The Big One-Half!

Happy Six Month Birthday Baby Girl!!

I couldn't let the day pass without at least acknowledging our baby girl and this major milestone. We'll do the letter and growth picture when we get home next week. Well, actually, the letter just didn't happen this month. Between our travels out west, regrouping when we got home and then Christmas, I just flat ran out of time. My goal with these letters is to let you know just how much we love you and what a joy you are, so that one day when you are old enough to understand you can read them and know about our days with during your first year of life. We do love you more and more each day, even when it already feels like we couldn't love you any more.

Hugs and Kisses,

Mama

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I've been singing that song to Hannah Cate over the last week.....with a few word modifications of course, because I do know "when we'll be back again". We left yesterday on a jet plane (three of them actually) for Eugene, OR to visit my sister and brother-in-law and to meet baby AJ for the first time! We are here, safe and sound, and not too traumatized from traveling alone with an infant (that's me at least, you'll have to ask HC if she's traumatized, but based on her good behavior, I think not).

So, to mimic the over-used Mastercard commercial....

Roundtrip ticket, 2 connections, 10 hour travel time.....50,000 Delta skymiles points
Checked bag.......$15
Large plastic bag for car seat protection.......$5
Turkey sandwich and Diet Coke in airport.......$13
People magazine, bottled water and goldfish crackers.....$10
Getting to meet sweet baby AJ for the first time.....priceless!!

We are so glad to be here and I'm so thankful for such a good baby. I'll post more later and some pictures from our trip, but for now, we are soaking in the baby boy and our family time.

Oops!

For some reason I thought that I could hand a naked Hannah Cate over to Matt while I got her bath ready. It wasn't two minutes before he was screaming for me to "come help". This is what I found.......

We won't be trying that again anytime soon! Thanks for taking one for the team, babe!

Deleted Scenes

We started working on the annual Miller family Christmas card picture over the weekend. It made me realize that it was much easier when we were a family of two! Thank goodness for digital cameras!

Life Lately

Long time not blog! So, here's a peek at what we've been doing....

Playing in our doorway jumper and trying to figure out how it works

Putting any and everything in her mouth (except food that is, still not interested in anything thicker than milk)

Getting Krista ready for baby Shands to arrive (next week!)

Hannah Cate is perfecting her hair pulling tactics! I was clipping her toenails the other day and accidentally let my ponytail dangle in her face, she was glad to remind me that she likes to grab onto anything!

We went to Nashville with Jami and Michael to visit Katherine, Brett and baby Hayes. What a cutie!On our way to Nashville we stayed in Birmingham and got to visit with Aunt Janet and Granddaddy! Hannah Cate loves to stand up (assisted of course). I would also like to add that everyone always says that Hannah Cate looks like her Daddy (which is fine with me) but in this picture she looks very much like me (and a touch like her Aunt Emily) when I was a baby!

She's learning what to do with these teething toys! I bought them because it seems that she might have a tooth coming in on the bottom.

We went to Fairhope's annual tree lighting downtown
Hannah Cate was fascinated by all the lights and was wide eyed all night!

We celebrated our nephew Charles' 10th Birthday. He was so sweet with Hannah Cate and she loved him!

Hannah Cate hanging out with Pops

Hannah Cate lounging with Uncle Lee, Charles and B

The whole fam! Happy Birthday Charles!

Hopefully I won't go so long between posts next time....but I won't promise!

5 Months!

Dearest Hannah Cate,

You are five months old today and it's so hard to believe. Part of me wonders where the time has gone and then another part can hardly remember our lives without you. My heart overflows with the love that you have brought into our family. Your Daddy and I often just sit back and stare at you in awe that you are really ours. I wish I could bottle you up so that I will never forget the noises you make, the way you smell, the way you feel in my arms and all the little things you do.

You've started to laugh this month and I can't think of a sweeter sound! You grab at anything and everything within your reach. You still love your paci. Your hair is falling out on the left side of your head because that's your favorite side to sleep on. You know the sight of a bottle coming and immediately open your mouth and kick your legs. We often taunt you with it just to get your reactions. We're still nursing, but it's become increasingly difficult because of your constant curiosity of your surroundings. You like to know what is going on at all times! You have taken to your lovies, especially your pig that Daddy named Theodore for you. You are not really into any food yet. We've tried rice cereal several times without much luck. Applesauce made you shiver and gag. Bananas were okay but most of it ended up on your shirt. Sweet potatoes not so great either. So, we've given up for awhile. You'll eat when you are ready. You roll over at will now, front to back and back to front. You are spitting up a storm, pursing your lips and spitting....it makes us laugh so hard, but I'm really afraid that there might be a tooth coming to blame! You are sleeping a consistent nine hours at night and taking 3 good naps during the day. You really are such a good baby. So content with life and with such a sweet disposition.

Just this month I can tell that you know who we are and each time you glace at me and smile, simply at the sight of me, it melts my heart. I've never felt such unconditional love. I've known it exists between me and the Father, but never felt it in such a tangible way. You point me to Him in so many ways.

I've been searching for a verse that I can claim for you. That I can memorize just for you and share with you often. I found it last week and now that it's in my head I'll be saying it to you for as long as I live. My prayer is that you will come to know this truth in your life, that you will cling to it all the days of your life.

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

I love you precious baby girl!
Mama
Click here for pictures from our entire month

A Sweet Baby Boy

I'm an Aunt! My sister's baby, Aiden James Hokanson, was born on October 30th in Eugene, OR at 9 lbs 1 oz and 22 inches. A precious miracle that we are so thankful for. I can't wait to get my hands on him when we go for a visit in December! Welcome to the world A.J. We already love you so much!