Changes

Our life is going to change yet again. It started last year when we found out our family is expanding. Yes, we were trying. Than in February Tom got a new job working for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The job is in Texas. So we are going to be moving to Texas. Tom and a friend of ours Greg will be driving the U-Hauls on May 2nd and I fly out with Thomas on May 4th. My last day of work (at a monetary paying job) was on April 14. So far my life has been nothing but packing and getting the final stuff taken care of here in Arizona. Lots to do to move to another state. I feel very blessed to now have the opportunity to stay home with Thomas. I am nervous and will probably be calling friends asking for advice but hopefully I will catch on to this stay at home mommy job and find it just as rewarding as I hear it is. Once all the packing and unpacking is complete I hope to be able to blog often to update life. Love you all.

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Thomas since his birthday in December

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Way Way Over Due

This was taken back in June but it is amazing how much he has changed over time. We just love our little boy.

Thomas brings us joy

Thomas fell asleep like this on me. One minute he was laughing with me and i turned to see something on the television and about 2 minutes later he was like this fast asleep. This is Thomas' baby sitter Karen. She is awesome. The little girl she is holding, Tess, is going to be a year in August. They are about the same size but she is very small for her age. She loves to see Thomas every morning.

Thomas was playing peek-a-boo with us. He is such a cutie pie.

He is watching the fireworks we had on July 4th. Just a few of them. Nothing big but we had to have something for his first one.

Thomas loves to get kisses from his great-grandma.

Father Passing

Well, my fathers battle is finally over. He passed away on April 17th. We had a viewing on Sunday the 19th and his funeral on the 20th. It was very hard to say goodbye to him at the cemetery. Tom stayed in the car during the graveside service with Thomas because it was too windy to keep him outside. When my sister Carol got back to the car Tom came to the graveside with me to help me walk away. That was one of the hardest things I have had to do yet. I love you daddy.

I also got a job a few days after being home and when I was driving home from my interview I picked the phone up to call dad. I guess I may do that a few times.

Here is a copy of his obituary Tom Ruger (November 2, 1948 - April 17, 2009) Guest Book Sign Guest Book Tom Ruger, age 60 of Steen, MN died Friday, April 17, 2009 at The Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne, MN. Funeral service will be 1:00 PM, Monday, April 20th, 2009 at the Reformed Church of Steen in Steen, MN with Rev. Dan Kuik officiating. Burial will follow at the Eastside Cemetery rural Steen. Visitation will be Sunday, April 19th from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM with the family present from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Thomas Harry Ruger was born November 2, 1948 in Algona, IA to Walter and Nelda (Volentine) Ruger. He was raised in the Lu Verne Iowa area and attended Lu Verne High School. Tom earned an Associates of Arts degree in Medical X-ray Technology and worked in Sioux Falls and surrounding area as an X-ray Technician. On February 14, 2004 Tom was united in marriage to Marcy Hvidsten at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids. The couple made their home in Steen, MN. Tom was an avid gardener. He loved working in and tending his garden from early spring to first frost. Marcy and Tom canned much of their produce, especially the many tomatoes that Tom enjoyed so much. There was always at least one cherry tomato plant on the deck to be used not only for meals but any time of the day. He also loved to fish. A trip of a lifetime for Tom was a fishing trip to the Twin Falls Lodge in Churchill River, Saskatchewan Canada with family members. The fishing was great and the water was remarkably clear. On Friday April 17 at the age of 60 after a long battle with cancer, Tom went home to the Lord. Tom will be greatly missed by family and friends. Tom is survived by his wife, Marcy Ruger of Steen, MN; daughters, Randi (Bruce) Belling of West Des Moines, IA, Carol Lyn (Mike) Sullivan of Little Elm, TX, and Ramona Jean (Thomas) Howell of Maricopa, AZ; Step-sons, Michael (Char) Hvidsten of Woonsocket, SD and Darin (Kim) Hvidsten of Mesa, AZ; six grandchildren; one brother, James (Christine) Ruger of Rockwell, IA; step-mother, Janice Burgess; step-sisters, Kathy Shaw of Alexandria, WV, Peggy (Greg) Hrdlicka of Cedar Rapids, IA and Jada Fry of Dallas, TX. Tom was preceded in death by his parents.

Stay at Home

I was laid off from work last week so for now it appears I am going to be an at home mom.

Please keep us in your prayers as we are hoping this is a silver lining to an otherwise dark cloud.

Almost Time

Well, I only have this week with little Thomas and than it is back to work. I am so very sad about it.

When I first had him I missed work and now that I am going back to work it makes me cry to think about leaving him every day. Hopefully someday I can stay home with him and give him some happy mommy memories of him coming home and me being there waiting for him. Just as we have been able to do with his daddy.

He is growing up so fast. It is hard to believe he is almost 3 months old already. I just don't want to miss out on him growing up. :*(

Auntie Carol

While on maternity leave one of my sisters was on her way to California on January 16th and stopped by our house on the way to meet baby Thomas.

We enjoyed their visit and look forward to seeing them again.

We love and miss all of our family.

Auntie Carol and Uncle Mike

Carol in awe of her new nephew

I am thinking he likes her as much as she likes him.

Mike is really good with kids.

My First Vacation---Georgia

We took baby Thomas on a trip to Georgia to meet his great-grandmother. He is an excellent airline passenger. We had a lot of fun and can't wait to see them again. We love you grandma and great-grandma!!!

Sleeping time

Mommy thought this was cute so she had to take a picture of me.

The bear is one that plays a heatbeat. I like the sound of it most the time but it doesn't always put me to sleep.

I had a doctor appt yesterday and they told mommy I was 9 lbs. 14 ounces. I have also grown 2 inches since birth. I am also 6 weeks old as of two days ago. Mommy and daddy say I am growing up really fast.

First Trip Away From Home

We went to Show Low last Tuesday and came home on Wednesday. Here is a picture of me sleeping with daddy. We waited for him to wake up but he wasnt so I thought I would join him. Mommy holding me in the snow. It was chilly so she wrapped me up in my warm blanket. Daddy and me in the snow.

Saying Hi to Erica!

killed me a bear when I was only 30 days old

I feel safer here than the car.

Tommy says HI....Sister

Finally

Favorite Sleeping Position

The camera was snapped at just the right moment.

I have finally made my way to the blogsite. Tom has posted some pictures at the bottom of the blog if you want to see more. We have tons of photos of little Thomas already and it is hard to choose what to publish.

He wakes up to eat every hour and a half to three hours. Makes for very long nights. Tom has been a big help when I get frustrated and cry. I am sure he is still unsure why his wife cries when the baby is upset.

He does have a great temperment and people comment frequently that he is beautiful. Me...I am prejudice so I think he is the most beautiful baby in the world.

We are still looking for a routine and I am sure it will come eventually.

We were blessed to have Grandma Barb visit for almost 3 weeks. She was able to bond with little Thomas and fall in love. I was grateful to have her here.

A few days before Barb left little Thomas's big sister came to visit him. Erica also fell in love and did a decent job of spoiling him by holding him all the time.

We feel blessed to have such a wonderful child in our home. He has a wonderful temperment and I am sure he will have both his parents wrapped around his fingers in no time at all.

Office Christmas Party

Well, the office Christmas Party is over and a huge weight has been lifted. The stress over the last week in finalizing the preparations paled in comparison to the final hours leading up to it. My friend and co-worker Jani helped me do a lot of the final preparations. She had wonderful ideas on the centerpieces and they turned out beautifully. She and her husband were a huge help setting up the tables and passing out gifts. She kept me calm and grounded when we lost a box of hard hats out of the truck and they scattered all over the road. When we finally knew we would be in the clear and had all we needed she was even able to make me laugh about it. Jozie (another friend and co-worker) and her date were a relief to have take care of the check in because I had full faith and trust without worry. There were various people who helped me do the final count-down without thought. I appreciate all they were able and willing to do. Now that it is all over I can truly concentrate on the final preparations to having this baby. I can also work at my job with full concentration (or as much as our baby will let me) and accomplish the things I need to do there before I depart on maternity leave. Hopefully I am in the final count-down for this also. Thanks to all those who helped me!!!

Backyard

The backyard is no longer dirt. Now we will have a place to have the baby play and get some sunshine. It doesn't look like much and the plants are small but it is something to admire when you have seen dirt for almost 3 years. My favorite thing beside just having grass is the Myer lemon tree on the side of the house. We have 3 citrus trees. A sour lemon, a ruby red grapefruit and a Myer lemon. For those who don't know what type of lemon it is...it is almost sweet and has a much smoother skin. It is hard to find them in the store and when you do they are usually too expensive to just buy like a regular lemon. We also have two Australian bottle trees and two ornamental plum trees. Our landscaper gave us the mow strip and the slate pavers as a baby gift.

Baby Room

We have the baby room pretty much done. There are still some items we have to purchase for the care of the baby and I would like some more photos hung. I want the baby to be surrounded by photos. Just so he recognizes the faces.

The crib and the stroller/infant carrier combo were purchased by grandma and great-grandma. The dresser we decided to get. The rocker was actually the baby's grandma's (Grandma Thoman-Howell). We had it in our room but since it is the only rocker we have, I wanted it in the baby's room. Need some place to rock and nurse.

Tom decided to put the airplane in the room. It is his love of planes.

Forgetful

Wow, I had read that pregnant women forget things easily but I didn't know it was this easy. I can have just done something and the next moment I have to back track to see if I did indeed do it. I really don't like this feeling and it must be what it is like as you become senile and forget things. At church today I walked out of our chapel to find the bishop to ask him a question and less than 2 minutes later when I found him I couldn't remember what I was going to ask him. Hope the memory comes back right after the baby is born.