Kenneth Matthew Miller - Hi Everyone

Hi Everyone,

Sorry it has taken us a while to get this little guy up on the blog but we have had a couple of days of work to get him camera ready. He and Mommy are doing fantastic. He was born July 30, 2008 at 9:32 in the morning; he is 6lbs 10oz and is 20 inches long. Doug and Nate are the winners of the of the baby lotto. Doug won the guess for the weight, his guess tied with Aubrey's but the tie breaker was the inches that Doug guessed right on. Nate won for the date he and Scott both guessed the 18th of August but Nate won the tie breaker by guessing 20 1/2 inches. See Baby Lotto guesses for a complete list.

T Minus......30

If you have taken a quick glance at our blog over the past few weeks you have definitely seen our baby counter - the days keep getting fewer and fewer. Well it was a surprise to me today to see it at 30 days and counting. We are one month away from the scheduled due date for our little guy and we are just curiously waiting to see what this whole having a baby thing really means.

I have been asked over the past couple of weeks, whether I am scared or not; the truth is I have no clue what to expect. I explained it to a friend of mine like this. It is like when a missionary is getting ready to leave for the MTC - you have a big to do list for something that is eventually going to happen, but because you have never been through it before all you can do is prepare the way people tell you to. You'll go buy clothes that won't be worn for a couple of weeks/months. You start stocking up on supplies that you have no idea about how long they will actually last. And, I assume, once you have arrived in the foreign land of "baby-town" everything is new - the food, the currency, the culture. It is just one of those things that until little K-man is here we won't know how to feel. ("K-man" is the first of many blog nicknames in the works)

In all honesty I feel like I am living in the movie world where I will get a call that Nerseys water has broke, I will race to either pick her up or go to the delivery room where it won't be but 10 minutes and the the boy will be here. I honestly am just trying to mentally prepare myself to respond to any situation with out freaking out. I mean unless Nersey has been gestating an alien baby I think we will be okay. There will be more experienced people around the Ners and I to help us out. In fact, and this will come as a shock to everyone, I have been a little apprehensive about any grandmas being in the delivery room - just because I think this will be a great opportunity for Nersey and I to bond and solidify the beginning of our family, but having Glamma there will be a welcomed relief. In fact, glamma lets make it a race; my Audi vs your new Lexus; last one to the delivery room makes the first cafeteria run!

I am so excited and can't wait to see Nersey enter the role of full-fledged motherhood; I know I will need her example on how to be a fantastic parent - but I am sure my efforts will pale in comparison. I love you Nersey.

"The Dog Days of Summer"

I feel I should let everyone in a little secret of mine. I am finally done with all of my undergraduate classes. Officially, I am graduated! Don't get me wrong, I have been done with my political science coursework for a while, but I filled those requirements very quickly - all I had left was credit hours to fill. It has been a point of great pride for me to have done school and work full-time. But my final grades for Master's pre-requisite classes that I have been taking were posted as of today and I am finished with my Bachelor's Degree.

For a while now I have been researching Masters programs and finally settled on several options. I will either be applying to get a MPP (Master of Public Policy), a MBA/MHA (Master of Business Administration/Master of Healthcare Administration) - this is mainly due to an introductory Health Policy class I took this semester; or a MBA/HRM (Master of Business Adminsitration with emphasis on Human Resource Management). I toyed with the idea of getting a Master's in Creative Writing and have the University help me with publishing one of my creative works, but I am not sure that would be the best use of time and resources.

I will say it has been nice for the past couple of weeks to come home from work and stay home, or go to a movie with Nersey or play with Buckley. Lately, it has been a constant to-do list of preparation items for Kenneth's arrival. Other than that I have kind of gone crazy just sitting around. My lunch hour is no longer filled with homework assignments, reading textbooks, or writing papers. I actually can go to lunch and eat or take a full-hour to myself to "relax". This has also been my greatest fear. What do I do when I am done with school? I no longer am working on deadlines, I have ample amounts of time to pick up a hobby but I don't know what to do, I feel like if I did something like that I would be missing out or that I was forgetting to do something. It feels much like sports during the summer, they are few and far between. Baseball games don't have too much affect on franchise standings, golf is really only watchable on Sunday (but without Tiger whats the point), unless your a fan of women's basketball there just isn't much going on, but you know, at some point, it will all pick up again and be exciting. I guess I just need to find something to do for the next 6 weeks to tide me over till all I look forward to is sleep.

Sorry if some of you feel lied to about my "graduating" last year. The fact is I had roughly 12 credit hours to fill when I walked last May but I took two fall only classes and then had two pre-requisite classes that I did the first part of this summer, after taking off spring semester to determine what I needed to apply for a Master's program. But, I am finished and that is what is important. I can't wait to see everyone coming in for Brian's wedding, you'll have the chance to meet your new nephew/cousin. See you all soon!

Cell Phone Graveyard!

When it rains it pours! Or at least when one person gets a new cell phone in our family the other is soon to follow. That's right we have owned in the time we have been married, which is coming up on the two year mark, is 12 cell phones. This past round of casualties were taken out by a wash machine and one was actually stolen at a park, the person who stole it even had the nerve to pick up the phone and then hang up on me.

The reason I write this relatively embarassing blog is because Nersey and I are now lacking your contact numbers. The phonebook features has ruined us on memorization. Please don't be upset or angry with us if we haven't called you in a while, it's more like we have been staring at our phones trying to will you into calling us so that we can save your number off our Caller ID logs. Though we have saved some numbers and a few were backed up on our provider's server, we still need your calls to ensure future calls from us. As for the fact that 10 cell phones have been lost under our care, I blame the manufacturers. They don't make a better product because they know stuff like this happens and they anticipate that it will, so you could say we are just really good customers. I mean really good customers. Here is a million dollar idea, a waterproof cell phone, one that could take a diet coke bath like Nersey's friend Lizzy's phone did or because it is dirty go for a round in the spin cycle and be just fine. I am just saying it seems like a good selling point, but alas my conspiracy theory doesn't allow me that premis. No cell phone company sits around and says; "hey lets make a phone that is so durable that no one will ever have to buy another one", it just doesn't happen. As for now it is on us to keep a better eye on our cell phones. But please give us a call, make us feel popular, and most of all use this as an opportunity to ensure a call from us - when your one of the few numbers we have, your going to be called often. If that is a bad thing, then make sure others call to ease your pain.

Woe is Me!

I feel as far as the pregnancy thing goes I have been pretty easy going. I have only wanted to sell Cookie Monsters soul once for a brownie and had one major breakdown due to my inability to to grab tupperware from a bottom cabnet. This week has proved to be different. I have with mild effort tried to stay healthy during the pregnancy by cramming veggies and whole grains down my gulllet intsead of the cup cakes and BBQ I crave. I have also swam 3 times a week before my swim lessons in an effort to get some exercise. This Monday after doing my usual marathon hour swim and was mostly done doing the 2 hours of private lessons an old lady in the lane next to me grabbed my attention and asked a harmless little question about the Butterfly I answered it quickly and returned to teaching. The lady then Pipes up with " You know dear I was watching you when you were on the deck doing dives and you really would have a darling figure if you lost some weight". What news I thought! I wish I would have known this in Jr. High what a totally different life I might have led. I of course having a 7 year old little girl with in ear shot held back on what I thought might improve her faults and instead informed her that I was over 6 months pregnant and have done a very good job at maintaining healthy wieght gain. Instead of congradualting me and then making a quick exit she then decides it would be prudent to add that I still have to be very carefull because the last months are when you gain the most weight! Oh, the indignation!!! I would feel more sorry for myself but she has given me a good story. I have heard some good comebacks when I shared this story with my sisters and friends. Cincha said I should have told her that how you do Butterfly was by tying a heavy wieght to your feet and then stop breathing. she also suggested that I break into tears and say that I was doing the best that I COULD! My good friend Linda thought I should have said " ohh I didn't know that after you hit old age you could act so childish". I would love to hear your thoughts if you have anything to add

Ready Or Not...

..."Thunder Cats are Go!!!!!" Well not yet but the day is soon approaching. Nersey and I spent Saturday getting baby stuff added to the registry, shopping for maternity clothes (for her not me, though some form of "sympathy weight" clothing for dads is a million dollar idea), and preparing ourselves mentally for the fun that is soon to take place. I know that it fells so far away, but in actuality we are less than three months from the due date of August 24th. It seems as though it was last week that I was driving around in a snow storm on Christmas Eve looking for an open Walgreen's to buy a pregnancy test.

The heat has started here in Utah and is taking it's toll on Nersey. We have the air conditioner running 24/7 at a smooth Antarctic setting and the fan that Steve and Missy gave us helps to freeze out me and the dog, despite his fur. The only warm place in the apartment is inside the fridge. Seriously, I took out a stick of butter to thaw it, it developed ice crystals. Most of Nersey's days are filled with either work or working out in the garden with Buckley. The garden is beautiful and in full bloom, we are looking forward to sharing the vegetables that we don't use with anyone we can give them to.

It seems like the only other order of the day is to find Kenneth a bedroom or do some creative storage to fit him in with us. We have had several people from the ward, who know the space in which we live, constantly calling or stopping us at church asking/telling us to buy something in the ward. I think they are worried we are gone once Kenneth gets here. We are looking, but with banks tightening restrictions and me being on part commission it will be a couple months till we will be in full fledged house hunting mode.

Finally, we have a first name and are pretty sure what the middle name will be (but it's not set in stone), I have added a survey to our blog. Should we give him the middle name of Fielding or Dewar, I let ya'll vote.

***Disclaimer - the results of the surveys will in no way affect the actual decision of the decision committee which consists of Cookie Monster, Nersey, and a 1/2 vote from Buckley which shall be invoked in the event of a tie and the one who gave him the most treats the week of the vote shall cast a proxy vote for Buckley because he is a dog and can't talk. Rules of the voting committee can be found...ah who am I kidding everyone has stopped reading this by this point. However, to participate in the survey no purchase is necessary, void where prohibited, may contain nuts, do not use near water, keep away from children, do not use if you have glaucoma or a heart condition. Those above the age of 102 should consult a physician prior to participating for the simple fact you lived in the days of the invention of the automobile and may or may not still have a pulse. One survey entry per household, and if you are still reading this good job you have dedication. Those who are still reading will be automatically entered into a membership contract in the "Dedicated Blog Readers Club" for the space of no less than 3 years, but those official rules are another story...***

The not so pleasent side of pregnancy

I can't believe I am going to write this little confession but seeing that those people who are likely to see this post I talk with on the phone on a regular basis anyway so on with my confession. If you are not interested in my daily runs to the ladies rom now is a good time to stop reading....
I find that the worst possible combination has to be Allergies and Pregnancy its like the perfect storm for peeing your pants. Due to the recent amniotic fluid watch I was doing my part to drink as much water as humanly possible, like over 100 oz a day this means I would frequent the ladies room about every 30 to 45 min and have average 3-4 nightly runs. Now the reason I say Allergies and Pregnancy make the perfect storm is with out fail I am like 30 sec away from the bathroom and I SNEEZE EVERY TIME. After I had just finished my last final exam at the U I had a thought of making a quick pit stop before heading over to mom's to grab my laundry I thought to myself, do I run into the disgusting public bathroom, no I will be fine 15 min. and I am at mom free clear and dry no worries right? Wrong the answer was dead wrong! Right as I am pull in into the driveway BAM I sneeze I walk into my parents house to find Mom and Mindurs at the table. Hoping to find some sympathy I express my frustration about being 25 with no blatter control and instead Mindurs offers me one of Ashies diapers! the true tragidy of this is I might have taken her up on it if they were just a bit bigger. I think it might take three to fashion them into something workable.

Happy little pond

Well I am happy to report that I am no longer on the scary ultrasound watch. I have enough fluid for any little frog to streach out in. I am starting to feel things getting a little cramped in there but I am sure it will only get worse in the next 14 weeks. It was fun to see the little guy every week but it is also nice to have my day off again so I can get stuff done too. I have also found that Kenneth and I have simular interests such as long afternoon naps with the Beans, sucking down Icies from the Mav and tri-weekly swims, although I think he could help me out a bit when we swim by kicking a little more instead he just comes along for the ride when we are at the pool.

Slow Blogging Market

I honestly can't recall the several weeks that have past. It's been over a month now since our last post. But the past two weeks have been especially busy for both nersey and I. She has been finishing up her finals, graduating, cooking a baby, going to friends weddings and helping cook mother's day dinner all at the same time. I have been going to graduations, weddings and juggling work. Things have slowed down now and we are going to be better at blogging - I hope. We hope all of you are well, even those who are on exoctic and exciting vacations.