It's been a long time since I updated this, but now we have a cute little new member in our family for me to blog about and obsessively post pictures of! Leena Kay Miller was born on March 7th at around 11 pm. She weighed 8 pounds, 11 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. She was a week overdue as well - so we were good and ready to meet her. We didn't know it was a her until she was born, since we wanted to be surprised. It was so fun to find out in the delivery room.

first family photo!

I love this picture!

So though we're a bit sleep deprived, she is doing well, feeding like a champ, and even sleeping in 4 hour stretches at night (which is heaven). Here are some pictures of her first 2 weeks at home.

Snuggle time!

Tummy time - getting stronger each day

Her one week photo...

And her 2 week photo - I can already tell she's getting some chub!

Her first bath - she loved the warm water...

But not drying off! Brrr...

Summer highlights

Summer has flown by - and I'm ready for fall! Some of the highlights include our family vacation to Grayton Beach, the U2 concert (another item checked off the life list - I am obsessed with Bono), and Mark training for and completing the Louisville ironman! He did really well - I was so proud of him. A great majority of my summer, however, was spent on the couch, or um, getting sick, thanks to the little peanut inside of me who will make his/her debut in February! We are super excited and now that I am over the nausea, sickness, general sickness of the first trimester, I'm starting to enjoy this whole pregnancy thing! Of course, there are lots of questions to be answered about work, childcare, insurance, money, and all that not so fun stuff, but I'm trying to take one day at a time and not be so worried about it all. Mark is better at that than I am, but I swear I'm trying! Here are some pictures of our summer and of course, a slightly blurry ultrasound pic of baby Miller!

Grayton Beach, Florida - sister photo

Drew loved the water - and started learning to walk on the beach!

Getting ready to hit up The Red Bar for date night!

Family photo on the beach, NOT wearing matching khaki and white... :-)

Waiting for U2 to come on - been waiting for this concert for months!

The stage also known as "the claw" - sort of looked like a spaceship...

Just after finishing an IRONMAN at 11:07!

Fellow ironman supporters - great friends!

Baby Miller at 12 weeks!

Puppy!

Anyone that knows me knows that I have been wanting a dog forever and Mark and I were waiting for the right time to get one. (You know, fenced in yard, time on our hands, work schedules slowing down, etc.) But clearly that was never going to happen, so when our neighbor came by asking us if we were interested in fostering/adopting a little German Shepard puppy, we caved. I have been wanting a German Shepard for as long as I can remember. I can't imagine why anyone would desert this little guy - because he is as cute as can be. We named him Ryman after the Ryman Auditorium, where we have seen all of our favorite shows.

Anyway - it's been so fun having him. Every night we take him for a long walk through the neighborhood and into the golf course so he can run and play. Of course he does wake us up at 5:30 every morning, and there have been a couple of things destroyed (6 different towels shredded to nothingness), and every so often I have to rush home on my lunch break at work to let him out, but overall, we just love having him around. Here are some pictures of the cuteness. Um...I think we are turning into those people!...

sweetest face!

Day 1 - Grandma Miller sent a new toy!

Day 2 - Decapitation...

Home for Christmas

Peoria Home

Louisville Home

Nashville Home

We had a great week traveling along the "Christmas Triangle" as I called it: We went from Nashville to Peoria, to Louisville, and back to Nashville. We got to spend time with both of our families (most importantly little Drew - who I basically didn't put down for 3 days straight...). It snowed in every city we went to and then we came back to Nashville on the 25th to a white Christmas too. We unpacked and cooked an Italian Christmas day dinner, and relaxed on the couch. Now it's back to work and the routine, though I always feel ready for that after a vacation. January always seems a slower month, when we're holed up inside because of of early sunsets and snowy weather, but I sort of look forward to a slower pace and catching up on projects and books and conversation.

Christmastime is Here

Festivities

"A Christmas Story" themed party (Ralphie and a leg lamp)

The first Nashville snow!

Our first Christmas tree :-)

Thanksgiving

We had over 40 people to our house for Thanksgiving Day this year. Thankfully the weather was warm and the rain held off, so we were able to use the deck and the porch and gain a little space for everyone! Mark smoked a turkey on the grill and everyone brought a side and there was plenty to go around. Both Mark and my parents came to Nashville, along with friends and neighbors, making it a big crowd, but really a fun day.

Carving the turkey and ham

Good times and good conversation on the deck

Billy - "The Mayor" of 17th Street

Family from Bowling Green that came to join us

Friend from the Congo that came to join us

Kitchen finishes

Here are some before shots of the kitchen - right after we knocked out the wall and discovered the chimney (which I love!). Exposed brick just makes a house seem cozy somehow.

And here are some after shots of things. Mark's dad built us an island and a kitchen bar. He is so talented at woodworking (and generous!). Then we got some black granite countertops. Next step: paint the green wall and hang up some blind or curtains and we'll be done!