Seven Months With Rubes

Ruby, your seventh month of life was marked by your new found mobility, your first surgery, your first accident, your first baby food, and your social little personality.

Ever since you became a stomach sleeper, you started getting really strong and rolling EVERYWHERE. I walked into your nursery after I heard a loud crash one day. You didn't make a peep, so I knew you were either fine or unconscious. I found you happily playing with the baby monitor cord that you had yanked down. It fell about 6 inches from your sweet, little head! You also rolled yourself right off the couch when I left you there for about 5 seconds to put a pile of laundry in our room. Oops. You cried for a minute. I made sure cerebrospinal fluid wasn't leaking through your ears, and that you didn't have any apparent swollen areas and we went on with life. Sorry, little lady! I won't make that mistake again :)

This month you also had a little procedure done at Arkansas Children's Hospital to fix an issue you were having at your umbilical site. I think the official term they used on all the paperwork was excision of an urachal remnant. You were so sweet during pre-op. We got up at 5:00 am to be there by 5:30. You waved at each health care professional that came in to take care of you and get you ready for surgery. When they wheeled you off in your little bed, my eyes filled with tears, but you just looked at us as you went like it was no big deal! And it really wasn't...but it felt like it. You went to sleep just fine and the surgery was non-eventful. Your waking up from anesthesia was more eventful. You screamed for an hour or so but eventually calmed down. We left and went home, and you nursed and slept all day. You tried to roll on your belly that afternoon and you haven't slowed down since! Children are quite resilient, and you were no exception. Glad to have all of that over with!

You aren't a huge fan of baby food. You could kind of take it or leave it. I don't blame you. The texture is quite challenging, and I know you really wanting table food. The feeding therapist in me doesn't want to give you any until you have maybe a tooth or at least until you are 10 months old...but, I don't know if we will last that long! You stare at our plates and reach for every thing on them constantly.

Your new favorite thing to do this month is wave hi and bye. You also hit the ground with your hand or pat my arm when you want more of something. I think your Gigi was the first one to notice that you actually were purposefully waving. It's the sweetest thing. You love to see people. This month (your 8th month), we were at a basketball game at Harding academy. With every person that walked by, you waved. Then, you fussed if they didn't acknowledge you! Ha! You've also really enjoyed waking up at 4 am pretty often this month. So, that's a bummer.

Some of your favorite things include tags, bottles and cups, ribbon, your paci, your sophie giraffe, and our iphones. You are wearing 6 and 6-9 month clothes for the most part...and I never put shoes on you, because you constantly are kicking your little legs and the shoes just fall right off.

Every one loves to comment on your strawberry blonde hair, your larger than life cheeks, and your sweet waving.

I loved celebrating mother's day this year with you! Last year, you were just a tiny little monster causing all sorts of mayhem during pregnancy. Now, you are here, and I get to rock you and snuggle you and tickle you and be reminded that I'm going to have to have at least a few more horrible pregnancies, because the product is so wonderful! :)

We love you, little lamb!

Six Months

Time marches on, and six months have come and gone. Seriously? Here is my attempt to recount some of the Ruby highlights...

- First and foremost, You have pretty much the chubbiest most kissable cheeks in the history of the universe.
- Some of your firsts include letting your Aunt Lauren babysit you, letting your Uncle Seth babysit you, first rice cereal, first time at the beach, and your first time in the pool. You loved all of the above minus the cereal. :)
- You love to play with tags, watch your Daddy dance, drink and reach for your bottle or any thing that resembles a bottle, go outside, and sit up to play. You are not very steady yet, so you take a lot of tumbles. They don't seem to phase you!
- You are still just a little lady :) 30th percentile for weight and 70th percentile for height. You are between 14 and 15 pounds.
- You continue to reveal such a sweet little personality. You really do not demand much, but you flash smiles and giggles left and right. Besides a few burly men, you will let most people hold you. You did cry for the first time when we left you with Uncle Seth, but he said you moved on really quickly and didn't make another peep.
- Your first beach trip was fun. I wouldn't say it was a relaxing vacation by any means, but it was fun to watch you try to eat the sand and hold you in the swimming pool. You loved the pool and watching the big waves. You also look pretty adorable in your swimsuit. That's all I will ever say about that so as to not place too much value on appearance in swimwear, lol! You also adore watching your cousins, Spencer and Evie.
- The sad part of this month has been your naps. You decided that you hate them and would like to scream for anywhere from 10-45 minutes before falling asleep. This is a little exhausing :(

What a little lady you are becoming! It is so fun and fascinating to watch you learn and grow! Your Daddy takes countless pictures of you. Here are just a few...