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!

and we're back... for now...

February is busy. Busy busy. I've only had 3-day work weeks the entire month and it will continue until March! Trips here and there. Visitors coming and going. It's been busy.

This weekend my parents were here and we had a great time! Good food, good company, good Nonna/Papa time. Josh and I were able to have a pre-Valentine's Day lunch date sans toddler and a lovely, much needed nap. It was my dad's birthday weekend so we were also able to eat cheesecake and celebrate him as well.

Did I take pictures? I'm not even going to answer that. Just know we had a good time. This weekend, we're off to Santa Barbara. We will (try) to take pictures...

baby Kayleigh

Our little family went down to meet a new little family - the Olsens. Joey and Lindsey are our dear friends and they just had a beautiful baby girl in late December. I was struck with the stomach flu a few weeks back and had to cancel my trip down to go meet the little one, but LUCKILY all 3 Dunlops were healthy enough to make the trip down this weekend.

Oh. My. Word. She's wonderful. So perfect. And such a cuddlebug. To say Ruby took to Kayleigh is an understatement. Ruby ADORED Kayleigh. "Baby? Baby?" She was always asking for her. And when she'd cry, Ruby would say "Uh oh" and give her hugs. What? Oh my word. Um. I may have teared up when that first happened.

Did I get any pictures of Joey and Lindsey? No. Did I get any pictures of Josh or myself? Of course not. Why do we even have a camera? BUT, I did capture these moments and I LOVE looking at them... so precious.

safety first...

As you may remember, Ruby got a Plasma Car for Christmas this year. She's really good at it. Like, too good. Josh and I will set up lawn chairs at the end of the driveway and just let her go to town up and down the driveway. We have a little downward slope heading towards the street and man - she picks up speed. So... we did what any safe (read: over protective) parent would do and got her a special hat to wear while riding (read: helmet). Nerdy? Perhaps. So funny and cute to see her riding around in it? YES.