The Miller Mail

Christmas

2014-02-22T21:43:00.002-08:00

We had a wonderful December and a great Christmas. We were able to do the 12 days of Christmas filled with family activities. We tried to keep the spirit of Christmas and keep things Christ centered. We enjoyed being with each other, serving others, and learning more about our Savior.

It was also a very busy time also with a very fussy (colic) baby. I hope to do better with blogging.

Thanksgiving

2013-12-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was spent in Akron with my Family, the kids spent the day with their Dad and the Roberts family. We had dinner with the Perkins family (my sister and her in-laws). Good food, friends, and family.

It has been a hard month with this sweet little thing. But, I have so much to be Thankful for- especially my family, even baby. Greatest blessing is my husband. The picture below shows the true nature of this amazing man. He loves his family, a good provider and protector, and really loves the Lord. He does his best to be the best husband and "Poppy" ever!!

(At Laura's playing games and watching football- watching the half time show)

For Family Home Evening in November we did write down all the things we are Thankful for. This time we did it using the Alphabet.

A- animals, America

B- babies, Brynn

C- Clothes, Community

D- dads

E- eternity, experiences, electricity

F- family, food

G- grandparents, especially Grandma Liz & Grandpa Jerry

H- home, Heavenly Father

I- ice cream, instruments

J- Jenna, Jesus Christ

K- kids

L- love and life

M- moms

N- Nana

O- Ohio

P- Poppy, Peyton

Q- quilts

R- rest

S- Skipper

T- transportation, and trials

U- universe

V- vegetables, victory

W- Water

X- XOXOX

Y- youth

Z- zion

I am so blessed and feel so much Gratitude to my Heavenly Father!!

My greatest blessings are my family. I am also Thankful for life, for each day, each experience, and even my trials. Because of my trials and the sadness I have experienced, I have also experienced great joy!!

A few of my favorite... Baby things!

2013-11-24T18:29:00.000-08:00

Excited for the baby and with so many baby things on the market, I did a lot of research. I have been really happy with a few products and thought I would share.

I looked at lots of wraps and baby carriers and found the Baby K'tan. I love it!! You have to buy a certain size so it does not work to share. It is easy to put on and to baby in. Also versatile and baby and I love it!!!

She wants to be held all the time so this has been a life saver. It is also how I do my grocery shopping!

I love my diaper bag. Brandt wanted one that he wouldn't be embarassed to carry around. My sister-in-law had gotten a similar diaper bag- I basically copied her. It is from Skip Hop. Lots of pockets and room. I also love how it hooks to the stroller.

I do like how car seat and stroller from Britax- we were sold on it because the single stroller can convert to a double stroller when baby #2 ever comes along (in the future).

We do love the car seat and she is in it a lot because she is quieter when we are in the car. But, this picture also shows our favorite product- the Blanket. Peyton has a similar blanket in blue that was given to us by my good friend Stacey and then she got Brynn one. Both blankies are favorites.

Now I didn't research or buy this swing, but it has saved my life. I am so thankful for it and for the kind people that passed it to us!!!

Here is a pic of a sweet sleeping baby- my favorite time!!

Not a favorite product even though I do love this blanket. She has to be swaddled to sleep!!

I also love her little cradle which is the rock and play sleeper. Don't have a better picture, but it is great!!!

We have decided to try cloth diapers. We are liking it, but still learning the process. I have a few diapers I am trying out and trying different systems. We hope to also save money in the long run and do our part for the environment. :)

(I will do a more detailed post about cloth diapers later!)

I love babies and baby things!! I also like to shop- so this is fun, looking for good product at a good price.

I also love taking care of my family and I love this little baby!!

And it is great to have such great help!!!

Slimy the Salamander

2013-11-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

We had Slimy for only 24 hours, but he found a place in our hearts!!

The night before Halloween Peyton found Slimy by our garage and wanted to keep him. We brought him in and got out our old aquarium and made him a home. The kids were so excited and we looked up online how to care for him. We found him worms to eat. He didn't eat.

That first night he escaped out and Brandt found him covered in dust walking across the floor.

We also found out that you shouldn't hold Salamanders because of their skin and the oils on our hands.

At scripture study we talked as a family and felt that Slimy wanted to be free and the kids want a pet they can hold and play with. So on Halloween night- which was really wet, but the perfect temperature, we let Slimy go. The kids were sad, but felt it was the right thing to do.

Now for Christmas the kids want Santa to bring them a pet they can hold and play with!!!

Brynn Leigh is 2 months

2013-11-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

She turned 3 months on Halloween

She is a very fussy baby, but has just started to smile!!

We love her and she brings so much joy to us!!

Brynn weighs 11lbs. 2oz. and is 22in long

She is growing big!!!

I love her smile!!!

We had a mommy and baby play date! Theodore and Brynn had matching halloween costumes so we got a picture!

Theodore is 3 months, Brynn is 2 months, and Talitha is almost 4 months.

Megan came to visit and loves the baby!

Jenna's 10th birthday holding baby so I could get ready for church!

Peyton is such a big help and a great big brother!

Happy Halloween!

2013-10-31T07:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!!!

"Arrrrhhh" Never trust a Pirate!!!

GNO Halloween Party

I love these Ladies!!!

My three Skeletons

Ward Trunk or Treat "Fall Festival" and Chili Cook off

We had a great time and all of us dressed up!!!

"ooooohhhhhhhh" Scary!!!

Brynn at 8 weeks finally showed us a smile!

Boonshoft Museum

2013-10-31T07:22:00.001-07:00

We went to the Boonshoft Museum for the first time with Nana. We loved it and got a a Family Pass so we can go back many more times!!!

Jenna is a scientist! And she really does love science.

Peyton is my silly Plumber. He is really silly!!!

Nana and him talking about the desert and looking at a snake!

There is a part of the museum that has a little zoo. The otters were a lot of fun and actually played and interacted with my kids!!!

We can't wait to go back to the museum. We really had a great time!

Visitors

2013-10-26T16:54:00.002-07:00

Brandt's Sister and her girls came to visit! We had a wonderful time.

We loved showing them Ohio-

This was Carriage Hill

(My kids were in school on this day.)

My kids loved having their cousins here to visit!! They had so much fun!

We shot off bottle rockets. Uncle Brandt was excited to show off and try to be the favorite!

Cousin Jill and Brynn had matching skeleton jammies.

After their visit my kids wanted skeleton jammies!!

Cousin Sidney was so much help around the house and with the baby!! Loved having her around and so did all my kids including baby Brynn! :)

We went hiking at John Bryan Park.

And then headed to Young's Dairy for ice cream, to visit the pumpkin patch, petting zoo, and then went miniature golfing!

We also enjoyed hanging out! The girls wanted to make something fun so we did tie dye cookies.

The girls brought the stuff to make these popular rubber band bracelets and had a blast!!! They taught my kids how to make them and made lots of them!!

They even made them for the baby!!!

Of course we know that they came mostly to see her!! And it was wonderful to have Aunt Candacy and to have all of her help with this fussy baby- I even got some sleep!!

We had so much fun and we were so sad when they left. Never enough time to spend with family!!

We love these girls!!!!

I loved how much Leah loved being with Uncle Brandt- they were buddies!!

It was a Wonderful visit and went by so fast!! Can't wait to go visit them in Arizona sometime!!!

Photo Shoot

2013-10-08T20:17:00.001-07:00

A good friend took these incredible photos of Brynn. Love them!!

The kids were at school so we will have to do another photo shoot that includes them!

But, was excited to get these taken!!

Now I just need to get the announcements mailed!!!!

Brynn Leigh's Blessing

2013-10-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

Brynn Leigh Miller

was blessed on September 29, 2013

Blessed by her Dad, Gerald Brandt Miller

Blessing Dress was made by her Aunt Becky

Brynn Leigh-

You have been born to a family who loves you and is so excited to have you! You have two wonderful older siblings that want to protect you, be good examples for you, and love you so much!!! You have two parents that worry about you, want to teach and guide you, and love you so much!!!

You also have grandparents, aunts & uncles, and many cousins that love you!

So thankful for the family that were able to come to the blessing, and missed the family that couldn't be there.

We are blessed to have the priesthood in our home and have family that also have the priesthood.

We were thankful for Uncle Matt and Uncle Rees who came and participated in the blessing as well as Skipper. We also had our home teachers- JJ Futey, Travis Barlow and our good friends Sean Holley and Jeff Brown.

We are so thankful to be a family- Forever!!!

And you are surrounded by cousins that will be good friends and great examples to you!!

You have a big sister that loves you and is someone you can aspire to be like.

More random baby pics...

2013-09-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

I can not believe she is a month old already!!!

I love how her eyes are open now a lot more and she is looking around at everything.

She is so cute- don't know what she was watching, but it sure entertained her for awhile!

She often looks devious and like she is plotting against us. Well, she has taken over this household and has all of us under her spell!!!!!!!!!

I convinced Brandt (somehow) that painted piggies on baby girls are a must!! Especially before they are blessed. Girls gotta get pretty before a big day!!! He was dissapointed on her blessing day when she wore tights and shoes. :)

She slept while I conspired against her!!!

I love pretty painted piggy toes!!!

Cub Scouts

2013-09-27T19:38:00.002-07:00

Peyton earned his Bobcat rank! We are very excited at his enthusiasm for cub scouts.

The tradition is to pin the new rank on upside down -- and it doesn't get turned right side up until the scout does a good "turn" (deed) for the day.

Peyton puts the mother's pin for Bobcat on me. He didn't even stab me once.

They did a bottle rocket launch after the Pack Meeting.

Brandt helped out with the rocket launch using his birthday present (the rocket launcher seen here).

Peyton had a great night with his really cool rocket!!!

3 weeks

2013-09-27T19:28:00.004-07:00

Photo Shoot:

Miss Megan and baby

2013-09-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

As a family we went up to Akron to see family and friends. I was so excited to see my niece Megan.

Through out my pregnancy Megan would imitate me and talk about the baby in her tummy. She loved feeling the baby move and got excited when she felt the baby have hiccups. She then talked about the baby in her tummy having hiccups. As soon as Laura told her the baby was out of my tummy she got excited and pulled her babies out playing with them.

She was so excited to see and hold the baby. She seemed bigger and more grown up to me as she held Brynn Leigh. She was wonderful with her and loved holding her- I was afraid I would not get her back! :)

The boys are great friends and love spending time together!!! I love these kiddos!!!

My Good Friend

2013-09-27T18:37:00.001-07:00

Shauna and I have been good friends for a long time. We even have the same birthday. I love her and her family. When I went and saw her and told her I was pregnant, she told me she was expecting too. Actually she was expecting two!!! We then found out I was having a girl and she was having two girls!!!

May 11th

(I think I was 23 weeks and Shauna was 25)

August 11th

(I think I was 35 weeks and Shauna was 37)

At another time we were hanging out together talking about babies I asked her what names she was thinking of and we realized, Great minds think a like!!!

Brynlee, Braelyn, and Brynn Leigh

September 21st

Love these three girls and hope they can be friends!!

Jenna and Peyton

2013-09-19T14:12:00.002-07:00

Afraid that all my posts have been about the baby. Jenna and Peyton have been amazing!!

They have been busy with school and activities. Also with helping me and spending time with baby Brynn.

Mom and Daughter Luau for Activity Days

Jenna was just elected for Student Council for 4th grade

She is involved in Dance and loves playing the piano!

Peyton loves being in Cub Scouts. He has just passed off his bob cat and is enjoying earning lots of badges. He loves school and is doing well as well as enjoys Tae Kwon Do and is playing the piano.

Busy busy kids! And they are awesome big brother and big sister!! I am so proud of them and all that they are doing and accomplishing. They are growing up to be incredible kids!!!! I am thankful to be their mother!!

2 weeks

2013-09-18T14:42:00.001-07:00

Brynn Leigh was 2 weeks old on Saturday Sept. 14th

her umbilical chord fell off on this day and so we could give her a real bath before Sunday.

She weighed 7 lbs 10 oz and is still 21 in. long

She is starting to open her eyes more and be more awake during the day.

And she loves her pacifier!!!!! We LOVE her!!!!!!!

Nana

2013-09-12T13:36:00.001-07:00

On Sunday my mom and I happened to both be wearing gray. Jenna wanted to match and so found her gray dress and by chance Brynn Leigh also had a gray dress. It was fun to all match.

My mom came and helped for 12 days! She managed kids, cleaned my house, cooked all the meals, did the laundry and ironing, hung out with me, helped with baby at night so I could sleep, and watched girly movies with me. It was so nice to have her around and so hard to say goodbye. Akron started to feel farther and farther away. We do feel blessed that she was able to come for the time she did and that she was here when the baby came. It all worked out so nicely. I have been healing quickly and I think a lot of it is because of her. So thankful for my Mom!!!

1st Week

2013-09-12T13:26:00.002-07:00

We just can't get enough of her...

She loves to suck- her thumb, a pacifier, our fingers, and whatever else she can!!

She is finally looking a little chubby. This is her very content, right after nursing pose.

Love this baby girl!!!!!

Bilirubin Check

2013-09-12T13:12:00.000-07:00

Our first week home we found ourselves back in Labor and Delivery almost every day checking her weight and bilirubin. She did start gaining weight, but we did have issues of her bilirubin rising just enough to want them to keep checking. By Saturday- a week old, it started to go down.

Again we feel very blessed, one of the pediatrician residents that was on call Labor Day weekend is from our church. He had been so wonderful and thorough and is now the baby's pediatrician. We are thrilled to have someone we know and trust. We have been so taken care of and have loved all the doctors we have worked with on base. Also it has been wonderful to have so many LDS doctors in our ward.

Coming Home

2013-09-10T07:39:00.001-07:00

We headed home on Labor Day. We were excited to get home and start life as a family of 5!

This the resident that delivered Brynn. We call her Dr. R She is AMAZING!!!

Home Sweet Home

It took 8 hands to give this baby a sponge bath! It is said it takes a village to raise a child. I am thankful for so much help!!!

Poppy and baby

Nanna and baby

I am so thankful for my mom who has come to stay with us. She has been an amazing help and support!!!

This is our first family of five scripture study. Me and Brynn had a hard time staying awake!!

Meet Brynn Leigh

2013-09-10T06:47:00.001-07:00

Brynn Leigh Miller

7lbs. 15oz. and 21in long

born at 6:17am at Wright-Patt Medical Center

We are so happy to have Brynn Leigh here with us. She is healthy, beautiful, sweet and we are all just so in love with her. It has been a crazy two weeks before she came and was thrilled as things unfolded and that the birth went so smoothly and there were no complications!

It had been a complicated decision to go with a c-sec or try a v-back. With lots of prayers and consultations with Dr.s the decision was made that a repeat c-sec was the best option. (I had c-sections with the first two kids.)

We had decided to schedule a c-section for Wednesday September 4th. I was excited and ready. My mom came into town on Friday August 30th and we had been teasing how I could then go into labor. I got a burst of energy on Friday and felt great, Brandt had the day off and the kids were in school so we ended up getting a lot done including the baby's dresser. Friday evening my mom and I took the kids swimming at our neighborhood pool and I started having contractions. The contractions kept coming and getting a little stronger. I called Labor and Delivery at 1:30am but decided to wait a little longer before going in. At 3:30 it was not getting any better and I called back to Labor & Delivery and they told me to come on in. So Brandt and I got ready and headed over. I was afraid to be sent home, but felt that I should go in.
When I got there they hooked me up to monitors and checked me- I was only dilated to a 3! Crazy!!
The decision was made that I was in Labor since the contractions were coming every 2-3 min and that it was best to go ahead and perform the c-section. The resident I had previously met, but had never met the Dr. I was told the Dr. was really good and I was hopeful. Being the weekend and a holiday weekend there were no other patients and the hospital was very quiet. I got a lot of attention and the staff was amazing.
The c-sec was started and Brandt was at my side and within a few minutes they pulled out our precious daughter. We got to look at her right away and Brandt got to hold her and even bring her next to me. I was surprised at how long the c-sec was taking and at all the tugging and pulling. I ended up getting really sick and was getting scared at the whole process. The resident and anesthesiologist kept talking to me and explained that there were no complications just a few things that needed to be repaired. The surgery after pulling Brynn out took over an hour, but had good results.
I had talked earlier with both the resident and the doctor about my desire to another baby after this. Well, they listened. Since I had already two previous c-sections and they were so many years ago the scar tissue had built up, my uterus had several adhesion's on it which caused my uterus to attach to my bladder. The uterus wall had also thinned out greatly and if I had tried to have a v-back it could have caused many complications including an uterine rupture. It is not common, but is very dangerous for both mother and baby and could result to not being able to have any other children. They said having the c-section was a very good choice and stopped many complications that could have occurred. They also said they think even if I had tried v-back it would have ended in a c-section because of the many issues and the size of the baby. The doctor did his best to make the uterine wall thicker and repair any damage he could, he separated the uterus from my bladder and cleaned up the scar tissue. It is risky to have another baby and four c-sections, but they feel it is possible. We will continue to pray about it and the timing but are thankful for the Lord's hand in our lives and for the incredible doctors and staff we worked with.
We are so thankful and feel so blessed to have Brynn Leigh with us, our happy, healthy, precious baby girl!

Home Projects

2013-09-05T13:55:00.003-07:00

The main project we have wanted to finish before baby comes is to finish our basement. It is a process...

One of the things we wanted to do before starting on the basement was to create more storage and above the garage their was space that could be used for storage. Brandt has worked really hard at creating usable space as well as a system to move up all our stuff to the attic easily. He is a genius, and after a lot of hard work we have more storage space and a simple way to move things up and down from the attic!!!

The next thing that needed to happen before finishing the basement was to expand our windows to meet guidelines so our bedrooms can be considered bedrooms. We also want our basement to be safe for the kids to sleep down there. The windows were made bigger and the window wells are made that you could escape out the windows and climb out. We found a company claiming to do this which what seemed like a good price and made promises of having it done between 5- 10 days.

After 6 weeks the project was completed.... a few issues and it costed more than it probably should have, but it is done and is functional.

I hate to say that Brandt still has ideas to improve it, but the main hard work is done and now we can start the work on the rest of the basement.

Back to School

2013-09-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Summer is ending and School is starting. Both kids are excited and anxious about school. We are excited about their teachers and about the school year!!!

Peyton has started 3rd grade. He has Mr. Ramsey as his homeroom teacher and this year, he will switch classes for math, reading, and social studies. His teacher teaches science.

Jenna has started 4th grade. She has Ms. Warner, the teacher she was secretly hoping to get. She too switches classes for her different subjects.

The school year has begun. With it, I also send my prayers out to help my children learn, grow, be good examples, and to be protected.

Love them and love watching them grow and become into incredible people.

My Ward Family Baby Shower

2013-09-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

I have an amazing ward filled with some incredible women. We had a Girls Night Out/ Baby Shower and had a great time eating and chatting!!! I feel so blessed to know these women and be a part of this incredible ward!!!

So much fun and now I am more ready for baby!!!!