November 2012

 Ben thinks he is so big, but when he's sleeping he's still just my sweet little man.

 Charlotte and BFF Lacey

 We've been out riding bikes everyday this week.

Except today....

 

Today it's cold and beautiful. Life is wonderful.

Big Ben!

Over the last couple of weeks Ben has been so stubborn when we try to encourage him to walk.  Then all of a sudden he started taking steps this week and now he is walking everywhere.  We are so proud of him and are happy to have another little walking monster in our home.

September at Last

Dear Internet,

 (Below: Little Benners giving the camera a half wink!)

Did you ever think you would hear from the Miller's again? I'm sure you were concerned. We're back, for a minute. I am throwing in my chemistry towel, and taking a nap. I took a very long final this morning, and I'm quite pleased with the result. I now feel like I can think about other things besides polyatomic ions and atomic trends of the periodic table. PHEW. My brain is tired. I got up early this morning for some last minute cramming and Charlotte got up with me and sat at the table with her pencil. I asked her what she was doing and she said "I gotta do my homework Mommy." I laughed. I may have said that to her about a dozen times in the last few days. My poor neglected kids. Such is the life of a mother and a college student. Benners finally broke his top two teeth through. They are so cute. He is basically the cutest baby I've ever seen. Totally unbiased. He is just a happy kid. He's starting to stand up on his own without holding onto anything, which must mean that walking is eminent. He's almost one, sniff sniff. Charlotte was so excited to start preschool last week. She kept telling me that she goes to school now. She loves her gymnastics and walks around at home with her toes pointed. She and Ben are finally starting to play together. It's so nice. The windows are thrown open and the cool breezes are coming in. I love September! Fall in Utah is the best season. Bye for now.

Early June 2012

Char has been having a fun summer with friends. This is Lacey, Katie and Char.

 Here is Char, Lacey and Kylie on  hike up Payson Canyon, it was so pretty!

 Here are my super sweet friends Amy and Becca. Our kids love to play and we like to play too.

 Self portrait of Mommy and Ben.

 All the kiddos on the log bridge.

We've been missing Grandma and Grandpa Gale. They are still in Washington taking care of Amanda's kiddos. They might be there a while. Jim and Cyndi will be here today..Wahoo. Have a great weekend everyone!

May 2012

Oh my goodness, I love summer time.

 Char is Grandma's little helper when it comes to strawberry picking. Although, she usually eats more then she picks.

 Ben just likes to be outside. He crawls all over the grass, it doesn't seem to bother him much.

Ben will be eight months old this week. He is crawling and sitting up and saying dada and being so sweet, mostly. Charlotte is two and half and is my little handful. She plays with friends almost everyday, and wants to ride her bike constantly. She is starting gymnastics tomorrow and swimming lessons this summer.

I have a sweet new nephew, that remains nameless. He was born on Saturday, May 2rd. He came five weeks early, so he is in the NICU, but doing well. I like to call him Quinny, but who knows what his name will be. Amanda doesn't know what to do with such a small boy. (5 lbs 6 oz) I can't wait to snuggle that little guy.

Miller Visit

 Char in a box.

 Grandma J and the babies on the deck.

 Benners on the move.

Grandma and Grandpa Miller came last week. It was so nice to have visitors, I hope they come back soon! Vance and Dustin worked on the house while Judy and I played with the kiddos. The rest of the Miller clan is welcome and invited anytime, hint hint...come see us! Ben is 7 months and crawling up a storm. One minute he's playing nicely on his blanket, the next he is zooming around the house. He loves to smile and eat animal crackers. He slept until 9 o'clock this morning, it was awesome. Our fence is going up as I type. What a relief that will be. Charlotte can unlock all the doors and takes off everytime I look away. She loves outside. She has two sweet little friends that live right behind us, Katie and Lacey. They play almost everyday. It's so fun to have good neighbors. Happy Tuesday

My thoughts on Parenthood

As I read an article today on parenting, I became lost in the memory of a time when it was just Dustin and I. I remember the time we used to spend together, dreaming about the future and wondering what it would hold for us. I remembered the dates we used to go on. Last minute movies and long delicious dinners; never being hurried and feeling very carefree. I remember finding out we were pregnant with Charlotte. I had the excitement and anticipation of a naive mother to be. I longed for the day she would join us. I remember thinking that life probably wouldn't change much. That was a time when I thought  the phrase "slept like a baby" was literal. I remember thinking that I was not going to have anything to occupy my time as a stay at home mom. I truly believed that babies were an easy transition and mothering just came natural.

As I look at my beautiful children today, I am reminded how unprepared I felt as I brought that crying baby home from the hospital. How wrong I had been about what was in store for us as new parents. I remember the panic I felt the first time I couldn't calm my screaming baby, and the way I hid under my covers and cried. I will never forget those first few sleepless nights and the shock it caused my system. I will never forget my babies first smile's or first "I love you Mommy." The thing about being a parent is that one can prepare you for it. There is no way to comprehend the complete 180 that your life is about the take. There are no words to describe the love that you feel for your own. Today I was reminded just how lucky I am to be a mother. Through all the messes and tantrums and dirty diapers and dishes, there is no other place I would rather be than home, with my littles. Through the good and the bad I hope I always remember how lucky I am.

April 2012

My little messy face chef.

Curious Ben



Playing in Grandma's kitchen



Playing with Papa's birthday wagon



A perfect representation of Ben's personality

 Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. We've had a fun couple months living with G'ma and G'pa, but we've finally closed on our house and are getting ready to move. Moving is a pain, I hope this is the last move for many years to come. The kids are happy and healthy. Charlotte has some attitude, but that's expected since she's my child and all. Ben is just happy. He's a pretty decent napper and we love that about him. At six months he was in the 3rd percentile for weight, which isn't good. He has never been much of an eater. I've had to be really tough with him and make him drink every last ounce of his formula. He's getting better about it, but still doesn't love meal time. We now have two kids not interested in food, what is the deal? They didn't get that gene from me, and definitely not from Dustin. Oh well.

The weather is just beautiful here in Utah. Spring is the best here. Charlotte is getting really good on her tricycle and we take a lot of long walks during the day. Dustin is enjoying work. He broke his finger last Saturday while we were moving. A couch was dropped on it...ouch. Needless to say, I have been doing most of the unpacking myself. We'll get things organized soon enough. My SIL had her beautiful baby girl on April 23rd. Katelyn Marie. Isn't that the sweetest name? I hope I get to see her this year.

February

Mommy's Little Man

It snowed today, a lot. Charlotte wanted to play in it, all day. I didn't so much.

I made this hat for Char today. She loves it.

Hanging out at Grandma's

We're all having fun on our new adventure in Utah. We're getting used to the cold weather, and enjoying our cold walks almost every day. Ben is rolling around and loves to be on his tummy. He's the sweetest little baby, he has mommy wrapped around his finger. Char is really good at being two. She is sweet and sour, just depends on the hour of the day. Life is good.

Home, Freeze Home

I think Sara needs to be fired as our official Miller family blogger. She has been slacking as of late, but who can blame her. She has been very busy taking care of a super naughty 2-year old and a booby camping 4-month old.

In case you didn't know, we are moving to Utah! That was always our plan, we just accelerated it by two years or so. Everyone here keeps saying what a mild winter it has been, but I'm starting to remember just how much I don't like cold weather. Going out to scrape the windows in the morning and trying to play in the backyard in the afternoon has been tough. Maybe I'm just a wimp. Sara's parents are nice enough to let us stay with them for a few weeks while we get moved and find a house of our own.

On Saturday we went on a field trip to Temple Square, the Utah State Capitol, Brigham Young's "resting" place, This is the Place, Park City, and then stopped to fill up our tummies in Heber at the Train Burger (that's not the real name, but I don't remember it). Here are a few pictures some are not so exciting, but a couple with CharChar and Ben are cute.