The greatest gift

Ruby opens a magical gift from her Aunty Chanti. A very special personalized stool...hand crafted by Chanti's Dad. The letters are like little puzzle pieces and are already proving to be quite entertaining. How spoiled are we?!

As for me... I've got everything (everyone) I've ever wanted...The greatest gift I have ever received is you. Ruby.

Time

The days are flying by at a feverish pace.
It boggles my mind.

My baby is blasting her way through sleepers on almost a weekly basis. She eats food, makes real poo in her Kushies, sits upright in her BOB stroller without her car seat and blows a mean Raspberry. She has mastered rolling (in one direction only), and stands confidently on my lap chatting up (read:yelling at) any one who will listen.

She is a pterodactyl. A gnome. A princess.
An angel.
A miracle.

When I look at her I now understand how parents send their university aged children off to school thinking...What the frick? Where did the time go? I also understand how motherhood amplifies the paranoia associated with sirens, the sketchy person/situation radar and the extremely low emotional tolerance for commercials and/or shows containing anything remotely sappy, happy, sad or romantic.

I love her so much and although I must pranayma breath my way through individual (and fairly infrequent) screaming spells I am winded by the thought of her growing up...of our time together passing too fast. This, from the woman who was afraid of Maternity leave. Although I still can't picture myself as a full time stay home mom- I worry about my return to the work place (In September). How will I manage being away from her? Who will care for her? How do you know a good childcare provider? Can we afford to work part-time?

We just now, at almost six months, felt like we should probably go out without her for the evening. Not because we needed or wanted to leave her - but just that perhaps it's a bit creepy if we didn't. Individual girls' and guys' night out are awesome but...

So, we left her with her Yiayia and went out for some Yuletide festivities. I flat ironed my hair, wore make up, talked to adults, drank two and a half ciders and got my ass kicked by Dance Dance Revolution. It was fun.

We came home before midnight, kissed our little angel and tucked my momma in. We snuggled in to bed and rehashed the events of our evening out and agreed that we're very lucky kids. We have great friends, a loving and supporting family and of course our precious Ruby.