Ruby Hope McKee Starling

Ruby has been having problems with her reflux again.  As it never really went away it just got easier for her manage. We've been off of Nexium for almost year.  In the past week she's been retching more.   While Herbie was in for his 4 month check-up I brought it up with our pediatrician.  Ruby is a bit stuffed up most likely from the cedar pollen that is horrible in Central Texas this time of year.   It seems that the drainage sets off her gag reflex and then she retches.  Not fun.  So, we've started her on allergy medicine.  We're going to see if that helps.  If not we'll be discussing putting her back on Nexium.

As for Herbie he's doing great.  Solidly 50th percentile in height, weight, and head circumference. 

I'll update with pictures this weekend.  

It's 80 degrees and sunny out.  It's to nice to sit inside and make posts.  The next cold front I promise to post a proper update.

I started this sweater while Ruby was on ECMO.  I was a bad knitter and didn't check my gauge.  Once I realized it was going to be way to big for an infant I set it aside until this fall.  I finished it back in October.  Ruby picked out the outfit.  Thankfully all Thomas shirts were dirty. It's the only time she'll wear it.

Ruby gets a treat after dinner.  I try to maximize the fat and calories in it.  Ruby has been requesting April cookies.  April cookies are the peanut butter cookie with Hershey's Chocolate Kisses in them.  She had them for the first time at our friend April's house.  The funny thing is April didn't even make them another friend did.  April and Sean also have "many kitties" that we have to talk about.  I promised Ruby that today after nap we would make some April cookies.

We used some dark chocolate and the rest of the kisses that Santa brought.  The cookies might not look as perfect as they would have if I had made them.  I am betting these taste even better, though.

We've also started decorating for Valentine's Day.  Ruby loves "dacations".  I love keeping her busy those hours between nap and dinner.  We decorated some salt dough hearts last week.

Herbie provided the music.

We've also been raking leaves. 

Ruby has also discovered Tennis.  She talks about it almost as much as gymnastics.

Ruby has also gotten very good at beating the eggs for our breakfasts.  She will also take her fingers out of her ears long enough to give Herbie his binkie if Mom or Dad can't get to him. 

Stay tuned tomorrow afternoon we're gonna make some play dough.

We are three months into being a family of four.  Things seem to settling down a bit.  We're cooking meals not just reheating meal circle meals or getting take out.  Chores are getting caught-up on.  Chris and I have even been able to watch a couple movies after both kids are asleep.

Bedtime is finally back to normal.  Bedtime was rough on Ruby, really rough.  Those of you who talk to us regularly know of the epic 5 hours of crying that happened one evening.  She cried until 1am.  It didn't matter if we were laying down with her not.  She even ate snacks!  After that night she seemed to have gotten it all out of her system.  After 2 months of her not falling asleep until 10 pm (1 am on the epic night) she is finally asleep by 8pm regularly.  Herbie is an awesome sleeper.  Everyone kept telling us that he would keep Ruby awake.  Nope, not at our house.  Ruby kept Herbie awake.  Herbie regularly sleeps from 8pm to 5am a few times a week he'll even sleep until 6:30.

Herbie started rolling over. He can roll from his tummy to his back really well.  He can roll from back to front if he's not tired and really really wants to.  He LOVES to sit up and watch Ruby.  Chris and I are chopped liver if Ruby around.  Herbie just watches Ruby run circles around us.

Ruby is a little fireball of energy.  She loves to spin in circles, play trains, paint, cooking, and talk.  She talks nonstop.  Even on the hardest days I love hearing her little voice.  It really wasn't that long ago that she couldn't make any noise.  She also loves to sing.  Her favorite songs this week are Roll Call (from Thomas), Busy Busy (from Thomas), Elmo's World theme song, Sesame Street theme song,  and Old Lady Swallowed a Fly.  She makes up her own verses to the songs.  Chris knows them all and I'll leave it up to him to share them.

Since it's winter time, we've been feeding the ducks!  There is a lake a short walk from our house.  Ruby loves to go feed the ducks.  She exclaims "Ducks take a bath" as she throws the bread at them.

Just so he's not left out  here's a picture of Herbie.

We've had a very nice holiday.  Friends and family visited.  Chris had some time off.  It was all fun.  That being said we are looking forward to getting back into our routine.

I finally have some pictures from Christmas and the past few days.  I'd also like to point out that Herbie turned three months old on the 26th.  It's amazing that Ruby was his age when we brought her home.  Her first three months felt like years compared to Herbie's.

Christmas Eve we made food for Santa's Reindeer.  Ruby exclaimed "WHAT A MESS!!!"

Christmas Morning.

After dinner at Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Al's.