Crazy woman driver

So Mommy and Daddy were driving me to Abilene to visit Marmie, Pop, Happy and Papa, and all my aunts and uncles. Yes, I was looking forward to it, but two whole hours in the car is just too much for me to handle. Why couldn't they all just have come here to play? So after much debate (I had to raise my voice so they could here me), I was finally able to convince them to let me out of my car seat and stretch my over-active legs.

Mwahahahahaha... And I stole their water too!

How could they resist this face?

Now I'm going to take that straw and do something my Pop taught me.

I'm going to chew the tar out of it till it is one congealed, goopy mess of plastic.

Eh. On second thought, this is WAY better. I love me some paci.

Look out world! Here I come!

(There was no movement of the vehicle during this photo session. Thought I oughta cover my royal behind.)

never the same.

Life will never be the same here in the Brantly house. Ruby is zipping all over the house on her hands and knees. She has discovered the bookshelves, pots and pans, outlets, toilet paper, and everything else below the three-foot level all around the house. And she is loving it!

I found the camera, so pictures to come.

I heart this.

dear ddddear dear dear

Well, folks. I cannot find my camera. So if you've seen it around....
It has been missing for about a month.
Anyone?...

But other than looking for my camera and rushing to send in a rebate that has to be received by the end of the week (I've only had it for four months!) and dreaming about and planning my garden... there's not a lot happening around here.

I have started a Bible study with the gals on Esther. It is my second time to begin this study, and I definitely plan to see it through this time. Ruby was born in the middle of it last time, so I got slightly distracted... for ten months. Kind of like how I got distracted from sending in this rebate form - for four months. Sigh! I try. I really do.

Kent and I are applying for an international rotation. We don't quite know where yet, but we're thinking Africa. We'll narrow it down eventually. Kent would like to go for the month of October, so I'm in the midst of obtaining a passport for Ruby and a new one for myself since my name has changed.

I'm falling in love with Darcy and Elizabeth all over again.

And I am LOVE LOVE LOVING Texas winters!

Nature Girl

my problem with co-sleeping

Ruby sleeps in her own crib, in her own room. She simply sleeps better there. And so do we.
But sometimes, when Kent is at work, I bring Ruby to bed with me. This is usually during the morning hours. She eats then falls asleep in the crook of my arm. I love it. She is so sweet at this time of day - when she's sleeping. I just lie there and stare at her. I study her perfect, round nose, her beautiful tiny mouth, her long eyelashes... Her skin is so perfect, smooth, and soft. Her body is warm. Her hair, so soft.
I think about her, what we may do today, what we may do a year from now. I wonder if she's too young for me to read Little House books to her. Or Anne of Green Gables. Probably. And I wonder if I can anyway. But I don't have the Little House books (*cough*cough* Sister?). And I ponder how quickly she is growing and how she's 10 months old today. And, what?! TEN MONTHS?!

And this is my problem with co-sleeping. I don't sleep. I sit and stare.

One time...

When I was about 8 years old, my mom bought me two pairs of stirrup pants. Remember those? The knit pants with a strap around the bottom of the leg that you looped underneath your foot? They were so cool! Where are stirrup pants now?!
Anyway, my mom bought me a pair of black pants and a pair of pink and white floral print pants. I mean, because the story wouldn't be nearly as good if it weren't for the pink and white flower print stirrup pants!
Right. So. I was wearing my new favorite pink and white flower power pants and playing with the neighborhood kids at the bike trail. My right arm was in a cast from a previous tragedy (another story), but I didn't let that stop me from climbing a tree.
(I loved climbing trees as a kid. Anyone else?)

You may have guessed where this is going...

I fell out of said tree. And while I managed not to break my left arm, I did to a pretty good job at mangling my brand new pink and white floral print stirrup pants. They tore from the waste all the way down the leg. The tree did a pretty good job at tearing into my leg, too. The boys laughed. I turned red of embarrassment. And ran home attempting to cover myself with shreds of hot pink and white fabric. I cried.
My brand new pants! They were so pretty. So soft. So comfortable. So... stylish!