1st Haircut

Ruthie's Very 1st Haircut- I'm sure each mother thinks and gets excited about their baby's 1st haircut. I mean, it's in the Baby Book- so if you're like me, you're eager to fill out each page to document the precious life of your child. I am no different. Except- I am! As I prepared for Ruthie's 1st Birthday- I had decided that I would do her first haircut on that day... but as the day got closer and closer- I realized, I didn't want to cut it quite yet... it was just getting long enough to pin off her face ... so I waited.

(Nov 29th 2009)

I can't honestly tell you the next time I thought about cutting her hair. Her hair took off down her back very quickly. I was soon able to put it up in ponytails, then braids....

(March 2010)

Her hair kept growing... 

(December 2010)

Summer (2011)

Ruthie loves her hair and I've really loved doing different things with it- so cutting it was the last thing from my mind... but then it started getting too long. Getting caught in her armpits- her personal annoyance. :) And getting smeared through her PB&J's - my big hot spot!! So- I started thinking of a practical time to plan her 1st Hair Cut.

That's when I decided to look into Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from medical long-term hair loss from any diagnosis. After reviewing the information- I couldn't think of a better way to embrace my daughters 1st hair cut. So- I got Ruthie an appointment with the best stylist in town and ...

 (Before Pictures)

(I just took Ru's hair down from her pretty French Braid)

 (Cutting the Ponytail)

(The Hair Cut)

My Beautiful Girl

I can't get over how adorable my little girl looks. I LOVE her hair cut!! Tonight when I was brushing her teeth before bed, she was staring at herself in the mirror- she looked at me and smiled and said "mommy, can I wear my hair down tonight, please" My oh my- I love her! She is the most beautiful little girl inside and out! Her hair is just icing on the cake!

Special thanks to Janet Mylin- thank you thank you thank you!!

Happy Halloween(a)

Happy Halloween(a)

(M&M Family)

I love this time of year- the fall leaves falling from the trees, the smell of cinnamon, the cool breezy air! What I love most though- is all the fun that starts as we enter fall and look forward to winter. I love the time we get to spend with family and look forward to it each and every year!

Halloween(a)-  I do get very excited to pick cute costumes out for my children and dress them to go around and "trick-or-treat". I wish there wasn't the darkness associated with Halloween but I think we can live in the world without becoming a part of it. I'm totally down for a revival- why can't Halloween take on a different meaning?!?! Who's in? Anyway-  I think mostly, I remember how excited I was to dress up go around and get a bucket full of candy and want those exciting memories for my children. 

We successfully took Ruthie from house to house at a near by neighborhood and succeeded in creating a fun memory for our sweet girl! She had a blast!! She even got to experience her first taste of cotton candy!! I wasn't completely behind letting her have a bite- I know how much I love that sugary treat- but after Jon promised that we'd brush her teeth atleast three times that night- I gave in. And yes- she loved it!! 

Thankfully- this year again, she had nothing but candy on her mind Halloween night- but mostly forgot about it by morning. I know I don't have many more of those times left!! But- now the question is- what to do with all this candy!! In years past, I'd pick out all the Snickers and treat myself- but now- I don't even want the temptation in my house- and Jon... he's had some but we still have almost a full bucket!! :) 

Anyway- here are some cute pictures from Halloween(a) night and the Autumn Extravaganza:

Ruthie was a strawberry

Brayden was a giraffe

The family was M&M's

btw- I keep saying "Halloween(a) because my sweet girl wants to be a Halloween(a) and dance around in her costume like a.... ballerina :) 

COMING SOON- THANKSGIVING <3 <3 <3

October Snow

October Snow

 As my mom predicted the day before October 29th- it snowed... she did have one prediction wrong though... she told Ruthie the night before that she'd wake up to a snow covered ground... but when Ruthie ran into my room- she was bummed to see the ground, was empty... About a half hour later- Ruthie squealed in bed... "mommy, it's snowing!!!!"

It was so much fun to watch Ruthie giddy with excitement for the first snow of the year. We ran around the house checking out each window. This first picture captures Ruthie checking out the snow from our stairwell window.

 Then- it was time to go check out the snow... outside! I didn't even know if we had snowboots that fit- so we just grabbed the first thing we saw... her rainboots! I just love her expressions.

 Ruthie asked as the snow kept falling- if we could go play with Ava outside. I didn't see any reason why I couldn't let my girl share this special first snow with her special best friend- so after a quick trip to Target to get snowpants we went over to the Drakes. Ava and Ruthie were adorable. I just love how excited they were! Reminds me of when I was a kid...

 Best Buds

 Unfortunately- Brayden didn't get any "first snow" pics taken... but- I did take him out in it for a minute. :) 

9 Months

9 Months

 So many sweet things to say about my little man who just turned 9 months old today! He's such a little man these days. I can't get over how much of a little boy he's turning into and the baby is quickly disappearing. We are very close to the day where Brayden takes off and crawls. It would not surprise me if he decides to crawl 1) when daddy walks through the door tomorrow or 2) when we're down in North Carolina next week as he tries to chase after Annie. Rolling across the floor might now feel as great on the hardwood floor. :) In these last few weeks my baby is a strong sitter. He is loving to sit up and play with the toys around him. The next new thing my sweet boy is doing- is reaching which puts him into the crawl position. He will reach and get unto all fours where he rocks and reaches and then, rolls to the desired object. It is really something!! I get so excited with him every time he does it!! 

Brayden has also found his LOUD voice. I bet if he was our first born he would be a lot quieter- but since he has a loud sister, he mimics all her crazy loud tones. It's adorable! When daddy walks in the door, he screeches and screams until daddy comes over and picks him up! Adorable. He's witnessed his sisters squeals and desires to greet daddy as he walks in the door- and he's joined in the excitement. Also- with his cute little voice- he's learned how say mama and dada. And also loves to say gaga. He also says "baba" for bottle and "ba" for ball. I hate to admit- that though Brayden looked at me a few times and said "mama" for my attention- he loves to say "dada" and although I'm a little jealous :) - I LOVE hearing him eager to get his daddy's attention. 

Brayden also started eating solid foods- as in- Cheerios. Sometimes his face is priceless as the Cheerio touches his mouth. :) I just can't believe how much he's grown in these last few weeks. I just love him to pieces. 

EEG- Update

EEG Update- Brayden had a successful EEG on Monday! I was surprised how long it took him to fall asleep, but once he did- they monitored him for 3 more minutes and then they had us wake him up. He did such a great job. He barely whined.  The hardest part was trying to keep him still after the electrodes were in place.

I talked to our Neurologist this afternoon- the EEG came back 100% normal!! What wonderful and relieving news. The neurologist would like me to keep a diary over the next week to keep track of his tremors and depending on what he hears after I report to him, Brayden may wear a longer term monitor to try and catch one of his episodes. But- I'm not even thinking about that- I'm just happy the EEG came back normal and if in a week the neurologist wants to monitor him more closely- we'll deal with that then!! Thanks for all your prayers!