One Month

Ruthie has been home for one whole month!  She is 10 lbs 2 oz and somewhere around 21" long (not sure exactly because I think the doctor's ruler is off a little).  She has grown out of all of her newborn footie-pajamas (but she still fits in the stuff without feet for a little while, anyway).  She has pretty much grown out of newborn diapers, but I am using up what we have before I move her up to size 1.

It has been nice having her home and not having to drive back and forth to the hospital... but it's also really difficult.  I miss having the nurses around to answer all of my questions... and I miss having her checked out by a doctor every day.  Paranoid mom stuff, I'm sure.

Ruthie loves to be held.  At first, I thought she was a lot needier than G at this age... and then I remembered that for the first few months, all G and I did was lay in bed.  Once I realized that, I felt bad that I don't get to just sit and hold her all day.

I am having to learn how to handle George again.  He was a totally different little boy before Ruthie was born.  While I was running back and forth to the hospital, he entered his terrible twos.  I feel like we are improving every day, but some days are still difficult!  I have found that what he needs is all of my attention. So as long as he has that, he's fine.  As you can imagine, things start to fall apart when I am feeding Ruthie or she wants to be held.  He doesn't get mad at her, though... he gets mad at me.  And he pulls my hair.  So that's where cartoons come in handy.

So I ordered "The Happiest Toddler on the Block" the other day.  I was so happy with "The Happiest Baby on the Block," so I really, really hope this works, too.

Ok-the girl wants to be held, so I need to run!! 

This & That

Just a few stories about our lives lately:

First, this requires back-story:  I have been listening to T-Swift in my car non-stop since my honey surprised me with the cd the day it came out.  (And when I say "surprised," I mean that I reminded him and reminded him and finally reminded him as we were passing Target... so he went in and got it.)  Well, on Sunday, Steve came in after church and said, "I could totally do LA Reed's job.  I heard the song 'Begin Again' in your car and I thought, 'This song is a hit.' and now it's on the radio all the time."  So there we go, my husband has a great ear for great music... but I will not support this career change.

On Saturday, Steve was in the kitchen near the fridge and George was trying to push him out of the way. I said, "George!  Why are you pushing Daddy?" and he yelled "I WANT TURKEY!"  So, ok!  We got him turkey.

The pediatrician sent Ruthie to the opthamologist for an exam to make sure her optic nerves were healthy (an issue for preemies).  Thank goodness that this appointment went perfectly!  You never know with this girl... she likes to make us worry!

I've gotten to know our night-owl neighbors very well (maybe too well...) since I've been up nursing in the middle of the night.  Well, last night they woke me up and they even woke Steve up... which is a big deal.  Steve doesn't wake up for anything.  We heard loud banging and yelling and crying.  Now, I know these walls and floors are not sound-proof, but I shouldn't be able to hear voices and sobbing.  So I called the cops.  I hope they are embarrassed about their behavior.  There is no reason for a grown adult to be acting like that.  I heard the cops talking to the girl upstairs and all I heard was her crying and the cop saying, "What's going on, Sweetie?"  That's when Steve made me shut the door.  I secretly hope that they break up and she makes him move out... and he takes his drum set with him.  

(As an aside--Did I tell you about the time we called the cops on our upstairs neighbors in OH?  They fought a lot, but one night we heard screaming and things being thrown and doors being slammed.  Turns out they were just watching an Ohio State March Madness game.  Oops.)

Ruthie only woke up once to nurse in the middle of the night last night!  Actually, I woke her up because she's not supposed to go more than 5 hours in the night without eating.  She ate a lot and then slept another 5 hours.  Too bad I don't go to bed at a regular time and still woke up exhausted.

We are so excited for Thanksgiving tomorrow!  We have most of our ingredients acquired.  We are having turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, asparagus, cranberry sauce, stuffing and pecan pie.  Yup--for only 2.5 eaters.  We will be eating left-overs for a long time.  We are mostly excited that Steve will be ours allllll day!  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

My Week in Pictures.

Alternate title: "Why I Couldn't be Happier This Week is Over."
Other Alternate title:  "My First Week Without Grandparents."

George found out this isn't a real drawer.

He was obsessed with getting eggs out of the fridge... until this happened.

Steve gave him a sticker... and this happened in 2 seconds.

A black eye.  Sadly, not his first one.

Probably not even his third one.

And this is kind of how I felt:

But to be fair, it did get better:

He really loves his sister.

(And you can't tell, but she loves him, too!)

AND someone had a big day yesterday....

it was Ruthie's DUE DATE!

At her 2 month check-up she is:

8 lbs 8 oz

&

21.75"

Silly Georgie

Here are two funny George moments that happened before I even ate breakfast:

Ruthie was fussing and then started crying.  I turned to get my nursing pillow.  I turned back around to find George standing by the bassinet... and Ruthie had a diaper on top of her.  I guess when you're sad, you need a new diaper?  It's so funny to see the connections he makes when he's "helping."

This next story requires a little back-story.  Last week, George grabbed a can of Diet Coke off of the end table and went running.  He splashed some onto the tile in the entry way.  I took the can away and handed him a paper towel and he actually cleaned it up!  George.  My child who never helps clean up (in nursery, he sings the "Clean Up" song while pulling the toys back out of the cabinet)!

This morning, I was walking out of the bathroom and George came up to me yelling "Oh no!  Oh goodness!  Oh no!  Oh goodness!"  He took me by the hand and led me into the living room where he pointed to a cup on the floor.  I noticed that he knocked it over.  There was something laying on top of it:  the shirt I wore yesterday.  So, he knocked over the cup and then went in search of something to clean it up!

That's my funny, sweet boy!  Seriously--I wonder what goes through his head.  It's so funny to see him imitate us.

And now, some pictures:

George going crazy in the bath

Ruthie sleeping... I think this hat might be too big?

Our first walk as a family of 4

(Steve was taking the picture)

(George didn't want to take a picture)