Bald and Bold

I look at my sweet bald baby and can't believe she is 17 months old. She is growing like crazy! The things she learns each day or says to me amaze me!

Outside is her favorite. We have horses behind our house and goats across the street! 

Ruby loves sleep. I guess she gets one thing from her momma besides her eyes. She still takes 2 naps a day and sleeps for 12+ hrs at night. She finally loves her crib and I love the extra room in my bed! She has been sleeping in her crib without crying for 3 months now! As long as she has her gang of friends- Elsa, Anna, and her bubble guppies, she is good to go! (She really doesn't use a binky- she just found it and wanted to be like the cool kids) ;)

Ruby's communication is getting better each day! She is a really good little listener. She still is naughty- trust me- I just caught her eating dog food as I was typing this. Yuck. 

She can't get enough milk lately. She drinks like 40 ounces a day. But she needs the calories and so I support her addiction and supply it. 

She knows lots of animal sounds and I didn't even know it! She sneaks my iPad and plays games-

At least they are teaching her! Haha 

She loves visiting her dad on the farm- she is always so happy to see the baby cows ;)

And is so good for Reese when he takes her out! 

She is my helper and sometimes my mess maker! But she is good at cleaning up! 

And I just can't get enough of her- (most days) I just wish I could pause time- she is growing up way to fast!!

The Best Worst First Date

Some of you claimed I left you on a clifthanger on my blog post about Reese and I meeting at the Jazz Game. Of course if you know me- you know the ending to the story but I will fill you in on the rest. 

First a little thing about Reese- he isn't a texter and never really has been- it's rare he will text to have a conversation- it's usually over the phone. Plus he had T9 text back in this time and was not the fastest texter on the block;) 

A few days after the Jazz Game, my phone vibrated on the desk in my room- which wasn't unusual for me because I am a texter- but what was surprising was the text on my phone. It was from Reese, which was the surprising part because I never gave him my number- he had tracked it down. After a few texts- very few- he asked me to go on a date the upcoming Saturday. Snowmobiling. Yes I got asked on my first date by Reese through a text which is completely out of character for reese but he was a newly returned missionary sitting in a room full of guys who were encouraging him to ask me out- he was a nervous nelly. So he choose the easy way out and text me. I still tease him about it, but I secretly love it because it just shows how nervous he was! 

Snowmobiling. I had never been. Figured it couldn't be too hard- so I slapped some snow clothes together- and I was ready to go! 

The only person I knew on this date was Reese and everyone else knew each other. I was the oddball out but I never felt that way! I am a talker. I don't like always silence- so I filled it on the drive up. 

The snowbobile ride was fun. Until the sun started to go down and we weren't anywhere near the cabin. The ride back to the cabin seemed to be a lot longer than the ride there. I think at this time, everyone quickly realized we were lost. Reese had taken a wrong turn and we were headed the wrong direction. There was no one else out on the trails, we were lost- in the dark- in freezing temps.

I was on the snow mobile with Reese, and our double date was on the other snowmobile following. Reese was remaining so calm and positive even though he go us into this mess- so at first I remained positive too- despite the fact I was freezing and hungry and scared! 

After awhile- I started to panic. I panicked to myself though- I didn't want to make my date feel bad. So there I sat- hugging Reese's back-  tears streaming down- and pouring my heart out in prayer. 

We were  lost for a good 3 hrs. Soon we began to see lights, and soon we were back to the cabin. We built a fire and warmed up. Well sort of, I think it took my 3 days to thaw. 

Dinner was glamorous that night- McDonald's at midnight. But I was just thankful to be back in a warm and safe place. 

I was never mad at Reese- it was a mistake anyone could have made. He was so sweet to check on me always, and try to keep me warm.

A few days later he went back out snowmobiling with his friend- they didn't even make it out of the driveway of the cabin before the snowmobiles ran it of gas. 

 

I learned later that Reese was not calm- he was freaking out underneath that helmet too. 

Between all of our prayers that were silently said that night- they were answered. I have never been more cold in my life. And I still like Reese, but snowmobiling isn't my thing! Ha 

After a 1st date as disastrous as that one- I didn't really expect to hear from Reese  again. 

But I did the next day- when a text came to my phone:

"Are you as sore as I am"

And then I replied with one of my old dad jokes. Cause I have a sense of humor like my dad- and sometimes sound like an old man when I joke. And that didn't even scare him away.

 

Actual first date photo:

A love story that begins with a little Jazz

I posted a picture on IG and FB the other day of Reese and I at a Jazz game, our Jazz Anniversary! Well it was one week off but we were sans baby so it felt so romantic and we used the time to celebrate us!

Someone wanted to hear more of the story, and I know I have shared bits and pieces of the story but here is the uncut version:

It was August 2009, I had just graduated high school, sent off a missionary, and was getting ready to start college. I had the world in my hands. Or so I thought. 

I was out to dinner with my cousin Jayson at The local Mexican place, And I ran into my moms' boss- Tracy (my now Father- in- law) He and I always had a teasing relationship and he told me his son will be getting off his mission in a few weeks and he wanted me to marry his son. I laughed and said no thanks, I have a boyfriend. He didn't let that close the door though. 

Later that month my mom dragged me and my sister to Reese's welcome home talk. I whispered to my sister that day that Reese had a slight Spanish accent leftover from his mission and Reese whispered to his dad on the stand that day- "wow, is THAT Shayna?? She is so pretty." He claims I was just a little girl when he left. Which may or may not have been true;) I was really just your run of the mill brace face. 

Each January it was a tradition to go to a Jazz game with Premier Insurance. employees would bring their families and we would stay in a hotel downtown and sit in a suite with yummy food to watch the game. 

I wasn't going to be able to go that year because I was busy that night but that night opened up last minute and there happened to be a ticket left for me. 

I hopped in my car and went to meet my parents to ride to SLC with them. 

I avoided Reese like a disease when I got to the party at the game. I knew he knew that his dad wanted to set us up, and I knew his dad would try. So I stuck close to MY dad that night to try to avoid that whole awkward situation.

But that didn't help me avoid fate. Reese's dad was determined, and when we were both within ear shot,  so he took his chance and he asked if Reese and I would like to take the two 8th row tickets he had and go down and watch together. How could I say no to going to sit with a cute boy, a cute boy who was listening to my response.

We went. We laughed, and talked and had a great time. Minus my dad watching us through binoculars, and people texting me telling me to uncross my arms so Reese could hold my hand. We knew everyone wanted us to happen, and that made the situation a tiny bit awkward.

I thought that fun night would be the end of it, but apparently Reese had other plans.... 

Where did my baby go?

I swear I blinked my eyes twice and my tiny sweet baby is now a sassy, yet still freaking adorable 15 month old!

Our biggest milestone is she is sleeping in her crib!!! She takes 2 naps a day and is in bed by 8 and usually sleeps till 8 the next morning!! I'm so proud of her! 

- Her vocabulary is just growing and growing!! She says please, mommy,  dada, Penny, baby, bubble, what's that, thank you, night night, no, nose, belly button, papa, patty, Anna. Olaf, mmmm, baba, bye bye, movie, and I know there is some I am forgetting. 

- she is obsessed with bubble guppies. She has the stuffed animals and must sleep with them, take them when we leave the house, and loves to curl up with a good bottle and watch bubble guppies. 

- she knows how to put her Legos together and says tuhduh when she puts them together. 

- we are working on saying please instead of grunting 

- weighs 17 lbs 

- Ruby's  hair is growing into a mullet, the cutest one I have ever seen.

She is so inquisitive and excited about the world around her- I love it! 

She is a pretty special girl, I am a lucky mom:) 

Moms of Walmart

You see that mom in Walmart, with the kid trying to jump of the top of the cart, screaming, boogers streaming down the face, and covered in cookie crumbs that were once used as bribery. The mom looks stressed, frantically trying to grab anything and everything off the shelves that maybe will be thrown together for some sort of meal. Her hair is a mess, something sticky is stick to her sweatshirt, and is possibly on the verge of a metal breakdown. Some give her sympathetic looks,  and other judgmental ones.

I was that mom today. I was that mom with the crabbiest kid on the planet, frantically trying to get my grocery shopping done. 

I am usually a pretty mellow mom, but after a episode at church yesterday which ended with Ruby and I in a dark mother's room with her pounding her head on the floor while throwing a fit- I have been a little stressed out. I came to the realization it is time to discipline my (sometimes not so) sweet one year old. And to be honest, I don't know where to start. 

Back on track-Walmart. I had everything working against me. Ruby is teething and is a complete bear, I hate grocery shopping, I hate Walmart.... the list goes on. 

And I just need to rant. 

There are so many old people at Walmart during the day, and so slow. Those motorized carts go slower than a snail- someone needs to put a turbo on them. 

People are inconsiderate. I have a baby who is trying to bungee  jump off the cart - I don't have time to sit and listen to you chit chat in front of the things I need to get to, and when I politely say "excuse me" don't act like I am the one being inconsiderate. 

Don't comment on my upset baby- I am well aware. 

To the lady checking me out- thank you for shoving the bags full of whatever and getting me out of the checkout line. I am happy to sort the groceries at home when Ruby is happily watching Bubble Guppies and I can slip out of my jeans and back into yoga pants. 

I was just happy I didn't run into anyone I knew, because if I did I think I would have asked them to hold me while I cried. 

Stores really need to be more kid friendly. Starting with buckles on the cart that hold my skinny baby in them. Maybe offer different sample snacks in each aisle? Along with caffeine and chocolate for mom? Maybe a person shopping assistant to entertain the baby? Are these things really too much to ask? 

I forgot some essential items I went to the store for. So tonight I went back solo, and stopped for a diet coke after. It was sort of magical. I came home and told Reese that I am never shopping during the day again. Old people are in bed, and so is Ruby. 

I know bad days will happen. I know crappy Walmart trips will happen. I know you will drop a glass on the floor occasionally having it smash into a million pieces (oh ya- that happened today too) But I love being a mom. I told Ruby she was lucky we get to spend so much time together, and she is! And so am I! Whether she believed me or not is another question. 

Moms are really awesome. We put up with some crazy things. Like poopy diapers that fall off and then require a shower and clothes change of 2 people. (yes, today too) But we are also the luckiest in the world. 

Cause at the end of a crazy day, we get this... 

And I would have 100 crazy days for 5 minutes of this. 

XOXO, 

That Crazy Walmart Mom

My Sweet Ruby

 She I cannot believe my little girl will be 8 months next week! When I read my posts from a year ago saying I felt her kick for the first time- I literally can't believe that was a year ago- it feels like yesterday yet I can't imagine not having Ruby in our lives!

She is growing and changing every day, I cannot believe it! I love that tiny human with my whole heart! 

A little update on Ruby: 

She rides in shopping carts like a big girl and wins the hearts of many! 

She loves watching Frozen. She is the typical all American kid I guess;) 

Still loves her jumper! 

And her playmat! 

She is obsessed with eating Mum Mums. I think they are baby crack. 

She is exclusively Breast fed still! Sorry no picture Of that;) With food here and there as a treat! 

She sleeps in her crib now. Like a big girl. This one sort of breaks my heart. I miss cuddling her all night. 

She is on the move. She rolls everywhere and does the backward scoot. But she

Can't figure out how to crawl forward and it ticks her off!  Haha 

She has a tooth! 

Penny and her are best friends! 

I am SO lucky to get to spend my days with this girl! I wouldn't have it anyway else! I am grateful for a husband who works his butt off to provide and take care of us so I can stay home and do what I was meant to do- be a mom!!! 

It is seriously the best! 

Pinch me.

Please someone pinch me, not because the shade of turquiose green on my shirt might not be considered your traditional green for St. Patricks day but because my little Ruby is 5 months old!! Seriously it happened right before my eyes.

One minute she looked like this :

and the next, looks like this : 

Okay but let's get real here, she is cuter every day. 

She weighs 11 lbs 

She is 23 inches tall

Wears 3 month clothes 

She still sleeps with mom and dad (we are working on this one) 

She sleeps mostly through the night, gets up maybe once to eat.

She plays with toys now!

She loves elephants! 

She thinks her jumper is rad! 

She babbles da dada da dada da

She gets so excited to see Penny. 

She waves her arms when she gets excited, just like her mama.

She is ticklish. 

Still takes baths with mama, and has started spashing 

Her favorite song is still I believe in you by. Don Williams. It calms her right down. 

She is my happy girl! 

She is starting to despise her car seat a little less.

And she is exclusively breast fed! 

Reese told me the other night " have I ever told you thank you for breast feeding?" 

He knows it always isn't the easiest feeling like  a milk cow and some days seem to be filled with nothing but nursing. But he is grateful for the nutrition I am providing her and the money I am saving. 

I am grateful I am able to nurse, I know some mamas can't and I am grateful got the blessing of abundant milk producing boobies. 

I think I deserve a present. For all of those countless hours of feeding, and pumping. And all that money I saved! Right? Do you agree?? He agreed! Haha I am thinking a curling wand! 

Xoxo

Shayna