15 months

Life is so different it seems since turning 1.  Ruby and Owen are growing up at an insane rate.  Although they are still often shy in public, and don't always perform on command, we are seeing wild developments at home every day.  Chip and I are total parent nerds, sitting around in awe saying things like, "Did you see him do that?!" or, "Have you heard her say this yet?" 15 months- lovin it!

We never intended to do much signing with the kids.  I mean, actually we started with some early on...too early...and then lost steam and interest.  However, the past three months Ruby and Owen have been really into it.  They make up signs for things and we just go along with it.  Owen has a whole running repetitive conversation about helicopters that he likes to have, which I tried to capture in a video below.  Mostly it is just SO fun to communicate with them. 

I can't stand to listen to myself on the videos- judging and annoying myself with my silly comments and prompts.  I try to stay quiet most of the time, but seriously, that is really hard for me in regular life, let alone when entertained by these two.  And, I am hoping we will get a few good laughs in at ourselves in years to come too.

Owen DuRoss

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I just adore this face.  It usually has a bump, or a scratch, or a bruise, and definitely some leftover breakfast or lunch on it.  Handsome nonetheless.  He is SO curious, pretty independent these days, and currently our social one.  It is funny how they keep switching that role.  They have personalities for sure, but nothing is set in stone yet.  Lately, he has been the one who can play on his own for long periods of time, always finding some new nook or cranny of the house to explore and unravel.  I particularly LOVE when we are out at the park or a store and he walks around a corner and just screams...all out screams for what seems like minutes (probably 15 seconds), gaining the attention of everyone in the vicinity as he is crouched in a position of anticipation and excitement...then he just stands up and belly laughs to himself, like that was just awesome.   He eats like a champ for the most part, can use a fork sometimes, and has ingested more dirt already this spring than I care to think about.  It is good for him, right?  And, oddly enough, despite his love for dirt, he is my cleaner- obsessed with the broom, vacuum, dust pan, sponges, wipes...seriously, all of it. He loves to pretend clean.  I can't wait until he can for real clean!

Ruby DuRoss

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I love this picture because the bear she is hugging was mine growing up.  It plays music when you wind it in the back.  I remember falling asleep to this bear playing.  And the other is a new stuffie given to her by SLC DuRoss' for her 1st birthday.

I love this face too.  She saves her best smiles and giggles for home these days.  She has a good case of the stranger-danger/ mommy-obsession these days.  It is just so funny how they go in and out of these phases.  But at home, she loves to hug her stuffed animals, laugh at her brother, and snuggle Kessler.  Ruby loves to talk, as I have mentioned before.  She can do a handful of animal sounds when prompted, but most animals still say "baa", her favorite sound.  And, although they are not saying any body parts, both Ruby and Owen love to point out their body parts when prompted...the favorite being the belly button by far.  My recent favorite Ruby-trick is when she says her brother's name.  She called him "O" for a week and then moved into "O-wee", which just about melts my heart.  Sharing is fun too.  Don't get me wrong, they argue and cry a lot too when they want what the other person has, but generally, if you hand them two of something and ask them to give one to the other sibling, they will walk around and find that other sibling and give them whatever it is they have been instructed to share.  Ruby had a two week stint of being sick a little bit ago.  She hardly ate during this time, and hasn't really recovered her hearty appetite since then.  However, she LOVES smoothies.  I can't blame her.  They are a delicious way to get lots of nutrients down our gullets.  So, mom and Ruby have smoothie time every day.  

Ruby and Owen reading before nap with dad in the story corner.

  And, Happy St Patty's Day!  This was a drink that Chip whipped up to celebrate the holiday.  It had Oatmeal Stout, Bailey's, Irish Whiskey, Kahlua, chocolate milk, and ice.  Oh wow.   

And, while we are on the topic of holidays, Ru and OT entered their first coloring contest.  I just couldn't help myself.  I have total nostalgia of going to the grocery store and seeing all the entries hanging all over the windows around Easter time.  I have not figured out the connection between Easter and coloring contests yet.  Why not other holidays too?  Anyway, I am pretty sure they are going to win.