Garvin turns one!

One month that is! People have asked me what are some of the differences between Garvin and the other two Miller kids. Here are just a few. Garvin likes to be cozy. Give him a blanket and he is happy! He was born with black hair and blond eyebrows. He also loves to be held and will fall asleep instantly if held up on your shoulder for a few minutes. Of course, like my other Miller babies, he has this in common: he one of the cuteset babies in the world! What a blessing we have with all of our children!

Shhh! Garvin is sleeping!

Summertime Community Sponsored Agriculture

It is Wednesday, time to pick up our weekly veggie box!

Bribery for preschoolers

Over the past few years I have tried different ways to motivate my kids to do my will without force. It can be a dangerous battle going toe to toe with a preschooler. They play dirty, and like it. But since Matt and I try to be kind and loving parents, sometimes a little bribery is just what is needed to accomplish our objectives. I thought I would share some of our tactics that seem to work with our kids. Who knows, maybe you can use them too.

Rainbow challenge night
This is a way that we have devised to get our kids to eat more veggies. I place all of the colors of the rainbow on their plate. When the plate is cleared, they get to have the final color: brown, which is usually a brownie or piece of chocolate. Here was last nights challange:
Red: cherry tomatoes, Orange: clementines, Yellow: summer squash, Green: english peas and cucumbers, Blue: blueberries, Purple: beets. We make a big deal when the kids complete their challange, giving high fives and other kudos.

Miller store
This idea came from two of my friends, Ginny Carson and Laurie Burlington. Every night before bed the kids look at their calendars. We talk about what we did today and what we will be doing tomorrow. If they made it through the day without getting a time out, they get a smiley face sticker on that day. On rare occasions I give a bonus smiley face for exceptional behavior. On the last day of the month is Miller Store. They get a token for every smiley face they had during the month. Miller store consists of various toys, games, candy, and seasonal items that they might like to have. Each item is given a numerical value and the kids have to use their tokens to buy them. Various price points are represented and high valued items may take more than one month to purchase. Here are some examples of June Miller store items: toy story bubble bath, a singing toothbrush, puzzles, glitter glue, swim goggles, sparklers, activity books, and fourth of july pajamas.

Garvin "the Moose" Miller at one week

In case you didn't know...

Garvin Alces Miller is named after my Grandmother Eddie Lou Garvin. Although she is still alive, she hasn't been living for quite some time. She loved children and was a great mother and grandmother and great grandmother! We plan on visiting her sometime in September when things calm down around here. She won't know who I am or who Garvin is, but she is still loved by so many. If she could remember, she would tell me that she loves me and Garvin too.

Garvin: up close and personal

Here is a picture of Garvin in his current, natural state. I have been around preschoolers for so long that I have forgotten how peaceful a newborn can be.

Garvin's first visits

Garvin met lots of friends and family while he was at the hospital.










He even got some long distance love, from those that couldn't be close.

Welcome to the world Garvin Alces Miller!

We welcomed our son, Garvin Alces Miller into the world on june 15 at 2:47 pm. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 20.5 inches long. My c-section went well, and I stayed in the hospital for four days to recover. We are now at home. Garvin has his first trip to the pediatrician tomorrow. He seems to be doing great, but this is standard procedure, just to make sure. Baikal and Rybolt visited their new little brother the day after he was born. They took turns holding him and were very gentle. When we arrived home, the kids had planned a surprise birthday party for Garvin. They even made cupecakes with a zero candle for him. We all sang happy birthday and the kids helped blow out the candles. What a great family we have!

Erin was just taken back to the OR

It should be 30-45 minutes before the little guy is here....

We are at the Hospital!

Waiting for the anesthetist and OR availability. Should have new soon....

Baby blanket finished, what next?

Playdate with the Frilingos

We have really been enjoying our new yard. It makes having friends over so much fun. We recently had a playdate with the Frilingos boys. Fun was had by all!

More babies?

Baikal has informed me that she would like to have ten kids in our family. Two boys and eight girls. We'll see how she feels once her new brother arrives.

Goat farm!

With spring came our annual trip to Decimal Goat Farm.









Spring wouldn't be complete without a trip to Decimal Goat farm!

June already?

May flew by! There were so many things going on that I was too busy and too tired to blog. But now it is June and things have slowed down around here. For awhile, at least! Here are two of our current favorite past times:



Block building! The kids have really taken to making elaborate block structures out of their duplo blocks.



Porch swinging with Dad and the ipad. Our latest toy, an apple ipad, has become a regular feature here at the house. We all love to play games and watch shows on it.

Memorial Day

Memorial day is a day that we Americans pay tribute to those who have served and died in our military. In our yard there are three tombstones. Each one is from a soldier that served during the civil war. I have often wondered who these men were, but have not had the time to go through the stacks of archives left by the previous owners. Who were these men? I happened to have some free time today and came across this information about the original owner of the house, Captain James Austin Burns. His tombstone is one of the three in the yard and it faces the street. Here is what the article states:

James Autin Burns received his Ph.D in analytical chmistry from Bowdoin College and then went on to obtain a law degree from Yale University. He then enlisted in the union army during the civil war at the age of 22. Following the war, he moved his family to Atlanta where he set up law practice and became involved in the Western and Atlantic Railroad with Governor Joseph E. Brown. In addition to law practice and serving as a freight agent to the railroad, Burns established four companies dealing in a variety of services, one of which was construction. In 1888, Burns opened an analytical chemistry laboratory and began lecturing at Southern Medical college (now Emory University) and Washington Seminary. In his later years he published translations of Cicero, Virgil, and Caesar. James Burns died at the age of 62, after which his wife moved to Philadelphia to be close to their children.

Miller time!

We are all getting excited for the next Miller to make his apperance. The most enthusiastic of the bunch is Rybolt. Every morning he rushes into our bedroom, throws off my covers and plants his face right into my stomach. " GOOD MORNING BABY!" he'll shout. This will usually be followed by a zerbert. Baikal has also been excited about the baby's arrival. She will often kiss or hug my belly. I have my last ultrasound next week at week 37. It will be weekly dr appointments after that up until june 15th! Not sure the game plan if i go into labor before that date, but I'll keep you posted!

Spring Festival

Every year at the kids preschool is a spring festival. It is a sweet and simple event where the children sing songs about spring and are given a small seed planted in a little pot. Here is a picture of Rybolt.

Atlanta Fair

We have had a busy spring! The weather has been perfect for picnics and playgrounds. One of our highlights was going to the Atlanta Fair. We all had a blast! The kids enjoyed the rides and I enjoyed the food. Can't wait until next year!

Yard art

Baikal and Rybolt are really enjoying their new yard.


They made a picnic for the fairies, complete with little bowls made out of acorn tops.


They made rock mountian. Baikal said it was a nature sculpture and her art.

Boxes

We've been at our new house for two months and have made really good progress on getting settled in. Here is the box village that Matt made for the kids.

Learning words

I love it when my kids come up with new words or phrases to describe things. Here is a list of the most recent additions:

Swirlpool: when the water goes down the drain and makes a swirl
Eatmeal: what Rybolt calls Oatmeal, 'cause you eat it
Magnifound Glass: what you use to find small things

Welcome to the world Jack Abbott!

Today my first nephew was born!!! Jack Abbott Garvin was welcomed into the world with open arms. Mother and Father are doing great. Photos to come!

How I roll...

Photo curtisy of David Naugle.

First kicks and names

I am 16 weeks pregnant today, January 3 2011. As I was laying down after putting the kids to bed I felt the first kicks. This one maybe small, but like its big siblings, is already learning how to get my attention.
Courtney recently asked both kids if they had a little brother or sister, what they would name it. Baikal said John if it is a boy and Sunshine if it is a girl. Rybolt said Buzz if it is a boy and Woody if it is a girl.

The Millers are moving!!!

It may (or may not) come as a surprise to hear that the Millers are moving!!! We will be moving all of 5 blocks away! Pics coming soon! Update your address books!

New Year! New Baby!

It is a new year! We're pregnant with a new baby! Due to arrive sometime mid June. Gender to be determined. We are thrilled!!!

Christmas Time!

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas at the Millers in Greenville. I remembered to pack everything but my camera! Fortunately, Uncle Kevin and Aunt Courtney did. As soon as I get some pics from them, I'll add them here! The big news from Christmas is that I told everyone that the Millers are expecting another gift to be delivered sometime in June! Everyone was surprised!

Let's sing!

Baikal, Baikal, Baikal, you are five years old today.
And now that you are older, we'll play with you all day!

(to the tune of the dreidel song by Laurie Burlington)

Chattanooga weekend

We had a great time in Chattanooga over the Dec. 11th weekend. The first day we went to the aquarium. The kids love it! Then it was over to the Olive Garden for a bridesmaid brunch for Karen Rybolt. The kids loved that too! Later, we enjoyed the rehearsal and dinner with authentic Honduran cuisine. I love that! The next day was the big event. Rybolt was having cold feet about being the ring bearer, but luckily a stand-in was arranged. The wedding between Karen and Marvin was lovely and we all had a great time seeing friends and family. We are so excited to welcome Marvin into the Rybolt family. Hootie Hoo!