Cookie sleighs

This is our spin on a Miller tradition and made for a perfect FHE tonight.

Claire and I made the gingerbread earlier today and Eric was in charge of picking up the candy for the trains and his way home from work because that is not a row I like to take my two year old down in any grocery store. He may or may not have gone a little overboard... I wish I had caught a picture of Claire's eyes as he emptied the bags of candy into bowls. And another pic of her sneaking candy...she's new at this game and will soon learn it's a little obvious when she picks a candy that needs to be unwrapped. Sure they LOOK pretty but it's a trap. I'm sure she'll learn all too quickly which kinds are easy to pop into her mouth undetected.

They turned out. I think the plan is to make a few more to give home and visiting teaching families. Eric's got skills. 

But I have say, after seeing pictures of Michelle's gingerbread house Eric thinks ours are pretty weak and he wants to go buy more candy. More sizes. More flavors. More texture. Yikes. 

Newborn Photos

Two weeks before George arrived my friend Dawn Wessman offered to come take some pictures of our teeny tiny baby George. It took until he was almost 3 weeks old for me to get organized enough to do it, but I'm so glad we did because even though it's only a week later her seems so much bigger. (Not it mention it meant I had to shower. And put on make-up. And straighten up a little. It's amazing what I can get done when I have to.)

She got some darling shots. And now, to Eric's chagrin, I'm making plans for family pictures, Christmas cards,...

Here are some of my favorites (there are a lot...but I'm not sorry...)

Unfortunately I did not quite get to Claire's hair but it guess it is a true to life version of how our house is right now.

Claire had to be majorly coerced/bribed to participate. She was not into it.  

Happy 4th Anniversary!!

So there is this book called The Five Love Languages which was recommended to me a long time ago (when, I might add, I was very single). It talks about the five ways people show their love:

1. Time

2. Touch

3. Gifts

4. Service

5. Words of Affirmation

Everyone has their own language, which I believe can be a combination of the above, and while you may show your love one way, the one you love might speak a different language so you need to be aware of what their's is...Eric shows his love by giving time and service. I am acutely aware of this right now as he is picking up the slack in many areas of our home life as his sleep deprived and slightly postpartum crazy wife is trying to pull it together. (He is also fluent in the 6th love language, teasing, which can drive us all crazy, but we all know that...)

Words of Affirmation are totally not Eric's style, but I wanted to cover all my bases. 

What are the words to that song? "Grow old along with me, The best is yet to be..." So far they have proved to be correct. Who knew that what started with a "day date" and a Red Sox game where 3 was a crowd (wink wink) would have produced four very happy years and two beautiful babes? 

Here is to the adventure that is yet to be...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Engaged

Wedding Bells

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

 

The New Normal

Today George had his two week check-up a couple days early...since Monday, when his weight had dropped to 8lbs 7 ounces, he has gained 4 ounces (what?!). He's now up to 8lbs 11.5 ounces. Well done, my boy. The doctor says I don't need to wake him up every  3-4 hours every night anymore which is great news. Just feed him when he wakes so I can start following Mark's rule: #1. Never wake a sleeping baby.

After his appointment I braved Target which was actually quite enjoyable with no meltdowns and no chasing down the aisles. We made it home in time for lunch and naps. And now, we're watching our afternoon movie. Today Claire has chosen "Cars."  This is my view:

A Family of Four

Everyone has been asking for pictures so here you go!

George Ivan arrived July 11, 2014 at 6:12am. A week after his adjusted due date of July 4th (he was originally due on June 30th and I never really mentally made the change, making him seem even later than he was...) we were scheduled to be induced. We arrived at the hospital at 3pm July 10th. After getting hooked up to the IV and etc, we waited--dozing here or there, expecting him to arrive fast since he is a second baby and everyone said second babies come fast. Ours did not. He took his sweet time and after weighing in at 9 lbs we now know he just couldn't really fit and he was more than fine staying where he was.

Labor with Claire was easy. With George, not so much. But we made it and we love him. He was definitely worth the wait!

Our proud Daddy. 

Has anyone noticed that while you are in the hospital, babies really sleep like babies?

While we were convalescing in the hospital, Kathy and Mark spirited Claire away to a beach house in Salem. Once we were discharged we stopped by home to grab some things and then made our way to join in the fun. It was a perfect relaxed setting to continue resting up post delivery and Claire was in heaven. We were a short walk from a little slice of beach and so we enjoyed some time by the water as well as good food and good company. 

The Beach House. 

George's first trip to the beach.

I missed her so much!!!

Eric can get Claire to do things that no one else can.
She completely trusts him which turns her into a dare devil. 

My babies!

March 5, 2015

In the last two days I have heard Eric singing/humming all of the following--always without a small child in the room: 

• The opening theme to Lion King (think "ein seve-nio zita-vi bee-a-roe"

• In the jungle the mighty jungle

• Do you want to build a snowman

• Let it go 

• Popcorn popping

• The Sofia the first opening theme

• And our new favorite "deep in the hundred acre wood..."

We're whooped. 

February 26, 2015

Things Claire and I have done today:

She slept in until 7:15 (sweet!) and then wanted to snuggle while she drank some milk. Then we took selfies in bed. 

Ate breakfast. This took 45 minutes. She loved her Cheerios for the first 25 of those minutes and then decided she liked my chair and my granola with strawberries better. And my spoon. I did not think it was a fair trade. 

Called Daddy and Nana. Eric headed to work before she woke up and she has been wandering around calling his name all morning so we decided to call. I wish FaceTime worked on my phone because then he would have been able to see her smiles when she realized he was on the other end of the phone. When we talked to Nana she started jabbering-probably making plans for the day-and then she tried to feed the phone milky Cheerios which ended all conversations. 

Cleaned the bathroom. I'm amazed that she picks up on things as quickly as she does. She is a great scrubber and she definitely knows what the toilet brush is for...

Played the piano for an hour. She wanted to be on my lap and then would get mad when I tried to play "her" keys. But she got really mad when I stopped playing and would grab my hands and put my fingers back on the keys. I'm totally counting this as her first lesson. 

Exercised to a workout DVD. She makes things a little harder by sitting on your middle but also makes it much more enjoyable because her squat is a-ma-zing. I wish I could catch it on video.

Tried to mail her to Utah. I'm prepping a violin to be returned for a student but Claire seems to think it is her box and I have to admit she does fit perfectly. She did not like when I closed the top however so her plans might not work out. I have a picture of this somewhere. I'll post it when I find it.