boston.

Each time I visit this beautiful city, there seems to be something new and different to see. I haven't been to Boston in the spring in forever. I always happen to be there in the bitter cold. This was such a welcome change. 

This trip, my only goal was to get a picture of Ruby in front of the "Make Way for Ducklings" statue in the Boston Public Garden. It was one of her Baby Bucket List things. 

Our Itinerary for the Day Included:

Fanueil Hall & Quincy Market

Durgin Park (this is a restaurant, not a part. This happened here) 

Boston Common & Frog Pond Carousel 

Boston Public Garden  

Italian North End & Mike's Pastry

Boston, I Love You. 

Ruby, the Expert Traveler

Site of the Boston Massacre

The Cutest Cupcake Shop - Next time! 

Ruby and Uncle Sam

I hope Heaven is like this. 

baby at the beach

one of my mom's favorite things to do is collect beach glass. for those of you that don't know what beach glass is - it's exactly what it sounds like! they are pieces of glass that have gotten thrown in the ocean and washed ashore - they are polished and smooth and beautiful. there's a beach just a couple of minutes away from their house that is especially good for finding beach glass. 

this was ruby's first time to the beach. it was cold and windy but she seemed to really enjoy it. and she really enjoyed eating the sand. 

also, aren't those overalls the cutest thing you have have ever seen on a babe? 

things i don't want to forget.

• the air outside smells so sweet these days. there must be something blooming. i just love it. 
• we lowered ruby's crib yesterday. she's on her last canister of baby formula. she's practically a toddler. 
• ruby's love of dogs is just intensifying as she gets older. there was a commercial on tv for dog food and she was pointing at the screen and shouting "daaa" over and over again. so cute. 
• i organized all the kitchen cabinets and such. it shouldn't make me as happy as it does. 
• i saw this video yesterday on ellen and it made me laugh so hard. i just watched it again and laughed so so hard. 
• a couple of weeks ago, when we were in massachusetts  we were trying to get ruby to say "dadda". my mom was like "ruby! can you say dadda?" and ruby was like "dadda?...DADDA!" and then she giggled. i don't know if that even makes sense to anyone else, but it was so cute and funny. i really love that little girl.

brittany's bridal shower

dan's cousin, will, is getting married in just a couple of weeks! we threw his cute fiance, brittany, a little bridal shower. our theme was simple - daisies. we decorated with a bunting and daisy garland. there were mason jars of fresh flowers around the room. it was simple and sweet. 

i am terrible at photographing events and i only got these two photos. anyway, the party was fun and beautiful. here are some details: 

menu:

pasta salad with grilled chicken and spinach

chicken salad sandwiches

caprese sandwiches

fruit platter

veggie tray

fruit tarts

lemon bars

raspberry punch

we played a couple of games. brittany opened presents. it was a good time. 

oh and here is a picture of the happy couple, just in case you are curious! 

May.

May was a ridiculously crazy-busy month. 

Hence, no blogging. But it was such a fun month it deserves to be documented! I figured out that I was home for like 10 days in May. It was a fun month. 

Here is a smattering of what we did based on Instagram photos. Can I just say that I love Instagram? It's so convenient to just whip out your phone and take a photo. 

And thank goodness for Instagram or I'd have forgotten a lot of the stuff that happened in May! 

massachusetts = land of dunkin * there's no place like grandma's home * hanging out with grandma* little girl in a little chair
little girl with a big cookie * our hair loves humidity * ruby's first time walking on the beach * my all-time favorite ice cream
lawson tower * ruby and her grandma * brewstah stowah * sushi for the first time
love the beach * ice cream stop * pie stop * lousia may alcott's house

boston temple * lazy afternoons * ruby is the cutest * grandma and uncle sam
we spent a lot of time stuck in traffic * ruby channeling the little mermaid * summertime crafts * beauty
more summertime crafts * carrot cake * great gatsby * kissing the ducks in the public garden
this girl makes messes * love love love thrifting * american cookie history * ruby's first carousel ride

ruby turned ONE * and slept through her birthday * sold my first etsy painting * more time in the car
elephant fountain * slurpee run * family dinners * viva las vegas
got my hairs cut * reading * ruby's amazingly mobile for not being able to walk * swings!
ruby's very cute birthday cake * bridal shower for britty * dan's new do * love these two
neon graveyard * raising cane's * beatles love * ruby's such a trooper

Ruby - Twelve Months

Well...We made it to a year, folks! And my goodness, I am so glad I don't have to do these monthly updates anymore! Even though I love looking back at the pictures (see below) it grew more and more difficult to actually get the pictures and post done! Not to mention the fact that Ruby no longer cooperates during a photo shoot where she's supposed to be still on her back. Hence the sitting up picture. The headband also does not fit her head anymore. And to think it was so big that first month! It's crazy to see how much this little girl has grown in just a year. I can't imagine a happy life without her. 

also, who knew the same blanket could look so different in this many photos! 

Monthly Stats: 

Weight - 17lbs 8oz. She is really feeling a lot heavier lately! I know most babies are heavier by this point but she is getting tough for me to heft around! I no longer can hold her when she's strapped in her carseat. 

Diapers - Size 3 (she'll be in this size until she's potty-trained I'm sure) Also, have you heard of Overnight Diapers? We used them when we were traveling last month because she kept leaking all over me. That's another story though. 

Clothes - She's all over the place but that's pretty normal by now. Yesterday she wore a 6Month dress and it kind of looked like a romper. 12-18 Month clothes still are pretty big on her but I am excited for her to fit into them because she has A LOT of cute ones waiting for her! 

Likes - creeping along the furniture, dogs, working on blowing kisses, taking walks with mom & dad (it's summertime now!), playing with toy cars, hugging her dollies, playing peek-a-boo with her feet (see below)

Dislikes - getting shots, getting her teeth scraped for tartar, falling over, and accidentally eating rotten egg jelly bellies. these things all happened on one very bad day.

peek a boo

ruby roo on the lawn

dan was weeding in the planters and i brought ruby outside. she'd just woken up from a nap - hence the super pink cheeks. she was so cute. i don't know if you can gather it from the pictures, but she loves clapping and waving. i love this girl so much it's not even funny. 

Ruby - Eleven Months

Ruby Roo. Look at You. You are almost ONE!

 I really can't believe how fast this year has gone by. 

Monthly Stats:

Weight - She had an ear infection this month and when we took her in to the doctor, she was 16lbs 8oz. Ruby had a rough couple of weeks with ear infections :(

Diapers - Size 3. But, I'm afraid that they're actually too big..

Clothes - Still all over the place but she is definitely more towards the 12 Month sizes. She is so long that she needs the length, but so thin she is usually swimming in the larger sizes. I'm not sure what is worse - short clothes or wide clothes! 

Likes - waving at everyone, dogs, brushing her teeth, cookies or anything chocolate (she looses her mind over costco chocolate muffins), playing peek-a-boo, "that's not my puppy" book, sitting on the lawn and amoxicillian. 

Dislikes - ear infections, getting her diaper changed and getting strapped into her carseat. 

Love you little Roo! 

dandyroo designs

recently, i've been making a lot of these little temple watercolors. they are so fun. 

i've been getting more and more requests for them so i finally decided to open an etsy shop. 

it's called dandyroo designs.

(which is a mash-up of dan, candace, and ruby)

come on over and see the shop! you can purchase any temple paintings through the etsy shop now. 

(or you want to do an art swap...just email me!)

here are some of my paintings: