I want this now!!

I found this on http://www.italianfoodforever.com/ during a blog detour. Chocolate coffee bread pudding-yum!! Despite trying to get back into my pre-Ruby jeans soon, I think I'll be making this ASAP!!

2 weeks

Meet Harold the Horse. I meant to take Ruby's picture at 1 week but never got around to it. So we'll start at 2 weeks old. Isn't that face so funny?

Her sweet little gown came from our friend Amy Jo. Check out her infant clothing line, A Mother's Arms. Proceeds go to pediatric cancer research.

Little Cowgirl

She didnt get to go to the concert, but she was rockin' her pink boots!

Don't be jealous

Tonight I'm leaving my 13 day old with her Daddy and Aunt Ray Ray to go see Reba McEntire and George Strait. I know she's in good hands and hopefully because of some well orchestrated feeding times she'll be happy. And just in case you were wondering, this is what I'm wearing:

Kelly, don't you have a matching one? Please dust it off and get ready for tonight!!

I'll try not to do it again (at least not anytime real soon!)

Tuesday marked the first time my profession as a nurse practitioner made me immediately think the worst about Ruby. And of course, it was nothing!! Ruby has been eating very well since birth and hasn't had any significant spit-ups at all. Until Monday night. At midnight I fed her and she was almost done and then she began projectile vomiting everything in her little belly. It went everywhere! All over me, her and the bed. After waking up Ko and changing all of our clothes and sheets, she was fine. But then on Tuesday morning she did the same thing. This is when I began thinking my child had pyloric stenosis and would be undergoing surgical repair later that day. I called the pediatrician and they told me to bring her in (which I think validated my concern, right?). The pediatrician was so sweet and intently  listened to my concerns then sweetly told me that she thought Ruby was probably just overeating and I was probably producing too much milk for her little belly. Great news, right? Right. But I know that pediatrician was thinking, "Great, a new mom with a medical background who's going to be calling every day with something new". But, I promise I won't. Promise!

Going out!

Ruby's first trip out was to the pediatrician. I couldn't help posting this picture because I thought it was hilarious. It was really cold outside so she's all bundled up and looks highly uncomfortable but it didn't seem to faze her. And yes, we took our 5 day old to eat Mexican after her appt.

Introducing...Ruby

She's here! And she couldn't be more perfect! She's a week old now and Korey and I just sit around and look at her and fight over who's going to love on her. So far she's sleeping good, eating good and looking good! We can't complain at all.

Her arrival started with a scare the day before she was born. I noticed that morning that I hadn't really been feeling her move around. I tried to take a shower and then lay down but it didn't help. Luckily I was at my parents house so mom called the doctor and we rushed down to Northside. It was a very scary hour or two, but by the time we got to the hospital and got hooked up to monitors I was starting to feel her move, but still not as often as normal. At that point the doctor asked if I wanted to be induced. I immediately said no. That was not what I wanted at all. But after talking with Korey and thinking about it more we decided to go ahead with it so that I didn't spend every minute worrying about her movements and if she was ok. That night we were moved to a delivery room and got ready to welcome Ruby the next day.

On Friday morning I got up and took a shower, did my hair and make-up and mistakenly thought I would still look good after giving birth. I was wrong! The nurse started the pitocin at 7am and immediately the contractions started being about 2 minutes apart. At 830 the doctor broke my water and turned off the pitocin. From that point on the contractions were about 30 seconds apart. Because of the pitocin earlier I had to be hooked up to monitors constantly which was not ideal but the nurses allowed me to sit in the rocking chair and get up to the bathroom as much as I wanted. Being in the bed made the pain with each contractions worse so I stayed out of it as much as possible. For three hours, I had contractions 30 seconds to 1 min apart. By noon, I was 8 cm dilated and feeling like I needed to push. Little Ruby was born at 1:58pm. I won't lie and say it wasn't painful. It was probably the worst pain I've every had, but in the end I'm still so glad that I didn't have an epidural! Its a different kind of pain because you know there will be an end to it eventually and you know that its not the kind of pain that is causing more harm to your body. I liked that I was able to feel everything that was going on with my body. I could feel the baby moving down and I could feel the urge to push and the progress I was making. I also think that not having the epidural helped moved things quickly. I just kept thinking to myself that women all over the world do this every day.

I can't tell about the birth without mentioning how well Korey did. He was amazing!! He's been known to turn white and pass out with minor medical procedures such as taking blood pressure so I wasn't sure how he would do during the delivery. But he came through! He ended up doing more than I ever thought he would do. In between pushing I kept looking at him and asking if he was ok because I just couldnt' believe it. He was helpful during the contractions and pushing and watched the entire delivery and even cut the cord. I also have to mention how appreciative I am that my mom was there to help during the whole thing. I couldn't have done it without Korey and her. And also, best friend Kelly and my sister Rachel. You guys were awesome and little Ruby will thank you one day!

Rachel took all the professional looking pictures and the others are from my cheap camera. But Ruby is beautiful in all of them! She's looking forward to meeting all of you so come visit!