Ike's pics.

I was looking through Zeb's old pictures to find some Ike comparisons and realized that I have greatly neglected rugrat #2 (or just ubiquitously photographed zeb). I think I found thirty pictures of Zeb eating different foods and I've got a gazillion of him just sitting around in his diaper.

So- yesterday at the botanical gardens I devoted a mini photo shoot to little Friedrick here.

My friend took this one with her fancy camera. I love it.

The little turkey hated the grass on his legs but loved eating everything he could get his grubby little fingers on. I think he ate one small rock. I got everything else out of his mouth before he managed to swallow.
With all of his new found curiosity and finely honed motor skills- this kid will not stop provoking his brother. It's funny until Zeb is so distraught about his demolished train tracks that he can't stop crying.

And I must include a few pictures of Zebby. He's starting to become quite the little model. He found this statue- posed in it- and asked me to take his picture all on his own. I think his little smile is ADORABLE.
His favorite part of the day was feeding the ducks. He would laugh hysterically every time the ducks gobbled up the bread they threw.

my little learner

I always forget that Zeb is still just a little boy.

Nearly all of his friends are three- or almost three (or even older)-and I have to remind myself that he just turned two. But even two seems terribly old to me when I look at Ike! Zeb is actually closer in age to most of the younger kids that we play with than the older- but he still likes to play with the older ones! He was meant to have an older sibling- but he's going to have to be the big brother for the rest of our rugrats and just deal with it.

I think that every one of his friends is starting preschool and so we've decided to do our own little program at home to try and keep him busy. Plus I'm afraid that winter could be long if we don't have any real structure. He's been LOVING the program we've started and I've had so much fun doing it with him. Yesterday he awed me with his creativity. I haven't seen him play pretend much and he had me laughing hysterically as he ran around the house like a bee smelling flowers and flying home to see it's papa- and then a bus "urchhhing" to stops and beeping at people (B is the letter of the week). He's already reading (recognizing) simple words and spelling friend's names! He will definitely benefit from our mini school- and so will I.

I'm also excited that we've got seminary going every morning now. It gets me awake and into learning mode- and it's a great way for Zeb to be a part of more singing/praying/and scripture reading (when he's awake for it, anyway!). My seminary students love Ike and Zeb- and you should see the looks on the little rugrats faces when they walk into a room full of smiling people early in the morning! They are in heaven.

Oh, and I just have to add this picture I stole from Laney's blog today. Here are Zeb and Henry having an all out scream fest driving from Orem to Lehi. I guess Zeb can be Henry's older brother. They act enough like brothers- definitely look enough like brothers- and technically have the same mom.

seven month comparison.

Here are the rugrats- both at almost exactly seven months. Zeb had some pretty goofy looking baby pictures. The kid was (is) a wild one. The picture on the left is Zeb's regular old smile. We could almost always get him to smile bigger and laugh hysterically. The picture on the right is the biggest smile we can possibly get out of Ike. He's such a different baby in some ways- and exactly the same in others.

I can't believe that Zeb was downing mac and cheese and pizza at this age. Ike is finally just able to keep those baby puffs in his mouth without gagging! And I can't believe we were getting up EVERY night to feed Zeb at this point still. Ike has been sleeping TWELVE straight hours for four months now. Thank you Ike!

Ike LOVES his touch and feel books just like Zeb did. And he definitely is equally as crabby when teething- with equally as large teeth. Both little rugrats love their blankets more than ANYthing- but hate to be wrapped tight in them.

Here's Zeb at the end of a long four days without dad last week. Thank heavens we've had such a great past three days! too bad Kent works seven twelve hour days in a row coming up! Luckily he's really enjoying ER and it goes fast for him.

Our labor day was pretty uneventful- but very pleasant. I got in a final day of sleeping in before seminary starts (TOMORROW!!!). We had a full day planned- but right after our family run- the rain started and never stopped. The ward Labor Day picnic was canceled but it ended up being fine because we went and got our free Chic-fil-a dinners! Today was "wear a sports shirt and get free food" day. Dinner was delicious and it was nice to walk around the mall.

In other miller news- Ike's GINORMOUS top two teeth have finally broken through. The dang things were so sharp and big- they bled as they came through the past few days. Poor little guy. He's now got four teeth! still waaaay behind Zeb's count at seven months.

Also- Zeb has had some lung issues the last little while and we've been doing breathing treatments nightly again. I am going to place all blame on LANEY. COVER your MOUTH when you cough, you little rat!

Other than that- life is the same and all great.

I did it.

I could not have asked for a better day yesterday. kent had the ENTIRE day off and was not just coming off a night shift- PLUS we had all sorts of fun and adventurous activities ALL day. We had a race- a train party- a baptism- and a great bbq! I'm soooo glad that this was one of the days Kent didn't have to go in.

We woke up bright and early and drove to Bowling Green for my Boy Scout Soaring Eagle half-marathon. I absolutely loved it. It's definitely my favorite race length. The 13 miles keeps me at a pace that is enjoyable. I don't feel like I have to ever sprint like crazy- and I don't get too tired or bored. Plus- it's totally trainable with 2 kids in the double jogger. I did NOT run this race with them and I think that's what made it seem so easy. If my calculations are correct- I have put in over 700 miles pushing those rugrats (over 75 pounds including the stroller!) since Ike was born! it felt so heavenly to be kidless.
Kent and the kiddos started off the race with me and then cheered me on at different spots along the course. I also had a friend who ran the 5k- and then came and cheered me on and ran with me in a few spots- thanks so much, cyndi! It was the first year the race has ever been run- so there weren't all that many runners and it ended up being pleasant. I just ran out amongst the cows and horses (and a few patches of really foul smelling manure), rows of corn- and a few sporadic runners- for the first nine miles. When Kent took this picture -Zeb was up on his shoulders yelling "it's mama! it's mama!" He spotted me from quite a ways away.
There were even missionaries from the local ward doing their service at mile 11! they were manning the water station and seeing them gave me a boost of energy for the last three miles. I'm sure they thought I was crazy as I ran past yelling " I love missionaries!".

Here we are before the race checking out the police cars and motorcycles.

and finally- here's my medal. All finishers got medals- and I was pretty excited. I've never gotten a medal for anything before. I wore it on the drive home. Plus- it made up for the poo colored shirts they handed out. I know poo is the official boy scout color- but couldn't they have gone with red, white, or blue and been patriotic or something?!

I have soooo many pictures of metta's wedding.

Kent's mom came and picked up both Zeb and Ike the morning of the wedding and took them for the ENTIRE day so that we could enjoy the festivities without having to chase and corral and feed rugrats. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Pat and Melynda!

He did get to have some fun that morning wearing metta's "red slippers" around the house.

Metta and Clair were married in the Timpanogos temple and the weather was perfect. I was prepared for a miserably hot day- but the clouds cooperated.



Poor little Daysa is now the lone ranger of the family. She really hates when we all kiss in front of her. I love this picture.

The luncheon was at Los Hermanos and was DELICIOUS. I haven't had good mexican food in AGES! and what's a trip to utah county without a visit to at least a few of the customary restaurants ( we also went to cafe rio, pizza factory, and a few others while in town)!

Cousin Amy flew in from the wedding all the way from Carolina (I can NEVER remember if it's north or south). We have the most ridiculously cool cousins- and I saw BUCKETS of them in Utah. We really missed all the ones who weren't there, though.
And here are the wonderful glorious infamous oswaldo sisters. Only one of us is still an Oswald.

Metta needed repeated help bustling her bustle.

Even when our kiddos are gone- Kent can always find one to hold.

and here I am sandwiched between two Kents. My gr. uncle Kent is married to my gr. aunt Metta (the aunt whom my sister was named after) and occasionally it gets confusing when people talk about Kent and Metta. Uncle Kent is an inspiration. He's battling brain cancer and the doctor's say they've NEVER seen anyone doing as well as he is. Miracles do happen. My grandma O also came from a family of four girls! Here she is with two of her sisters- Metta and Connie. They are such great ladies.
The reception was at Thanksgiving point and was BEAUTIFUL. WE got NO good family pictures- but we did have an amazing time and ate lots of great food.

Metta and Clair looked stunning.

Zeb had so much fun it was ridiculous. He ran around and danced and played and threw rocks (and flowers from centerpieces) into the stream.

Ike loved all of the attention from everyone. He also loved just being able to see Kent for longer than an hour.

Metta is amazingly beautiful and I love this picture with the nephews.

We never actually got to taste the cake (you can't cut it at thanksgiving point without being charged an astronomically ridiculous fee) but it was beautiful and looked very delicious.

And one more picture of the sisters together. Love you all.

Friday!

Kent flew into slc friday morning and we got to spend some fabulous time with his family that day! We were lucky enough to see the newest little addition to the Miller side- Megan. She was born five days before we got there! and we got this great picture with all of the cousins.
The best part of the day was when Kent got to "practice" his new skills on willing family members. Kent's mom brought home all sorts of equipment and Kent got to practice doing IVs. His mom let him try it on her in three different places!!!
James wasn't as happy about being a guinea pig but finally relented. I think he was trying to prove how tough he was :)

and here's the zebster listening to his own heart with his gma pat's stethoscope.
here is Kent with his three lovely sisters. I am forever indebted to them (and his mom) for making him the perfect husband. He is highly trained in cooking and cleaning and has plenty of practice with women and their emotions.