Christmas with Ruthie

It was one for the books. Both Ian and I said many times how wonderful this Christmas was and how much we loved sharing it together and with Ruthie. She is truly the most precious bug-a-boo that ever God made.

Since she was born within a week of Christmas, she got to participate in the hospital's stocking tradition. They sent her home with a stocking she could get inside of and since she was our favorite Christmas gift by far, we took a picture of her under our tree in the stocking. I'll let you see for yourself how darling it is.


And since I have received a few comments about how mommy isn't in any of the photos, I am letting go of my vanity and posting this one. Maybe someday my face will return to a normal size. Sigh.
And here is the whole family at Christmas. We celebrated with Ian's family at his sister's Heather's place. It was so great. Everything was so festive and fun and Ruthie did great on her second outing ever (she had only been to the pediatrician before that).

We probably won't have another Christmas quite like this one and we treasured every minute of it. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your own families!

Our Cricket Has Arrived!

Ruth Nellie McCurry joined our family on December 19th at 11:38AM. She is amazing and we are so happy to have her home now. We got home from the hospital yesterday (Wed the 21st) and stand in awe at God's good gift to us.

Some day soon I'll give a fuller version of the birth story, but let's just say that after 11 days of being post due and 35 hours of laboring, this little lady made a very grand entrance.

She was 7 lbs, 4 ounces, as you can see in the photo below. And she is 19 inches long and all kinds of perfect.

The nurses really encouraged us to give her as much skin to skin contact as possible and in his new role as Daddy, Ian is loving that responsibility. Ruthie also really enjoys their cuddle time.
Here she is, in her first girl outfit. I know I'm beyond biased, but isn't that the cutest little rose bud of a girl that you've ever seen?

More to come, but the lady calls for a nursing. And my laptop battery is dying. =)

Day 10: Something's Happening

12:34 AM: Had a contraction, water just broke. Because of the Group B and the antibiotic our baby needs, that means...we're on our way to the hospital! Pray for a healthy baby to come soon!

Day 9: Are You Expecting Something?

Still no news. It's funny - neither Ian or I really expect anything to happen. We're basically just waiting until the next doctor's appointment. But Ian is off of work now and that helps a lot.

We just got back from the Sunukjian Family Christmas. It was supposed to be Friday the 23rd, but my family graciously decided to move it up, since us having any kind of Christmas celebration is looking dubious. We originally set it late so we would have more time to adjust to life with a newborn before taking it places. Ha!

Anyway, we had a lovely time of eating brunch together and exchanging gifts (thankfully, we draw names, so what could take 8 hours only takes about 1). I felt a little sad not to have a baby, since this is one of the get togethers that when we planned it, I "knew" I would have a baby. But as we are certainly learning, we are not in control.

And so we wait. Someday, we'll laugh about this and we'll tell this little son or daughter about their grand entrance and the huge build up that came before it. And they'll love it and it will be great.

Day 8: A Funny Story

So Ian was giving me a report a few days ago about his day and how school went and so on. And he said that his kids said when they saw him still in the classroom (I guess they were expecting the sub), "Your wife still hasn't had her baby? Well, is she walking?"

Gee, thanks Doogie Howser. I didn't know his freshman English kids were medical professionals, such experts on how to get labor going. Thank goodness they didn't ask about the other common household method for inducing labor (wink, wink).

And for the record, yes, I'm walking. But they lie. It doesn't do any good. I've been walking every day for the past nine and A HALF months and still no baby. But, at the advice of Ian's very knowledgeable students, I am about to put on my walking shoes this morning and give it another go.

Baby Watch Day 7: All Quiet on the Western Front

Now that I've started with the daily reports, I feel the need to continue, lest someone think by my not posting that I've gone into labor. So here we are now, 41 weeks pregnant, and hanging in there.

I just have to say how grateful I am to the mom, sisters, sister-in-laws and many friends who are doing more than their part to distract me during this time. Everyone is so supportive and sympathetic - thank you!

And now, I am off to Seal Beach, to go for a walk with Mary and her kids. Later today, we have our second post due appointment at the hospital, where they will again monitor the baby's heartbeat for 15 minutes and then do another ultrasound. If all looks good (which I suspect will be the case), they will again send us home. If not, they will keep us and schedule an inducement. We made this appointment in the afternoon so Ian could go to work and still be with me for whatever happens. The one car thing is tricky, but thankfully, all my entertainment has been willing to come to me and either hang out at my house or take me somewhere and then bring me back. I am so well loved. And it's nice knowing Ian can get home quickly if he needs to.

Hopefully one of these days I'll have something interesting to say!

Day 6

You know what's funny about what's happening right now (and by that, I mean by what's NOT happening right now)? I'll tell you. As each day passes, it seems to me less and less likely that I ever will go into labor.

Of course, the truth is, with each day that passes, I'm closer to having a baby than ever before and each day, I'm more likely to go into labor that day than any previous day. But rationale truth aside, it FEELS like it gets less and less likely, that I'm not actually going to go into labor and that I really will be pregnant forever. Ah, the cruel ironies of life, I suppose.