My Mr. Incredible

I just have to say that I am so in love with my husband. The other night he went to bed at eight o'clock...or tried, rather. I stayed up with Ruby, trying to get her to sleep and then finish a project or two. So I'm on the couch at nine o'clock with Ruby fast asleep in my arms and I get a text from my husband in the bedroom. The message asked when I was coming to bed. I lay down next to Sam and he says that he cannot fall asleep without me. Two minutes later I have my daughter and my husband asleep. I was just so flattered that he can't fall asleep unless I am next to him.

Sam is pretty incredible. He is Branch President now, so he is gone or occupied a lot of the time. He works a full time job to support our family, serves in the National Guard at least one weekend a month and is still working on his schooling to be an anestesiologist. Sam also tries to find time to improve his talents, like playing piano and building things. On top of all of that he is a thoughtful and loving husband and a great father to our little gem. I don't know how he does it, but he does and he rarely complains.

When we got married I never thought I could love Sam anymore than I already did, but now, a year later, I can say that I love him so much more. I need him in every way and I don't know what I would do without my Mr. Incredible.

Playing Around

Just playing around before church.

New Toy

We were waiting for Sam outside of his work and Ruby got to play with her new toy. She is so halarious!

Chunky Thighs

I hear ya sista' about those chunky thighs, but mine aren't as cute as yours.

That's right, our girl is an eater and she is starting to get those chunky thighs and pinchable cheeks. The roles aren't quite here yet, but they are coming.

Here is another recent change. Ruby has found her hands. They comfort her when she is hungry and tired and almost always end up in her mouth. She is starting to reach for things, but sometimes gets frustrated when she can't let go of something. It's kind of funny.

I never knew how much fun it could be to buy toys for your kids, but I love the way her eyes light up when she looks up at her new mobile. She loves to lay there kicking and talking to the animals hanging circling above.

Amy and Curious George

Mindy and I hosted Amy's baby shower this past weekend with the help of my mother and Aunt Jill. The theme was Curious George. We spent forever trying to think of fun decorations and ended up scrapping what we planned at the last minute. Mindy saved the day by buying balloons and gift bags for each tables centerpiece. We had some Curious George wrapped boxes to go with and some miscelaneous items like Curious George puzzle pieces and books and bananas to boot. We played a name game where everyone gets a baby name they must be called by throughout the party. If you call someone by their real name by accident you must put money in George's first piggy bank (which was also a Curious George circus bank with wheels). Mindy was Puddles, Amy was Scoot, Aunt Jill was Toodles, Mother was Drool Bucket and I was Flutter Buns (guess who came up with that one...Mindy). It was so much fun!!

Say hello to George!!! George kept kicking and poking Amy all day. He is quite active. We spent a lot of the day guessing what George Thomas Allen will look like. Will he have red hair or will he have hair at all. His father is a baldy, so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Presents!!! Amy got lots of cute stuff, including a baby bath and shower spa. I had never heard of that.

This woman does not look eight months pregnant. She is so tiny. Well, we are counting down the days until Ruby has another little cousin to play with.

Mr. President

About a month ago President Shumard invited Sam and I into his office. We chatted about family and the branch for a while and then he asked us why we were there. We had no idea, but assumed it was to receive a stake calling or something. At that point we thought that if he was asking us then we must be off the hook. Silly us. By the end of the meeting Sam had a calling...Branch President. President Shumard kept reassuring us that he knew that Heavenly Father was asking this of Sam and that if had been confirmed to him that Sam was the man for the job at this time.

At first we were in complete shock. We just kept looking at each other on the trip home and holding hands tightly, wondering if we were really just in President's office or did we dream it. Then, it all started to sink in and we got a little nervous, still we trusted that President Shumard had prayed earnestly about this calling and we prayed for confirmation as well. The answer was always there and we could both feel it.

The Sunday of the sustaining came and we just clung to each other for dear life in the pew. We knew it would be years before we would get to sit next to each other again in sacrament. Sam walked up when he was called and sat by the pulpit with Brother Douglas. There were a number of sweet and powerful testimonies that Sunday. Brother Douglas pointed out that Sam is tall in stature and is a man with great posture and that he is a man to look up to in every way ;) Rich bore his testimony and started to cry when he mentioned his love for Sam and his faith in him. That sent me over the edge. Corrie sat in between me and Nana on the pew. After Rich's testimony Nana and I were both sniffling. Corrie just shook her head and said that she should have picked a different seat.

Two weeks later, Sam has a reorganized Branch President's office that still needs a little bit of a woman's touch and he is busy with interviews. Oh yeah, and did I mention that because I live with the Branch President now I am blessed with giving more talks. This was proven last Thursday when Sam turned to me on the couch and asked if I could give a talk on Sunday because there was no one else. He's just so cute and he is the Branch President. I couldn't turn him down. I've never been able to before and I definately can't now. Liza Hunt was telling me how seeing her husband magnify his calling as the Branch President made her love him even more. Honestly, I don't know how I could love Sam anymore than I do now, but I'm looking forward to finding that out.

AKA

Nick names for the infamous Miss Ruby Ann Zollman:

• Rubby
• Rubs
• Rubes
• Ruby Saturday
• Ruby Red
• Red
• RAZ (Ruby Ann Zollman)
• RAZ mataz
• Punkin (Mommy's favorite)
• RuRu (Daddy's favorite- cousin Madison tried to say Ruby and it came out RuRu)
  

More to come...