Watch Ruby Grow: 30-36 Weeks

I admit I did have to cheat a little to get all these pictures... not all of them are exact!

 

Right now we are battling the worst diaper rash (accompanied by diarrhea) I have ever seen! We are 99.9% sure it's from apples, (I had the same thing when I was a baby) but it's been 4 days since I've given her applesauce and the diarrhea has not gone away! This weekend was busy with us babysitting for a family, so poor Ruby kind of got the shaft and we didn't feed her any solids and she's hardly had any water (besides what is mixed with her formula, duh) for a few days, so today I gave her some water and in one sitting she downed just about 2 ounces. Oops... bad mom award right here! I'm hoping that has something to do with it, but if not, we are going to the doctor next week and if things are cleared up by then hopefully the Doc will have some answers. In the meantime I am getting lots of snuggles which is sweet and sad at the same time.

Other than that, Ruby is awesome! Getting funnier and funnier all the time, loves to blab away to herself, loves her johnny jumper, always tries to go for the stairs (I NEED A BABY GATE!) She did end up going down the stairs at my aunts house one day. she made it down 4 before I snatched her... ya and they are hardwood so that was awesome of me. Add that to falling off the bed twice, falling of the couch, out of her swing, falling backwards out of her bouncy chair... ya please don't call child protective services I swear I'm a good mom. The good news is, she can climb up them, as long as one of us is standing behind her in case she tries to abandon ship halfway through.
She's a mama's girl as long as she can see me, but if I'm out of sight she's good. Loves the bath, as most babies do I suppose. Looooooves walks and we don't even attempt to put her in the stroller in her car seat cause she just LOVES to sit facing forward and check things out. it's so funny and DANG CUTE! Sometimes if I just really need to get out of the house I just head down to the mall and walk around cause she loves it and I love looking at all the stuff I can't afford! (ha. ha ha.) I just love her and can't believe that I love her more and more ever day! Sometimes I just wanna squeeze her so hard because I love her so much! (love overload)

Watch Ruby Grow: 29 Weeks

Hey Guys! 

I'm sure you already know, but my name is Ruby. Ruby Jean Richards. I like to crawl and eat and climb on things. I love my dad. I call for him all day but he must have bad hearing cause he doesn't come when called! I did something so funny this week. My mom was making eggs for herself (I can't have them yet she says) and I snuck over to the stairs and I was SO CLOSE to going down them! Man it was hilarious, you should have seen mom's face. The next day they put up a baby gate... lame. Oh another time I was at Aunt Kara's with Mom, and she went up stairs to help put away some groceries, and when she came down to get me I had already climbed up three stairs! Dang it, I was so close. Can you imagine the look on her face then?!

Mom has made me try so many different foods. I like most of them, but only if they are warm. Peas, bananas and applesauce are some of them. And she makes me drink out of this weird cup that is NOTHING like the boob and nipple I'm used to.

Well, life is good here. I'm just gunna keep doing my thing and make Mom chase me around all day. Until next time!

Watch Ruby Grow: 28 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 27 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 26 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 25 Weeks

This girl is the BOMB! I am just obsessed with her. She is basically a toddler in a baby's body, and every time I look at her it just blows me away that she is doing the things she does.
At 25 weeks (almost 6 months!) Ruby:
- Crawls. yup, she is on all fours and coordinating her movements wonderfully. She's not very fast, but she is definitely moving.
- Has tried rice cereal, sweet potato, and avocado. LOVES them all and grabs the spoon to shove it in her mouth. (I've been homemaking her baby food and I love it! Makes me feel so domestic even though it's the easiest thing in the world to make.)
- Diaper changes are a joke... a lot of rolling and grabbing... and with solid food comes STINKY poops. We've had to actually use the diaper genie.
- Sometimes sleeps through the night, but still has the occasional midnight feeding
- Went on her first airplane ride! We flew from Boise to Calgary and she did really good, much better than I thought she would. Just gave her some Tylenol before each flight and for the most part she slept. Got a little fussy while descending but other then that was great. I loved hauling her around the airport in her carrier on my front with a backpack on my back and suitcase in tow.
- Spits, makes a lot of noise, does this thing where she holds her breath and then blurts out "da" (I would have to demonstrate for you to really get it I think... ha). I love listening to her jabbering in the car. Smiles all the time but laughs are rare.
- Is still a pretty crappy nurser (no offense Rubes, it's my fault really.) We've been giving her formula more often to compensate for my crappy milk supply. For me, nursing is harder than giving birth.

I think a lot about the pregnancy/birthing process. I once wrote an entire post on the subject of midwife vs OB and my switch from one to the other half-way through my pregnancy, but completely chickened out on publishing it because I didn't want to ruffle any feathers and seem like I was on a soapbox. I understand that having a baby can be a very messy process, with complications and things not going as fast (or faster) than they should be. I know that 75% of you will think that I am completely off my rocker when I say having Ruby drug-free was the absolute best, most amazing and empowering thing I have ever done. It is one thing that I can really say I am passionate about- I think women seeing and FEELING what their bodies were designed to do is AWESOME! If conditions permit, I really really encourage you to try it!

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to sound tough or awesome. I was in labor for a 6 hours and hardly had time to consider drugs (although I was firm in my decision to not have an epidural.) I just feel really lucky that I was able to skip the drugs, follow my bodies lead, and bring a happy, healthy baby into this world. :)

Watch Ruby Grow: 24 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 23 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 22 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 21 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 20 Weeks

Ruby is in bed and Blake is working in Pocatello this week, so I finally have a minute to write down some thoughts I've been having. I just love this little turkey. I can't imagine my life without her and I feel so blessed to be able to stay home and watch her grow and learn. Today she rolled over and was holding herself up on her knees. I can't believe how fast she is changing! I can honestly say I didn't really know what to expect with motherhood. I was (and still am) nervous, of course, about being able to afford children, raising respectful and decent human beings, and everything else that comes with it. Having to change my priorities and put myself second (or third in some cases) has been strange. Eating dinner at the table before 8 is a luxury. Most of the time I'm giving Ruby a bath and eating dinner while sitting at the edge of the tub. 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep is not even an option. Being able to just hang out and paint my nails just doesn't happen, because once I do have the time I just don't care anymore. I love when she gives me a big gummy smile, but I think I love her scowls just as much (they remind me of her Dad.) 
For a few years now all I have wanted to do is get a bachelor's degree in biology. It is still something I want to be able to say I've accomplished, but for the time being I know that at home with Ruby is where I'm needed most. Ruby has taught me so much about myself. What my strengths and weaknesses are, and what being TRULY selfless is all about. She has helped me get my priorities straight(er). 

She really does make me a better person, and I will forever love her for that.

Watch Ruby Grow: 19 Weeks

Ruby has recently began rolling over and over and over. Going from back to front to back to front again is no big thing for her! It's crazy! Ask me how hard it was to get a picture of her on her back? IT WAS REALLY HARD cause all she wants to do is roll over!

P.S. I hope you'll excuse me that all my blog consists of is these type of posts... yes, I'm talking to you all 5 of my followers! Maybe one day I'll get cray cray and post about something other than my bebe... maybe...

Watch Ruby Grow: 18 Weeks

Ruby at 18 Weeks:
- This picture sums it up. Always has to have something in her mouth. And her hands are ALWAYS covered in slobber!
- She is a rolling fool! Can go from back to tummy but not back.
- Is in the 22% for weight (12 lbs 6 oz), 60% for height (24.5 in) and 58 for head (16.25 in)
- Gave her her first taste of formula on Oct 24.
- Lots of ooh's and ah's from this girl, but a laugh is like a rare gem. She saves them for special occasions.

Watch Ruby Grow: 17 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 16 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 15 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 14 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 13 Weeks

Watch Ruby Grow: 12 Weeks

Time for a 12 week update! I feel like there is not much to report, just that Ruby is getting stronger and bigger every day! She is:
- Just about 12 pounds now.
- A smiling fool! But we have yet to get a REAL laugh out of her.
- Still loves being swaddled up.
- Loves to suck on her hands, my hands, my neck, her blanket. Anything she can get in her mouth really. She gave me a hickey on my shoulder the other day.
- Sleeping in her crib every night.
- She rolled over! Once, and I didn't even see it. One second she was on her belly, the next she's on her back. She hasn't done it since then so I'll take it as a fluke.
-  Not on any kind of schedule. I really should start something soon, for both our sakes... *slap on the wrist
- Content, for the most part. This girl gets hauled around a LOT and all things considered, she handles it really well! Good job baby! We love ya!

Watch Ruby Grow: 11 Weeks