New Addition: The Story

Ok, so every time someone has a baby, there are always "the questions" that everyone asks and the story they want to hear about labor, delivery, stats, yaddi yaddi yah....

And, of course, I am one of those people.  I want to know how it went, what the experience was like, you know....just being nosy! 

So, while I have time, and before I forget it all, here is The Story of

Avery Bennett Miller:

Labor started on Saturday night, right after I put Landon to bed.  Good timing, I know!  :)

After a phone call to my mother-in-law to confirm what I was feeling were indeed contractions, I called the doctor and said I would more than likely be in soon.

I called Adam at work to have him come home; tonight was going to be The Night!

Uncle Kevin and Aunt Pam came over to sit with Landon.  Thier request was only that I didn't go into labor on Sunday since we were expected to have a pretty heavy snow storm.....I stayed within the rules!  :)

On our way to the hospital, contractions got WAY heavy and deep breathing turned into shouts and screams.

Finally all checked in to the hospital and in my room at 1:50 AM.  I still had to wait to see the resident doctor before I could be checked and before any meds could be ordered.

Resident doctor came in, quickly checked my progress, and told the nurses to get the doctor NOW.

Immediately, I looked at her and said "Why?" She said I was ready......too late for meds.

Now the pain mixed with complete fear....

I am by no means too proud to say that the meds are a HUGE part as to why I was willing to have another baby!

So, no meds, doctor ready and suited up to play "catch", water broken, and here she comes!

Thankfully, only 2 pushes and Avery was here!

She came at 2:41 AM, only 50 minutes after I was admitted to the hospital.....FAST!

And even though it was probably the single most painful experience I could ever imagine, it all seems worth it in the end.

7 lbs 3 oz, 18.7 inches long, and all that dark hair!

 

Adam is a proud Daddy all over again!

Landon was excited for his new toy!  :)

And now we are home and settling into our new routine....

The End.

*For now, of course!*

Adopted Grandparents

It is no secret that I married into an amazing family!

Yes, Millers, I said it....get your snickers and "told you so's" out of the way!  :)

But, yesterday, I was reminded that just because you are not blood related does not mean you are not family.

Adam doesn't have any grandparents anymore, although he does have a Great Aunt Phyllis and Great Uncle Elzie from his Grandpa Booth that lives just north of us in Silver Bay.

They are the sweetest, most awesome people on the planet!!  They are so glad we moved up here and since we are so close, we get to see them pretty often!  :)

Uncle Elzie is the one responsible for all the hand-crafted wood pieces we have all over the house.

Some examples:

I know, stinkin' awesome, huh??

So, anyway, they came through Duluth and we met for lunch (at the best place EVER!.....more on that another time!)

Landon loves hanging out with Uncle Elzie!

And, of course, he was made an official member of Monkey Butt Construction!

They both loved seeing the pictures from the last MBC project!

And can I just tell you how thoughtful they are?!! Aunt Phyllis brought her wool cape all the way down with her so that if we ever get a real winter before I have the baby, I have something that covers me up! They always send little notes to ask how things are going, or phone calls to touch base.  And they will always come for any occasion! 

Although I do still have two grandparents, they live a far way away, and it is hard to keep up all the time.  So, it is nice to have adopted Uncle Elzie and Aunt Phyllis as "local grandparents"! 

Thanks for sharing them, Miller's (and Booth's)! 

Love Hurts!

Oh, life is always interesting in this household...

...and I would never expect anything less from a day like today!

Just about everyone knows that, with the railroad, Adam's schedule is anything but normal.  That includes weekends, holidays, or just special days like Valentine's Day. 

So today, after working the night shift, Adam went to sleep and a friend came over so her boys and Landon could play.  Since her husband works for the railroad too, her "special day" was just a regular Tuesday as well.

Until this happened.....

Landon was playing like a boy (meaning rough and carefree for those who have only girls...) and then came the tumble and cry.

I shrugged it off, said "Oh you are fine", no big deal.

Then came the blood.....lots of blood!

I tried a towel....that just cleared enough of it away to see the deep split that had been created.  I tried a band-aid to stop the bleeding, and in 10 minutes, we were taking off a 2nd soaked bandage.

So off to the ER we go.....

The first thing they ask when we get there:  "Do you need a wheelchair?"

I couldn't imagine why a little boy with a busted chin needed a wheelchair then realized they thought I was in labor.....

Anyway, back to see the doctor and get stitched up!

They slapped some numbing gel on there to get it good and numb before starting:

That made things feel much better, so Landon felt fine to play around as usual...

Tape, anyone??

So, after some serious screaming (completely broke my heart!!) and some major love from Mom, we were all put back together!

And back to feeling like our old selves in no time!

"Cookie for the Doggie??"

Lessons for the day: 

Everything will always happen on the days when you least expect it.

Boys are tough cookies!

Scars can be cool....according to Adam, they are great for "getting chicks".

Love sure does hurt sometimes! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Monkey Butt Construction Strikes Again!

We have been visited by the workers of Monkey Butt Construction AnD Inc.!!

Let me give you a brief history of this wonderful company of professional contractors.....

One day, some regular Joe's were working on a roofing project.  Being on the roof for a while gave them a sensation of discomfort, more specifically, a red itchy rear end.  The eldest of the group (and thus the Wise One...) said "It feels like I have monkey butt!"  And so the name stuck and here we are today.  Of course the AnD Inc is for Adam n' Diana Incorporated (I like that part!) since it seems we are Monkey Butt Construction's most valued customers!  :) 

Here is the current crew of Monkey Butt Construction:

All in thier required uniform of T-shirts, flannels, and "boofs", you have First Assistant Adam, Apprentice Landon, and Site Manager Bruce. 

The projects in the past have been things like re-doing our kitchen lighting, putting up a fence and shed in the backyard, and most recently, adding a 4th bedroom to the new house in Minnesota.

Here is where we started:

Sorry, you have to tilt your head since it won't rotate the photo.....anyway, it's all the stuff that was hanging out in the unfinished space.

The a wall went up and we had 2 seperate spaces....a bedroom and a storage room.

Then the fun part....cutting a hole in the wall for the door! 

Everyone was very professional and hard working!

The job required several trips to Home Depot!  That is where I, the CFO of MBC AnD Inc, was very valuable to the team......I had the money!!  :) 

Back to work!

Next came the drywall....

The shelving went in the storage room and I filled it up fast!!

Next came paint and putting outlet covers on...

Adding all the details...

And finally, everything was moved in....

And what ever happened to the OLD room, you ask????

Well....it was outfitted just for a special little girl!

Just a disclaimer.....Monkey Butt Construction is an exclusive group.  You will have to get in line for projects!  And they aren't cheap!  My tab has to be through the roof by now!  :)

Batter Buddies

Landon and I made a pound cake today!

He loves to help in the kitchen......

.....especially "clean up" time.

Not the dishes...."clean up".

You see, I LOVE batter!!

Cake batter, cornbread batter, muffin batter, pancake batter....

And I lick that bowl clean every time!

Well, my helper has noticed that Mommy does this, and now wants to help "clean up" the bowl.

So I let him....

He LOVED it!

He had to check the bowl, just to make sure he got it ALL....

Ooooops, there seems to be a little left at the bottom....

Now I just have to convince him that the bowl can't come with him for nap time....

I suppose from now on, I will have to share my batter....