Baby Ruth #2, due February 2011!

God has chosen to bless us with another little tike!! We are so excited and thankful. We got to see lil baby Ruth #2 today at the Dr.'s office (14 weeks old). Baby's laying sideways, with head on the left, an arm held up, and tummy on the right:

Here's my first official "baby belly" photo taken last week (13 weeks):

Hudsonville Fair

On Wednesday Micah and I met up with his old-time library buddy whom we haven't seen since the spring!! We went to the Hudsonville Fair, which I think is going to be an annual tradition (2 years strong now). :-) Here's a photo sampling of just some of the things we did.

In the Poultry barn, we saw a very unique chicken - check out that hairdo!

The rabbit barn was a bit quieter and cuter than the other barns we had just been in (cows, pigs, sheep):

This is "Tinker Bell" the mascot of the MI Vietnam Veterans traveling wall

There was a TON of farming equipment on display for kids to climb on (and maybe dad's and grandpa's to buy) :-)

Micah wanted to climb in the BIG one:

The best shot we got of the two buddies together...

Micah got to ride on one ride (his choice? The Crazy Bus), because someone kindly handed us some tickets they weren't going to use up!

A fair isn't complete without some face paint.

Outdoor fun

This past Sunday was a beautiful day. After pushing through an unexpected 1/2 week of humidity, Sunday was a pleasant surprise - sunshine, warmth, a slight breeze at times and a whole lot less moisture in the air! We took advantage of this weather (gift from God, in my opinion), :-) and enjoyed an afternoon outside.

Playing in the pool grandma got Micah this week:

Looking up at the trees (copying what mommy and daddy were doing in their lawn chairs):

Topped off by a cook-out!

"My bruise melted"

Micah likes to eat ice chips (just like his mama). It's not too often that we munch on 'em, but when I pop an ice cube out of the tray and it crumbles, he likes to eat the chips. However, we've been having some very hot weather, and at times he doesn't consume the little chip fast enough and it's melted before he can successfully pick it up and put it in his mouth. He's learned that ice chips "melt."

A couple weeks ago he got a gnarly bruise on his arm. The past week or so it's been fading, with the last shade of yellow still on his arm. This morning at breakfast he was examining his arm trying to find his "yellow bruise." He couldn't find it. We conversed about how maybe it was gone. He put two and two together and piped up, "my bruise melted." Seems he thinks "melted" is synonymous with "disappeared." :-)

Washing dishes - in style!

On Monday I opened up the cupboard under my kitchen sink and found a puddle of water under the trash can and spray bottles of cleaner that I store under there. We knew this day would come, and that day was today - a new kitchen faucet!

Out with the old...

In with the new...

I need to have a baking spree or something so that I have a pile of dishes to wash. I mean wow, you should really experience the amazing, consistent water pressure with this new Kohler. And the sprayer - it doesn't dribble! Seriously, bring over your dirty dishes, and I may just wash them for you. Thank you Lord for running water, and for a new faucet!

The progression of a weekend

This past weekend was a mixture of down time at home and fun little outings.

Micah chillin' out with dad on the couch, watching him play on the iPod Touch.

Saturday evening we enjoyed a feast and great fellowship at Brad Baar's house (Amanda's boyfriend) with a combined family BBQ (Ruths/Baars). We got to meet his parents (dad below), 2 bros and 1 sis-in-law, while also in the company of Papa, Mama, and DeeDee! Thanks for a great 1st dual family gathering, Brad!

Sunday morning Scotty and Micah gave mommy some time to herself at home while they went to see Papa at a reopening (well, just renaming) of one of the Spartan stores. They came home with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and Micah's declaration of "Mommy's wonderful!" :-)

For dinner on Sunday night, Scotty and Micah had another "guy's outing" and picked up some food for a personal family grill-out at home (just for the 3 of us). It was such a beautiful evening, with a slight breeze and 0% humidity (we've just pushed through 2 months of a very hot and humid summer). After we stuffed ourselves silly, we enjoyed a nice family walk. I found this little bumblebee earlier, who was also enjoying the weather (and food).

Banana-Apple "Cookies" (sugar free)

Yesterday Micah and I whipped up some "cookies" that one can feel good about eating! Nothing but fruit and oats, but still helps with that sweet tooth:

3 ripe bananas
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup apples, chopped
1/3 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Stir in oats, apples, applesauce, and vanilla. Mix well, and allow to sit for 15 minutes (up to you whether you want to wait that long). Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly brown.

[Recipe based off of the one found here: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Healthy-Banana-Cookies/Detail.aspx]

random...

I don't mean to offend anyone, but when I saw this picture today it struck me as really funny. I just find it to be a very odd looking couch.

Stay between the lines, the lines are our friends...

Micah's not much of a crafty kid, which is fine with me, because I am super uncreative and am not big into crafts either. I do, however, like to color. Micah has a small assortment of coloring books and scrap paper that he scribbles on from time to time, but it usually doesn't hold his interest too long. Generally he ends up handing me crayons, and watching me color until he gets bored of that too.

Last week something changed though. I think it's literally a developmental advancement that just took time to happen. He's coloring in the lines! I don't know why, but this was just so exciting for me. One day we sat down to scribble/color, and all of a sudden I see him actually concentrating and focusing on what he's doing. Before it was all said and done, he had colored page after page of pictures with blue (not perfectly in the lines, mind you, but obviously attempting to color the shapes and pictures). A couple days prior, he had also successfully taken a pen and drawn around words in a newspaper I had given him, whereas usually he would just...scribble.

Anyway, I know I've rambled on enough. I just think it's neat to see his growth and improvement which just naturally takes place. His coloring sessions are lasting a bit longer; I can tell he's enjoying them more as he can focus and really see a finished, colored project. Here's the picture he colored this morning (with ZERO help from me):

Micah's First Catch!

On Sunday after church, we headed over to Scott and Lisa's. Grandpa had been waiting for us, well, for Micah that is. He was going to take Micah fishing in their backyard pond. Oh was Micah excited! After I required a snack and potty break for Micah, he bolted out the door with Papa and got acquainted with this hobby known as "fishing." What a perfect day for it - they caught 9-10 fish in the 30 or so minutes they were out there. Only 1 cast came up empty!

Getting ready for the first cast:


Micah's first catch (on the first cast) - a large mouth bass:


Grandma came out and got to see one of the fish caught (which was 1 blue gill, and the rest were large mouth bass):


Micah sportin' his "Grampa's Fishing Buddy" shirt (we'll have to see if there's a "Grampa's Golfing Buddy" shirt for when he plays his first 18 with g'pa Sovilla):


Another bite - reel 'er in!


Micah getting a little closer to the fish...


...but he still refused to touch any of them. :-)

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Helping clean up after a successful afternoon of some catch-and-release fishing. Micah was determined to carry the tackle box all the way across the backyard, up the stairs, and into the garage for g'pa.

Family BBQ!

On Saturday Scott, Lisa, Brad and Amanda came over to our place for a BBQ. Scott was very generous to supply all the food, and it was fun for us to host (and show them our new carpet and Scotty's office)!

Our wonderful (and mighty handsome) cook - Scotty:


Micah explaining to grandpa how the trucks work - the bulldozer scoops into the dump truck (Micah definitely took a bath after his time in the dirt - you should've seen his grubby legs). :-)


Good eats, and great fellowship!


Brad and Amanda on their way out to go to Brad's 10-yr. high school class reunion. Say it with me, "awww" what a good lookin' couple.


Play-dough fun with grandma - what a good way to end the day!