Ruby - 1 Month

• Ruby was so, so tiny.  We've never had one this small.  She was born at 6 pounds 13 ounces, but we brought home at 6 pounds 2 ounces and she was slow to gain weight.  We've never needed newborn clothes, but we quickly realized our 0-3 months weren't going to work.  She made it up to 8 pounds 2 ounces by 1 month.
• She didn't really have a cry, she had a little pterodactyl screech.  

• I can't remember ever having a baby that grunted as much as this little dolly.  She grunts so intensely and usually it ends with a little gargling for good measure.
• She's another great baby - sleeps and eats.  The perfect napping partner.  After a few nights in bed with her, my back was killing me - so we moved to the comfy couch and made that our nest.  I really took "sleep when your baby sleeps" to heart. 

• She is house bound.  Month 1, she went to the Dr,'s 4 times - Jaundice, 2 week, weight check and her PKU we forgot - and NO where else.  We are taking no chances with winter and a preemie. She was officially a preemie at 36 weeks.  
• She has peed and pooped on Dad more than any other baby.  Luckily he's a little more experienced and it's not as traumatic as it would have been 3 babies ago.  
• Nicknames: Ruby Sue, Rubers, Birdie (from her screech), Gruntie Mc Grunterson

Tooth Fairy Visits

I'm sure most of us don't understand the gravity of how terrible it is to be one of the oldest (and tallest since that relates too) in your class and to be the last one to loose a tooth. 

It is the worst (apparently). 

Drew has been yanking on his "loose" teeth for at least a year now (ever since Eden lost one) and he FINALLY, FINALLY lost his first tooth.

When it actually became loose, it only took him about a day to get it twisted out of there.  Ignore that he needs a haircut (his hairdresser is very busy these days . . . new baby and all).

The tooth fairy came while he was at school (she's very busy these days . . . new baby and all) and he got a sparkly $1.

Now he's feverishly working on his three other "loose" teeth.  

10 inches

This was not a decision that was made lightly. There was an immense amount of thought put into this decision which took well over a year to finalize.   

BEFORE

AFTER

There have been no regrets.  And she's still cute as can be.

Euphoria

My beloved hospital stay was cut short.  I love the hospital stay because there is a euphoria of love and gratitude that is a feeling I'm only able to produce in a {maternity} hospital room.

Love for your husband, for the marriage and for the family you have.  Love for this hew little bundle that you never really can conceptualize will bring you some much happiness until they're here.

Gratefulness for the life you have and the opportunity to be a mother. 

I'm sure it does not hurt either that food, water, ice, meds, your baby for that matter, all just magically show up as needed.  Your bed will produce ANY position you deem comfortable and the only thing you have to do . . . is sleep and hold your perfect baby.

Ruby passed her carseat test and her heart test and we got the heck out of dodge.  

We chose to leave early because dang it, it was Christmas Eve and we had 3 more kids we love.

And these are the only pictures I got of Christmas 2015.

But it was a good day complete with all the traditions . . .

and a real baby Jesus for the nativity.

All in the Family

Everyone came to meet Charlotte,  

I mean Chloe,

I mean Margaux (Ansen's pick), 

or Piper (one of my picks) . . . 

or Charlie . . 

Truth is, we had no name and it was no joke.  

We had everyone call her a different name everyday to see how it felt.  

And then Ansen threw out Ruby . . . which had never even been on the list.  

And it stuck. 

Ruby.  

Valentine's Day 2016

I'm trying to make a comeback as Mom this year.  

I've been a bit of a failure for the past few years.

We got cards and candy done for classes (plus teacher gifts).  

I did not do class parties this year since we have Ruby Roo now . . .

We had pink milk, with pink pancakes and pink-ish syrup for those who wanted it. And although Ansen made it (I planned and bought it).

After 16 years Ansen knows what I get excited about and he found me Blackberry-Pomegranate syrup . . . two of my favorites.

We made sugar cookies - I even got some done for my Young Women's lesson . . . decorated one handed while holding Rubes.  

And finally we had Valentine's dinner, which we pulled it together and invited Banna, Branda and Ryan to.  But again, Ansen had to make it since I was pretty darn sick with Croup and Banna made dessert.  I did get cute little Vday gifts for the kids and red polka dot napkins.

I'm not a rock star, but I felt a little closer to one this weekend.

Plus Liv got heart attacked . . . we think it was her Activity Day group - but that hasn't been confirmed.

It's Go Time

The Birth Story

Friday: I had my regular Dr. appointment and was dilated to a 3 and 50% efaced. Doesn't necessarily mean I'm close, but I had never been that dilated even when I showed up to the hospital to have the baby.    

Saturday: I woke up able to breath deeper and realized the baby had dropped . . . again not a sure sign, but another sign. 

Sunday: I lost my mucus plug - and cried. 

Monday: I hustled to finish everything I possibly could ready for Christmas.  And due to the kindness of the pharmacy tech at Costco got on Heprin so that I was eligible to get an epidural - just in case. 

Tuesday:  I woke up at 8 am to my water breaking.  So - we had 24 hours - max.  Banna came over, we took the kids to the dentist, Ansen snow blowed the drive way, I took a shower and we finally decided it was time to head to the hospital . . . no contractions yet. 

We checked in thinking we'd have a baby in a few hours and  . . . we were wrong.  Way wrong.  

It took 3 hours to get me set up and get my antibiotics done.  Then we hooked me up to the PIT, which since I was going for a vbac had to go VERY slow.  

MA showed up and hung out . . . She and Ansen went on a lunch date for an hour . . . while I sat by myself.  

Still no contractions.  Jeff came and hung out.  No contractions.  

Lisa and Matt stopped in. No contractions. 

We had finally gotten the PIT up to 24 and I started feeling what I thought "might be contractions."  Then I didn't think they were contractions, I knew they were contractions.  Finally!

But we were still no where close.  Matt and Lisa left.  I decided to get an epidural and go to sleep.  Ansen wanted an anticipated timeline from the nurse, her best guess.  She thought we still had 5-6 hours.  HOURS!  Bed time. 

20 minutes later I realized I could move my foot, actually my leg, actually my whole leg and I started freaking out that my epidural wasn't working . . . plus I was feeling some pressure.  

Ummm turned out it was go time.  

25 minutes later - we had a perfect little baby girl.  

Ruby Kay Hatch

6 pounds 13 ounces

17 inches

December 22, 2015, 11:10 pm

(named was not determined for 8 days)

Just exactly 4 weeks early.