October....just kidding it's November!

Well it's NOVEMBER now but it was October when I first started trying to get a post started. Ha! I guess I just don't have as much motivation lately to keep up on this when I have other things to keep up on. So I guess you could say that life is busy & fun over here. Busy for the fact that I have been home visiting family, entertaining lovely guests, trying to get my house in order, fulfilling my callings as a mom & YW Leader and working one day a week.
Fun because it was wonderful to have my family see our darling Ruthie & to play with Matt, Michelle, Doug, Sarah, kids at the beach and just relaxing!

So here's a little about what we are doing:

Craig - Let me just say that he is doing awesome in school! I'm so proud of him. He works so so hard and never complains! I really don't know how he does it because I, on the other hand, have to voice how I feel, especially when I am feeling overwhelmed:) They are doing a new way of teaching all the med students this year at his school and although everyone was a little worried, it has worked out really well for him. We sure love when he comes home & Ruthie sure lights up! I love their little relationship, he can always get some giggles out of her.

Ruthie - She is now 9 1/2 months old! CRAZY. It is weird when they have been with you as long as you had them inside of you. Definitely way more fun to have them outside:) Ruthie really is such a joy. She is ms. happy - she is always gibbering, smiling, laughing, it's very entertaining.
Fun Facts about Ruthie:
- She only army crawls everywhere but does pretty well at standing by things. I was worried about it for a while but then the Doc told me that army crawling is a form of crawling and to not worry, ok! It works for her?!
-She goes to bed at 6:30pm! So nice - she still wakes up one time which I am currently trying to break her of but she'll go right back to sleep and then won't wake up until 7:30am. Can't complain too much but she did pretty good last night of going back to sleep on her own without a feeding. There's hope-
- She rolls her arms, loves it when we clap and sing songs. Her favorite right now is "Popcorn Popping", she just loves that popcorn when it pops.
-She can say Dada, although I don't think she knows she is really saying it. Sometimes it sounds like "Hey Dada!" when she is babbling, it's really funny & Craig just plays along with it and goes into a full conversation with her. I think she will be a chatty one when she gets older.
-She loved peek-a-boo, when Craig gets home we peak around the corner to try and surprise him and she just loves it. After a bath she will also pull the towel over her face and when I say "Where's Ruthie?" She'll pull it down for the big "Peek-a-boo" and then she'll pull it back up over and over. So fun.
-She is ALWAYS happy! She really only gets crabby when she's tired & hungry but all the other times she is just so sweet & cheerful.
Oh we love her so & don't know how we could live without her!

Me- Well I am doing pretty good! Some days are better than others and the other days are usually when it is right before a big test for Craig and I am alone a lot. It kind of makes me feel like a single parent & it is tough. I was thinking just the other day how much more I respect mothers that are single moms and have to do it all on their own. I can't imagine hard how it would be to raise kids, work every day, run the house & stay sane. Seriously! But I think motherhood can be hard period, no matter your situation. I am just so grateful that we have a loving Heavenly Father that we can always turn to for help & support. I try to stay positive and remember to rely on Him & look for the good! I'm not perfect at it but it sure helps to just laugh & to enjoy the good in life.
Even though it can be tough, motherhood is 100% worth it though & amazing at the same time! There is NOTHING in this life I would rather do and just love every minute of being with our Ruthie! She is so much fun & bring so much joy in our life. I actually loathe the days I have to go into work, I like what I do once I get there, but it is always a rough night before knowing I have to leave her. I am contemplating not working anymore but I really feel like I need to get at least a year of experience under my belt so we'll see.
Oh & please know that Craig is a huge help though when he is here and wants to help out but it just isn't always possible with all that he has to do & because he needs to do well. Very understandable! The other day I just needed someone and my house was a wreck & he could sense my stress & flew to my aid - cleaned house, helped me get ready for work & got up with Ruthie so I could get good sleep before work. What an amazing guy I got:)

Some pictures of me & Ruthie's visit home from the beginning of October :

Love these ones of Mom & Dad U & beautiful Sarah below-

Ruthie's 2nd mother, I mean Aunt Em, who wishes she was mother to such a cute girl...ha someday Em-

Girls night out at Cheesecake factory celebrating Jen's Bday

Swimming with Grandpa Freeman - so nice that you can still swim in Az even in October

My baby sis is engaged! To a wonderful Jared, they are just perfect for each other.
We are so excited for them:)

Jeff is also engaged! To beautiful Brianna - we love her! Their date is 2 weeks after Jen's - it sure is going to be busy in the Freeman household!

Our cutie pie

She is so beautiful & just getting so big, can't believe it. I LOVE these little boots on her:)

FYI: I think I am going to post less pictures on our blog from now on, if for some reason you want to check out more pictures of my cute family & our adventures in Cali, they will be on facebook:)