Youngest of Six

 Ever wonder what Brady's life is like as the youngest of six Mountain Millers?

This video gives you some idea...

Brady Blue Eyes

 We LOVE Brady's blue eyes... but we also know that newborns eyes change colors.

Well, my dad has said since Brady's eyes are still blue at 3 months, they are likely to stay blue.

Alexa told us that babies eyes can change color up to 9 months of age... but she's not a pediatrician.  My daddy is.  So, we're excited about Brady's blue eyes.

1000 Words

 1000 Words

Daddy's Critters

 When Tracey Ann was less than a week old, Hubby ran an errand to Grand Junction and he came home with a stuffed animal for Tracey from Cabelas.  I remember asking him at the time, why he felt the need to buy a stuffed animals for our brand new baby.

And to this day, I don't really think any baby less than six months of age needs a stuffed animal... but I remember my Hubby's response.  He said that this was going to be something special to Tracey from her Daddy.

This was my husband finding his footing as a new father.  He was at a store that he enjoys -- Cabelas, and he was thinking of his brand new baby girl, and he wanted to buy her her first stuffed animals -- a grizzly bear as something very special from him to her.  Tracey got a Grizzly Bear.

Two years later, when Howard and Caroline were born, about two weeks after they were born, Daddy came home with two more stuffed animals from Cabelas -- a moose for Howard and a black bear for Caroline.

When Lee Lee was born, he came home with a Lynx and by now he had chosen a theme -- all animals native to Colorado (historically if not present day).

Hubby actually purchased the animal for Hunter before he was born, which Chris did not want to do -- he always liked picking out the animal after the baby was born, and alone.  But, when I was pregnant with Hunter, we were having fun with our four children in the toy department of Cabelas the summer before Hunter was born, and Hubby found an Otter... and he knew immediately that had to be the animal for our 5th baby because that is Hubby's favorite animal and he had never seen an Otter for sale before in the Cabelas stuffed animal department.

When Brady was born, it took a little longer, but by the time Brady was 6 weeks old, Hubby had gone to Cabelas and come home with a Wolf -- because he completes our pack.

These are stuffed animals that often mean more to me than the do to the children.  A few years ago, I asked the children to sort through stuffed animals because we were going to sell some at a garage sale.  I had to tell the kids they were not allowed to put the stuffed animals from Daddy in the garage sale pile because Daddy bought them each a special animal soon after they were born.

After having heard the stories repeated over the years (and watching Daddy come home with a different animal for each new baby), they understand how special these animals are.

So, now that our pack is complete, I have been trying to take a picture of Daddy's critters... with their critters.  I may have to put one of these pictures onto a mug or something because they make me really happy.

Behind the Picture

 I take a lot of pictures of my children... and sure, it is very satisfying to capture that elusive perfect moment when everyone looks at the camera at the same time and flashes a genuine smile... but the truth is, that is not always why I take the pictures.

Sometimes, I just get to capture my children's personalities more than a perfect smile.

I took this picture before we left for church a few weeks ago.  We actually had a few extra minutes before loading the car, and the kiddos looked so nice, so I asked them to come over for a picture.

Here is the sweet picture of my half-dozen Mountain Miller children.

Here is what is behind the picture

• The girls picked their own clothes, and wanted to wear "church dresses"
• Tracey's dress is supposed to be a Christmas dress (red velvet), but it fits her, and its sleeveless so I didn't say anything.
• Lee Lee insisted that she needed a coat because it was cold.  It was easily 80* when this picture was taken, and it would be in the mid-90s before we got home from church, but she was very happy to wear her soft coat.
• Lee Lee and Tracey could find church sandals that fit and that they like.  Caroline tried on two different pairs of church sandals but opted to wear socks and sneakers because the sandals hurt her feet.
• Howard decided to wear a shirt and tie because his sisters were dressing in church dresses, so he happily dressed up too.
• His shirt is tucked in and he's wearing a belt.  The belt has a buckle with a bull rider on it.  Daddy bought Howard this belt after he took 2nd place in the County Fair Muttin Bustin at the rodeo... and he had worn this belt EVERY SINGLE DAY from the day it was purchase to when this picture was taken -- about ten days in a row.  To date, he still wears this belt A LOT -- easily 5 days/week, but occassionally he will wear shorts without belt loops and doesn't wear his belt on those days.  He did wear it twice with shorts without belt loops, but Daddy told him to only wear it with belt loops from now on, and Howard has heeded that advice.
• Caroline has a sparkly star hair clip on her hair.
• Tracey has a dandelion in her hair.
• Both Tracey and Caroline put on makeup (their little girl makeup, but makeup nonetheless) while I was cleaning up the breakfast dishes, and I wasn't thrilled about it... but they were thrilled and sometimes its okay to just let your kids be happy.
• Hunter is in a collared shirt and at an age where he wants to be with the big kids (lined up for a picture) but he doesn't want to stand still or smile for the picture.  Five seconds after this picture was taken, I have a picture of Hunter walking away while the other children are still saying, "Cheese".
• Brady is content in his car seat -- not quite smiling for picture yet, but he always smiles at people who are smiling at him.
• Lee Lee is carrying a Minnie Mouse purse that she takes to church every Sunday and a small King James Bible of mine fits in the purse perfectly.  This has practically become Lee Lee's Sunday purse.
• Howard has his Bible in his backpack, and he was bummed that I made him use his preschool backpack to go to church.  This picture was taken the day before the first day of school, and he and Caroline both got new backpacks for kindergarten.  I made them save their new backpacks for the first day of school and they had to use their old backpacks to carry their Bibles to church this day.
• Brady is barefoot -- it is such a luxury to have a summer baby.  I don't have to worry about his feet getting too cold when he kicks off his shoes and socks.

I really am the luckiest mother on the planet that these amazing children are mine.  They are all healthy, and safe, and (mostly) happy.

Lookout, World!  We're raising a half dozen Mountain Miller children and God has amazing specific plans for each and every one of them.

School Picture Day

 Me to Hubby as we rushed out the door this morning,

"Babe, we both need to accept that we are going to be late every single school picture day for the rest of our lives."

Brady Christopher -- Three Months

Brady is THREE Months, which means he is no longer a newborn -- he's a baby for another nine months, and then he becomes a toddler.  My goodness.

Here is Brady at 3 months of age:

And here he was as a newborn

 

And here is the comparison of all five kiddos at two months of age:

Top left to right - Howard, Brady, Hunter

Bottom left to right - Caroline, Lee Lee, Tracey

Weight: 

Great question... he's getting some chub and some rolls.  This little boy is a GREAT eater and he's filling out.  I don't know what he weighs, but he's gaining!

 (7 lbs, 15.8 ounces at birth).

Length:  

I'm not entirely sure, but he still fits in his 0-3 month sleepers - barely.  I should probably find some 3 month or 3-6 month sleepers to make the switch.

Clothing size: 

He usually wears onesies that are either 3 month size, 3-6 month size, or 6 month size.  Baby boys are so much easier to dress in the summer time -- put him in a cute onesie and call it good.  He's not too hot, not too cold, he looks cute, and I have less laundry to do.

 

Eating:  

Brady is a champion eater.  This month, he officially had his first bottles because he stays with a baby-sitter several days a week while I'm working in schools.  I have not seen him take the bottle, but I have been told, he is doing great!  I can say, he nurses like CRAZY!  He is incredibly focused when he eats - no distractions, just eating.

Sleeping:  

He is sleeping much better than he was a month ago.  He goes to bed around 9:00pm or so, and sleep until 1:30-2:30 depending on the day.  When he wakes up in the middle of the night, he usually just needs a quick snack.  We're starting to getting in a routine where Brady or I awaken around 3:00am, and Brady eats for 20 minutes or so and goes back to sleep.  I then start my day -- workout, shower, get dressed, I get Brady up again around 5:15am for another snack before I have to get all the other kiddos up and out the door for the day.  That has been the best routine so far for both Brady and myself.

 

 

New things/discoveries:

• First time at a baby-sitters

 

 

  New Accomplishments: 

• Holding his head up and sitting much better (supported sitting)
• Sitting in his Panda Seat (supported sitting)

 

Likes: 

• Being held
• Pacifiers
• Nursing
• His siblings
• The car seat
• The stroller
• Being worn in a carrier
• Mama
• Smiling
• Baths or showers

Dislikes:

• Being hungry
• Spitting up
• Burping

 

  Places He's Gone:

• Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
• Several zoos (Michigan and North Dakota)
• His first parade (Garfield County Fair Parade -- first one since Covid!) 
• A really fun chuck wagon dinner and live show in South Dakota

Special Memories:

•  Cheering on Howard in mutton bustin' (including the finals at a real professional rodeo)
• First day of school for all the older kiddos (and first day with a baby-sitter for Brady)
• Going to work with Mama a few times

Nicknames:

• Brady
• Buddy
• Brady Boy
• Brady Blue Eyes
• Braidster
• Brady Buddy

Pictures in no particular order: