"Happy Anna's Roast Beef..." **UPDATE X'S 2**

Setting the scene:
7:30am, Nov 20th, 2007
Ruby & Momma curled up in bed together wishing each other 'good morning'.
Here is the conversation that followed:


Ruby: "Momma's awake!"
Momma: "Yes I am baby, good morning."
Ruby: "Favorite person in the whole wide world!"
Momma: "That's right sweetie, you're my favorite person in the whole wide world."
Ruby: "A sun and back ,a moon and back, a stars and back and CHINA and back!"
Momma: "*giggling* Yes Ruby, that's right, Momma loves you to the moon & back, to the sun & back, the stars & back and to China and back... but Ruby, do you know what today is?"
Ruby: "Morning?"
Momma: "Yes, it's morning but today, do you know what this day is?"
Ruby: slightly puzzled look as she smiles over at me, waiting...
Momma: "Today is Ruby day baby. Two years ago today Momma and Ruby first met remember?
Ruby: "Today is RUBY DAY!"
(clearly excited at the notion that a whole day was now dedicated to her)
Momma: "Yes sweetie, it's called an ANNIVERSARY. Can you say that? Ann-i-versary?"
Ruby: (thinking...) HAPPY ANNA'S ROAST BEEF!"
(I have an aunt Anna, she likes to cook) LOL
Momma: (LAUGHING) No sweetie, not Anna's roast beef, but Ann-i-versary... try again?
Ruby: "HAPPY IN-A-NURSERY!"
Momma: (beyond saving at this point, laughing so hard I may wet myself!) "LOL Ruby! Ann-i-versary, ann-i-versary, ann-i-versary... say it with Momma."
Ruby: "Happy Ruby Day!!!"
Momma: *SMILING* "You got it baby, Happy Ruby Day my luv, I couldn't have said it better myself."


It's hard to believe that it was two years ago today that I first laid eyes on the most beautiful little girl in the world.
Two years that have flow by like a dream come true.
Two years that I have woken up every morning & felt like the luckiest woman on the planet.
Two years that every night as I crawl into bed & say my prayers, they consist of merely two words:
"Thank You."

For I know in my heart, Ruby is a gift from God.
Hand picked, chosen for me & me alone.
What a wonderful gift.
My quote for this blog is so true...
"In the lottery of my life, my daughter is the six numbers and the bonus."

She really is.

We have a special "Momma & Ruby" day planned,
pictures of what we did & how we spent it to follow later...
right now,
I have my 'favorite person in the whole wide world'
waiting to spend the day with me.
*smiling*
It really doesn't get any better than this...

*UPDATE!!!*

I'm just speechless...

...that this beautiful child, is my daughter.

HAPPY 'RUBY DAY' BABY!
November 20th, 2007
The 2 year anniversary
of the HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

**UPDATE #2**



As with any tradition, this one is super special for reasons I can't even begin to share.


While I was in China seeing the country & before ever holding my little girl in my arms,
I was hard at work trying to think of a way to mark our special day every year,
so that it would not only be something unique for us both, but a special gift to my girl
from her place of birth.


Starting with our first 'Ruby day' I have been letting her choose ONE ornament out of a bag of over 30+ of them to set aside to add to our Christmas Tree each year.


This little green number makes ornament #3...

...and one day,
when she's old enough to move out on her own,
I hope that she takes her ornaments from Cloisonne with her on her journey,
& not only love having them,
but appreciate the sentiment in which they were given.

I can almost see her, as an adult in her first apartment away from home,
setting up what will be the first of many Christmas Trees
& tearing up through a smile,
as she places each & every ornament on her tree.
Knowing all the while, how much she is loved.


Then, after the ornament ceremony was complete,
it was time for jammies & CHARLIE BROWN'S THANKSGIVING SPECIAL!


You guys know the part when Lucy promises to hold the foot ball so Charlie Brown can kick it?


And how every time she promises,
something always comes up that she removes it from his path
& he goes ass over tea kettle onto the ground?


Well, that apparently is much funnier than we adults think,
as every one of these laughing pictures was taken DURING THAT EXACT MOMENT of the fall!

What a wonderful way to end what was hands down,
a perfect day.

Keep laughing Ruby, it's good for the soul.
*hugs*

Still At It...

...always hoping,

always praying,

keeping forever vigilant,

buying new charts,

& an array of stickers;

the potty training continues.


*as does Momma's patience*


Funny thing with patience,

just when you think you're about to run out ,


you see this face,



this amazing smile that belongs to your daughter...

...& all you can think of is how proud you are of her
& pray that she won't grow up too fast.

I love you Ruby, keep up the good work baby!
Momma & Bear are rooting for you!
XoXoXoXo

All This Talk About Cake...

...and Ruby & I were left with NO OTHER CHOICE


but to MAKE TWO!
hehehe

They're not as fancy as I've been known to decorate in the past,
HOWEVER
the HELL with looks, it's all about the INSIDE THAT COUNTS!
(or something like that)

Ruby was THRILLED with how they came out,
and even MORE PLEASED
with how they tasted!
"Momma this is a beeeauful green cake! Ruby a do a good job!"
You bet your ass you did baby,
GOOD JOB!
Momma LOVES YOU SO MUCH RUBY!

Presenting...

..."CAKE"

by miss Ruby Cate Pei Mu.

Oh how my girl LOVES anything artistic!

Ode' to a "Chicken Set"...

...if miss Ruby has her way this year,
this will be delivered by dear ole' Santa.
come Christmas Eve.

And yes,
she truly does call it,
a "Chicken Set"!

Cutest thing you ever did hear.
*smile*

That's Really Too Big...

...while curled up in her day bed together,
Ruby starts counting the freckles on my arm.

"1... 2... 3... 4... -- 7..."
then she pauses & I'm thinking that she's realizing she's forgotten a number or two,
so I wait patiently, proud as punch that she's working it out in her head,
when finally she opens her mouth & says:
"That's really too big!"
as she's pointing to the largest of my arm freckles.
LMFAO!

(care to guess which dot was the culprit?)
hehehehe
I nearly peed my pants it was SO FUNNY!
Did NOT see that coming!

Adventures In Ballet... *UPDATE*

Today, my little girl starts her adventures in ballet.

Working at the YMCA affords me an array of choices when it comes to programs for Ruby.
First, she chose 'teeny tiny tumblers'...
...which for the first 3 classes was a hit.
After that?
Well, let's just say that the Y is very forgiving for a child who does not complete all the classes paid for & gives credit towards whatever next class the child is interested in.

THANK GAWD!
Just because I work there does not mean that classes are free.
Less expensive than everyone else?
Sure.
But free?
Not so much.

So, today, as I sit here & type this, Ruby is talking to Bear about her new class:

"Bear, you not go with me honey ok?
Ruby hafta do it by self an you stay with Momma, ok?
Ruby hafta go a ballet class and listen to Miss. Darcy, Bear not go.
It ok Bear, Ruby always come back..."

The ballet room is one room down from the childcare room where I work.
Simply put, I'll walk her down to the class, hug & kiss her goodbye, wish her luck, remind her to LISTEN to Miss. Darcy & tell her I'll be back in 45 minutes...
Momma always comes back.

Yes, I have my camera.
Yes, I'll attempt a picture.
Yes, I'll post it here upon returning home at 1pm today.

Stay tuned...

Adventures in Ballet are merely hours away...
*smile*

*UPDATE*

Behold, my extremely happy little ballerina & her faithful companion, Bear:

Patiently waiting for Momma to say, "let's go to class honey."


"I know Bear, it'll be any minute, I promise!"


"What's that Momma? It's time?!"


"NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' BOUT!"


"C'mon Momma, I don't want to be late!"
"So this is the window you get to look through, huh Momma?"


"Awww Bear, don't be nervous, I'm right here."


"Momma is my skirt on straight?"


"WOW CHECK OUT THE SIZE OF THIS ROOM!"


"Momma LOOK! THEY HAVE MIRRORS!!!"

"Yep, a girl can really feel at home here!"


"Thanks Miss.Darcy, a GREEN STAR! NICE!!"


"Momma, can we come back again tomorrow?"

*Ruby LOVED IT SO MUCH she literally CRIED when I came to pick her up
after the 45 minute class with Miss. Darcy.
She is beyond DISTRAUGHT that she has to wait till next Monday to go again.
Who ever thought a weekly ballet schedule was best,
was NOT THINKING LIKE A 3 YEAR OLD!
DAILY PEOPLE, DAILY!!!

hehehe