Pearl

Pearl Michelle Van Dyke was born January 24. she's absolutely perfect and we are so proud to welcome her to the family. 

*more pictures are on the way, but i just couldn't keep this little nugget to myself any longer.

waiting for Pearl

my gorgeous sister is having her baby tomorrow. i can hardly believe it's happening. due to complications, she has a c-section scheduled for 13 hours from now. i probably won't sleep tonight...

we decided to hurry and do some last-minute pregnancy shots this morning, the day before she had her baby. we were in a hurry, with my little rascal jumping in and out of shots and trying to break things. i think we may have only spent 15 minutes total taking pictures, but you know what, i'm so glad we did it. i'm so happy she'll have something to remember her first pregnancy, and the way she looked and felt the day before her Pearl was born. 

and now get ready, because this here blog is going to be plastered with photos of our new niece/cousin just as soon as she arrives!

p.s. i don't have a single decent picture of myself when i was pregnant with Ruby (i have a picture i took of myself in sweats, in the bathroom mirror with my cell phone once. that's it). it makes me cry every time i think about it, which is why i am a huge advocate for getting pregnancy pictures! get them!

this week

downs:
-realizing that i had word verification enabled for all comments on my blog this whole time! and i didn't even know! and i've been so frustrated at everyone else for those dumb things! hypocrisy!
-that time i found the boots i've been wanting forever (but were sold out everywhere) on ebay, brand new, in my size (it was like a sign!) and then i lost them because my bid didn't go through in time. dang you address verification! dang you!
-the moment Roo goes from smiling angel to screaming, writhing fury in a blink. especially while in the middle of a quiet store full of breakables, and my arms are full, and they don't have carts. terrible twos really are terrible.
-utah driving. let's just say i have been feeling very aware of my fragile mortality lately. thank you utah drivers for that. and why aren't the streets being plowed?! is it just me?
-rude women (why is it always women?) who make snarky comments behind my back about me or my kid (usually about how my kid is throwing a tantrum or how i'm a bad mom - real sweet stuff). where did all these meanies come from? is it because it's january? somebody give these women a cookie or something!

ups:
-dawnica's baby shower
-trader joe's finally coming to utah! wahoo! if any of you need a shopping list, i am happy to help out
-Ruby saying adorable things like, "thank you much!", "later"(when we leave someone), "i like it!", "mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy... you dance with me?", "hubby (Ruby) shirt green. so pretty!", and to her babies "baby kinky (stinky)? kinky diaper?... okey. get it off.", "bunny come too?"
-girls' night out
-finding a little dance studio for Ruby's first dance class
-putting Ruby in a little pink leotard, and a little pink tutu, and those tiny pink ballet shoes! oh my aching heart! it was by far, the cutest thing i have ever seen. ever.
-Papa coming to visit. a very short visit, but we enjoyed it all the same
-taking the midge ice skating. so here's the thing: almost two year-olds can't ice skate. you basically drag them around the ice, but those tiny ice skates made my heart burst
-the husband's constant optimism and the way he keeps my "realist nature" in check. it's a good thing i have that guy around
-sales. i'm a serious sucker for the sales, guys
-dark chocolate covered acai berries from costco. this is my PSA for the week: go buy them. they will help you get through january

life lately according to instagram

"lay your head down on your pillow, Ruby"

 follow me on instagram (@reinab)

"doloring"

it's been way too long since i posted a video, i know. it's just hard to feel motivated when the only video camera i have is on my phone. anyway i finally got around to it and i even used iMovie! i mean, call the press!
here's a little something we put together the other day. we still had the table with craft paper on it from the shower so i let Ruby get some use out of it (you'll also notice we still have a few balloons floating around too) and color a picture for Nana.
be warned, this video is long! but i'm just trying to make up for lost time over here...

Ruby's first time ice skating

a baby shower!

my sister is having her baby soon and i could not be more excited. 

i got to throw her a shower on saturday and it was so fun.

i had all these plans for a color scheme but that somehow went straight out the window and everything ended up pink, pink, and pink. 

Dawnica's sweet friends brought the most delicious food. i could not get enough

i really wanted to avoid the awkward baby shower games so i opted instead to get our craft on. everyone got their own tiny onesie to decorate for the new babe. 

everyone was so creative. baby Pearl will be so stylin in her new clothes.

it was heaps of fun

now it's time to meet that little lady already!

p.s. yes, i am a nerd and didn't get in any pictures. i'm way more comfortable behind the camera.

monthly photo: 22 months

22 months:

outtakes: 

click here for previous months

a few of my favorite things

the weather lately has been so bitterly cold we've been in partial hibernation- eating and staying indoors, except to gather food. we've also been spending a lot of time in the big bed. Ruby's finally started to linger in bed with me in the mornings and she seems to be drawn to it like a moth to a flame. she always wants to "monkey jump on the bed!" or burrow under the pillows. i love spending this time with her, cuddling or being goofy. 

i've been trying to remind myself to pull out the camera and take pictures of the things that bring me joy. seeing my baby play with her new toy camera and say "Hubby (Ruby) camma, mommy camma!" and look so pleased with herself makes my heart stretch. these pictures sum up so much of what makes me smile: a carefree baby and a happy home.