Ok so I'm addicted!

Well I did it...jumped in head first - With my new obsession PINTEREST!  I love it...it has draining countless battery lives on my Iphone but I can't get enough.  I had requested an invite weeks ago and was on their dumb waiting list but last night I finally got a invite and Im slowly but surly learning the ropes!

Follow me
http://pinterest.com/abbeymiles/

Its redic how many cute things are on there!  Is it bad that because of Pinterest, I've already started planning for Jaxon & Layla's 1st Birthday Party...but hey it is less then 3 months away - and it is kind of a BIG deal!!

I've also picked out their "NEW ROOM DECOR" for our new house...well the new house I'm building in my head because the REALITY house isn't coming anytime soon! A girl can dream right???

Well I better get going, I have things to PIN haha

We have 9Month pictures tonight at LC Photography, I've been thinking all day about what they are going to wear!  Stay inside today if you can - its nasty out!!

Happy Birthday Owen!

Look at me... Back to back blogs! It might become an everyday thing again... MIGHT being the key word. Well after hours upon hours of labor I'm so happy for my cousin Mallory and her boyfriend Jason they welcomed Owen David into the world Friday morning. She had a c section Friday morning.  I took off the afternoon loaded up the car and headed with he fam to memorial hospital in Belleville. Ahhh he is beautiful- I have never seen a baby with longer fingers and toes HOLY NBA possibilities!!

Owen was born at 9:13am Friday 12/16/2011
8lbs 7oz- 20inches long

It's so funny because he was a full 3 lbs bigger then jaxon and I do not remember Jason EVER being that tiny! Yeah for new baby's!!! Christmas this year will be fun but watch out next year.. My two 1year olds and Owen will have just turned 1 - OH the fun We will have!!

Exactly 1 week til Christmas!  I Love this time of the year!!

Happy Anniversary, Happy 9 Months, Happy BABY Day

OMG - what a day we have in store!!
4 Years ago today I married my best friend - It was the best day of my life to that point!  The backdrop was perfect
Candle Light ceremony, snow falling outside, and a room full of our closest family and friends!

Happy Anniversary Stephen -

Today also marks Jaxon & Layla's 9Month Birthday....WHAT??!! How did they get to be 9months..seems like just yesterday we were bringing them home from the hospital.  They are at the age where they are so much fun to play with, interact with each other, and crack up at the most random things!

But it makes me sad to know if the first year went by this fast the next will fly as well -

This obviously is the year of Baby's First.....Easter, Summer, Halloween, Thanksgiving and now Christmas ..so these crazy parents actually just ME thought it would be a
great idea to get Jaxon and Layla's picture with Santa...at the mall....13 days before Christmas....what the heck was I thinking...Holy Line -
But I had happy campers in line...it was when we actually met the big fella that Layla had issues -

BIG issues.....like "I HATE THIS MAN IN A BRIGHT RED SUIT AND WHITE BEARD!! PLEASE REMOVE YOUR HAND FROM HOLDING ME!"

Thank you, Love Layla

By the look on her face this was Mid-Meltdown..if the pictures didn't cost $21.00 each I would have bought the full meltdown one...Im talking arms flailing, paci flying out of her mouth and tears....BIG TEARS!

So I settled for this one!

Merry Christmas everyone! lol

Well just a little update on the new happenings with Jax & Layla....

Jaxon is jumping head first in this whole teething thing - FUSSY, SNOTTY, SLOBBERY, and did I mention last night he we were up about every 30 mins ahhhh

I love ya kid but man o man that makes for one tired momma in the morning! This is what I get from them for the first hour or so of bedtime...Peace, Quite and a little sibling cuddle time ;)

 
Tuesday night after bedtime bottle Layla wanted to show Daddy some love.....or at least share with him her ENTIRE BOTTLE! hahahahaha

 O it gets better.........even got a little puke in his wallet ahhhhhh

As far as everything else today we are anxiously awaiting the text that says Mallory is officially in full blown labor - They checked into the hospital last night at 12:01am - and are starting the induction process any time now!

Im sooo excited to meet baby Owen - Lets hope for a speedy labor and a happy healthy baby owen and momma!

Should have pictures tomorrow!

Hello all-

Well its been awhile...or as Kelly told me last night "I've really dropped the ball on blogging these days."  Which is true - and I could give you every excuse under the sun as to why but it is simple...By the end of the day - Im tired, I've most likely fought with two "sleepy, but fighting it til the end , 9 Month olds" attempting to get them to bed - Wait WHAT??? Did I just say 9Months Old....Holy heck where did that time go?? It seems like just yesterday I was Shopping for maternity clothes.  PTL I dont have to do that anymore - I thought there for a bit I wanted to change careers and design maternity clothes that were cute...and didn't cost an arm and a leg. 

Well back to Jaxon & Layla -
they are growing like weeds, crawling like crazy, pulling up on EVERYTHING, and fight sleep and naps tooth and nail...Speaking of teeth we have zero!  Im starting to look into baby dentures.  It seems as though Jax has been "teething" since about 3 months but come on already tooth pop thru or stay up there, your causing my boy pain!  Im starting to think we need stock in Baby Orajel. 

Aww look at those two - It is impossible to have a bad day when you see those dimples staring back at you!

We have now gotten to the stage where if one has a toy the other wants it...not to play with just to have the satisfaction of taking it away! Aghh I have a long 18 years to go!!

Jaxon will crawl up to Layla attempt to take the toy, when she doesn't give in he knows how to manhandle the situation ...he proceeds to pull her hair - when she drops the toy to get her hair back from his grips he takes the toy and crawls off...Boys!

Since I've been AWOL for a bit lets recap the last MONTH -
Thanksgiving was wonderful - It is always great to get to spend time with family.  We did have a big hole this year as Kelly & Ben chose NYC over Sparta, IL...who would ever do that??!!  I mean NYC has the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade...Sparta has the lights parade...(of which took place during the rain??) I wasn't the sharpest in science but seriously an electrical parade in the RAIN?? O well we watched it from my Living Room, Jaxon & Layla LOVED all the flashing lights and even caught a glimpse of a soggy Santa Clause!

As far as Christmas goes - we are ready for the most part...Christmas Tree up - Ornaments only on the top 3/4 of the tree and I've only had to re-wrap 2 presents so far!  I treat that as a success!!

We are anxiously awaiting the text, or  frantic phone call, telling us that Mallory is in LABOR!! I can not WAIT to meet Baby Owen - I have been looking back at J&L's newborn pictures and I can not remember how teeny, tiny they were!  I'm ready to HOLD a new baby again - ....did you catch that HOLD & GIVE BACK...not have to keep....at least for now...Not too sure about down the road?

Well  Stephen and the rest of the Police Force in Sparta are coming up on YEAR #2 working without a settled contract - Yes you read that 2 YEARS without a contract -

The powers that be has decided instead of hiring someone (of which they are 3 men down) they have completely switch the schedule around from 12 hr. shifts to 8 hour shifts...I know it doesn't sound like a bad plan but on the 12's Stephen had every.other.weekend off - now on the 8's he gets a FRIDAY, SATURDAY off every.THREE.months aghhhhh it is horrible, I feel helpless because there is nothing anyone can do - Sure they are rotating now so he is not stuck on midnights but come on...
3 months on days,
3 months on 2nds and
3 months on midnights

these set days off are going to be the end of me...I mean seriously who can plan to go out for a nice dinner in St. Louis when you know you have to be back for him to work at 1130??!! Not this girl...and right now his days off are Sunday and Monday - so frustrating!

O well my rant is over!

Its the WEEKEND! Well in a few hours!  I love having weekends with zero plans! I think a day sitting in my PJ playing with the babies sounds perfect!

Take care all enjoy the weekend and lets hope for snow! Yep I said it SNOW! LOTS OF IT!

I have waited all year to spend a SNOW DAY at home with J&L


Heres a few pix from the past few weeks!
                                                 Momma's Girl

1st Snow of the year!!

Getting ready for Daddy's Christmas Party!

8 Months Old - Oh the fun we're having!!

TGIF!!
This week has been somewhat of a blur - Monday I had a training meeting for Lifetouch yearbooks - I am the yearbook sponsor at Sparta Lincoln and they are ALWAYS adding new things to the online program for designing the yearbooks...
Tuesday - I had school and we were running all over the place
Wednesday - Stephen got hurt at work so we had to be in StL. at the dr. office at 6:45AM wait WHAT?? Yea I know that was my thoughts too...but he had to get 2 different MRI's done.  One for his shoulder and one for his elbow - Poor guy
After the MRI appt. we had all afternoon to kill in Stl. because his appt with the Dr wasn't until 1:55pm

We drove around the city looking for something to do while wasting time - when it was time for the Dr. we headed over, waited about an hour, went into the room for the Dr. to come in for a total of about 5 min.  The Dr. told stephen, nothing is torn, just a bit of fluid in his joint and he needs physical therapy, 2x's a week for 3 weeks.

So we jumped back in the car and headed across the river - It had been a long day for us, we picked up J&L from my moms and headed home!! I believe all 4 of us were in bed by 915.

Speaking of J&L they are learning and doing new things Everyday - I'm loving all the new things they can do, but OMG it makes me so sad to think they are 8 Months old already...(Tuesday)  Where did that time go?  On our way back from the Dr. Wednesday stephen and I were talking about that awful girl in St. L that murdered her baby because he wouldn't stop crying - what a crazy nutbag...aghhh it makes my stomach knot up and my heart ache for that sweet little boy - How could anyone do such a thing, especially to YOUR OWN CHILD!

Anyway, we were talking on the way home how it seems like just yesterday we were leaving the house so early in the morning on that Tuesday March 15th  morning.  Unaware of just how much our lives were going to change in just a few short hours!
Look at these 2...how could I ever have a bad day when they are in my world!

 "Former WOMBmates"...Thank you Kacie & Kathy for the adorable onesies!!

 We were having a crawling race...Layla was obviously in the lead...Until Jaxon decided to take drastic measures!!  Doesn't Layla look like she has spikes in her forehead??!!  

 Toys, Toys, Toys.....Gosh I just LOVE toys!!

They amaze me more and more every day at what they learn, do and grow.  Both J&L are crawling, pulling up on anything and EVERYTHING, it is so cute when they start babbling to us as well as each other, and nothing melts my heart as much as having them reach for me when I come in a room - I love them more than any words can explain!

Helllllllloooo - I almost feel as though I should re-introduce myself...It has been a few weeks since I've sat down and written anything down.  Lets just say I've had stuff going on. Not the best excuse I realize because there are plenty of others out there with 2 kids, a job, and a crazy busy life that still have the extra 5 min. to sit at the computer -

Just to bring you up to speed on whats been going on with the Miles'

Its best to recap with pictures.......
As we all know the St. Louis Cardinals won the world series...(I know I told you its been awhile since I've blogged...)
We didn't have tickets to game 7 but we loaded the kids up and went to Busch for the "experience" I dont have much on my bucket list but attending a game 7 deciding game, is something I just HAD to do!!



From one sporting event to another....We took J&L to their first SIU Basketball Game -

True to form Layla LOVED it...Jaxon was not impressed with the lack of defense shown by the Salukis...O well they both enjoyed the atmosphere for the new arena!

 Jaxon is ready for hunting season!!  He already has his gun...and some camo - If only they made baby walkers in camo with deer calls on them instead of music and lights!!

Well Halloween has come and gone...I must say I had the cutest Lil' Ducklings I've ever seen!!  They are sitting up, scooting, and talking some jibberish making the holidays so much more fun!!

 TODAY is PAPA Marks Birthday!!
We celebrated Sunday evening with the family, and lets just say I have a great babysitter in Cousin Danielle...she is a pro at feeding Jax!

Wedding Weekend!

Well its all over but the wedding/reception, pictures, memories were all amazing.  Kelly & Ben are officially Mr. & Mrs.  Hovland/Gerlach.  The wedding was beautiful and yes the reception was just as great...The babies did so well all weekend - creatures of schedules that they are I was very nervous how they would react ...Boy did the schedule go out the window...naps weren't a priority as we were decorating, running, and getting things all ready.  As for the wedding they were so precious they were wheeled down the isle by a little boy named Charlie and his sister Georgia, they did great!

All in all the entire weekend was a blast! Im so happy both Kelly & Bens worlds could meet in lil' ol Sparta Illinois for such a special day - We got to meet their friends from all over the US and give them a little look into the people and things Kelly grew up.  Hope everyone had as good of a time as we all did!!

Congratulations Kelly & Ben!

here are a few pics from the weekend.....I will add more but our internet is on the fritz so I'll keep you in a bit if suspense!!

 The Girls - 

The Gerlach Girls w/ Dad

Hello my name is Abbey....and yours is?

Yes I know I need to re-introduce myself ...I've been MIA for the past few weeks - Heck life has been crazy since school started...with volleyball practice, games, and life's general running surfing on the internet and blogging has taken a backseat!

So I'll try to catch you up on what has been going on...and I promise Volleyball is over at the end of the month so I will have much more time to online shop, Blog, and facebook my life away!! I swear I feel so out of the loop because I haven't read anyones blogs, or facebook stalked ANYONE aghhh

I uploaded several pictures from my phone to depict any recent activity!!

Sooo here we go!
Every year the Miles'/Mueller/Scott Families get together for our Annual "October" Birthday's party
Several of the women in the family have birthday's in the month of October so it is a great reason for all of us

to get together, celebrate and have Southside!!

Here are a few pics from the day!!

Mommas' been shopping.....Jaxon & Layla are ready for winter - I got these matching hats & mittens from The Children's Place Cuuute and on sale (Added BONUS!!!!!)

Last weekend the Volleyball Team played in the Sparta Invitational Tournament at home!! The girls played very well winning all 5 games - taking home the Championship Trophy!!

Here is Jax celebrating after the game!

and Jax again LOVING bathtime!!

Who else is excited for the Cards game tonight??!! THIS GIRL!! and its officially WEDDING WEEK!! Kelly and Ben are driving home as we speak -

Take care - see ya later!

Down 10!

Well it's been another month....and I'm sitting in the waiting room at Dr Keeles office... And the numbers are in- I lost 10 lbs! Mom is in now so we will have to wait for results...

Anyone else sooo happy it is finally the weekend. Aghh what a week and looking at October it's not going to get any better- I just looked on my calendar and I have 4 days in the ENTIRE month that are not full with something-

Kelly & Bens wedding is right around the corner and it seems like just yesterday they got engaged... I can not wait to see this CrAzY plan of a wedding in the back yard... Come together- it isn't very often we get all our family and friends together and have the opportunity to meet so many new ppl that are so special to kel and ben.

The babies are doing great- had their 6 month check up and they are growing like crazy!!
Jaxon is 16lbs 14oz - 25 3/4 inches long
Layla is 18lbs 13oz - 25 inches long

I can't believe how big they have gotten... Every day they pick up more things, make cute faces and learn new sounds... Before I know it they will be in school :(

Well the weather looks to be wonderful for the weekend! We have a vb tournament tomorrow but hopefully we take home a trophy and have the rest of the evening to enjoy the fall weather!!

Weekend Recap

Have you ever felt you had such a good weekend - althought it would be great to have a "weekend" from your "weekend"  Well Im at that stage in the game right now!!

We had a great weekend -

*Friday Night Homecoming football game,

*Saturday morning was a lazy day just me and J&L while Stephen was on a Poker Run. 

I took the kids over to moms, so I could do some running before we left town.  Dad had kept a picture of him holding me when they were building their house 25+ years ago...he found the same coat and grabbed Layla and headed out for the power box...Check out the "re-creation" of the picture...the Neighborhood sure has changed from the original!

*Saturday evening we headed to StL for the night - We met Kris and Nate in Coulterville,  we dropped ALL FOUR kids off at Gma Patti & Papa Marks for the evening - they were having a "All Grandkid Slumber Party"  and were headed to the City. 

We had concert tix for Ed Kowakczyk - the former front man for the band LIVE - he broke out of the group and is going solo...If you ever get a chance to go to a concert at Lumiere - DO IT! It is such a "up close and personal" atmosphere.  We were in the middle of the room and still only about 20 feet from the stage!  We had a great time!  Afterwards we headed down to see if anything was happening on the Landing, hit up the Big Bang for a bit and headed back to the hotel -

All in all was a great night - and did I mention I got a FULL NIGHTS SLEEP - added bonus!!

Sunday we woke up, checked out of the Chase Park Plaza and headed home - We hadn't ate Casa Brunch in forever so we stopped in for Brunch. 

We got home, visited with the fam for a bit and headed to Sparta - Jaxon & Layla had a good time at their slumber party but were excited to be home!  We had supper, baths and caught up on snuggle time ;)  Bedtime came early which made for a happy - rested momma!  Well time to start the day!

Here are some pictures from the Miles'/Scott Kid Slumber Party...(Note: Callie is not in any pictures - not that she is loved any less...its just the camera was not fast enough to catch her in action any picture they got of her was simply a blurrrrrr)

Enjoy the day -