Oldies

Tyler got the new iPhone recently- hooray! We've had the same phones since we were engaged (almost 3.5 years ago, people), and he finally got a new one for work. The only issue is that our old phones are so old that they're pretty incompatible with the new one, so getting pictures off of it presents a little challenge. How to fix it? The hard way. I am texting old pictures to Tyler, who then e-mails them to me, and I download them from the e-mail into our pictures. With over 150 pictures, it's a long process. But it's so fun to go through old memories! I couldn't part with the pics and I was out of memory on my phone, so this could not have happened at a better time. Here are a few gems from the good ol' days.

At an Astros game the summer we were engaged

Poor car!

Our dream kitchen we found at IKEA

He loves me

I think she was 2 days old here!

A walk in the mountains when we were first married

Hikin' the Y solo

Her first swing

We had a little extra time with Tyler yesterday, and decided to go to the park. The weather has been SO nice the last few days, and we just had to take advantage of it! Tyler and I had a great time and probably looked crazy helicopter parents, snapping a gazillion pictures of Millie's first time on the playground swings. Millie, however, was much more concerned about watching the other little girl who was at the park than about what she was doing. Classic people-watching.

She totally watched that little girl the whole time!!

A tear-jerker

Saturday evening was the General Relief Society Meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Did you watch it? If not, you can watch it HERE. I won't lie- I completely forgot to watch it on Saturday. It started at 6 pm here and at about 6:30 it hit me. Thank goodness for delayed TV and for DVR. I finally watched it today, and wow. It was beautiful and just what I needed to hear. Especially after learning some sad news today.

In one of my BYU student wards, we had an awesome choir director named Sarah. I didn't know her very well, but she was a super positive person and so fun to be around. Since our time at BYU, she got married and had a baby boy (thank goodness for facebook keeping me up-to-date, since we aren't close). She recently gave birth to a second son, and apparently he was sick- he died yesterday, 4 days after his birth. I hope she will forgive me for stealing this picture from facebook, but it just touched me so much and I want to share.

My heart just breaks for this sweet family. I cried as I saw this and other pictures from their last few moments with their baby boy. I can't imagine the pain she must be feeling, and I know what I'm about to say is easy for me to say because I'm not the one in that situation. But what I was reminded of in the Relief Society meeting is that even though I don't know what she is feeling, our Savior Jesus Christ has felt it. Doesn't that thought just bring you so much comfort? I felt so much comfort from even my small-in-comparison-sympathy-sadness for Sarah- I hope she feels His love and comfort through this unimaginably difficult time. I know He will bear her burdens with her and that He loves her and her baby boy so much. Please keep Sarah and her family in your prayers!

I am hugging my baby a little tighter today.

Jeff & Kerri's wedding

This was over a month ago, but Millie and I got to go to Utah for Jeff's wedding! I was SO nervous to fly by myself with Millie. Luckily she did awesome, and I just repeated "You will never see these people again" over and over in my head anytime I started to worry. Once we got there, I loved being with my family. It was the first time all the siblings had been together in over 3 years! We were missing a few husbands though- can't wait for Christmas when everyone will be there. Anyway, the trip was great. Here are a bunch of pictures.

At the park for dinner... Millie did NOT like grass!

Reliving the old days- painting each other's nails

Waiting for the bride and groom

The three babies born in 2012 finally met!

Millie entertained with a few numbers from The Sound of Music while we waited

The happy couple!

Soothing babies at the luncheon. NOT planned.

Millie shares drinks with anyone who will let her

How many girls can fit in one elevator? 

Cheeser

All the sisters

Such a fun trip!

Random pictures and things

-We found a house!! It will officially be ours at the end of October, and we are so excited. 

-Tyler is away on his first business trip. He'll be in Dallas until Friday. Millie and I miss him terribly, but count our blessings that he has a job! He got to see Randall and Crystal last night too (I'm majorly jealous).

-I think fall is coming to Houston soon. You wouldn't know by the temperature outside, but the water is too cold to swim comfortably! It's been a while since I've been down south for the winter, so I'm very excited.

-Millie does this funny thing when she eats- she brings one leg up and plops it on the highchair tray. Apparently Tyler did something similar when he was little. I love those little things about Millie that show me so clearly that she's ours!

And here are some pictures too:

I love a little girl in overalls!

Lovin' on her teddy bear

Things get messy when we try a new food

See? Leg on tray.

So fascinated by a puppet

Old friends and new friends

Tyler and Nathan have been friends for a LOT of years. Now that they're both grown up with wives and daughters, it only makes sense that their daughters would be friends, right? We thought so too.

Millie Mae and Delilah Jean. Doesn't that just sound like a radio show?

I am holding Millie's hands because she doesn't understand being gentle yet... poor Delilah!

They were practically babies when they met, and now they have babies of their own! Life is crazy like that.

Signs of a good nap

Crazy hair

Blanket lines on the face

A happy smile

This girl is such a good napper... and it shows!!

Update

I've started to write a new blog post lots of times over the last almost 2 months, but obviously never got very far! I just haven't really felt like it. Oh well. I'm trying to remember that I want to be consistent at recording my children's lives, and let that be my motivation! You've all been there, right?

We are all doing well. My rockstar-of-a-husband took all 4 sections of the CPA exam in less than 4 months, and he's DONE! I am so proud of him and proud to be his wife. He works so hard for our little family. Tyler started work this week and is excited to get into his clients and team after training is over. Now that he is done studying, we are really going to get our behinds into gear and find a house! We have so enjoyed being with the Juergens fam and are so grateful that they have let us bombard their lives for the last 4 months.

Millie is so grown up... I love and hate how quickly she learns and changes. Sometimes when I see pictures of her as a little baby it just makes my heart ache! I miss that little girl. But I'm so excited every time Millie learns something new and am so lucky to be able to watch her grow each day. She is quite the mover- always on the go. She crawls like a champ, pulls up on stuff, and even walks around if she's got a steady hold on a couch or ottoman. She claps, growls, and smacks her lips all the time. It's so cute to watch her explore! Her favorite toys are still remote controls, cell phones, etc. anything electronic-looking. My dad gave her his old palm pilot and she thinks it's the greatest. Millie is learning how to make messes and get into things that she shouldn't... but I kind of love it!! Now here come about a zillion pictures. I can't help it!

I love her face in this pic!

You can almost hear the evil, mischievous laugh

This was when we knew she was too smart for the little tub

Still VERY attached to the pacifier

"Oh, hey Mom... just opening these for you...."

Finally got her a highchair a few weeks ago! It's a win-win for everyone.