Week 49

Side note: If you see any random "J's" in any of these posts, it's supposed to be a smiley face:).

Size: ??

New things: She started referring to nursing as “na-na”. Not sure where that came from?!? She’ll say “na-na” and then sign “milk”. At least she makes it clear what she wants!

Grandma Cully got Ruth some sunglasses, and recently, I have been putting them on myself or her and saying, “yo, yo, yo” and doing something “cool-like” with my hands at the same time. Ruth will now attempt to do the same thing or want me to continue doing it. It’s cute! I think we also do it to her stuffed animals:).

If you ask Ruth her name, she’ll say “Ruth” and point to herself!!! (emphasis on the “Rrrrr”:)) It’s funny as I have been practicing that scenario with her for awhile (if someone asks you your name, you say “I’m Ruth”), and then it’s like one day, she just got it. I feel like we do things with her, not really thinking about her actually learning them but just doing them, and then she starts to do them herself, and it almost catches me off guard. It fascinates me the rate at which their little brains are just going, going, going!

If you ask Ruth how old she is going to be, she’ll hold up one finger and say “one”. Again, it’s pretty cute. Makes me smile and chuckle:).

Ruth can say “Oreo” (the name of a new stuffed cow of hers). It’s more like “Ro-ro”, but she is definitely referring to “Oreo”!!…makes me laugh just thinking of it.

Ruth can now climb up stairs. I wasn’t really aware that she could do this until we were at our old neighbors house, and she started climbing the stairs…she climbed all of them on her own and loved it! I’m grateful she knows how to do it, but obviously, one of us is still right there for protection:).

Ruth is enjoying playing on her own more and exploring (hint the baggies everywhere:)) now that she can walk well. I’m glad and grateful!!

Fun things: I had a dentist appointment this week, so one of my friends came over to watch Ruth. She had fun playing!! I got an hour or so baby-free…but I was at the dentist, so I’m not sure if it’s really that exciting…ha!

I had a doctor appointment, too, this week…lots of appointments this week, so another one of my friends watched Ruth (our old neighbor with “Ruth’s” dog). Ruth, of course, had fun there, too! I’m grateful I had people to watch her and that she got a chance to play with other people as I know she enjoys it so much! Plus, she got to see “her” dog:).

On Friday of this week, the three of us went to the World Dairy Expo together! We got to visit lots of booths and exhibits, check out all the machinery, connect with colleagues, enjoy a free lunch from one of Tom’s work reps, see lots of cows and watch a cow competition/show, try some cheese and milk, and of course, had to try the grilled cheese and ice cream they were making/serving there! Ruth loved the cows, the people, the freebies, the candy, and the machinery but was one tired little girl by the end of the day. (She’s not one to nap in the stroller when so much is going on). She was a trooper for us, and we all had a great day together! She was falling asleep in Tom’s arms as we walked to the van and feel asleep almost instantly! It was a fun family adventure!!

On Saturday this week, Ruth and I got all bundled up and went to get some hot chocolate to take to Tom and others at work. They were having an outside event…and it was a cold, cold day, so we took them a treat and stayed to talk/watch for a bit. We stayed inside the van for a good bit of time because not only was it cold, but it was rainy, too! We both got to ride in the pay loader with Tom for a bit, too! Ruth calls all those types of machines “bobcats”, so, of course, she enjoyed it!! We’re glad we got to join Tom at work for a bit!

Ruth loves: Ruth has been enjoying reaching into her bed (during non sleeping times) to get out her swaddle cloth and Chewy…of course, they then end up on the floor:). Just something else for her to explore/check out!

The blocks at the library!! She really enjoys playing with them!! The block table is right at her level, too!

I found some plastic bugs that you can put together in different ways to connect them (like a puzzle), and Ruth has enjoyed playing with those this week. She really mainly enjoys getting them out of the bag and putting them all over the floor as you can imagine. I enjoy actually trying to connect them:). It’s just a new thing to explore and do.

Loves my trusty, dusty flip phone!! She likes the flipping up and down. And she seems to definitely prefer real working phones over the non-working one that she was given as a “toy”. It doesn’t beep and light up, etc:).

Sleep: Nap time is seeming a bit confusing…If she has a good morning nap, then she doesn’t really need an afternoon nap, but this weekend, it seemed to change the other way. She took only one nap on Saturday and it was in the afternoon. She seemed to be fine until then. Long of the short of it is...it seems that she is going down to one nap.

Tom and I: We tried another church this week; it was a church that was recommended to us by a dear friend (it’s a sister church of the one he attends). It was 45 minutes away in a much bigger town, but we enjoyed our visit. We ran some errands while we were near stores and got some items checked off our list.

I started a Zumba class this week!! Thankfully, one started up less than 10 minutes from us! Woohoo!! It’s only for a couple months but still another opportunity to meet others and do something that I enjoy! I had a great time and made a new friend…yay! Looking forward to going back next week (it’s only once a week).

Our local hospital puts on a yearly women’s night, and I got to go this week!! They had a speaker, exhibit area, prizes, Q&A time, and snacks:). It was a lot of fun, and I was able to make some great connections within the community (mainly surrounding fitness…trying to find out all possible options in this area as they are limited). I got some names of others I can contact, too. I’m so glad I went!!

Thank you, Lord, for: Some fun opportunities for me this week to make connections in the community! For some fun family time! It was a fun week!!