Brayden laughing

Sometimes children are so easy to entertain and I get to be a kid too!!!

First Video of Brayden

This is one of our videos of Brayden. I have been trying forever to get video online so that you can watch our little guy grow-up online.

.....Honestly, I've been trying to figure this out for my mom and dad, but I know everyone else will benefit too. Enjoy!

Derek

Birthday Celebrations

As I celebrate getting another year close to 30, I realize that it would be hard to beat this years b-day! Derek got Brayden up this AM so I could have another 1/2 hour of sleep, and then made a great breakfast of blueberry pancakes and sausage! :)

Brayden had his 9 mo appointment at the pediatrician's office this AM. He still only weighs 16 1/2 pounds, but I found out that I haven't been feeding him enough... I always talk about the parenting manual that they "forgot" to give me as I exited the hospital, but honestly, no one told me how much a baby his age should be eatting!! Was I just supposed to KNOW? :( I feel like such a bad, irresponsible mom! At least it's something we can take care of ASAP! The doc also surprised us when she noticed his top 2 teeth were cutting through already!! We just got the bottom 2 thru!! I never even noticed them! ........and here I thought we'd get a few weeks without the troubles of teething!!

Natalie and Todd came to visit today. We did a breif tour of Doylestown and had sushi for lunch at Ooka! YUM-O!! Then we "recharged" (AKA: napped) and then grilled for dinner. PERFECT DAY!!

Well, thanks to all who remembered my bday today and made it extra special this year! :) -Natalie took the pictures today, so we'll have to wait for those SINCE MY CAMERA IS BROKEN AGAIN!! >:-o

And, We're back

My little man is growing so fast!! He'll be WALKING soon!

What a crazy week... Tuesday, Derek was asked to be the chiropractor for Sting and The Police who were performing with Elvis Costello at the Wacovia Center!!! It was an unexpected event (for Derek) and unfortunately was sort of a bust... He met Elvis Costello and saw Sting and the band walk by, but ended up adjusting only crew members. :)

Wednesday, a production team came to the office to do a documentary on one of Derek's patients who will be competing in the Olympics this year. She is a previous silver medalist at the '04 Olympics in track and field and is expected to get a gold this time around! Derek tried to negotiate a ticket to Beijing so she could be treated prior to her races, but it didn't shake out ... :(

Derek left Wednesday afternoon for a 3 day conference in San Diego. My mom came to visit overnight and we went shopping! What fun! How convenient that derek left and Brayden FINALLY cut his bottom 2 teeth! :)



Saturday was BEAUTIFUL (well, after the thunderstorm) so Brayden and I had a picnic with my parents and grandparents at Lake Nockamixon. My camera didn't get delivered from Best Buy until today (Monday) so I don't have any pictures! After a long day, we got to bed early and couldn't wait for daddy to come home Sunday!

Back in business soon...

Editors Note: Our digital camera is BROKEN!! It started giving us problems a few weeks ago when there were lines streaking the screen, then the lens wouldn't open. Now the "Geek Squad" is fixing it and we should be up and running again soon!

We should be getting some video clips posted soon of Brayden crawling and climbing. This past weekend was spent "baby proofing," so the gates are mounted, foam corners applied and drawer/cabinet safety latches screwed in! Fhew!

Family Weekend

Saturday Derek and I went to the MOOOOOvies for the first time in over a year. What a date it was!! The Dark Knight was the best movie I've seen in a long time. It gets 5 stars from the 2 of us!

Sunday was the Miller Family picnic. Brayden got to meet his Great-great grandmother. We got a nice picture of the 5 generations of "Millers." We're so blessed! Clockwise from the bottom left: Great-great grandma Beulah Miller, Great "Pop-pop" Miller, Pop-pop Miller (my dad), Me and Brayden! :)

This week is "baby-proof the house" week. Brayden is getting into EVERYTHING, so I practically need a video surveillance system to keep track of his every move. :) Derek hung the gate for the top of the stairs, but now we must put those "annoying" but oh-so-important door and drawer locks and plug covers!!

Cole has about 50 days left down @ Marine boot camp in HOT south carolina.... I've been thinking about him a lot this summer. We can't wait to get down there (with smores pop tarts & a burger king whopper!) to celebrate his hard work. I wonder if he'll actually enjoy playing on the beach- we're all headed to the Outer Banks following graduation... I guess as long as no one yells at him. He's been doing a lot of martial arts-type training, but this past week he started water training... they have to learn to swim and tread water with their uniform and full equipment pack (at least 35 lbs!) YIKES. Check out this website for a more detailed version of his training schedule: http://www.mcrdpi.usmc.mil/training/ (he's in week 5)
If you haven't sent him a letter and would like to, here's his address:

Recruit Miller, Cole D.
PLT 2060 2nd BN H. Company
Box 12060
Parris Island, SC 29905-2060

You can send photos (he LOVES them and requests them) but nothing bulky or care packages.

Summer is flying by!

We've been so busy the last few weeks (months, really) so I gotta keep you in the loop! :)
For July 4th weekend, we travelled to western PA to visit with Dereks family.

The weather was fantastic, and Brayden even went for his first SWIM! The water was a bit cold at first, but he was thrilled to swim around with daddy for a little.

We also went for a walk at the park and HAD to stop by the swings! Brayden L-O-V-E-S swinging at the park! :)

We have a busy week ahead, "Auntie" Natalie is coming to visit on Thursday and then the Miller Family reunion is on Sunday. Of course who could forget that the new Batman movie is coming out this week, so "Mimi" miller is babysitting so Derek and I can get out for a date.... a concept that is nearly unknown to us since Brayden was born!! CAN'T WAIT! ...even if it IS seeing batman... :)

The stats: Brayden is 8 months old, close to 17 lbs and busy ROLLING, in early stages of CRAWLING (ie. rocking back and forth on hands and knees, pushing himself backwards, and a few steps forward, etc), and PULLING TO STAND!