4 Months and the Flu

Happy, Sleeping Ruby

Sleepy, not feeling so good, Ruby.


The 4 generations picture.

Sitting up in the BeBe Pod.

Ruby's look of infinite wisdom.

Well, well. Ruby's first Thanksgiving will definitly be a memorable one. She got the flu. The doctor said that it was H1N1, but it was not serious. Ruby is obviously a fighter. Mommy was sure worn out after it all.

On a much happier note Ruby can almost put her toes, that's right people I said toes, in her mouth. She has also discovered that she can pet Pedro. Her idea of petting is pulling his hair, which thankfully he doesn't seem to mind. She loves "feeling him up". This looks a little weird but oh so cute.

Sorry, we don't have very good 1st Thanksgiving pics, but I figured I can put her in the "My first Thanksgiving" shirt and recreate the whole event sans icky running nose, red eyes, hacking cough, and blood wrenching screams later.

Fingernails and blue jeans

I have successfully made a murder scene that looked like something from CSI. I cut Ruby's nails. I don't know if I will ever cut her nails again. They can just curl over and twist like those people with the world's longest nails in the Guiness Book of World Records. Although I don't know if I can take the scratches or the looks I get from the scratches around my neck. I'm sorry but I have no picture of the crime scene.

On a happier more exciting note. It might seem like a little thing, but it was exciting to me. Ruby got her first pair of blue jeans. She can wear them everyday and no one will say a thing because you can do that with blue jeans. Right?

My Little Stinker

I actually thought about dressing her as a booger, but after thinking some more decided that it would just be a little too cruel.

3 Month Giggles

Happy 3 months!
Her great mema.

Getting Chopper kisses.

Grandaddy, Uncle Buddy, and Uncle Kirby

Holding a toy on her own.

Ruby and Aunt Nancy

Ruby and Aunt Mary

Ruby and Aunt Marsa.

Ruby turned 3 months last Wednesday. I can't believe I've survived what seems like endless spitup, poop, and crying so hard that I still hear it after it's stopped. I must say that the last month has been the best so far. She changes every day. I feel like tommorrow I'll be having to send her off to college.

It was harder to leave her and go back to work after fall break than it was when I first went back. She's so enjoyable now. It's not that I didn't love her the first time, but now she laughs and smiles so much. It can really melt your heart. My students love her, even though most have never met her yet. One student asked me where she was like he thought I was going to bring her to school everyday. I told him she was in the closet. She's the topic of many conversations. And I thought I would never get their attention the day I set her picture out by the computer. I didn't realize having a baby would make me super cool to a bunch of elementary kids.

Here are some milestones:

• Ruby can sit up by herself as long as her back is against something. However, she does start leaning like the leaning tower of Pisa and eventually she falls over.


• She grabs things and holds them herself. My hair will never be worn down again nor will I be wearing necklaces for a while.
  
• We actually saw her put her pacy in her mouth. I don't know if she was aware she did this.
  
  
• She is giggling more than ever.


• Just today she started talking baby talk. She and Josh had a full blown baby conversation for about 30 minutes. I also had to take her out of church not because she was crying, but because she was giggling so hard and making funny noices.
  
• She can do stomach crunches and curls better than any pilates instructor.
  
  
• She pooped all over her grandaddy for the first time. Lovely.

2 months WOW

Just a few days of diapers.

Doing her Jane Fonda workout.

Well our little girl is growing up. She turned 2 months last week on the 21st. It's going by fast and she seems to change everyday. Ruby has her daddy's sweet dimples if you haven't noticed by the pictures. You can really notice them now that she's gottn some fat on her cheeks. I think she's going to be a runner or a swimmer. Her legs are constantly moving and she already does her stretches.

She had her 2 month checkup. Which also means she had her shots. Call me a mean mommy, but I just couldn't help and laugh when she got her first shot. She was happy and then the nurse stuck her little thigh. Ruby cocked her head back and her face turned as red as a tomato. Her mouth opened wide and her lips quivered, but nothing came out for like 30 whole seconds. Then, the loudest noise I had ever heard was leashed from one of the tiniest little mouths ever. I'm sure the nurse thought I was crazy, because I was chuckling. I did hold her little hands during this whole episode. So maybe I'm not that mean.

Ruby now weighs in at a whole 10 lbs 6 ozs. She is 21 1/2 inches long.

Updates and stuff

It's Football Time. This will be Saturday's outfit.
She smiles!

I think this one is hilarious! She looks like she's gotten a little too much caffeine in the milk.

A teacher at school made this yummy banana pudding. I don't think Ruby is quite into it yet.

Bath time.

Ruby is doing great. Josh and I are getting a little energy back or our bodies are just adapting to life with a baby. She is only waking once during the night. She was going down around 9:00 last week and Josh and I were so excited. This week is a different story. One night was close to 3:00 the rest have been anywhere between 10:30 and 12. She's become very alert and wants to take in everything. I think she believes if she sleeps she'll miss something. I know I'm missing my sleep!

She took her first rode trip on Labor day. She rode with my parents to Land Between the Lakes. Josh and I lead the way on the motorcycle. We took the long way which took about 4 hours. She hardly cried according to mom. It was so nice to ride with Josh again. It had been almost a year. Ruby did wonderful. My parents took care of her most of the day . Thanks guys. I didn't get a lot of pics because my camera apparently got scared when Josh decided to disturb two copperheads with a photoshoot and quit working.

If she contiues to nap I'll post pictures, but if not you'll get them later.

one month pics

Ugh! I can't get this one to turn!

Gorgeous

Wow! I can't believe it's been one month already. Ruby is such a gift from God. He knew exactly when we would need her most. She has been such a positive light in the recent sad days. Josh's dad passed away this week after a long battle with lots of different things. He did get to hold little Ruby a couple of times and for that we are greatful. One of the last words he spoke was "Gorgeous" in a one word description of her to the chaplin at the Hospice center. I have a hard time calling her gorgeous as it makes my eyes a little weepy.

Without Ruby this week would have been tougher to get through for Josh and everyone. I believe that Ruby now has a special angel watching her from above and I don't care how cheesy that may sound. We will me miss Pepaw (Teddy), but know he's in better place.

2 Week Pictures and Noteable Firsts

Ruby is a traveler. I can't stay at home for very long so she has already been many places. This I'm sure appalls some germ fearing people, but my sanity and the feeling that she'll be exposed to so much more later on anyway makes me not fear the germs so much. She's well wrapped when we go out and I don't let strangers touch her. We've been to Target at 9 days old, Dos Margarita's and Daddy's work in Nashville at 11 days, Cracker Barrel at 12, an art show at 18 days, and Church at 19.

She lost her belly button stub this past Wednesday and has managed to spit up, pee, and poo on me all at the same time.

She started sleeping in her crib on Thursday. Yay! She's slept peacefully in her lovely crib for the last 3 nights, which means Josh and I have slept somewhat peacefully in our room for the last 3 nights also.

The Life of Ruby, so far.

Bright eyes

Ruby's Room.

Ruby's Arrival at her new home.

Car Seat 101

Going Home.

Ruby and I celebrating our Birthdays!

Daddy Loves Ruby

Aunt Jimama?

She has frog legs because she was breach. Kinda cute though.

She's here!

Minutes before arrival.

Ruby Soleil is Here

She's here!!! Ruby Soleil Black arrived this morning via c-section. My water broke around 7:30 and I called the doctor around 8:45. She was dipped out at 12:28. Ruby weighed in at 6lbs 3ozs and is 19 1/2 inches long. Her hair is brown, but I think it will change. I'll post pics tomorrow.

Estimated Time of Arrival

Thought my water broke last night in bed. Went to the hospital. Wasn't my water soooo....I'll let you figure the rest out. Apparently she just kicked me in the bladder very hard. Josh remained fairly calm and got me to the hospital in one piece with most of the stuff on our list to bring. Yay, Josh! Too bad he had to unload it all this morning after about only 4 hours of sleep.

C-Section has been scheduled for the 28th. She's sitting diagonally, head up and bottom down, in my uterus and refusing to move. My tummy often looks very asymmetrical. Makes for very interesting comments. My huge elephant feet are also a big topic, even with the girls behind the counter at Dairy Queen.

More Baby Room Progress

The painting under the mirror was made by one of my deaf ed students at SCE. It is a sun, flower, and a heart. She told me that she loves the sun because it makes the flowers grow and that warms her heart.

I bought it from her because it warmed my heart.

She's definitly not going to go naked anytime soon.

For some reason the above pic won't rotate, but I wanted to include it because Josh is actually reading the directions on how to put together the crib. Whata' man!



The painting of the giving tree was made by my friend Rachel, the top painting was made by my cousin's 2 yr old daughter, Mattie Mae, and the bottom one was painted by Josh's nephew, Alex.



I painted the mural on the wall behind her crib last week. It has a momma bird, a daddy bird, and a baby bird to represent our family. Pedro was jealous I didn't paint cats.

Josh putting together the crib. He didn't have any parts left over and he it didn't take him very long. Probably because he read the directions and he's very handy.

Opening the dresser/changing table.