Break in regular programming

I got lucky and pulled rubysitting duty today, as I was the only one not working. Ellery was also home for a bit, and she enjoyed gently poking Ruby's arm and belly through the crib slats and then looking somewhat quizzically back at me. Then Ell was carted off to Daycare of the Arts and Ruby and I hung around the house, had some milk, and then headed downtown for lunch at The Original, a new restaurant my hotel's company is opening. Ruby was on her best behavior, observant as always, and kindly taking a nap in the Bjorn while I dropped lettuce out of my sandwich onto her head. Not on purpose. While we strolled around town I was reminded of an activity Mom used to do with us where she would take us downtown and have us sit in a park or somewhere, close our eyes, and draw what we heard. I loved that. I could see the gears turning in Ruby's head as she twisted around to find the source of the jackhammer noise, then leaned the other way at a car honking. Where Ellery is bubbling over the top with a constant banter of noise and wordish sounds and clapping and squealing, Ruby just takes it all in, with a quiet but very watchful gaze. Like her mother, she saves her vocal talents for when it counts: food time and diaper time (Lauren uses her voice for things other than food and toilets, but I'm trying to be metaphorical). And then you better damn well figure out which one it is or she will let you have it good.