Happy Ruby

Ruby is now a happy child. I'm not sure what happened. Maybe she can see things? Maybe she gained a sense of humor? I've only had to get out the Moby once this week. Today, in fact. And it was a very short amount of fussing.

But I'm liking this new side of my child. She smiles, she coos, and her favorite way to fall asleep is me rocking her, with her gazing lovingly into my face. It's very sweet.

So here's some happy moments that I tried to capture this week, to show the new Ruby. Elliot is blurry in many of them. And sometimes Ruby is too.

I think he's trying to kiss her shoulder in this one?

Okay, so I think we have another hyperactive child on our hands. Ruby started in the middle of the blanket and scooted herself to the edge. Elliot rolled over the day he turned 2 months old. I'm predicting Ruby won't be far behind. The girl likes to move.

And Elliot wanted me to get one of him on the blanket as well.

Hello, Hansens

Last week, we had a visit from Joe's parents, Grandma and Grandpa Hansen. It was spring break for Grandma, which coincided with Dottie's spring break. It was so fun to have them.

They finally got to meet Baby Ruby, go to Seaworld with us, go to the Riverwalk and Alamo, and of course, eat out a lot. Joe and I realized that most of our "extra" money goes to eating out. We should probably do something about that, but why cook when you could be eating better food somewhere else made by someone else?

I didn't get that many pics, because I had to think and act while Ruby was cooperating. But here's Grandma with Ruby:

Elliot reaching in for a touch, as usual. I was thinking yesterday about the 5 love languages, and Elliot's love language is definitely touch. And boy, does Ruby know it.

And the Riverwalk. That's me and Ellioto on the bridge.

The fam coming down an elevator on the Riverwalk:

There's this cool glass shop on the Riverwalk, and my kids are always fascinated by this giant sculpture that looks like a bunch of candies plastered together. I don't know what it's called, but I think it should be called "A Kid's Dream Come True."
And this is from awhile ago, but this is a frequent evening look for me. Ruby strapped to my body with me trying to get her to sleep. She lasted about 5 minutes after this picture was taken, I recall.

We miss you, Grandma and Grandpa! Thanks for coming to visit!

Tips of the Week

I could claim these tips as my own, but that would be a lie.

Tip #1, from my mother: Ivory dish soap gets out breast milk poop stains. You know, the bright yellow stuff. It works like a charm, every time. Little to no scrubbing needed.

Tip #2, stolen from the internet: Your regular shampoo will remove most grease stains on clothes. That is, if you put it on before you put it through the wash. If you've accidentally dried the grease stain on, try Goo Gone. That works sometimes as well.

Tip #3, stolen from Amanda: Amazon has a new program called Amazon Mom. Sign up and you can have cheap diapers delivered to your house with free shipping! I'm having Huggies brought to our house for only 15 cents a diaper. And I don't have to go to the store for diapers, ever again. You also sign up for a regular delivery schedule that can be changed to accommodate your needs.

That's it from me. Also, I'm happier this week. Miss Ruby likes the swing.

Surviving Motherhood

It's funny how you forget what it's like to have a newborn. Up until the past few days, I have had help nonstop from another adult. Wow, what a difference that makes. Elliot has been entertained, Ruby has been held all of the time, I was getting enough sleep, everyone was happy. Of course there are the normal crazy behaviors that happen when a new baby is born: children waking up at 5:30 for the first two weeks, children wetting the bed and pooing their pants. But that's to be expected. When you have someone else always there, you can cope with these kind of things.

But now, it's me alone most of the day. I'm realizing now that I've spoiled Ruby, and it's not such a good thing. She's been held most of the time that she's sleeping, so now she expects that. She also has woken up more in the past week, so I have to now use soothing techniques to get her to sleep. And then there's the difficulties of doing normal every day things: eating, sleeping, going to the bathroom, getting yourself dressed. Not to mention entertaining Elliot.

So I've been really grateful for the Moby, one of those wrap things that helps me do what I need to do during the day. Ruby sleeps in it. She has to be almost asleep for it to work; otherwise she screams. But once she's in it, she'll be out for a few hours. Then I can do things like put up a tent for Elliot. Or eat breakfast.

So my new goal is to get this baby in a routine, so I can be in a routine again. It's hard to teach piano and go to Young Women's when your baby has no routine. I keep on thinking back to the time before, when Elliot was born. It was so much worse. Ruby sleeps most of the night, only waking every 3-5 hours to nurse. Elliot, on the otherhand, had to nurse every 2 hours in addition to me checking his oxygen levels and giving him albuterol treatments due to the RSV. I don't know how I survived. I just remember reading the book, Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy by Richard G. Scott. That book really helped me. I need to spiritually fortify myself to make it through the infant stage. Then, hopefully, when I come through it, I'll have a happy, well-adjusted baby. And that will make me happy and well-adjusted.

Ruby in the Moby. So happy.

Elliot in his tent.