We Made It!!

After a long trip north, we pulled into Kansas City today at 10:30am.  It was a very good trip overall, and although we are very sleep deprived, it is so good to be at our first stopping point.  More fun details about our "car trip / journey with a 4-month old" coming soon.  I've got to remedy the sleep deprivation part right now.  

Eric had a great birthday today.  Miles sure does love his daddy and so do I.  

Thankful... Part IV (Eric)

Continuing on with the "thankful posts..."

Today is Eric's birthday, so I thought it appropriate to do a post about my wonderful husband.

I have so many things to be thankful for, and Eric is at the top of that list.  He is my rock, my supporter, the one that encourages me through everything.  He makes me see my worth and encourages me to follow my dreams.  He loves and appreciates me and what I do for our family.  He is a leader, a listener, and I thank God daily for allowing me to meet and marry him.

Having a child changes everything.  Eric and I have seen a side of each other (in becoming a mother/father) and our marriage has strengthened because of having Miles.  Have we been and will we face challenges because of having a kid/kiddos?  Absolutely.  But we have become quite an efficient team in raising our little boy, and it has been such a cool thing to see evolve.  He is so incredibly involved and helpful with Miles and keeping things running smoothly, as well as helping out with making dinners, cleaning up the kitchen, and pitching in.  Pretty much - he is dreamy.  :)  

Milestones: 18 Weeks

Hi world!  It's Mr. Miles here.  I am 18 weeks old now and growing SO fast!  It seems like every day, I get better at a new skill and "wow" my parents with what I've learned.  

Here are a few highlights: 

• Weight: 15 pounds and 13 ounces.  (70th percentile) I have almost doubled my birthweight!  
• Height: 25 inches (50th percentile).  I've grown 4.5 inches since being born!
• I have a teeny tiny tooth coming in on the bottom.  Mommy just saw it the other day!
• I am getting SO good (and fast!) at rolling from my back to my tummy.  And my neck strength is impressive.
• I am sleeping from 8:30pm - 6:30am and I take 3 naps a day.  I even go down for almost all of my naps without any crying, which is a definite change from when I was a tiny guy. 
• I am eating 6 times a day and getting ready to start rice cereal once we get back from holiday travel and mommy can devote some extra time to getting me started on that.
• Weird fact about me... I don't spit up.  I have maybe spit up 5 times in my life.  I know that is odd.  Mommy loves it though... less mess!  (But do I drool?  You betcha!)  
• I love my day care provider.  I get to play, sing, dance, learn, and giggle with her during the day, which makes me happy.  And when I am happy, mommy and daddy are too!  
• I like to watch football with my dad.  He's my best bud.  

Dear Miracle Blanket...

Dear Miracle Blanket, 

Who is the miracle now, huh?!  I escaped.  And I am getting really good at getting at least one limb out overnight - no matter how great mommy wraps me.  The other night, I was 3 for 4!  

Ha ha... take that, Miracle Blanket!  :) 
All kidding aside, we LOVE the Miracle Blanket.  It is THE best swaddling device we've seen or used.  My mom used our original Miracle Blanket (which is now at Miles' day care for naps) and made us one to have at home too.  She's so crafty!  Hopefully we won't have to swaddle Miles a whole lot longer, but he does like it - and it totally helps him sleep and stay asleep.  The boy has had crazy arms since he was born and wakes himself up with them.  

A Pathway to Success

I ran across an inspirational calendar that my mom had given me years ago that has a lot of cool verses/poems/sayings in it.  I thought this was really neat - and oh so true.  

A Pathway to Success - by Douglas Pagels

Remember what it's all about.  It's about making the most of your life and the time you have been given.  About doing the best you can do - and letting go of things that are beyond your control.  It's about believing in tomorrow and stretching your wings.

It's about reaching for your dreams, brightening your days, and filling your heart in a thousand ways.  It's about having as few regrets as possible - and more things to smile about than you ever imagined.  It's about knowing that the world begins at your doorstep and goes outward from there.

It's about envisioning how things should be and doing what you can while you can.  It's about having steppingstones to look forward to, milestones to look back on, and, in between, being part of a grand scheme of connect-the-dot-days that lead the way to success.

It's about rolling up your sleeves, tying on your traveling shoes, and taking the next step into whatever lies ahead.  

1 year ago... what I look forward to...

I cannot believe we hit the road for Kansas tomorrow afternoon.  Much to get done between now and then, but we are very excited for good times with our families!  We are packing about as much into 8 days as anyone could...  36 hours in a car, 2200 miles on the Honda, and countless memories ahead!  

Click here for a post I wrote last year about what I look forward to.  Ditto that again this year.  Except this year there will be no pets traveling with us, sadly - I won't be able to see Traci or Carroll, we now have 9 nieces and nephews to look forward to spending time with, and Brady's sweater won't be making an appearance (yet).  Looking forward to another Christmas season filled with lots of love, laughter, cuddling by the fire, and this year - extra special memories with our greatest gift of all... little MJ.

Can you even imagine? 5 million dollar$?!

I am not saying that Mack Brown (University of Texas Longhorns) has an easy job by any means, but can you even IMAGINE making this kind of money coaching college football?!?  This is a huge topic around UT right now.  Some people think it's totally unfair that he's paid that much when faculty/staff are not getting raises and some cuts are happening here and there.   (Even though Mack's salary doesn't come directly from UT... it comes from Athletics, who brings in more $$ than any other college athletic program in the country right now, and a large part of that is because of Mack Brown.)  I am impartial.  I see it from both sides.  But either way you play it - that is a huge amount of money.  

Click here for the whole story.  In addition to the over $5 million he will make this year, he's also getting a $100,000 bonus every year through the end of his contract (regardless if they win or lose) in 2016.  Who couldn't use a $100,000 annual raise, too?!?  Seriously... 

I hope he gives the kicker that won the game vs. Nebraska (Big XII Championship) a nice little thank you gift (that stays within college rules and regulations), since winning that game alone made him over $200,000... and winning the National Championship will make him another $450,000.  Wowzer... 

Hopefully the Longhorns will pull off another "W" on January 7th.  They've definitely got their work cut out for them.  Hook Em, Horns!