Its been awhile!

Well hello all - Its been a while!  4 months to be exact - We've been busy at the Miles' household...Since March Jaxon and Layla have grown like weeds.

Walking, talking and getting into EVERYTHING!

Lets see since J&L turned 1 we have been a lot of places, done a lot of things and had a blast along the way!

Here's whats been going on...

March - J&L turn the big O-N-E!

 Birthday trip to the Zoo!

 April - Aunt Kelly entered Jax & Layla into the White House Easter Egg Roll and you guessed it.......WE GOT TICKETS!

We had such a good time out in Washington DC over Easter -

May - School was out early this year, which was great for this momma...it meant Stephen and I could go on a cruise fairly early in the summer = cheaper rates!!

We spent a few days in Los Angles before we board the ship - then took a 7-day cruise on the Carnival Splendor trailing to Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta...Ahhh it was the second time we've been to Puerto Vallarta and I LOVE everything about the place!  *Note to self - if your ever there you MUST visit Joe Jacks Fish Shack - best mojitos in Mexico! They were BOGO - added bonus!

 

Any chance we could get wi-fi we would Facetime with the kids...Yes this is Stephen at the BAR talking to Jaxon on the Ipad!

 Ahh I could go back in a heartbeat!

But we missed these two faces like CrAzY!!

June - Summer was in full force - swimming, volleyball camp and open gyms.  Im pretty excited to start a new journey I've been assistant VB coach at Sparta High School for several years but this year I will be taking over for my Dad as head coach!  I have huge shoes to fill but Im pumped to start the season - its going to be a good year!

July- We just got back from a nice trip out East.  Stephen, Jaxon, Layla and myself made the 14+ hr trek out to Washington DC to spend a few days with Kelly and Ben.

After we left DC we headed to Richmond Va to visit with Ben & Jessie!  We had a great visit  there too!

After 9 hours in the car the kids (and parents) were Sooooo happy to be out of the car - Rest Area in West Virginia

Rest Area in ILLINOIS! We were inching closer and closer to home!!

Overall this summer has been so much fun!  Watching the kids grow before my eyes has been so much fun - It makes me miss my teeny tiny babies but their personalities make life so interesting!

Stay tuned - I promise I'll be back sooner than later!

Happy Birthday J&L!

Well it's official Stephen and I are parents to two 1 year olds.

At 12:19pm Stephen Jaxon Miles was born healthy and as happy as can be weighting in at 5lbs 7oz 18 inches long and...

At 12:21pm Layla Jo Miles joined the party at 6lbs 4oz 19 inches long

We spent the morning at a quick dr's appt for mommy and daddy now were hanging with the birthday kids at the zoo!

Pictures and adventures to follow!!

March 14, 2011 ...wow what a difference a year makes!

One short year ago I was such a different person... I was roughly 16 hours from becoming a parent for the first time... And roughly 16 hours and 2 min. from becoming a parent for the SECOND time!! ;)

Yes one year ago today Stephen and I drove up to Labor and Delivery at St. E's checked my heavily pregnant butt (see photo)in and had an amniocenteses to make sure then Baby A JAXON and BABY B LAYLA had developed lungs and were healthy enough to be delivered via c- section. We went on in... They poked and poked and poked a bit more I had a few contractions and whew it was it. Let's just say this girl was not made for contractions... Not a fan!!


Anyhow - we were told the test was inconclusive and they had to send it off but we would know by supper time... So we wait, and wait, and wait over Casa chips and salsa of course! (RIP Casa we loved your quesadillas)

And at last the phone rang... Lungs were developed we're having babies tomorrow!!!

Talk about a full range of emotions!

Looking back I can not imaging my life without my lil Jaxy and mis Layla, I remember wondering for hours on end what they would look like and it bugged me that I did not know their face, I worried that I wouldn't recognize their cry thru the monitor.....but I cant imagine a day when I dont melt when they smile with those dimpling semi toothy smiles ;-) Agh I love being their momma!

Still catching up -

 A few more of J&L's 1st Christmas!!

 Weekend Getaway visiting Gma & Papa in Destin

This brings us to the month of February - See that was much easier you saw a little bit of what we've been up to and didn't have to even read about it ;) WIN-WIN in my book!!

Last night Stephen and I had a date night with some old friends,  Drew and Lacy.  It was so nice to catch up with them and talk ...you guessed it BABIES!  Well Lacy and I talked babies and the boys talked trucks.....

Their little girl Haley is due in less then a month, I can not wait to meet her!  We ate at Tractors in Perryville and it was very good, I'm shocked that we hadn't ate their before - great food and good atmosphere!  Highly recommend it!

Well it is Superbowl Sunday everyone...Today is my cousin Mallory's Birthday, so we're headed to this new mommas birthday party for Lunch (and I get some major cuddling time with Baby Owen!)  After Stephen gets off work at 3, we're headed to Marion to celebrate our niece's 2nd Birthday this evening.  The official birthday isn't until next week but its easier to get everyone together on the weekend!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALLIE NICOLE!

After some good pizza and cake we are HOPING to get back home in time to catch some of the SUPERBOWL! 

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend - Why is it they seem to go by SO.STINKING.FAST aghh

Welcome back!

Yeah I know its been awhile!  I could give all the excuses in the world but they all will end at the same conclusion - Blogging has taken a little bit of a backseat with our new routine this new year.  Stephen is working a new schedule 8hr shifts...set days off...and switching EVERY MONTH - I know there are THOUSANDS of families that spend their life living with "shift work" but just went we get settled into his nights off, sleeping patterns etc its a new month and everything changes.

January was OK - he worked midnights 11p-7a so the upside was that he was home in the evenings to help with bedtime...bad thing was our babysitter (my mom) was in Destin for the month...PTL Stephens dad retired at Christmas and was willing to become a part time babysitter, full time PaPa!  He helped us more then he will EVER know!

Now that we are in the month of February Stephen has moved to Day shift.  Yes for the first time since we have been married he ISN"T on midnights!  Im a little unsure how my nights will ever be the same!  J/K but we all get settled into a routine and now he will be home every night for 5 WHOLE MONTHS!  Working Feb. and March on days...April, May & June on 2nds!  Not going to lie Im pretty excited to have evenings as a family!

Well I do realize I took about a month off of blogging so instead of giving a play by play I figured it would be easier to post a few pictures the next few days instead!

Have a good weekend all -

Christmas Morning!

 Layla HATES her medicine!

more pics to come..................

SIck Baby...

Well we are on day 3 of Jaxon being sick...it started with just a runny nose - add a bit of a cough - now throw in him being terribly irritable tonight and you have the makings of a sleepless night for momma!

Stephen took J to the pedi - Dr. Birner just to make sure nothing more serious had set it...that type of dry prolonged caught always makes me wonder what it takes to come down with something more serious than the common cold.

Turns out he has the start of a dbl ear infection - and the cough is viral so we just have to let it run its course.

Look at that little red face...it breaks my heart to hear him cough and cough and cough...I just hope the meds work quick!!

At least it is Friday tomorrow...if we have rough night I at least have saturday morning to somewhat sleep in this weekend!!

Well I didn't think Id be on the computer this long - Jax is taking little 10-15 min power naps, im going to attempt to convince him its time for bed...HA

happy friday everyone!

Short post tonight... Jaxon is coughing like crazy and will not let me out of his sight! Their 9month pictures have been posted and are adorable! Check them Out!
http://viewing.lcphotographystudio.com/Children/Miles-twins-9-months/20862191_6mtdnB

Back to Work

Well its official...Christmas Break 2011 is OVER!  I started back at work today - after two LONG Fantastic weeks off, I had a teachers institute today, kids start back tomorrow.  Kacie and I were bummed we weren't shopping like we were 24 hours prior to this picture taken.


It is always good to get back into a routine, but I LOVED every second of break spending time just playing, snuggling and chillin with my babies.  I mean who wouldn't love waking up to these faces every morning!


Most of you already know this but my mom and dad are retired this year - and have been my babysitters throughout the school year on days Stephen works midnights.  Well they made the decision (long before J&L were thought of...) that they would "Winter" in Destin, Fl. when they retire.  Several other retired couples from Sparta do the same thing, staying in the same Condo Complex - The Jetty East. After a VERY tearful goodbye last night Mom and Dad packed up the van and were off bright and early today - to spend the entire Month of January at "The Jetty."

Mom and Dad if you are reading this - We are extremely happy (especially you mom) that you actually went along with this plan!  We are excited to see this tradition become a yearly event...so please expect many visitors!  You worked so hard for so many years - you deserve to take a month and simply "live by the beach."

Mom- I AM expecting you to find a cake decorating class - and OWN it! haha (inside joke everyone...she isn't starting her cake biz ...Just YET! lol
 Ahhh so jealous ...as I sit here in front of the fire keeping warm as it is 27 degrees out ...brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

We have visited "The Jetty" several times and it is a georgous area.  If you have not been to Destin, it is a must...Water as pretty and clear as the Bahamas, AMAZING shopping and the most laid back atmosphere I've seen in a true tourist city.

With my "babysitters" soaking up the sun in Destin, my loving Husband has turned our home into "daddy daycare."  Bless his heart, a few days a week he will work all night and babysit during the day, hopefully sleeping when the kids nap...he will get to sleep when I get home from school but Im sure things will get a bit crazy from time to time!

This arrangement is only for 1 month as mom and dad are only spending Jan. down south.  Mom was unsure how this would all play out so this year is their Trial Period.

well I have a sickly husband and a "on the verge" of sickly little boy Sooo while the house is quiet and all parties are sleeping Im headed that direction...I've learned in the last 9+ months that regardless of how much work, cleaning, facebooking OR Pinteresting you THINK you have to do...The best time to get sleep is when the babies are sleeping!! So im off to dreamland!...Goodnight all