Like a John Deere Tractor (an actual song by the Judds back in the day...)

January 3 pictures

Daddy and Ruth on our trip to Virginia over the New Year's Holiday.

This is Brian's Aunt Karen. Her family was cutting wood.

This is Brian's Aunt Sharon. You know Ruth wanted to pull that hair!!!

This is Ruth with Brian's Aunt Dee and her two new adopted children. Dee makes great crafts and should really travel around to craft fairs.

This Brian's uncle Junior and his wife Mildred. Brian's father is pictured far right. We didn't get any pictures of his mom on this trip, can you believe that!!!! Next trip we will have to take lots.

This is Ruth with Aunt Karen's husband. I think he thinks that because we live outside of Atlanta that I am a city girl. But I am NOT. I was raised on a farm and although escaped having to learn how to drive a tractor, I have hauled hay, cut wood, chased cattle, gathered eggs, planted entire fields of burmuda grass by hand, picked up rocks and dug catcus. And more. And many times. Although Ruth has yet to be on a tractor on the farm (too little last summer, too cold this winter) she is here. Don't worry, Mom, the tractor was not even turned on at this moment.

Video Killed the Radio Star

This video says it all....if you can't watch this due to dial-up, you MUST have somewhere to watch this.

More, More, More

Ruth with her cousin Christian. (These set of pictures are from the Virginia trip - Brian's family)

Ruth beating up her cousin Christian.

Ruth winning.

Ruth as a spider in the game "Guess Who I Am?" Notice, one sock on and one sock off.

Ruth with her aunt Lori (Brian's brother's wife). Ruth is thinking "she has a lot more teeth than me. I bet she can really bite things"

I just thought this was a great picture of both of them.

Jesus Loves Me

Let me take a break from posting holiday pictures and tell you about today. Today we woke up early to get ready for church and baby dedication day. We have waited ever since last spring to dedicate Ruth waiting for the 10am service that is so hard to get on the baby list but the service we wanted since that is our service. And here the day finally arrived. And we were all sick. Ruth, as you have read, has been sick for a week and now has a double ear infection. Brian and I have the full fledged cold. If it had not been baby day we all would have rolled over and gone back to bed (we actually had to wake Ruth up this morning).

But we got up and I am so glad we did. What a great day we had.

Our dear friends Connie and David Schnuelle (picture to be added soon) who used to live here drove up from south Georgia to be with us and watch Ruth. And after the service the Scott family (Kathy, Rick and Emily --Laura Liz and Will both off to college) met us in the nursery. The Scotts would have joined us for lunch but Emily had rehearsal. Dang it. Those dancers!!!

Also some of our friends who normally go to the 9:50 service (contemporary) came to our service to watch Ruth.

Ruth did great, although she was the loudest baby. Ruth decided that during prayer she would give me kisses. Now, for those of you who know what Ruth's kisses on mommy sound like, you know what this means. For those of you who don't, go back to September and watch the video of Ruth giving my mom kisses. Very loud. So I tried to stop her by giving her a toy which she promptly THREW on the marble floor (echoing throughout the church). My husband whispered a cuss word when he picked it up. I imagine him showing up on all the videos of the sweet families and them reading his lips like a football coach who cusses out his players on television.

But Ruth is dedicated and her name means Faithful. I thought it meant friendly. But not matter. Also, the theme verse the pastor picked for her is Ruth 3:11. It is a nice verse. They also gave us a small bible and a letter from the pastor that Ruth is to open and read the day she accepts Christ. Brian says he is going to read it now but I want to read it with Ruth. I look forward to that day.

Ruth is feeling much better. After a nice long nap this afternoon, she was in great spirits. After dinner, Brian and I chased Ruth around the house on our hands and knees. We all three laughed and giggled until tears were running out of our eyes.

So as we each go to bed tonight, I hope you remember the song that gives us today's title. Know that it is true. And if you have children, look at them and you see the proof.

Gonna Party Like It's 2009

On the way to Virginia on New Year's Day we stopped in Johnson City, TN to see my friend Erika and her two kids and husband Matt. This is Ruth with Aylin, who is about 6 weeks younger than Ruth. Don't they look so sweet together.

Ruth and Aylin not paying any attention to Ashur. Yes, he is wearing a Sooners jersey. Erika and her husband both went to undergrad there and Erika was getting her masters there at the same time I was. We went through ballet boot camp together.

Virginia Tech played that day. This is Erika, me and our kids. I love the kids' faces.

Just the girls.

It's Been A Long Day's Night

Ruth has a double ear infection we learned yesterday. She has had a cold all week and we thought she was getting better on Thursday. But Friday morning at 4am she woke up screaming and did so for a better part of an hour. Then she woke up again at 6:15am screaming again. The poor little girl looked so pitiful half crying and half falling asleep and not being able to suck a paci because she couldn't breathe out of her nose that it almost brought Brian to tears. Brian had to staff on Friday (12 hours) the first day he has had to staff in three weeks. He is staffing today as well (actually behind the counter all day giving out drugs). So I loaded Ruth up in the car and took her to the doctor. By the time we got to the doctor she was in great spirits and played with the moms and kids I knew (I saw three people I knew at the doctor, that is a first).

Poor little Ruth happens to be a wax producer so the doctor had to scrape out her ears before he could look into them. He gave us two prescriptions and since Brian was working and Ruth needed to sleep and sleeping propped up is best for her, I just drove the hour to the store and we had lunch with Daddy. Ruth was great that afternoon and helped me pick out shoes and a dress for Sunday and slept all the way home. But last night was the worst.

I went to bed shortly after I put Ruth down at 8:45pm. I heard her cry at 11pm and Brian got up with her. I relieved him at 12:30am (I think they both had cat napped). I was up until 1:30am when I realized Ruth had fever and needed medicine. So I woke up Brian and he helped me dose her and clean out her caked over nose. The poor kid pretty much screamed for an hour. Since she has been poked and prodded so much now she won't let us even wipe her nose without a fight. It was after 3am before my whimpering daughter finally went to sleep and I slept with her in the guest bed so Brian could get some sleep since he had to go to work today.

She seemed better this morning and is napping now. Hopefully she will feel better tomorrow since she is getting dedicated at church.

Christmas Bells Are Ringing

We spent Christmas Day here at our house. It was so nice to get up, cuddle with Ruth and feed her in bed and run down the stairs and open presents and then have a big breakfast. Yes, there were a lot of "and's" in that sentence. So what, this is my blog and if I want to have a lot of "and's" I will. And I do.

Here are some pictures of our day.

Ruth in her new "jazz pants" and Christmas top. I thought she looked so much like a dance teacher in this outfit. I used to wear stuff like this all the time. She is stretching in second position. We are still working on jazz hands...Elmo is trying to help her.

Please excuse my outfit and how I look. This was in the middle of the afternoon after a walk and playtime. Ruth is holding on to the "barre" and showing off her extension a la seconde. Wish some of my students had her extension.

Ruth bouncing with the zebra. She can get off the zebra by herself but mostly just wants to stand in front of him. I thought I would be one of those moms who wrote down every milestone the day it happened. But life just got busy, and I didn't. She started pulling up sometime after Thanksgiving and now cruises everywhere and all the time.


Ruth with Daddy on Christmas morning.

This is a dress my sister Malory wore when she was Ruth's age back in 1971. Ruth is pictured here on December 28 waiting on Mommy and Daddy to get ready for church.

We Are Family Part 2

This is my family, minus Brittany and Brandon (my niece and nephew, Ruth's cousins). We did Christmas in Arkansas the weekend before. And although it was cold outside, the house was a balmy 84 degrees. It is hard to get a group this size all looking good at the same time. In one everyone looks pretty good except Ruth is not looking at the camera. The other, Ruth looks great but others...well, not their best. Trying to find Brian is like looking for Waldo.

We Are Family

Ruth pulling my dad's mustache. She has my feet which come from my dad. (This comment is for my dancer friends)

Sweet Ruth with Malory in the background.

Ruth on her zebra, a present from my parents.

My sister Olivia with Ruth. Olivia always looks like she is enjoying her self but surprised and puzzled by that when she holds Ruth. You can look at entries from September and see the same reaction. I didn't get any pictures of Ruth with my sister Leslie and her kids, Brittany and Brandon, were not there. But Ruth is pictures with all the other sisters.
Ruth with my nephew (so her cousin) Robby. Ruth's birthday is March 6 and Robby's is March 7. Robby was born when I was a freshman in college, the same age his sister Brooke is now. I think Robby and Ruth has similar tempers.
Ruth with my sister Kelly and my niece (and sorority sister) Brooke.


Ruth with my sister Kelly
Ruth with my sister Malory.

Ruth and Malory. If I know Malory she tried to boss Ruth around and if I know Ruth, she is thinking, "who do you think you are that you can boss me? But you are bigger than me and you look like you mean business.....I will do what I want anyway."

Baby It's Cold Outside

We have been freezing here in Georgia the past week. This morning it was 22. Yesterday it was in the low 30's during the day with wind that would cut right through you. Yes, I thought about titling this blog "Cut's like a knife (but feels so right).

As promised, more pictures from our trip to Arkansas. We will eventually make our way up to Christmas day and then New Year's in Virginia.

Ruth with Memommy and the new cat.

What would a trip to Arkansas be without pulling the dog Tippy's hair. My mother's favorite child.

Let's hope Ruth has my mother's high cheek bones (which are from my grandmother and her Native American link).

Fun times. But wood is fun. I can't imagine anything more fun than sitting on a wood pile.

Now, at whom or at what am I going to throw this ball?

Slow Ride

The title of today's post is two fold. First, we are downloading many, many pictures so the computer is slow. Second, Brian bought Guitar Hero today and that song is on my mind.

For those of you who have been waiting for pictures (family) here are a few. I am starting with before Christmas and working my way up to present. Here are a few to tide you over until tomorrow.

Ruth reading the dictionary...she is so smart.

Ruth with my mother (Memommy) and my third grade teacher, Mrs. Watkins.

Ruth with Ms. Virginia

Ruth with the ever famous, though often flighty, Steve Martin.

"Give me your hand."
"I don't know about that...."


All the above pictures were taken at my mom's school on December 18. The below pictures were taken the next day in Mountain Home, Arkansas with my friend Kara. Kara was a sorority sister and roommate of mine from the University of Arkansas Delta Delta Delta house. She is pictured with her son Eston. The husbands were there but were behind the cameras.

Blogging is SOOOOO Much Better Than Facebook

Enough said. I am sorry I haven't kept this updated, but I started teaching at Kennesaw State University last Thursday and have been a little swamped.

Maybe this weekend.

That's What Friends Are For

When I was five years old I came home talking about a little white haired boy named Jeff who shortly thereafter became my best friend remained one of them until his untimely death on February 5, 2006, only a few shorts months before my wedding. He left behind three very beautiful kids as well as a wife equally as beautiful. I know Jeff would have gotten a kick out of seeing Ruth with his kids. He always was very focused on family and loved kids.

Here is a picture of Ruth from before Christmas taken at church (in Arkansas) with Jeff's three kids (Chuckie, Brandon and Maddie).

Time Keeps on Ticking Into The Future

Hello All!!!

Sorry for the radio silence. We traveled to Virginia on New Year's Day and came back last Sunday. I learned that grandparents are grandparents no matter if they are my parents or Brian's. Ruth is just now getting back on somewhat of a schedule, although she seems to have dropped the last nap of the day.

Many of you may have thought that Brian's Elmo post made me nervous to post. I will say that while Brian may be gifted with posting humorous blogs, I post the most emotional, thus giving you more of a window into our little Ruth's daily world.

Since I don't have a lot of time at the moment, I will just give you a few highlights and then try to post again over the weekend.

Ruth has learned how to play peek-a-boo without help. On the drive back from VA, I would hold up a burp cloth over my face and say "where is mommy" and then pull it off and say "there she is!" Then Ruth took it out of my hands and covered up her face. When I asked "where's Ruth," Ruth pulled the cloth down smiling.

Ruth has also learned to applaud for herself. If she does something that warrants me saying "yeah Ruth" and/or clapping, Ruth will look at me, smile, and then give herself a round of applause. This delights us greatly.

I started teaching at Kennesaw State University this week. I am teaching dance history and ballet 3. I must say that with my meeting on Tuesday and work on Thursday, our trip to Atlanta on Wednesday for her class at CVI, and then sewing class today, it feels like I don't see Ruth anymore. She seems to have grown so much this week and doesn't have the same baby features that she did this time last week. She seems like a big kid and it is quite sad. And even though I enjoyed teaching on Thursday so much, I have caught myself thinking today "is it really worth it?"

I am sure other moms can identify with this thought.

We did get to see my friend Erika and her two children last Thursday on our way to VA. I will try to post pictures soon.