6 months and going strong...

Ruby went to her doctor's appointment last week. Once again, she was quite the show off. She passed every test with flying colors. The only thing she couldn't complete was the hearing the test. They explained that she needed to be very still and quiet... hmmm, that's not happening with this girly. Above all things, right now she is very impressed with her ability to sing and talk, and we couldn't shut her up for anything. So we will give it another go at her 9 months appointment. I can't imagine that she will be quieter then, but maybe I can bring her sleepy???? Ruby weighed 15lb 7oz (37th percentile), her height was 25 5/8 inches (41st percentile) and I can't remember head size... but it was on the low side of average.
I did get into it with the nurse a little bit. At work, we are doing a push to encourage medical staff to use "comfort positions" during procedures. The purpose is to help older kids feel like they are in control by letting them sit up, and by helping babies feel comforted, by being close to their parents. So I asked the nurse if I could hold the upper part of Ruby's body in a cradle during her shots ( a position Ruby just modeled for some posters at our hospital). I had done this during her 4 month shots, and it had gone very well. When I suggested it to the nurse this time, the nurse would not allow it, stating that she was an "old nurse". Ugh! I hate that excuse! What does that mean? You can't learn new ways to help kids, if you are an "old nurse"! I didn't want to start a fight... so I explained that we are making a push toward comfort positions at Blank, and they may start hearing about it at outlying clinics as well. She said she wasn't sure what it would do anatomically. So you can bet I will be researching any anatomical issues it could cause, and if we have the same nurse for Ruby's flu shot, there will be a discussion prior to the shots. Okay, off my soap box....

Ruby calmed as soon as her shots were done... she is older and her thighs are twice as thick as they were when she first got vaccines.  So, that's got to help!  We gave her some Tylenol that evening and were actually surprised when she woke up with a low grade fever the next morning. She wasn't quite herself and we spent the morning reading books and keeping things low key. By noon the fever broke, and of course, now she is back to her smiley self.

This weekend we did a Tour de Granparents... at my parents Saturday afternoon and then at a golf tournament with Steve's parents on Sunday. Of course, Ruby loves time with them and the extra attention.  Attached are a few pics of Ruby and her grandpas. :)

6 months and going strong...

Ruby went to her doctor's appointment last week. Once again, she was quite the show off. She passed every test with flying colors. The only thing she couldn't complete was the hearing the test. They explained that she needed to be very still and quiet... hmmm, that's not happening with this girly. Above all things, right now she is very impressed with her ability to sing and talk, and we couldn't shut her up for anything. So we will give it another go at her 9 months appointment. I can't imagine that she will be quieter then, but maybe I can bring her sleepy???? Ruby weighed 15lb 7oz (37th percentile), her height was 25 5/8 inches (41st percentile) and I can't remember head size... but it was on the low side of average.
I did get into it with the nurse a little bit. At work, we are doing a push to encourage medical staff to use "comfort positions" during procedures. The purpose is to help older kids feel like they are in control by letting them sit up, and by helping babies feel comforted, by being close to their parents. So I asked the nurse if I could hold the upper part of Ruby's body in a cradle during her shots ( a position Ruby just modeled for some posters at our hospital). I had done this during her 4 month shots, and it had gone very well. When I suggested it to the nurse this time, the nurse would not allow it, stating that she was an "old nurse". Ugh! I hate that excuse! What does that mean? You can't learn new ways to help kids, if you are an "old nurse"! I didn't want to start a fight... so I explained that we are making a push toward comfort positions at Blank, and they may start hearing about it at outlying clinics as well. She said she wasn't sure what it would do anatomically. So you can bet I will be researching any anatomical issues it could cause, and if we have the same nurse for Ruby's flu shot, there will be a discussion prior to the shots. Okay, off my soap box....

Ruby calmed as soon as her shots were done... she is older and her thighs are twice as thick as they were when she first got vaccines.  So, that's got to help!  We gave her some Tylenol that evening and were actually surprised when she woke up with a low grade fever the next morning. She wasn't quite herself and we spent the morning reading books and keeping things low key. By noon the fever broke, and of course, now she is back to her smiley self.

This weekend we did a Tour de Granparents... at my parents Saturday afternoon and then at a golf tournament with Steve's parents on Sunday. Of course, Ruby loves time with them and the extra attention.  Attached are a few pics of Ruby and her grandpas. :)

It's football season!!!!

We are training Ruby (by we I mean I am training Ruby) to enjoy the football.  That way she can watch games with Daddy.  As you can see she is getting excited and pumped up!

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Ruby loves Shrimp Fried Rice (bag)

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photo shoot

Yesterday we did Ruby's 6 month photo shoot with Steve's friend Brian Duffey.  He takes really great pictures and is just getting his business started.  (Let me know if you want more info on how to line up a photo shoot with him!)  We had a lot of fun and Ruby did a great job.  Now of course we have to wait a couple of weeks to get the photos.  So hard to have patience! 

 Ruby has been a delight this week.  Talking more and more, starting to work on those constanants.  Loving her food.  Sitting up so well.  Rolling and Steve even claims that she scootched a few inches... working toward some sort of crawling.  Anyway, here is one sneak peek of our photo shoot... can't wait til we have the rest to share with you!

Happy 1/2 Birthday Ruby!

So, Ruby has half of a year under her belt... boy, has it flown by.

 Someday I am sure we will look back and try to remember what things were like (I'm already trying to remember what it was like when she was a newborn)... and so, a day in the life of Ruby at 6 months:

 Ruby usually wakes up between 7:30 and 8:00 and is always in a great mood.  She starts her da, by nursing and then playing on the floor while Dad/Mom get their own breakfast and coffee...coffee has become more imperitive than sleep!  Lately we will leave her on her back and come back to her on her stomach... her most recently mastered "trick".  She then plays and practices her sitting - which she can do, but usually needs a pillow behind her "in case".  Then a breakfast of a veggie or a fruit... today sweet potatoes.  Then more playing until she is ready for a nap around 10:30.  She sleeps for about an hour, nurses, and then usually off to run a few errands with Mom or Dad.  If she is home in the afternoon, she gets a piece of fruit to chew on.  Then down for a second nap and sometimes a third depending how long the naps are.  She also usually gets time outside on the front porch or on a walk in her stroller in the afternoon.  Evenings are busy and fun... Ruby loves oatmeal for supper and although she loves it plain, we usually "flavor" it to get a few more veggies in her.  Since she is stripped down prior to eating, she then spends the rest of her evening in her diaper watching Mom and Dad cook supper and eat, all while in her exersaucer.  She gets giggly and happy the last half hour before she crashes.  Then off for a bath, a book, nursing, and then we just lay her in a crib between 7:30 and 8PM.  She cuddles up with her duck or her hippo and is usually sleeping in no time.  Nights are a little less happy.  Ruby likes to wake up around midnight and around 4AM to eat.  We try to put the binky in and let her fuss a bit, but that hasn't been panning out lately.  So Mom and Ruby are up nursing a couple times a night.  Last night she got up at 9:30 irrate and screaming.... lots of rocking, shushing, etc. and finally back in bed by 10:15.  Hoping that doesn't become a habit!

 She continues to grow and change so quickly.  She has blessed our last 6 months and we can't wait for what's next...

Ruby goes to the fair

Last night Ruby took her first trip to the Iowa State Fair.   She witnessed the biggest boar and biggest bull, the chickens, the goats, the horses, the tractors (her favorite one was purple :) ), and her parents filling themselves with pork and ice cream (though none for Ruby this year!).  The weather was perfect... low 80's and overcast, and she happily watched all the commotion from her mama's hip and her stroller.  As the night wore on, she wound down to the sounds of Hairball, the cover 80s rock band, and then took a good snooze while her mom and dad enjoyed the show (at a safe distance - away from the fireworks and blaring speakers).  All and all, I would say Ruby was a fan of the fair!

Bucka bucka bucka

Ruby is starting to really enjoy her exersaucer.  Here is a short clip of her attempting to break it......look at that leg strength!

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safety check

So Grandpa Al tends to keep more than the average person and recently found the umbrella stroller from when Sam and I were kids and the swing from when Sam was little.  We have used the stroller a bunch already...though the wheel popped off yesterday, so it may not be as sturdy as we hoped.  Now the swing is pretty indistructible.  The question is hanging it.  Our old porch as a ton of old hooks that I am sure held plants, christmas lights, porch swings, etc.  It seemed perfect to have the swing on the porch while she is so young and so I hung it from two hooks that seemed the perfect distance apart.  The real question: how do you know it is safe?  Well Steve grabbed an 80lb bag of cement in the garage and decided to test it with that.  Lesson learned: the hooks were not strong enough to hold a 80lb baby.  Second lesson learned: dont test a swing with something that can bust open and spread cement all over your flower bed!  We did find a hook strong enough and Ruby loves it!!

  

clothes are overrated!

If we were all naked, wouldn't the world be a happier place?!?  Don't answer that!

 Without a doubt, Ruby likes to have her clothes off, and I will say these days, with the heat and her tendency to get just as much food on her as in her, it seems to be easier to be without them.

 Ruby continues to grow and change, and Steve and I feel so blessed to have so much time with our baby girl.  We have bumped up to food twice a day, a veg or fruit in the morning (I continue to make our own baby food) and cereal at night.  She is more and more interested in food, but tends to gravitate to the blander choices.  We practice sitting and rolling regularly, and I must say spend lots of time singing and dancing.  At this point, she is such a "music" girl.  I added recent pics of her playing the other night and eating sweet potatoes for breakfast this morning.

7th Inning Stretch from Cubs game with Ruby sleeping

Ruby slept for about 45 mins at the game and slept through most of the 7th inning stretch.

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