Happy Halloween!

 Happy Halloween from a half dozen Mountain Miller children!

Baby Slobber

 On Thursday I took a personal day to spend the day with my Littles and be available for all the Halloween festivities at my older children's elementary school.  It was so much fun, and such a treat to take the day off work and fully focus my attention on being the Mama.

After we got the big kids off to school (in their costumes), I took the youngest three to little kid dance class, which is a free parent-and-child dance class that I used to do with my older children up until the year of Covid.  It was so much fun and Lee Lee and Hunter both had a ball.  Brady slept through the first half and when he woke up, I put him in his walker for the second half of class, and he was happy as a clam watching all the activity.

After class, Lee Lee gave him a big hug, and I snapped a picture.  A few seconds later, he turned his head and gave her cheek a big wet baby kiss.  It was absolutely precious.  Lee Lee promptly wiped off her face and said, "Ewww, Baby Slobber!"

1000 Words

 1000 Words

Lee Lee's Party

 We had a bowling birthday party for Lee Lee the weekend after her birthday and our whole family had a great time.  Lee Lee had a few friends join us, and each of our big kids invited one friend to come, and it was a lot of fun.

Here are some pictures:

From, "Her View From Home"

I read this beautiful article last night and knew I needed to share it.  For the original post and for other articles on motherhood visit Her View From Home.

Dear Mom,

There is so much I didn’t know about you and so much I didn’t notice growing up with you. 

But now I see it.

I didn’t know all the little comforts and conveniences you gave up for me. I didn’t realize that you took cold showers so I could have a warm bath. Or that you always shared your food—even when you were hungry—because I asked for it. You always gave me the best bite or the bigger half. Or how you would give me your pillow in car rides even though you wanted to use it. You let me sleep on your shoulder even if it wasn’t comfortable for you.

I didn’t know how much you worried about me. I didn’t realize that when I got pretty sick, it was scary to you. Or how your mind would quickly spin in the what ifs. I didn’t know you thought so much about my safety. I had no clue how frightening this world could be knowing your baby is living in it.

I didn’t know how much you had to trust God, because the worrying about me could make you go crazy.

I didn’t know how much your day revolved around my needs and desires. How you had to plan and organize everything. All the meals, the drop offs and pick ups, and the play dates. You barely had time to yourself, but even when you did, you found yourself missing me.

I didn’t know your heart broke when mine was broken. I wasn’t aware that seeing me hurting was incredibly painful for you, too. I didn’t know you carried my emotions almost as much as I did.  

I didn’t know how much you wanted to give me a good life. How everything you did was done so that I could be happy.

I didn’t know, mom, that you would sacrifice anything—including your life—for me in a heartbeat. 

I didn’t know these things until I had my own babies. I didn’t know how much I was a piece of your heart until my babies took a piece of mine.

But now I can see it all so clearly.

And now that I’m a mom, there are a few more things I’ve realized I didn’t know.

I didn’t know how much I would need you when I became a mom, too. 

I didn’t know that when my kid got sick, I would feel better knowing you were around. Because you’d know what to do, just like you did with me. 

I didn’t realize the relief that would sweep over me when you’d walk in the door to help me with the kids.

I didn’t realize trusting people with my kids would be difficult, but trusting you with them was so easy.

I didn’t realize that you would still be the person I ran to for reassurance and comfort even when I became a mom.

I didn’t know that when I was trying to hold it all together, your mama bear hug would still make me break down and finally cry. 

I didn’t know that you would still be my safe spot and one of the most important people in my life, mom. Not just as a kid, but forever.

But now I know, and I’m forever grateful for you.

I know I didn’t say it enough then, because I just didn’t know . . . but thank you for being the best mom I could ever ask for.

Love,

Your daughter.

Beautifully written by Her View From Home.

Picture Progression

 On Lee Lee's birthday, the sky and sun set were so beautiful, I asked the kids to come outside to take a look and I wanted to take a picture of them with the sky in the background.

Brady's face absolutely cracks me up in this progression of trying to get a picture of everyone looking at the camera... he just look so completely excited to be a big kid and with his siblings in the picture.

4-Year-Old

 I guess this is what I should now expect from my 4 year old?

Brady Christopher -- 5 Months

 Brady is 5 months old, and seriously the HAPPIEST baby on the planet!  I don't know if smiles can get wider than the ones he gives to us.

Here is Brady at 5 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 - Tracey, Lee Lee, Caroline

Bottom left to right - Howard, Brady, Hunter

Weight: 

I'm not sure -- probably about 12 pounds, I would guess.

Length:  

Probably around 25" long.

Clothing size: 

Six-nine month clothing -- sometimes 12 months clothing, but hey are really big on him.  It has been hard to dress him appropriately for the seasons because Howard and Hunter needed winter clothing for the first 4-6 months, and then summer clothing for 6-9 months of age.  But Brady has required the opposite. 

 

Eating:  

Brady eats very well.  He nurses when he's with Mama and has bottles of frozen breast milk.

Sleeping:  

He sleeps in a playpen in our room, but definitely hit the 4-month sleep regression this month.  As he's growing more, he is back to eating a few times throughout the night.

 

 

New things/discoveries:

• He can roll over from back to front, and does so pretty much every time I put him down on his back.  He cannot yet go from front to back, but this little one is a mover.
• He puts EVERYTHING in his mouth and our kiddo have noticed this too -- hopefully it will be incentive for them to keep their toys picked up.
• Staying home with Mama while the big kids and Daddy went to St. Louis

 

 

  New Accomplishments: 

• Giving kisses -- I'm not sure if they are actually kisses so much as they attempts to nurse my face... but it is sweet nonetheless.
• Trying to jump in the excersaucer

 

Likes: 

• His siblings
• Smiles and eye contact
• His walker
• His exersaucer
• Rolling over

Dislikes:

• Being hungry
• Spitting up
• Burping

 

  Places He's Gone:

• A pumpkin patch
• Vail
• Along with Mama to a L:ow Vision Clinic
• To the church nursery (Mama stayed too)

Special Memories:

•  First snow of his life
• Family getaway in Vail staying at Grammie and Papa's
   condo for the first time
• His first hike with Mama and the siblings
• First days when he stays home with sick siblings

Nicknames:

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

Pictures in no particular order:

•