Two and a HALF!

Dear Ruby,
A couple weeks ago you turned 2 and a HALF, yep, time keeps flying! Not a day goes by that we don't marvel at how smart, funny, and cute we think you are. Daddy and I are your biggest fans and we know you are going to make the BEST big sister to the new baby. We can't wait to see the two of you together!


Although it's only been 6 months since your birthday you've grown up SO much since then. Your talking has exploded - we now have full on conversations and I rarely don't know what you are talking about. You say some hilarious things - I need to be better about jotting down the random quotes because many of them are priceless. 


One of your largest accomplishments you've recently made is that you are 100% done with pull ups. We were only using them at nap time and overnight but about a month ago you decided that you were over them. I was hesitant to let you go all night in fear of an accident but amazingly you haven't wet the bed ONCE. Mommy is SO proud of you and Daddy is really happy to eliminate that item from the Costco list! I love how excited you are every morning when I come in and you say, "I kept my undies dry Mom!" Another development - you are also all about being a "big girl" in the bathroom and insist on going all by yourself. Cracks me up when I holler "Do you need help Rubes?" and you reply, "Nope, I'm good." Such a big girl!

A few (of the many) other things we love about you at 2.5:

• You insist on "group hugs" before you go to bed
• When I tell you nightly that I love you all the way to the moon you say, "and BACK!"
• If it's pink, a baby, a princess, or a fairy YOU LOVE IT
• In order for me to get you to do/eat/wear something I just refer to it as "Princess _____ ". Works almost every time!
• You love playing dress up and pretending to be a ballerina. You also love stripping down to your undies and wrapping your blanket around yourself and telling me, "Look at my married dress!"
• We feel incredibly lucky to have such a good eater. You are willing to try anything and like anything especially when I tell you that it's what the princesses eat.
• You yell "Go Raiders" to daddy at random times and it makes him SO PROUD.
• If anyone mentions they have a boo-boo you INSIST on kissing it to "make it betta"
• I'm not sure how it started but every time you take a bath daddy says afterwards "All Hail the Queen - Ruby is the QUEEN OF CLEAN." You love this little ritual and now after I shower you say to me, "You the Queen of clean Mom?"
• You have given us quite a few suggestions for names for the baby. They include: Mesa Birdie, Raider, Cailiou, and Ruby. Thanks for your input baby!
• You love your family. Daddy and I love watching you with your great grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. You have a special relationship with each and everyone. You have such a sweet heart and we are lucky to have such great family to help raise you.

To celebrate your half birthday we went out for ice cream with Nana and Papa to our family favorite - Hans Ice Cream. You were adamant about wearing your princess dress to get ice cream. I don't usually let you wear it out and about but since it was your special night, you were allowed to wear whatever you wanted. This was the outfit you picked:

Our princess

Enjoying some rocky road!

Can you say sugar high?

You are a wonderful little girl Ruby - Daddy and I are so thankful for you and all that you bring to our family. I can't believe that in six short months you'll be turning 3 and becoming a big sister. Whoa! That is a lot for a mama to take it. I plan on enjoying these last months alone with you as much as I can. We love you Gracie!

xo,

Mama & Dada