Please Help Us Find a Home for Ruby!

Ruby is a sweet, loyal, and playful 1 year-old female Schnauzer/Lab Mix who is looking for the perfect home for her. She loves to nuzzle your neck and play in the yard. She is not aggressive in the least bit; she just wants to play and be loved. She weighs around 50-55 pounds. Ruby is spayed, up-to-date on her shots and heartworm medication, and crate trained. We adore Ruby, but after bringing home a new baby, we sadly can’t give her the time and energy she needs to be happy. If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing Ruby for $25, please email David or Rachel at osborned@gmail.com

Two Cents

Throughout my pregnancy, I got A LOT of advice. Mostly, people told me that my lack of sleep was preparing me for the lack of sleep that came with a new baby. Sorry folks, not quite! At least when I am in my bed to sleep now, I am ACTUALLY sleeping. In the last few weeks of my pregnancy, I rarely slept. I spent more time rolling into a sitting position and waddling to the bathroom in the middle of the night than I did sleeping.

During our birth class, we were cautioned about lots of unsolicited advice. I was very afraid of this after the foreshadowing of my pregnancy. Surprisingly, I haven't been swamped with advice like I was afraid of. In our class, Pat just said, "Say thanks, I'll try that!" Who knows what you try anyway? People mean well, but unless I am doing something that will burn the house down, let me see what I can do! If you don't let anyone try something for themselves, how will they learn? Sometimes the best two cents one could give is full-fledged support. If that helps, who knows how much those two cents could turn into?

Maybe fifty cents?

I think that Mollie already understand that fifty cents are better than two. She already would prefer the big shiny quarters in front of her! This photo was her Daddy's idea. :)

Boppy's, Bumbo's, Bouncers, and More!

Everyone has said that babies don't need much. I have honestly tried to believe them. Yes, they don't need anything but food, warmth, and diapers, but I have found that babies certainly LIKE to have more. I know we live in a materialistic society; I don't want my daughter to HAVE to have lots of stuff. However, I have foundthat certain things put a great big grin on her face. Look at the sense of accomplishment on her face in her Bumbo seat as she sits up like a big girl for the first time. I am not thrilled that I didn't find a used one for her, saving a few dollars, but I am so glad that we got her one. She LOVES it. The dog loved it too.

We are now not only home to a new baby, but we are also home to two Boppy's. My mother even has a Boppy at her house. What is a Boppy? A magical pillow to prop a mother's weakened arms from toting a growing baby for countless hours. It makes me wish that I had a boppy for my belly while pregnant. Wait. I did. I had a Boppy pregnancy wedge and a boppy sleeping pillow- both for nighttime. Why doesn't Boppy have a pillow for bellies during the daytime? Mollie also has a Boppy newborn lounger that has been wonderful. It is like a giant fluffy beanbag (only a pillow) that she can snuggle into.

Speaking of Boppy's... Did I mention that we also have a boppy bouncer seat? Yes, they make bouncer seats. Who is this Ms. Boppy? She must be loaded. Anyway, WE LOVE our Boppy bouncer. Many a-night has come that Mollie has not been fussy nor has she wanted to sleep. So, her patient doting daddy has sat-up with her in the kitchen: she in her boppy seat and he beside her watching old episodes of Family Guy via hulu on the computer. As a music teacher, the songs it plays are enough to make me ill, but my baby loves it, so I can't complain. I dare say that I am starting to find them catchy. That's another story...

Lastly, I must mention the ever-faithful techno-color swing. At first, Mollie wasn't that into it. She just didn't like it. David made a few attempts at getting her to fall asleep in it when she was just a couple weeks old due to Harvey Karp's promise of the Happiest Baby on the Block. That did not make our child the Happiest Baby on the Block! Finally, a few weeks ago, she started to show interest in the Rainforest mobile on the top. Then, I made the brilliant discovery that Mollie enjoys the swing when it goes side-to-side. Coupled with the "sleepy" music instead of the "happy awake" music, it gets her doped up, and before we know it, she's out! This has been a blessing. Everyday, around lunchtime, I set her in the swing with the magical combination of settings, and she passes out. I get to eat my lunch! It's wonderful. I don't know who enjoys it more, Mollie or me!

So, who needs all this stuff? It is true... when Mollie NEEDS something, she needs our arms, a blanket, food, or a clean diaper. She doesn't NEED anything else. We always needs to remember that. I have to remind myself not to get caught-up in the weekly Babies 'R Us flier that shows up in our mailbox. We have to balance the what only comes at the store with what only comes from us. Mommy and Daddy have all that Mollie needs. I want her to always know and trust that. Wal-Mart and Target don't sell love!

Mollie may only be a few weeks old, but she has already figured that out.

All good things must come to an end...

Mollie's Baptism - August 30th

We were so fortunate to have lots of friends and family gather for Mollie's baptism on August 30th at the UGA Catholic Center. She was very well behaved - only 15 days old too! She only made one little peep at the end of mass. Mollie slept right through her baptism.

Afterwards, we all came back to her Carow Grandparents' house for lunch.

Mollie wore her grandmother Mollie's baptismal gown. It was bought by her grandmother's great-aunt and sent to Georgia. Since then, it has been worn by Mollie's great-aunt, great-uncle, their children, her aunts and uncles, cousins, and second cousins. The ribbon was tied by her great-grandmother Rachel and added for her to wear. The charms have also been worn by many family members. The two photos of her in her gown were taken by photographer Teresa Vickery during her newborn photo session when she was 12 days old.

Long Time, No Blog... For Good Reason!

We were thrilled to welcome Mollie Rose into our family at 11:12 PM on Friday, August 14th. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 20.2 inches long.

Notice how she was looking at the camera less than 3 hours after her birth!

Due Date is Here!

I can't believe that today is my due date! Throughout this entire pregnancy, I have felt like I wouldn't make it here. Everyday that I have been pregnant has been a blessing. Now that the day is here and nothing is really happening, it is strange! I thought this baby would be early- especially after the doctor told me she probably would be. I don't feel like little Baby O wants to come out anytime soon. I guess she is just too cozy! If she stays put until Monday, I will have an ultrasound to make sure her environment is still hospitable, and they will start to induce me Thursday night (August 20th). The last thing that I want is to be induced! Please pray that she'll decide that stretching out in a nice cozy bassinet beats being all balled-up in a cramped uterus!

Baby O Tried to Escape Last Night!

So, last night Baby O tried to make a break for it at 34 weeks! I started having regular contractions every 2 minutes, so the doctor sent me to the hospital. They took great care of me, monitored Baby O's heartbeat and my contractions, stopped the contractions with some injections, and we made it home in less than 3 hours. I was a little worried today with "practice" contractions, but they were nothing like the real ones I had last night. For the time being, I think her exit strategy has been foiled. I could tell that she was upset when she figured out she wouldn't get to actually enjoy independece day on the 4th. She'll have to wait. What a little stinker.

David and I had maternity photos done on Monday, and there are previews available at this site... http://heartstringsphotography.blogspot.com/2009/06/rachel-34-weeks-maternity.htmlMore to come in a few weeks! I hope you enjoy them. The same photographer will be doing Baby O's photos at 2 weeks. Check out the great baby bracelets Heather's sister made for the baby. You'll see them in a photo. :)