Mark Is Here!!!!

Mark was born on September 25 at 4:47pm. I thought I was going to be able to have him like I had Emma, with no labor pains at all, but that was not going to be the case. I had an appointment on Wednesday and the doctor told me I was 4cm, that night I had a lot of non painful contractions and a lot that morning. I took matters into my own hands and decided I was going to go to the hospital to get checked instead of the doctor's office. I figured maybe they would break my water and I could go into labor. I was checked at the hospital and I was 5cm - still with out any pain so I was really hopeful I could have a painless labor again. They admitted me and broke my water and gave me an epidural at 1pm (note the first picture @ 5cm - smiling). By 4pm the epidural had worn off and I could feel contractions (note the second picture @ 8cm - not smiling). They said it was too late to get more medicine so I did not have a pleasant last 45 minutes. I know, I know I had it lucky but I still was hoping for an easier time.

Mike's first dirty diaper change in 7 years!

Still NO Baby!

Yes, our new addition to our family is refusing to come and join us. I have washed all of his clothes and bedding so he is more than welcome to come and be a part of our family. I started having regular contractions last Thursday but then they stop. I have little non painful ones for an hour or two and then nothing. I do have to admit I am glad he did not come during the concert last Saturday night. By the way, I LOVED the concert. It was so awesome to see and hear that in person. I was so excited. But he was more than welcome to come after the performance was over. Needless to say I have taken long walks every day to help move the process along but that does not seem to help. Maybe he is not coming yet because he knows he does not have a name. Maybe if Mike and I actually decide on a name he will decide to be born.

What do ya think?

Mark David Miller
or
Samuel David Miller

Some Pictures Of Summer 2008

Ben earning his Wolf Badge.

The children at Ocean Breeze Water Park.

Ben with fins at my parents' pool. I love the one where he is getting on the diving board.

Abby milking a goat for an Activity Day activity. I love the second one.



The children at the beach. I LOVE THE BEACH!!!!!

My Bucket List!

A couple of years ago before I turned 30 I was taking a night class at ODU. This literature class was extremely boring so instead of paying attention I let my mind wander to my impending BIG birthday. I started to think of all of the things that I had accomplished up until that time and all of the things that I still wanted to accomplish. I wrote out a list of things that I wanted to accomplish before my next BIG birthday. I typed it up and framed it and put it on my dresser. The list is in no particular order and they are things I would like to accomplish not have to. As I have accomplished the items on the list I check them off.



A couple of months ago the Virginia Symphony called us, as they do every year to see if we want to buy season tickets again. This time I told them there was no way we were going to be able to be season patrons this year because I was about to have a baby. They asked when I was due and said there was a concert in September and asked if I would be interested in just buying tickets for one performance. I asked them what the main piece was going to be - thinking it will be something stupid I have no desire to hear. When they told me it was Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1, I almost feel out of my seat. I could not believe they were finally going to perform the piece I have always wanted to hear in person and it was the ONE performance I was going to be able to attend. So now I am just keeping my fingers and my legs crossed that I will not have this baby before Saturday night so I can mark off one more item on my bucket list. Wish me luck!!!!

Back to School!

I can not believe the first day of school is today. I am usually more than ready for the children to go back. The past couple of summers have passed by so fast. This summer was crammed packed and I did not even mean it to be.

The 1st week - Ben had Baseball Camp
The 2nd week - I had Girl's Camp
The 3rd & 4th week - Ben had swim lessons (Emma was signed up, but she had a broken arm)
The 4th & 5th week - Abby had a Writing Camp
The 6th week - We went to Utah
The 7th week - Ben & Emma had "Nature Camp"
The 8th week - Abby had a Red Cross First - Aid Babysitting Camp
The 9th & 10th week - Ben & Emma had swim lessons
The 11th week - I did not plan anything but pool and beach time.
CRAZY HUH!!!!

I cry every year on the first day of school I don't know why. At least this year I can blame it on the pregnancy and say it is just hormones. This year I told Mike that I love my new house but at our old house I have pictures of the children on the fist day of school in front of our windows all the way from the time when Abby had her first day of preschool. I can see how they have grown every year by where their head met different parts of the house. I guess I will have to start a new measuring technique with this house.

Utah Trip - July 2008

Here are a few pictures of when we went out to Utah this summer.

The first one is of Mike's family at his Grandmother and Grandfather's grave site. We drove to Price,Utah to see where Mike's dad (Dave) grew up. It was a very interesting trip. It is amazing how much life can change in just one generation. Price is a very small coal mining town. He told us stories of when he was just a little boy and how he would go and explore the canyons behind his house, or climb huge rock formations and dangle his feet over the edge. We will never experience some of the things he did growing up and Mike is just one generation away.

The next pictures were taken for a family portrait. I have not gotten a copy of Mike's entire family yet, but when I do I will post it. Abby had the most horrible accidents while she was out in Utah. Right before the pictures were taken she was stung 6 times by hornets, she walked right by a nest. The brave girl did not even cry and was ready to take pictures within a couple of minutes after it happened. Ben and Emma had walked by that exact same spot just a couple of minutes before. If either one of them had been stung we could have said, "Goodbye, to taking pictures."

That night Abby dropped a sparkler on her toe and burned it. The very next day we went on a tour of BYU in Provo and she opened a door on her flip flop clad foot and ripped her big TOE NAIL OFF!!! While I was trying to stop the blood with whatever I had in my purse, she was sitting there still not crying saying she would rather be stung 20 times than have her nail ripped off. I am happy to report the nail has grown to half way up her nail bed. Poor thing - I don't know if I will ever be able to get her back out to Utah!