Cereal . . . .

We fed Ruby rice cereal for the first time.

She literally had no thoughts about it

No way 

or another. 

She didn't love it, but she didn't hate it.  

Ruby and Ruby

The Robbins are still some of our favorite, favorite people.  They randomly stopped by after Avery's soccer game and no time had been lost between us.  

We didn't think about the photo shoot until after baby Ruby had fallen asleep.

Ruby and her namesake, Ruby.  

It was easy to decide Ruby was the perfect name, since the only other Ruby we knew was our favorite Ruby Robbins. 

3 Months in a Swing

13 days old

20 days old

5 weeks 2 days old

6 weeks 5 days old

2 months

2 months, 2 weeks



3 months

Pretend Photographer

It was good lighting, my bed was made and she was happy.
(Do you see the red hair?!)

And look who tries to sneak in a kiss here and there . . . maybe they'll be friends after all - if Ruby ever even notices her.  

My 3 Girls

Addie got this darling little Gymboree outfit at a baby shower and I loved it!  It was my favorite outfit and it was one I could have never afforded.

Addison 2003

Olivia 2006

(I never took a good picture of her in it)

  

Ruby 2016

Ruby - 3 Months

• Ruby is smiling up a storm, talking to us and tracking us with her eyes (I tried all month to get some good smiling pis). 
• Loves mom and dad equally. 
• She has dimples!  A more definite one on her left cheek and a little one of the right.  They are darling. 
• We think she might be a red head!  Or at least auburn.  In the sun she looks completely red.  And we're not the only ones noticing, everyone comments - so maybe it's true. 
• She can entertain herself in the swing, on the floor or in the bouncy seat for quite awhile. 

• She found her hands.  She doesn't know their hers, but she stares at them intently while they move around. 
• She started standing, but it takes a lot of concentration and a lot of flapping of her arms.  She started being able to let up a little on the concentration and smile at us while she's standing towards the end of the month. 
• She likes to be up on our shoulder, walking around.  She's aware of it enough to protest until she gets what she wants. 
• She started going to church now and everyone in the family anxiously takes turns holding her in sacrament meeting.  She was super distracting in young womens the one time she went. 
• She is getting to be a chunky monkey.  Round, chubby cheeks. 
• 
• 
  
• Nicknames: Chub, Rooby Rooby Roo, Smiler, Roobs, 

Ruby - 2 Months

10 pounds 3 ounces

22 inches

• Ruby started making solid eye contact, we saw our first smiles and she started talking to us
• She seems very particular about what she wants.  She will not be duped with a binkie if that is not what she wants.  But she does seem to be a binkie baby.  She prefers breast milk over formula and chokes to display her displeasure, but will give in if she's hungry enough.
• Loves, loves loves showers like our other babies.    

• She did finally start crying, but still have her little birdie/pterodactyl.  She's still a grunter . . . it's a nice little warning before the cry, but it's a terrible way to try and sleep.
• She loves her Mom and Dad pretty equally. Both have the parenting magic so far.  
• She's a little tooter . . . and they stink.  She only poops once a week, which is somewhat nice. 
• Ruby is the first baby we've swaddled  . . . and she does seem to like it.  
• Nicknames: Rubert, Rupers, Roo, Tootsie

Our Ruby

There is nothing better than snuggling a baby.  

Nothing. 

This little, big brother is a professional baby feeder.  She's already a little too tall for him to hold her over his shoulder, but luckily she's still bendy.  

Olivia walks in the door everyday after school, washes her hands and asks where her baby is.  

And Addie is already very adapt at snuggling this baby right to sleep.  

She's starting to sense what she needs and how she needs it.  

Ansen and Ruby spend every night on the couch while I work.

Luckily since she was a month early, we get until 4 months before she has to be "trained" . . . up until then, since there's no way to "spoil" a newborn, we'll be holding her every second.  

Daddy's Girl

Still At It

Ah man.  It's hard to believe we're 6 years into this now.  But at least we're becoming professional at navigating the competitions (I paid for NO parking and we were on time).  We had this year's first 2 day competition - with jackets - last week. 

Olivia's team has been killing it this year and got a summit bid to Florida at the first competition of the season.  She's worked hard and has beautiful, straight leg front and back walk overs. 

They won first place and got the jacket.  Last year she didn't go to this competition so she "sneak wears" Addie's coat like this one and finally has her own.

Addie's team had a strong start, but they keep dropping stunts.  Unfortunately it's been the same flyer for the previous three competitions - which is disappointing after awhile.  Friday they had a perfect routine and we were all hopes for jackets . . . and a summit bid.

But the flyer dropped . . . to the floor.  They lost the summit bid, but they got the jackets.   I have to admit this was the first time I was crushed by the loss.  If we're going to Florida, I really want to be going for both girls.  We still have one last chance. 

Ruby and I spend quality time in the car together, I introduced the girls to blackberry shakes, I wished Grandma Sharp was still living right next to the Salt Palace, we went to Kneaders, shopping and I had fun at my first official outing with my

THREE

girls.

Ruby found a way to sleep through most of it . . . and be really cute.

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

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.