April 06, 2007

March 2007

Dear Kids,
This month finds spring bouncing back and forth in its typical indecisive pattern. One day it’ll be spectacular and then the next day it will be cold and rainy. Those tastes of warm weather are so pleasant and welcome, especially to your Red Dirt Girl mother with her desert-climate longings. Even though she has lived in Salt Lake for a number of years now she still always manages to be freezing cold. I guess that we all can’t be from St. George, huh?

The big news this month is the public announcement of your mom being pregnant with baby #2. We’re calling you "#2" for now and we won’t be finding out your gender until your birth. Some think that we’re lame for this while others think we’re cool. Either way, it’s how we roll around these parts as we like the anticipation, the not knowing and such. The comeback that I like to use is that we’re not a fan of opening our Christmas presents in July. I also like how we’ll have more news to share. Anyway, we’re excited for September and have much to prepare for.

Another bit of news is that I quit my job a couple of weeks ago. Your mother was approached by her work and asked if she wanted more visits. Seeing how she makes more money in one day than I do in a week it was a kind of a no-brainer. I can now focus on school and my portfolio in addition to spending more time at home. I am also playing lots of gigs and doing some session work that are paying well. While it’s weird to not to get up and head for the office every day, I now feel like I can breathe for the first time in a while. I was getting spread thin as of late and feel a bit more creative these days.

School ends at the end of this month and I have to admit that it feels really good. I have never known such stress in all of my life with all of my various commitments. School is a huge chunk of where my head is most of the time and I often regret how consuming it can be. I am just grateful to your mother for her support. If I’ve learned anything about her it’s that she is 100% loyal to the cause. She is so dedicated to helping others obtain their happiness. I hope you realize how blessed we are to have her in our lives.

RUBY-

You continue to break my heart about fifty times a day. There are times when I just can’t stand your cuteness and beauty. One of the benefits of me being home more is the time you and I get to spend together. We’re developing quite a routine:

8-9am: wake up, breakfast and get dressed

9-10am: our morning walk, either in the wagon or backpack

10-11am: snack time & play time, sometimes downstairs...sometimes upstairs

11-noon: reading time

noon: lunch

1pm: nap

4pm: porch time, where we sit on the porch and you wave at people, including your adopted big sisters Morgan & Maleah

5pm: dinner and more play time

7:30pm: bath

8pm: bed

You have become a very good sleeper at night, which is good as you are still not a fan of the nap. I think we’re gonna have a hard time adjusting to #2 as we’ve forgotten how hard it is with a newborn. We’re planning on giving you both your own bedroom hoping that sleep won’t be much of an issue, or rather so that #2 won’t wake you up too much. Anyway, thanks for spoiling us.

It looks like you are grasping the concept of walking (finally!). Though you’re not ready to fly solo just yet, you seem to want to be on your feet more and more every day. You can take about three or four unassisted steps on your own and walk with only one hand assistance from your mom or myself. Judging by the smile on your face you really seem to love it and the independence it gives you.

Speaking of independence, you are declaring more and more with each passing day. The defiance meter is getting a pretty good workout with your “no-no’s” with just about everything we do. Getting you dressed, diapered and fed without an incident just doesn’t happen anymore. About the only guaranteed nonresistance we get is when we strap you into the wagon. Man, you LOVE the wagon. Sometimes you reminded me of a dog as you will sit by the door, point to it and say “out” about fifty times. Sometimes you get downright nasty about it and then if it’s a cold day we’ve got to bundle you up which leads to more drama with the bundling. So, we’re grateful for the wagon these days.

One of my happiest moments of your short life happened a couple of weeks ago while we were at church. Just after the closing prayer of Sacrament Meeting I was up on the stand when all of a sudden I looked down and saw you crawling down the isle heading straight for me. You crawled up the stairs and pointed straight at me and exclaimed “Daddy!”. I picked you up as I swelled with joy. I guess that I must have been beaming as those around started to get all “awwwwe...how cute!” and “that’s a daddy’s girl” ‘n stuff. Yep, you’re my girl and I’m not ashamed in the least bit, in fact bring it on...I like those moments.

#2 -
Seeing how this is the second time your mother has been pregnant, the comparisons are inevitable. So far the major differences in this pregnancy are that your mother has been much less sick yet much more tired. With Ruby there was a night time ritual where your mom would throw up as the act of brushing her teeth enacted her gag reflex. This time around she bought an electric toothbrush and doesn’t get after it too much. Despite the nausea, this has helped cut down on the sickness.

We got our first look at you a couple of weeks ago as your ultrasound technician aunt Nicole offered to check things out. From what we could decipher, everything checks out normal-like and you look as healthy as a twelve-week fetus could be. Aunt Nicole thinks that she knows your gender but has proven herself with Ruby that she can keep her trap shut. When we travel to St. George for Easter we’ll probably get another look at you. We’re so excited!

Your mom is complaining that none of her clothes fit. This is probably due to the fact that you are growing at what seems like an accelerated pace. Thankfully your Aunt Suzanne sent a box of maternity clothing that should help your mom stay comfortable and look ever so hip along the way.

While we don’t know your gender we’re both having premonitions that you are a boy. Keep in mind though that we both thought the same thing with Ruby. I was just about as sure about that as I was about anything and look what happened. So, obviously our premonitions are meaningless. Sometimes your Grandpa Campbell (PaPa) will have a strong premonition about his grandchildren which have all proven to be 100% correct. So, maybe he’ll have one about you.

Alright then, it’s time to go and pack up the car. We’re heading down to St. George for the Easter weekend where we will witness cousin Ethan’s Baptism and partake of Uncle “Dutch-Oven” Dave’s annual feast...mmmmmm. The peach cobbler has me drooling already.

Love,
Dad

Posted by patatomic at April 6, 2007 08:51 AM

Comments

You're blog is awesome. You've made me even more excited to be a dad. I'm glad you have 1. more time to spend with Ruby and 2. more time to post. Keep up the good work (on both fronts) and enjoy Easter in St. George.

Posted by: David at April 7, 2007 11:01 AM

Wow! Ruby has gotten so big! And it's only been about four or three months. Incredible. I hope she won't be an adult by the time I see her in the summer...

Posted by: Amelia at April 22, 2007 11:26 PM

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