Cotton Bowl 2008

Well, we all know how The Cotton Bowl turned out this year...it makes Seth a little sad to talk about it...so we will leave the final Arkansas score off of this blog. The main point is that Seth, his dad, his brother Caleb, and our brother-in-law Layton did get to go to the game. It was a beautiful day...the high was only like 45 but the sun was shining and made it beautiful. The four boys had great seats but were unfortunately in the shade...they froze their booties off out there! Here are some cute pictures of the boys on their fun Cotton Bowl Day!

Layton, Buddy, Caleb, and Seth

Christmas 2007

This year for Christmas, we celebrated for almost a week straight! We started out by doing Christmas a little early with my family. We went to my parent's house and had dinner and exchanged gifts with all of them. Mimi and Papaw got Jillian a brand new kitchen and food to go with it...among all the other gifts that Mimi gets the girls. Aunt K got Jillian a brand new fur coat...so adorable! The Dales got Jilly a monogrammed bag and a precious necklace with her name on it! Jillian had a great time playing with all the cousins. and being with family. Her and Macy even got along great as Macy babysat J in Mimi's toy room! These two will be good friends if we have to force them!!
The next morning, Santa Clause came early and Jillian was SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about her set up under the tree. She got a brand new Hot Pink "Tot Rod" motorized car. She also got some new bath toys, books, pajamas, a magnadoodle, and a Baby Bible. These gifts however meant nothing once she saw that car under the tree! She ran directly for that car, got in it, and drove over all of her other gifts! It was very funny and we MOSTLY got it on video...since Daddy isn't so good with the video camera! She had a great time playing with all of her new toys for a short time...then we packed up and drove to Arkansas.
We spent Christmas Eve with CC, Grandpa and Uncle Caleb. Jillian started running a fever that night, so she wasn't in the best shape to open her gifts, but she still gave it a good shot! She ended up falling asleep on me twice that night...which I loved!!! She got a brand new piano and some fun clothes, a puzzle, and some books from CC and Grandpa. Uncle Caleb hooked Jillian up with 3 Disney movies and some other toys! Christmas was spent with all of Seth's extended family. Jillian was still running a fever all day, but she still performed and played and had a good time with all of her family. She got a big rocking horse that sings, a small pink rocking horse that sings, a stuffed horse, 2 strollers, several babies, books, etc., etc. Jilly is not hurting in the toy department...lets just say that. Our Expedition was completely full on our trek back to Texas! What will we do when we have two kids stuff to haul around???
We really had a lovely time with both sides of the family and loved spending the holidays together. Seth has been off work for almost two weeks and we will both be sad to see him go back tomorrow. Jillian will be put back on a schedule tomorrow and put on Holiday Detox...as she got to do what she wanted and eat what she wanted for about a week now!

Here are WAY too many pictures of our week. I have to post for family...so feel free to ignore if you want!!!

Papaw, Jillian, and Mimi

Jillian busy getting into all of her Christmas stuff

Daddy helping Jillian open gifts

Seth and Ansley

Jillian trying to figure it all out on her own

Jillian and Macy checking out J's new kitchen!!!

Mommy and Jillian opening the food that goes with that new kitchen

The chaos that is Christmas with four (almost five) precious girls!

Papaw opening his presents

Aunt Summer opening her gifts

Layton getting his subscription to ESPN magazine

Aunt K in her latest hair color...to be continued

Jillian's gifts from Santa Clause

Santa even left baby girl #2 a stocking!!!

And of course Tyson got in on some gifts from Santa too!

Jillian LOVES LOVES LOVES her new Tot Rod from Santa!!

I didn't realize that we would have to have the drinking and driving talk at such a young age!

J playing with her other toys...only because we made her. She loves that car!

Jillian got a new piano from CC and Grandpa!

Daddy, CC, and Uncle Caleb watching Jilly on Christmas Eve

Uncle Caleb helping Jillian open her gifts

My poor sick baby fell asleep on me

Grandpa, Jillian, and CC

Jillian was the center of all the attention on Christmas Day with Seth's entire family watching her!

Jillian LOVES her babies and must be pushing one in the stroller at all times...with a purse. We think she is quite the girly girl...a mommy in training.

Playing babies with Grandpa

Daddy, Jilly, and CC watching home videos...Jillian loves to watch herself on the screen

Jillian's new kitchen that we finally got put up


Playing House

"Can I help you?"

J tickling the ivories on her new piano

"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese..."

Merry Christmas!!!

Jillian at the Christmas Party

A girl in out neighborhood hosts a Christmas Party every year where you bring your kids and Santa is there and hands out one gift to each kid. There are cookies and lots of crazy kids running around everywhere! You also get your kid's picture taken with Santa. This was our first year to go and of course Seth had to work late (stupid end of the month)...so I was wrestling an 18 month old and trying to take pictures all by myself. Since we already did the picture with Santa, I didn't stay all night for another one. So, Jillian just got her gift and we opened it in the car on the way home! She was just as excited though about her new DVD...and so is Mom and Dad...we are hoping for a little variety in the car on our way to Arkansas!!!

None of the pictures turned out great...but I was just so excited about her outfit, that I had to post some pictures. Summer and I went shopping for Christmas clothes the other day and we got these great deals on some really nice Christmas outfits. The deals involved packing up the girls and driving to the gas station for a coupon out of the paper...but it was so worth it in the end. WE got GREAT deals! Here is Jillian in one of her cute and festive dresses.

Waiting patiently for Santa to call her name

Opening her gift on the way home

On a Happier Note...

My dad told me that my last post about Miller was too sad and so I thought I would put something a little more up beat on here for today. Below is this collage that my photographer put together for me of Jillian's latest photo shoot. I thought these pictures turned out great!

You can click on the collage and make it bigger...

The Miller Man

It was one year ago today that our first child, Miller, died. Seth got Miller for me for my 23rd birthday...right after we were married. We babied Miller and loved him like our child. He was the cutest puppy of all time and was such a good dog! We took him everywhere and even stopped going out at night because we didn't want to leave him!
Miller was so well behaved. He was not wild or too rambunctious...just such a sweetie. He was a big licker...and loved to lick our faces and ears all the time ( I know that sounds gross to non-dog lovers!!!). He was completely unaware of the fact that he was a dog. We got Tyson one year later so that Miller would have a companion...and Seth and I are sure that Miller thought Tyson was the family dog! We would take them to the park and Tyson would run free with the other dogs while Miller just sat beside me the whole time. It was as if he was annoyed by all the dogs everywhere!
After Jillian was born, Miller started having seisures. They just got worse and worse until finally there was nothing else we could do. On December 19th, 2006 Miller died...and I will say that was the worst day of my life. I cried and cried and couldn't get off the couch for almost two weeks. His death was the worst I have ever had to go through....I really thought that I would never get over it.
We still have nothing but sweet memories of our first born and have a hard time even looking at all these pictures below. I am sure that him and Jillian would have been great friends. He was always very interested in Jillian...the newest family pet in Miller's eyes!
WE LOVE AND MISS YOU MILLER!!!

The Miller Man

He just let me do whatever I wanted to him...and was happy about it

This is where Miller would hide in our new house after we got Tyson. Tyson couldn't get up the stairs and Miller knew it. This was his safe place.

My two boys...brothers

Miller laid out on the couch with Tyson sleeping on him

Pretty Pugs

This was the day before Miller died...their last picture together

Miller liked to try out all the baby equipment to make sure it was safe. We ALWAYS found him snoring in Jillian's papasan chair. Seth would even turn on the vibrations for him...what a baby!

Here is big brother Miller keeping watch over his little sister.

This was Miller's last day at home. He still was staying close to his sister even though he was very sick.