feed, play, sleep and more

FEED

PLAY

SLEEP

yep, that's what we're aiming for.

it's going well so far, but i'm a little OCD. and my husband is NOT. so, it's been a little bit of a trying time for us, but we're getting it down (although we may need marital counseling by baby #2! ha! - NOT knocking marriage counseling - we could all probably use it at one time or another!) back to baby, i've been trying to really stick to the concepts taught in Baby Wise. i didn't really start trying too hard though until about 6 weeks (due to the reflux problem). i will definitely start day one with baby #2. the crying it out wasn't fun, but wasn't so bad...really once we committed it got better quickly. the "feed, play, sleep" concept has it's challenges, but i believe it will work eventually. and she's not the best napper in the world yet, but she is pretty easy to put down most nights and almost most naps, thanks to Baby Wise. much better than the first 6 weeks where she would hardly fall asleep anywhere but in someone's arms! you read so many things about "how to parent" that it can be SO confusing. i think it was harder on me (trying to decide HOW to parent...can you or can't you spoil a newborn, should i let her "cry it out," what does a schedule look like?" etc.) than her! i just couldn't commit to any "way to parent." now, i've learned that i need to be a little more relaxed, go w/something, give it a try and if it doesn't work, try something else. the blog site http://www.babywisemom.blogspot.com/ has been a huge help! i'm pretty convinced that Baby Wise is the way to go, but again, all babies are different!! and i'm NO model Baby Wise mom. actually i just got another book, Happy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, so we'll see what that teaches me and how more confused i become!

i'll keep everyone posted!

here are just a few more pictures...

we didn't go all out for Halloween...we're just not "all out for anything" kind of people. so, here's Ruby Belle in her Halloween outfit that my mom bought her.
Halloween is also Justin's birthday, so i let him choose what we should do. we ended up going down to the square in town and checked out all the fun costumes and festivities...one day we'll be participating i'm sure! my mom was also in town so we went out to dinner afterwards. she recently had surgery for a detached retina so she came up to visit to pass some time. she had to keep her head down for 3 weeks!!! UGH!!! so i (mostly Ruby Belle) helped keep her entertained for a few of those days! we'll be headed to Branson soon to visit the in-laws, Justin's Aunt Mary Lea and Uncle Craig, and cousins Bonnie and Brad. Then i'm off to Shreveport for a "Sip N' See" then will be spending the week of Thanksgiving down there. Justin will be coming down mid-week to join us. Then after a week off, we're back to Branson for the "Smith family Christmas." then i'm gonna need a vacation!

Ruby Belle is doing well. she's a good baby now that we have her reflux under control. but she IS a baby, so this happens on occasion...

and preferably this :)

7.5 weeks

reflux or not???

Ruby Belle has been spitting up A LOT. and is VERY fussy after eating...for like hours sometimes! :) i've ignored it for a month...thinking she's just a newborn and is figuring it all out and her digestive system is new. i was trying to convince myself she didn't have reflux and/or was colicky. well, i got VERY tired of listening to her scream, whine, kick, spit up, etc. and look miserable and finally made a doctor's appointment (why i didn't talk to him about this in the 3 appointments we've already had...who knows?!) so, we just got back and we think she has reflux. so, we started her on Zantac today and i'm praying it works!! not that i want my kiddo to have reflux, but i want answers and something to make her feel better! (and i am desperately hoping she isn't colicky!) this face is too cute to listen to her scream and cry any longer!

she's mad t me for letting her suffer through 1 month of reflux

now she's happy! :)

visit from Grandma and Grandpa Smith

well, for the last month (since the day Ruby Belle was born to be exact) Justin's parent's have been staying in a condo near us. it's been really nice to have them around to errands for us, bring us dinners, go with me to dr's appointments or to baby sit so justin and/or i can get out! here are a few pictures from their visit!! they are super excited grandparents! but, they are back home now, so we're officially on our own ... until my mom comes to visit at the end of the month!!


mommy, daddy, and Ruby Belle at about one month


Grandpa singing to Ruby Belle


Grandma feeding Ruby Belle


"I'm 1 month old today!!!"

1 month doctor's appointment

Ruby Belle had her one month doctor's visit last week. she's doing well!

weight: 8lbs 2oz
height: just shy of 21 inches
both right in the middle of the averages for 1 month olds.
of course, she pooped on the scale and then peed all over the exam table in order for us to get these measurements!

Ruby Belle in true fashion! happens every time we go!



Ruby Belle with the doc

just pics... 1-2 weeks old

Ruby Belle's nursery

so, here are some more recent pics of the nursery. i must say it was "in working order," but not totally complete when we came home from the hospital. still needs a few things here and there...they are just put on hold until i get the hang of this mommy-thing! :)

the last 72 hrs...(or something like that)

so, i had my 38 (38.5 week) appt on Tues. was finally showing some progress and was dialated to a 1 and was 75% effaced!! the doc said that "i know it doesn't sound like much, but that's great progress!...your water could break tomorrow, but when i see you next week then we can talk about setting a date to induce you." well, good news, and then the ok news. i really didn't want to be induced, but the idea was sounding better and better. so, i went home, excited, but also telling myself that maybe i would only be a few days late...and if it came to it that induction wouldn't be that bad.

well, that night my husband, being the night owl that he is, decided to head to bed very early (around 8:30-9pm) so i tried along with him (i usually go to be around 9 or 9:30, but since i've not been working i've gotten out of the habit. thought it would be a good idea to try to get back in the habit because once Ruby Belle was here i knew i'd be getting up at the crack of dawn again)...(this is the foreshadowing :) )

well, at 2:15 i got up to go to the restroom (for the millionth time) and my water broke. i was in denial at first, but then realized that i couldn't ignore the steadily flowing stream!! so, off we went to the hospital!!!

from there, labor set in. and boy did it. well, i was still only dialated to a 1 a few hours after my water broke so they started pitocin. THAT brought on more contraction pain than i could handle. (moms, you know what i'm talking about) so i started off w/just some pain meds through my IV, but then they cranked the pitocin up more and i quickly changed my mind and gave in to the epidural!!! and that was the BEST decision i'd ever made!!! i thought i'd try to go epidural free, but i quickly realized i could: a) hate life and go through the next few hours feeling like i was going to puke, pass out,
or b) enjoy labor and life and be able to see and talk to people

i will never go w/o an epidural again!

so then labor progressed rather quickly. i was dialated to a 6 after 1.5 hrs, then to a 8 after another hour then to a 9 at another hour. and from there...we welcomed Ruby Belle into the world at 3:05pm, 7lbs 8oz, 18.5in. and just PERFECT!! see for yourself...




Our Family!!! :)

proud daddy!! (and a GREAT daddy at that!!)


a proud new grandma!!! (we're definitely going to have to find a name for Ruby Belle to call her though...it's NOT going to be grandma!)



so, we got to come home thursday - 24 hrs after she was born. from there...it's been interesting! SO good to be home, but kinda scared me now that i have a little one to take care of!! i was terrified the first night, and each night is getting a smidgen better...but just a smidge. :) mommyhood worries have definitely set in!...along w/the "when do i get to sleep?" so, i'm off for a nap, but will post more soon!!