Meteor Showers and Bob Marley

You just saw your first meteor shower! Your Aunt Mary from California sent you your very own sleeping bag. It's Ruby sized and everything! It kept you toasty warm while Daddy took us out to the park and watched shooting stars at 4 in the morning. It was spectacular!

Your dad and I visited Aunt Mary and Uncle Fred in California last year and we saw Herbie Hancock live, and hiked and camped in Yosemite! We can't wait to go camping with you.

I've just learned a new trick. You were screaming bloody murder (about what, I have no idea.. It must be so hard to have a whole second person whose entire day is devoted to keeping you fed, clean and happy :) )

So anyway. Bloody Murder.

I put on music and randomly inserted "Baby" or"Ruby" into the verses, while dancing with you. You loved it!

"No Ruby, No Cry"

I knew you'd have my refined musical tastes for Phish, Bob Marley, the Beatles, and the Grateful Dead. You just wait. One of these days, your dad will approach you with a "country" song. I advise you to steer clear of the country music! You could end up dancing just like your dad. Scary- I know..

"No Ruby, No Cry... No Ruby, No Cry.."

Locked On

This is you at 11 weeks old.

So much has changed since just 5 weeks ago! You know lock your focus onto an object, and where before I wasn't sure if you could really see it, now, there is no doubt.

You will follow an object if I move it slowly, and talk to the object in babble talk. Oooh de laoh oowoowwwuhlll moohhwww. Precisely. Just what I was thinking.

June 18th is quite a day!

Dear Ruby,
When I was little, I got a book that talked about all the things that had happened on my birthday, September 28th. This morning, I looked up your birthday, June 18th. It is a day of female power!

1429 - French forces under the leadership of Joan of Arc crush the main English army under Sir John Fastolf at the Battle of Patay. This turns the tide of the Hundred Years' War.

1767 - Samuel Wallis, an English sea captain, sighted Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island.

1815 - Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Waterloo leads to Napoleon Bonaparte abdicating the throne of France for a second and final time.

1873 - Susan B. Anthony is fined $100 for attempting to vote in the 1872 presidential election.

1923 - Checker Cab puts its first taxi on the streets.

1928 - Aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly in an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean (she was a passenger; Wilmer Stutz was pilot and Lou Gordon,mechanic).
1930 - Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Franklin Institute held.
1940 - Appeal of June 18 by Charles de Gaulle.
1940 - "Finest Hour" speech by Winston Churchill.

1953 - The Republic of Egypt is declared and the monarchy is abolished.
1954 - Pierre Mendès-France becomes Prime Minister of France.
1959 - Governor of Louisiana Earl K. Long is committed to a state mental hospital; he responds by having the hospital's director fired and replaced with a crony who proceeds to proclaim him perfectly sane.
1967 - Jimi Hendrix burns his guitar on stage at the Monterey Pop Festival.
1979 - SALT II is signed by the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
1983 - Space Shuttle program: STS-7, Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space
1984 - Major clash between about 5,000 police and a similar number of miners at Orgreave, South Yorkshire, during the 1984-1985 miners' strike. Incident later known as the Battle of Orgreave.
1996 - Ted Kaczynski, suspected of being the Unabomber, is indicted on ten criminal counts. 2006 - The first Kazakh space satellite, KazSat is launched.

Births
1901 - Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicolaievna Romanova of Russia (d. 1918)
1942 - Roger Ebert, American film reviewer
1942 - Sir Paul McCartney, English singer and songwriter (The Beatles)
1952 - Isabella Rossellini, Italian actress
1952 - Carol Kane, American actress
(You, obviously) Ruby Marie Sawyer, born June 18th, 2007

New Favorite Book

Lately we've been reading Goodnight, Gorilla. You stare at all the pictures.

A, ahhh. E, ehhh. I, iii.

Your dad is teaching you your vowels. Every morning and evening, he looks at your little face and goes through all the vowel letters and soft vowel sounds. A, ahh. E, eeeh. I, iiih. O,oooh. U,uuuh. You seem to like it because shortly afterward, you reward your dad with a big poop and a trip to the changing table.

Nascar Aspirations

It's so funny when you get on your activity mat- you move your leg (one at a time) way up, then stomp it down.. up, down, up,down. It reminds me of the race car drivers when they shift from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd gear in Nascar.

This is my new favorite picture of you- I think anyone would agree that you are the most gorgeous, perfect, social baby in the world. Aunt Jean in New Jersey said what an expressive face you have!

Who Do You Look Like?

Lots of people ask me this and you know, I don't think that you, overall, look like either one of us! You are a perfect combination of my favorite parts of both your dad and me.

For example, you got your dad's gorgeous blue eyes

<-----

You also got your dad's hands and feet.

I'm not sure about the nose yet, but I think you might have gotten his nose and chin too.

From me (so far) you got my hair- the same color, and the shape of my eyes. You got my puffy cheeks, and a little bit of my temper (sorry about that!)

Oh-de-laow!

8 wks- 7/15/2007

Dearest Love,

What a ham! You have started smiling! Not just "just gas" grimaces- full blown, whole face lighting up, eyes wide open smiles. You started doing this last week, but today is the first day I've been able to catch you at it with the camera.

We've been visiting with my friend, Kathy Coats and her baby (your first little friend) Cameron. I am missing your Grandma Hatch, as she had to go home to get ready for out of town family to visit. She misses us too- she says she's having Ruby withdrawal.

6 weeks old

Dear Ruby,Today you are 6 weeks old! No 6 week period has ever been so wonderful, so precious, or seemed to pass as QUICKLY(!) as has my time with you.You and I are starting to get past our rookie stage- I'm getting better at knowing what you want when you cry, and I've begun to notice you have different cries for what it is that you want. You are eating a little more at a time (4 oz sometimes!), and sleeping for longer stretches- in fact, one night this week, you slept from 9 pm to 3 am, your new record!Most of the time, you are such a happy baby! You do so many cute things to keep your dad and I laughing. When you wake up from a nap, you lean your head back, throw your arms way up in the air and stretcccccchh. Your dad has informed me that when you do this, you are making the international football sign that referees use to indicate a "touchdown". We say that every time you wake up, you do your "touchdown arms" move. Your dad says it must be because you are dreaming about football, and are planning for the fall Hokie football season. Of course, as a good Hokie baby, you already have 2 Hokie outfits in the 6 months size ready to go for when that first touchdown happens.You are starting to wake up, and I will try to write next about your first round of SHOTS (yuck!) later this week.

Love, Your Mom

6-18-2007

Dear Ruby Marie,

It's after 10pm on your birth day. (You know there is only one!) We are pooped but you are safe and happy in your bassinet. You are looking at me, asleep. What a dream come true!! Your day was truly special. I will always remember your birth as you and I learn and teach each other about life and family and love. You've been in my life for about 5 hours and I already love you with my heart and soul just like your mother! (And that is after your first diaper change!) You look so peaceful and beautiful. God has truly blessed the Sawyer family. Mom has already breastfed you twice and I think you are catching on. It was nice to see the parade of family and friends coming to see you. There is so much love in your family for you. You will do many great things in life and the first is to love. Love your family, your grandparents, mother, aunts and uncle, cousins, husband (?) and one day, if God is good, children and grandchildren. Gos is good all the time! Ruby is a name your mother and I fell in love with the moment we heard it. We knew it was a name to love you with. Marie comes from my great Aunt Marie Sawyer and Granma Katherine Marie Wirt Hatch or Grandma Hatch.

Ruby Marie Sawyer, together with your mom, we are in for a heck of a ride. Let's make our trip together fun, memorable, and as long as God will allow. Nothing but the best for my love which was born tonight.

Your Dad,

Michael Bryant Sawyer

6-18-2007, Your New Mom, Jackie

My Sweet Daughter,

What a beauty you are! You and I had a tough pregnancy together. You liked playin soccer with Mommy's kidneys and ribs, especially at 2am! I loved to feel you moving in my belly- it was our special secret. Whenever I needed a reason to smile, I'd feel a little Ruby kick or wiggle. Your favorite spot was on my right side. When I was pregnant with you, at first, I wanted meat! After the first trimester though, I couldn't get enough mustard, mashed potatoes, green beans with tomatoes, or Sibley's Vinegar Barbeque Sandwiches! (And I usually don't like vinegar OR mustard!)

As tough as our pregnancy was, delivering you was the easiest baby story that Mommy's ever heard! Contractions started at about 8pm on Sunday night and got a little stronger as the night went on. When morning came, I called Grandma to see what she thought, if it was really labor or not. She said that she thought it was! So, I told your daddy as calmly as I could that it was time! (At least, I thought that maybe, possibly, it might be time) to go to the hospital. Your daddy got us here lightning speed. We walked the halls waiting for the contractions to get stronger. Then, around noon, Mommy got her FABULOUS epidural and the rest was SO EASY!

There was a moment when I was pushing, and your tiny little head came out, and I heard you gurgle for the first time. I saw you blink your eyes and I thought,"Wow, that's our baby! She's Real! That's really Ruby, and I'm seeing her for the first time. My world stopped, and it was so surreal! You were beautiful and perfect in every way, except that you were not very happy!:)

But soon you got to meet your daddy. The world got better. Then, you met your Gma Hatch and Gma Sawyer, and Gpa Hatch, and then our nurse, Trish, brought you over to me. Even though I had a little cold and my voice was scratchy, I knew you recognised my voice right away. I loved you from these first moments SO MUCH!

So this is the beginning of our story, my tiny angel. I have dreamed for so long about you and you are here! You are mine! My precious baby Ruby Marie.

Love, Your Mom

6-18-07, Uncle Cliff Hatch

Dear Ruby,

You don't know me yet, but I was the big hairy guy in the cowboy hat that held you. For about a second though,my heart stopped. It stopped because I couldn't believe the little miracle I was holding. You are truly a gift sent from heaven. When you get older, I will be there for you whenever you need me.

Love, Uncle Cliffy

6-18-07

Dear Miss Ruby,

You are by far the cutest, sweetest baby girl here at Johnston-Willis Hospital. Your parents are very happy and proud to have you here!! :) Welcome to the world, Ruby!

Love, Irene Cassada

6-18-07, Lewis Cassada

Dear Ruby,

Today was the hottest day so far this year. Your mom wanted bar-be-que for dinner after you were born. No matter what your dad tells you later on, he had lost his hair long before you were born.

-Lewis Cassada

6-18-07, 5:30 pm

6-18, 5:30 pm

Baby just came- Grandma is crying- Grandpa is smiling.

Cliff is stuck on 95 in a traffic jam. Granpa George still thinks it's a false alarm. Betty has gone to say hello to Ruby.

-Gma Hatch

June 18th, 2006- Grandpa Rick Hatch

Been a day! New job, excitement and joy. Kind of hard to describe. I guess to try, I feel like when Kathy and I had Jackie, but also thinking my daughter and son-in-law have created Ruby, and I can't wait to see her.

It was the most excited I have been in quite a while. It's better than the best day I could possibly have fishing. It is more exciting than anything. Your flesh and blood, the person you helped to raise is having a new little life.

To love, raise, and guide the best they can. Ruby, I can't wait. Come on! My biggest fear is that I won't be there to see her. To be one of the first to see what Jackie and Mike have created together. What a moment! Whew, my feelin like going up a roller coaster feeling the excitement the higher you go, then reaching the top and go start the real ride of excitementis just beginning. Ruby is coming! Betty just came out and said "Ruby's head is right there! It's time to push!" The nurse came, and Jackie told her she was having pain in her stomach. The nurse said she better check her then, and said she was a 10 and time to call the doctor.

My wish has come true. What a moment. Kathy has wanted someone to have something for a long time. She misses Jackie and Cliff so much. I think Jackie and Mike will make the cutest, smartest, most loveable anyone ever brought into this world!

(Picture of a hand with fingers crossed)

-Your Grandpa, Rick Hatch

June 18th, 2006- Grandma Betty Sawyer, 3:55 pm

Dear Ruby,

We are out here waiting just for you. Grandpa Sawyer is going to walk your brother Spiegel and wait for me to call him when you get here. Aunt Michelle thinks you'll come at 9:30 tonight. I think 8 pm or before. Your mom just had a little nap. Grandma and Grandpa Hatch and I just went out for lunch, hoping your mommy and daddy would sleep some. Everyone is waiting just for you! I called Uncle Skip, Aunt Amanda, Uncle Erich, and Aunt Michelle and lots of friends to let them know you are on your way. Uncle David worked last night, so he is asleep right now.

You have a very big family and lots of friends who can't wait to meet you.

Love, Grandma Betty Sawyer

6-18-2006, 4pm- Grandma Hatch

Dear Ruby,

Your heartbeat is 153- just right. Mom is on o2(oxygen)- I will teach you all about diatomic molecules when you are a bit older.

Grandpa Hatch is taking a shower- he just got here from work.

Your Grandma Sawyer is on the cell phone trying to tell your grandpa Sawyer that you are coming- he can't hear and thinks that it is a "false alarm" and to call him when the baby is REALLY coming.

Your Uncle Cliff is on his way, and Candy sends you kisses.

Love, Grandma Hatch

June 18th, 2006

Grandma Katherine Hatch

Dear Ruby,
It is 3:10 pm and we are waiting for your arrival. At 5:10 am this morning, your mommie called me in Fairfax to say that she "thought" she might be in labor. She said that her pains were 2 minutes apart. I told her that I was on my way- I sure didn't want to miss my Ruby's birthday!

I was at Lake Braddock High School by 5:30. Today is the last day of school, and I needed to submit my grades. I was so excited that I needed help getting my grades in the computer. I was on my way to Richmond by 6:00 am. We are all so excited about your arrival. Your mom is working hard to bring you into the world.

We LOVE you and can't wait to see you!

Love,
Grandma Hatch