Who's Who

Do you remember Sweet Pea Liam?

Now introducing, Sweet Pea Ruby.

Can you tell who's who?

We tried to replicate the best we could, 

but sometimes 2 week-old babies just don't pose the way you want them to.  

Here you go...

Who's Who #1?

Who's Who #2?

A few more of Ruby...

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

5 1/2 Weeks In

Not too much new and exciting is going on here.

We are now 5 1/2 weeks into life with multiple children.

Somedays I am confident feeling as if I could conquer the world...

Other days I just try to get out of my pajamas and into "real clothes," (aka... yoga pants) by the time my hubbers gets home.

Liam is doing great and getting so big.

I am realizing before Ruby he still seemed like such a baby to me, 

but now that my attention is divided I am finding he is capable of SO much more!

I'm guessing he has been this capable for a while now...I just didn't give him the opportunity all of the time.

Liam has taken on the role of "big brother" with grace and tenacity.

I couldn't be a more proud mama.

Mr. Shaggy Pants...

Big boy hair cut for a big boy!

(How did I do in the bangs department, Dad?)

5 weeks old!

"I'm so big.

It makes mommy and daddy a little sad, but I think it's down right hilarious!"

Story time.

Liam loves to share story time with Ruby in HIS bed.

We always sing a few songs afterwards, and today Liam did most of the singing.

You can't tell by the serious look on her face, but Roo-berry was ALL smiles when brother did the singing.

It seriously melted me...

I love these kids!

I am so grateful God has entrusted me with with the job of being their mommy!

It rocks my face off that they think I'm pretty cool too :)

It made me smile

This morning I was thinking about yesterday...

and it made me smile.

Let me fill you in.

Ruby was asleep in her swing.

Liam was contently building lego towers and knocking them over with a King-Kong like vigor, 

so I decided to take advantage of the situation and brave the shower.

Not even two minutes into my steamy haven Liam came barreling into the bathroom...

Mommy, Ruby's awake!!"

"Okay.  Is she crying?"

"Yeah, she crying!"

"It's okay, Liam.  Babys cry sometimes.  I'll be out in a minute.  

Do not try to pick her up, okay?"

"OKAY?!"

"Okay, Mommy."

A quick hair rinse later, and I was out of the shower.

 It was quiet...

too quiet...

I walked over to Ruby's swing, and there was Liam.

He had gone to her room, grabbed a sweet toy, and laid it next to her.

When I saw him, he was standing over the swing gently stroking her face saying in a sing-songy voice, 

"It's okay, Ruby.  It's okay."

She was not crying...not even fussing.

In fact, She was looking up at him happy as a clam.

It was one of those sweet moments every mom wants to remember perfectly in her mind forever.

It got me thinking...

Brother Sister relationships are pretty awesome!

The Lord blessed me with three amazing guys I get to call my brothers.

Jason, Brock, and Jordan...

Growing up we had times of arguing, fighting, annoying one another unintentionally and INtentionally. 

BUT...

We had beautiful times too.

Times where Jason patiently helped me with my math homework while I was in tears of frustration.

Times when Brock let me hang out with his friends when I was a nervous High School Freshman and he was a Senior. 

Times when Jordan and I got to team up and play worship together for youth group.

We laughed...

sometimes a little too hard...

 some of us may or may not have peed our pants.

(I won't embarrass anyone here, but we all know who it was ;)

We played games, rough-housed, and so many more things. 

I ALWAYS knew you were in my corner,

and that I could count on you to help and protect me whenever I needed it.

And, no matter how old we get, I know it's still true.

SO...

Today I was thinking...

I'm SUPER pumped that Ruby will get to share this special bond with Liam.

 ...and it made me smile.

P.S.  I've been blessed with some pretty SA-wEEt sisters too!

I'll save doting on you for another day. 

Much love to all my crazy siblings, and their beautiful families!

I wish were were closer in distance.

Ruby May Finlayson is Born

As most of you know, Ruby May was born 

May 20, 2013, at 5:37 p.m.

She weighed 8lbs. and 7 oz. 

and was 21.25 inches in length.

We did end up having to be induced, which was not "the plan".

Clint and I arrived at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. and the process officially began at about 7:30 a.m.

I was given my allotted amounts of pletocin (who know how to spell that?) and was "contracting regularly throughout the day.

The contractions were close together and HUGE on the monitor.

The only problem...

I wasn't feeling them AT ALL...

Clint and I spent the entire day playing games and taking naps...

Labor-Shmabor...WEIRD!

My doctor came in at 5 p.m. after seeing his last patient with high hopes for my progression 

(he had been monitoring my contractions all day on his computer).

I was only a 5 (3 when I came in that morning).

In fact, I was mid-nap when he arrived.

He broke my water and INSTANTLY the game changed.  

I'll spare you of the details, but not even 10 minutes passed and we were ready to go.

Add another 15-20 minutes and she was HERE!

Yipes!  That's what I call quick!

No time for pain meds...

Ruby gave this wimpy Mama a crack at a natural birth.

(also saved us $1000, I guess we have a jumpstart to her college fund :)  

Thank goodness when she finally started to move she came fast :)

It's a GOOD thing we went in to be induced.  

Had my water broke at home we would have had our little miss at home or on the side of the road near Big Fork!  

(depending where Clint was)

MY WORST NIGHTMARE!  

The umbilical cord was also wrapped around her neck twice, so our story could have ended different.

Thank you Jesus and modern medicine!  

It was a perfect scenario!

2 days later she had a name.

Ruby...because we love that name.

May...after her Great Grandma Esther whose middle name is May.

Lots of special people in our lives have May b-days, so we thought that was perfect!

I have already taken a GAZILLION pictures, but you'll just have to wait a little bit, because I haven't even downloaded them to my computer.

Liam?

He's doing GREAT, and LOVES being a big brother!

He walked right into the hospital room, hopped up on the bed, caressed her face and gave her a BIG kiss!

(insert me choking up here).

We'll keep you updated!

First time I got to hold her!

After a little goop was cleaned off ;)

First family picture...Liam wasn't there yet...

Pics of him and her to come!

*Cheers*