2 years 7 months

Dear Miller,
We breezed right by the 2 1/2 year mark without a post to celebrate such a milestone age. All I have to say is that we started off the 2's with a bang, tackling sharing issues, and full out tantrums. Reading our manners book each night about "Me first Megan", "Look at me Leo", and "That's mine, Mark" really helped you learn how to be more polite. Within no time, you were asking for things with a please. It's amazing what mommy turned Super Nanny did for you. If only mommy could stop you from laughing when you burp, we'd have it made!

You quickly changed our attitude about this wonderful stage of development. You came full circle this summer into the mid two's and you are such a pleasure & joy. Once you started speaking in longer phrases and now sentences, the frustration over how to communicate your needs ended.

You notice all the little details in the world around you. From the tiniest bug on the ground with a "fuzzy back" to the wind blowing in the trees. Mommy loves it when you notice the colorful buttons on her shirt or comment on my earrings or jewelry. As Miss Karen says, "Nothing gets by Miller". You appreciate God's creation around you and take time to notice the little things. Mommy loves looking at life through the wonder and expression in your eyes.

You're our little social bug. Your whole face lights up when you see old friends and meet new friends. You have a special way of greeting your friends with, "What are you doing?" Instead of, "How are you doing?" When older boys on our street are playing, you run to play with them thinking you can keep up with their mature play. You love all the action on our block. We never cease to smile and are entertained daily by just what you pick up and say. What a happy countenance you have! This stage ranks right up there with six months as one of my all time faves with you, little boy.

Speaking of favorites...Some of your faves include: Curious George, flipping through toy magazines and making special requests, cars and trucks, eating out at restaurants, reading, and singing. Music is in your genes little man. You love it when daddy sings "Into my Heart" every night at bedtime. Your new favorite request is the Uga Chakka "I Can't Stop This Feeling" song. Mommy and daddy sing it in rounds for you. One day, very soon I'm sure, you'll be embarrassed by all of our antics.

You are learning so much! Grandmama gave you a lower case alphabet puzzle for Halloween and you've mastered choosing and naming every "little letter" as you call them. The lowercase, p,q,d,b, still give you trouble. We'll learn how to position them just right with time. You love to recite passages from your favorite books back and forth with daddy over dinner. We love to hear how you model daddy's expression in his voice.

Waiting by the door each afternoon for daddy is so much fun for me to sit back and watch. You're so patient! "Listen for the garage, momma!" "Daddy's home, momma!" When you stand with your nose pressed to the door, you say, "Back up, daddy's gonna hit you" (with the door)

I can't believe a whopping 2 years and 7 months have passed since daddy placed you in my arms. You were such a beautiful, screaming burrito all swaddled in the pink and blue hospital blanket. My how you changed our lives for the better. You taught us so many things about being a mommy and a daddy. You are our independent first born, and you have been the son to introduce us to parenthood.

Big changes will be happening in our family soon. Daddy and I feel so blessed that we'll have invested a whole 3 years with just you, Miller. We can't wait to watch you become a big brother.

Love you to the moon and back (just like Nutbrown Hare),
Mommy

My Little Shipmate

Happy Halloween to all from our little sailor. There's just something about a man in uniform. And, when my lil man got all dressed up tonight, it just about made my heart melt.
Miller is so proud of his daddy's sailor suit. He just stands a little prouder and taller when he's wearing the suit. I even caught him smiling in the mirror admiring his new look. Landon wore it when he was three years old. Omi and Papa have special pictures of Landon when he was little toddling around in his finest dress blues. It's been hanging in the closet, just begging to be worn by Miller for quite some time now...and what a perfect occasion to don the suit and proclaim heave a ho there sailor.

So this was the best I could do, capturing our man in full costume. Anyone know if they sell toddler bottom glue? I even pulled out all the stops, bribing him with candy to get the perfect shot!!
With all the rain, we should have gone ahead and purchased the ship and gathered round to sing "Anchors Aweigh". Despite the soggy weather, everyone on the block came out to trick or treat. Grandmama and Poppy stayed behind to pass out candy, while we voyaged to each house in and out of the rain. Miller didn't seem to mind. When we all took a break under daddy's big golf umbrella, Miller kept chanting "Go to next house".

Miller and Grant and the other kids on the block were knock-knock pals, adventuring door to door for candy treats. Miller was in awe of the whole experience, costumes and decorations.
There was no slowing down this man in uniform. He was sprinting between the houses. The only one heaving and a "ho" ing was this momma with her own growing pumpkin in tow.

Some of our favorite memories of the night included Miller helping Grandmama and Poppy pass out candy to all the kids at our door. He waited with great anticipation for the next treater and stood with his hands full of candy to share. With each ring, he came tearing around the couch to do his little job shouting, "more kids?"

The Scoop

Thank you for your well wishes for baby Fokens number 2. We're thrilled as can be, and appreciate all of your prayers and excitement for us.

SO here's the scoop. Probably more information than you want to know. Of course, I love to document lots of details on the blog.


*My due date is May 4th, but since this baby will be a c-section, we'll expect to deliver the last week of April. Our family is fond of spring babies. The warmer weather and a LONG maternity break straight into summer just works for us.
We found out about our little bundle the day before our fourth anniversary, August 26th. There's just something about our anniversary that always holds good news. On our first anniversary, we announced that Miller was on his way. And, now three years later, another surprise greeted our family.

*At six weeks, we had our first ultrasound and heard baby's heatbeat. That sweet rythmic thumping is music to my ears. There's nothing like seeing that growing jelly bean on the screen.

*With the first trimester almost behind us, I wanted to reflect on these past 13 long weeks. Morning sickness and exhaustion hit me like a truck around 8 weeks. This time around I felt nautious all day long. The only thing that would bring relief is to snack and eat small meals throughout the day. Thankfully, I've rounded a corner and feel great on most days. I still need an afternoon nap on some days.

*Some friends have asked if Miller really gets that he'll be a big brother. We sure do talk about it a lot. I'm pretty confindent that by age 3, he'll start processing the big life change around here. I keep reminding him that the baby will sleep in his bed and Miller will get a new big boy bedroom. He loves to pat my tummy and kiss the baby. So sweet!

*I've had different cravings this time around. For the first 5 weeks, I couldn't get enough of tomatoes covered in Ken's balsamic dressing. I think I wore that craving out. Another craving has been oranges or grapefruit juice first thing in the morning. I also can't get enough of raisin bread for breakfast. I always eat an afternoon salad or carrot sticks with ranch dressing. Right before bed, I eat three peanut butter crackers to coat my stomach for the not so fun prenatal. Like clockwork, if I skip this snack I get sick first thing in the morning.
The first pregnancy, I couldn't look at or eat chicken. This time around, it tastes just fine! It's so amazing how each pregnancy can be so different.

*Oh the joys of pregnancy! My wonderful pregnant glow has been masked by preggo acne that you can't treat as well because of the medication. Also, ocular migraines have returned this time around. Seeing spots and white flashes can be kind of scary! It all is worth it in the end!

*We can't wait to welcome this brand new addition. Thanks for celebrating with us!

Miller's Little Secret

The secret is out
Let the FUN begin
Miller's going to be a BIG brother in 2010!
Our family of three will be a party of four
We're blessed beyond measure to be adding one more

"The Lord has done great things for us,and we are filled with joy!" Psalm 196:3

Pumpkin Patch

Nothing says October has arrived better than a trip to Berry Patch Farms. We took our annual family trip this Saturday, and had a ball. Usually, I plan the trip a few weeks out, but the weather has been so crazy we didn't know what to expect. Fortunately, our friends the Riveras are super spontaneous, and on a five minute notice loaded up to caravan with our family to the patch.
Miller is obsessed with Tucker. He just loves carousing with older boys...hanging on every word and modeling their older ways. And, Tucker is exactly 2 years his senior with a March birthday. Tucker shares the same car, monster truck, king digger, and tractor passion as Miller. Most of their kid conversations involve discussing these vehicles.



While at the patch, we enjoyed a tractor hay ride out to the field of orange pumpkins. The boys ran way far ahead to gather the miniature variety, while the adults and baby Tate lagged behind. Oh the adventures at the pumpkin patch! These kiddos were rolling and hiding in the pumpkins, laughing and enjoying the freedom of the open field. As soon as one of the tractors circled back around the farm, Miller would stand in complete silence just staring at his farmer friend. You could see that he was in awe of the tractor noises with his eyes following each roll of the wheels.

We picked just the late afternoon time to play in the patch. The weather felt fallish and the crowds had dwindled. Our Saturday trip did not disappoint. Happy Fall to you!

It's a Crazy Life, but it's our Life

I've received several concerned emails wondering just where we've been lately. The blog is on the back burner lately...we're just SO busy. I've got my hands in too many pots and blogging about it just overwhelms me at the moment. I've been taking an online course to earn PLU's to update my certification in 2011. I'm earning 4 credits right now and need 6 more by next year. I found this out a little late in the game, so it's crunch time before next year. Keeping up with part time work, online work, house work, calendar keeping with appointments and events, socializing, house showings, scheduling a little play time with my little man, being a rock star mom, is consuming all of my time. I'd be lost without Landon. He's my full time chef and grocery shopper. That is one thing I can mark off of my to do list and I'm so happy to do so.
I feel like borrowing the phrase, "It's a crazy life, but it's OUR life!" Except we have the happier ending....
Another fun fall project in the making is Miller's big boy room. We just got his bedding in today, and I'm super excited about it. We think we've narrowed down our furniture choices and can't wait to order his bed room set in the next week. It was a little bit of a challenge finding a twin bed I liked with a trundle. Hopefully this project will be well underway by late fall. I've decided that his room will be just as easy to take with us to a different house. Everything comes with us besides the paint.
We've got lots going on around here and I can't wait until life slows down a bit to share it all with you! Don't give up on us!

Labor Day at the Park

Piedmont Park was the park of choice today to celebrate Labor Day and a Monday off of work. We met up with Uncle Clay and Jetta for a picnic lunch. Miller warmed up to Jetta and kept laughing at all of her doggy antics including drinking from a water bottle. Jetta sure did command a lot of attention from other park goers. And, how could she not...she's truly sweet and adorable!

We made sure to tour the doggy park where Miller loved watching dogs of all sizes entertain themselves. Miller's favorite part of the park was the playscape, complete with a miniature red firetruck. Miller was oblivious to all that the park had to offer because he was so amused by all the fun inside the truck. Yes, he was the firefighter making all of the engine noises in the back of the truck.





On our way out, we enjoyed free popsicles under the shade of an oak tree. There's just nothing like a city park with the skyline of downtown Atlanta looking down on you. Beautiful weather, great company, a furry new member to the family, and a happy little man made for a fantastic Labor Day.