Ruby Anne Grange

Ruby came into the world at 3:00 pm on March 10, 2009. She was pink and perfect! Today she is 2 years and 5 days old. She weighs 22 pounds, and is about " tall. She has deep blue eyes and golden honey colored hair with curls, that lightens up in the summer. She has very expressive eyes and can manipulate her brows to show any of her wide range of emotions. She has a two year old temper, and two year old perfect, honest love.

Ruby loves her family, 'Pinkalicious' the fuzzy blanket, baby dolls, sippies of milk, watching Winnie the Pooh, and reading books the very most of all things in this world. Other loves include: riding in Daddy's truck, playing with toys, wrestling her sister, napping in Moms' bed, being outside, seeing deer in the yard, tubs, flying her new kite, riding in the bike buggie, throwing snowballs, and visiting grandma and grandpa.

Ruby most likes to eat: MILK (so much so that there are days I have to lie and tell you that we are all out so that she will have something else!), cheese, grapes, pickles, bread and butter, ham (she calls all meats "ham") juice from a box, noddles, beans, oranges, mashed potatoes, smoothies, and mostly anything mom makes that isn't "picey." She also really enjoys chocolate, marshmallows, fishy crackers, and anything her big sister has. When Ruby has a treat to eat she always asks for a "bow" - she must put all her little yummies into a bowl and carry them about with her, even if the treat is a graham cracker.

Some of Ruby's cutest words:

• "Yeah" - after almost every question directed at her. Especially cute when the question we ask her is, "Can you say bike?"
• "Me too!" - after nearly everything said at the dinner table. DJ likes to tease her and say. "I really love to crash cars!" Then follows, "Me too!"
• "Ya-Ya" - this means Talia.
• "Truck" - this only refers to Daddy's big red one. No others will do.
• "Cho-choo!" - Ruby got a wooden train set for her b-day.
• "Ah-ma" - which is being interpreted, Grandma. (She used to say "Giga", I am trying to keeps this one alive.)
• "Pops" - this refers to grandpa Norr's home made popcorn, the stash of Dr. Pepper in the fridge and maybe also Grandpa himself.
• "Mommy" - Need I explain? This is the most precious word in all of language.
• "Wee-ooo" - Sirens, big trucks or anything that looks like trouble.
• "Home" - Again, there is nothing like this word on little lips. No sweeter sound.

There are many other words she says, but these are the dearest.

Last week during sacrament meeting Roo put the entire contents of a fruit snack bag in her cheeks. She was terribly proud of her self until she realized that they were not going to go down. There was a look of desperation, drool rolled out of each corner of her mouth, her eyes wide. Then, she spit them all out! Luckily my Mommy reflexes are quick. I caught them all in my cupped hands, and made a hasty exit whilst pink dribbled through my fingers and onto my dress. Classic.

Roo has this thing about not wearing clothes. Mostly pants. If I can keep her dressed half the day I figure I have won. The first word out of her little mouth after a hug in the morning is "off." She tugs and tugs at the zipper on her jammies until it is low enough that she can wiggle out of them. She must have a good metabolic rate because she never complains about being cold. She hasn't figured out the workings of her diaper yet. Jeans are a no. She will only stand for soft pants like leggings and sweats. She will go for jeans only if I say that we are going out to play or to help Daddy. Layering is her least favorite thing, when I try to put a cute little tank over her turtlenecks she throws a real fuss. She likes jackets, but only if the 'hat' is up. (the hood)

Ruby makes the most adorable sound on the hardwood floor when she runs. Pat-a pat-a pat pat. She has a wonderful squeal of delight. She is soft and smooth. Toothy and boogery. Sweet and simple and totally irresistible. When I hold her dear frame in my arms and put my nose to her hair I wish that I could stop time, and store that moment of tender joy in a bottle. To open when she is big, and life in unfair to her. When Mommy doesn't have all the answers and problems arise to make her worry, or her faith is shaken.

My dearest Ruby, how do I tell what you are? What you mean to me? There are not words for some things as great as my love for you. Know only that you are my world, and my joy, and we shall always be part of one another.

You have endless potential. You have a precious, one of a kind spirit. Never forget.

These words are that bottle darling, for me, and for you.

Love, Mommy

"Birthday, Birthday, Coming To Earth Day"

I made this little video of the birthday girl before we took T to preschool this morning. I knew that the too-cute-to-be-two pigtails would not last all day and just had to have a shot of them fresh.

This is just a snippet of what I wrote in my journal on the evening after Ruby's birth:

"Ruby Anne Grange, you are truly a work of art! The Master designer has created you in His image and you are such a wonder to behold! I love you darling child. I ALWAYS will. We are bound by more than blood and I am so thrilled and privileged to be your mother, God Bless you little girl! Welcome to the world!"

I was so overwhelmed with love and gratitude this night. I felt that there could be no other creature on earth as blessed as I. I held Ruby in my arms and drank in the sight of her like a thirsty soul. The veil over heaven was very thin. My heart burns in my chest remembering how sweet it was.

Happy Birthday Ruby. My sweet, sweet child.

I love you! I love you, I DO!

Talia Carole Grange

Lest ye think I have forgotten the other members of my family -

I present to you, miss Talia Carole Grange.

Talia was born at 1:56 am - or there about, on July 14, 2006. She is now 4 1/2 years old, is 40 1/2 big inches tall, has the the bluest of blue eyes and the blondest of blond hair. She weighs 33 pounds. Built like a string bean.

This is a self portrait:

Talia's FAVORITES:

Food - hot dogs, pancakes, macaroni and cheese, french toast, eggs, summer sausage (bent meat), blueberry muffins, lemonade, all juices that come in a box with a straw, chicken Alfredo, Olive Garden (chicken gnocchi soup), cookies, soft serve ice cream, bread and butter, cheese, carrot and dip, PB&J's, mashed potatoes, watermelon, chicken, Haystacks, Oreos, hot chocolate, stick pretzels with grapes stuck on the end.

Things to do - play downstairs, color with markers, have Family Night, help Daddy, watch cartoons, play dress up, wear Mom's shoes, grocery shop, give hugs and kisses, hang out with Keagen, go to Grandma's house, jump on the trampoline, having lunch with Dad in town, having big fluffy bubble bath in Mom's tub, making cake, reading books, ride bike or princess car, get pretty for church, paint toes and fingernails, rough house with Dad.

Color - pink and purple

Book - Barbie, A Fashion Fairytale & Cinderella

Outfit - Black leggings, floral wrap top and "pop-star" sneakers. Hair down with curls and a soft headband and pink flower.

Game - Candy Land

Season - Spring - when the flowers peek out

Primary song - I am like a Star Shinning Brightly, Follow the Prophet, Nephi's Courage, I know Heavenly Father Loves Me

Talia is very good at: counting, singing, using her imagination, getting dressed, somersaults, jumping, running super fast, making up stories and mindless jokes, learning quickly and following instructions from her teachers, gluing things, cutting paper, taking pictures.

Nicknames: Tali, T-bug, T-ster, Monkey, Goose, Tals', T

Things to remember about Tali at 4 and 1/2 -

Talia likes to make up her own words, "globbin" "whamlin-er" "smeeled" "cattubed"- you get the drift. She does this when she doesn't know the correct word, is telling a story, or when she gets' very excited. It's adorable!

She has her very first calender and is learning about days, and weeks, and months and years. She mixes them up frequently and says cute stuff like "Mom and Ruby have a birthday in the very same year!"

Tali has a soft heart. She is mostly ruled by emotions. She never throws tantrums, just cries. Big crocodile tears. It can be really aggravating, and really sweet. She has the very same reaction to losing a crayon as she would with breaking an arm. The decibel of her cry is the same! Injustice is her worst fear.

She is a good big sister, pretty much all the time. She really likes to blame things on her Roo, however. Whenever there are tears heard in the house, the very next thing to be heard is Talia yelling. "I didn't do it!" Frequently when she comes to me her first line is, "Mom, Ruby did something naughty."

Talia has a little thing about cameras lately, she won't look directly at one without her tongue hanging out of her face. That or her eyes wander out to the corners of the sky and stay there whilst the face only looks at the lens. She has kept this up for about 8 months now and getting a good shot of her has been tough. It takes bribery, and promising to let her see the photo right after it's taken. She loves self portriats. Somehow the fear is gone when she takes the photo herself.

Tali loves for me to sing her a lullaby at bedtime. We snuggle together and just take slow breaths and relax from the day, then we sing primary songs and hymns and tunes that I make up just for her. She likes to sleep with a blanket and at least one thing to squeeze. Doesn't really matter to her what it is. She has to have night light on, door open "just a smitch."

T asks me almost every week, "How long until Jesus comes to earth? I miss him so much!" She also blurts out info about things she will do "When Jesus comes down and lives with us . . ."

She catches me off guard all the time with these comments. They are so pure and honest. I answer her, always with a lump in my throught, "I don't know baby, but I promise he will some day. I miss him too!"

Talia Carole, my sweet, my biggest, my darling one! You made me a Mom. You gave me my first taste of Heaven, and taught me what it's like to love without conditions. You are my hope and my future. You make me happy and and you make me scared. I have so much responsiblity for who you will become, and yet the choice is yours to make. You are a literal daughter of God, a real princess! Remember that there are two things in life that will never fail, the love of your Father in Heaven and the love of your Mother.

I am so proud of you I could bust! You are bright and full of pure energy. I love to see the way you celebrate with no restraints. You are in so many ways the person I want to be. We will always be a part of one another. Forever and ever, you and me.

May all your dreams come true. I LOVE YOU T!

X,O Momma

Big Fella

Tadahh! The playroom is carpeted. We have been having big fun down there. The star of the show is this marble tower, finally freed from a storage box. We found a stash of Daddy's marbles and they make a fabulous racket in the tower. Guess which one is 'Big Fella."

Play date anyone?