Ruthie's happenings...

Ruthie has been talking up a storm... she's always talking (she gets that from her daddy!) But just recently she's really trying to communicate in sentences!! I love to watch her try out language, especially when she learns a new word's meaning.... She repeats it a bunch!!

She's been saying recently:

"oh, I didn't know that" (what gets me is that she uses it appropriately)
"spib" (spit- as we're working on spitting out fluoride toothpaste and not swallowing it!)
"Tony" "Teresa" "Babe" "Honey" (she's been using all our names... it's so funny. She tries them out and then looks at us to see if it's ok!! It's really hard not to laugh because she so stinking cute!)
"dad" "mom" (ditto above)


She's also graduated into a big girl bed. We have just a mattress and box springs on the floor for now. Didn't want her to fall out too far!! She's done great with it.. except for getting out of bed!! It is crazy. Some nights after we finish our night time routine (which has been the same since she was a little baby) she goes right to sleep... as if it were easy peasy. Then other nights, it takes both of us working in tandem two hours to get her to sleep. She just seems to FIGHT it. If we say do it this way, she does it that way. UGGG!! She's doing well sleeping in the bed, and doesn't fall out. But, some nights I'm tempted to install a safety system that includes duck tape... or at the very least velcro!! :)

Her first night in a big girl bed!

Ruthie's birthday party!!

Ruthie's party was held on her actual birthday because it fell on a Saturday!! The thing Ruthie most loves is WONDER PETS!!! SO, we had a Wonder Pet pool party!! We planned it down to the very last detail... it started at 2 perfect timing for Ruthie to take a nap PRE party. Of course, she had other ideas... I guess she could tell that there was a lot going on and so she didn't sleep!

We started out on Friday night at my mom's house preparing for the big day. Uncle Matt and Aunt Rachel came for the party and were there Friday night to help! After Ruthie went to sleep, we started working on the capes. You know, all wonder pets have to wear their capes. We (Rachel) made them out of plastic table cloths... and they turned out perfect! Uncle Matt was put to work blowing up all the pool toys... and he got a little dizzy from the lack of air (although he usually never lacks in the hot air department!!) Tony was put to work getting art work off of the internet for various projects and for preping the PHONE!!! (as in The Phone, The phone is ringing!!) That was going to be our art project- making the phone out of cans and string! Mom and I were helping everyone and also working on the food. We didn't get home until about 2 am... we were a little tired to say the least!

What I forgot to tell you was that BEFORE all of that hard work started- Ruthie decided we would take a trip to Pediactric after hours emergency. She was running in my Mom's house and fell... and hit her forehead on the corner of the wall. A HUGE bump immediately formed and protruded from her forehead about 2-3 inches. It was so scary. Tony had to hold her down so that I could put ice on it. We decided to play it safe and get her looked at to make sure she was ok. By the time we got there and the doctor came in she was as bubbly as normal and it was as if nothing happened. But the evidence of her little accident is ALL over her b-day pics!! (Anyone remember what happened last year?)

The morning of her birthday we woke up to Thunder... not a good sign for a day at the pool. But the Lord was gracious to us and the rain and thunder held off until after the party. We got to my mom's at 10 am. I made the frosting and decorated the cake. We put Ruthie down for a nap (a.k.a. playtime in the pack-n-play) around 11 and Tony and Matt set up the tables and covers outside.



Once the guest started to arrive they went right to the craft. The kids chose a cape color (Ruthie wore green for Ming Ming, of course) and then they sat down to make the PHONE!

First group of kids making their "phone"


Ruthie and Patrick, her cousin


Abby and Bell (cousins)


The birthday girl


With Luke and Bailey (cousins)


Me with my sis in law, Rachel


Rachel and Bryan (Tony's bro and his wife)


Aunt Holly


Grandma and Paw-Paw Z and Aunt Judy and Sandy! Smile!


Family pic minus the birthday girl who is already in the Pool w/ aunt Rachel!!

We had tons of great food (hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, mac and cheese, watermelon, chips, drinks, and of course, birthday cake)!!!

Uncle Matt bringing some yummy food off the grill!! (Matt and Tony were manning the hot grill!)



Once they were done with that they headed to the pool!!

All the kids swimming!! By the end of the party the Big Kids (aka ADULTS) were taking over the pool and the fun!! Good thing we had beach balls to play with for the adults!! :) I'm so glad everyone had fun!
Pictured here are many of her friends from church: Gracie, Abby, Kylie, Adian, Victoria, Alex, not pictured is Patrick and Lucy!!


Singing Happy Birthday


Ruthie swiping the icing!! :) She took, "it's your cake" literally!


At the very end, when all our guests except family had gone home, a huge storm cloud rolled in. In about 5 minutes flat we had to tear everything down, clean up the pool area, get it all to my mom's house and try to keep all the non-wet things dry. We almost made it. When we came racing in.. this is what we found:


My mom hadn't made the other pictures because she was so busy working behind the scenes. But, with out her it would not have been a successful party. She volunteered to take my kiddos in for naps around 4:30-5:00 when Ruthie had fallen asleep on the pool deck!! I guess grandma was tired too!

Sweet Emma


Daddy and Ruthie going through all of her gifts... she got a lot of things to use in her new kitchen, build a bear gift cards, and MING MINGS!!! :)


Ruthie LOVES Ming Ming


After her nap she got up and opened her present from Mommy and Daddy! A Kitchen!! (She says, "Chicken")


We put the girls to sleep again and then the adults played the game PIT!! It had us laughing so hard our tummies hurt and we were literally YELLING across the table to be heard!! :) IT was so much fun!

Happy Birthday my sweet girl. I hope you loved your Wonder Pet Party. You are a joy to be with and Mommy and Daddy love you very much!! We pray this year is even better than last!! (It will be hard to beat!!)

Happy Birthday, Ruthie!!!

My sweet Ruthie,

Happy birthday, my love. I am so blessed and honored to be your Mommy. There are so many things that I love about you. I love your giggle. You abandon yourself to fun and LOVE life. Your giggle makes my day a good day no matter what has happened! Your sweet, "I wuv you, much" makes my heart melt. That started when I started saying, "I love you very much". I love how silly you are... how you love to twirl, which you call "whee" and then you get "busy" (dizzy). I love how much you love others. You are so tenderhearted and loving. You especially love your sister. You hold her, kiss her, hold her hand, and burp her with mommy. And she makes your day when she is "smi-in" (smiling) at your!! You also love your dogs. Bissy- Grandma's dog is your favorite!

You love to talk and repeat everything we say. Which means we should watch what we say a little closer... you now say, "shut your mouth" when your playing with your baby doll and "I mean it" which is your daddy's line when he's disciplining you. You do need quite a bit of direction these days, but you take it well and put yourself in time out sometimes!!

When we are driving, you consider it a very good drive if you see a "diggo" (digger- excavator) and as always you love planes. When you see one in the air you blow kisses to it. You also are super smart!! You know your way around town. There is no tricking you. You know if we are driving to a friends house by the roads we are taking!! And you get very upset if we don't stop!! You also know where we get lunch... we can't pass a McDonalds or Chik fil A without you asking for "unch".

You are almost potty trained. Mommy wouldn't have started this early, but you decided it was time when you sat on your potty and went pee pee before your bath about 3 weeks ago!! Since then you haven't been in diapers except for when you sleep. You pretty much go without any accidents if Mommy gets you to the potty in time. You haven't begun to tell mommy that you have to go pee pee... won't that be a blessed day!!

You love to play. And hate it when mommy interrupts that play. You often run away and say, "I hiding". And then you giggle and say, "I funny". As much as it aggravates me if we're in a hurry, it is so stinking cute. I have to smile.

Wonder Pets is still your favorite show and you start your day out with at least one episode each morning with your milk. You love dinosaurs and know we're going to pass them on the interstate when we go a certain way. You love to sing. You sing "shine" (this little light of mine) and Jesus Loves Me. You like to sing If Your Happy and You Know it. You love clapping your hands. You also sing The B-I-B-L-E and shout Bible and Happy at the end of the verses. You've started to make up your own songs and put your pointer figner and your thumb together at your mouth to make a microphone or you use your juice cup. You get this look on your face when your making up a song. It is a look of total concentration and seriousness and it makes my heart melt and my face smile.

Ruthie Grace Zeller. I love you so much words just don't do it justice. I am so proud of you. This year has been a big year full of fun discovery and growing up. Your my little girl now. I am so excited to share the next year with you. I can't wait to see what we get into while you are two. Most of all, I pray that Jesus will fill your heart with His love and a desire to always search after Him. I love you, my special girl. I hope your day is very very happy!! :) I love you, MUCH!!

Love,
Mommy

Ruthie is 23 months old!!

It looks like all I can keep up with these days is the monthly posts about the girls... So much goes on in one day that I have a hard time posting anything else!!

BUT, Ruthie is in her last month as a one year old... next month she'll be TWO!!! Can you believe it? I can't. She is getting to be such a big girl. She is so a toddler, not a baby, anymore!! :)

* She went pee-pee in the potty!!! She always sits on the potty before her bath each night... it's something she likes to do. One night I said, can you let me hear you go pee-pee? And to my big surprise- a few seconds later I heard her little tinkle... We will be starting true potty training sometime in the next week.. I had to have time to get all my "supplies" together!!

* She's stepping up small steps without holding on. A big accomplishment!!!

* Conversations-
Ruthie: "Hi Mama"
Me: "Hi Lovey (one of her many nicknames) how are you?"
Ruthie: "good"

* When someone sneezes she says, "Bless you"

* Calls her favorite show "Wonder Pets" now- not "far side"

* Loves to play and hide under her bed!! She likes to be "under" things- blankets, tables, beds to play!!

* Wants to sleep with the door open a little bit now- not shut all the way as she has the last 2 years!!

* Won't go into her room in the dark. This is a new thing too

* Likes to play with the potatoes from the kitchen. She calls them, "tatoes" :)

Here are some pics to enjoy!!
Aunt Rachel and Ruthie at Aunt Rachel and Uncle Matt's pool in Orlando!


Uncle Matt and Ruthie


Ruthie loving the splash zone at the pool!


Ruthie's bed head!!


Ruthie reading to Emma!



Monkey see, Monkey do... Ruthie's baby in Emma's bouncy seat!!


Ruthie playing under her bed!!


Ruthie at the splash park


Ruthie and cousins at the splash park!!


Ruthie loves to watch TV. She is limited on the amount she can watch... but when I turned on the music (which I do regularaly) she thought it was the TV... funny!! :)

Ruthie is 22 Months old!!

This month Ruthie has spent it growing like a weed and talking up a storm. She is talking like a little girl... not much baby talk anymore.

Some of the things she has said:
* I do it
* I sit right there
* See-a-der (see ya later)
* I re re back (I'll be right back)

She is even recounting the Wonder Pet episodes- Here's an example of a conversation:

R: Mommy
T: what do you want love?
R: Ming Ming and Dinosaur
T: what happened with Ming Ming and the Dinosaur?
R: Stuck Rock
T: Yes, you're right. Good job. What happened next?
R: Ug, ug (making pulling and straining noises)
T: Yes, Ruthie they did try to pull him out. What happened next?
R: Slippery
T: Yes, the Mud is slippery and it got the dinosaur out didn't it!!

TO me that is amazing for a little girl who isn't even 2 yet!!

Here's some pics of my beautiful girl to enjoy!

An Ode to Ms. Tracey

Ms. Tracey is our fantastic Physical Therapist who was a total answer to prayer! She is first of all a Christian- which did this mommy's heart good! She is loving, kind, knowledgeable, and talented! And, and major plus she is a good runner- which is helpful because she spends most of the time running after Ruthie who has seen another fun and exciting thing to get into...

I swear, that Pedi Rehab is like a kiddie playland on steroids. There is something fun to get into around every corner. When Ruthie started out she wasn't walking, she was about 16 months old and she was just cruising while holding on to furniture. Tracey determined that she has low muscle tone and needed PT two times a week until her muscles stregthened enough to allow her to walk. Meanwhile, we were visiting the neurologist and he ordered an EEG and an MRI- both which came back normal! Praise Jesus!

Today, I am proud to say, was our last evaluation!! Ruthie has graduated and is no longer in PT on Ms. Tracey's case load. While I am super proud of Ruthie and very excited that she's made this progress... she's now running and kicking, and right on track. I will miss our PT appt. because God used them to teach me. He put a wonderful friend in my path that encouraged me, loved my child, and gave my child the gift of being able to walk. And, a major plus- Tracey is hysterical. She had me in stitches with her stories most of the time! It was like a coffee play-date minus the coffee!!

Here are a few pics of Ruthie last offical PT session- right after Emma was born.
These are called "ker-plops" Ruthie has to "ker-plop" on her back and then sit up. She has to use her abdominal muscles to do this and those core muscles are what helps her keep her balance and be able to stand up w/ out holding on. She started every session out w/ a bunch of these!


This is the next step... up on the knees. She didn't start doing this until later


Going up the ramp... at the end is a slide!! At first she started out pushing a kids grocery cart filled with weight balls up the ramp. Actually she wasn't able to push it more than 3 steps the first several times. But, as she grew stronger she'd push it farther and Tracey would add more weight. Then she would take her up the ramp! Now she can run/walk up and DOWN the ramp w/ out any help!! :)


Going up the stairs also builds those muscles and allows her to practice an important skill! She would have to take puzzle pieces up the stairs and complete the puzzle. One piece at a time... that would give her a purpose for going up and down other than just "working out"!!


Ms. Tracey w/ Ruthie and Emma. We love you Ms. Tracey, and we will be eternally grateful that God placed you in our life!!

Ruthie is 21 months old!!! (about 2 weeks ago!)

This post is a long time coming.... I need to post about Emma being 1 MONTH OLD TODAY, but I will not allow myself that post until I write about Ruthie's 20th month!! So much has happened this month... my little baby grew up and it is amazing. She is talking up a storm... sentences with 5-7 words in them, using pronouns CORRECTLY, and is such a sweet loving older sister!!

She said the other day, when Emma was under the nursing cover, "Where did Emma go? Peek-boo, I see you" Isn't that cute!

Here are some other things that she's been up to:

* She has a monkey puppet at my mom's house and she LOVES monkey (original name, huh?) That is her second favorite.. right after "Cucky" (Ducky).

* Salad is her new favorite food. She LOVES it. She wants to eat it before ANYTHING else, and if you have some and you don't share... oh my does she get upset!!

* She started to tickle us... it's so cute she wiggles her fingers and says, "Kee-kle, Kee-kle" She has such a fun personality that is emerging. She is funny- what a sense of humor- and she love to laugh- what a beautiful laugh she has- and she is a stinker- she'll get you just for the fun of it and have a twinkle in her eye the whole time!!

* She became a BIG SISTER!!! She loves Emma so much and had done an excellent job adjusting. This month has been hard- not only did she become a big sister but also Tony's brother and family moved back into town from Washington state. And we are thrilled they are here. The hard part is they have a daughter 2 months older than Ruthie- so she's gone from not having to share anything (toys/mommy/daddy/aunts/uncles/cousins/grandma/pawpaw)- to having to share EVERY ONE AND EVERYTHING in her life all at the same time. She's done remarkable well for being so young and having so much expected of her. I am SO proud of how she has handled it all. What a trooper.

* She loves to give Emma kisses, to hold her, and she even offered Emma her blankie one night!!

* She has always loved it when I (or anyone) sings. Music is something that makes her happy and soothes her. So it was no surprise to me that she has started singing all the time. Her songs are so cute. It is mostly her baby talk in a sing/song voice. PRECIOUS!! However, she does sing Itsy Bitsy Spider pretty well... it goes like this

Mommy- "The itsy bitsy spider when up the water spout" (Ruthie doing the hand motions)
Mommy and Ruthie- "Down"
Mommy- "came the rain and" (Ruthie doing the hand motions
Mommy and Ruthie- "Wash"
Mommy - "the spider out"
Mommy and Ruthie "up came -the- Sun"
Mommy- "and dried up all the rain, and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again"
Ruthie- clapping and says "yeah!"

* She loves to blow bubbles and to pop them. She's even started to pretend to blow bubbles by putting her index finger to her lips and blowing, then she points her finger into the air and says "POP" say it with me now, "It's SO cute!"

* She started calling butterflies "flowers" but by the end of the month they are "fowr-flies"

*She thinks grapes are "mummy" (yummy) and calls them "Wwww-eeks" because I always say "grrrrrr-apes" trying to emphasize the beginning blend of 'gr'!!

* Said to me "mommy I sit here" and sat on a pillow on the floor like it was her throne. Has been telling us where she wants to sit ever since!!

* She often gets her leg stuck between the bars of her crib... I guess it's fun to do when you're waiting for mommy to come get you in the morning... fun until you get stuck. So when I hear the cry- the one that means come now- I know that she is stuck. I get to her room asap and she says to me, "Mommy, I'm stuck"

* "I know" has been her favorite answer when we tell her she's doing something that she shouldn't. It's all we can do not to laugh.

* "mommy, I keen the floor" has also been said a few times. She loves the swifter duster and so I've been known to give her one to "play" with!

* She has a plastic travel mug that I allow her to play with. The other day she comes out of her room w/ the mug and says, "my coffee". I guess all the girls in her life have been drinking a little too much of that stuff. That mug is officially her "coffee"

* She has been saying for quite some time now, I love you which comes out more like this, "I wa wa you" but she recently added this to the end, "I wa wa you much" because I often say, "I love you very much" Melts my mommy heart... big time!

* She graduated out of Physical Therapy. I'll do a whole post on that, but wanted to document the occasion. We go back for a check up in a few weeks and then maybe again in 6 months. But, she's worked so hard and her PT is so good that she's mastered the skills needed for her age!! :) YEAH!!

Here are some pics for you to enjoy!
John Deer Tracker shirt - courtesy of Mr. Bill!!




Playing "side" with Daddy!


Technically this isn't from her 20th month.. but this is mommy and Ruthie at the farm!


Ruthie dusting her bike


I don't know what she was trying to do... I think she was trying to sit on the edge of the baby bed, but she ended up falling in. I though it was so cute that I didn't get her out, I got my camera instead. Although, after the pic I DID get her out.


Ruthie as Tinkerbell- She's beginning to love dressing up!!


After one of her favorite things (taking off all her clothes and her diaper) to pass the time until mommy gets her up and out of her bed!!