Ruby Hope McKee Starling

Here's what Ruby thinks of the molar that is coming in. 

We haven't crankiness like this since the morphine withdrawal days.  Then we had "rescues".  Now ice cubes and snuggles from Mom have to do.   Also she's apparently had good lung development.  She can scream so well now.

We've been busy busy around here.  Last weekend we had 6 parties to go to!  it was crazy and fun.  Ruby had fun reading other people's books and playing with all the dogs.  She also learned how to climb stairs in order to get the dogs.  Luckily all of our friends have baby friendly dogs.  We're also thankful that our friends don't the trail of gold fish Ruby leaves behind her. 

We had a checkup with Dr. Dan this week.  He seemed very pleased with her.  She has gained 5 ounces in the last month.  She's now 17lbs 2 ounces.  He was pleased with the fact that she's off the Nexium for reflux.  Ruby had her BNP rechecked, also.  Her CHOP cardiologist wanted to wait a month after her last plane flight to see if her heart had calmed down.  It's a relatively new thing to use BNP for (NOT BMP) a screen for pulmonary hypertension.  I brought Dr. Dan a couple papers and as usual he was very happy to work with CHOP.  I can't stress enough how happy we are with our medical care here in Austin.  Ruby didn't handle the blood draw well.  They had trouble and had to stick her a couple times to get enough blood.  She screamed the whole time.  She also told the woman drawing the blood that she "all done" and then tried to rip off the band aide.

We went to a splash park this afternoon with two sets of twins.  Ruby had a lot of fun playing in the water.  She seemed to forget about her molar for a while.  She was so worn out from the water that she fell asleep during dinner.  She is running a low grade fever.  We're not two concerned.  Hopefully it's a result of being outside and teething.  We'll keep an eye on it.

I realized I haven't talked Ruby's favorite things lately.

Her favorite books are Tumble Bumble, Good Night Gorilla, and Momma Hugs.  She will search for these on the shelf and pull them out first.

Her favorite toys other than her books are balls and blocks.  She's been playing with both a lot lately.  She also LOVES doors.  She  loves to sit on one side of her bedroom push the door closed every time I push it open.  We've spent HOURS playing this game lately.  She giggles and just loves it.

As for foods we've added a few new things.  She loved Pad Thai at lunch the other day.  She really likes cherry tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli, green beans, raspberries,  blue berries, and black berries.  She will always eat hummus and avocado.  With the molar coming in she had been eating lots of bagels with butter and cream cheese.  I think bagels are chewy and feel good on her gums.  It's hard to list the food she eats these days.  She will try pretty much anything.  She does prefer nutella over peanut butter (don't we all).  She likes potato, bacon, cheese, and guacamole breakfast tacos.  She loves butter and real maple syrup on her pancakes.  She likes her mac'n cheese with butter and cream and a side of green beans.  She also really likes lentils.  Unless it's really spicy we always give her tastes of what we are eating.  

She is pulling up to standing all the time now.  She will cruz a little bit, but only if you hold her hands and help her. 

Sometimes I forget how tiny and behind she is.  While were at the s[plash park today we met lots of other 15 month olds who were HUGE and walking around no problem.  Ruby is smaller than most 8 month olds we know.  I know she's growing and we're doing everything we can.  It was just so obvious how small she is this afternoon. 

On that note her's a couple cute pictures.  We hope everyone has a good weekend.  I'll post an update as soon we get the results back from her blood work on Monday.

This is just a reminder of how much she has grown in the past year.  Her she was at 6.8 lbs one year ago.  That was a new born onsie.  She was 8 weeks old and had just come off of CPAP.