Thanksgiving 2011

We had two Thanksgivings this year! 

Wednesday was spent with my side of the family.

Bobba was so excited to give Ada her birthday present that we let her open it when we first arrived :)

She loves her trike but needs to grow into it a bit. 

 I made Nana's incredible rolls!

Matt took this picture of me in action. Can you believe how high my left eyebrow is?! I died when I saw this pic! 

I'm like Two Face from Batman. 

Ada wanted to be just like Auntie Rach (technically second cousin Rach but that's no fun to say).

 And what's Thanksgiving without a little nap time? :)

 

Good thing you didn't come out Linds, I would've caught you! 

Lola & I hanging out and being awkward after our delicious dinner.

Thursday we went down to Lompoc for Thanksgiving #2! 

We started the day off with a 2.5 mile run, the 2nd Annual MiMo Turkey Trot! 

(Mi = Millers & Mo = Morgans)

Kandie put it all together and it was so much fun! It was my first long run since having Lola 3 months earlier, and she pushed me to keep running when I wanted to walk! My hips felt totally shifty and weird but it felt so good to run. That's one thing I really miss when I'm pregnant. 

Kandie even made finisher medals for us all that Ada adored. 

Here's the first group of us that finished.

Kathleen, Kandie, Kristina, me, Matt, Marsha, Glen & Marc. (Kids stayed behind with grandma)

Then once Ben & Alissa's fam joined, we all walked it again, this time with babes in tow.

Me, Matt, Kandie, Ashley, Ben, Alissa, Eve, Kathleen, Glen, Marsha, Ada, Claira, Kristina, Dylan, Evelyn, Marc & Lola. 

Kandie & I walking it the second time.

Then we went to Marc & Diana's and got cleaned up, then headed back to Marsha's for a wonderful turkey dinner! Everything was delicious.

I had to post this picture because it cracks me up! We were all on our phones playing Uno and this is how it shortened our names:

Ryan = Captain Faggy (or something like that)

Matt = Farty Pants

Kara = Smelly Cat

Marc = Marc

And sleepy Ada on the drive home after a long day of running and playing with cousins! 

We went to pick out my mom's Christmas tree the next day and Ada was so cute running through the "Kissmas Tees!"

I love watching her make memories where I have so many fond ones.

We have so much to be thankful for!

Wonderful families who love us, the fact that we live close enough to drive down to see them, two beautiful, healthy daughters, and on and on and on. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends.

Ada is 2 Years Old!

Ada Elizabeth is two years old! We just love this cheeky little monkey.

On her birthday, we went to pick out our Christmas tree. She had fun running around and playing hide-and-seek with some other kids there. She is very outgoing and not afraid to join older children while playing.  

At her two year check-up, her doctor said she's smart & charming. I wonder if he says that to all of the parents :) 

Head circumference: 19.5 in. 90th percentile

Height: 36 in. 95th percentile

Weight: 29 lbs. 80th percentile

It's weird to see her weight percentile so low compared to before.  

She is really losing her chub and becoming a little girl! 

She had two shots, one in each leg. I had her on my lap and was holding her hands. I had explained to her beforehand that they would hurt, but only for a little bit; then she'd feel better, and they would help her stay healthy. 

I said, "Okay, here comes shot number one! Just a little poke." She didn't even flinch! No whimper, cry, grimace, anything! I was amazed. Then came the second shot, and the same thing. She just said, "All done!" Such a tough cookie!

We celebrated with family a little early while we were down in Santa Maria for Thanksgiving.

Ada was so funny trying to blow out her candles! 

Then, a day before her birthday, I brought cupcakes to our mom's group at the park. Since it was Matt's finals week (we made it through alive!), I didn't want to throw a big party or anything. This was perfect. A bunch of her little friends were there and we sang to her and visited.  

Being so patient (notice the tiny bite taken already)

 

Going to town! 

Lola hanging out and keeping warm in the stroller.

Ada is a bright little girl. She has been counting and doing well with her letters. I love to hear her sweet little prayers, too. She loves to talk, sing, and especially dance to Michael Jackson & Yo Gabba Gabba. One minute she is cracking me up, and the next she is melting my heart. This morning she saw a picture of Jesus and said she wants to give him hugs and kisses. She is very strong-willed as well, some of her favorite words are stop and no :) It has been such an incredible experience to be her mother and watch her grow. I am constantly amazed by the things she learns and the things she teaches me.  

Ada's birth announcement, labor story, and one year birthday.

Happy 2nd Birthday Ada!

Picking Apples

A few weeks back, Living Social had a deal for Fuji apples at Clearview Orchards. We jumped on the opportunity to go apple picking! They were delicious in the Glazed Harvest Apple Cake :) 

Ada had a blast and was very serious about it. Look at that game face! 

First you pick it up, put it in the bag, bump bump...

The apple picking crew...I spot a little strawberry in there!

Ada sees a good one...

Triumphant girl leaving the orchard with one of her spoils in hand. A good day indeed :)

Halloween 2011

We took our girls to the mall for Halloween. It was perfect because it was a well-lit, good atmosphere for Ada's first real time trick-or-treating! Plus we could get dinner at Hot Dog on a Stick :) 

 Ada was Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, and Lola was a little ducky. 

 Her little crown/headband was pushing her ears forward...I thought it was so cute!

 The most important people in my life. What a good Papa he is! 

 The squishiest duck you've ever seen :)

After the tick-o-teeting! A scary Halloween movie with floating ghosts, creepy eyes, and tired babes. 

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Lola's Blessing

On her 6 week birthday, Sunday, September 18th, Lola Jennie Miller was given a name and a blessing. We went down to Santa Maria since all of our family is down that-a-way. We left Saturday night after Matt got off work, and arrived in Santa Maria at 4 AM. Church starts at 9 AM...so you can understand my puffy eyes & haggard appearance in the pictures :) The girls were both perfect on the drive down which makes it worth driving at night.  

Matt blessed Lola with love, health, strength, the ability to overcome trials, bring others to the truth, and discern between good & evil. 

...

With Matt's parents, Diana & Marc

4 generations!

Nana, Becca, Bobba, Liz, Devin, Kara, Lola, Matt, Nonnie, & Ada (who desperately wanted to go to Nursery, NOT take pictures)

All of the men (minus Matt's brother Ryan, his family had to leave to make it to their Primary Program in 1st Ward) 

who were in the circle to bless sweet Lola!

 Devin, Bobba, Marc, Lola, Matt, & Daddy

I love this one of Matt & Marc with Lola smiling at them.

Life as Four

We are adjusting into our new life as a family of four. It includes trying to spend as much one on one time with each child, especially the one who is used to having ALL of your time. Ada has been doing so well, we have only had a few times where I wish I had four arms and two laps. But that would just be creepy.

For the most part it's been good and fun...

And there's lots of love between these two.

We've figured out that the grocery store is an ordeal. To have room in your cart, you've gotta bust out with the car-cart. (I made Matt wipe that thing down with disinfectant wipes like crazy before we put Ada in it!) This cart is insane & has a mind of it's own. Ada was in heaven and honked that horn all over the store. At the end of the clip, after her maniacal laugh, she says, "Bye, Mommy!"

Ada's becoming quite the little performer...oh, the drama! She can see herself in this video while being recorded, and I think she's especially proud of her face around :25.

I've been trying not to worry about keeping my house perfectly clean. Trying not to stress about doing everything and doing it perfectly. I keep reminding myself that what is important is being present in my family's life. For moments like these :)

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Lola is 1 Month Old!

Already?! Fastest month of my life. 

She is such a squishable, huggable, double-chinned ball of love. 

Her cry is getting a little louder, but is still cute. Her bottom lip and chin tremble sometimes.

She is very vocal, I call her my little grunt. Even while she sleeps she's making noise!

She makes some of the greatest faces! She seems very serious sometimes with her furrowed brow.

This girl LOVES to be snuggled. Swaddled up really tight, held, cradled...she's a snuggler. 

I hold her upright a lot because she spits up and is more gassy than Ada ever was. I'll be holding her and she'll nuzzle until she is face down smooshed up against my neck! Then she falls asleep and I turn her.

We finally got a double stroller! I'm no longer trapped inside or have someone else with me to go on a walk! 

I found it on craigslist and it was close to us, a reasonable price for the condition (still too much if you ask me), and we had the money available.  

The girls love it! Ada kept saying, "New!" Here's Lola in the back.

Apologies for the grainy pic, but it was early morning and taken on my phone. 

This is one of my favorite Lola expressions. Bright eyed (they look like they'll be blue like her momma's!), tight lips, and double chin.

Ada loves her little sister and says, "Oh, sah Lala" whenever Lola cries. Her voice gets really high and she'll go over and say, "Aww, Lala. Hug!" Then lean over and put her cheek on hers. We have to keep an eye on her though because she'll try to help and not be gentle enough. I can tell Ada just can't wait until Lola can run, "fass" with her :)

Family Photos

Poor Lola, just trying to sleep with all of these crazy people in the background!

Lola's First Week

Sunday Pictures

Last Sunday, I wanted to take some pictures before we all kicked off our church shoes and took a nap. 

We usually do that pretty quickly after we get home :)

Ada giving me a flower

 I don't know where it went!

 Sweet little lips

 Little helper giving me the lens cap

 Papa & Ada 

 Pure joy! 

 Happy with the same face :) 

 Mommy & her girl