Searching for a new best friend...

I've come to realize that I have an unfortunate "stress meter" in the form of a rather finicky back. Two nights ago I woke up at about 4am to a ravenous Max and realized that I just could-not-move! Well, that's not exactly true. I could move, it was just extremely painful. One might ask what I have to be stressed about when I have a husband who loves me, a roof over my head and two beautiful children. My response would have to be, "not much", but none the less... I am a worrier. I am thankful to report that after a day flat on my back and another taking it very easy, I seem to be on the mend. So, I'm back at it again to post a few pics of my darlings.

Ruby, one of the more nurturing kids I know, has taken to sharing her meals with this poor dolly. Since the tragic loss of Trixie, Ruby has been "trying out" various dolls to see which one is "the one" to replace her special friend. Unfortunately, for the time being, the winner is this doll. I really ought to have a photo of the doll up close to get the picture, but just to give you the back story...

A few weeks ago, Jared and Ruby went to a loppemarked (flea market) and found a great little bicycle with training wheels for Ruby complete with baby seat on the back. Well, for only 100kr (that's about $18 these days) the lady included not only the bike and training wheels, but also Ruby's choice of dilapidated dolls to ride in the seat. As you can imagine, she carefully examined each choice until her eyes fell upon this doll. Sure, it's body was caked with dirt, it's dress was so "lived in" it could have walked on its own, and the hair was all cut butch short except for one big chunk on top that was inexplicably about 10 inches long, but it also had those ultra cool eyes that open and close with "life-like" eyelashes. Needless to say, this baby was snatched up in an instant. I'm not sure if I can really explain my disgust at first seeing the doll, but I did manage to pry it from Ruby's little hands and convince her that what baby really needed was a bath. So, into the washing machine she went and we've been fairly happy with her ever since. I'm still pushing for a radical haircut, but Daddy has the odd idea that it's so funny it has to stay. Typical.

As you can see from the last shot, Ruby seems to have a problem with clothes these days. She just does not want to have clothes on and would really prefer not to have a diaper either. I think that we're very close to a potty training break through, so that may be part of it. She's really getting into sitting on the potty (complete with 10,000 verses of "The Wheels on the Bus") and also wants her diaper changed as soon as she goes in it. The problem is, that she still hasn't actually done anything on the potty. We'll sit and try and try and try and then as soon as she gets up, "Uh-oh!", there's a mess. Oh well, I'm sure that she won't go to high school in diapers.

Ruby also had her first trip to the dentist yesterday, which she was super excited about! She checked out a-okay with twenty pearly whites and not a cavity in sight. We're hoping that the trip will increase her enthusiasm for brushing somewhat as the regular battle is getting pretty tiresome.

Max is a regular rolly poley these days and gnawing like mad on anything in sight. As you can see, he has no shortage of saliva. We're really hoping that those teeth are going to show up soon. I'm going through LOTS of bibs a day and if I don't remember to change it regularly, his shirt ends up looking like this anyway.

Max has made some sleeping breakthroughs lately, which is awesome. We've been giving him a bottle of formula before bed (8 ounces!!) and that usually holds him from 8:30pm until 5 or 6am! Also, he's going back to sleep after that morning feed until 7 or 8am, so that's just peachy. As icing on the cake, we're also treated to an hour long nap in the morning and a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon! Finally, I'm starting to feel like a human again, instead of a zombie.

Well, dishes are calling... and so is Max... and Ruby... and laundry... you get the picture.