Ruby -- Six Months

Well, I'm about week overdue for Ruby's six month blog post. This month was definitely the most challenging when it came to taking pictures of our VERY busy, active girl. She was not into looking at the camera this month. It was kind of chilly, we were dealing with baby girl's 5th cold, and I'm still learning how to use my new lens. Not the best combo for great pictures, I still got some adorable ones though. It's hard not to when you have a model as cute as Ruby-girl! 

As I said above, my poor baby had another (two) colds this month. It never really got too severe like before, just snotty and congested. She deals with it like a champ though and is for the most part still our happy go lucky little girl. Plus, she's gotten quite good at the snot bubble: 

Ruby is SO active! She wants to moving, grabbing, and chewing on something at all times, OR ELSE. If she is forced to sit still you will know that she is unhappy! She has started making this hilarious growling noise when she wants something or is frustrated. She tucks her chin into her chest and lets out this low "grrrrrrrrrrr". It cracks us up, and usually gets her what she wants pretty quickly.

While Ruby is still very social, smiley, and doesn't mind other people holding and loving on her she is getting a *little* more reserved. She has started playing this little "shy game", when someone comes over to us and talks to her she smiles and then throws herself into my shoulder, then look back and do the same thing again. She's cute, and she knows it. She is definitely 100% aware of who mama and daddy are, she lights up when she sees us and of course it just melts our hearts every time. 

Unfortunately Ruby is still teething, but with no results. She is in visible discomfort sometimes, but I cannot feel or see any teeth in the making. She typically handles it really well, but when the fussies come, a frozen peach slice is always a helpful relief for those poor, sore gums. EVERYTHING goes into the mouth, and when there is not something nearby, the trusty limbs are always there for backup! 

She's a sitting up champ now, and it's definitely her preferred way of playing. She hasn't had any huge milestones this month, besides trying to pull up. She doesn't quite have the strength to do it on her own yet, but I have a feeling it's coming soon. She knows if I put my hands out to her that she has the opportunity to stand and she loves it so much. She grunts when pulling herself up like "whew, this is so, so hard!" and it's so, so cute! 

 Ruby and Banjo are officially BFFs. He was what got her first true giggles out of her and the relationship has just grown since then. She smiles and laughs when he runs into the room, and absolutely loves to "pet" him. We've been trying to teach her that puppies aren't for chewing and tails aren't for pulling, but she has a way to go until she gets it, I think. ;) He was another factor that made this photo shoot particularly difficult. 

Laughing at her buddy

 Month 6 was by far her best month for sleep so far! Ruby is sleeping consistently from around 8:00-8:30 until around 5:30-6:30 am. One Saturday she slept ELEVEN hours until 8am, ate and then cuddled in bed with us until around 9. It was heaven. I was so proud of our girl for figuring out what Saturdays are all about! Sleep is one of those things I had extremely unrealistic expectations about before Ruby was born. I read all the hip baby sleep books that absolutely promise that your baby will be sleeping through the night at eight weeks. While that works for some babies, I've learned that all babies are different and it's virtually impossible to go by the books. Especially if you have a life like ours that requires flexibility. So, yes, it has taken her MUCH longer to sleep through the night that I ever would have thought or hoped, but I really don't mind. She's happy and healthy, just didn't really like sleep as much as some babies do. Heck, there are still nights that she decides to wake up at 2 am for some cuddles and a little nursing, and even thought it can be a bit discouraging and frustrating in the morning, I always wake up the next morning thankful for that extra time together.

She is finally starting to enjoy eating solids. I have made sweet potatoes, avocados, and pears. Ruby has also taken a liking to peach slices and cut up banana. She's definitely still learning how to chew and has had a few gaging episodes, but no real chokes, thank goodness. I really enjoy making my own baby food. I love knowing what is going into Ruby's little body, and it's really nice when she likes "my cooking". I know we are saving a ton of money with me making the food too, so that's a big plus as well!

Ruby weighed in this month at 18 pounds even and 25 inches long (I obviously was wrong on her last post from her 4 month doctor appointment, because she most definitely didn't shrink!). That means she gained 2 pounds in 2 months, and no length. 6 month size is getting a little snug, but she still fits into them. She is mostly wearing 6 month and 6-12 month sizes with a few 3-6 month outfits thrown in there. Our sweet, chunky girl. There is nothing better than chewing on her sweet thighs. THE. BEST. I tell you. She has almost TRIPLED her birth weight at 6 months old...kinda crazy. What can I say, my girl likes to eat...and I guess I make some nutritious milk.

 
As Ruby grows, so does her personality and that of course means that she is gaining some dislikes. Up until recently she hasn't really had much of an opinion on much which I have just associated her with being a laid back, and "easy" baby. While I wouldn't say that she is no longer either of those things, she has most definitely learned what she likes and doesn't like. Some of her dislikes include:
-SLEEVES. You guys, they are THE WORST THINGS EVERRRRR according to Ruby. She can be happy, smiling, kicking her fat little legs and the second you start putting her arms through sleeves. It's over. Might as well get ready to hear her scream until you get those arms through, which by the way is not easy when she's fighting against you with all of her might.
-Not being able to reach something. This is very frustrating for her her, and I can just see her whole body fill up with frustration. She growls and stretches and when she still can't get to it, end up fussing for whatever she's wanting.
-Getting things taken away from her. She has started wanting to "feed herself" during dinnertime. She grabs the spoon and gets so ticked off when I take it back to put more food on it. She's happy as a clam when I give it back to her. Such a stinker.
-Growing teeth. Self explanatory.
-Not being able to fit everything into her mouth. She wants everything to go into her mouth, and sometimes her mouth is just too small and the object is just too big. Not a fan.

I'm not trying to make her sound like a cranky baby, because she's not by ANY means. She is a complete and total hambone, and is just coming into her little big personality. Quirks and opinions are part of growing, and we are whole-heartedly embracing Ruby's strong-willed, sweet, quirky personality. I can definitely see parts of Andrew and I's personalities coming out and traits of her own that are blossoming. Overall though, just like I've said every other month, she's happy, sweet, and a complete delight. She loves to giggle, smile, and lights up everyone's life that she comes in contact with.

We love her. So very much.
Who wouldn't?

My Rubes, 

Sweet girl, I've already written to you some about how you being half a year old has made me feel, and yeah, I'm a little sappy about it all. You know why? Because it has just gone by so very fast, darling girl. Your life so far has been a magical, special, happy, incredible whirlwind. I can't believe you are already 6 months old, and I know I'll be right here saying almost the exact same thing in another 6 months. You know what they say, that "time flies when you're having fun"? That has never been more true in our lives than it is now. We are having so much fun with you, and time is FLYING by. You are becoming such a fun, smart, and hilarious little girl and we are so very proud of who you are. You light up our world, beautiful baby. 

We love you more than words can say, 

Mama 

aaaand, we're done. 

Life List

I started a word document named "Life List" my freshman year of college. I was going through some pretty dramatic changes in my life (as most people do their first year of college), and wanted to write down some of my dreams, goals, and hopes for the rest of my life. Since making that list I have opened it a few times to mark things off and maybe add a few more things. It's funny, because I have changed SO much since then, but I have never taken one thing off the list, just added things to it.
I'm sharing it for fun, because I like thinking about the possibility of all of these things happening.
I smile when I read this list, because I would have never guessed the direction my life would go when I wrote it almost 6 years ago. I don't think I EVER dreamt of crossing of "meet and marry my best friend" and "become a mom" so early in life. Even though this list contains many, many things that might never happen for me; it teaches me to not even think about that they might never happen, because heck, they COULD! I love that.

Swim with dolphins in the ocean

Become a mom

Eat pizza in Italy                                                                                                                  Graduate College

Become foster parents

Adopt a child from foster-care

Dance in a flash-mob

Zip-line through a rainforest

Pay off my student loans as quick as possible

Go on a last minute cruise

Take my kids to concerts

Travel cheaply, and stay in hostels

Adopt a puppy/dog from a shelter

Read the bible cover to cover multiple times

Go to Wrigley Field with my husband

Meet and marry my best friend.

Get backstage passes to a concert

See the Grand Canyon

Have a kitchen with big black and white tile (and teal black-splash…)

Tile a black-splash in our kitchen myself

Go to Hawaii

Teach my dog to play frisbee

Teach my dog to be a therapy dog, and take him/her to hospitals and nursing homes

Stand under the Eiffel tower

Go back to Big Bend with my cousins (my cousins and I went every summer with my grandparents when we were kids)

Have a garden in our backyard and grow our own food

Backpack Europe with our future kids

Whale watch

Have family traditions that our kids love and look forward to

Drive a VW van (this has been a dream of mine since I was in elementary school)

Find the Emmylou Harris Wreaking Ball album on vinyl and give it to Andrew as a present

Have an open shower with more than one showerhead

Make clothes for my kids

Go to a floating lanterns festival

Go skiing with my husband

Find a job that I love AND get to help people at every single day

Live somewhere outside the US for a year, or more

Run a marathon, or a half marathon. I would be happy with either (so, realistically, half.)

See Over the Rhine live

Go to Africa and work in a clinic

Be a stay at home mom when my kids are little ones

Learn Spanish

Meet Oprah

Live close to an ocean

Pay for my kids’ college

Visit my cousins in Boston

Give someone a scholarship for college

Don’t eat sugar for a month

Live on enough land to have a horse or two

Try to surf

Actually learn to surf

Read all the books on our bookshelf (quite a task, I assure you)

Feel confident in a swimsuit

Dye my hair

Learn how to deliver babies and become a midwife

Deliver babies in a third world country

Go to New York and find Central Perk (the coffee shop from Friends) (not sure if it actually exists so this one might be impossible)

Cook dinner every night for a month

Be a mom my kids want to stay in contact with

Have a picnic at the park in Belton where my husband proposed

Learn to salsa dance/ballroom dance

Watch our Bunny Friend boys graduate high school. 

Get a Masters Degree

Own a house with a big front porch

Sit on said front porch rocking on our babies in rocking chairs

Host a foreign exchange student

Learn to play the piano

Get a tattoo

Train for a triathlon

Raise chickens for fresh eggs 

Half a Year

Half a year ago around 2am, just two short hours after meeting your beautiful self for the first time, I got wheeled into a cold and tiny postpartum hospital room. 

Exhausted from the journey we just took together, your dad fell asleep quickly on the fold out chair contraption that was his bed for the next 2 nights. 

I laid in the bed cold and hurting, longing to hold you again. 

The nurse brought you in, you were swaddled tightly and were warm when she handed you to me. She told me how beautiful you were and that you were strong and healthy. We shared a little laugh about how the nursery was crowded and all the babies were crying. The nurse said that when she looked over at you in your bassinet you were just laying there with your eyes big and open, blinking slowly, taking it all in. My girl. 

She left and turned the lights off saying "please call when you decide you want some rest, I'll come back and get her from you....congratulations." 

I smiled and nodded, sat up in bed and undid your tight swaddle so I could study your sweet, tiny body. 

Your skin was still wrinkly from swimming around in my belly for almost 10 months, your lips pink and soft, and your hair still a little wet from the bath the nurse gave you in the nursery. 

You let out a soft, squeaky cry, probably slightly perturbed that I just released you from your tight, comfy cocoon. I unbuttoned my hospital gown at the top and slipped you in to be closer to where you came from. I felt you relax, all 6 pounds of you on my chest. I took a deep breath and relaxed my body just like you had just done. 

You were here. My girl. 

My heart would never be the same. 

I held you that way for over an hour, staring down at your beautiful profile. I don't really remember what I was thinking about during these precious moments. I mostly just remember being silent, breathing you in and stroking your fuzzy hair and soft skin. 

Once you started to stir, I fed you, and you quickly went back to sleep. We cuddled until the sun came up. I don't think I took my eyes off of you once. 

The doctor came in early and your dad woke up. I handed you over to him and you drew him in just like you had done to me. 

You have a way of doing that to us, Ruby. A way of stealing our hearts and making us feel like we have loved you all our lives, whether it's been 6 hours or 6 months. It feels like you have always been right here in our hearts. 

I'm thankful for those quiet, still moments we got to spend together 6 months ago. I will never forget those first moments of getting to know you, my darling girl. 

You are so very precious to us. 

Happy Half Birthday, Ruby. 

I love you, 

Mama

Favorite February Faces

My girl turns half a year old tomorrow. 

Lets take some time to enjoy some of my favorite pictures of 5 month old Ruby-girl. 

Life Lately

I have kind of gotten into the habit of just blogging at Ruby's monthly birthday. With all that goes on in our lives I usually have time to come home, enjoy the short amount of time I get with Ruby before bedtime and then go to bed myself. Today I have the day off though, and baby girl is taking a nap. BLOGGING! 

Here are some pictures/videos of our life lately. We've been having so much fun with Ruby. She's changing and becoming more of a little person each and every day. 

First oatmeal experience

more went on her than in her

Just hangin' 

Here's a video of her adorable laugh, this was around Christmastime.

Helping mama with laundry

Ruby LOVES bathtime

Sweet potatoes!

YUMMY!

frozen peach pop! 

Banjo enjoyed his mardi gras toy

Trying to get Daddy's hat 

Family picture on Mardi Gras day

Just enjoying her paci

I cannot believe this girl is getting ready to crawl!

Valentines day loot

Maybe someday I'll do a post that has a little more depth and words, and a little less pictures. Probably not though. I will say that we are having a great time, are very happy, and might have some exciting things to share in the next few months. (No, I'm not pregnant. Just in case your mind went there). 

We're loving watching our girl grow, and glad we can share it with all 13 of you that read this blog! :)

Ruby-- Five Months

Wasn't I just here, like yesterday, writing about how my baby is 4 months old?? Well, guess what...yet another month has flown by and our darling girl is has now been in our lives for 5 months. I think this month has been the month that we have seen the most change in her growth and development. She's blossomed this month and it has been so fun to experience! 

She scoots too fast to keep her centered on the quilt! Stinker.

Our girl is on the move! While she's definitely not crawling yet, that doesn't keep her from moving around the living room when you lay her down and go wash dishes. She doesn't seem to do it when we're watching, but if we leave the room she some how gets off whatever blanket we have her on and gets into as much mischief as a 4 month old baby can (like chewing on Banjo's tail...GROSS!).

This girl is such a goofball! She already cracks us up on a daily basis with her funny faces, noises, and all around silliness. She has quite the personality! Ruby is charming, and she knows it. She flashes her gummy grin to anyone who talks to her, and quickly wraps every single person she meets around her chubby little finger. She loves everyone, especially if you let her chew on your finger! 

Ruby is definitely teething! Like I mentioned above, she's not shy about using anyone who will oblige as a teething ring. She has also made a habit out of soaking her onesies almost all the way to her belly button with slobber. If drooling were an olympic sport, this girl would win the gold.


One very exciting milestone Ruby reached this month was learning to sit up! I usually prop her up on the boppy in the morning while Andrew and I are getting ready, where she usually just eats her hands and chills. One morning I noticed she wasn't even leaning on it, I got all excited about it, and then promptly forgot about it. A couple of weeks ago we were over at Eric and Kristina's and Nolan was showing us all how he can take a few steps on his own now. Ruby thought it was the absolute best thing she has ever seen in her life and was cracking up like no body's business, all while sitting up by herself. I sat there behind her completely amazed that she could just sit there and laugh at him...my baby is growing up.

I never thought I would be one of those moms that gets so sappy about each and every little thing. And then I catch myself saying "oooohhhh LOOK! She's grabbing her toes!", and crying at the sound of her laugh. Being a mom has brought out this extra sappy, emotional part of me and I would not have it any other way. I can't help but be proud of her as I watch her develop and change. 

I think I can finally say that we've gotten is a semi-positive groove when it comes to sleep (knock on wood). We still have some nights where she just wants her mama, and I oblige because really, how many more times am I going to get to lay in bed and nurse her in the middle of the night? We've finally got her on more of a schedule though, which was my goal for the month. She has been going to bed around 8:30 the past few nights, waking up once to nurse around 2 or 3, and then wakes up again to eat around 7:30 (which works wonderfully because I get to feed her before I go to work). She had one night where she slept a full 9.5 hours without waking up, which was magical, but most nights...not so much. While I do hope she will sleep fully through the night eventually, I can say with all honesty that I do not mind waking up with her. Those early morning snuggles melt my heart no matter how groggy I am, they are precious moments that will be etched on my mind forever. 

We started solids! We got the go-ahead from Ruby's pediatrician at her 4 month appointment (which was 2 weeks late) and started her on oatmeal the next night. The first few times were quite amusing. She would quiver and make the most hilarious face when the oatmeal would touch her tongue. She's come around, though, and now gobbles it up and makes quite the mess! A bath is always necessary after Ruby's dinner! Ruby is eating less frequently during the day, but more milk. She's sometimes eating up to 7 oz out of her first bottle at daycare and then usually 5 oz after that. She is down to only eating 2 bottles at daycare most days because she nurses so late in the morning now before I go to work. It's still a lot to keep up with, and some days I wonder if I'll be able to pump enough for this girl's big appetite.

She was 16 pounds even, and 26 inches long (I think, I honestly can't remember) at her last doctors appointment (4 months, 2 weeks). That put her in the 80th percentile for weight and height. Our sweet girl sure has grown a lot from her scrawny 6 pound newborn frame. :)

I know this probably gets redundant month after month, but Ruby is the happiest baby ever. She is truly a delight to be around. I cannot get enough of her! We could not possibly love her more!

Cutest baby bulldog ever

Love-bug, 

These past five months have been the best months of your daddy and I's lives. You bring us an endless amount of joy and fill our hearts with happiness on a daily basis. When I think about how fast these five months have gone by, it makes me realize how it's true how people say "you just blink and they are graduating high school". I can't think about that right now though sweet girl, because I'm loving these moments way too much. I thank God for you. He has blessed us with your sweet, wonderful, beautiful self and there is no way we can say "thank you" enough for that. 

We love you more than you will ever know, beautiful girl.

Mama