baby krew is here!

Introducing Krew Adam Miller!

Our sweet little boy was born Friday, October 28, 2011 at 8:03pm.  He weighs 7 lbs. 8oz. and is 21 inches long.  We are so happy to have him in our family, and we couldn't be more in love with him!

First "smile"

my baby shower!

Last Thursday my friends Greta and Bryn threw me the most amazing baby shower! It had an argyle theme to perfectly match the baby's room (pictures of that to come shortly).  Also, the food theme was, "cinnamon."  Many of you know that Bart is allergic to cinnamon so I don't bake with it at home.  So, especially this time of year when all the yummy fall treats have cinnamon, I start to feel like I'm missing out.  So, these cute girls filled my baby shower with lots of delicious cinnamon-y goodies.  It was all so yummy!

We played two fun games that night.  The first one, everyone took a paper plate and a crayon.  They placed the plate on top of their head and had to draw what they thought my baby would look like.  Then, I got to look at all of them and pick the one I liked the best.  They were so hilarious that I was nearly crying I was laughing so hard.  (You can see me laughing behind Bryn in the following photo).

For the next game, Bryn had placed little baby items in ten different paper sacks.  Then we each had to feel the items without opening the bag and guess what was inside.  I got all ten right!!  I must be amazing or I've just spent the last several months looking at baby items trying to get ready for our little guy to come.

After games it was time to open presents.  Everyone was so generous and gave such nice gifts.  The whole time I was opening the gifts, I was barely holding my emotions in check.  I couldn't believe that after all this time, after all the waiting, and heartbreak, and tears, that I was having a baby shower!  I didn't know if I would ever get to open a gift with a tiny outfit inside again, and it was all I could do to hold back the tears.  It helped that each and every gift was so fun, that they made me smile and ooh and aah!

My friend Bryn made this adorable yarn and argyle "K" that perfectly matches the nursery.  It makes me excited to finish taking pictures of all the cute details in the baby's room and post them here.  And yes, his name is going to start with a K, just like his older brothers.

doctors in training

Last week we took Kade and Ky to a class at the hospital called, "Big Kids and New Babies." It was a class to help kids know a little about what to expect when a new baby joins the family. There was a really silly video for the kids to watch about how they might feel when the baby comes, and what the new baby can and can't do. Each child was supposed to bring a stuffed animal or a doll, so my boys came prepared with their teddy bears. The teachers showed them how to hold a baby, how to burp a baby, how to swaddle a baby, and how to put on a diaper. They practised all these things, and were so proud of themselves when they were able to put the little diaper on their bears. Then we got to take a tour of the labor and delivery floor so they could see where mommy is going to have the baby. Then, they got to decorate a bib for the new baby.
It was really fun to hear the comments they made about their little brother coming, and since that day, I have seen them practicing some of the things they learned. For instance, the other day they found an empty toilet paper tube and were trying to put some of their toys through the tube. The teacher said if the toy fits through the tube, then it is too small for the baby. So, it was cute to see them trying to figure out at home which toys they could share with their brother and which ones they couldn't.
I can't wait for this little guy to join our family, and I'm excited to see Kade and Ky as big brothers!

35 weeks!

I can't believe I am 35 weeks! We are definitely in countdown mode at this point! We have been working so hard getting the nursery ready (pics to come soon!) and getting out all of Kade and Ky's old newborn clothes, purchasing things like a stroller and car seat, diaper bag, bouncy seat, diapers and wipes. I finally feel like if our little guy were to come soon, I would feel mostly ready. I'm amazed at how good I feel at this point. First, let me just say that it is so much easier being pregnant with one baby than it is being pregnant with two! Second, with as sick and tired as I was the first trimester, and most of the second trimester, I was worried that I was going to feel gross the whole pregnancy, but the past couple of months I have had more energy than I expected. Sure, I feel completely run-down by about 6:00 every evening, but even still I can't complain. Also, I am a tad bit worried, because I know how active and loud and rambunctious my other two boys are, and this little guy is already so wiggly I'm afraid he might be even more rambunctious than his brothers are. If so, our house is going to be crazy and LOUD! But we are so excited for this little one to join our family. We have waited so long for him, and we just can't wait to meet him!

two little piggies!

Yesterday morning the boys were on the front porch waiting for the bus and talking to me through the window screen. It wasn't long before they started making piggy faces and I'm super glad I had my camera handy. Aren't my little piggies adorable?

(camera timer) family photos

So, we finally got around to taking family photos. I wish we would have done it about a month earlier, before my baby bump got this big. Oh well. I really wanted some semi-decent photos of our family before the baby comes. We have been a family of four for more than 5 1/2 years, and I wanted some pictures to remember that before we become a family of five!

Let me just say that it is lots harder to get good shots of four people (especially when two of them are 5 year-olds) when using a tripod and camera timer than it is when I can just be behind the camera. But, it was free!

kindergarten-here they come!

Thursday was Ky and Kade's first day of kindergarten. They were so excited. They woke up bright and early and got ready quickly. They kept telling me how excited they were. Kindergarten here is all day, so we packed their lunches, got their backpacks ready and headed outside to take pictures. The boys wanted to leave right away, but because they had gotten up and ready so fast, we would have been 30 minutes early! They could hardly stand waiting, but we finally made it to the school. Everyone lined up in their classes outside the school as they waited to go in. It took quite a while to make sure all the kindergartners were standing in the the right lines, that they all had their name tags on, and for the teachers to explain some procedural things to the parents. The boys were too excited and did not want to wait any more! While we were waiting, I kept thinking I should tell the boys not to cry, but I realized that the only one in danger of crying was me! Sure enough, as soon as I watched them walk into the school I turned around and the tears started to flow! I told Bart I had it more than twice as hard as any other mother there. No one else had to send their TWO oldest (and for now, only) kids to kindergarten for the first time at the same time! Plus, being pregnant, I'm more emotional anyway!
I was sad to see them go, knowing that they were now going to be in school all day, every day for a long time, but excited for all the things that lie ahead for them. And even though I missed them a lot, I made the most of my time alone. I cleaned the house (and it stayed clean all day!), I went to a doctor's appointment, went shoe shopping, baked cookies, and read a good book! Not too bad for one day!