Kyle's 27th Birthday

Kyle's birthday was GREAT!  I have been so excited about it.  Last night we went to Magleby's which I LOVE.  Their penne pasta and chocolate cake--YUM.  Buying dessert AND drinks at a restaurant is a big deal for us so we felt very celebratory.

I was so happy when he opened his presents today.  Kyle gave great reactions to the things I've been excited about giving him. The highlights:  two comic book display frames, which meant we went through all his comic books that he hasn't looked at for 15 years to pick his two favorites. They are now up in the office, looking very cool.  A tshirt that I knew he wanted:

He wore it all night, even after Ruby spat up all over it.  That girl.

The gift that has taken me ages is a book.  There are pictures on his blog, I'm too lazy to put them up myself.  Katy taught me some bookbinding skills and helped me gut an old science book and fill it with new paper.  Inside I glued cool stuff.  Some of his favorite web comics, a picture of Meatloaf with our favorite lyrics, Scott Bakula with hearts all over because Kyle looooves him in Quantum Leap, pictures of us and Ruby, and I wrote some mushy stuff about why I love him.  I also emailed some of our friends and asked them to tell me why they like Kyle.  People had GREAT (and funny) answers, which I put in the book.  I put a flap of paper over their names so Kyle had to guess who said what...I think he got every single one right.  It's nice that we all know each other so well.  Kyle was so happy to get it--it made me feel really good and successful.

We had some friends over tonight for Kyle's birthday party.  Ashley made incredible coconut cupcakes that Kyle requested, and adorable rhinoceros cookies because that's Kyle's favorite animal.  They were SO CUTE.  We had fun hanging out and playing a word association game that we all basically sucked at.  Eliza and Ruby were our main entertainment--they are both in such cute stages.  It was a really good time.

Showing off her cute shoes.

Seriously.  Those shoes kill me. 

Alan was pretty bummed when we told him he couldn't play with Ruby's exersaucer.

Ticket to Ride

A couple days ago Ruby went on her first stroller ride sans infant carrier.  For some reason it seemed like a momentous occasion to me.

I love this baby face more than anything in the world.

Zions 2011

Every year, my family meets in Zions for a holiday weekend in February.  It is always massively fun and relaxing. And snowy and rainy.  This year, Alan and Nieman came along with us and added to the fun.

We took family pictures.

And some smaller group/couple shots.

And then just got silly.

I love all these folks more than chocolate milk and books, which is a very big deal.

5 Months

5 months is nearly 6 months, which is HALF A YEAR.  Whoa.

Ruby is HILARIOUS.  She laughs all the time, but it isn't the typical baby laugh I was so looking forward to.  It's either a freakish high-pitched squeal, or a deep husky chuckle.  Bizarre, but SO CUTE.  She is an expert at flailing her limbs and kicking her legs.  She grabs anything in her vicinity and it goes straight in her mouth.  This is cute when it's a toy or binky, not so cute when it's my hair.  She loves her toys, diaper changes, and taking baths.  She hates interrupted feedings and being left alone.  Something I love about her is the way she smiles with her eyes.  As Tyra would say, she's mastered the smize. 

The new thing is rolling.  She recently mastered rolling from back to stomach.  The weird thing is I've never actually seen her do it.  I try and try to make her roll over for me, with no results.  But every time I leave her in her crib or on her playmat or on a blanket on the floor for a couple minutes, I return to her on her tummy. She's so dang sneaky!

It seems like she's in a whirlwind of learning right now.  It is a joy to watch. I miss her newborn-ness, but I love her big baby-ness.

So Teeny

I almost cried looking at these pictures Amanda emailed me yesterday.  Ruby was so tiny--I think she was 2 weeks old at this point.  I love playing with Ruby right now, she is so interactive and giggly and responsive and fun.  But there is something about a teeny tiny newborn that just can't be beat.  She's just 5 months old but already feels like a big girl compared to these pictures!

I am so excited for Christy's twins to be born so I can hold a newborn again!  As Christy would say, they are so ingy!  (Eengy?  Ingee? I don't know how the Leiningers spell it.)

Quiz

Who does Ruby look more like:

Kyle?

Or ME?

That was easy.

Also, Kyle was CHUNKY. And I was a redhead!

My Valentine

I am extremely in love with Kyle.

(2011)

The first thing I ever wrote on his facebook wall:

"i've missed our midnight couch chats. come hang out with us again! where are the kyle  vaughns of yesteryear?"

The first picture of us together:

(2006)

Our first date:

(2007)

Dating:

(2007)

Wedding:

(2008)

Married:

(2009)

(2010)

And I couldn't be happier about it.