An update on not updating

We've become aware that some people haven't given up on us posting new content here, especially with the birth of Josiah in September. Betsy has discovered the land of Facebook where the pictures and contents of the lives our loved ones flows freely and in both directions. If you are looking for us here, please seek us there. Betsy would love to be "friends" with you and whatever else you do in that place that is still foreign to me.

All the best,

Russ

A Year Old

Ruthann Autumn has turned 1! She is definitely a one-year-old, always on the go. She takes teetering steps, but isn't truly walking yet. She has three teeth, and says the words "Mama, Daddy, and Hi". She signs the words "eat, more, drink, all done, toothbrush, hat, and doggy". Whenever the telephone rings she says "Hi". She likes to read books with Mom and Dad, loves to eat and throw her food onto the floor, enjoys taking things in and out of whatever, and finds our Christmas tree fascinating. Here are some recent pictures of her birthday parties (yes, multiple parties with loving family). We had wonderful times with family, even a special visit from her great grandparents in early December!

10 Months Old

Fun on Grandpa's boat in August

Ruthie's favorite walking toy - her shopping cart!

Spooooky Ruthie, on the evening of our power outage in Sept

A family trip to Madison, WI and the capital building

Well, happy fall to everyone! The latest news here is Ruthie is cutting her 2nd tooth. She blows kisses, gives high fives, growls like a lion and attacks us, and climbs on Everything. She is happy, happy everyday, and we laugh a lot.

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, There's a Cutie in the Tub!

This is before she began to refuse to lie back in the water. Now all she does is try to climb the shower walls!

Whirlwind of Change

Wow! So it's been almost three months since we've added photos and greetings, and during that time our family has purchased our fist house, moved out of Michigan to Illinois, Rusty started a new job as Grounds Foreman, Betsy started to stay-at-home with Ruthie, and Ruthie has grown and changed just as she should! Here are pictures of our family and Ruthie. She is close to 9 months old, she continues to have lots of Firsts every week. In the past two weeks she has accomplished her first crawl, her first pull to stand alone, her first swim in the lake, her first tooth, her first clapping, and her first Burley/bike ride. Ahh!

Here is our first trash day at our new home. This house was a pre-forclosure, and as you can see the previous owners had a different way of living - we scrubbed and cleaned, and hauled this trash to the curb!

Ruthie's first swim at Higgins Lake!

Ruthie's first Burley ride - she loved it!

I love my Daddy, and his hat, and his glasses...

April was a big month around here. Rusty's brother Rich spent his spring break with us (quite a treat), Ruthie was baptised and Rusty started work with the Grand Rapids Parks Department. Ruthie has discovered the wonderful world of mobility and is rolling. She has also started eating rice cereal with us at dinner and likes to shake her head to music. We hope you are all feeling God's wonderful presence inside of you - we certainly are.

Uncle Rich spent his spring break with us - a great time of fellowship and uncle-neice bonding (aka changing diapers).

Ruthie's first bow in her hair. Is there no end to the cuteness!?!?!


Ruthann was baptised on April 20th. All four grandparents were there, as well as Great Grandpa Swart (not pictured). Great Grandma and Grandpa Pickett also came up from Indiana for the occasion. Betsy and I chose Isaiah 54:10 as her baptism verse:

"Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed",
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Ruthie's dress is the same one Betsy wore at her baptism.

Overall, Ruthie was happy with the draft. After the initial disappointment of seeing the Titans taking Chris Johnson in round one and then scratching her head at the idea of drafting 3 centers (really...3!?), she was happy to see Marcus Howard there for the Horseshoe in round 5. I explained to Ruthie that the Colts never do what you think they will in the draft, but that they consistantly pick better than any other team in the league. In spite of my efforts, her first words were not, "In Polian we trust."