Yesterday as we were preparing to sit down for dinner, I made the usual request for Derick to go and wash his hands as it was almost time to sit down. As I am serving the plates I hear him talking to himself in the bathroom. As I listen closer to what is being said, I hear that he is saying his prayers as he is washing his hands. It was so cute that I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. I know it has been hard for him lately to wait patiently while his food is in front of him. He sits and eats and tells me that he just can't stop eating...not even for a minute to pray. Well I guess he found a way to solve the problem himself...to multi-task and take care of two things at once :) I was just greatful he was prompting himself of what needed to be done, but will eventually turn it back into a family affair at the table.
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We had a hard time picking Zoe's middle name. We had considered several different options and it was up until the time we were filling out her birth certificate prior to leaving the hospital that the decision was made. I am sure I have mentioned before that Derick wanted to name her Zoe Kicker Ruiz. As far as he was concerned that was all she did in utero...well at least all he could feel. However, now that is out of the womb, it seems a more fitting middle name for her would have been "The Growler". She is quite a noisy and growly baby. I thought Derick was loud with all his farm noises and squeaks, but he didn't hold a candle compared to this little girl. You would think she was a ravenous bear fighting for the last piece of meat as she nurses. She makes such loud noises and heaven forbid she has to be covered...she thrashes her head around and cranks up the volume several notches. At home I find it quite entertaining, yet as we are venturing out more and more in public for extended periods of time and I have to nurse her...it can become quite un-nerving. Well hopefully we will both get more comfortable with it.
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Hmmm... last shared piece of info for the day. Derick has mentioned a couple times about having another baby. He thinks he is ready for another baby...specifically requesting that it be a baby brother. In fact last week he reminded me to "pray for the little boy who lost his baby" then followed up with a prayer for himself to have a baby brother...and we could save the name Kicker for him. Then tonight at dinner he said that when we go to Chuck E Cheese (something he talks about at least 30 times a day) that I would have to hold one baby and Daddy would have to hold the other baby. So again I say...Hmmm.... only God knows what he has in store for our future :) I do miss my sleep, but am treasuring this time with our sweet girl...as since don't know what is in store for us...keep reminding myself that sleep deprivation is only a temporary state.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Our first 2 weeks as a family of 4
Well we have survived and actually enjoyed our first 2 weeks as a family of four. It was a little hectic coming home from the hospital and having a whirlwind of visitors. We then enjoyed a few days to ourselves trying to get settled in. Derick had a rough few days then has gotten better, though many days now just have rough patches mixed with the good.
I think I have cried twice for him having a hard time adjusting. The first afternoon we were home I was in Zoe's room nursing and he spotted a toy up in her closet that he wanted. I explained to him I would be happy to get it for him but he needed to wait patiently a few minutes til sister was done. A moment later he returned with his stepstool and determination to get the toy himself. I again asked him to wait just a few minutes. He looked at me with tears welled up in his eyes and said, "You are too busy doing that. (Pointing at me nursing) I will do it myself." The fact he wasn't fussing, but just more hurt... broke my heart. Thankfully with his stool he could reach what he wanted. He left the room feeling proud of himself for accomplishing his task all on his own.
Then yesterday I offered to take him to the park. He was so excited and ran to get his shoes. He sat on the stairs and asked if he was putting them on the right feet. Again as I was nursing I asked him to bring them down and I would check it out. He lost it and it turned into a 10 minute tantrum so I cancelled the park. He ran to his room and closed the door. Still attached to the baby, I went in and sat on his bed. I asked what was wrong and he just stared at us and said "I don't know." I could tell in his eyes that he was having a hard time sharing me, but didn't want to say anything bad. I teared up, hugged him and talked to him about how he was doing such a great job being a big brother and how we have to share our time.
Overall though he is doing great job. We are trying to encourage showing his love but being careful not to smother and squish her too much. I am understanding why 2nd children get to be so tough at an early age :) My mom spent the last five days with us and was a big help entertaining Derick. I appreciated having time to bond with Zoe while knowing Derick was being loved and played with as well. She left yesterday morning. Ricky returned to work yesterday as well. So we had our first day just me and the two kiddos...and we survived :)
Zoe is doing well. I think many babies are really good babies their first two weeks, as they just sleep all the time...so I don't want to jinx anything as we are just crossing that timeline. She was jaundiced but seems to be getting better although at times her eyes still look a little yellowish. She also has a little congestion and cold. I know she got it at the dr. office from her first well visit. So frustrating to see all the parents that think they are above sitting in the sick room, rather they sit in the well visit room and let their kids cough all over!! Thanks alot people.
She is so precious and we adore her. She is having more alert moments and it's fun to watch her check things out. Maybe it's having been through this once already, maybe it's that she has been so long awaited, or maybe both...but I find myself more relaxed and patient with her...even in her crying moments. At night when she has a hard time settling in I find myself wanting to hold her knowing this is such a short time of her being so little and not knowing what God has in store for us...whether or not we will experience it again with another baby. So while Ricky has opted to let her settle herself, yet I often find myself holding her..cherishing the moments...hoping and praying that the sleep I get will be enough to sustain me through the day with a good attitude and patience. I thank heaven for this treasure and for all my precious family.
My friend Sarah the photographer has been over 3 times taking pictures. Hopefully will get some from her in the next couple weeks and have some more to post including some of us as a family.
I think I have cried twice for him having a hard time adjusting. The first afternoon we were home I was in Zoe's room nursing and he spotted a toy up in her closet that he wanted. I explained to him I would be happy to get it for him but he needed to wait patiently a few minutes til sister was done. A moment later he returned with his stepstool and determination to get the toy himself. I again asked him to wait just a few minutes. He looked at me with tears welled up in his eyes and said, "You are too busy doing that. (Pointing at me nursing) I will do it myself." The fact he wasn't fussing, but just more hurt... broke my heart. Thankfully with his stool he could reach what he wanted. He left the room feeling proud of himself for accomplishing his task all on his own.
Then yesterday I offered to take him to the park. He was so excited and ran to get his shoes. He sat on the stairs and asked if he was putting them on the right feet. Again as I was nursing I asked him to bring them down and I would check it out. He lost it and it turned into a 10 minute tantrum so I cancelled the park. He ran to his room and closed the door. Still attached to the baby, I went in and sat on his bed. I asked what was wrong and he just stared at us and said "I don't know." I could tell in his eyes that he was having a hard time sharing me, but didn't want to say anything bad. I teared up, hugged him and talked to him about how he was doing such a great job being a big brother and how we have to share our time.
Overall though he is doing great job. We are trying to encourage showing his love but being careful not to smother and squish her too much. I am understanding why 2nd children get to be so tough at an early age :) My mom spent the last five days with us and was a big help entertaining Derick. I appreciated having time to bond with Zoe while knowing Derick was being loved and played with as well. She left yesterday morning. Ricky returned to work yesterday as well. So we had our first day just me and the two kiddos...and we survived :)
Zoe is doing well. I think many babies are really good babies their first two weeks, as they just sleep all the time...so I don't want to jinx anything as we are just crossing that timeline. She was jaundiced but seems to be getting better although at times her eyes still look a little yellowish. She also has a little congestion and cold. I know she got it at the dr. office from her first well visit. So frustrating to see all the parents that think they are above sitting in the sick room, rather they sit in the well visit room and let their kids cough all over!! Thanks alot people.
She is so precious and we adore her. She is having more alert moments and it's fun to watch her check things out. Maybe it's having been through this once already, maybe it's that she has been so long awaited, or maybe both...but I find myself more relaxed and patient with her...even in her crying moments. At night when she has a hard time settling in I find myself wanting to hold her knowing this is such a short time of her being so little and not knowing what God has in store for us...whether or not we will experience it again with another baby. So while Ricky has opted to let her settle herself, yet I often find myself holding her..cherishing the moments...hoping and praying that the sleep I get will be enough to sustain me through the day with a good attitude and patience. I thank heaven for this treasure and for all my precious family.
My friend Sarah the photographer has been over 3 times taking pictures. Hopefully will get some from her in the next couple weeks and have some more to post including some of us as a family.
Monday, March 1, 2010
A few pictures of our precious Zoe
You can click on any of the pictures below to see them enlarged. [just trying to conserve some memory space :)]
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