Four Month Socialite

Having a four month old has been so much more fun than all the other months combined. Although, I did go up to the hospital the other day to see a friend of mine and her newborn, and all of the sudden I was convinced that having a newborn was the best thing ever. Wow. Hormones are RAGING.

Ruby's fourth month was quite an adventure. She took a trip with me, her Gigi, and her Aunt Lauren to go see her Aunt Hill in Nashville. She did fine in her carseat, slept most of the way, and really was quite a delight the entire trip. I am trying to warn myself (and Levi) that our next kid might not be this easy going. But, for now, we'll take it!

What else did we do in February? I went back to work part time and left Ruby at home with her Gigi two days per week for the past four weeks. I feel guilty when I get to work and forget about her for a few minutes. Then I remember her when I have to pump every couple hours :) My breasts will never let me forget her for too long. Overall it has been a seamless transition with only one emotional breakdown (me not Ruby) on the eve of my first day back. My mom assures me that Ruby never really fusses and seems happy as a clam, so I hope she isn't lying.

We went to the doctor, and Ruby weighs about 13 pounds. She is back on the charts for weight and is climbing the charts for height. Now that I avoid chocolate, citrus fruit, and dairy, her face is silky smooth. Her favorite thing to do is "talk", and I'm pretty sure the first time she laughed this month my heart melted to the floor. Sweetest thing ever. She thinks I am pretty funny these days as she does anyone who will sit there and make silly noises like an idiot for any extended period of time. Four months old also brought more of a realization to her that she does in fact have fingers and toes. She loves to just look at them, eat them, and grab things. When I rock her she tries to reach out and touch my face with her slobbery little fingers. Also very sweet. Naps were going great until I transitioned her into her crib. I won't complain, though, because the girl has slept through the night since she was 8 weeks old!

Levi is finally done with basketball season, which means he is home more nights of the week. This has been wonderful and really excites me about summer. We are finally into our "groove" of having a baby and it is getting harder to remember what life was like before we had Rubes. It definitely wasn't as smelly, slobbery, or wonderful. She brings us such joy!

Here are some pictures from February...

Three Months Old!

A few days after my 23 hour labor with Ruby my entire body broke out into a hive like rash for a week, my newborn was still jaundiced, my husband was back at work, I was 30ish pounds overweight, sitting and lifting my leg to walk up the 40 steps to our condo was painful, and I was definitely sleep deprived, my sister reminded me of the following: " In a long and simultaneously lightening fast year, you will look back and only half way remember all of this.  And now you know why." I still laugh that she said this to me. It was just so poignant and true! Now, after three months, we are 25% through this first "lightening fast" year, and I am learning to be content in each "stage". The newborn first month or so was definitely the most emotional and the biggest adjustment. The second month threw me a curve ball when the doctor told me my kid wasn't gaining weight. The third month, though, has been such a fun and less stressful time! I know Levi and I will have highs and lows through out the rest of our lives with children. It is almost like there is a piece of you disconnected from your body that is your child...a piece of you that will always cause you to be more vulnerable, feel things more deeply, bring you more joy, and cause you deeper emotions than ever before. I am okay with this, but it makes me all the more thankful for the "fun" months!

Ruby, this month you love to interact. You coo and "talk" all morning and evening with me and whoever else will sit there and stare at you long enough to get you engaged. You have tried to reach for your toys a little bit, roll over from your tummy to your back, and are great at controlling your head. You are finally gaining weight despite your cow's milk allergy and failure to thrive issues. We nurse and supplement all the live long day! You are always moving your long skinny fingers, sucking on  your hand, kicking your legs, and making your signature "snort" noise. Probably ten people just in the past week have commented that they love your thick hair and that it is looking strawberry blonde. Your dad was holding you the other night and it was undeniable that you are his child! You both really have the same eyes, forehead, head shape, and little ears that stick out. You have started to use your uncoordinated hand movements to touch your paci when it is falling out. If I was allowed to let you, you would sleep 12 hours every night. Right now I wake up after 6-8 to feed. You also take about 3-4 naps per day, usually for 1-2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. You are doing a great job at taking a bottle when it is time. You love your swing and looking at your self in the mirror. You also seem to actually enjoy your baths now, which is great. Now that I am off dairy, your little complexion is just flawless. Sorry for chugging 20-30 ounces of whole milk every day those first 10 weeks...

Your dad and I often sit around and marvel at the fact that you are ours and what joy you bring us even in the mundane of life. You are our precious light...our Ruby Clare, and we love you very much!

Two Months Old!

Ruby, your second month brought some fun times and some not so fun times. It has probably been the most stressful (for all of us) so far. Here's a quick chronicle of the ups and the downs.

Ups:
- You started to really enjoy looking at yourself in your mirror, making eye contact and smiling, looking at your toys, staring at colorful objects, staring at spinning objects (you love the fan!), taking baths, and sleeping. At 8 weeks you started sleeping anywhere from 6-12 hours per night.
- You love to kick your little legs at all times!

Downs:
- You didn't gain any weight from month 1 to month 2, so at your 2 month checkup you still weighed in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces. I, of course, felt like a horrible mom, but I tried really hard not to make it all about me and my performance! The doctor was worried at first, but after she listened to your heart and lungs and checked you over, she reported that there was nothing physiologically wrong...so it must be me. With you sleeping through the night and missing so many feedings, my milk supply had plummeted and you were not eating enough. I felt so silly that I didn't really even realize. I knew you were small, but I didn't realize just how small. So began the weight gaining mission! We started feeding every 2 hours around the clock and every 3 at night. I started pumping, drinking Mother's Milk tea, taking Fenugreek tablets, and supplementing with formula after you nursed. Sadly, you HATED the formula, but I finally got some in you one night while you were too sleepy to notice what you were drinking. The next morning I woke you up, and you had a full body rash. It was so bad that I checked to make sure you were breathing. Yikes. Good thing we were supposed to see the doctor that day anyway. I took you in to All For Kids a little early, and after a few doctors came in and looked at you they referred me to a dermatologist with whom I was NOT impressed. At the end of the day, though, all the medical health professionals agreed you probably are allergic to cow's milk. Aha! This would explain your facial rashes that continued to come and go and the reaction to the formula. After this hurdle, I gave up dairy, and (after a lot of prayer!) you finally developed a taste for Nutramagin. We are now nursing, supplementing, feeding and weighing often. My milk supply is back up. You gained a pound last week and are back in the 23rd percentile. Yay Rubes! Whew. It's been a crazy month. I'm thankful to get to continue nursing you and that you are now thriving. This saga was great experience as a feeding therapist but not so great as a mommy.
- More eating means less sleeping, so you are no longer sleeping through the night. I never thought I would have to wake up my baby consistently to make them eat, but it is so very important that we get you fattened up.
- You spit up a lot more thanks to the formula.

Here are some precious pictures of what you have been up to!

Looking at your sweet little face in the mirror

Playin'

Tummy time

Chillin' with your cow

Lovin' your cow

Sweetie pie!

Sound asleep in your Snugabunny

Love you Rubes and so thankful that you are getting fatter by the day! :)

Clarks come to town!

The first week in December was a fun one, because the Clarks came to town! Your Great Grandma and Grandpa Clark along with your Great Uncle Lewie and Great Aunt Margie traveled all the way to Little Rock just to meet you. We had fun going out to eat and playing games. They all thoroughly enjoyed holding you and snuggling with you! It was a fun and special time. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Grandma Clark loves babies!

Snuggling with your Aunt Margie

Lewie wasn't quite sure...

Four generations

Family pic

Settling In

Week two went a bit smoother than week one, and now that we are in the midst of week three I feel as if we are finally settling in (as much as one does with a newborn).

 Our days are slow and simple, and that is how I like them. Recently, you are sleeping anywhere from 3-6 hours at a time at night. You are usually awake when Levi leaves for work, so we get to tell him bye and then we take a little nap until a more "reasonable" hour. Six in the morning will never be a reasonable hour to me. Nine or ten sounds (and feels!) much better. After our nap, we get ready for the day, which usually consists of me quickly brushing my teeth and putting a little deodorant on and giving you a quick little bath and diaper change. Today I even got brave and trimmed your long, perfectly manicured (but sharp) nails that you have had since birth. Next is when we play dress up for approximately 20 minutes where I try to make all of the really cute clothes that your Gigi bought you from Gap fit you even though they are all still way too big. After we are ready for the day, you basically eat and sleep and stay awake for a little bit and repeat the whole cycle all over again.

You are a pro at raising your head and weight bearing on your tiny little elbows when you feel like it. You've seemed much more awake and alert this week, which has been really fun. I finally broke down and gave you a paci to soothe you at night when you just get fussy and restless for no reason apparent to this new mom. You are nursing pretty well except for when you take in a little too much at one time and do some coughing (which makes me sad). I spend my free time reading all kinds of articles on Kellymom.com, watching depressing daytime television, writing thank you notes, praying for your safety and well being, and trying to keep up with the everyday. The change of pace that has come with staying at home has been great but very different. I am not going and doing all day, but I am supposed to be available 24/7 nonetheless.

We went on some walks this week, which was good for both of us. You just doze off while I push your giant stroller up the hill on our circle. We've gone a mile each time, although at the rate I am consuming chocolate cake and cornbread that people have brought us, I'm sure my weight has remained the same despite the daily exercise...

Levi has constantly reminded me that I don't have to have a list of things that I've "done" all day to prove that I am valuable. I like to at least have one thing to report, but it is nice to hear that just keeping up with a newborn is very worthwhile. I know this, but it is truly a blessing to have a husband that views it equally as worthwhile. Now that basketball season is in full force, You and I are going to have a lot of nights alone together. I can't think of a more precious way to spend my evenings. :) I mean, really- that is ALOT of cute, y'all!