GOOD TIMES! ***UPDATED***

Ruby & I are headed out today to her first visit EVER to one of my favorite places on earth!
THE TOPSFIELD FAIR!
It's america's oldest agricultural fair!
And, despite the fact that I'm sick as a dog with probably the worlds WORST cold & cough ever... WE'RE GOING!
Because I promised my daughter last night that as long as Momma didn't wake up with a fever, we were 'GO' for the FAIR!
So...
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

(pictures later I'm sure...)

This is my girl on the way to the fair. Let's just say the traffic was WORSE THAN IN CHINA.
Nuff said?

But because we drove slow enough, we were free to not only enjoy the scenery, but also to take PICTURES of it!
*evilgrin*



Here we are finally at the fair & wouldn't you know it, my camera is being MOODY!
So, the color on this pic is crap but WE'RE CUTE even in distorted colors!
*grin*


Isn't this hat neat? It's hand knit from Alpaca wool! IT WAS SO TOASTY, but also SO EXPENSIVE! Since I couldn't afford to buy it, I figured I'd take a pic of me IN IT just to remember it. hehehe Yes, I am retarded.


Here are the beautiful clydesdale's... took these pics specifically for Ruby's Aunt Catherine!


*even though she won't see them for a few till her computer gets fixed*

Here's the largest pumpkin on the north shore... this bad boy weighed in at 1,347.5!!
That's one hell of pumpkin pie just WAITING to be made!


Awwww, why is it that all of a sudden I'm craving a burger?


This is 'Tom'.
He's a little pissed off because someone walking by casually mentioned the 'T' word...
Sorry Tom, but you'll look GREAT with some gravy, stuffing & cranberry sauce my friend!

All this talk about food had made my girl a little hungry... how's that popcorn baby?

Ruby points out something to me, and I look up and what do I see?


Dozens of crazy people flying a buck 20 over my HEAD!
Excellent... PLEASE DON'T FALL ON ME!


And after that? CANDY FOR DESSERT!
*not sure if you can make out that one in the front one in from the right,
but it says 'boston baked beans'*
& they're YUMMY TOO!

The bandstand was alive with music and miss Ruby & me danced till our feet hurt!

This is a phenominal site to see, this is ACTUAL SAND and an ACTUAL HAND CRAFTED SAND CASTLE!!! Man, that thing is there every year & ever year it never ceases to amaze the shit out of me! TALENTED PEOPLE THAT'S FOR SURE!

Other things that are there every year... THIS HIDEOUS MANNEQUIN!
Thing SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF ME EVERY YEAR & you'd think that EVENTUALLY I'd REMEMBER that it's FAKE & NOT REAL!
*not so much*
Jumped a MILE, AGAIN!
*sigh*


My girl's FIRST OFFICIAL Topsfield Fair T-shirt.
*I bought this TWO YEARS AGO knowing that SOMEDAY, \
I'd have a daughter to put it on*
*smile*
This year, I bought her a blue one in the next size up for NEXT YEARS FAIR!
hehehehe

But perhaps I'll have to find her a new pair of specs, this time tinted blue to match!

And last but not least, what better way for miss Ruby to end her first visit to the fair,
then with a spin around the carousel with her favorite uncle Steve!

Another finished project...

... and just in time to surprise my little Niecie Doo with this for her birthday!
(Oct 11th.)
Happy Birthday my little Niecie Dooney! Auntie LOVES YOU!

A what on my head... ?

... a DIAPER?!#$%?


Well how in the HECK did THAT get there?!?#$#$%

Ok, that's enough now...

C'mon Ma, gimmie the camera!
QUIT IT!

Ugh, here we go again with more 'together' pics.

Momma, I love you but... HONESTLY!
*sigh*

(Wish they had a diaper big enough to fit your large bean! TURN ABOUT'S FAIR PLAY LADY!)

Tazmanian Devil's got NOTHING on my twins!

And this is only after about a 20 minutes... LOL

If I had a tub I'd say this is a 'calgon' moment...
but since I don't, I'll settle for a hot shower & 3 napping children.

Questions to test your limits...

... answer them all, answer none, answer just a few, answer only one, whatever you're comfortable with. Being honest with yourself is brave, being honest with yourself in a shared public forum is heroic. Where are my heros?


What is the single greatest act of kindness you have ever received from a stranger?

What one experience do you most desire that you haven't yet had?

What do you hate most about ambitious people? And like most?

What is your biggest pet peeve?

What experience do you have the greatest fear of?

What part of your day-to-day life requires the most patience?

When were you most and least selfish?

What's the wildest thing you've ever done in public?

What is the thing you're best at?

When was the time that you could least believe your eyes?

What was the biggest bridge you've ever burned?

What makes you most nervous?

What is your biggest contribution to the world?

What are you most greedy for?

What makes you lose your temper most easily?

What one natural thing would you most like to see?

What is the single most beautiful word in your language?

What's the best hiding place you know?

Whose absence have you felt most in your life?

What was the best wish you ever had come true?

What is the best gift you ever received?

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?

What's the best thing you've ever tasted?

What experience has made you wisest?

Who is the person you find hardest to please?

Who is the person you are most candid with?

Who is the person you can most easily anger?

Where was the farthest from home that you've ever felt? And actually been?

When were you happiest to come home?

Telemarketers are Comcastic...

Ok, so weirdest thing yesterday...
My house phone rings, it's 'unknown name, unknown number'
so I thought 'eh, probably a telemarketer' but I answered anyway.
The woman on the phone (henceforth known as S.B. *stupid bitch*) says...

S.B.: "hi, is this Miss Belanger?"

I was like "huh?"

S.B.:"yes, is this Miss Belanger?"

I said "Uh, NO... there's nobody here by that name..."

S.B.:"well, are you sure? I have Lisa Belanger at this number..."

I said "uh, I should hope I'm quite aware of who is & isn't in my own home thank you very much. What is this concerning anyway?"

S.B.: " Oh, she had an appointment for us to come set up her comcast cable & had the appointment cancelled & we just wanted to know why she cancelled..."

I said "well that's very interesting EXCEPT Lisa Belanger does NOT LIVE HERE!" (clearly stupid people work for comcast...)

S.B.: "Well could you check?"

I was like, "I'm sorry? Did you just ask if I could 'check'?"

S.B.: "Yes Maam, that's correct."

I hung up.

I honestly have the patience of a SAINT when it comes to most things... animals, children, family, most neighbors, select strangers etc... but THIS WAS JUST TOO MUCH!

And here's the kicker, I actually HAVE A FRIEND NAMED LISA BELANGER! Well, she was Lisa Belanger but she has since married & she took her wife's last name so she is no longer Lisa Belanger but still, even if she WAS, she's never once lived here in my home.

And let's take this one step further, let's say that at one time she DID live here with me (which she didn't)... if I say to S.B. that "No she does not live here" that should suffice, yes? One would think.
And then you dumb asses at comcast wonder why people cancel their appointments with you for service? Sadly, that should be painfully obvious!

Must've been 'weirdo Wednesday'... good times.

heh

By popular request...

... I give you:


WHITE TRASH ONSIE TIME!


*Ruby Style*

hehehe

GOOD TIMES!

A true mixed bag of fun...

... eh, well maybe not really 'fun' but a mixed bag for sure.
What exactly am I talking about, you ask?
MS.

Somedays I wake up with my hands completely all pins & needles, others it's both arms with no feeling at all.
Sometimes I stumble when I try to walk, talk, move etc.
Others I wake up feeling like I could run a marathon in
'make believe fat people can jog too' world.
(and no we don't all wear spandex there...)
It's silly cuz it's shitty & uneventful & frusterating & invisible to the average 'people watcher', but it's here, like it or hate it... it's mine.
Subcutaneous weekly shots & all.
This bad boy's all mine.
Short term memory loss,
constant feeling being overheated,
drinking water so much that I must pee a zillion times a day...
the list goes on.

On days when I actually use my handicapped placard for parking, and people watch me get out of the car without assistance and walk 'somewhat normally' into wherever it is I was headed, I feel their stare upon me. Feel them silently judging me based soley on appearances.
Probably thinking to themselves:
"Ugh, look at her! She isn't handicapped! She's probably just too lazy from being fat so she parks there. I hate those people!"

And then I carefully mount my placard atop the rearview mirror & all their silent judgemental thoughts they so quickly formed of me begin to slowly drip off their guilt ridden faces with a snails pace as they desperately try to avoid my gaze.

Shame on them.
Shame on everone who judges another in haste, just because.

Is their life so perfect that they can stand there & judge mine?

No, it's not.

Did they think for a second that maybe, just maybe, I've made monumental achievments in my 34 years so far? That perhaps maybe this 'fat girl' used to be much heavier but actually got off my ass enough to drop 80lbs?

Probably not.
Because that would require them to use those brain cells
they wasted on the cheap pot their friends sold them.
God forbid.

Nope, people are unfortunately creatures of habit & some things undoubtedly never change.

What does change, however, is my beautiful little girl.

I was watching Ruby play today, as she does every day, by running around the house, giggling, kissing (making out with) Bear, stacking blocks, doing puzzles, bringing me book after book to read, the typical daily moments of a not so typical toddler.

She smiled about a million times, she held my hand on & off just because & without being prompted from me.
She talks a blue streak when she thinks I'm not within ear shot, she loves to have 'white trash onesie time' while wearing only her ladybug rain boots & a smile.
(I love white trash onsie time, someday I'll capture it in a photo...)
She eats salad and meatloaf & loves mashed potatos and pickles...

... and she's my daughter.
All that beautiful, wonderful, amazing person is in this perfectly adorable package otherwise known as Ruby Cate.

I see her play & wonder to myself, "how long before she starts to notice when Momma stumbles on her steps or her words or her movement?
Will it matter to her that other children in the world have two parents instead of just one, like her?
Will it matter to her that her Momma has MS and other childrens Momma's are 'normal' ?
(an ugly little word I hate but we'll use it for now since it's late and I don't have the energy to make clever substitutions at the moment...)

If I teach Ruby nothing else, I hope to God I teach her self love, & acceptance & respect for herself & for others. Regardless of how they appear on the outside.
Everyone has a story to tell.
She'll have hers & I hope one day she'll learn
to sit still long enough to listen to someone else tell theirs.
I want her to know that you never judge a person till you've walked a mile in their shoes, and that to laugh is the best medicine there is.

I'm just afraid for the moment that once I make such a comment, she'll come back with:
"Momma, if laughter is the best medicine, then why isn't your MS going away?
We laugh all the time!"

If it were only that simple baby girl...

Momma would make it so.

This post is to remind everyone to think before you judge, or better yet, don't judge at all.

Life is too short for stupid shit like that... just smile alot,
stop & smell the flowers, do a random act of kindness just because, and treat others the way you want to be treated.

So, tonight, MS is my story... what's yours?
And no chance at saying you don't have one, because I just said, we ALL have a story to tell...
So, be brave because I want to hear some of yours!
So, find your courage, take a deep breath & click that comment button & share a piece of yourself...

(I'll go get the popcorn...)

Knitting & Math don't mix!

Ok, so it's come to my attention that several of you admire my knitting technique, which in all honesty, although flattering, is hysterical to me since I a.) only learned to knit last year & b.) ONLY know the knit stitch. LOL
My scarves are pretty yes, but so very simple it's outrageous!

Now, that said, if you like what I can do then hey, yeah me, right?
If people really are interested in buying a scarf for themselves, what else can I do but say... OK!

Just know that I only ever knit with This Yarn and it's obviously an easier faster project if it's one solid color.
If you want a scarf with multiple colors, it takes a tad bit more effort & time.



Also, the colors listed on the lion brand home page, however adorable & plenty, aren't always available at A.C.Moore which is where I go to get them.

The best way to get a truly unique & beautiful scarf is to just give me a few ideas for colors that you'd like together & let me pick the ones that go best with what you've described you'd ultimately like.
Trust me, I'm nothing else if not creative with an eye for what works well together.

As for the 'loopy fringe', I don't always do that... I have done a few scarves with loose end fringe but it tends to 'fray' & fast so it may end up looking messy, which is why I prefer the loopy fringe.

Now, there's the issue of what to charge. Like my post suggests, knitting & math really DON'T mix, but I'll do my best to be honest & fair with this whole thing... let's see:

The yarn is about $5 a skein, so depending on the colors you want & how many skein's I'll have to buy, it could be a cheap scarf but it could get costly if you want multiple colors. It takes about 2 to 3 days for me to crank out a solid color scarf and then the fringe usually takes an evening with some good old fashioned TiVo to go with it.
All in all I'd say that for each hand made solid color scarf, 25 bucks (which would include shipping to you) would be a fair price for material & time.
Multicolor scarves would be 5 dollars more per additional color & so on & so forth.
Make sense?



So, for instance:
1 blue scarf with loopy fringe: $25.
1 scarf with pink and orange with loopy fringe $30.
1 scarf with red, yellow, white & black: $40.

etc...

Fair enough?

If anyone is truly interested, email me & I'll be happy to see what I can do to help you out. After all, winter is right around the corner.
*grin*

I LOVE COLD WEATHER!
Happy happy, joy joy!

Coincidence... *update*

... or fate?

I love to knit, always knitting a scarf to keep my hands busy.
(...good for the M.S.)
Recently I knit over a half dozen to be sent to Italy with my parents for family & friends alike... everyone loved them, which was nice to hear.
But, here I am... still knitting. Only, this time, it's just a scarf that- when I saw the colors close together in the store, I just knew they needed to become a soft, toasty winter scarf. I couldn't quite put my finger on WHY I loved them together, just knew that seperately they were begging to become one.



So, tonight... as I'm putting the finishing touches on the scarf (my trademark loopy fringe) I was doing so while enjoying "Discovery Atlas: China revealed" on tv. (God bless TiVo!) And then, as I kept glancing up to see the tv between securing the loops, I realized that China's flag colors were nearly IDENTICAL to the ones I had chosen for this scarf. Can you EVEN? My jaw kinda dropped & I stopped knitting for a bit & it sunk in that this was a China scarf!
*grin*

I was happy as a pig in poop!
(but really, are pigs happy in poop or is that just a silly saying that unfortunately stuck?)

Anyhoo... the scarf is finished & even though I didn't quite get through the entire program *it's 2 hours long*, I did finish the scarf & am so happy at how beautiful it's turned out. Especially now that it has deeper meaning to me than just another 'scarf' ya know?

I think I know just who to give this to... can't reveal just yet on the blog who the lucky recipient is, but they'll know soon enough when it arrives on their doorstep, & just in time too... funny how Halloween is just around the corner, isn't it?
It just happens to be my favorite holiday, you know...

Oh, and as far as that program on Discovery? It's on again, check your local listings because I believe I saw several repeats on it. It's really one you'll want to tape, trust me.
Interesting doesn't even begin to cover it.


Someone asked for the code that was shown during the program...
Here it is:

S979L46

And I haven't ever sold my scarves but I suppose I am not against that if someone is truly interested in one. Shoot me an email if that's the case...

*smile*

Just some good old fashioned...

... MONKEY BUSINESS!

(in new pink monkey PJ's!)

hehehe
(for the record, monkey business before bed... ROCKS!)

And the winner is...

With only ONE WRONG, our best guessers of 'Ruby Speak' are Susan from Atlanta, GA, and Cil!
(who I'm not quite sure of her whereabouts since her blog isn't functional)
But, no matter... YOU BOTH did AMAZINGLY WELL missing ONLY ONE!
Not too shabby Susan, for a Momma in waiting!
GIRL YOU'RE READY FOR THE TODDLER SPEAK NO PROBLEM!
Now, what do they win exactly? I dunno, I didn't really give that much thought to be honest. LOL Perhaps Ruby will be so inclined to create a couple of her 'RUBY ORIGINALS' in fingerpaint & send them their way... sound like a plan?
(Susan & Cil, just email me your info privately & consider it done...)
*she really makes a mean painted mess, frame quality fingerpainting for sure!*


So, here's what she's REALLY saying when she says the following:

1. Pacle - Apple
(don't ask WHY she says it that way, she just does. LOL)
2. Tose - Toast
3. Malk - Milk
4. Baannn - Banana
5. Ohhhsss - Cheerios
6. Wawul - Waffle
7. Teeeeeee - Tea
8. Peesbarr - Peanut Butter
9. Bupter - Butter
10. Zotto - Risotto
11. Cooks - Cookie
(referring to Pizzelle's, Italian waffle cookies I make from scratch, SO YUMMY!)
12. Brockie - Broccoli
13. Caarrr - Carrot
14. Chickto - Chicken
15. Paytoh - Potato

I'm amazed at the accuracy of some of your guesses! Some were truly a little more challenging with good reason, most people never EVER think that Pacle would mean Apple, not in a million years! LOL Hell, had it not been my kid I'd have never known it was Apple.
I'd have guessed popcicle too!

SO, CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR FANTASTIC GUESSES!

The Evil returns...

Honest to GOD... I've seriously HAD IT with these ridiculous 'absent parent/insert toy' type toys that seem to CONSTANTLY resurface regardless of time or generation.

When I was a kid it was THIS creepy ass toy that parents thought was just amazing, yet I recall it SCARING THE SHIT OUT OF ME!



"Uh, Ma? I really prefer my stuffed animals NOT TO COME TO LIFE & TRY TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION WITH ME ABOUT OUR FRIENDSHIP... EWWW!"
(Why am I having awful CHUCKY flashbacks?)
IF IT'S FUZZY & A DOLL, DON'T GIVE IT THE POWER OF BATTERY INDUCED SPEECH!
Christ, that's enough to send MOST OF US spiraling into a pit of therapy the likes of which you've never seen!

Thankfully my Mother was none too impressed with that evil number, thus he never made his way into the Italian house to spread his Ruxpin funk on anyone!

It's now, over 30 years later, and the marketing genius that is Hasbro, thinks that

THIS CREEPY TEDDY #2 IS JUST WHAT THE ABSENT PARENT ORDERED!



C'mon people, what ever happened to YOU reading a book to your child?
A novel idea I'm sure, but think for a second...

Can any toy EVER in the HISTORY of Toys take the place of some quality 1 on 1 time between you & your child?

Not! So! Much!

Honestly everyone... can't YOU just read to your children?
Don't sit them in front of yet another battery powered 'babysitter' to occupy their little impressionable minds so that you can get one more fax sent or one more dish washed or one more ANYTHING done.

Because I'm here to tell you that when those little impressionable children become adults & someone asks them to remember what stands out most about their childhood...
I can GUARANTEE you that it's NOT going to be the hours upon endless hours they sat in front of some stupid talking, story telling, battery sucking bear...

Life isn't that hellish that you need an electronic babysitter to occupy your child for a few minutes so you can get something accomplished.

I am a single mother who works a FULL week as a Nanny to 1 YEAR OLD TWINS in addition to my 2 year old toddler. I get my work done, I get my OWN stuff done & not ONE of those children ever needs the aid of a talking storytelling bear.
AND I take it a step further & prepare all the meals I serve them from SCRATCH!
No, I'm not claiming to be Betty freakin' Crocker, but what I AM boasting is my ability to KNOW that it's the little things like this that matter.
It's the little things that children take with them into their adulthood.
It's the home cooked meals, the stories read, the giggles shared, the time spent...
And on top of all that, when the twins or Ruby wants a story read...
I read it to them.
I do.
Me, myself & I!
And you know what? They SIT for the story!
They LOVE being read to, hell, I'M 34 AND I STILL LOVE A GOOD STORY!
Doesn't everyone?
It's something that none of us outrgows... ever.

Is whatever it is that you need to get done, really that pressing a 'thing' that you need to get 'it' done RIGHT NOW?
Can't it wait?
I mean really, is your life going to come to a screeching halt if you don't get those last dishes into the dishwasher or run that vaccum one more time?
Trust me, eventually your child will nap.
Maybe not during the day like you had hoped, but surely at night, hell we all gotta conk out at some point, yes?

Thirty years ago my Mom did those things with me, and trust me... I remember.
Everything.

Thirty years from now, if we ask our children what they remember most,
what do you think they'll say?
What do you HOPE they'll say?

Are you hoping for " Man my mom was so kewl to always let me sit & listen to that super kewl bear read me stories... Huh, what's that? How did Mom tell it?
Uh, I dunno, she never read the books to me, it was always just the bear..."

Or do you want it be a little something like this:

"My Mom used to read to me my favorite book over and over even though I'm sure it drove her a little nuts! She knew how much I loved it and no matter how many times I wanted to hear it, she'd just smile & keep on reading it because she loved me.
AND she did all the voices herself! Talk about a memory & one hell of a Mom..."


No kid is going to say, "Man am I ever psyched that I spent every weekend in front of that electronic freakoid bear thingie, those were quality stories. Oh, my mom? I dunno, she was probably busy... but oh that bear, let me tell you about the bear, good times!"


NOT!

Please people, at the end of the day, the first thing I think about isn't the stuff I got accomplished, because it's just that, stuff.

The things that stick to the roof of my mouth like really good peanut butter, are the moments my daughter & I giggled together, the stories I read her over and over that she NEVER seems to get sick of & ALWAYS appreciates my attempt at the silly voices & sound effects, the small but powerful gesture of simply her grasping hold of my finger as I push the shopping cart through the market tonight & upon feeling her touch, I look down to see her gorgeous coal colored almond shaped eyes glistening up at me with a smile so big it nearly masked her adorable ears... as she said 'Uh Voo Momma', while I'm picking out which rice cakes to buy.

Those my friends are the moments that matter not only to my child, but to me.
The time spent with them, TIME...
Not money.
Not toys.
Not clothes.

Time.

So this christmas when someone says to you "OMG have you seen that adorable new talking bear... blah blah blah? Aren't you going to get one for your child? It's the hottest new toy you know! All the mothers are trying to get their hands on one!"

Smile & politely say, "Eh, I'm pretty sure my little one won't be interested in that, anyways... she's already got a pretty good storyteller at home, and I don't require batteries."

Mealtime speak... *updated*

Ruby LOVES mealtime... she's very verbal with me about what she wants & isn't shy about asking for anything... ever!
*like mother like daughter*
The following are her words for things she LOVES to eat!
She says them often, but as you can see, they don't don't necessarily look like they should.
Can you guess what's what?

1. Pacle
2. Tose
3. Malk
4. Baannn
5. Ohhhsss
6. Wawul
7. Teeeeeee
8. Peesbarr
9. Bupter
10. Zotto
11. Cooks
12. Brockie
13. Caarrr
14. Chickto
15. Paytoh

GOOD LUCK!


*We don't eat cheetos ever. I don't eat things like that anymore,
( you can't lose 80lbs by eating things like that, period.)
So you'll never find them in my house...
Also, we don't do popcicles, only skinny cow ice cream sandwiches.
(Some of you are amazing at your guesses! Alas, try again!)

Little Women...

... for little Ruby.

One great big classic of a book...

... for one fast growing little girl with a great big curiosity for life!


Someday Ruby, once Momma teaches you how to read,
we'll tackle that one TOGETHER!
(I promise.)

Every night, without fail...

... Ruby insists on hearing THIS book.

It's an extremely sweet story and the bear kinda resembles her 'Bear'.
It definitely doesn't hurt that I make the 'sound effects' for the 'blowing wind' and the 'stormy rain' hitting the rooftop.
*grin*
If you're a sucker for a good Board Book, then I insist you get your tooshie to Barnes & Noble or right here online to Amazon.com and hook your little kidlet up with this destined to become a classic, story of love, bedtime routine, and kisses goodnight.
Ruby & Bear give it 4 'paws' up!
hehehe

And the winner is...

...Katherine Fortunato!!



Congratulations to her on the top winning bid for Elmo TMX!

Hopefully there will be one more very happy child this christmas
because of this fuzzy giggling monster.
*smile*
& FYI: I managed to get one for Ruby JUST IN CASE she decides that she may be curious enough to want one... & if not, it'll be a gift for her cousin Isabella. =)

If laughter is good for the soul...

... then the sound of my daughter's early morning laughter
is hands down, the breakfast of champions!


hehehehe


Breakfast anyone... ?


Actually these belly laughs were courtesy of her favorite new show...

Peep in the Big Wide World


It's on every morning on TLC...


... and it's the ONLY show she'll literally sit for an entire eppisode.


Personally, I think it's the duck, aptly named 'Quack', that she adores the most!

I know he's my personal favorite!
Because truthfully, he's just good solid 'funny' with a capital QUACK!

"Munch..."

Me: "Hey Ruby... you wanna have some lunch baby?"

Ruby: "Mmmm, munch Momma!"

Me: "No Ruby, not 'munch' baby, it's Lunch... LLLLunch... with an 'L'. Can you say Lunch?"

Ruby: "Mmm, munch, munch!"

Me: *laughing* "hee hee, baby you're so funny, can you even TRY to say Lunch? Let's try it..."

Ruby: "NO!"

Me: "Ruby, you know Momma doesn't like when you say 'no' sweetie, it's ok if you want to call it 'munch' but we should at least try to say it correctly. Wanna try again?"

Ruby: "NOOOOOOOOOOOO! NO!"

Me: (trying to hold back serious laughter) "Ok baby, we'll try it another time, ok? Momma loves you!"

Ruby: *giggling* "NO! NO! NO! ... Momma?"

Me: "Yes Ruby?"

Ruby: "mmmmmm Munch! Uhhh Vooo Momma!"

Me: *smiling* " I love you too baby, to China & back..."

Ruby: *giggling* "Chiii" (her word for China)

Me: "Yes baby, Momma loves you all the way to Chiii..."

*Risotto & fish is now being served at the kitchen table...*