how it’s common to leave super early to arrive to the airport super early and then you just end up waiting forever. Well, we were so so close to missing our flight! My heart had to have almost jumped out! We were stuck in traffic that was almost at a dead stop for forever! Ruth was screaming…she was so tired but past being able to fall asleep. I later read on Tom’s phone (while looking for an alternative route) that there was a car on fire or something. After we got around the car on fire, I’m pretty sure what we hit next was rush hour. Again, moving slow. I got back on Tom’s phone and found what I thought was an alternative way…we tried it as we really had nothing to lose at that point, and it worked! Tom dropped Ruth and I off a little after 5 p.m., and our flight was supposed to leave at 5:40. Yikes! Tom rushed to park the van. I took our luggage and the baby items plus the baby (I had to look like a typical mom at an airport) and was quite antsy in line as it was long and only one person was working the desk. I finally worked up the courage to ask if I could move to the front because our plane was leaving soon. Everyone let me!! We had planned to check our bag to save from carrying more through the airport…it ended up being 12 lbs. over…no big deal, I’ll just pay it because we don’t have time to move stuff around…$125 EXTRA dollars!!!! You have got to be kidding me?!?! CRAZY! I wanted to cry, but we had to pay it. Tom arrived at that point…panting a little. Apparently he had parked in a closer lot and ran…love it! We finished getting our tickets and started booking it (actually I think we were jogging) for security. It didn’t take too long, but they pulled Ruth’s food aside to check it…a little frustrating under the circumstances. Our gate was super close at that point, and we made it in plenty of time….THANK GOODNESS! It makes my heart race just thinking about it. I was trying to be calm and patient and pray and trust, but boy was it hard!

Anyway, first flight – check check! We had a layover that provided just the right amount of time to visit the restrooms and get dinner before we boarded again. Ruth did so well on both flights. She played and snacked and slept and made friends. We’re grateful!!!

Our time in NM for the conference was great! We stayed at a B&B and had our own little cottage to ourselves. Some of our friends from NY (also a vet, wife, and young daughter) stayed in the B&B’s other cottage just right across the way from ours! In between our cottages was a little fake grass area with a tent over it…great for playing on hot or rainy days!! It was a great set up for our little families.

Tom had a great time learning, networking, and connecting with friends and colleagues. Ruth and I were able to hang out at the conference center most of the days. We spent a good amount of time in the exhibit hall – checking out the products but mainly socializing and making friends…one of Ruth’s favorite things! We also spent some time in the hospitality room (a room they set up with tables/chairs/snacks for spouses and kids to hang out if needed. It was great! We were able to meet up with Tom for lunch most days and got to network, see and make friends as well!

Ruth soaked up all the attention from the exhibitors, all the pictures of cows, and all the free candy and “toys” that people were giving away. She made a lot of friends! They had a big learning semi in the exhibit hall, and Ruth made friends with the lady who helps transport it around the states. She was sitting at a table outside of the semi counting the number of people that went in. Long story short, Ruth ended up on her lap, looking at a magazine with her, and trying to find pictures of tractors. They both had fun! She also made friends with all the conference center employees at the various lunches and dinners. It was fun for her to interact with them and to watch her just love it.

Something SUPER special: We were able to meet up with Tom’s uncle who lives in NM!! Tom hasn’t seen him in a long time, and Ruth and I have never met him. It was SUPER cool and so so special! We had dinner with him one night and then had breakfast with him before he took us to the airport. We were able to share lots of family pictures and tell him all about their lives. It was wonderful to be able to share Ruth with him as well.

We were able to go out to dinner with our friends one night. My friend and I also (with our girls) explored Old Town a bit. It was a fun afternoon out.

The trip home went well, too. Ruth did a great job on the flights, and the drive home was much less eventful. We’re so thankful we got to go as a family, that we got to experience a new part of the country, and that we got to see Tom’s uncle (also glad it was a great conference all around!).

While at the B&B, we saw someone push mowing, and Ruth called it a “tractor”. We also listened to a noise (it was a weed eater), and Ruth called it a tractor:). Close!

Ruth loves: Ruth loved watching the DVD player open and close again and again. I had her say “open”, and then I would use the remote to open it and then I had her say “close”, and I would use the remote to close it. I did it behind her, so she didn’t see how it was happening. She was quite mesmerized with this activity. Who needs toys when you have a DVD player!

Peanut M&M’s! The B&B where we stayed had a dish of peanut M&M’s awaiting our consumption:). I would take a bite of one which would break up the chocolate and give her a few pieces to eat. We BOTH enjoyed this little treat:). She loved them!!

The B&B had a handful of remotes that belonged to all the technology it housed. Ruth was rather fascinated with all of them and had fun putting them in and out of drawers and pushing the buttons. I would sometimes just give her one to play with when I was getting her dressed to keep her occupied.  

Ruth was fascinated with the sprinklers at the B&B. First time she’s probably seen something like that if I’m not mistaken.

The buttons that recline the seats on the airplane. 

Sleep: Ruth did so well sleeping on the plane and at the B&B even though it was a one bedroom.

We noticed Ruth sleeping with her behind up in the air this week…since we got to see her sleeping more since she wasn’t in her own room. It was so cute!

Napping was unique this week…the conference center was about a 15 min walk through downtown, so it wasn’t just easy to go back and forth for naps. A few times, my friend and I drove our girls around while they napped. Another time, Ruth napped in my arms in a dark changing room in a bathroom for 2 ½ hours…that was fun:). I got caught up on a lot of thinking and texting then:).

Tom and I: We enjoyed our family adventure and working together to entertain Ruth on the flights. We always enjoy being at conferences together (obviously, a little different now that we have a baby but still a lot of fun). It was cool to be at our first conference with Tom not being a student any longer…weird!?!

Thank you, Lord, for: Safety in our travels! For being able to stay connected to friends through Tom’s profession even though we are many states a part. Connecting with family!