October

Sam and Ruth,

Sigh. Today is Novebmer 1st and I must confess that October was a tough month. Samuel, you came down with the flu the second week of October. You were pretty sick for a full week. You had obvious signs of not feeling well, but were a real trooper. Nearly the same day that you started feeling better, I started feeling bad. During the third week of October I came down with a bad sinus infection which turned ear infection and am still recovering. Ruthie, it was your turn this past week (the last week of October). You started to be so fussy and had a bad sounding cough. I took you in on Tuesday to the pediatrician who was so worried, he ordered blood work AND sent us to Dell Children's hospital for another consultation. Everything ended up being okay and you're recovering now, but it was a scare! Apparently you had some kind of bronchial infection.
Somehow in the midst of all this sickness, we have still managed to make a trip to San Antonio (it was Mommy's 10 year high school reunion AND we got to meet baby Luke Schaefer), have another Foster child in our home for five days, and have fun celebrating Halloween.

You both do so well with another child in our house. This time, our Foster child was 8 years old. Sam, you LOVED him and spent most of the time copying anything he said or did. Since he left you've asked for him several times and even cried once asking if you could call him. As you grow, I pray you understand the amazingly tough times these Foster children are faced with and how you can be a blessing in their lives.

Sam, you are growing a very sweet heart and have even started to pray for children that don't have food for families. As a side bar, one day this month you saw a homeless man begging as we were stopped at stoplight. You asked what he was doing and I explained. You said, "Mommy! I have an idea. We can get food and SHARE with him." My heart melted.

Ruthie, I am so sorry you've been sick this week. It's so tough to see my baby not feel good. You are such a happy baby that I know when you're fussy something isn't right. You bless my life with your baby giggles.

Here are a few pictures, with a few pictures to come when I write again, of all that's gone on in October.

The second weekend of October we were finally able to spend time with the Schaefers and the two new babies.

Logan really loved baby Ruth.

Daddy really loved baby Luke.
Sam really loved Logan.

On the way home from pre-school this month, you annouce that you've decided you want to be a green bird. Just days before the flu strick you and I went shopping and worked together to make your costume. I think it turned out great. We got lots of fun compliments!

Dear Ruthie at 12 weeks old

Ruthie, you are such an amazing baby. I love you more than words can say. On Sunday (September 27), you rolled for the first time! I saw that it was about to happen, so I pulled out the video camera and Daddy was able to catch it on tape. I love delighting in all of your "firsts" and seeing how you grow. (When you watch the video one day you will definitely see how excited I was. :) )

Mimi and Nana were two of our visitors recently (at different times) and it's fun to see how much they both love you. I know Nana is excited to have her girl! Mimi loves to tell you stories and nursery rhymes and you definitely warmed up to her quickly. I hope they are both an important part of your life as you grow.

Your Daddy and I are blessed to have you in our lives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTRXvgOiQfA

Ruth's first laugh and some random things

Ruthie,

Part of the reason we do this is so we don't forget all the "firsts" that are as important to us as they are to you. Yesterday was the first time you laughed. You were just really happy when you woke up and wanted to play. We hope you keep it up (being happy in the morning, that is).

This weekend was also special because it was our first time to have a foster child in our home. We had an eight month old boy named Trey stay with us, and both of you were great about sharing our family's love and your toys. We are really proud of you and hope you continue to grow up to be so loving and caring.

Finally, I will put up a few pictures just to keep up. They don't really relate to the post above, but still...

We haven't had any rain this summer; so our garden has done nothing... except produce one single, really huge zucchini.

Sam on the first day of pre-school with his Handy Manny backpack.

This past weekend we went to Granpa and Nana's house where you got to drive Uncle Hey's loader.

Ruthie's favorite part of the day is bath time. Ahhh.

Two cute kids.

"Ms. Snowball" Fan Club

Alright Kiddos, I will probably not be as good about doing this regularly as your mom is, but here goes (This is your dad in case that isn't clear). Sam, you are about to start "pre-school school" next week, and today your new teacher called and left you a voicemail on your phone. We are pretty sure her name is Ms. Stovall, but you have already christened her "Ms. Snowball," and you are very excited. Somehow you taught yourself how to rewind and reply the message, and I think you have listened to it about 100 times so far. Every time, you holler at us across the house that you are listening to Ms. Snowball. I hope you always stay this excited about school (although I don't really recommend staying in school for as long as Daddy has). You are a cool kid.

Ruthie, you aren't quite as animated as Sam yet, but I'll share a school-related story about you too (You are going to find that school is a running theme in this family so get used to it). You are only 8 weeks old, but you have probably spent more than half of your nights so far reading with me after Mom and Sam go to sleep. This is my year of graduate school to take a test on a bunch of books, and you and I have cranked through about 40 of them together in the past two months. You are mostly sleeping through the nights now, and so I am back on my own again, but if you ever find that you know random facts about Central America and the Cold War this will explain it. And as a parenting tip to you when you have your own kids: If they can't fall to sleep, just read a few pages of sociology books to them (not history books obviously, those are too exciting).

I love you both,

Daddy

Stretch Ruthstrong

Ruth, when I was pregnant with you and people asked me if I felt you kick, I'd always say, "No, but I feel her stretch!" My belly would literally stretch left to right and up and down as you made yourself comfortable in the womb. Now that you're here, it's so amazing to see you do the same thing. You will stretch and stretch mostly when you first wake up. Maybe you'll have a little more flexibility than the rest of your family.
This morning Daddy and Sam are at church while you and I have the quiet house to ourselves. I noticed your fingernails were long and decided I would give you a little manicure. Instead I accidentally clipped part of your finger and you bled profusely!! I feel soooooo bad. If you were older you'd be getting ice cream all day long. :)
School starts this week and I had originally planned on taking a few more weeks of maternity leave. I've decided (for financial reasons) to head back tomorrow. I don't "feel" nervous or anxious about it, but I can tell that I am. I'm having a hard time sleeping and my heart will race throughout the day for no apparent reason. Even when my mind tries to convince me I'm okay, my body lets me know otherwise. I can't help but love being home with you and Sam, so it's always tough thinking about heading back to work. The reality is I have the best set-up any mom could ask for. This year I will teach three classes in the morning and be home by noon. I know, I know, I'm very blessed. How many people have a good job, are home by noon, and have weekends, holidays, and summers off? Not many.
I love you Ruth!

28 years old

Happy birthday to me! Sam and Ruth, you must know how extremely happy I am. I am married to an incredible man and have two of the most amazing children. I live such a charmed life! This is a day to celebrate.
Sam, you are just about the nicest two year old I have ever met. Of course you have your toddler moments, but you are genuinely kind. You love your sister and are so gentle with her. It has been so fun watching you be a big brother. You talk non-stop and so Daddy and I have tried to channel this into entertaining your sister. You will occasionally tell her a story and these moments are my favorite. My favorite story lately starts like this, "One day Sam and Mommy went to Target and we got so frustrated..." (I think I have a lifetime of you "telling stories" about me.) If you're not narrating your life, you're asking questions! All of your questions end with the word, "for." Example: What are you cleaning the dishes for? What are they dirty for? What are we going to HEB for? And on and on and on and on. I've even heard you say a few times, "What do I have so many questions for?" Ha!
Ruth, I was told not to bank on having two good babies - that I was lucky enough to have one baby that slept well and ate well and behaved well, but I have proven them all wrong! If anything, you are an even easier baby. I'm sure this has a lot to do with me being a much more relaxed mother to an infant, but you are spectacular. You nurse beautifully and have even slept up to six hours straight (and you're only six weeks today!). I'm looking at you now in awe of how GORGEOUS you are. Watch out, world.
I pray today that you both can feel my joy and praise God for the blessed lives we all lead!

Special Memories

On Thursday, June 15, 1981, Nana starts the first page of a new journal with, “I’m writing in this book to record all my special memories of our baby.” My mom proceeded to fill hundreds of hand-written pages over many years written about me and to me.
When I became pregnant with Sam, Nana not only gave me her journals but a brand new journal to dedicate to my child. During my pregnancy and for the first two years of Sam’s life I frequently wrote in that journal. One day I look forward to giving it to you, Sam.
It has been such a special gift in my life that I want to pass on a treasure like it to you and all my children. Since being pregnant with Ruth and now having both a toddler and an infant, I have ached to write but haven’t penned even one word on paper. Then I realized the technology that’s at my fingertips and I should use it wisely! I dedicate this blog to my children as a way to record all our special memories…
If there is anything I am sure of, I know I have been created and called to be a mother. (Nana even recorded in her journal on July 7, 1986, “You informed last night that you couldn’t wait to be a mother and that you were going to have 37 children!”) Some dreams never die. J I love you Sam and Ruth and I love all of your siblings to come.