1 Month, 2 Weeks, and 4 Days

Dear Ruthie,

Today you rolled over, from your tummy to your back!

We think it was a fluke.

You were doing tummy time while I unloaded the dishwasher and your daddy straightened the living room. You were whimpering a little, but not crying. All of a sudden, your daddy said, "She rolled over!" I turned around and - sure enough - you were on your back, waving your legs in the air!

We congratulated you and were so excited.

So, of course, we put you back on your tummy to see if you would do it again so we could watch!

And you didn't.

Of course.

You got pretty close - almost up on your side - but didn't quite know to throw that leg over and complete the roll. That's okay. We'll keep working on it.

We are so proud of you - you are getting oh-so-big and strong!

Love,
Mama

1 Month, 2 Weeks, and 3 Days

Dear Ruthie,

Today we:

Made you pose in your JHU hat with my newly framed diploma...
Sorry about that, Ruth. You did NOT like it. 

Shopped at Target and had coffee with Papa at Starbucks

FaceTimed with Aunt Paige, Cousin Blaire, and Uncle Brad...
and listened to their Bible bedtime story (until you started throwing a fit!)

Sent pictures to Aunty Jade in your flower crown!

Big day for a little girl... here's to more memory making tomorrow!

Love,

Mama

1 Month, 2 Weeks, and 2 Days

Dear Ruth,

Tonight, your new friend was born! Adeline Elizabeth made her debut in Anchorage! We are so excited for Hannah and Brandon and I can't wait for you to meet her, baby girl!

I foresee many American Girl playdates, adventures, and laughter in your future.

Love,
Mama

1 Month and 2 Weeks

Dear Ruthie,

There are so many little things I want to remember:

• How you lay your hand on my breast while I feed you and how my body nourishes yours
• That little sly smile you've started to share with us
• How long the hair is at the nape of your neck
• How talkative you're becoming
• The spit bubbles you started blowing last week
• How sometimes, you just seem to need your mama to hold you - and often, as soon as you get in my arms, you start to calm
• Those little whimpers you make right before you fall asleep in your cradle
• How your hands and feet get so cold, even with socks and gloves on... just like mine
• That red streak in your hair, surrounded by brown (it makes me think you'll be a fiery little thing!)
• How you sometimes fall fast asleep in the car... and sometimes you scream the whole ride
• Your blue boots
• The way you snuggle into my arms

SO many things to remember, baby girl. If only we could bottle up memories, like Dumbledore does in Harry Potter, and relive them anytime we want! Tonight, while praying with you before bed, the Lord impressed on me the importance of numbering our days. I'm sure "before we know it" you will be starting Kindergarten, graduating from college, getting married, and having your own babies. 

So right now - as long as it is called today - I want to remember these things. I want to remember YOU.

Cutie Patootie!! We love you!

Your little smile. Your spunkiness. How you are starting to stick out your tongue. That cute sound you make after sneezing. Oh my lands. We are so blessed to be your parents. And I love being your mama!

Love love love,

Mama

1 Month, 1 Week, and 6 Days

Dear Ruthie

Tonight, you were so fussy right before bed. It was close to 10:30pm and we knew you were exhausted... but like always, you fought it hard.

I held you close in our bedroom, where your white cradle is currently nestled in the corner, close enough for us to reach you in an instant. I held you close, one arm under your butt, one hand behind your neck. I held you, just trying my best to comfort you, shhhh-ing you and bouncing and occasionally rubbing your back.

Then the Lord brought a song to my mind:
I love you, Lord,
And I lift my voice
To worship You.
Oh my soul: Rejoice!
Take joy, my King,
In what You hear.
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
In Your ear.

And I was struck, baby girl, by how my song was worship to Him... but perhaps your whimpers and cries were, too. In Sunday School, Jeff brought up Psalm 8:2, which says, "Through the praise of children and infants, You have established a stronghold against Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger."

Your daddy and I pray daily that you will know the Lord... and not just know Him, but follow Him and walk with Him, not turning to the right or to the left. What an honor we have to teach you how to worship Him as an infant.

Love,
Mama

1 Month, 1 Week, and 4 Days

Dear Ruthie,

6 weeks ago today, you were born. How fun! Some highlights of being 6 weeks old:

Blowing spit bubbles 

Cuddling with mommy

Sitting in swings at church

Sleeping on your tummy 

Getting your very own swing and "massage chair" at home!

You are getting so big - I'm sure you're over 10 lbs now. Your little legs are getting more rolls and you have a double chin now. Your hands seem bigger, too, and when we had you at my doctor's appointment this week, they commented on how tall you looked in your carseat. 

We love you, big girl!

Hugs and kisses to our 6-week-old,

Mama

1 Month, 1 Week, and 1 Day

Dear Ruthie,

Ms. Janelle came over today! She is such a special lady to me: she taught my Actions class in high school; I've been on several mission trips with her; she hosted my wedding shower; she was a Mentor Mama in our wedding; and she is just a dear, dear friend. She and her family (she and Joe have SEVEN kids!) live in Michigan now, where they are preparing to be missionaries in Ghana.... but they came back to Alaska for a long weekend to speak at a missions conference!

While you were still in my tummy, your daddy and I took a trip to see them after I graduated from JHU. So you "met" her then... but today, she got to hold you and cuddle you and love on you:

Ms. Janelle and me.

Holding my sweet girl.

Janelle and you!

She loves you - I can tell. 

Oh baby girl, I pray often that you have women like Ms. Janelle and Ms. Linda in your life, women you can look up to and follow. Women who love you and lead you well. Women who speak Truth to you in love, who do not hold back what needs to be spoken, but who speak it with wisdom and insight. I pray often that women come alongside you who can hold a special place in your heart like Janelle does for me. 

I hope to always have that kind of place, too, but you need women other than me, your mama. I will teach you what I can... but these women may teach you other things.

Love,

Mama

1 Month and 1 Week

Dear Ruthie,

You were fussy most of the day today, silly girl! Kristina came over to visit and you napped some... and fussed lots. After she left, I put on my Moby Wrap from Aunt Holly and tucked you inside. And you were so tired that you fell asleep in less than a minute and slept for nearly an hour like that.

My little cuddle bug.

I'm so thankful that I can hold you close like this. For now, you are content to by cuddled up close to my heart, hearing it from the outside after hearing it from the inside for so many months. And I'm content to have you there, too... safe from the world and all scary things.

I'll protect you as long as I can, Ruth Viola. But I know the Lord will protect you much longer.

Love,
Mama

1 Month and 1 Day

Dear Ruthie,

We are so proud of you! Last night, for the first time ever, you slept in your cradle, allowing your dad and me to sleep in our bed! For nearly seven and a half total hours, you snoozed away. THANK YOU.

You've also done a great job of napping in your cradle today. Or maybe it's that your daddy and I have done a great job of putting you in your cradle when you are sleepy. Either way, I feel like we are winning - praise God!

I think we've got a good thing going here... let's keep it up!

Love,
Mama

1 Month

Dear Ruthie,

Oh my lands, how are you already one month old?! Cliche, I know, but time really does fly.

Cuddles today at Memaw and Papa's house.

Little girl in a big chair.

Sleepy baby.

Some of my favorite things about you are:

• Sometimes, after you sneeze, you make this cute "ahh-ohh" sound.
• You get the hiccups all the time (and usually take them with a grain of salt... for a while. When you are frustrated with them though, we can tell!).
• That ultra sad face you make sometimes, where you whole body seems to frown (your papa joked that he didn't know where you got that from! I have a feeling he meant you got it from me...).
• You fit so perfectly at my breast that I know you were made to be there and my body was made to feed you. You eat like a champion, Ruth!
• You sleep so soundly on your papa's chest... but you also have learned how to pull his chest hair - which is NOT one of his favorite things!
• Your long dark hair has one section of red in it. It's a fun mix between your daddy's dark hair and my own reddish hair. We're excited to see what color it ultimately turns.
• Your eyes fluctuate between hazel and gray most of the time.
• You usually sleep 3-4 hours at a time at night.
• You like to curl up in a little ball, feet tucked up, when you are tired and we hold you. I love that.
• The way your head smells after a bath = heavenly.
• You have feet just like mine and long fingers so you can play the guitar like your daddy.

Some of your recent milestones:

• You are content to sit in your little chair for up to 30 minutes now! You like it best when the little vibrator is on.
• We finally got you to sleep in your cradle (at least some of the time - mostly for naps, but we're working on nights, too), thanks to this book.
• You'll take a bottle! When I gave you one today (for the first time), you sucked on it for a second and gave me a look like, "I don't want this pacifier!" Then you realized my breastmilk came out of it and you got so excited and happy! I literally laughed out loud in the parking lot at Carrs.
• You have taken a pacifier... about 5 times total. They aren't your favorite thing, so instead you usually suck on our pinkies or the sides of our fingers.
• You can track people with your eyes! More than once, we've seen you watch me or daddy when we walk past you.
• You recognize my voice! When I say something where you can see me, you usually turn to look at me.
• You've smiled at me now!
• We went on our first mommy / daughter outing today: to visit Memaw at work, to go to my office, and to stop at the store. And we did quite well, I think. I nursed you once, you had a messy diaper, and you didn't even cry in the store. #winning
• Papa babysat you for the first time today while your daddy and I went to a doctor's appointment... and you did great! 

We are already so proud of the little lady you are and are becoming. We tell you daily that you are doing great - and you are! You are an awesome little kid and we are blessed to be your mommy and daddy.

Tonight, during your bedtime routine, you sat between me and your daddy, just listening to me read a story from this book (a Christmas gift from Uncle Brad, Aunt Paige, and Blaire). We sang "Jesus Loves Me" and you happily listened. We took you to our room, where your cradle is located, and prayed over you, like always, before laying you down, shushing you, and leaving. I love those quiet moments in the evening, when you are almost asleep and we get to just speak God's word over you. I hope they slowly engrain the Truth of His Love and the Gospel into your mind and heart.

XOXO,

Mama

4 Weeks and 2 Days

Dear Ruth,

What a special day! Today, you were dedicated to the Lord at our morning worship service at Fairview Loop. Pastor Tom charged your daddy and me with raising you in a Christian home wherein you will see the love and Truth of Christ. He also charged the congregation with being an example of the Lord to you. Then he prayed over you and us; it was so special.

Pastor Tom praying for our little family.

I am so thankful that we worship with a group of believers who will pray with and for us as we raise you. Oh, little girl, you are greatly loved by all at FLBC and I know they all desire for you to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Your daddy and I desire that for you above all else.

Ms. Carley holding you.

I crocheted you a little green dress that yo wore today for your dedication, along with a white and gold sweater from Memaw and some ruffle butt tights:

Family photo after your dedication.

We are so excited to see who you become in the Lord - we trust that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to the day of completion in Christ Jesus. 

Love,

Mama

4 Weeks Old

Dear Ruthie,

Today I reorganized your dresser. Your newborn clothes are now stored in the plastic bin in the closet;  your 0-3 month clothes (what you're wearing now) are in the top two drawers of the dresser; your 3-6 month clothes are in the bottom two drawers.

You have more clothes than I know what to do with, missy! In fact, you didn't even wear all your newborn clothes while you still fit into them and I told your daddy today, "There's no way she'll wear all her 3-6 month clothes, unless she's in them for a LONG time!"

I can't believe how quickly you are growing and changing. This week, we noticed a red streak of hair on your head that wasn't there before. You can hold your head up like a champ when we hold you and when you're laying on our chest (your favorite place to sleep at the moment - forget about that cradle mommy and daddy spent WEEKS refinishing for you!!). You can track us with your eyes and you turn your head to look at the lights when we hold you and sway. When I say something, you make a noise (or a whimper) because you are recognizing my voice. And several times, you've been upset and I've been the only one who can calm you (I'll be honest - that just blessed my mama heart).

However, you are still struggling between 9:00pm and midnight. You get colicky and cry for all its worth. Last night (New Year's Eve), Memaw and Papa came over and stayed up with you until 4:00am so that your daddy and I could get some much needed sleep. You snoozed on Memaw's chest, in between crying fits.

Right now, you are quite tired... and fighting it. Your daddy is doing his darnedest to get you to sleep, but you won't give in. Silly baby girl. I better go help him. It's not quite time for you to eat, but almost.

We love you so much, Ruth. We are so proud of you already - of how strong you are, of how you are growing and changing. Keep it up! May God be glorified in your life.

Love,
Mama