This and That...

Updates:

Today I had my millionth (okay maybe the 8th) MRI to see if I have any new lesions on my brain. Good news to report: everything has remained stable, so I will have another follow-up MRI in six months. All night yesterday I was worried sick about the test, but it was such a relief when my doctor told me it looked good. I am so thankful and feeling blessed today!

I have officially made it to week four of my extreme bodyshaping class and I actually survived. The first week I thought I was going to die (no joke), but I am finally getting used to it. Each day I go, I am pretty sure I have never sweat so much in my life. Now I have more energy and have even started to lose a few lbs. I am definitely hoping to stay in the class when the ten weeks is up. I love feeling healthy and the kickboxing is a great stress reliever... I definitely would reccommend this program to others.

Wedding planning is coming along. I feel like I finally have everything together. It's been hard to plan everything by myself, but I hope the end result will be amazing. It's hard to believe that in two short months we will be saying, "I do." I am so excited and looking forward to the festivities.

Ruby and I are having a great summer. Our weeks consist of swimming, going to the library, thrift shopping, trips to the zoo, and playing outside. Last night I let Ruby stay up much later than normal. When it got dark enough outside, we headed out in our pajamas and bare feet to catch some fireflies. We only caught two, but Ruby was in awe of the little glowing creatures inside our jar. We had an amazing time together and she asked me first thing this morning if we could go outside to catch fireflies.

Yesterday my mom and I took Ruby to see the movie "Brave." It was a beautiful movie about the bond of a mother and daughter. It had a great message for kids and I loved the Irish accents and gorgeous red hair! I couldn't have picked better people to see it with. It was a great time!

Finally, this is one of my favorite songs. In college I used to listen to this song constantly. It's amazing, so ENJOY!

Summer So Far...

Our summer so far via cell phone pictures:

A face painting tantrum after a flea market...

Swimming at grandmas...

Nightly stroll with Ruby, Mommy, Daddy, and Baby...

Playing with her friends aka our dogs...

Kisses...

Wedding Sneak Peek...

The wedding is a little more than two months away. I feel like everything is starting to fall into place. Apparently I'm not like most brides because I haven't been stressing out with worry over every little detail. I'm just enjoying the little things and looking forward to our special day! Here are a few glimpses of what we will have at our August wedding:

Aqua and Red Candy Bar

Big red dahlias

Ruby's flower girl dress

Ruby's flower girl shoes

DIY chalkboards, but in aqua

Cake topper

Blue mason jars, hydrangeas, and burlap table runners

Thumb print guest book

Father and Daughter

I have been trying to get some wedding things checked off of my list today and while putting together a song list for the DJ, I stumbled across this perfect song. I have been trying to find a good father-daughter dance song for months now and my dad keeps vetoing everything I come up with. I never realized how picky he was until I started this father-daughter dance search. He told me today that the only group he likes is Simon and Garfunkel, so after a quick search online I found our perfect song. I thought I would share since it's so close to Father's Day! I got a little teary eyed listening to it for the first time knowing that my dad is getting older and the years are passing by so quickly. It's very nostalgic and I can't wait to dance with him to it. I hope you enjoy Paul Simon's "Father and Daughter."

Ruby 2.5...

On May 15th, my little Ruby turned 2 and 1/2 years old. The time is just flying right on by so naturally, I decided to get her pictures taken. Everyone always jokes with me and calls me the "Mommarazzi" because I am always taking pictures of Ruby. All that I know is when I am old someday, I will not regret taking so many pictures of the fun times we have. We ended up going to one of Ruby's favorite parks to get her pictures taken. She was really shy at first, but after about 30 seconds, her inner diva came out:

Ruby's 2.5 Favorites:


Food: Cheetos or Grilled Chicken
Hobby: Blowing Bubbles
Toy: Baby Dolls
Color: Purple
Place to go: Zoo or Dog Park
T.V Show: Caillou
Song: You Are My Sunshine
Friends: Winston and Darby (Her Dogs)


Ruby's 2.5 Accomplishments:


Potty training (Yay!)
Drinking from a regular cup
Flossing her teeth
Getting her clothes on


Ruby's 2.5 New Words or Phrases:


Humongous! 
Will you help me please?
I love you big!
Mimi Sue, Darby Sue, and Daddy Sue
Look at that scary Monster!
I will not go potty in my nonnies (undies) 

Happy 2.5 Ruby!

Baby Goats...

Last week we took Ruby to the zoo. One of her favorite exhibits at the zoo is the big red barn with a petting area. A couple months ago we were excited to find out that some baby goats (also called "kids") were born in this exhibit. Ruby was so excited to pet the goats and talk to them. It was so much fun! 

Parenting Rules...

When we first had Ruby, I wished there was a handbook we could have read to teach us how to be good parents. I am always scared that I'm going to do something wrong or not make the right choice when it comes to raising Ruby. Over the past two and half years we have already learned a lot about parenting. So far she has turned out pretty well, but I suppose there is still time to screw it all up. Just kidding. Happy Parenting!

I found this Ann Landers list online and thought it was full of great things to think about: 

Excerpted from Ann Landers' book "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee" (My personal favorites are in italics)

1. Remember that a child is a gift from God, the richest of all blessings. Do not attempt to mold him in the image of yourself, your father, your brother or your neighbor. Each child is an individual and should be permitted to be himself.

2. Don't crush a child's spirit when he fails. And never compare him with others who have outshone him.

3. Remember that anger and hostility are natural emotions. Help your child to find socially acceptable outlets for these normal feelings or they may be turned inward and erupt in the form of physical or mental illness.

4. Discipline your child with firmness and reason. Don't let your anger throw you off balance. If he knows you are fair, you will not lose his respect or his love. And make sure the punishment fits the crime. Even the youngest child has a keen sense of justice.

5. Remember that each child needs two parents. Present a united front. Never join with your child against your mate. This can create in your child (as well as in yourself) emotional conflicts. It can also create feelings of guilt, confusion and insecurity.

6. Do not hand your child everything his little heart desires. Permit him to know the thrill of earning and the joy of achieving. Grant him the greatest of all satisfactions, the pleasure that comes with personal accomplishment.

7. Do not set yourself up as the epitome of perfection. This is a difficult role to play 24 hours a day. You will find it easier to communicate with your child if you let him know that Mom and Dad can err too.

8. Don't make threats in anger or impossible promises when you are in a generous mood. Threaten or promise only that which you can live up to. To a child, a parent's word means everything. The child who has lost faith in his parents has difficulty believing in anything.

9. Do not smother your child with superficial manifestations of "love." The purest and healthiest love expresses itself in day-in, day-out training, which breeds self-confidence and independence.

10. Teach your child there is dignity in hard work, whether it is performed with callused hands that shovel coal or skilled fingers that manipulate surgical instruments. Let him know a useful life is a blessed one and a life of ease and pleasure-seeking is empty and meaningless.

11. Do not try to protect your child against every small blow and disappointment. Adversity strengthens character and makes us compassionate. Trouble is the great equalizer. Let him learn it.

12. Teach your child to love God and to love his fellow men. Don't send your child to a place of worship, take him there. Children learn from example. Telling him something is not teaching him. If you give your child a deep and abiding faith in God, it can be his strength and his light when all else fails.

P.S.- We have some exciting news around here to

 announce: RUBY IS POTTY TRAINED!!!