My New Toy

Yesterday Dave came home with a special gift for me. 

A new 50mm lens for my camera!

Just what I've been wanting. 

This man tricked me. He told me last week that he got me something but I couldn't know until it came. I told him " but babe, I don't want a kitchen aide mixer right now, Id rather get a rug for the back room". He later went on saying "do you know how many colors those come in?". I was sure one was going to arrive on our door step.

Then, the other day, he gave me a new cap for my lens (since I had lost it).

I said, "oh, is this what you got me?", he said yes. As thoughtful as it was (cause you know how men are, Im surprised he even knew), I was a little sad..  But then I got my new lens! Something Ill use way more than a mixer. 

Dave also bought me a ticket to Nashville so I can be there for my sister when the baby is about to be born. 

He is a very generous man. He works so hard to provide for us and doesn't complain. I really love that about him. 

In other news, I've began looking for another part time job. One where I can have an actual pay-check and help contribute to bills to take a little stress off of Dave. 

Here are some pics taken from my new lens:

No Boys Allowed

{my friend Skyler got a hold of my camera and now I have a ton of candid photos, pictures of people I don't know and picture of pictures of her. haha.} 

This past weekend I was finally able to step away from being mom for a couple of hours to celebrate a friend becoming a mom at her lovely baby shower. 

I had a great time being able to not only see my girl friends, but converse with them while giving them 100% of my attention. I also got to meet some really amazing and inspiring people. 

Can more of my friends have babies so I can do this more often??

p.s. being a mom makes you great at the baby games. just saying..

Splish Splash

We got Owyn his own little pool, since he loved swimming so much.

He didn't like it at first, but once he was out he only wanted to splash around.

Oh, and occasionally try to drink the water like a dog.

The Big Apple

For Father's day Dave chose to dine at the Big Apple for steak and BBQ. 

We chose this place because it's literally directly across the main street from our house. 

We could walk, if we wanted to. 

I was a little disappointed with the food but we were able to come to make a very serious decision while we were there...

We are putting Owyn up for sale, due to his crazy behavior. 

We weren't sure whether to laugh at him or be embarrassed. I felt like we brought our pet chimp.  I put Owyn down for his second nap around 4pm (which was late) but he decided he didn't want to sleep. Instead, he played in his crib. So by the time dinner came around (7pm), Owyn was waayyyy past tired and acting delirious. Once we were at the restaurant he wouldn't settle down until he got a balloon, and then he wouldnt stop hitting the balloon around the top of his head. Once he was over that he decided he wanted to play in our booth, talk to our neighbors and bang his spoon on the table laughing for no good reason at all. We ordered him some mac and cheese, which he didnt want until we were finished eating our meals, and had a good ol time tossing it under the table and smooshing onto the wall. 

I think we'll be eating in for a while... 

ps. he passed out the moment we got into the car.

Pizza Night

There is nothing like homemade pizza. 

mmm... it's the best!

{spinach, artichoke, garlic and red pepper on whole wheat sprinkled with oregano}

I'm bigining a new Friday night tradition that includes homemade pizza. 

(our Sunday night tradition is Steak night ((for Dave, of course))

Happy Father's day

Happy Father's day to Dad and Dave. 

Two great men.

Our Door is Open

 (do you see the spot I somehow missed on my stipes?)

What used to be my favorite room (guest room)- for like 5 mins- is now being used as a storage. Soon we will be forced to actually unpack those boxes that we're pretending don't exist.

We're planning a BIG first birthday party for Owyn along with a baby shower for my sister all in the same July weekend! 

What? Owyn is almost 1 year old??
Oh my, that is so bittersweet. 

So basically during that weekend we will have my mother, bother and girlfriend, sister, dad and stepmom all in town at the same time! The last time that happened was 2 years ago!

I am so excited to open our door to all of the guests.

Hopefully we can get our yards looking good and green by then.
Oh, and a guest room that that doesn't have boxes along every wall.  

Golden Locks

For the first time in 4 years Im going back to blonde. 

My hair is a very ashy blonde color, so trying to keep up with the brown is too hard

now that I don't have very much time. Plus, it was getting pretty boring. 

This might be a long process..

Morning Stroll

There's a nice track and feild on our street that's perfect for my to take owyn on walks. 

I can think of one other thing it's perfect for..

taking our dog on a walk.

Now we just need to get one.

K.I.T.C.H.E.N.

 It's done!

No longer do I have to close my eyes while passing through the kitchen from the living room to family room

We have re-done our kitchen and
It actually flows together now. 

Well actually, I can't take very much credit. I told Dave what colors to get and he took over from there.
I worked Saturday, came home, and the cabinets were painted. I was pretty happy.

Before:

After:

Two Boys???

I feel slightly embarassed sharing this informations with you all, 

but the other night I proposed the idea of having another child soon. 

I figured it's a good time. 

Life doesnt ever get easier, and the bills never get cheaper. 

It only gets harder. And why not have all the kids close together so it's easier to transition instead of getting Owyn into tod years, or older, and then having to get back into 'baby mode'? It makes sense, yes?

Well It did to me. But I think it got Dave a little stressed out just thinking about the fact. 

Luckily for him - at perfect timing- the next day I watched a family friends 15 month old. 

It was a lot of fun, but let me tell you, it was hard!

I couldn't turn my head for a second. And I never set down the dust pan.

-he was the best baby ive ever met, btw. 

I didn't know kids even came this good.

It definatley put the idea of another kid on the back burner for now. 

So when Dave came home last night I had one thing in mind. 

When are we getting a dog???

I would just like for Owyn to have a friend. 

Can you tell which one is the trouble maker??

Suck it, James Perse

There is this top that Ive been wanting sine 2006!

This lovely james perse blouse retails for $144. 

I found a perfectly executed knock-off at forever 21 for $10.50!!

It might of 4 years, but I finally have it!

Like the full body shot?

I thought you might..

hehe.

The shoes are just too cute to crop. 

which btw, ive had since 2006!

Hat Party

Oh, the silly little things that keep kids entertained. 

Why do they even make baby toys?

Carrying the History of The Hidden House

{please excuse our yard in need of maintenance and water, we need to schedule our irrigation}

Im falling more in love with our neighborhood -and house- everyday.

We've been meeting our neighbors and feeling more at home.

Our neighbor across the street has lived in our house before.

He is an elder man and gave us a history of our house and the people who have also resided. Including what has been added on, updated, changed and why they left.

He told us about the Nobels, the ones who built the house.
He explained that it is their growth marks left on the inside of the first hall closet door. The marks from young children who are now in their 60's.

So after I walked back into our home I curiously opened that hall closet door
to find the faint existing pencil marks dating all the way back to the 50's.

Not only has every resident, who has called this beautiful home theirs, left those marks, but they have also left us their own. I cant help but feel deeply connected to these people. Our children have played on the same lawn, we've shared family meals in the same dining room and anxiously walked through the same front (or side) door to come home to our families. And it is a few lines marked in pencil that link us to one another. And remind me to appreciate this home for what it is. And all of the lovely things everyone has done to make this house so special and unique.

Hopefully Ill be able to find a blank closet door to make our mark.

Pride. The Good Kind.

Did you know Owyn now stands on his own?

He can even take a couple steps. 

He also points. He loves fans.

Yesterday we went outside to watch some doggies walk by.

Owyn pointed, laughed and said "dog". 

But it sounded more like DA.

AND he nods his head and says "yea"
and shacks his head no.

I'm so proud of my big boy. 

Can you see it in my eyes?

Can you beleive he's almost 1???

Baked Eggs

I've made these baked eggs, similar to a Frittata, twice this week already. 

Me and Owyn eat them for breakfast, lunch and snacks. 

Muy delicioso! 

Ingredients include:

eggs

hash browns

spinach

green chilies

feta cheese

milk

cheddar cheese

What I do is lay the ingredients down casserole style, hash browns first,-into a glass baking dish-

pour the beaten eggs with a splash a milk over and sprinkle with cheddar. 

Toss it in the oven at 350 for 20 minutes (depending on the depth of your dish) and vuala!

Breakfast! ..and lunch, and snack, and dinner.

I've been having to get creative with our food since O-Jo 

refuses to eat baby food.

Puzzled

This seems to be a reoccurring theme around here. 

Wake up way too early with Owyn, turn on his fav movie, Tarzan,

lock him in the room, lay on the floor, doze off..

and wake up, a bit, puzzled. 

Unfinished Bedroom Bliss

Eventhough our bedroom is not complete, 

im loving the simplicity of the bare bed and walls. 

It makes sleeping much easier.

I used to have a good boy.

rememer this good boy??

With all of the new change and cutting 3 new teeth at once, 

Owyn has been unrecognizably bad. 

Yes, this kid has his bad moods sometimes. Like when he's sleepy or hungry. 

But he has been so bad the past week Ive lost my mind.

...again. 

Is it possible to loose you're mind if its already lost?

hmm..

I'm hoping this passes.

At least he's still the cutest baby in the world, right? 

First Completed Room: Dining Room

I'm having so much fun decorating this house. 

There's not a thing I've overlooked. 

From the light fixtures and crown molding all the way down to the rugs and base boards, I have planned and touched everything. 

The first room we have completed is our dining room. 

Thanks to my complaints to force Dave out of his Man Cave in order to get my light fixture hung. 

Women will be women. 

Here is the the before:

Hereis the After:

Mornings in the Miller House

The mornings here are so beautiful it gives me a reason get out of bed and go outside. 

The sunshine flows into the house and makes everything glow. 

There isn't a sound except for the birds chirping. 

(and the cow our neighbors have. wierd, i know)

And for the backyard, well, you can see yourself. 

It's just so lovely here. 

Getting Settled

This unpacking thing is taking forever.

It's very strange going to sleep and wakin up in a new place. 

Trading in our small 900sq/ft apartment for over twice that, is very bitter sweet. 

That was the home I nested in before Owyn's arrival. The home we took him to when he was born. 

The small patch of grass outside our front door where we'd wait for daddy to come home. 

It's all different.

And Im having a hard time wanting to let that all go and start something new. 

As exciting as it is.

This is my living room, still needing a lot of work. 

I told Dave he could have the family room do what he wants with. 

So far, I havn't seen him because he spends his days working on his room. 

Although, we did go buy $60 dollar lamps for it today (outrageous, I know) and made a trip to 

Guitar Center to buy a new amp for his guitar. He has BIG plans for a band room. 

Who knew giving a space to a man to call his own would be so exciting??

poor Owyn is so confused. 

:(

Dave admiring my closets in our bathroom. 

That man still needs to hang my middle mirrors. 

Maybe if he'd step out of that family room for a minute I could talk him into it.

There is still so much to do!

More later. 

xoxoxo

We're IN!!

Hello from the Miller house! 

(Miller being our street)

We've been working so hard, and we're finally moved in!

Not looking forward to unpacking..

More pics when I have more time..