D is For...

Other 4 Week Pics:

Mommy loves kissing you!

You hate getting dressed!

You sleep like a little angel.

  I love when you sleep on me.


4 Week Stats - February 24

• You have been smiling (briefly) a lot this week.
• You've started holding onto my t-shirt neck and grasping a fist-full of hair. 
• You make the cutest crying noises when you suck on your pacifier at the same time. 
• You have the perfect baby doll "wwwaaaaah!" cry... most times.  Other times its loud and screechy. When you are screechy, you almost always warrant a "don't scream like a girl, my son!" comment from daddy...
• You're starting to loose some of your hair in the back now, and it's looking more and more like a mullet because the very back of your hair is very very long.  Mommy (while debating trimming it) generally tucks it into the back of your onesie so it doesn't look so funny. :)
• At night, if you wake up, you look right into my eyes.  Sometimes I'm already awake and am watching you.  I've learned that if you wake up, I need to close my eyes and pretend to be sleeping and then you'll close yours and go right back to sleep too.  If I keep watching you though, you keep watching me and don't go back to sleep.  So I have to fake sleep a lot. :)  You're so smart to seem to know that if mommy and daddy are still sleeping, then it's still time for Zeek to sleep too. 
• You have seriously started having big boy farts.  Mommy would question daddy if I weren't holding you and feeling the vibrations. 
• You also burp big.  Real big.
• You practically sleep on command.  If I want you to sleep, I just go lay down with you and you close your eyes to sleep.  This is an awesome skill, little one.
• Mommy and daddy have screwed up your schedule a bit this week with staying the night at Grandma Miller's house and then staying in the hotel in Seattle.  But you have done awesome with the irregularity!  (You MUST be your father's son.  You're so easy going and not high strung like your momma can be.)
• You also snore a lot.  At Grandma Miller's last weekend, you fell asleep on her lap.  She said you were snoring like a donkey... and sure enough, "hee haw... hee haw... hee haw..." I could hear it clearly across the room. 
• I love smelling you.  You smell like yogurt or cottage cheese.  But I love it.  I'm always smelling your sweet breath. :)
• No matter how good we swaddle you, you somehow always manage to kick your feet out and pull your arms free.  It's a mystery.
• You started grunting, groaning and cooing a lot while you sleep.  I always have to turn the night light on to see if you're still sleeping or awake. You're always still sleeping.  Just loudly. 
• You also randomly will shriek or cry while you sleep, but you don't usually wake yourself up doing that.
• You went out of Oregon for the first time this week and traveled to Washington!
• You are a great traveler - and just slept in your car-seat the entire 4 hour trip, except for having to make one stop for feeding. 
• You arch your back so far sometimes when laying down that you just about can roll over already!
• On Saturday morning, you made a new record.  You would poop and then as I was changing you, you would pee and it would get all over your outfit.  You did this three times in three hours.  We were at Grandma Miller's house and thankfully she didn't mind doing laundry, because Mommy had only packed 4 outfits for you.  I didn't think you'd breeze through them that quick.
• You were given your first toy car this week by Mark and Marla!  They picked it out right, because they got you a Hot Wheels with 2 surfboards on top.  Daddy was pleased. :)
• Your eyes are getting so good at focusing!  You are a very wide, bright-eyed boy.
• You went to your first paintball tournament this weekend.  The air compressor for tank fills made you jump at first, but you got used to it.  Soon all the paintball noises will be very familiar to you. :)
• You listened to Mark Driscoll preach live for the first time (you've already listened to a podcast sermon of his with mommy.).
• I think you are the only baby who doesn't scream when getting your nose suctioned.  You don't even seem to notice...
• You got to meet your great-aunt Janet and great-uncle Clint this week.  Janet said she likes your eyebrows.
• You also got to meet your great-grandma Grace and great-grandpa Earl this week.  This was very special for mommy to see.  Grandma said that she enjoyed the beautiful sunset as they drove over in the evening to come see you.  She said she thought to herself how beautiful the sunset was that God had made.  

2/19/11 Oregon Sunset (source)

Then she realized that even as beautiful as God's sunset creation was, she knew you would be more beautiful because you are life that God has created.  

 Great-Grandpa Earl and Great-Grandma Grace Miller admiring you.

Your Miller Great-Grandparents and Grandparents

I love you, sweet child of mine!!  Four weeks old and a whole month old in 3 days?!  You've got to be kidding me.  Time does go by as fast as everyone told me it would.

Loving watching you grow and mature, Zeeky Baby.
Love,
Momma Baby
(daddy's nickname for me)

Seattle Weekend

Life with Skyler is always an adventure.  Likewise, being married to one of the most easy going fellows, I know that he his always up for adventure. 

On Sunday morning I climbed out of bed with Zeek to give daddy a little more sleep time and I saw on Facebook that Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle had posted that a Thrice bandmate would be joining their worship team for the day.  I thought, "Skyler loves Thrice!  He'd get a kick out of that." So I woke him up and asked if he'd want to stay the night in Seatte.  He said, "Let me sleep for another hour and go find a hotel," and rolled back over.  I booked a room at The Maxwell Hotel and started packing.

We headed up around 12:30, but were making a stop in Elma, WA first to stop by a Smoking Guns paintball tournament (the tournament is ran by a friend of ours in WA).  We got to Elma at 3:30. Zeek got his first taste of paintball!! It was sunny but cold, so we bundled him up and while he looked super cute, he also looked a bit like this:

He kept his arms permanently bent like this, but upwards for a very long time. :)

And daddy trying to keep him really warm!

We got up to Seattle a little later than anticipated and made our usual late appearance (anywhere) to Mars Hill Church for the 7:15 service.  We always love hearing Mark Driscoll speak and it was fun seeing him in person again after it being two years since the last time we were at Mars Hill.  He spoke on Luke and "Investigating the Man Who is God".  As always, a great message.  Then the worship band came up and we got to see the guy from Thrice.  Don't ask me who it was, because I don't know!  I don't really care for Thrice (Skyler loves them though and is constantly playing them in the house...and I am constantly begging him to change the cd! :D)  

The one song I do like is A Song for Milly Michaelson.

As we were leaving church, Skyler was walking out with Ezekiel.  You should have SEEN the heads turn!  Seriously about 95% of the people (mostly younger ladies) we passed would turn their heads towards the boys and go "aww!! Soo cute!"... Handsome, loving daddy...sweet, adorable baby boy!  Oh yeah, and I'm the Mommy!! Back off ladies. ;)

We made our way to The Maxwell Hotel and to our delight, there was a McMenamin's directly across the street!!  After we checked in, we made our way over to have some delicious happy hour dinner. 

 

Zeek's first McMenamin's experience!... Notice Zeek's pinky...he's thinking dinner too!! ;)

Here's the cute hotel!

 I loved the chandeliers on the wall!

  The boys in bed.  Seriously, THE most comfortable hotel bed I've ever ever slept on.  Or maybe just the most comfortable bed, ever.  

The next morning we slept in till 10 and then took Zeek to the pool for his second water experience, but first time in the pool!!  It was very cold water for being an indoor pool, so we only stayed for a few minutes, just long enough for a photo. :)

Cute boy in his towel!

Then we headed towards downtown!  We got some donuts from Pike's Place and then stopped by the Original Starbucks for some coffee for breakfast. 

 

 Skyler and his lamb gyro that he has to get every time. :)

 Zeek slept for the entire 3 hours that we walked around Pike's area!

Due to mommy still healing from postpartum, we decided to take it easy and went back to the car for a nice little nap.  Ezekiel could not fit better into our family.  Skyler and I can sleep anytime, anywhere.  Apparently so can Zeek.  We all slept in the car together for over an hour. :)  We woke up refreshed and walked around the waterfront for a while.

We had a clam chowder and Salmon burger dinner before we headed back home.  It was an awesome (short) weekend getaway with my precious family.   So thankful for these opportunities!

Love, K

C is For...

 "Mom? A bunny? Really?" ... 

(Please don't tell daddy that I dressed you up as a bunny...)

 My break dancer:

You do this (lift your legs and feet completely off the ground) when you are laying on my chest also.  It is hilarious to watch you. :)

Other 3 Week Pictures:

You're putting on some chunk!  You're getting a little chubbier thighs :)

You sleep like an angel.

Pinky means you're ready to eat. :)

I love holding your hand.

 And I love your cute baby feet.

Ok, ok.  Paparazzi will leave you alone.  I just can't get enough of you though!

3 Week Stats

• You allowed mommy to take a shower while daddy was gone!  You sat so good and quietly in your car seat in the bathroom and were content to just look around.
• Your little thighs are getting a little chubbier!  I love it.  Though it also makes me sad because it shows me just how quickly you are growing already!
• You went to Providence Vineyard Church this last Sunday with mommy and daddy and you got to hear Grandpa Miller preach. 
• You visited your new girlfriend Destiny on Sunday!  She is 8 days younger than you. 
• You started using a pacifier a little bit this week.  We wanted to hold off a little while longer at least, but you want to suck on something all the time!  So...in order to save mom, the pacifier came out of its packaging...You seem to quite enjoy it.
• You played on your caterpillar floor mat for the first time this week.  You were content to look at the dangling toys for about 20 minutes. :)
• You're getting better at napping without being held and mommy is getting the house cleaned again! (Yay!)
• (I secretly don't mind you wanting to be held all the time.  It melts my heart.  Housework will always be there, but you will only be a baby for a short while.)
• You and I visited daddy at work this week!  We showed you off to the guys (they all thought you were adorable) and we had lunch with daddy.  
• You and I took our first trip to the grocery store this week.  After 3 weeks, I really needed to go!  You did EXCELLENT!  You slept the entire time...until I was checking out.  And then you decided to wake up and scream loudly and turn beet red.  Mommy felt so bad that I couldn't console you very well right then, because I had to pay the cashier and bag the groceries... :(
• You met your uncle Jon this week.  He had been sick and couldn't meet you before.  You still have your uncle Jeremy to meet and your soon to be aunt Shannon... only 2 more months and you'll be able to meet them.
• You get so much attention when we run errands.  Sometimes I have to just pretend not to hear people comment on you, because if I stopped and talked to every single person that said something about you, I would never ever accomplish anything.  Or, at the very least, I would be spending 2 hours in Winco... no thanks. :)
• You celebrated Valentine's Day with daddy and I this week.  It was my favorite Valentine's ever!  I'm not much of a Hallmark Romantic anyway, so I loved our Valentine's for Three. 
• We've been reading to you every night as part of our nighttime routine.  Daddy and I are loving it.  We are also quickly going through your books.  I could definitely stand to grow your collection.
• You showered in the shower with mom this week, also.  I put you in your baby tub in the bath with me.  You pooped immediately in your seat (thank you).  When we were both all clean and got out, I wrapped you in your towel and laid you on my bed so I could dry off.  You pooped again.  (Thank you, again.).
• You're still my favorite (just like daddy is my favorite), and you can poop, pee, spit up on me as much as you like.  I won't love you any less. :) 

I love you Zeeky Baby.  Always do and always will.  Three weeks with you - and we'll be onto four very soon.  And then we'll be onto fourteen years before I know it.  Loving watching you grow, baby boy.

Love,
Momma K

B is For...

 Two Weeks Old!

Two Week Stats - February 10th, 2011

 Ezekiel Pierce

• Last Friday at your one week appointment, you weighed 7 lb 9 oz.  You had gained back your birth weight plus one oz!
• Also at your appointment, I was weighed.  I weighed in at 139 - I had lost 18 of the 22 lbs gained in a week! Yay!
• At your two week appointment you weighed 8 lbs even!!  You are getting chubbier cheeks and mommy very much loves that. 
• At two weeks, mommy weighs 135.5 - only .5 more than when I started at Bella Vie with you!  Whoo hoo!  You keep gaining and mommy keep losing, ok?? ;)
• This week your eyes have gotten even more clear!  You are definitely looking right at us now. :)  It's so cool to communicate through our eyes with you.
• You are STILL sleeping like a champ!  Last Saturday night you slept for 7.25 hours straight!! OHH YA!
• And... you are still eating like a champ.  During the day that is. :)  You eat nonstop during the day - probably to make up for only eating every 4 or 5 hours at night. 
• You went to Portland this week and spent the whole day shopping with mom and dad.  You did so good the whole time.
• We are finding that it takes a million times longer to do things with a baby.  Not because you're a baby.  But because people stop us and want to talk about the baby [you] for 10 minutes each.  They especially want to talk about your hair.
• You do not like sitting in your car seat.  But once you are in the car, you fall asleep in a matter of minutes, but wake up immediately when we stop the car. 
• You still always hold your pinky up when you are feeding.  Daddy calls it your pressure gauge - because you hold it firmly against my breast.  Daddy says you use your pinky to gauge how much milk is left. :)
• You still sleep with us at night.  I think that's why you sleep so well!  You are just like me when I was a baby - always wanting to be held and cuddled.  I just wanted to be held all the time and I'd go right to sleep.  You are exactly the same, which is totally adorable, but also makes it hard to get things done around the house.
• When I put you on my chest to sleep, you always squirm your way up to my neck.  You learned that you can put your big toe inside my belly button to push yourself up higher on me.  Daddy says you are practicing rock climbing. 
• You had your first blow out this week, which led to an impromtu bath at Grandma Miller's.  Mommy took mental note to pack more than just one extra pair of clothes.  
• Daddy had taken this week off of work (as well as last week), so we told our friends and family "no visitors, please!" this week and just enjoyed having you all to ourselves. 
• You have gained another nickname: One Eyed Winky.  You actually had it last week, but I forgot to write it down.  This week I caught it on film. :) We call you One Eyed Winky because whenever you are feeding, you look up at me with one eye open and one eye closed...even if your head isn't resting on my arm...it's just always the one eye. :)
• Your hair is getting a little bit lighter colored already.
• You went to your first church service this week at Salem First Nazarene.
• You went to your first restaurant this week, when you and mommy had lunch with Grandma Miller and Aunt Donna at Sizzler.  You did wonderful! 

Here is a little video I put together of your first two weeks. :)

I cannot believe it has already been 2 weeks with you!!  You are already growing so fast.  I love you, sweet baby boy.  I am so glad you are mine. :)

Love,
Momma K