From One to Three!

Ruark got his first front tooth last week, and now he has three bottom teeth right in front, and his one little canine! Poor thing is teething up a storm, I'm just glad we're getting it over with so quickly! He has been a little fussy, but you know our son, he's still giggling through the pain. Because his gums are hurting we have a hard time getting him down for a nap. Instead he wil sit and giggle hysterically

And we're off...

Ruark cut his first front tooth on Saturday, I keep trying to get pictures it's co cute! His first tooth was his left canine which cut at 4 months, well now his front teeth are finally following suit! He got his bottom front right tooth. We couldn't figure out what was wrong with him Saturday, we were supposed to be on our way to the Andrews family reunion, and we couldn't get him to calm down enough to head out. So we missed seeing all of our family, which we are really upset about! Later that night Chase gave Ruark his watch to play with which he was chewing on, I didn't think that was such a good idea so I took it away when he grabbed my finger shoved it into his mouth and bit HARD! Normally that's not such a big deal, but that little tooth was like a razor! OW! He's so cute and happy!

What a big boy! This week, we started CANNING! YEA! I love canning! My neighbors had extra beets which they gave to me to can, it was great. Luckily my sweet niece Elle, was able to come over and "babysit" Ruark, and keep him entertained. I keep telling Chase we need to have an older baby to entertain Ruark, well we found her! It's great! Poor thing tries to carry him around, but he's a big boy, and it's not that easy.

Chase had to head back to WA, so he decided to take us with him. It's been great so far, HOT but great. It's nice spending time together, we'll be back home around my birthday (the 13th) but in the meantime, Ruark, Chase, the puppies, myself and Gabe are sharing a trailer. We'll have to see how it goes!

Turning 23

Happy Birthday Chase!

23 years young! Life is passing us by so quickly, it seems like we can barely keep up! Chase just celebrated his 5 year, high school reunion. It was great to be able to meet friends he hadn't seen in a while, and catch up. It seems like just yesterday I was watching him cross that stage to graduate!

Chase turned 23 last week, we celebrated with our friends when he got back with a BBQ. Mom helped me make and decorate this beautiful 3 layer carrot cake. Which was SO good! After BBQ and cake, we went to the drive-in to see the new Harry Potter movie. We had a great time, spending time with friends and being back together as a family. Happy Birthday Chase!!! We sure love you!



Ruark loves his Daddy! As soon as Chase got back, he was all he wanted. When I held him, he'd hold out his arms for Chase to take him back. What an amazing dad Ruark has to grow up with, he is so blessed!



Ruark is the spitting image of his Daddy! We had a fun little photo shoot, outside the last day Chase was home. I love all of the chances we had to catch Ruark being so inquisitive, he is full of so much energy! We have our work cut out for us raising this little tyke!

6 Months Old

Chase and I also just celebrated our 4 YEAR anniversary! Can you believe it's been that long! We were able to stop in Boise on our way back from Washington and enjoy a Brazilian BBQ Restaurant, we had a lot of fun remembering our life over the past four years.

Ruark is now 6 months old! Half a year has flown by in the blink of an eye! He now weighs 19 pounds and is 27.5 inches long, he's sitting up like a champ and into everything he can get his hands on.

We just celebrated the Fourth of July! The 4th has to be my favorite summer holiday! Luckily Chase was able to come home so we were able to spend it as a family. Ruark loved the parade, everything except for the dang firetruck who blasted their horn when they were right in front of us, it scared him to death! We also enjoyed my family's picnic at Tautphaus Park, even the annual water fight. He didn't even cry when he got wet, what a champ! After such a long day, we even made our way over to to the fireworks, which he loved!! He sat mesmerized by the lights, as we watched from our car near Freeman Park. Then we made our way home and lit off our own fireworks in our front yard. It was such a great day spent with family, remembering our blessings and freedoms we enjoy.

Next on our list of things coming up...Chase and I are turning 23 soon...we are getting old! His 5 year class reunion is coming up too. I'm really excited to see people he went to high school with, and put names with faces.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! How thankful am I to have a day to express my appreciation for the Father's in my life. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father, he blesses me in more ways than I ever dreamed possible. I am so thankful for his steady guidance and protection in our lives.

I am so thankful for my husband and best friend Chase! He is such an amazing man who surprises me everyday with his generosity, kindness and passion for life. I am so blessed to have him for my eternal companion. He loves me more than I deserve, and treats me like a Queen. I never thought you could be so happily married. I wish Chase were able to spend his very first Father's Day with us today, we truly feel the hole in our home when he is gone.

Ruark loves his Daddy, the connection between the two of them is beyond words for me. Chase plays with Ruark, loves him, prays for him, protects him, provides for him (us) what more could we ask for? I love my husband for a million reasons. I pray everyday that not only can we spend eternity together, but that we can spend our lives together. I can't imagine life without him.

My Daddy, what a wonderful grandfather he is to Ruark. We love him and are so thankful our son has so many grandparents who love him, and are able to enrich his life. We look forward to fishing, hunting, horseback riding and boating with Grandpa!

Ruark has so many grandfathers who love him, I wish we had pictures with Kevin, and all of Ruark's great grandparents! Here is a picture of Ruark's blessing, with all the men from the circle...all of them are father's in our life. To all of the Father's in our lives, we love you and are thankful for your sacrifice and are so happy to have you apart of our lives! If we don't take the time to tell you, Have a great Fathers Day!

Chubby Baby

Ruark is so sweet, and he loves his bumbo seat. We put him in there and he watches us from the counter, while we cook and eat...it's nice to have something to hold him besides my arms...he gets heavy! I wonder what it is we are feeding him that makes him so chubby! Sometimes I wonder if we aren't feeding him cubes of butter! Maybe mom needs to lay off some of the cookie dough!!

Look at all those rubber bands! I guess we know where he carries his chub... in his thighs! :)You could gnaw on the one set of chub just behind his knees! They are like turkey drumsticks! He is getting so healthy and strong! The doctors are really happy with how he is growing and they are "amazed" by how calm and happy he is! Maybe I prayed that he would "grow big and strong" a little too much! Truthfully,we are so thankful, for this little spirit and for his healthy body and cheerful attitude! I am thankful everyday to be with him for eternity!

If he is ever grouchy, once in a blue moon, we put him in the bath. Oh man this boy loves bath time! He kicks and splashes like there is no tomorrow! Even on a grouchy day, he's all giggles and grins. He's talking up a storm! In the middle of the night, Chase and I wake up to him jabbering on and on, he must be talking to angels. Instead of crying, he just yells out "MOM" all the time, Chase uses it as an excuse to say he wants me, so I get up. Chase is so great, he gets up every night, and gets him for me so I can nurse him. We are so grateful for the father, husband and preisthood holder he is. Ruark loves playing with his daddy..."num, num's" and fighter pilot are among his favorite. Where would we be without Chase?

So Blessed!

We started feeding Ruark baby food to hopefully sustain him a little more through the night, we started that a few weeks ago, here are some photos of the first time he ate "mixed veggies", which he loved by the way. Of course he did! He loves to eat...he loves biter biscuits too, messy disgusting little creations!! I hate giving them to him, but when he loves them so much what can we do?

He loves drinking out of a glass. We began giving him water in a glass, and then Chase tried feeding Ruark a bottle, with some rice cereal mixed in and he refused the drink from it, so I poured it into a glass and he drank it all up! What a silly boy, he know what he wants, even at such a young age!

Ruark is laughing up a storm these days, and stealing hearts. He is a ball of personality. He got his first tooth, his canine. We took him to see Wolverine that same day, and he loved it! He watched the screen the entire time and laughed. I tried to cover his eyes during fight scenes, and he would pull my hand away and peek around to watch. He loved it, and he was so good through the entire movie, poor little tyke fell asleep in the last ten minutes.

We are so blessed. Since our last posting we sold our home on 11th street and are set to close on our new home very soon. We really love it here, and are enjoying making it our own. Chase has been working on the outside of our home to make it more functional. I can't wait to fill this home with children!