Whether the weather

Oh yes, he's about to climb up on something... anything...

Seriously, could he be any cuter?

The two handsomest men on the planet

Boy, are we loving this puffy vest around our house now that the weather has dropped down into the 60's here in Texas. Oh yeah, we're practically freezing (insert sarcasm). But I figure that I need to take every opportunity for this cute little thing, never mind that it's huge on Milo. Who knows how long we'll have weather like this, or whether it will ever happen again? (Okay, so I might be slightly exaggerating, but it feels that way.)
Besides, a puffy vest seems to add a level of protection to my little adventurer, who has now decided to start going head-first down the tiny slide we have in our house. If I could just get a large puffy hat to match, I'd be able to breathe a lot easier...

Treasure

Okay,  time to make up for yesterday's whining...

Because even though Milo has been having a hard time with sleep, he's such a wonderful little guy.
For example, the other day I decided to let him share a taste of my pumpkin scone (we've been introducing little bits of table food). Well, he loved that pumpkin scone so much that he was literally climbing up me to get to it, desperate for another bite. In fact, he tried to reach into my mouth at one point to get the bite I had just put in there. I loved having someone to enjoy a scone with me because Nate doesn't care for them.

And then there was this morning. I was sitting in Milo's room breastfeeding him a few minutes before 7 because he had woken up crying. I knew he needed to go back to sleep, and I actually thought he was nodding off. Nate stopped by the room to wave at me on his way to work, and I signed I love you and waved a little. I looked down and Milo was still nursing, eyes closed, waving back at me.

He shared my breakfast oatmeal this morning, too, after he had already eaten all of his baby oatmeal. And as I sit here and type, he is taking everything out of the computer cabinet underneath me, waving each piece of paper and software disc with delight. Which makes me think I should probably wrap this up pretty quickly...

Being a mommy is always a treasure, whether we've slept or not. Remind me that every now and then, okay?

Milo wore a moustache for 3.5 seconds at Conner's spy birthday party.

TIRED

Tired tired tired tired tired.
Did I mention I'm tired?
There's been a lot going on, and I've spent a lot of sleepless nights just thinking. Ugh. It reminds me of the old days before I a.) started running in the wee hours and b. )became a mommy. I used to have the same problem all the time, and I'll admit, I took lying down and going right to sleep for granted!

I thought I'd catch a nap while Milo did, but every time I even think about it, it seems to make him decide that he shouldn't nap at all. Which is what he's doing right now. He's standing in his bed screaming instead of resting, and blogging is the only way I can keep myself from running in there and picking him straight up. I hate to hear him cry, and he's been doing a lot of it at naptime and bedtime... Which makes my blood pressure skyrocket and my stomach lurch. In fact, as I so pathetically just told Nate, I'm sitting here blogging and crying. It pretty much sucks.

Did I mention I'm really really tired and probably slightly irrational? Don't feel too bad for me. Sunshine is on the horizon.

Hooray!

Milo is now clapping like a champ, so I had to show you video. Nate remarked the other day that when we show Milo video of himself when he's older, he's going to wonder why he was always in his high chair. I promise, he's hardly ever there, but if you have a toddler you know how hard it is to get him to sit still long enough for a video anywhere else!

No no no

Well, Milo learned a new trick. And no, it's not bonking his forehead three times in the same spot (helmet, anyone?). Here's my little stinker in action...

Interested in a little shopping extravaganza this weekend? I'm taking RubiLu on the road (well, all the way to Diboll), and you're invited! Here's a little peek at the info. Hope to see you there!

Home Boutique

Get a jump on your Holiday Shopping!! Join us  for a time to visit with friends while finding that perfect gift for the ones you love.

Vendors Include :  Teresa Jackson Scentsy (flameless candles & fragrances), Shelley Jabbour Thirtyone (Custom bags, purses, & home organizers), Susan Belasco & Jordan Bowers Treska Jewlery (Unique jewelry, purses, & scarves), Jennifer Holley Boutiqueful Baby (bows & baby items), Debbie Boudreaux MaryKay, Kate Jackson RubiLu (fun hair bows & head bands), Barbara Dinger Photography

Date : October 22

Time : 11 am – 2 pm

Location : 478 Bourrous Drive, Diboll, Texas

Driving Directions : Take FM 819 between Pentacostal Camp Ground and Crown Colony. Cross over FM 2108 (Airport Rd) and go about 1 mile. Take a left on Bourrous Rd. (first road to your left) House is third built house on right.

Monday Motivation

Most of you know I've been training to run a marathon, and some days it gets really frustrating, especially with a 9-month old. But this story completely amazed me and brought a tear to my eye (it doesn't take much these days), because it's motivation at its finest.

100-Year-Old Marathoner Fauja Singh Runs For Late Loved Ones, And For All Of Us

How many dreams do we have that people tell us will be impossible to achieve? This story proves it's never too late.

Want to be Barbie?

Ever thought about what it might be like to have a Barbie figure? O Magazine did a spread where Barbie's proportions were drawn onto an average-sized woman, showing everything that would have to be cut away or altered on her to give her that body type. WOW. Kind of makes you wonder why you would try to be "perfect" if it meant losing at least half of yourself, right?

Ugh. I think about one of the darkest times in my life, where I starved my normally athletic, 5'7", 125-130 pound frame down to about 90 pounds, thinking that I would be more gorgeous, more desirable, more in control of things if I could just maintain that tiny frame... And all I was was miserable, exhausted, and permanently cranky. It wasn't worth it, and it still isn't worth it to give up happiness for a measly 5 or 10 pounds.

We are all more beautiful in our imperfections. Stop worrying about your appearance and just err on the side of being you. I guarantee it will look better on you than any diet, any figure-flattering outfit, any amount of plastic surgery ever could.

If you want to check out the full article, go here (the corresponding article is actually pretty good).

Raccoon Hat

I can't help myself. I have to add these photos to the mix. So there you go. It's Friday Photo Overload. And anyone care to tell me why I can't get these photos to be upright instead of sideways?

A lil' bit of RubiLu

While I'm at it, I thought I might show you a few of my RubiLu creations. Just for fun on a Friday...

One of my favorites - love the brown and red for fall.

A cute little SFA headband that shows school spirit without being too much

LOVE these colors for fall

Ann's workout band - a cute fabric flower stitched onto a ribbon to hold her hair back

Lufkin Panther school spirit at its finest

Friday smile

Just in case you were wondering, my life is amazing.

One Busy Boy

This is one busy little boy right here. He's always on the go, always getting into something, always smiling. Could I be any luckier? I'm pretty sure the answer is no...

What in the world?

I have a lot of things to say about this. Well, in theory, I do. However, after reading this article, I find myself completely astounded and almost unable to form a complete thought. But let me just start with this...
Who was this woman's doctor?
What was she thinking?
And does running a marathon bring on labor?
Look at that poor baby... She looks entirely too pink and pissy to be happy about the events leading up to her birth.
Rather than try to explain to you, I just copied and pasted the article, compliments of Yahoo!Sports. And let me just tell you this. If I ever try to run a marathon 39 weeks pregnant, somebody had better try to discourage me.


Woman gives birth hours after completing Chicago Marathon

By Maggie Hendricks


A woman from suburban Chicago participated in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, grabbed some late lunch, then went to the hospital and gave birth to her daughter. Yes, that makes your lazy Sunday 10 times lazier in comparison.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Amber Miller, who was nearly 39 weeks pregnant, got the OK from her doctor to run half of the 26.2-mile event that winds through the neighborhoods of Chicago. With her husband at her side, she ran the first half and then walked the second half, finishing the marathon with a time of 6:25.

Miller said that she did experience contractions near the end of the run, but still was able to cross the finish line. Marathon officials were supportive, and no one discouraged her from running.

"Nobody tried to do that," she said. "It wasn't too bad, you know? I have been running all the way up until this point anyway so I'm kind of used to it."

June was born at 10:29 p.m., and weighs 7 pounds, 13 ounces.

Applesauce

Just today I decided to let Milo try to give himself a bite of applesauce... There may be no turning back at this point. He apparently loves a challenge, and he caught on really quickly (I'm not surprised, because he's been feeding himself little puffs and pieces of tofu). And although I'm not quite as adept as Nate at filming and feeding him (remember the bananas?), this somewhat captures the cute little lunch we had today.
Also, I feel the need to explain. No, Milo doesn't normally cry through a meal. But he seemed to be a little impatient between bites. Was he that hungry? There's no telling.

Lessons from the playpen

I've been feeling a tad bit like a bawling, squawling baby in a playpen these days (I'm sorry, I believe the P.C. word is pack 'n play). Weird, right? But I keep thinking that I must be doing to God exactly what Milo has been doing to me...

Think of it this way. Why do you put a child in a playpen? I do it to keep Milo safe while I have to be doing something else. You know, like being attentive to personal hygiene and actually getting a quick shower in the mornings. But does Milo like it? Absolutely not. The second I step out of his sight and into the shower, he starts howling, and no amount of singing at the top of my lungs or playing peek-a-boo around the shower curtain helps. He wants me right next to him, in plain sight, and until he gets that, there's no appeasing him (perhaps they should re-rename the pack 'n play to include the word fun so that kids know that's what they're supposed to be having in there...).

So I've been in a bit of a standstill right now. Call it a quiet place, call it a wilderness, call it what you like. I'm going to refer to it as a playpen, and I've been crying about it for months now. And actually, I've been crying about Milo crying, too, while I'm at it. But it came to me while Milo was screaming and I was showering. I'm here so that my Father can keep me safe while he's working on things (although I doubt He's in the shower...), and as soon as He's ready to get me out and take me somewhere else, that's what we'll do. And just because I don't see Him right in front of me doesn't mean He isn't there. I may not like it, but I should be thankful that I'm safe and cared for and quit my whining.

It's amazing the lessons being a parent will teach you about being a child, right?

New Page

Well, I added an order form for RubiLu headbands to the page. You're welcome to use it frequently, share it with friends, and send me pictures of headbands after you order. Oh! And check out some of the photos I posted on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RubiLu/279480355413068.

It's the start of a new week! What do you have planned?

This and that

So many things to tell you! My new nephew Braylen was born on Tuesday. Isn't he adorable?