Today is Ruby's first birthday. I'm flooded with all sorts of emotion and disbelief. I can't believe that she is one already. People warn you that time goes by way too fast when you have kids and I definitely agree. I love the quote, "Your days are long, but your years are short." This is so true. Honestly, there are days where I can't wait for Ruby to go to sleep for the night. There are other days that I wish she could just stay up a little bit longer. There are days where I question who I am as a mom. If I'm failing her, if I'm smothering her, if I'm giving her what she needs. There are days that I look at her and think she is going to be just like her Daddy. Then she falls over an imaginary line and I know she is mine. :) Just kidding. I think so far she has a lot of both Ben and I's traits. I think she has both of our stubbornness, she has Ben's determination, she has my goofy side and dance skills, and I'm afraid she has her Daddy's appetite. Who are we kidding, her preggo momma has a big appetite right now too! She is incredibly happy and blows us away with how fast she catches onto things. Unfortunately she knows how to work the remote for the TV. The funny thing is that we don't really have the TV on a whole lot. I always turn on the Today Show in the morning when she wakes up, so I guess she does watch me point it at the tv. She also knows that when we say it's time to pray she folds her hands. She knows where her teeth are if you ask her. Probably because they are hurting a lot with teething. She LOVES dancing with her Daddy to Adele's CD. Hello is her favorite. She still doesn't say Momma, but will say Dada until she is blue in the face. I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter, I'm not bitter. Ok, maybe I'm a little bitter.
It is crazy for me to think back on the last year with Ruby. It makes me sad that my dad only got to be with her for 5 1/2 months and that he won't get to meet Ruby's little sister on earth. I will always remember my dad being able to get a smile out of Ruby when often times "men" in general scared her. I will always remember the way he looked at her with the biggest smile even when he was at his sickest. I can't wait for Ruby and Stella to learn all about who their Grandpa was.
It is also crazy for me to think that I've been pregnant during the second half of Ruby's life. I'm holding onto Ruby being the only child, even though I know that Ruby will handle Stella's arrival without a problem. (I hope) She is very easy going and SO incredibly busy ALL. THE. TIME. that I think it will take her awhile to even realize there is a baby in the house. :) I will definitely say that Ruby is a total Grandma's girl. She loves my mom and I couldn't be more pleased to have my mom living so close. Ruby will reach out for my mom as soon as we go over to her house or my mom comes over. I'm pretty sure that Ruby says "ada" for Grandma. Whenever she pretends to be on the phone we say hello and she says ada. She doesn't say Momma yet. No hard feelings at all over here. Bah! Whatever. It will come. Ruby also LOVES her daddy. As soon as he walks through the door, she almost runs over for him to pick her up. She gets mad every time because he always washes his hands first, so the poor girl follows Ben over to the sink and waits for him to finish and pick her up. I love how much Ben loves Ruby as well. The way he looks at her and smiles at her. There is nothing better.
Anyway, I could go on and on about how amazing this little girl is and how she has changed Ben and I forever! We are so thankful that God has given Ruby to us and pray that one day Ruby will commit to following the Lord. Here are some of our favorite pictures throughout her first year.
Seriously? Yahoo!
My dad was pretty amused that I had a bigger belly than he did!
Couldn't get enough!
