9 Months Old!

Forgot to post this earlier in the month. Better late than never right?

This post is a few weeks late. Our busy bee is keeping us on our toes so much it has been difficult to find time to sit and write this update. As I type Ruth is across the room pulling all of our nicely folded blankets out.

Weight- 16 lbs 4 oz
Height- 25 inches
Clothes size- 3-6 m and 6 m
Shoe size- 2
Diaper size- 3

Likes- people, mama, moving, kids, smiling at strangers, Cheerios, baby mum mum bars,  pulling up, her black velvet box, toys that make noise, being picked up, crawling, fruit mixed in her cereal, sucking her left pointer finger while holding her right ear, music, drums, cruising around the coffee table, her cell phone, pulling stuff off any surface she can reach, sucking a rag at bath time, and riding in the stroller like a big girl.

Dislikes- being held like a "wittle baby" (a horizontal hold), waiting to be taken out of the crib after sleeping, the nursery (see more below), not seeing where mom or dad is, sleeping in poop, oatmeal cereal, sitting still, the swing, loud laughing, knowing there are people over while she has to sleep, being strapped into her car seat, and waiting for her morning milk.

On the move- Ruth is all over the place, she finally decided to crawl on her knees. She is fast too! Ruth is also cruising around the coffee table and other furniture. We believe it won't be too long before she's walking!

Firsts- Ruth had her first Christmas this month. We had many fun adventures with family in Seattle including playing with her cousins, opening gifts on Christmas and even a trip to the zoo and aquarium. Ruth especially liked looking at the fish at the aquarium.

Our routine:
7:30 wake up and have milk
8:00 breakfast- cereal, eggs, fresh fruit
8:30-10 play
10-11:30 nap
11:30 wake up and have milk
12:00 lunch- veggie, meat, and fruit
12:30-2 play
2-3 nap
3:00 wake and have milk
3-5 play
5:00 dinner- meat veggie and fruit
6:00 bath
6:30 milk
7:00 night night!

Trying to get a group picture is harder than you think. This captured the moment quite well!

Nana and her girls

Thanks Mrs. Snow!

Christmas morning 2013

Getting into stuff

First ride on a horse with Aunt Kayla and Mama

Fascinated!

Ruth and Mama on Christmas

Not a fan of being eaten by a shark!

Family Fun

Here is a sneak peak of our trip to Mississippi! We had an amazing time. We are so thankful for our wonderful family!

The Baby Moon

We were blessed to be able to take a weekend get away down to Long Beach last weekend. As some of  you know our original plan was to take a cruise down to Mexico, however, that fell through due to being to pregnant to travel. Thankfully for us the cruise company gave us a full refund (with no begging or pleading!). I  (Laura) shamefully admit to being devastated. I cried for a full day following the news. For several weeks following I continued to tear up a time or two. Everything seamed to pale in comparison to 4 nights on a cruise ship to Mexico. Did I mention we had gotten a REALLLLLLY good deal? We're talking about $550 for both of us to spend 4 nights on this boat and travel out of the country good deal. Finally, as I was searching through groupon I discovered an interesting idea. After many calculations (I'm not a math person so it took me a while) I proposed a new and I must say rather inventive idea. That idea was for us to spend the weekend on the Queen Mary: a retired cruise ship/WWII battle ship docked in Long Beach, CA. Steve loved the idea, so we booked. We loved it. Even though it wasn't moving it still gave us the cruise feel. We got to eat fancy meals, do a few tours, relax and of course it was all on a boat.

Here are a few pictures from our adventure:

Us with the Queen Mary.

Our cabin on the ship.

On our first night we ventured off the boat and happened  upon the Laugh factory. On a whim we decided to see a show and had a great time!

Enjoying high tea.

I couldn't get Steve to try the Caviar... he honestly didn't miss out on much.

Steve living out his dream of being a boat Captain.

Standing in a "haunted" doorway.

We hope next year we'll be able to try for the cruise again. In the mean time, however, we are so thankful we had the chance to have one more vacation just the two of us!

San Diego Mission Trip

Last week Steve and I had the chance to go with 2 other adults and 3 of our youth to San Diego for a mission trip. It was a great week and very challenging. We spent each morning working in a local nursing home building relationships and each afternoon serving in the SD Food Bank distribution center. Here are a few pictures from the week!

 Mount Soledad

 Steve, Ryan, and Zac during the daily Starbucks run

 My with my nursing home friend Ms. B.

 Joesph the puppet gave us a lot of joy throughout the week!

Packaging food boxes at the SD Food Bank

Our rice baging gear. Notice the beard net on Steve!

Carlena and I enjoying the beach

One night we went to the board walk on the beach for a treat. We enjoyed some rides and some good funnel cake!

TBC with the whole Youthworks group at the end of the week.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for us while we were gone. We were truly blessed by the experience and saw God moving in huge ways!