Two Peas in a Pod

Sweet sisters in a box!

Ada's mission in life is to make Lola laugh. She is successful most of the time...it reminds me of my little sister, Lindsay, and I :)

Lola will grab Ada's hair because she's a baby and doesn't know better, then Ada gets mad. And Ada is a little too rough with Lola because she wants her to get up and run and play with her. You can tell Lola wishes she could!

For the most part, they are sweet with each other and it makes my heart so happy!

Lola is 7 months old!

As of March 7th. We had her 6 month check-up late - here are her stats:

Weight: 20 lbs. 12 oz. 90th percentile

Length: 27.7 in. 90th percentile 

Head Circumference: 18.11 in. 100th percentile

Favorite things to say: yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! And, "Ma-ma!" She is a total Mommy's girl :)

Rolls onto her side and props her elbow under her. It looks like she's a supermodel posing or just finished break dancing.

Loves to play with her big sis, and is very tolerant and tough. 

Waves hi and bye.

Has her two bottom teeth coming in! Two months earlier than her big sister got hers.

Loves to pat your face sweetly then GRAB your nose when you least expect it.

Has to have her face burrowed or covered to fall asleep.

Likes to click her tongue, blow raspberries, and say tah-tah-tah

Gets on all fours and rocks back and forth like crazy! It looks like she's going to take off!

Is crawling, pulling herself up on things, and standing. 

Likes being in the walker, but mostly likes to be held.

Loves bath time and sleeps really well afterward.

Has fair skin, straight hair, and blue eyes.

Has the sweetest cheeks you can't help but kiss!

Has rolls on top of rolls on her arms and thighs

Loves to smile!

Here Lola is doing her happy clicks:

Laughing with Papa:

I have finally realized that Lola has my Nana's eyes! Her whole life it has perplexed me. We were sitting in Relief Society this past Sunday, and Marilyn Rosenlof (who has known my Nana for over 30 years) said, "Alice, that baby looks just like you!" I looked at Lola sitting on Nana's lap and sure enough, their eyes are the same! I am so happy that her middle name is Jennie, after Nana. She definitely has her Papa's head shape and that Miller chin :)

Loves to balance with Papa!

 Lola is such a happy little girl. She is mellow, calm, and a perfect addition to our family.

Those Moments

For Christmas, one of the gifts that my Nana gives to all of the families is calendars. I look forward to them every year and the beauty they bring into my home. This Christmas, she gave us a calendar with art by the great artist Del Parson. He has painted some of the most familiar images of Christ.

This was January's picture, Lovest Thou Me, of Jesus with his disciples. Ada called it, "People's Talkin'" :) During her nap on January 31st, I flipped the calendar to February in preparation for the next day. 

This is February's painting, Hope in the Second Coming. At dinner, Ada looked up and noticed that it was a new picture. Here is how our conversation went: 

Ada: "Ohhhh! Jesus!" 

Me: "Yeah, it's a new picture of him, huh?"

Ada: "Yeah."

Then, her voice changed. She has this special, loving voice that she reserves only for Matt. "Paaapaaaaa," she says to him. It was like that voice, but even softer and sweeter...more reverent. 

"I wan' give Jesus hugs and kisses," she said. 

At that, my eyes filled with tears. It was such a sweet, unexpected moment. She was looking up at the picture of Him with such adoration in her eyes. She asked, "Mommy sad?" and I said no, they were happy tears. And that she would definitely be able to give Jesus hugs and kisses again one day when He comes again.

I wonder if she is so young that she still remembers being in His presence? Or if she is so innocent and pure that she can see his picture and be filled with His love. 

I had to write this to make sure I never forgot it. It was one of those moments...a brief flicker. The next minute she was noisily counting her noodles and spilling them all over the place. It was a moment that put into clear perspective what truly matters and what my duty is as a parent: to teach her the way back to Christ.

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. 

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.

Lola is 2 Months Old!

First, I need to catch up on her one month stats:

Weight: 12 lbs. 91st percentile

Height: 24.41 in. 95th percentile

Head Circumference: 15.5 in. 90th percentile 

Now, at two months:

Weight: 13.8 lbs. 95th percentile

Height: 24.41 in. 95th percentile

Head Circumference: 15.9 in. 90th percentile

They had two separate nurses measure her head because they thought the number was too high! 

Nope, just another Miller baby with a biggol' head. I told them they should see my husband's dome :) 

She's already balancing and putting her chubby thighs to use!

This little Lola girl is FULL of smiles and coos! There is nothing better than that sweet smile.

She's very mellow and sleeps through her big sister's screaming and prodding. "Lola! Hi Lola! Hugs Lola!"

Her eyes look like they're staying blue and her skin is fair and oh-so-soft. 

She's rubbing her hair off the sides and will have a sweet old man toupee on top soon :) It's growing in really light.

These past two months have been so wonderful. We love you baby girl & can't picture our lives without you! 

Burrito Babies

Our babes loved to be swaddled up nice and tight. When Lola was 2 weeks old, I swaddled her. 

On this particular day, Ada decided that she wanted to be wrapped up too!

When my sister was with us, she'd wrap Ada up in a big blanket and sing, "Burrito baaaaaby!" to her. 

Ada saw Lola swaddled and asked for, "Beeto baby!" herself. I had to use our throw blanket since she doesn't fit in baby blankets anymore!

Two little burrito sisters :)