Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas, celebrating in Sibley with my family and in Sioux Falls at our house with Paul's family.  We hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season as well!

Van Heukelom clan

Ruby and cousin Tate

Ruby with one of her favorite new gifts!

Baby Tate's first Christmas.  Unfortunately, he had RSV, but luckily, he was a tough cookie and recovered very quickly. 

Ruby's TWO!

Ruby turned two on December 17th!  She had a wonderful party with her two requests: cupcakes and balloons.  She was pretty shy when we sang to her but she loved it at the same time!  

Ruby is a delightful two year old and brings us great joy and laughter each day.  Her vocabulary is quite large and she will pretty much say whatever you ask her to say.  It is funny to hear what she remembers and talks about each day.  Since turning two, Ruby has been potty trained and has moved into her new room downstairs with her new big girl bed.  The potty training has been a piece of cake!  The new sleeping arrangements have been a nightmare, however!  I keep reminding myself that this is just a phase and in the big scheme of things...it isn't really a big deal at all.  We will persevere and hope that she starts to stay in bed all night long because before we know it, she's going to be a big sister!   

Christmas Lights

Ruby LOVES Christmas lights so we've made several outings to go check out the lights around Sioux Falls.  We have frequented the Western Mall's Light Show three times already and we love it!  The music is great and it is a great cause for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

We have also gone to Falls Park to take in the sights there.  A little chillier option than the indoor light show but still very fun and beautiful!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, being able to see both sides of our family this year.  Paul had the weekend off before Thanksgiving so we traveled to Iowa City and Williamsburg.  Fortunately, we had tons of fun, but unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures...

Ruby and Sydney with Great Grandpa John and Great Grandma Dorothy

Uncle Jon, Grandma Ruth, and Daddy

Paul had to work the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the weekend after but by some wonderful schedule mishap, he ended up with Thanksgiving off even though it was technically his holiday to work, so we were able to see my family then.  We got together with my mom's whole side (46 people if I counted correctly) and Ruby became instant friends with Tara who is 8 months older but the exact same size... and her hat twin for the day.  ;)

Halloween

A few nights before Halloween, Hattie and Brandon wanted to carve some pumpkins.  I carved a Hawkeye out of one pumpkin and Ruby drew on her pumpkin with markers.  

She did "help" me with the pumpkin guts but was more interested in playing with the seeds.

Ruby was a bumblebee this year for Halloween, thanks to some wonderful neighbors who let us borrow a costume some of their children had worn in previous years.  She wasn't too interested in wearing the hood but thankfully it was a very nice night so it was fine that she didn't have anything on her head. 

We were invited to another ER doctor's house for pre-trick-or-treating festivities along with a few other families.  One of the spouses put together this hayride for the kids.

Then we took Ruby around our neighborhood.  

Ruby and Cooper 

She loved trick-or-treating and kept saying "more candy."  Ruby can usually be kind of shy around people she isn't very familiar with, but apparently, if you give her candy she will tell you whatever you want to know!  She had so much fun, she even needed to trick-or-treat at her own house!  ;)

We made a quick stop at Uncle Kenny and Aunt Carrie's.  

Ruby, Daddy, and Kinnick...her bumblebee friend. 

Ruby and Tate...who wasn't too happy for his first Halloween since he had gotten shots earlier in the day.  

Ruby's BFF "Coopy"

We have been blessed with some really great neighbors in Sioux Falls.  Most of the kids are older than Ruby, but we have been able to have many playdates with Cooper who is about 8 months older than Ruby.  Ruby and Cooper love each other!  When they see each other they instantly run towards each other to give big hugs!  

Playing at the Mall

Story time at the Library

(they played a little video and Ruby wanted to lay down by Cooper but she chose to lay down backwards...she doesn't have much interest in TV yet)

At the Butterfly House

Butterfly Kisses!

Baby Time #2

We are excited to be adding another baby to our little family in just a few short months!  February 17th is the due date which will put Ruby and the baby about 26 months apart.  My pregnancy has gone very smoothly thus far and pray that it continues to go that way.  Ruby absolutely loves babies right now, especially her new cousin, Tate.  We hope her love for babies continues when she has her very own brother or sister!  She will have lots of adjustments in the near future, including a move to one of the downstairs bedrooms.  Hopefully she deals with that alright!  We aren't finding out the gender of the baby.  When we ask Ruby if she wants a girl or boy baby she just says, "girl or boy" so apparently she isn't picky!  ;)  

Practicing for the real thing!  I'd say she's quite proud!....

and pretty silly... we call this "crazy face"...

...and concentrating very intently :)

Ruby with her new cousin Tate.  She LOVES giving him kisses... so far he is very patient with his active cousin.  ;)

20 weeks :)