Bring on Spring

Well, it's officially Spring and today we had weather that actually felt like it. So, after dinner we played in the front yard. And what is better to play with than a stick. He found this all by himself and didn't want to put it down. 

I have a feeling we will be spending a lot of time here this Summer. 

Miller is One!

I started looking for ideas for Miller's party a looong time ago. I knew there were so many creative ideas out there so to narrow down to what I wanted to do would be hard. But, it really wasn't that hard. Miller LOVES to be outside and I know one day he will love to go camping, so that is what I went with...a camping party. It was so much fun to put together! If only I had no budget..... Here are some photos of this fun day!

The birthday boy with his balloon. He LOVES balloons, ever since the nice lady at Party Galaxy gave him one while we were looking around one day. I made his shirt after seeing the cute shirts at Piccadilly Circus.

I wanted to do this as cheap as possible, so I used a lot of things that we already had or I made things out of what I already had. The "Happy Birthday" banner is just letters htat I cut out of cardstock and hot-glued onto some pom ribbon..easy! We already had the trees and the lights.  My sweet husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law cut up some stumps for me to use as trays and for height. I love how they turned out.

I made "campfire cupcakes" that I had seen on another blog and they were perfect for my theme. I actually just ordered the cupcakes and then added the campfire on top. I used pretzel sticks, chocolate rocks, red edible flakes and edible gold glitter gel (for the fire).

I also made S'more Pops which were very easy and very yummy. 

And mini dirt cups. They take a little time to make, but aren't hard to do.

And, of course the cake..which I didn't make. But, I love how it turned out. I wanted something simple and the colors had to match my scheme. :)

The drink table...

I made labels for the water bottles...

Goody bags for the little campers which had mini flashlights, camping pencils and glow bracelets. They were a big hit. Also, I just brought some pictures of Miller from our house to display.

For his scrapbook, I had been taking a photo each month with his bear and documenting things about him at each stage. I just hung them on the wall with ribbon and clothespins to show how he's grown.

He wasn't too sure about opening his gifts. He liked the occasional tissue paper or bow and sometimes he could pull the gift out of the bag. He was even tossing the clothes over to the side. ha!

And then, the cake. We stripped him down to his diaper because I knew the teal icing would make mess! This was his look while we were all singing to him. If only I knew what he was thinking.

At first he just picked at it...

But it didn't take long for this...

He was so serious about it. No smiles. Just eating. He wouldn't even stop to get a picture with his mama and daddy. :) 

After he got cleaned up, he played some more with his friends. These are his buddies Elijah, Max and Landin. So sweet! I love how Miller is holding a leaf and Elijah is wearing his glow bracelets. Landin is just ready to walk away.

Miller and his cousin Charlie. (still holding that leaf)

He got 4 riding toys...a wagon, a truck thing that we can push him in, a big truck that he can ride in and this 4-wheeler. He wasn't quite sure how to ride on it yet, so he took it for a walk.

I forgot to have him wear his party hat I made for him, so I needed to get a picture of him in it. He only wore it for about 5 seconds.

What a special day that we will never forget! I can't believe our baby boy is 1!!!!

Let The Celebrating Begin {1 Year Old!!}

Our baby boy is one!! I don't know how it happened, but it did. This past year has been the most fun, challenging, and rewarding year ever. I wouldn't change a thing! Miller turned one yesterday {March 8th...at 4:05pm :)}, so last night we had a little birthday dinner with some of the family. He was quite mellow most of the night, but I know he had a fun time. Here are a few photos...

Wearing his too-small birthday shirt that I made him. Ha!

Aunt Whitney brought him a birthday balloon, which he loved! He got his first balloon a couple weeks ago when a lady at Party Galaxy gave him one while we were shopping. He was a little obsessed from then. Every time we had to get out of the car, he threw a fit because he didn't want to leave his balloon. Now, whenever he sees them (like in Wal-Mart) he points at them and grunts. 

His first birthday dinner was Pioneer Woman lasagna! It was his first time to try it and he really like it.

And then of course...dessert. He'll have his birthday cake at his big party on Saturday, so he had a birthday brownie tonight. This boy loves his chocolate, just like his mama and daddy.

Miller has so many people that love him!!

Happy birthday sweet boy!

11 months

So much to document at this stage...

Still in size 4 diapers, mostly 12 month & some 12-18 months clothes, even some 6 - 9 months still, and size 4 shoes.

Still drinks 5 1/2 oz. during the day and 7 oz. at night.

He is ALL ABOUT trying to walk. He pulls up on anything that will hold him and cruises around the furniture and his toys. 

We have him walk back and forth between mama & daddy. He loves it! He gets so excited and in a hurry that he usually ends up falling forward. 

No more army crawling, he finally crawls like normal. 

He's liking his baby food that has chunks in it better now. The first time he tried broccoli & carrots with cheese, he gagged it out and would just leave his mouth open and not chew. He still makes a horrible face usually with the first bite, but at least he eats it now. 

New foods he's had lately: cottage cheese, egg, DR. PEPPER (thanks Gampa Tom) :) 

Typical schedule:

Wake up 7:30-8amish, bottle, nap 9:30ish (30min to an hour), oatmeal & fruit 10:30ish, bottle 12:30ish, nap 1pmish (usually 1 1/2 to 2 hours), veggies/fruit at 3ish, bottle 4:30ish, veggies/fruit 6ish, bottle 8ish, bed 9ish. Notice all the 'ish'es....his schedule tends to change day to day.

He gets really restless when he's drinking his bottle...wants to sit up, lay down, shake his bottle, play with the top of it,  sit up, lay down....

Loves bathtime...splashing, trying to stand up in the tub, making a mess. Daddy gives him most of this baths.

Likes to snack on puffs, baby cheetos, mum-mum crackers and he loves his sippy cup. 

He can drink out of a straw.

Still loves to drive his Jeep. He's getting better and getting into all the cabinets.

He likes to help you turn the lights on and off.

He's figured out how to throw his toys. He slings his arm and they go flying. It's cute and funny for a bit.

Favorite songs: Jesus Loves Me is still #1 on the charts, Likes to 'roll it up' during Pat-A-Cake,  Itsy Bitsy Spider...with the motions of course, the alphabet, and silly song that mama makes up. 

And finally...he has 2 teeth coming in!!! On the bottom..they are just poking through and they are sharp! 

10 months

Do you recognize this baby?

It seems that in a short 9 months (that was his one month picture), he has gone from that to this.....

I can't get over how much he is starting to look less like a baby and more like a little boy! He is so much fun and still such a sweet little guy. That is the #1 comment we get..."Is he always this good?". Fortunately, he usually is. Here is what he is up to:

Size 4 diapers, size 9 & 12 month clothes, size 4 shoes

5 1/2 oz. during the day and 7oz. at bed time.

Loves to stand up and walk around. You have to hold his hands but he LOVES it.

He tries to pull up but can only get to his knees so far.

Food he’s tried:

Mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cheese, noodles, yogurt, olives, baked beans, scalloped potatoes, oranges (loved them), that's all I can think of right now.

I did give him a new baby food, one of the Gerber 3rd's foods...brocolli and carrots with cheese and he gagged a lot. 

Nicknames: daddy calls him punkin and chunk, I call him boo-boo a lot and nuggle boy when he snuggles with me, Grammy & Ian call him Miller Moo, Gamma calls him Mi-wer (replace the l's with a w),  Gampa calls him Bubbas (with an 's'), Aunt Whitney calls him Mi-wee (like Mil-wee, but without the 'l'), 

Takes 3 naps a day

Takes baths in the big bath tub, no more duck

Likes to eat baby Mum-Mum crackers..they are messy! He's finally starting to eat puffs too, but he likes you to feed them to him.

Loves to drink out of his sippy cup. He can down some juice!

Loves Tucker (our chocolate lab). You can ask..where’s Tucker? And he looks at the door. He squeals when we take him outside to see him. He gets mad when we come back in.

Now army crawling all over the place.

When we go out to check the mail he ‘helps’ me carry it to the house. He holds on to it while we walk.

No matter how quiet he is somewhere, as soon as we get in the car he gets LOUD. He loves to yell until he has to take a breath. (happy sounds)

 He claps now.

Waves bye-bye a lot...gets his whole arm into it. 

He also acts shy now sometimes in front of people. He will smile and then turn and bury his head into us. 

Favorite toys: Animal sounds barn from his Papa & Grandma ShirRon, toolbox from his Great Aunt & Uncle Mark & Marsha, ball popper (NOISY) from his mama & daddy.