Ruth 4 months old!

Wow another month under our belts and what a great one it has been! Every day Ruth's smile seams to grow bigger and bigger! My computer was broken for about 2 months and to my delight (after it was able to be fixed!!!) I turned it on today to find her newborn pictures scrolling as my desktop background. Looking at them overwhelmed me thinking of God's grace in our lives. She is growing into a beautiful sweet young girl. I am once again a little behind on the update as we were out of town for this month's milestone but I will do my best to capture her as best as I can!

According to the 4 month check up:
Hight- 24.25 inches
Weight- 13 lbs 2 oz
Diaper size- 2
Clothes size- 0-3 month and 3 months
Shoe size- anything from newborn to size 3-6 months (hoping her feet will grow soon so that she can wear some of the cute sandles she has before the cold weather comes!!)

Likes- Her swing (ALOT), "Monkey," a green and blue stuffed monkey wiht teathing rings for hands and feet, her keys, playing on her back and tummy, being held, getting up from a nap, bath time, boy/men (Oh no!! Not already!), chewing on her fingers, chewing on everyone elses fingers, smiling, sucking her thumb, all her grandparents, aunts and cousins, children,

Dislikes- if her bottle isn't ready when she wakes up, the bouncy chair if it's not moving, getting stuck on her tummy, when she thinks she's going to be picked up and she isn't, being strapped in, Target (not sure why but she always crys there), being hot, having her eyes wiped in the morning, being laid in her bed for a nap, bright sun, people who smell like smoke, time changes

Firsts- This past month Ruth enjoyed being in Hawaii for a week with us on our youth mission trip. She was a real trooper hanging in there and doing ministry with the rest of us. She was especailly good at nursing home ministry! I am amazed that someone who can't even speak can bring so much joy to so many people. It's like she knew that she shouldn't cry or fuss when we were doing ministry. Our prayer continues to be that she will eventually come to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and savoir.  We pray that she is old enough to remeber it and that it impacts her life in a dramatic way. We have learned that many children in ministry families can be pressured to early or even just grow up assuming they are saved because their parents are. Our prayer is that Ruth will make the dession early but on so early that she doesn't understand the weight of what it means to be a Christian.

We also had the chance to take Ruth to the "homeland" this month. Ruth met Mama Griffin, Mamaw and Papaw Bagwell (her great grandparents), Rebecca and Shannon (2 of her aunts), Alexa and Hailey (her 2 first cousins) and so many other family members and friends. Leaving this time was the hardest it's ever been. According to my mother it only gets harder. Yikes! We are so greatful to God for our amazing family who shares their frequent flier miles with us, drives across the state for us, and hosts us in their homes. We LOVE you more than we can express. Your love prayers and encouragement means more to us than you even know.

Our last big first is Rolling!!! Yes we have a Roller on our hands. At just over 3 months Ruth decided that she wanted to roll. One night we could not figure out why in the world she kept making noise in her bed long after she should have gone to sleep. We walked in to discover she was on her tummy! I kkscreamed at Steve not to touch her as I ran for the camera. Thinking it still may be a fluke we placed her back on her back and the next day she showed off her rolling skills some more! About a week later she showed us she could roll back from her tummy to her back! Life has not been the same since. No more leaving her somewhere and coming back to find her in the same place. Let the baby proffing begin!!!

Schedule:
7:30-wake up and eat
8:00- play
9:15- Nap
11:00- Wake and eat
11:30- Play
12:15- Nap
2:30- Wake and eat
3:00- Play
3:45- Nap
5:30- Wake and eat
6:00- Play
7:15- Eat
7:30- Go to Bed

We love that tongue!

Swimming with Daddy in Hawaii

My first time to grab and catch!

Helping with the Mission project at the Children's Justice Center

Yes I am so cool with my shades!

Still can't figure out how she can sleep like this.

Ruth and Mama in Hawaii

First time Ruth Rolled over! "Help Mama I'm stuck!"

Meeting Mama Griffin

Meeting Aunt Becca and Aunt Helen

With her Cousins and great grandparents

Playing with Gammy and Monkey

Aunt Shannon has yummy fingers! Let the Teething begin!

Ruth and Nana