and we're back...

We have internet, people! And apparently when I was out, they changed the blogger format... We have internet. We have a house that is 76% put together. We have a new life in Santa Barbara and are are making it happen! More details to come as I find time to breathe...

Sick little bunny...

Happy Easter! Ruby came down with a little cold on Friday night so this weekend has been a LONG weekend with this sick little bunny...


... but we made the most of it (and she's so cute! It makes sickness easier...)! We got in our Sunday best and went to the park, to another park, played with our babies, got frozen yogurt, but mainly just lounged and rested - that baby is sick and this mama was tired!







And where was Josh you ask? Well. We have some news to share with you all. Josh left last Tuesday with a trailer-load of our stuff for our NEW home in Santa Barbara! An exciting job opportunity arose back in Santa Barbara and we're taking it. Josh started the move last week and Ruby and I will follow on Saturday. We're excited for the move and Ruby and I are ready to see Josh!

Hope you all had a great Easter!

TWENTY THREE months!

"Mine!" "No!" "I help!" "Peeeeesss!" These are things I hear a gazillion times a day. Ruby is definitely entering toddlerdom and it's both thrilling and terrifying. She's the sweetest, most cuddly little thing one minute and the next she's crumpled onto the floor in a fit of rage because we asked her if she wanted to take a bath. And I thought pregnancy mood swings were bad! She's starting to put thoughts and ideas together and I find myself constantly surprised as her vocabulary DAILY grows. She's starting to be able to verbalize what she wants and can clearly tell you what she doesn't want (for example, today on the way home she says "No home. Park!" and then "PEEEAAAASSS!"). She is IN LOVE with Daphne down the street and Miss Kristin and Mel Mel at daycare - she's a girl's girl and loves to play dress up and run in circles and giggle. Ugh. She's so precious it makes my heart swoon!

yeah... he'll be good with two...

rub a dub dub

Ruby and Daphne are in the tub! We were able to go over to a friend's house for dinner and the two girls just had so much fun playing together. It's so neat to see Ruby in the stage where she just giggles and runs around with other little girls. At one point we heard them in the other room and then it got REAL quiet... the next thing we see are the two of them run through the kitchen with play necklaces, sunglasses, dress up clothes, and hats. It was SO cute. We ended the night with a bubble bath. Ruby's first bath WITH someone... besides Daddy. She did great - a little freaked out - but overall was calm, cool, and collected. She's a champ.

the messy bun...

it's in her genes... If you have ever met me, you are probably aware that I wear my hair up about 94% of the time. To my defense, I've been wearing it down a lot more due to its length and great cut (thanks, Megan!). BUT, I wear my hair up A LOT. And when it's up, it's in a messy bun. Ruby donned that same look this morning and it was just the sweetest thing ever. Like mother, like daughter...

TWENTY TWO months!

Man. I cannot wait to answer the question "How old is she?" with TWO YEARS OLD! I'm done with the months. Bring on the years. Trust me - she's ready for it too. She's getting so big - and so expressive. One of our favorite things these days is "I HAPPY!" - she will say this A LOT. And it's adorable. If she is asking for something and we give it to her she replies "Day Do" (read: toddler speak for thank you) followed by "I happy!". It's just the cutest thing. Or if she yells at me I say "Ruby, that makes mommy sad," and then she'll lean in for a hug, mumble something that sounds like "sorry" and then say "Mama happy!" Pretty much cutest thing ever. She's in the stage where she wants to help with everything - stirring dinner in the pot, putting on her shoes, cleaning up - including sweeping up after meals... she's a good little helper. And her manners are really progressing - lots of please and thank yous ("day do's") without being prompted. She's just the best thing ever...










And Ruby's outfit was not as planned today - life happened and laundry didn't. She was supposed to wear her shirt that says "Big Sister" ... this little one is a big sister!! Josh and I are expecting Baby Dunlop #2 (not official name FYI) around August 5th. We couldn't be more thrilled and I mean, Ruby adores babies, so I think it's safe to say she's excited too!

mini vacay

Ask and you shall receive... pictures! We made a quick 48 hour trip to Santa Barbara. Both drives were coordinated to start right at Ruby's bedtime in hopes that she would sleep the whole way... I'd say that only partially worked. BUT, we made it and we had a great time!

Our place...

(Ruby was obsessed with the garage door opening and closing... it's the small things in life...)

(Her waiting with anticipation for me to open it... for the 8th time that morning...)

FULL day of fun (I think Josh and I were more exhausted than Ruby...):

Pancakes by the beach...

Swinging by the beach...

ZOO!

Top of the clock tower... (side story: when I took Ruby to the Santa Cruz wharf, I told Josh that it freaked me out when Ruby got close to the fence thing that overlooked the ocean because, in my paranoid head, she could fall through the tiny slots. Josh thought I was being silly. At the top of the clock tower, the gate slots were even closer together than at the wharf and Josh was a nervous wreck... see, Josh?? See??)

Trolly Ride!

Bubbles at the turtle pond park!

We had a great time and unfortunately didn't document our time with our friend Jeff and Graham, our friends from Colorado (We missed you, Krista!). We ate good food, saw good friends and fun animals, and Ruby enjoyed being in the beautiful outdoors... so fun!

Next item to work on: taking pictures with ME in them! I promise, I do exist...

Nonna to the rescue...

Nonna sent some pics. Proof they were here...



... and that we had so much fun!

Happy Valentine's Day!