{ My Babies }

Seeing as I clog up most social network feeds with their faces on a daily basis, I thought I would formally introduce my crew! They’re entertaining, they’re wild and they keep me very busy. Some people might have said 7 years ago that Ben and I were “young and dumb”. Two months after we got married we found ourselves pregnant with Ava. And so it began. Subsequently, I was pregnant 4 years in a row! What a wild ride, but looking back, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Here today we have a nearly 3, 4 and 5 year old. Let me tell you more about the gifts that they are.

Let’s start with my first born Ava! Somehow she is 6 this year. I’m not sure how that happened. I look back at when she was a newborn. I was a scared, overwhelmed, anxious new mama and she was a determined little baby with no operational manual attached, but we made it through! I had a good dose of postpartum after she was born and it definitely inhibited our connection during that time. Her and Ben formed quite the bond as a result and they remain extremely close! She is a deep thinker and a feeler and it takes some digging to get into that head of hers; total opposite to me. You can always tell what I am thinking and feeling. Ava is a goof ball. Everything is funny! Anything and everything is hysterical for no reason at all. Every day she gets herself twisted in a laughing fit that lasts for ages! (Let’s not even talk about her nervous laugh!!) She is extremely competitive. Losing is not an option for her. She plays soccer and informs strangers that she scored 15 goals this past season. At 5 years old she seems to possess this athleticism that I don’t seem to recall having. Hand in hand with her athleticism is an appetite that I cannot keep up with! She literally eats every hour, on the hour, from morning until night. I hear “I’m still hungry” 10 times a day. She is a tomboy at heart and all of her best friends are boys. If it were up to her she would be rocking her Manchester United kit every single day of the year. Ava has a nitch for art and is able to draw just about anything she sees. The way she sees God, knows God and prays to him has enlarged my heart and challenged me in my faith… Absolutely beautiful. She is a lot like her father. Those two are like twins; Peaceful demeanor, mysterious, nervous laughter, passionate about sports, competitive and quiet in group situations. I love watching her grow and discover more and more of who she is. If I could bottle up this girls’ energy, I could save the world.

On to Savannah. People say she is my twin. She is spicy, sassy, happy, funny, caring, maternal, fashion and beauty conscious, sensitive and extremely family oriented. I don’t know that I would take ownership over all those things for myself, but those words sum her up pretty well. Savannah just turned 4 and is still home with me. I am trying desperately to savor this last year at home with her as she heads in to transitional kindergarten next year. She is a home-body. She would prefer being at home rather than being anywhere else. She is a words of affirmation type girl and looks for the approval of others in small, every day accomplishments. Savannah thinks she is the mother of Judah and would do her best to clean your house from top to bottom if you would let her. She hates getting her hair done. She has a very tender head and starts crying the minute she lays eyes on a brush coming in her direction. She is also very sensitive and does not do well with correction or any type of discipline. If you simply give her a look that says “I am upset/ disappointed in you” she immediately starts sobbing. It then takes about 5-10 minutes to calm her down. She could color or do puzzles for hours. She loves gymnastics and is looking forward to starting on the soccer team this coming fall. In summary, Savannah is big-hearted.

Lastly, our Judah man! Judah will be 3 next month and I am having trouble accepting the fact that I no longer have a baby. He is very independent. He puts on his own shoes and socks, he is potty trained, he feeds himself and plays on his own. He is definitely needing me less and less. He still requests a cuddle from me, from time to time, and daily asks “Mommy can I tell you a secret?!” Usually the secret is “Can I have chocolate cereal?”, “Can I have chocolate after my nap?” or “ Can I have the iPad?”. Benjamin Mark Judah is his full name. He loves to sing and make circles around the house in Savannah’s “Princess Sophia” dress. Lately he has been quite rough and finds much joy in punching and kicking his sisters in the stomach and pulling their hair. All at the same time, Judah is extremely caring and a natural born leader. If he knows you are sick, he will pray for you. If he wants something, he finds a way to get it and finagles his way into getting you to succumb to his requests, even if you had originally said the opposite of what he wanted. He heads up the “highs and lows” at dinner time and calls on select people to pray and bless the food. If I could describe Judah in one word, I would say that he is a sweetheart.

I could go on and on about my kids and family, but ultimately I’m super blessed and consider it a privilege to get to raise them. Parenting them is is a challenge at times but I’m leaning on God to lead me with each of their lives and hearts. Until next time!

-Ruthie xoxo

Ruthie Ridley