Beautiful Summer Weekend

Things I've learned this month

Ruby is one month old today, which gives me a month of parenting under my belt. Here are a few recommendations for new moms during their first month with a newborn. The following has worked for me, but I offer no guarantees.

• Get a spare key and hide it somewhere for when you lock yourself out of your house
• Try to laugh at yourself because you're gonna mess up
• Clip a baby's fingernails while you're feeding them and they're distracted
• Buy some dry shampoo for yourself since it may be 2-3 days between proper showers
• Read Babywise 4-5 times and follow accordingly... Feed/Wake/Sleep routine really works!
• Invest in a great stroller and take lots of walks
• Have fun with your spouse, go on a date, spend time just the two of you
• Newborn onesies only fit for a few weeks - don't buy a million of them
• Take some naps, eat some food, don't forget to drink lots of water!
• 

In other news, Ruby weighs 10 pounds already! Check out her chubbiness! WOAH!

A Disaster Waiting to Happen

I was watching TV yesterday morning and a commercial for vibrating mascara came on. WHAT!??

• First of all, I can't even apply non-vibrating mascara properly. Most days a good amount ends up somewhere on my face/finger/mirror/wall instead of on my lashes.
• Secondly, wouldn't intense vibration on your lashes make your eyelid vibrate a little too? And wouldn't a vibration on your eyelid make your eyeball watery?

This just seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Has anyone tried Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara? I'm not trying it. I'm too scared.

Visiting Granger

Ryan was on call on Sunday, so I took Ruby to Granger for a couple of days. My mom has the ultimate "grandma" set up at her house - thanks to a handful of her friends, mom has everything Ruby could possibly need, including a crib, bathtub, swing, and even some diapers and wipes at her house! Incredible!

Camp Adventure started on Monday and we got to see my dad for a few hours before he left for camp. This is Ruby and dad in the RV. I don't know many senior pastors who spend two weeks every summer pouring into the middle school students in their church, but my dad always does. He loves it. He gets revived by it. He decided to follow Jesus when he was a 7th grade camper at Camp Adventure - so it's a really special place.

Granger hosted the first SpringHill Day Camp this week as well! Mom and Ruby and I went on Monday to see the elementary kids having an awesome time. Granger's campus was transformed into a 2nd grader's dream land with a water slide, euro-bungee, climbing wall and a bunch of other games. There were dozens of really cool college-age counselors there to help. The auditorium had contraptions where kids were harnessed in and swinging from the ceiling. There was a lot of happy squealing going on. So fun!

Mom and I spent a lot of time out on the porch because Ruby loved it out there! The weather was gorgeous and Ruby loves looking at the contrast between the bright sky and the outline of the trees. I think she liked hearing the birds too.

We missed Ryan so much. Ruby gave him a big cheesy grin when he got home from work today. I wish I had my camera for it!

4th of July Hike

This afternoon was the perfect day for a hike, so we packed up the car and headed over toward the lake shore for some time in the great outdoors. Ruby did great - mostly just slept in the front pack other than peeking out through the arm hole a couple of times.

Did you wear Red White and Blue today? Apparently we did. USA! USA! USA!

He Went To Jared!

Five years ago today Ryan and I got married - and began our journey of life together. These have been the best 5 years of my life. I've never been more in love with Ryan than I am today. He is remarkable in every way.

When Ryan gave me my gift we laughed a lot as we acted out the entire "he went to Jared" commercial, then I opened the box and saw a gorgeous Ruby necklace! He said that I gave him a Ruby and he wanted to give me one too. So romantic - so thoughtful - so special that it represents our little girl.

Last night Ryan's mom and dad took care of Ruby (our daughter, not my necklace) so we could have an anniversary date. Since I couldn't eat sushi when I was pregnant Ryan took me out for my favorite spicy tuna sushi. We haven't found any really great sushi places in GR... and always find ourselves comparing all sushi to what we had when we lived in Chicago. Needless to say, the sushi last night was pretty good. 

We decided to follow up our sushi date with dessert at Chili's, and once we got there Ryan decided to order some little big-mouth burgers and fries before dessert... he is hilarious eating dinner again after our sushi.

I love you Hunny, you've made me the happiest woman over these last 5 years and I am thrilled that I get to spend the rest of my life with you. Here's to another 95 years!!

Behold, the dimple

I heart my mom.

Becoming a mother has made me more grateful and appreciative of my own mother than I can explain in words. My respect and admiration for her has always been huge, but now it's just ridiculous. 

When Ruby was first born and Ryan went back to work my incredible mom came to stay with us for a week. She helped me more than I could ever explain - cooking, cleaning, reminding me to eat and holding Ruby while I slept. 

Everyone needs a mom when they first become a mom. I hope that someday I can be as helpful to Ruby when she is a new mom. I love this picture of Ruby and my mom. 

Running and Fussing

Ryan and Ruby went for a run today when Ry got home from work. It was unusually cold out today - in the 60's - so we bundled Ruby in a mismatched assortment of pants, hats, socks and a jacket. She loved it!

In other news, life with a newborn can be wonderfully trying at times. Ruby's "fussy" time typically starts after I feed her around 8 or 9pm. Most nights after an hour of screaming her head off she's asleep, but some nights she just keeps going until I feed her again around 11 or 12...and a couple of times in her short life she has continued to cry into the wee hours of the morning before finally falling asleep. It's incredible. 

Even now, as I type this Ryan is sitting next to me on the couch with his index fingers stuck in his ears. I just have to keep reminding myself that babies are supposed to cry for a few hours a day - it's good for them. She is such a doll during her "non-fussy" times, so I guess it's okay.

On Living and Learning

A few days ago I made my first major mistake as a mother - locking myself and my 17 day old baby out of the house on a 95 degree summer day. Everything started out great. I was feeling really great, Ruby was happy as can be and we were taking a long walk around the neighborhood. Ruby loves her stroller, so we just kept walking and walking enjoying the exercise, the sun and the fresh air. After an hour and a half we were pretty hot so I decided to head for home so I could feed Ruby and get her cooled of in the air conditioning.

I took Ruby out of the stroller and parked it in the garage - only to quickly realize that my keys were in the back pocket of the stroller and the garage door had locked behind me. My sweet baby was all sweaty, miserable and hungry. I sat in the back yard and cried for a minute or two before I remembered that I had conveniently stored my cell phone in my bra (it's a very handy storage location).

Ryan was swamped at the hospital, Ryan's parents were out of town for the weekend and I don't really know our neighbors yet. Luckily Christopher was in town and could come to our rescue! Crisis averted! It's incredible how much more important a spare key is when there is a tiny baby involved. I am also going to make it a point to meet some of the people on my street right away!

The best news is that Ruby doesn't realize that her mom is stupid sometimes. Whew!