5 months old!!

Week 21...

Size: We find it interesting that some people will see Ruth and say how big or old she looks for her age while others will say that she's small, and they thought she was younger than what she is. Being around so many people in the last few months who don't know Ruth or have never seen her before leads hearing both sides more frequently in a short amount of time. :) 

New things: Ruthie can follow your finger when you point at something and see what you're pointing at. She can't do it perfect every time, but she is getting really good at it. It makes it fun to point out things because then she'll actually look at them!
Ruthie likes to "slap: her tummy with hands.
Ruthie seems to be sticking her tongue out more and more. 

Fun things: Ruthie is now quite the flyer. She flew four more times this week. She likes the planes better than the car. Out of all the flights, she only screamed for 1 hr on one of them. It was pretty bad. She didn't just cry; she screamed. She was OVERLY tired, and I think it just caught up to her. The flight attendant tried calming her multiple times (walked her down the aisle). The captain said over the intercom "Hush, little baby". 
The people around us were so supportive. She wouldn't eat. None of our tricks were working. Finally, I started throwing her up in the air (flat and swaddled), and she fell asleep. We were all grateful. Can't complain though. We toted her across the country in one week. I think an hour of screaming was justified. It was also a good lesson in humility for mom and dad. 
Ruth got to go down a slide for the first time and visit a park (makes me so excited for warm weather!). 
Ruth enjoyed her DVD player on the way back to NY! It entertained her for quite some time! She also did so well coming back home. She didn't cry that much before falling asleep and took all of her naps. 
Ruth got to experience her first Easter egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa Lewton's. She loved the baby in her basket more than anything. She also enjoyed all the objects around which we found the eggs more so than the eggs themselves, but she did a great job! It was fun! She got a couple new toys which she LOVES. 
We got to stop in to say good-bye to Great Grandma Lewton before we headed back to NY and while there got to see some of our cousins!
Ruthie loves: The little luggage cars at the airport. She and Tom watched them for a LONG time out the window. She just loves those things!

The SUN!!! She LOVED being in the sunshine. At one point, she was laying back in the sun and closed her eyes, smiled a little, and just soaked it up; it was rather cute. She enjoyed looking at the sun as it shown on things, as well as, the shadows that resulted. She LOVES watching shadows!! 
Having windows down in the car. Because we were in such warm weather this week, we drove with the windows down. Ruth enjoyed the noise that resulted (she also enjoyed watching the window go up and down). A few times, when she was getting tired, we rolled down the windows, and she went right to sleep. 
Still loves the song "My Jesus I Love Thee" (that might not be the correct title). Sometimes it will help put her to sleep. Other times, it just calms her down. 
Ruthie has LOVED this for awhile, but I don't think I've put it on here yet. I will say (while looking all over except at her), "Ruthie, where are you? Ruth? Ruth, where are you?" (or something like that) Then I'll look at her and squeal, "Ha! There you are". She smiles almost every time, and while I'm "looking" for her, she'll just stare at me waiting for me to "find" her. Even if she's crying, it will calm her down enough to still listen and wait. It's so cute!! 
I think she also enjoyed the WIND in TX. She's not used to that kind of wind or being out in the elements like that. It was just a new stimulation for her. 

Sleep: Ruth did well going to bed and napping while at the hotels. Naps in the car and the planes were still short. She seemed to be waking up quite a bit throughout the night, but we don't really count or check the time any more. 

Thankfully, we were able to disassemble her swing and pack it in our suitcases, so we had that wherever we were. THANK GOODNESS! Although, the swing is loosing its magic, I think...Mom and Dad: More interviews this week! And lots of traveling! 
We remained in TX for a few days. Spent dinner each night with the main vet and his family/other vet-related people. Got to check out his cool "trophy" room and got to hear about some of his cool adventures. 
I had lunch with his wife one day and helped prepare dinner and helped make some cookies on St. Patrick's Day. 
We also toured about the vet clinic and the area. It was a nice little town. 
Next, we flew to California (from TX). We got to go to an Open House at the vet clinic, stopped in at the clinic and met the nice staff there, visited a local milk store, had dinner with the vets, drove through the foothills of the Sierra's, toured the town and a nearby one, visited a couple of dairy farms and a walnut "farm", and stopped at a part for lunch and play. My favorite was the little milk shop we visited. It is owned by a local dairy. They make their own milk and bottle it in glass jars. They also make their own ice cream. We went in to sample the milk (Tom had already been to this place; that's how we knew about it), and we got to sample all their milk and 12 ice cream flavors as well! The milk they sale comes in the following flavors: white, chocolate, orange cream, strawberry, and rootbeer. I liked the rootbeer the best. Ruth rather enjoyed the little tastes of ice cream we gave her:). 
It was in the 80's while we were there...amazing!
After California, we flew back to Indiana, visited with my family that night, packed the next morning, stopped to see Tom's family on the way, and then finally made it back to NY! 
It was a SUPER fun adventure!! 

Thank you, Lord, for: The swing! I am SOOOO glad we were able to take it! Warm weather...it was so refreshing! Meeting some really kind and generous people. That I was able to go with Tom. If I wasn't on maternity leave, I'm not sure how much traveling I would have gotten to do with him. 

21 weeks!!

Ruthie on a bear rug...(more below)

Thank goodness for that pacifier! 

Ruthie playing with herself in the mirror

Yay for the summer clothes that her Grandma Lewton just happened to get last week (before we knew we were headed to warmer weather). It was so hot in CA. These outfits were so appropriate for 80 degree weather!

She did not like that she couldn't get these off of herself.

Ruthie all dressed up to meet the vets for dinner in CA!

Sitting in the front seat while Daddy was making a phone call (car parked:)). 

This is what she really thinks about me taking all these photos;).

In Indiana again! Back to her normal car seat...I think she knew!

It didn't take her long to doze off...without a fight even!

On our way back home to NY. Watching one of the DVD's Grandma Cully got her (Veggie Tales).  That DVD player worked like a charm on this trip!

:)

Ruthie enjoys holding her pacifier and trying to put it in her mouth. She has been successful once or twice. It's super cute!

The morning after we got back to Indiana...our tired girl.

Tired yet still happy! 

We paid one last visit to Grandma and Grandpa Cully on our way back to NY. (note: Ruthie loves the remote)

TX sunset!

This is a room at one of the vets' homes...cool, huh? This would be where the bear rug was where I took a picture of Ruth. (Tom loved this room.)

TX
We saw tumbleweeds!! We felt like we were in a movie!

CA! Love that blue sky!

California

I think these were some sort of nut treats...lots of those around the area. 

Yay for sampling! Ruthie enjoyed the ice cream, too!

Strawberry and rootbeer flavored milk!!

Ruthie going down a slide for the first time.

Checking out the geese.

Exploring the park (Ruth still hasn't mastered looking at the camera yet:))

The Sierras!

Go, Buckeyes! :)

This was our first attempt at a family photo...haha! (at least we got her ear)

Better? I guess, but just as funny!

Orange groves...it smelled so good driving up and own this road!!

Week 20

Size: We used the scale at my in-laws to try to figure out her weight. I forget what we measured, but she was well over 15 lb. (I got on the scale alone, and then I got on holding her). 

New things: She thoroughly enjoyed playing with herself in the mirror this week. She squealed at herself, "kissed" or tried to eat herself, reached out to herself, and flapped her arms and legs in excitement. It was quite cute. 

Ruthie also received a car-compatible DVD player from her Grandma Cully that we tried out this week on our trip to WI (more below) since Ruth still doesn't enjoy riding in the car. As soon as we turned it on for the first time, she quieted down. 
FLYING!!! 

Fun things: Ruthie got to spend another day visiting Grandma and Grandpa Cully in Ohio! We played cards, ate lunch and dinner together, and visited. 
Ruthie quite enjoyed the airport scene...noises, lights, signs, people...what's not to love? 
Ruthie got to meet some of our dear friends that live near Chicago this week. It was soooo special to see them and for them to meet Ruth! 
Ruthie and I went to a cupcakery in WI. Their cupcakes were delicious!! We got one for Tom, too...didn't want to leave him out. 
Ruthie loves: "Getting" people...especially her daddy. It's so cute!
Sucking in air to make a high-pitched squeal sound! 
The remote at Grandma and Grandpa Cully's. 
Being able to sit/stand on my lap when we drive around the farms. She enjoyed looking at everything, including the black and white cows:). 
Playing with/eating my jewelry. My bracelets were a good source of entertainment on some of our long nights. 
The cups on the airplanes...just her size. 
She also likes the trays on the planes...perfect for her to play with all of her toys.
She also like the magazines and safety manuals that are in the pockets on the back of the seats. 
Looking back at all the people on the airplanes and talking/playing with the people. She made lots of friends. 
Spoons! She loves putting them in her mouth!

Sleep: Ruthie struggled with going to bed the first part of the week, and then did better the latter part of the week because she was so tired. Her naps in WI were rough as well. I resorted to swinging her in a bed sheet to get her to sleep...whatever works! Ruthie was able to fall asleep in the car after crying, but she only slept for about 30 min each nap. She also was able to fall asleep on the plane but only for about 30 min as well. We had to be creative with getting her to fall asleep on the plane/at the airport. We got many "We've been there/we understand" looks and smiles:). 

Airport napping was hit or miss as we'd get her to doze off, and then someone would say something over the intercom and wake her up:). At least we tried. 
Mom and Dad: We had a couple of days visiting my family and Tom's family, and then we headed for WI for an interview. We stopped to spend the night near Chicago with some of our friends (1st time seeing their place), had dinner, caught up, and just enjoyed one another's company. The following day, we met up with one of our dear professor friends in Madison and enjoyed Culver's (originated in WI). Then we headed near the Green Bay area for our interview. We enjoyed dinner with most of the owners of the practice (Ruthie did so well considering they were an hour behind, and it was past her bedtime anyway). Tom rode around the with the vets for the next couple of days, and Ruthie and I ventured out just a bit. We also all three drove around Green Bay. 
On our way back to Indiana, we stopped at a farm in WI to interview there as well. We toured the farm and the area. 
We got in late Saturday night, got online and bought tickets, and my dad drove us to the airport the next day mid-morning for our flight to TX!
We arrived in TX late evening, met up with the vet, his family, and a few others, ate dinner, and visited for a bit. Again, Ruthie was a champ! She flew on two airplanes and did well on both flights. Plus, we still had a hour drive to our destination from the airport. Go, Ruthie!
And the adventure continues...

Thank you, Lord, for: That Ruth did so well on the plane, for interviews, and that we were able to travel as a family. 

20 weeks!

This is the walker she has been enjoying...and eating, I guess:). 

Moving those legs and arms!

We had to bring the cow pj's!!

This was at our stop in IL at some dear friends' place on our way to WI. 

Cow pj's and a John Deer shirt...gotta impress those country vets:).
P.S. Note the cow...this one in particular is Ruth's all-time favorite toy. His name is Chewy Cow (not very creative, I know). She rather enjoys chewy on him!

At the hotel in WI

Getting ready to meet the vets for dinner.

She loves playing with her toys!

And she enjoys sitting up!!

"Where are we going now, Mom and Dad??"
What a trooper!!

Our little Ruth!!