One Year!

More retro stuff-  the snowsuits

Christmas eve, eve, AKA, the first longer day after the solstice, AKA, Ruby and Owen’s birthday!  Crazy, amazing, exciting, and full of love!  Here we are.  It is sort of surreal.  Owen and Ruby are walking, making lots of talking sounds, and generally just so full of life!  It has been a long year in a lot of ways.  Everyone says “it goes so fast”…but for the most part, this year has not.  I remember days… months…when I thought they would never sit up, or walk, or make sounds other than “ah, ah”.   There are still times when I think that I will never return to the life of skiing and biking that I once loved and participated in quite regularly.  And, yes, hindsight’s sense of time is always a little askew and makes me think that the last...6 months in particular...have flown by, but for the most part, I am grateful that we have been very present and enjoyed most of their lives so far, we are psyched to be where we are, and we are looking forward to what the future has to hold for all of us.  Ruby and Owen are doing awesome.  We feel so lucky, blessed, fortunate, and…giddy about how healthy, happy, and darn cute they are.  Sometimes I still look at Chip and them and can't believe that this is MY life.  But anyway, enough about me and us...here are the deets on what Ruby and Owen are up to at one year of life.

Owen Thomas

Owen getting measured by dad- first of many check-ins on the "wall of growth"

29.5 inches tall

21 lbs 7 ozs

This little man loves sounds.  He loves to make them with his mouth, he loves to shake anything he can get his hands on that might make a sound, and he giggles every time I run the blender or vacume.  He just can't get enough!  Keller Williams, watch out!  Owen loves to be with people.  While Ruby will sit in the play area and study some toy on her own forever, Owen will follow me around the house, pulling up on my legs, trying to show me something he found, or pleading with me to be included in whatever it is I am working on.

He loves to eat.  He will try anything I put to his mouth, but has a particular love for chunks of tofu....yea, that's right, just plain, cold tofu.  Kinda weird. He also loves boiled egg whites, and cooked carrots.  If he inhales whatever finger food I have put in front of him faster than his sister, he does not hesitate to reach over to her tray or seat and grab her food right out from in front of her.  That is kind of a pattern I guess.  He generally likes to grab whatever she has from her.  Sometimes she is pretty mellow and just moves on to a new toy, but we seem to be moving into the "caring about it" stage and mom has to referee "fights" more often than before.  Might have to install cameras to make sure I am getting the real story. :)  Owen likes to stack blocks sometimes, he LOVES to go swimming, and he thoroughly enjoys climbing up onto anything he can..especially things he shouldn't or that have great consequences.  He still loves the binkie...mostly just for sleep, but occasionally if he has a really good spill, it comes in handy too.  Owen loves to read touch and feel books and to turn the pages of any book we are reading.  His favorite toys include an old remote and an old cell phone.  Often he can be found walking around the house with both- one in each hand. Owen isn't saying any words that we can understand yet, but is one of the most expressive one year olds I have ever met.  He has entire conversations with himself or whomever will listen.

Ruby Elizabeth

29 inches tall

22 lbs 10 ozs

Ruby is joining the world of the movers and shakers quickly.  She finally is crawling regularly...not like a wounded soldier.  And, she started walking yesterday.  She will pull up on anything within reach, including a wall, and will walk away without having some arms to catch her.  So exciting.  Life seems so much easier and more fun with walking babies.  I know this seems counter intuitive in some ways, but this whole thing just plays to my strengths as a mom more effectively.  Ruby is a great self entertainer as I mentioned before.  She is a real detail lady...takes after her mom. :)  She notices when a small new toy is added to their box, she picks up on small parts or functions of things she plays with, and notices immediately when I am wearing a different necklace or clip.

Ruby helping with some electrical work.  And, here you can see her playing on the indoor jungle gym we have set up for them, AKA, the wood burning stove.  I know, really safe.  At least we aren't making fires in it!

Ruby likes to eat, but is a little pickier.  She loves cottage cheese- she kicks her legs and opens her mouth like a little birdie when I pull it out.  So cute.  Ruby is an affectionate little gal.  She loves to give hugs.  She mostly hugs mom and dad, but she also likes to hug (and bite) her brother, and occasionally her stuffed animals.  She loves to read books, likes to point to things on the pages and sometimes like to help tell the story.  Ruby doesn't say too many words that we can make out either.  She says one word that we think is "books".  She also says "done" and "yeah" and we think her first official word was "dog".  She  is really into Kessler the past month or two and really dug babysitting our friend's dog for a few days.  The more furry friends around, the better.  Ruby is also a little fish.  Both Ruby and Owen like to jump in the water off the edge to mom or dad and will go under for a few seconds as they make their way to us. They hate wearing goggles, but they love going down the huge water slide with mom or dad at the Kamis Pool.

They both love the snow...although Ruby has decided that she doesn't need mittens on...ever... which makes spending much time outside difficult, especially when the temp is rarely above 20 this winter it seems.  And, they both LOVE the kitchen.  This plastic food that Oma just passed our way is exactly what they have been waiting for to put together that lettuce stir fry they have been talking about.

And, that is all for now.  

I feel like by using this quote, that it makes it sound like we haven't had an amazing year, but it is funny and true at the same time.
"It kills you to see them grow up.  But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't. " ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

The Partay

We had a party for Ruby and Owen a week early.  It is hard having your birthday so close to Christmas.  Not only are they going to get lots of Birthday/Christmas gifts, but having a party is hard because who wants to party on the 23rd...and any weekend day before that they are going to have to compete with Christmas gatherings.  However, you would not have detected this "difficulty" at Ruby and Owen's first birthday bash.  It was just that- a regular rager...kid style, of course.  We adore our amazing community here for showing up.  And, Mindy and Bo drove all the way from Steamboat, CO to help and join in the fun.  They were indispensable assets in helping us set up and clean up, but they were also amazingly great with the kids.  Ruby and Owen are in love for sure.  

 And, as if having the biggest party of your life wasn't enough for one day for them, we decided to take them sledding earlier in the afternoon too.

Aunt Mindy helped me decorate the house.  New tradition we stumbled upon- balloons in the Christmas tree- perfect manifestation of the birthday/Christmas combo.  Truly a Festivus Tree.

 Behind the streamer veil...was the kid party room complete with a pool full of plastic balls.  My ideals of avoiding surrounding my kids with lots of plastic stuff....down the drain...and totally worth it!  It was chaos, sounded liked like a thunder storm was taking place inside, and was a source of hyper fun for the varying ages of kids who were in attendance.

 Time for cake!  Ruby and Owen got a Honey Cake (made with agave) with this dried milk frosting.  It didn't have any refined sugar in it, but I promise you, was almost sweeter than the cupcakes made for the rest of the kids.

Owen got after it!  He pounded his cake like a drum, ate an entire piece (as seen in the photo below) and made sure to touch every inch of the sweetness in front of him.

Ruby- she was not that into it.  She poked, licked her finger...and that was about it.  She just enjoyed watching her brother more than anything.

Friends (clockwise)- Addie, Eli, Tait, Nola, Graham, Abby, Anya, and Fox

One more photo before you head home ( I love how Ruby and Mindy have the same look on their faces)...thanks for coming and we love you!

Walk This Way

The Little Man is off!  I thought it would never happen.  He has LOVED standing since he was only six weeks old.  He definitely has his daddy's quads.  He has been "on the verge" of walking since about 8.5 months.  I obliged day after day, hour after hour, to being his walker.  I will probably have a hunch back one day to prove it.  So, although 11.5 months is pretty early to be walking, it isn't a day too early for this mom!  He is so stinkin cute- you can see the pride all over his smiling face, even when he falls- which for Owen, is saying a lot.  He is still our more sensitive one. Sweet boy. :)  So, without further adieu...here is his progress and success!  We are proud of you too, Bug!  And, Ruby, we know you are not far behind!

This was the beginning stage...and you can see a little of where Ruby is at. I couldn't figure out how to trim the video to 58 seconds, so stop there...or watch on for nothin much.  Just can't leave this part out.  Obviously, I can't remember learning to walk and therefore, it is SO fun to watch them learn.  I bet this is just the beginning of that kinda stuff. They are so brave and determined and find such pride in their accomplishments.  Love it!

Here he is standing on his own and just walkin around!

Retro and Updated

First, I have been meaning to post these pictures of Ruby and Owen wearing clothes passed down from my sister...and really, I think most of these were passed from my MOM, to my sister, to me.  It is hard to say, and I hope to get to the bottom of it one of these days when we are all in the same room, but I think most of the outfits I take pictures of, my siblings and I wore.  We have saved all of these outfits and hope to keep the pass down goin on. 

 The hat was new to us, but the jacket is a 70s item for sure.

 A Mindy and Gus combo- I have a picture my mom brought me of them wearing these and the three of us sitting on the couch.  Love it.

 A Dindle from Germany. 

 She was lovin this outfit- got all into it.

 So cute- thanks for hangin on to all that, mom and Tina!

And next, some updating...of the hair that is.  Owen has needed a haircut for quite some time now.  I would let it go, but he has been blessed with the fine hair of his mother- looks great right after it's been washed, but falls flat pretty quickly.  So, a little chop, chop was necessary.  He did great!

 The "after" shot.  Didn't get a good "before" so...oh well.  He looks so handsome!

Home

Recently we traveled home to Ohio to celebrate Chip's grandmother's 90th birthday.  She doesn't look a day over 70, you'll see in the pictures below.  Chip's parents put on an excellent surprise party full of family from literally all over the globe, great eats, and a slide show put together by Derek of pictures from Gammy when she was Ruby and Owen's age to present.  The whole thing was awesome.   As long as we made the trek across two time zones we stayed for a week and visited with this eastern clan that we miss so much.   

Nana and Papa have the most excellent kitchen.  Owen and Ruby LOVED eating with a view of the backyard and busy birdhouse.  

 The backyard is incredible as well...like a farm...donkeys, horses, woods to explore, and more.  Owen was not afraid of the animals at all...neither was Ruby...maybe she should have been.  This donkey was eating her jacket and might have liked a bite of that buddah belly next!

Nana and Papa themselves are pretty amazing.  Braving the cold to hit the swings with us, playing on the floor when possible, and not minding when we leave their toys EVERYWHERE around the house.  Nana and Papa have lots of really cool toys in their basement playroom which is every grand kid's dream and joy.

 The cousins! It is SO fun to see Ruby and Owen getting to a stage where they can actually interact and sort of play with their cousins.  Owen loved to follow Judah around and Ruby thoroughly enjoyed her time with big cousin Selah- see video of those two below- too cute.  Great to have Finn and Nola join us for the last few days too so ALL the DuRoss cousins could be together for a few fun filled days.

Even Morgan made a stop by.  They love their buddy from the beach as you can see from the smiles on their faces. :)

 Just some fun pics of swingin, makin bottles (WITHOUT heating it- they kicked this habit on our first day of the trip...and have since picked it back up since being home...oh well, we'll keep trying) while having a bottle myself, and Ruby enjoying some of Hope's fun decorating.

 Here we are with Gammy.  At this point she thinks we are just in town for a few days on a layover on our way to PA.  She says she bought this story and didn't have any idea that we were staying for a party.  I believe her and am glad we didn't ruin the surprise by needing some extra Gammy time in our trip.

Love this one of Gammy helping Ruby walk to the table for dinner.

 You always gotta do a crazy one.  And, after a lot of research, we have concluded that when people do a "crazy photo" without much time to think about it ahead of time, most people open their mouths.  Not posting this one, but research also has shown that when asked to another "crazy photo" most people do something with their hands.  If you have similar family photos, compare the data and let me know what you find. 

And a nice regular one...minus Owen and Ruby who had already gone to bed.  A 7:30 bedtime does not leave one much time for partying.  Oh well, next time.

I almost forgot to include this special picture we got right at the end of our visit with one of my favorite dedicated readers.  I was so fun to see Aunt Laura and Uncle Al in person with the kiddos after sharing so much via the world wide web.  We miss all of you!

Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years.  We grow old by deserting our ideals.  Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.  ~Samuel Ullman

A Few of Life's Joys

Baths...actually this is us after baths, all cleaned up, lotioned up, and gettin weighed.

 And then, gettin all messed up again...eating PIZZA...Ruby and Owen's first.  This is a big deal for this DuRoss family.  Chip and I have shared more pizzas over the past 17 years than any other food by far....we are estimating well over 300.  They loved it.

“You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six.”

Yogi Berra quotes