4 Months Old!! (About a week ago...)

Ruthie is 4 months old and has been busy growing and developing during this last month! Here's a short list of the things that she accomplished during her 3rd month!

* She went out of state for the first time...we went to GA to visit family read about it here

* She giggled right out loud (10/30/07). It was such a fun moment to hear her sweet laugh. Her giggle continues to morph into a full belly laugh. We're not quite there yet...but it is such a joy to see and here her giggle

* Her coos started out very soft quiet sounds that she graced us with occasionally. We were always so excited to hear her talk. This month her coos went from that soft quiet sound to a more throaty, louder "oh" sound. She spent several weeks perfecting the "oh". Then she moved on to "Uh-oh", "ah", and "ah-goo". Now, her sounds are squeals of delight and these louder, more frequent vowel and vowel constant combos. In fact, we can rarely get her to be quiet!! It's the best to have the house full of sound!!!

* She now puts her binkie in and takes it out. It's so cute to see the accomplished look on her face when she actually gets it in the right way!!

* She learned how to sneeze with out spewing the binkie out of her mouth!

* She had her first solids: rice cereal and her first fruit: Bananas

* She still likes to look at fans and lights

* She loves her hanging toys even more. She grabs the rings they're hanging on and pulls them down to her mouth! She even got one off the ring the other day!

* She chews on EVERYTHING!

* During bath time she kicks her legs so much she scoots down 1/2 way down the bath-tub mat and she flails her arms in delight! She still loves that tub-time.

* Doing great with lifting her head. She's getting it way off the blanket and flying like super-baby!

* She's turned to face the world in her baby bajorn!

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy from the past month:

32 & 4 in Ft. Lauderdale

Nope, it's not a secret code to an off shore bank account...don't I wish... it's a one line summary of our weekend!! We visited my grandparents (Ruthie's Great Grandparents) in Ft. Lauderdale this weekend, and Ruthie and I had a birthday there!!! On Sunday, I turned 32 (ouch) and Ruthie turned 4 months (TIME IS FLYING!!!) But, the most important part of our weekend was spending time with Grandma and Grandpa and watching Ruthie love on them. It is so amazing what God does for us. He loves us so much that he gives us such special time. I see the earthly representation of God's love in my Grandpa. He is so sweet and kind. It was such a joy to watch him love on Ruthie.

I also was touched watching my grandma (Ruthie's namesake) interact with Ruthie. We named our first born after my grandma because we pray that Ruthie grows up to be just like Grandma Ruth. She is hard working, tender and kind, and loves her family and her God with all her heart. She is a picture of Proverbs 31. I am very blessed to have her as my Grandma.

Sunday (our birthdays) we spent going to church, going out to dinner, and then we had to say goodbye and drive home (Don't get me started on the drive home...Lets just say it started out at 6:00 with us heading to Miami instead of Naples and ended at 2:30 AM with two dogs, one baby- who was awake- and two cars loaded with stuff- putting gas and air in our tires to make it home !!! There's got to be a God lesson in there somewhere...)

Anyway, here are a few picture from our sweet weekend!!


Great Grandma Ruth & Ruthie




Great Grandpa Bill & Ruthie




The crew at an outdoor mall on Saturday



My honey and Me



Getting ready for Church



Grandpa Fogle joined us for a Birthday dinner!



Grandma, Grandpa, and Me at Houstons, my favorite restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale. It sits on the intercostal waterway and it is BEAUTIFUL!! We sat outside so we could enjoy the weather, the boats, and the water...along with the company!!



Happy Birthday, from my sweetheart!



Too much fun for our little girl...over and out!!

FOOD, Folks, and Fun

Ruthie has thoroughly enjoyed her first foods!!! We started last Wednesday with cereal. It was HILARIOUS!!! She made the funniest faces when we started feeding her. But, soon she was eager to reach for the spoon with her mouth. Needless to say, she has already found a way to get cereal and banana in her hair!! This should be lots of fun!! Here are a few food moments to share!



Her FIRST bite!!




I'm not sure if I like it...



Nope, I don't think I like it...





On second thought, this is pretty good...give me some more!!

FOOD TIME!!

We just came home from Ruthie's 4 month check up...can you believe she will be 4 months old on Sunday? So we will be starting to introduce food to her. I am planning on making my own baby food and wondered if there are any moms out there with advice, recipes, and/or info to help me in the process!!! Love to hear from you....

I've got Georgia on my mind

A few weeks ago, we went out of state (a first for Ruthie) to Georgia where Tony's brother and his family were. (They live in Washington state, but were in Georgia for their 3rd baby's Christening...long story) We drove up on Friday night so that we could see them and be there Saturday for the festivities. We had so much fun and best of all Ruthie was able to meet her cousins Patrick, Isabell, and Abby (who is only 2 months older than Ruthie!) Here are some pictures (I don't have 2 particular pictures because our camera ran out of batteries mid Christening, but I'll get them from family and update this post. One of the pictures is of Ruthie and Abby both sleeping in Abby's pack and play...they napped together! and the other one is with Abby and Ruthie playing together on a blanket - mostly eating the other's hand!)


Ruthie with some of her Cousins!



Patrick and Ruthie


Abby being Christened!


Our family in the church



Tony and his brother Bryan...playing outside with the little kids and the big kids!!

Our Little Pumpkin Part 2

After a fun filled morning at the school, we came home and got ready for an evening of family and fun. We started by going to Grandma Fogle's house for dinner and our first Trick-or-treating event. After that we went over to Grandma and Paw-Paw Zeller's house to show off our sweet costume and trick-or-treat at their house. We were sooooo tired by that time that we didn't get many pictures and we fell asleep with our costume on!


Mommy, Daddy, and Pumpkin


Asleep in my costume!

Our Little Pumpkin Part 1

Just wanted to share in our day (exactly a week ago...we're a little late in posting...)

For years I attended the story book parade at the school where I taught, not as a mom but as a teacher. I took my little kids all dressed up and we paraded around. Then, when I taught the big kids we went to be the audience and the cheer-ers for the little kids. This year I went as a mom with my own little kid!!! IT was so much fun. Also, my niece and nephew now go to this school so Ruthie and I cheered on her sweet cousins.



Bailey as Hannah Montana



Aunt Mardi and Ruthie


Luke as a clone trooper (the middle one...I think!)


Our little pumpkin! I didn't put on her costume for halloween night because I thought she may be too hot. So she sported a sweet hat and socks!