Where we Started, and Where We'll End

As Good as it Gets
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

This little blog all started as a way of keeping my mom updated on the antics of a newborn Sophie, almost three years ago. Today, John and I decided that in light of our two children who conspire to keep me from blogging as often as I'd like, we'd consolidate the Grummy Files and the first blog we started for ourselves. From now on we'll be blogging about the kids on Rudderless. For simplicity's sake!

I also want to print this blog in a big old book so one day I can comb through it and relive the early days of Sophie (and Rosy). To do that, I needed to have a last page. Six months into Rosy's life, and with the arrival of 2009, the time seems ripe. All of the content will remain here indefinitely, but to see us grow (and Rosy is due another 18 month-birthday newsletters) and read about our chaos, update your bookmarks to Rudderless. See you there- frequently, we hope!

Six Months

Dear Roo,

Holy unbelievable, you're six months old. And almost a week. Time is moving in warp speed now. To watch someone grow and change so quickly is a little bit mind-blowing. Good gravy.

But what a sea change from three or four months ago. What a delicious, sweet, charming little imp you've become. Smiles for everyone and everything. Big open-mouth kisses and squeals. Grown-up belly laughs when we tickle you. It's like you radiate joy. A cliche, I know, but it couldn't be more true.

This month has been all about playing. You sit up relatively well, too engaged with the world around you to be bothered with such details as balance and composure. You reach and grab like an octopus, your tiny fingers grasping for that one.last.inch . . . Once an object has been retrieved it is brought to the mouth, tasted, pondered, flipped over, banged on, banged on the ground, held aloft, stretched, discussed, then tossed aside. Repeat. Over and over again. You have learned to dig for things in your basket of toys. You throw them off the highchair tray. The funniest mode of play is on the kitchen counter in the Bumbo, where you will dislodge the coffee pot and toss it to the ground, while swinging its cord. You have broken Pyrex dishes I was SURE were out of reach. You explore the dish drainer with relentless zeal. You love bread bags and chip packages. Anything crinkly and inherently unsafe.

My little scientist. Observing, assessing. Learning. You are inches from crawling. The rear end has been figured out. Your tiny knees tuck up under you and push, but your front half hasn't figured out how to locomote. So it results in this slow slide to one side, where you prop yourself up on elbows like a model in a magazine shoot. So goshdarn funny.

You are my cherub in the sling, wrapped up every night after your sister goes upstairs. We pick up and play a bit, then walk slowly to sleep, your fuzzy blonde head on my chest. It is the moment I want to bottle up and revisit ten, fifteen years from now. It is the essence of motherhood.

It is perfect, just like you.

Happy half birthday my littlest girl. I am so lucky to have you.

Happy New Year! 2009. Wow.
I owe Rosy a six-month letter, speaking of years. HALF a year??? That flew by. Six months of a whole lot of work and some very big changes. I know there was some fun in the mix. But it flew by, Seriously.

We had a great time with the Landrums in Atlanta and Alabama. The girls were dreams on the plane. Minor meltdowns from Sophie of all people, who has been a bit out of sorts, super-meotional lately. I'll chock it up to the holidays and transitions and not fully understanding all of it. But it's crazy-making. I am looking forward to getting back into a routine and hoping her feet hit the ground again soon. She is three in ten days!! She is having four friends to a tiny tea party and apparently brown is the theme- brown cupcakes, brown sprinkles, brown dress. Huh? She has been singing and dancing up a storm. Just when I think her imagination has no room to grow, it does. A whole other door opens and out comes operetta and Broadway and more drama.

Rosy is simply loveable these days. As cute and as sweet as the day is long. She floats my boat. John's too. She is a cherub. And about to crawl. Hold onto your horses.

More tomorrow, I swear. And lots more pics on Flickr!

Amidst it All

Amidst it All
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

Happy Christmas!

Sophie loved the whole thing. This on the heels of a pretty out-of-sorts Christmas Eve (thank you, two top molars coming in at once). We did manage a nice walk and some time on the big-girl swings, a milestone she accomplished this week. Dinner was pasta and whining. Even driving around looking at lights wasn't making her happy. Alas . . .

She thought Santa would still be here when she woke up.
Enamored of a small squishy chameleon and a fabulous doctor kit. She also got a beautiful tutu, puzzle, ant farm, games, bubble blower and more (much more). Rosy got a huge cow pillow, a wooden bus and rainbow stacker, a Skwish, binkies, and a sippy cup.
I love all my kitchen ware- thanks Mom!
We just finished cinnamon rolls and soon will be embarking on feast preparations with our friends Diana, Brain, Tabitha and Johnathan.
Tomorrow we're off to Atlanta for a few days with the extended fam.
See you when we get back- more pics on Flickr.

Eating Tabitha

Eating Tabitha
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

Rosy still won't sleep in the evening. Crazy-making, this new schedule. But she gave me enough time to get two new videos up:

Sophie's dance show.
and Rosy @ 5 Months.

Enjoy, grandparents!
ps- Sophie is working on her third of four new molars. Hallelujah, there will be a Christmas! Let's hope Santa brings us the last one so grumpy, clingy girl can be done with this.

Sophie is having a hard time playing by herself recently. It's taking quite a bit of encouragement to get her out from underfoot and onto a game of her own (which are invariably awesome and creative). The other day she resorted to playing with her sister. Oh my it was fun. For three minutes. But still, what a start.

Seeing them together reminds me of how much Zoo is taking in . She diligently copies our interactions with Rosy. When we coo and ahh and tickle and laugh with her, Sophie does the same. Something is working- she praises Rosy's cute toes and her tiny ears. She brings her toys when they're on the floor together. The resentment comes and goes, but there is also acceptance, and a smidgen of pride. It's an awfully sweet Christmas present.

Speaking of which, Sophie's first Christmas good deed is documented on the big blog. We took rawhide candy canes to the local animal shelter. It was too loud to distribute them individually, but the dogs in need will have a treat, thanks to Sophie.

Playing

Playing
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

Sophie in her own world. As per usual.

"Imagination is everything."
She may not grow up to be Albert Einstein (who said that, btw), but I know she will grow up empowered to think outside the box. I can't wait to see what her childhood theatrics become. More theater? Quantum mechanics? Mountain climbing? I am so happy we've had the time and space to let her think and play so freely these three years.

Today she played with a bedsheet for most of the afternoon. It was a "harvest ghost." Huh? She also played Tom Kitten with her kangaroo, giraffe, and dinosaur. A toy dinosaur pretending to be a kitten. There must be a master's thesis in there somewhere.

Today we saw Santa at the library. There was initial shock and then apprehension. She wondered where the candy canes were. At one point I thought of bailing out completely, but I wanted her first impression to be a good one. We rallied through the tears and went back in, where there were goodie bags with **candy canes** poking out of the top! All was forgiven. Like magic, Santa had made the candy canes appear. She even said goodbye to him (through licks of her candy, bites of cookie and cake) when he went off "to see the other kids." I have no idea how much she comprehends, but quite frankly it's not worth comprehending if it ain't fun. Thank goodness we salvaged some fun.

In other news, Rosy has given up sleep. I have had perhaps ten minutes to myself this evening and in the last few days. Sorry to be absent on the blog, but until she figures out that evenings are not for play, this is how it will be . . .

Off she goes

Off she goes
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon.

The girls are fast-a-changin.'
Sophie walks up and down stairs completely unassisted, holding on to the rail when she needs to, and letting go when she doesn't need to.
That's a big deal when your inseam is just over a foot.
She has also given up the tiny potty. She prefers to climb up to the toilet and use the little potty as a footstool.

Meanwhile, Rosy somehow traverses entire rooms. How, I have no idea.
She also LOVES to eat and sits at the table with us at dinnertime, watching me expectantly, like, "And where is mine?" It took her all of three feedings to figure that one out.

Smart cookies.