Blowing Raspberries!

Ruthie has a new talent.  While she may look unhappy, I don't think she was, as she did this for about 30 minutes straight this afternoon.  I think she was just working very hard.

What a difference a year makes

It was almost a year ago exactly that we found out we were going to have a baby.

I remember last October so vividly.   I remember finding out that we were going to have a baby after months of wanting so badly to be pregnant.  I swore to myself that I wasn't going to tell Jerod until I got home from work that day, because of course you can't share this kind of news over the phone.  That plan lasted for about 4 minutes until I called him at work to tell him the news, and then proceeded to call my entire family as well within a half hour to tell them the news.  Who was I kidding?

Six days after we learned we were going to be parents I went on a vacation with Mom to Savannah, GA.  

It was a trip filled with mixed emotions and experiences.  While I was SO excited to be pregnant, we were also nervous if the pregnancy was going to be a healthy one because of some early bleeding.  And while I was so happy to be on a vacation with just my mom and me (the last time we did this I was 14 and we went to Disney World), I was experiencing my first days of morning sickness.  I remember how it felt to be so happy that I was pregnant, but not exactly feeling connected to the idea that there was really a little life forming inside of me.  What a strange thing!  There was so much wondering and imagining.  I really had no idea what was ahead of me.

And here we are, a whole year later, with the most beautiful baby I have ever seen...and she's ours!

Looking at Ruthie, it is so hard to imagine that a year ago she was just a few cells growing inside of me. She was INSIDE of me...that's so crazy!  And now we get to spend every day looking at this adorable face.

It is so fun to reflect upon where we were a year ago.  It is without a doubt the biggest change I've ever experienced in one year.  I am overwhelmed by the amount of gratitude and happiness this little girl has brought into our lives.  We love you, Ruthie!

Three Months

Ruthie turned three months old last Thursday.  I truly cannot believe she has been in our lives for three months.  I now know what people mean when they say that everything goes so quickly with children.  I also know what they mean when they say that it is hard to remember how little your children used to be.  I already cannot remember our little 7lbs. 7oz. Ruthie.  The good news is that she continues to become more and more interactive and fun.  We are loving every minute with her!

Things Ruthie is doing now:

1. Chewing on her fingers as often as she can.

2. Getting stronger and better at tummy time.  She can even roll from her front to her back!

3. Spitting up like a champion!  I swear she could win a contest.

4. For the first time she woke up from a nap and didn't cry, she just talked to the owls on her quilt and her mobile!

5. Smiling a TON!

6. She loves playing with Daddy!

7.  She's beginning to hate the car seat a little less.

Other things in Ruthie's life:  She has started letting out one little laugh at a time.  I cannot wait for this to turn into a real giggling.  She still only gets up once a night - we feel very lucky about that.  She's been in daycare for almost a month and doing really well, although she's had a perpetual stuffy nose for about two weeks.  We hope this is not a sign of what life with a baby in daycare is like.  It seems like she is also very close to being able to grab things, but that hasn't happened yet.  I think that's about it  

Ruthie's First Camping Trip

Last weekend we went camping with some good friends at Glendalough State Park in Battle Lake, MN.  It was so much fun and Ruthie did a great job!  She really loves being outside and looking at "her trees," as daddy likes to say.  We slept in a cabin, rather than a tent, which made for an easier first camping trip with a 10-week old baby.  And as luck would have it, Glendalough has tons of rolling prairie land, so we really got to be Lucius House on the Prairie.  Here are a few pictures from our trip.  

One of the cabins (little houses on the prairie).

Making hobo dinners.

Yummy!

Reuben couldn't keep himself away from the dirt!

Alison snuggling with Ruthie.

Outdoors baby!

Mommy and Ruthie.

Our first family camping trip.

Baby long-johns for camping!

Daddy and Ruthie.

All the little boys.

And all the big boys too.

Ruthie getting her diaper changed by the fire.

Dads and babes.

Rachel and Natalia.

Ruthie and Jedd.

We went on a great hike with the Terfas.

Pretty Layla with her flower.

And finally...Lucius House on the Prairie!

2 Months Old!

Here are a few pictures of Ruthie at 2 months old.  She now makes it through the night with just one feeding around 2 or 3 - not too bad.  That means we are all getting a little more rest these days.  She's also smiling a ton!  It is so fun to watch her respond to us.  She really recognizes both Mommy and Daddy.  That's a pretty amazing feeling!  And she's babbling and talking to us all the time.  What a difference a month has made!

Jerod has started calling her "Little Rachel with Jerod's Ears."

Another bathtub video.  Ruthie is showing off her talking (babbling and screaming) skills in this one.  I feel like only a baby's family can actually enjoy videos like this.  Guess that's why I keep watching this with a huge smile on my face!

Family Vacations

 This August Ruthie got to meet her entire (this is not an exaggeration) Howe family, and her immediate Lucius family.  Jerod, Rachel, and Ruthie spent two weeks at a vacation house in Prescott, WI.  The first week they were joined by Rachel's family and the second week by Jerod's.  Ruthie's baptism was the Sunday in the middle of the two weeks.  It was wonderful to have both families present to celebrate this special day with us.  Here are some of the many pictures from those two weeks.

Annikka at the beach.

Grandpa Dave at the beach.  I really like this picture of him.

Ruthie at the beach.

Meeting Aunt Liz.

Meeting cousin Ashely.

Snuggling with cousin Megan.  

(Wondering why Ruthie is so content with Megan?  It's because she's a certified babysitter.)

We went up to St. Croix Falls and took a paddle boat ride down our beautiful river.  That brought back many good memories for us.

Mom, Grandma Kathy, and Ruthie on the boat.

Joel and Rachel with their little girls on the boat.

Eila looking over the railing at the water.  Such a pretty picture!

Hanging out with Grandma Kathy in the morning.

Purple Bliss!

A less successful attempt at a picture of the three cousins, but this post just wouldn't be complete without a picture of Ruthie, the vampire baby.  Isn't Eila's face hilarious?

We also rented a pontoon boat in Prescott.  

Sweet Eila.

Pretty mom and her two daughters.

Joel and Annikka driving the boat.

The Howe Girls!

Annikka spending some quality time with Grandpa Dave and Grandma Kathy.

All of Dave and Kathy's children and grandchildren.

Peekaboo!

Taking a little nap with Grandma Kathy on the deck.

Ruthie being baptized by our wonderful pastor, Michele.

It was so special to have Ruthie baptized at Oak Knoll by Pastor Michele.  I love looking at these pictures knowing that this is the same spot that Jerod and I stood when we got married.

Ruth Kathryn

Annikka and Olivia coming back from the children's sermon.

Both of Ruthie's families together!

Our family.

Picnic after the baptism.

Olivia and Annikka playing together at the baptism.  

Before their visit, Olivia told Kim she was excited to meet Baby Ruth, but was wondering if she had a big sister who could talk and play with her.  I love that! It is too bad that they didn't have each other to play with for longer than this afternoon.  

Amado Jr. eating cake!

Ruthie playing with Grandpa Mike.

Amado Jr. at the beach.

Olivia at the beach.

Kim's family at the beach.

Grandma Jan and Olivia playing in the water.

Bonfire!

Roasting marshmallows with Uncle Andrew.

Yummy smores!

Just a picture that I liked of Kim and Andrew at dinner.

Grandma Jan and Ruthie.

Amado Jr. and Olivia sharing Ruthie's stroller on a hike.

The view of the pretty St. Croix River from a vista on our hike.