Kate is in love with all things girlie.
Barbies, dolls, flowers, sparkles, lipstick, nail polish, tea parties, princesses, the color pink.
One of her favorite movies right now is a Barbie version of "Thumbelina". In the movie there is a flower patch, and little fairies that live in the flowers.
I spotted a flower field by our house that I thought Kate would love, so I took her there this morning. When she spotted the field, she broke out into a sprint to pick flowers and search for fairies.
It was pretty close to a perfect morning. The sun was out, clear skies, Santa Ana winds blowing, and I was picking flowers in a field with my little girls. There is nowhere I would have rather been in that moment.

The night before felt like Christmas Eve. We went to bed giddy. I woke up at 4:30am, and could not go back to sleep. How can you quiet your mind when you know you are about to go through labor and delivery in just a few short hours. How can you sleep when you can't stop thinking about meeting your new tiny daughter?

Matt's alarm went off at 6am, and I shot out of bed and got ready. He was a little more sluggish, and I probably drove him crazy with my nagging to hurry up!
The ride to the hospital seemed to take forever. It was cold, and a little dark outside still. A perfect day, just beginning. We pulled into the "Expecting Mothers" parking spot, and made our way to Labor and Delivery.
Our awesome nurse, Christine, met us at the front desk, and got us settled into room #290. It seemed to surreal, after being pregnant for so long to be in the room where we would meet our baby.
It was exciting to see little area she would be cleaned off, ready with blankets and a diaper.
Dr. May came in about 7:30, and broke my water. Then I rocked away on the rocking chair for about an hour to get things going.

The nurse started pitocin around 8:30, and the contractions started fast, and were very strong! Dr. May came in around 9:30, and I was a 4, and 90% effaced.
My mom, the rock!
My sister, Danielle, showed up just in time to relieve Matt, and hold my hand for the epidural. That epidural felt like an instant warm blanket, I couldn't feel a thing. It was great.
I was finally going to have the delivery I had always imagined...pain free! (HA!)
Around 11:30 I started feeling a little tightening, and it with each contraction, the pain on one side got worse and worse, until it was almost unbearable.
The anesthesiologist came back in and gave me a shot of something, but unfortunately, no relief. It felt like a knife digging around in my back/hip.
Around 12:45ish, the nurse checked me again and said I was an 8, but I was already needing to push. After while I heard her tell my mom she was going to call in at Dr. May at 12:02, I kept staring at the clock in between contractions thinking I just had to make it until 12:02. Somewhere in there, Matt faded out of my view, and I heard the nurse telling him to put his head in between his knees! Good timing Matt!!
My sister caught this shot when the nurse said it was time to push!

At 12:04, I said, "What time is it?!" And she called. He rushed in. Got things all set to go. Matt made a speedy recovery, and was at my side when I started I pushing at 1:09.

I pushed about 2 times, and Ruby Jane Taylor was born at 1:13pm. Weighing 7 lbs, 14 oz and 20 inches long!

I was so focused on the pain, and getting "un-pregnant" that is was almost a surprise when they laid the baby on me. I had lost sight of the goal! She came out perfect, sucking on her hand, and wailing, just like she should.

When I was getting stitched up, my sister came over and showed me this picture of Ruby and I remember thinking she has the prettiest lips!
Happy Daddy!



Kate brought her Cinderella for the baby.


A few months ago, Kate told me she wanted to give the baby a "shaker" when she was born. So we went to the store and Kate picked this out. She was so excited to bring it to the hospital.


Kate thought the baby's feet were so tiny and cute.

Matt, Kate and I are so happy to have Ruby in our family. She is such a sweet and beautiful baby!

It has already been 4 weeks since Ruby J. has joined our family. It is hard to imagine life with out her! She has wiggled her way right into our lives perfectly. She is such a good little baby.

At one month:
We started Babywise this past week, and she loves her little schedule.
She goes down at 8:30, I wake her at 10:30 to feed her and she is down by 11pm. Then she wakes up once to nurse between 3-6 and then goes right back to sleep. Not too bad.
She spits up a lot!
Poops even more.
Loves to nurse and has been a pro since day one.
Still does not fit into her 0-3 clothes yet.
She is 8.5 pounds.
Her eyes are blueish, but the Dr. said they will be dark.
Loves to be swaddled.
Likes to sleep in her bouncy seat.
She likes her swing with the ocean sounds playing.
Hates her carseat.
Loves to nuzzle in my neck. I love it too!
Nicknames so far: Rubers, Rubs, Ruby Doobie, Ruby Tuesdays (Uncle Mike calls her that), Missy, Baby Tootie, and Ruby J.