4 months!

On November 9th, Ruby turned 4 months old. I took her 4 month picture, but then unfortunately I do not have it anymore. I actually dropped my phone in the toilet over Thanksgiving, so it is officially caput. I had luckily uploaded pics fairly recently, but that one had not been uploaded yet. By the time I got around to taking it again, she was basically at the 5 month mark, so I decided I would just use the pics from her 4 month photo shoot to post here. I'm so happy I have those! Unfortunately my "brain" (ie notes on my phone) was also lost, so what I had written for Ruby's 4th month will have to just be from my memory which is  not too good.

She is getting so big, and I am loving this age!! She is officially a "hip holding" baby which I am just more comfortable with. She had great head control, and she can be on my hip without flopping over. Of course she is super cuddly and so she isn't on my hip all that much, but I just mean this phase of her babyhood is more up my alley. Tiny babies make me nervous! Below are a few highlights about this month. It was a biggie!

-On 11/2, she rolled over twice from back to belly! She has done it lots of times since then, but that was the start of it. Then a few days later, she figured out how to go from her belly to her back. While on her play mat, she rotates all around and grabs her toys dangling above her. She is very active and a go-getter!

-On 11/21 she had her 4 month check up and was 26 inches and 98% in length, 14 pounds 12 ounces and 75% in weight. She got shots and was a trooper.

-She loves sitting in the Bumbo and it really opens up a new world to her. She can look all around and takes everything in. We also pulled out the exersaucer this  month! She's slowly discovered more and more on it, and it is a nice little station for her to hang out in for a while.

- She is staying awake more and more during the day, so I think she will be at the 2 nap a day mark soon. She still doesn't sleep through the night, though!! She's up at least once, sometimes twice. Sheesh! I am ready for this to stop, so hopefully soon! She does want a full feeding, though, when she wakes up so I think she really is hungry. She is not using me for just a paci or anything. She is such a content, happy baby in the day, though, that I have a hard time being too upset about it. She will get there one of these days! We will start baby food soon so maybe that will help.

-She's a great eater and it so sweet looking at me and cooing while she eats. She has "busy hands" and is constantly moving them in the air or rubbing my shirt as she eats. She has found her arms in general and it is so funny to see her raise them slowly up in the air like she's praising God.

-10/20 on Thursday we had a very eventful day. Without going into too much detail, we were leaving school and Ruby was in her carrier in the stroller but not strapped in bc I was going to feed her as soon as got to the car. We were near the top of 4 steps with each of the big kids on either side of the stroller. Someone asked me a question, and I turned around to answer. When I turned back, Ruby's stroller had gone down the steps, and she was face down on the concrete. Uggg. I picked her up and she was crying, but I knew I needed to go have her checked out. We went to the HSV ped ER, and I was shocked when the scan showed a scull fracture. Talk about a parents' worst nightmare! Because the ped surgeon was not going to be available in HSV over the weekend, they had us go via ambulance to Bham Childrens in case she needed emergency surgery due to too much swelling. Once we arrived, the neurosurgeon checked her out and she was observed, but since she had not had any seizures or excessive swelling, they said we did not have to stay. She had been poked and prodded so much and I knew it would just continue if we chose to be admitted, so we drove home in the wee hours of the morning and took Friday to just be with her at home and let her rest and recover (big kids were with grandparents). Talk about a LONG day. I hope to keep all the emails and texts for Ruby to read someday from our family and friends who were praying for her. I can only point to God's faithfulness in this situation-it could have been so, so much worse. We went to her neurologist appt on 11/18 and he said she looked great and was totally healed. Praise God! That event helped us re-focus some and do our best to focus on the blessing of family. Life is precious and we really take it for granted so often.

We love you so much, Ruby Jane. You are precious to us, and we are so glad you are in our lives. Can't wait to see what next month holds.

3 Months!

On October 9, Ruby turned 3 months old. She is really starting to fill out this month, especially her cheeks and little round face. Her hair also started to fall down and lighten, so that has made her look different, too! She constantly has her hand in her mouth and her shirt is soaked, so I assume she is teething. Her siblings both got their first tooth at 5 months, so we will see about her! She is constantly sucking on her bottom lip and we have to watch to make sure she doesn't choke on her own hand!

She's really holding her head up more and more now. One night I went to Kroger with her in the Ergo and got so many comments about how she was so alert and looking around. She was at attention!

Ruby's siblings were both sleeping through the night by this time....but she is not! She teased me with 2 nights in a row of sleeping through the night (8-6:30), but it didn't last. She sleeps 6-7 hour stretches then I feed her and she goes another 3-4 more. I can see she is starting to figure out a sleep schedule during the day (ie-2 big naps). She's starting to be  more awake in general, esp in the morning.

9/25 I left the 3 kids with a babysitter, so this was Ruby's first time being left with someone other than family. She did great and took a bottle.

Several people have commented on how her hair is red. It does have a reddish tone just like the other 2 kids did as well. I don't think it is going to be red for long, but it is funny that all 3 have gone through this phase. I think her hair  looks more like an old lady's dye job that is growing out. Light at the roots, dark at the tips, and kinda faded brown/red in the middle. Ha!

Nursing Ruby is so sweet right now. She makes all kinds of sweet noises and happy coos while she is eating and she wants to look at me. She smiles at me and looses her milk and it is such a good bonding time.

She turned 3 months old while we were at the beach, so these pics were taken right when we got back. She faced outward in her Ergo for the first time there. She's a fan! She also had her first sink bath at the beach. I hope to get a beach post done at some point! It was fun taking  her for the first time.

She's found her tongue!! You can see she's working on some rolls in this pic.

Oh, we love you sweet Ruby!! You are getting so big. We are so thankful for our easygoing, cuddly, cute baby girl!

2 Months!

This little one is growing so quickly! On September 9, Ruby turned TWO months old! See a few pics and notes about her past month. We are loving getting to know her!

We get the most entertainment out of her hair! It does something different every day and keeps us laughing.

Serious face with intense eyes. She stares and stares at us now!

On 9/12 she had her 2 month checkup. She was 50% for weight and head circumference and 95% for length!

And she is giving us a lot more smiles lately! They crack us up as they are usually more like smirks and especially one side of her mouth will be obviously turned up. She looks drunk!:) She is very responsive to us talking sweetly to her now.

She scrunches up her nose and her eyes squint. I just love how babies smile with their whole bodies!

She's really starting to fill out this month and you can see it in her cheeks...You can see she's working on a few leg rolls, too!

Henry says, "If you talk sweetly to her, she'll smile!" He does just that and calls her "sweet girl" and just says the cutest things to her. I gotta video it.

So big yet so little:)

Here's a side view of her mohawk!

We love you sweet girl! Next month is going to be even more fun with even more firsts. We love watching you grow!

August 2016

I don't really know how to keep Ruby's updates separate from the rest of our family's goings on, so I am just going to have to try monthly updates in hopes of keeping up with her milestones.

 My mom was so helpful to come whenever I needed her this summer. Here she is for another visit 8/11. She is totally smitten with Ruby and loved talking to her on this visit. This pic reminds me of Henry. I see more similarities between his and Ruby's looks.

Ruby is so attentive now to us talking to her and she "talks" with her eyes and mouth movements. So sweet!

8/12-One of our last days at home before school started...tried to stay in PJ's and do things at home. Henry was working on ordering the alphabet on clothes pins and Annie putting marbles in the bottle.

Not sure why, but these 2 ask for their pic to be taken when we are at the grocery all the time! Who am I to refuse this? They know I'm a sucker for getting their pic!

On 8/13, Henry started soccer! He was so excited to start, and was especially pumped over the equipment he got-cleats, socks (which he insisted needed to be pulled all the way up), shin guards, ball. He did good his first practice and we've had fun since then going to his little Saturday practice/games. He's not the most competitive, but he seems to enjoy it, and we are taking it as good exposure to a team sport at this point!

8/14-Grandma came for a visit and watched Ruby for us quite a bit so we could swim with the big kids and even go out after they went to bed one evening. Our anniversary was on the 10th (14 years!!!), so we celebrated then and also Ben and Melanie watched Ruby while the big kids were with Grandpa the weekend prior so we could go to dinner.

Jammie kids after bath one evening!

Hard to resist snapping a pic of that sweet face

And snuggling that sweet girl after her bath one night!

8/15-our LAST day of summer! We went to a splash pad nearby that I had never heard about before that was awesome! We will definitely be visiting it again next summer. We packed a lunch and had a good time.

And another shot of this girl's crazy hair! She has blonde/light hair underneath, but it is mostly dark still. It looks like a reverse highlight or like an old lady's color growing out with gray roots showing!

Sweet swaddled baby

First day of school on 8/16! I am teaching 4th grade half days (7:30-12:30) this year with a class of 13 wonderful students, Henry is in pre-K, and Annie and Ruby are in the same nursery room (Annie the oldest and Ruby the youngest!). We had a great first week, although it was exhausting to say the least! Steven and I tag teamed that first week-He kept Ruby at home in the morning while I taught, then he went to work in the afternoon while I went home with all three kids. Ruby wasn't even 6 wks old yet, so I really wanted her to stay at home that first week if possible. She struggled with a bottle the first day, and it stressed Steven out so much that he brought her to school for me to feed her! That night I worked w her to take a bottle, and the rest of the week he said she took it like a champ! Henry and Annie love school and feel so at home there. They were excited to see friends and teachers and to get into a routine. Ruby started to school the following week, and she has done amazing. I was nervous about it all, but it has far exceeded my expectations and has got so great! I'm so thankful!!

These aren't the best pictures, but I wanted to document that our friends the Rollins came for a visit from Kansas City the weekend of 8/19 and we saw them several times. Their boys are so big! Can't wait for them to get back to the South!

Our small group met at IHOP before church. Annie was proud of her smiley face pancake that she ate none of.

Annie went to friend Heather's second bday party-so cute!

Ruby having tummy time and Annie joining in!

Snapped some pics after church one day...her smocked Sunday dress and crazy hair do not match! I tried putting a bow in, but it was no use! Just too wild at this pt.

Happy girl-such big smiles!!

Henry so proud of treasures he found on another trail walk.

Such a little explorer!

Annie had her 2 year check up on 8/22 (3 months past due!). She did great and was almost 35 inches tall and 29 pounds (both 75%). 

These 2 had such fun playing in the dirt with tractors and potting soil one afternoon

Teamwork!

On August 26, Henry officially turned 4 and a HALF! We went to Sugar Belle for cupcakes (any reason for a cupcake, right?!)

The kids get a kick out of tiny Ruby in her crib and want her to have her blankie and stuffed animals when I lay her in there.

Another sweet face with party hair. Henry says Ruby has rock star hair!

One day after school while I was putting the girls to nap Henry was working on this creation...we had gotten the mail and I guess the newspaper baggie inspired him. He used that, paper, and his duct tape to make a hat!

Annie wants to hold Ruby all the time-"I wanna hold huh. Can I hold Wooby?" are Annie's exact words. We don't usually add in Ruby's middle name, but more often than not, Annie calls her sister "Ruby Jane". It's so cute!

The last day of September I put Ruby in her swimsuit! She got to take a dip with us and she was so calm and chill about it!

She just took it all in and never fussed!

Here's a pic the Kentucky family got of Ruby during a FaceTime call. She's a charmer!

Swinging it absolutely one of Annie's favorite things to do outside. She begs to get in and fusses when she has to get out-even if it's been like 30 minutes!!

This girl has some serious spunk-she's a mess!

Daddy holding BOTH big kids one night to read books before bed!

And this is "Jumpy" our resident frog. Steven kept finding him in the pool over and over-he's the biggest one yet! Steven would fish him out and put him out of the fence and the next day he'd be there again. The kids named him and loved seeing him daily. This isn't the best pic, but he was a good looking frog-kind of like the classic kiss the frog and he turns into a prince type. After he started to bring dirt with him to the top steps of the pool, Steven decided to make the transport permanent and they made the trek to release him in the creek. There was a tiny part of us that thought he might make his way back in a few days, but not yet. Bye, Jumpy!