7 1/2 weeks!

I am getting chubby, lots of eating and no exercise make for fat rolls on my legs.

FINALLY!!!! Hardwood floors

We have been saving for a few years and things always come up. Finally we have gotten our new hardwood floors. Frank searched and searched for weeks to find the right wood. We had nasty carpet that belonged to the people who lived here before us and we just could not get it clean. Now that Ruby us here, we wanted to have new floors so that when she begins to crawl we know it will be clean. We had hardwood floors put everywhere bu the bedrooms.


Before


After


Before


After

Trip to visit Santa

We took Ruby to Babies R Us to see Santa hoping there would be less germs. We dressed her up in her Christmas clothes and she slept through the entire visit. We couldn't take pictures of her with Santa but the photographers got some good poses. We go back in a week to pick out the best pictures after editing.

6 Weeks!

Here is Ruby at 6 weeks. She weighed in at 11 pounds 11 ounces. She is now smiling and kind of laughing a little more. Her vision is improving everyday and it is fun to watch her grow and learn.



Wide awake in the middle of the night, keeping mommy awake.

Again an attempt at some fun pictures.

Ruby and I played around one afternoon trying to waste some time. We will eventually get better at this but here is our attempt at some fun pictures.






By far my favorite.

Happy Halloween!

We decided not to buy Ruby a Halloween costume this year since we would be the only ones to see it. So she just represented in a Halloween outfit from Nana.

One month old!

Well Ruby is officially growing up! Time if flying by and she is getting bigger everyday. She had her one month checkup at the doctor. She now weighs 10lbs and 15.5oz. She has grown and inch and a half since coming home. She is healthy and meets all the milestones the Dr requires. She is starting to follow objects with her eyes and she will sometimes smile at you when you talk to her. We are just dealing with some baby acne and waiting on it to go away so we can get pictures for announcements.

My 4 week picture, baby acne and all.

Ruby and OB getting to know each other

Of course, Ruby is oblivious to the dog, but OB is all about trying to figure out what this new creature is. OB sniffs alot and runs away when Ruby cries, which is alot lately. She has a bit of colic and it is driving everyone crazy!

Date night

While Nana was here, we were able to go to dinner and have a date night. Nana kept Ruby for a couple hours while we went to dinner. Sadly, our dinner conversation was all about Ruby and how lucky we were to have her.

More hanging around the house.

Ruby and I spend alot of time at home right now. She has a bit of colic and it is hard to go anywhere. Difficult to plan our day around crying and breastfeeding.


Ruby and Mommy


Nana bought this Halloween outfit. She looks so much older in this picture.


Spending time in my swing

Lost my belly button! YEAH

On October 15, Ruby lost her cord. She finally has a normal belly button and can have a real bath. She liked the first couple minutes of the bath, but once her hair got wet, it was all over. She was not happy. It is hard to give a newborn a bath, they are so slippery. We were nervous but got through it and all was well and we have a really clean baby!










Frank thought her head might be cold and put this knit hat on her. We were given this hat during our Birthing Class. Ruby looks a little crazy, like an old lady.

First Steelers game with Daddy

Ruby tried to stay awake for her first Steelers game with Daddy, but she was not successful. She pretty much sleeps most of the day right now. She was able to enjoy a winning game and Daddy was happy to share this with her.

Nana and Papi visit

My parents, Nana and Papi, came to visit and spend time with Ruby. Nana stayed for a week to help and get things in order around the house while we are still learning how to be parents. Of course, I neglected to get a picture of Ruby and Nana even though Nana was here for a whole week! During our time, Nana and I were going to try to take some neat pictures of Ruby, but Ruby did not cooperate. We only got one pose and it's not that great. We will have to wait for my sister to come and do her magic with the camera. We were so thankful that Nana was able to spend so much time and help around the house. We were all sad to see her leave.


Papi and Ruby


Mine and Nana's attempt at neat newborn pictures.

Hanging with daddy

Ruby and daddy like to spend time talking about the Steelers and contemplating the plays of the game. They have been talking about the Steelers since day one. She seems so content with him and he really knows how to calm her down.


Ruby and daddy


Thinking about the game.

First bath at home

We are still giving sponge baths since her belly button has not fallen off yet. Tonight we gave her a sponge bath and washed her hair. She was not too happy until it was all over. Still wondering if she is going to have curly hair or not. It was slightly wavy while it was wet but as soon as it dried, it turned straight as a board. We will see what happens as she grows and changes.


Mommy trying to calm her down afterwards.


First of many times playing beauty salon.


Just relaxing after my spa.

Just hanging out at home

Here are a few pictures of Ruby just hanging out around the house. Sorry for all the pictures, just proud of her.


Hanging out in her swing, one of her favorite places. Although you can't tell with her giving us the stink face.


Another swing picture, looking all squished!


Milk drunk

First doctor's appointment

Ruby had her first doctor's appointment on October 5. Her doctor was not there because he and his wife were at the hospital having their own baby. She had to see another doctor in the practice. She was given a clean bill of health. She now weighs in at 8 pounds 8 ounces, the same as she did when we left the hospital. We got lots of advice and guidance to help us in this journey of raising a beautiful and healthy baby!!! Today, October 7, she was weighed again and is now a whopping 8 pounds 11 ounces. She is gaining appropriately, YEAH!!! She is doing great breastfeeding and eats every 3-3 1/2 hours.


Buckled in on our way to the first Doctor's appointment.


Waiting on the doctor.

First few days

Well Ruby's first few days were full of drama for us. She spent the first three days in the NICU due to having low blood sugar. So we spent most of our time going up stairs in the hospital to visit. It was really hard seeing her there and having to leave. She was having a hard time keeping her blood sugar up so they had to put a feeding tube in, which was better than the IV they discussed putting in. I was supposed to be discharged on Sunday and she wasn't going to be discharged until Monday, so we begged to be able to stay. We just couldn't bear the thought of coming home wihtout her. The hosptial came through and allowed her to stay in the room with us on Sunday night. Now she has been able to keep her blood sugar up and all is going well. She was released with us from the hospital on Monday, October 3, the day before her due date.


Ruby and her feeding tube.


Ruby in her first dress hanging out in the NICU.


Her NICU nurse made this sign for her bassinet.


Her first night with mommy and daddy in the hospital.

She's here!!!!!!

After many hours of labor, we ended up having a c-section. Ruby Claire came into this world on September 29, 2011 at 9:41am. She was 8lbs and 15oz and 21 inches long. She is definitely chubby and round. She had to go directly to the NICU because her blood sugar was only 20. She is having trouble controlling her sugar and will be in the NICU until we leave the hospital. This is very difficutlt for both me and Frank, to not have her with us all the time. We are absolutely in love with her!!!! Here are a few picture of her and we will be updating more often, now that we have very intersting things going on.


Frank holding her within a minute after being born.


My first look at her.


Her first weigh in.


Her very first bath.


Happy family picture.

Belly Pics and the rest of Ruby's room

I know I promised this a few weeks ago, but I am just getting around to it. I had Frank take a couple pictures so you can see just how big Ruby is getting. I am ready to meet her now. I am 38 weeks and 2 days. She could be here any day now. The other pictures are of her room, we finally finished the decorating and it is all ready for her.


Frank took this from his height, so I look extra short and squat!


And now from my height. I think Ruby has run out of room, not sure how my belly can stretch anymore.


Finally got the rest of her curtains up, these are blackout curtains to hopefully help her sleep longer during the day.


Her changing table.


This is above her changing table. We found the letters to spell her name in Charleston.


OB checking out the crib, sniffing around trying to figure out what's about to happen.