Ruby - 1 month old

I can't even believe that our Ruby is already a month old. As I write this, she is actually 7 weeks old today, but I am going to pretend that I got this done on time. So, expect a 2 month blog in a week or so with new 2 month pics!

What a joy she has been and we're enjoying every moment with a newborn in the house. I don't think that I could ever say that we are 'done' with babies...I will always want my own in my arms. Someone else will have to make that decision for me...most likely, that will be my age, but we will see. Do you ever loose that desire to have a new baby in your arms? Maybe some of you do! To me, it's a feeling that I can't even describe. I would say 'magical', but I don't believe in magic...its just,...intoxicating! New life...a miracle, so fresh from God, filled with so much life!!
Ruby started doing well right away and got on a 3hour eating and sleeping schedule. Thankfully! I needed a predictable baby after Harry! She is really trying to hold her head up and is very determined to do so. She of course keeps the attention of her brothers and she is beginning to notice them as well. This little girl should be able to sleep through about anything as loud as it is around here...just the way we like it!

She is in our room and was in our bed mostly the first couple of weeks, but has now transferred in to the bassinet. The bassinet is one that my father and his siblings were also in as infants. It may even be one that my grandmother was in...I can't remember the accurate age of it. In the picture of it, Ruby is in a nightgown that is also an heirloom. I believe that Brent's great grandmother made it and all of her children wore it (Brent's grandmother, Mema) and all of her grandchildren (Brent and his cousins) and now all of this generation has worn it home from the hospital! I LOVE traditions like that and am so thankful that we got to participate. I think it makes me feel closer to all of those gone before us...a camaraderie with our family members.

We are building up the endurance needed to parent three young children as we go through each day. Slam worn out when we hit the sack and ready to begin when we awaken...well, most days anyway. We're so glad you are here with us Ruby ...your spot has been waiting for you.

Ruby's Sunset

Just wanted to post this special picture. My very sweet neighbor sent this photo to me the day that Ruby was born. She said that she thought of us when she saw it and that she knew that it was a heavenly sign for our sweet girl. As pink as it is in the picture, she said it doesn't even do it justice! How sweet of her and how awesome of God to give her such a beautiful pink sunset on the day of her birthday!

Visitors

We've been so blessed to have so much of our family come up and see us lately...I'm no fool...it's all about the kids...and I am FINE with that! My mom came several days before Ruby was born. It had been a hard couple of days before she got here and it didn't get much better...some sort of the flu had run its course in our house....EVERY single one of us got it...each with a few different symptoms. Let me tell you...being 40 weeks pregnant and getting the flu is NOT the way to go. I felt horrible! The body aches were the worst for me. However, I will stop my complaining there...I have a friend who passed a kidney stone while she was pushing! Harry was the first to get sick, then Brent, then me and then Henry. While it was bad, it lasted only 48 hours. No, we did not get the flu shot and even though we got the flu of some sort, I am still glad we did not get the flu shot...and our immune systems are better primed now for having it! So, we were all better and i went into labor. We headed to the hospital early Sunday morning. We hadn't been there 30 minutes and my mom called....you guessed it, she had the FLU! We gave it to her and I felt terrible! So, Brent hops back into the car and heads home, leaving me at the hospital. I am so grateful that this was my third baby...I remained calm. My sweet neighbors, who have 2 precious little girls took the boys for the day. Brent made it back in plenty of time and just went back and forth between the hospital and home. While I wanted him there with Ruby and me, he needed to take care of the other ones. After all, I was in a hospital!
Mom was such a huge help to me before and after Ruby came...doing whatever needed to be done and I am forever grateful. Its so wonderful to have help that just knows what you need. Thank you mama (grammy)!

Luckily, mom got over it quickly as well so we were clear to bring Ruby home. My dad came up a couple of days later....the boys were stoked! They get all sorts of sweet treats when the grands are up that we don't usually have...he's feeding them ice cream in this pic! Poppa is a hit every time. Henry always wants to go to the MOA and ride rides at the amusement park...and we do.

Next came Martha and Tommy, my most amazing in -laws. This reserved sweet man turns into the best babysitter I have ever seen. He is crazy over these grand kids and they are crazy about him. He loves to care for them so much, that he usually is encouraging me to get out of the house to have them all to himself. They love to play 'camp' ....getting all the pillows from every bed in the house and heading into a closet, flashlights in tow. I love to stand at the door and listen to them giggle and tell stories. Pops shadow puppets provide good entertainment. Mo, as she is so lovingly called is the laundry queen. I wish I had a picture of her folding laundry and I should since that is what she did 24/7! What a relief, because it is not a chore that I love to do.
Then my sweet sister, whom Ruby is named after, came to see us! We call her oopie.... Its so funny when she comes...Henry says "hey" and then its "did you bring your game?!"....nintendo ds that is. He loves to play it and she helps him. We have to limit him and that thing because he would play it all day. I don't understand it...I can't stand to play video games, but they love it. Brent does too....just not my thing. We took Ruby for her doctor's appt when Alison was here, so she watched the boys. Alison doesn't have much of a stomach for changing diapers, but is willing in a pinch. So, I knew that she would probably be faced with a dilemma while we were at the doctor's office, since Harry hadn't 'been' yet. I apologized and then giggled as we left her with the boys. We got home and sure enough, Harry had been successful...and Alison had too....she puked, but she did it! Ah, the love of an aunt!

Then our LaLa came. She even brought her best friend Casey along for the trip. Casey is like a member of the Trader family and she is always welcome. The boys lovingly refer to her as CeCe and she is a riot. LaLa and CeCe played their hearts out while they were here. I would put the boys down for naptime and CeCe would go down with them. Its is busy around here! We made a trip to the MOA while they were here and talked a little about wedding plans and picked out bridesmaids dresses. Laura is getting married in Sept and we are so excited!!! Her fiance Shane is a great guy and we are so happy for them.

So, we're only lacking a few family members making it up this way....but I think we'll get home before they get a chance to get here. I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you. You have no idea how much you help us and I am so grateful that you even want to come! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Ruby Alison

January 10, 2010 at 5:30pm, our precious Ruby Alison was born. What an incredible surprise is was to be given a little girl! We were so tickled....pink! I can still hear the utter excitement and surprise in Brent's voice as he exclaimed..."its a baby girl!" We could not believe it! To be blessed with 3 amazing children is incredible and to get to experience boys and a girl...wow...we could just burst!

It was so much fun to wait until the birth to find out the gender...we knew with both of the boys, but from the very beginning of this pregnancy, things felt differently for me. BTW, Brent did not want to wait...even tried to talk me into finding out during the ultrasound. He was glad we waited in the end, although it was hard to wait. Not only did I not want to know the gender, I was sick the first trimester, which was different from my previous pregnancies and I carried her differently than I carried the boys. She was much higher, which made it hard for me to breathe throughout most of the pregnancy.

We knew all along what her middle name would be....Alison. I have an amazing sister whose name Ruby was given. She is loving and loyal and doesn't even begin to know how much she means to me. Well, she doesn't know how much she means to any of us. She is our beloved 'oopie' and I could think of no better way to honor her than to name my little girl after her. I hope that Ruby will understand what her Aunt Alison means to me.

So far, I couldn't ask for a better baby. She started sleeping about 3 hours at a time at night almost from the beginning. She's content most of the time and has a calm and inquisitive nature. She is very determined already...I can tell by how badly she wants to hold her head up. She will not give up!

Its pretty special to see Brent love his daughter. I wonder sometimes what he's thinking as he's looking at her. We all seem to be gushy over her...even Henry. He was rubbing her head the other day very tenderly and I asked him why he loved her so much...his reply.."I like her face"...oh! Pretty funny since she looks like him.

Harry is also pretty taken with her. I am so happy that he really hasn't been very jealous. Thankfully, he is pretty independent and has adjusted very well. Before Ruby was born, I wasn't sure how he would react, because he did not like to share me, even with the dog, but he has been sharing me very sweetly. Of course he has his moments, but he has taken on the big brother role very graciously. I am very proud of the both of them.

We feel amazingly grateful and blessed. We know that children are a gift from the Lord and we are humbled by the three amazing presents we've been entrusted with for a while here on this earth. We pray that we can stay focused and on the course and bring them up in love with the Lord who made them. Our hope for all of our children is that they will have a personal, life giving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and that they will let Him rule in their lives. God, help us to show them your love, show them how to honor you and how to serve others. Thank you for entrusting them to us for a while. We are humbled.