Ruby has been rolling over like crazy. She didn't really start doing it at all until a few weeks ago, but now she loves to just roll around. My mom said on Friday, she went to the bathroom and left Ruby playing on the floor. When she returned, Ruby had rolled all the way under the couch with just her head still sticking out.
She's growing like a weed. She's officially out of all things 6 months. It's a bummer because most of her 9 months stuff is for cooler weather - since she won't turn 9 months until the end of October. It's amazing how fast she grows. I wish there was a way to slow it down. All I can do is try to soak up every minute of it while it lasts.
Ruby started shrieking like a terradactyl. She's just figuring out her voice and volume and all that. But it totally gets on Brian's nerves - he has to take deep breaths to get through it. My mom has no patience for it either - especially in public. Ruby is officially unruly.
As I'm writing this, Brian just scooted by on his back with Ruby riding sitting up on his belly. She's crabby and usually the only thing that chills her out is moving around in a new way. She loves to be pushed around in her bathtub or in one of the little plastic bins we keep her toys in. One more reason hardwood floors rule.
This month Ruby learned how fake cough and to clap.
She also hung out with her favorite cousin, Ben. She loves him like crazy - always leaning over to hug him when he's within reach. I think she remembers that he came all the way to see her when she was just 3 weeks old.
While Ben was here, we all went to the Science Center to see Brian's Mutant Detector.
This month, Ruby stopped taking an 8pm nap, and just stayed asleep. This kind of bums me out because I don't get much time with her if I work late. On Wednesday night, I came home and she was already asleep. That sucks. I would rather her stay up until 11pm, and then sleep for my mom.
Three times in September, she slept from 8pm until 7am without waking up in her own bed!!!! That was insane. 11 hours. Of course, I never got much more than 5 hours of sleep because I I always have stuff around the house to catch up on, and I'm reading a really good book right now - Dishwasher. Hopefully though - it's a sign of good things to come.
Two out of the three times were while Brian was in Boston for work. That was a gift! I was really worried about having her all to myself for five days, but it went great.
We also took Ruby to the zoo for the first time this month. She really liked watching everything underwater - penquins, fish, and hippos. Probably the best was when Brian held her up above the water line to see the Hippo out of the water and then below to see everything swimming. He bobbed her up and down a bunch of times and she was blown away and giggling.
Her favorite things to do this month are:
- Walking (with assistance)
-Music - Cameron gave her a little piano she loves to play and she also loves her new (super-old) fisher price music box portable radio that plays Twinkle Twinkle. I had the "Raindrops" one when I was little and I found hers at TFA while shopping for something else. It's in perfect shape. No batteries!
- Standing by the coffee table
and beating on it.
and beating on it.
- Picking all of her toys out of a bin one by one. She grabs them, beats them on someting, and then tosses them. Repeat.
- She also still likes her exersaucer. She's borrowing it from her older friend Tyler (along with his bed, changing table, bouncer, etc. - we're all about not buying baby stuff if we can avoid it). I love it because it isn't all blinged out and flashy. It just has a bunch of fine motor exercises that keep her busy while I cook or run to the bathroom or whatever.
She's not crawling yet. I know she'll get to it when she feels like it. She's getting there. Here's what often happens when we try it out:
We have some tummy time and she curls up her toes and pushes up.
Daisy comes by to check things out.
Daisy tickles Ruby. Ruby laughs and fall back on her belly. And we have to start over.
At first, she couldn't understand why she couldn't just grab the stream of water like she grabs everything else she reaches out for. Since I figured out how to add pictures - I'm going to add some other swimming ones too.
That's Ruby with her swimming lessons buddy, Cameron. I'm sad to say she already outgrew that swimsuit before the session was even over. As you can tell from the pics - she was barely in it on the day they were taken. Ruby LOVES swimming. 
Since the first day that Ruby was born, I frequently am amazed that Ruby is real - that she is a real person and that she is a part of our family and will be forever. Sounds so lame, especially coming from someone who hates it when anyone states the obvious, but it's true. It happens all the time, and it is truly and profoundly stunning. The fact that it keeps happening with the same intensity, instead of getting a little more familiar as time passes, just might be the very best part. I hope it stays this way forever.
