Adults only

For the second week in a row we headed out of town yesterday --this time for a quick overnight in Dallas...without Riley. It was our first baby-free trip and I have to say it was a success. It was great for Kevin and me and to remember that we are husband and wife and not just parents. It was round 2 of Counting Crows/Maroon 5. (We didn't really realize the concerts were two weeks in a row when we purchased them. Luckily, it worked out!)

This time the concert was supposed to be with Jimmy & Mike, but poor Mike had a case of severe allergies so we took his 21-yr-old son instead. He was missed, but it was fun to hang out with Ryan. It was his first 'real' concert and he loved it.

Here's some family pics before we headed out. (It was game day, if you didn't catch on!)

The concert was uh.maz.ing. Probably the best Counting Crows concert I've ever seen. It must be that venue because my other favorite performance was also there a couple of years ago. Or maybe it was our front row seats. We actually had third row seats, but as soon as the lights went down they let us run up and grab the front views. 

Maroon 5 was good stuff again and I got some great pics for Jimmy. Counting Crows...sigh. Their music just speaks to me and always has. I know it sounds so cheesy, but it's really, really true. I've loved them since I first heard 'August & Everything After' in 1993. I love that every show they do is different and you never know what songs you'll hear. And I love how passionate Adam is about his band and music. Always. He doesn't ever lose enthusiasm (although he does lose his mind sometimes, apparently). 

Last night Adam let us know that they decided they would chill out and do an acoustic set. Loved.it. They played 'Anna Begins' --my favorite--which pretty much guarantees I'll love anything else. I swear the proximity to the stage and the music and the great night and great people, it was practically spiritual for me. I was ec-freakin'-static. And I know I'm a dork for saying it, but a couple of the songs brought a little tear to my eye. Yes, I'm that into it and I will own that. Here a few pics--I took about 150 in all. 

Adam Levine kept coming to our side and posing for us. 

Some highlights from the Counting Crows...

Saying goodbye with Augustana:

Post-show, we went and played in various Dallas establishments and after a taxicab-drive through visit to Jack in the Box around 2:30-ish, we collapsed into bed. Today, we woke up and Mike & Jimmy made everyone a great 'breakfast' that we devoured at 1:30 pm. Some quick shopping and back to home. A total whirlwind --the fastest 24-hrs ever, but fun, fun, fun. FUN! And returning to our little man was even better. He had a good time with his various grandparents, but he was so excited to see us and we couldn't squeeze him enough. A perfect weekend to be sure. 

We went to a bar and they had this much toilet paper in there...a first. And I loved it.

Kevin apparently did not approve of the venue's rule that prohibited ramming your body into fellow concert goers. 

Here's Riley & my dad hanging out while we were gone:

P.S. Riley can clap now. Yay for clapping!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Another year, another birthday? I suppose, but this one was awesome!!! I had to spend last year's fat and pregnant. This year, I couldn't blame the extra weight on a baby (well, not exactly), but at least I got to enjoy the day a little more than the last one. We decided a few months ago that since Counting Crows/Maroon 5 would be in Indianapolis on my birthday, it would be the perfect reason for a much delayed trip to visit Natasha and Keith.

Seeing as how we never do it halfway, it ended up being a full-fledged party when Mike and Jimmy decided to join the party. Add in Lydia celebrating with us and we were complete!

Riley and I flew out on Wed. and Kevin joined later that night. Although flying solo with Riley wasn't how I envisioned the voyage, it turned out better than expected and, sweaty and exhausted, I survived. I also realized that complete strangers can be really gracious. I had people helping me left and right and although I expected everyone to shoot daggers in my direction (assuming Riley would be loud), I got nothing but happy glances and nice exchanges. I have to say it renewed my faith in humanity.

The trip itself was so fun! I have amazing friends and I count this group among some of my best. It was great finally seeing the land of Natasha instead of envisioning her in her palace from afar. The Irish pub/restaurant that they own was so flippin' amazing. The patio goes down as one of my favorite stops on the trip.

And the birthday itself? Superb. For real. The concert was great as usual (I've seen CC 8 times now), the converstaion and company outstanding. I love that I always learn new things about people that I adore. My friends rented a bouncy castle for my birthday!!!! How cool is that? Pair it with my rainbow cake, Hannah Montana banner and plates, and a ton of great food and it was definitely one to remember.

Oh yeah, and the shopping didn't hurt either. Many thanks to all who made it happen. I really love my friends!!! I hope a repeat is in the planners as we speak. Here's a couple pics and a quick video of Riley bouncing and loving it. There are better pics to see, but Natasha hasn't sent them and I decided not to wait. Maybe I'll present more soon....

9 months and on the move....

The months go by sooooo fast. Riley's a big, strong, funny 9-month old boy. His personality is raging, just ask anyone who has been around him. He loves people and will try to interact with anyone that comes near him. Crawling and cruising, he's also getting very used to bumping his head on all kinds of things. We try to catch him when we can, but sometimes, you just gotta fall. He's surviving. ;-)

At last week's 9-month checkup he weighed in at an impressive 22.25 lbs, putting him in the 80% on weight, down from the 90th at his 6-month weigh-in. He's also 27" long, making him a short and stubby little lad. Gotta love that. Head is hanging in at 100% so just try to find a bigger baby head out there.

All in all, a joy. We love Mondays when we head to Gymboree and he can socialize. It's so cool to see how he's progressed on the various ramps and activity stations. Love it! Love him....to pieces.

Here are the 'official' 9-month shots -- you'll see his new skill of making faces:

So stumped.

I swear this song, "Strut" by Sheena Easton was in some '80s movie for a brief moment. I thought it was 'Can't Buy Me Love,' but Kevin says no. I can't find a Google answer...anyone know?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzgPot4XvAk

That's the video in case you need a reference.

I feel dumb.

And I'm even supposedly a writer. Do better than me, please. Oh yeah, I got 53.

The 100 Most Common English Words

Better than 'ok'

Although it has a decidedly Western slant (I mean Club Rodeo, come on), I love that OKC was featured in this Travel section of the NY Times. There is much to be excited about around here.

Click below to read the article and then check out the fun slideshow that was featured with it.

Oklahoma City Is Booming With Oil and a New Exuberance

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/07/travel/0808-OKLA_index.html

Whew.

Today was a loooong day. Mobile baby is wearing out his mother. Prepare for baby fat to start melting off --his, not mine. Although, that would be a bonus of the non-stop chasing.

First, he escaped down the hall....

Then, I found out he could climb stairs. Actually, he does a really good job. Scary.

I forgot to put the valve on his sippy cup. While I went to grab the rest of his lunch, I came back to this:

An hour or so later, I was picking up his room. He promptly went next door and emptied the trash can.

Then, as I was saving him from the dreaded plastic bag, he started eating my decorative balls of twig. I guess that's what I get for having decorative balls of twig.

He'll be up again in 8 hours. I'm going to bed while I have the chance.

Shear genius

Mark off another milestone...Baby Bug is a new man.

He had his first 'official' haircut at Snip-Its this weekend. Geesh, the kid is a champ! Maybe it had something to do with the puffs I fed him throughout his scissor date or perhaps it was the breakneck swiftness with which our stylist performed the hair removal. Either way, he acted like it was his 25th visit to the chair/bumbo seat. It's a good thing, with the genes this child has, he will be up to 25 visits in no time.

And Snip-Its was awesome too. The perfect environment for a first haircut. With kids & bright colors all around, Riley was in sensory-overload nirvana.

Here are some pictures and a video of a funny moment...a clip, if you will. Groan.

Go here.

Nope. No baby pics here. Apparently this is my week for spewing out propaganda. I think it has to do with the fact that this has been a major deadline week for me. That leaves little time for anything other than time-wasting web cycling (I don't surf) once an hour for a quick distraction....yep, that's it. Just once an hour. Bu-ha. Sure.

Anyway, I'm sure plenty of you are already way in tune with the amazing website Dooce.com. If you aren't, do yourself a favor and bookmark it. It's basically an expanded blog of one Heather B. Armstrong. I love reading her honest, funny musings and her daily Tweets. She is a smart, witty writer and a fellow mom who makes her living writing smart, witty things on her website. Geez, that must suck for her.

There's a point here...

Yesterday, she posted about a really mind-blowing case of child abuse in Florida. I hate reading those kinds of stories because I can never get them out of my mind. But her blog entry about the story compelled me to the link she referenced and the story is, quite simply, chilling. I couldn't break away. I'm not sure what I've taken from it yet, but if you have the time, consider reading it. And then do what Heather says -- go hug your kids. Go hug anyone you love for that matter.

And consider adding a litle Dooce to your life....if you don't already. I love that woman.

P.S. SYTYCD is officially over. ...sigh... I will miss it so.

The Good Ol' Days

Natasha just sent me this via e-mail. I'm not usually a fan of 'forwards' (and she doesn't usually send them either), but I really liked this one.

Maybe I liked it because I remember so much of this. Maybe I like it because I'm raising a baby in this new generation where things are so, so different from my childhood. I can clearly remember the fun we had when we got to hop in the back of a pickup truck for a quick ride. It didn't happen often for us--even then--but it was great when it happened. I remember long bike rides through the neighborhood where we would 'explore' our surroundings. And I can remember begging my dad to let us take off our seatbelts for awhile when we were on long road trips--and how cool it was when he said yes.

I'm a worrier...and I know I'll have a tendency to over-protect. I just hope that I'll remember to let our kids just be kids sometimes--even if I insist they do it with a helmet on.

Anyhow, here's the forward:

To all the kids who survived the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s, ’60s & ’70s:

First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets – not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts, or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because, WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were okay.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendos, X-Boxes. No video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVDs, no surround-sound or CDs, no cell phones, no personal computer! s, no Internet or chat rooms…

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

W e rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. …imagine that!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law.

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all! If YOU are one of them... CONGRATULATIONS!

Busted!

Caught in mid-grab! How do they always know exactly what they should stay away from?

Happy Birthday, Juli!!!

YAY! I actually got a birthday on here on the actual day. It's a miracle!!

Today is the day of birth for the ever wonderful Jules! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULI!!!

In addition to being a great sister to Kevin and an awesome sister-in-law to me, she's the team leader for our 60-mile walk. She's already raised over $5,000 for breast cancer under her own name and is still going above and beyond to help all of her teammates meet our goals. Unreal!! She is an amazing motivator and I can't wait to walk the big walk this October with her. Not only that, but we'll get to have a long-overdue visit with the entire family in Philly before and after our 60 miles. Needless to say, we can't wait for that!

In honor of Miss Juli, Kevin recorded this wonderful birthday message. You should give it a listen. He's insane. You can find it below.... (you'll have to save it and then open it, but do it. It's worth it.)

KEVIN'S MESSAGE

We love you, Juli and we all know you will celebrate in true party form. ;-)

Cheers!

Return of the BabyLegs!

I love putting Riley in BabyLegs---and they are great now that he's scootin' a boot 'round the house. I can't help but share these adorable pics of our quickly-growing little man. Oh yes, and I'm adding a pic or two of him practicing with his sippy cup.

Happy BELATED B-day, Kevin!!!

So Kevin's birthday was last week...Poor Kevin, he can't even get props on his own blog on his birthday. It seems like this is the year of the non-birthday. Usually, our family celebrates them pretty well, but Kevin's kind of came and went without too much fanfare. We did have a small, impromptu gathering with a couple of his friends while Mr. Jimmy was in town. That was really fun! I hope Kevin wasn't too disappointed with his somewhat boring birthday...

He did get some very fun presents though. I had a blast going through Blue 7 and picking out random fun stuff--like this silly card from Uncookedland:

Other highlights from his wife (ahem--me) & Riley include a Kurt Cobain action figure (I mean, really, who doesn't want that?)

And this totally kick-ass (so I'm told) Universal Miter Saw Stand. He saw it on "Cool Tools" and let me just tell you it was fun hauling it through Lowe's!

The Lopez gang gifted him some super-rad Kleenex boxes with pictures of Riley on the side. Very sweet. He loved them! And his sister sent some awesome Yuengling gear. If only they could send the actual beer... We can't wait to drink some down in October when we arrive for the big 3-day walk. Mmmm. Now that's motivation.

So, those were the highlights, along with some yummy desserts all around... Safe to say, Kevin is loved--birthday or otherwise. I love you, my sweet husband! (And next year, I promise, MUCH festivity--many presents, and fanfare for days.)

Remember the Millers?

Once again, very behind on the updates! What can I say? Life just gets in the way of my devotion to blogging. We've had lots of out-of-towners and things going on so we are just busy enjoying our summer with family and friends. The Miller household has been full of fun and life!

First in a series, here are the official 8-month pics of Mr. Riley. He's getting so big and active. His version of crawling is an army-style arm pull. It seems like a totally exhausting way to get from here to there, but it works for him. I wish he knew how much easier it could be.... He goes in for his 9-month checkup later this month, but when we popped into the doctor's office earlier this month, we found out he is weighing in at 22 lbs. He does seem to be getting a little longer, but I have to say that I'm getting pretty strong lugging his sturdy little body around everywhere!

It's getting kind of tricky getting him to 'pose' with his sign so I'm attempting to prop it up nearby. It begins as nothing but fun.

.

And then mom takes away your 'toy.' Sadness ensues...

And although part of the official shoot, here's a nice little peek at some rapidly growing teeth. The latest count is E-I-G-H-T!!! Whoa.

Bedtime fun!

Here a few quick pics of Riley before bedtime earlier tonight. Such a precious little man...