Waking Up on the Right Side of the Crib!

One of my favorite things these days is going in to get Miley after she wakes up in the morning or from a nap. It is so cute....she just lies in her crib talking to herself, and then lights up when someone comes in to get her. She has even been having fun in unfamiliar surroundings, since we are at my mom and dad's house for Christmas. This video shows it all!  

Whoever Thinks Traveling Is Easy....

....needs to try packing for you, plus a baby, for three weeks, when the airlines charge for every packed bag! UGH! Having never had to worry about how much checked luggage I had, packing last night for my trip to Laramie today was an awful experience. I was stuffing my suitcase TO THE BRIM, trying to fit everything in one bag so that I would only have to pay $15 for one bag instead of $40 for two. When I realized this wasn't going to work out, my friend Erin was a lifesaver and let me use her enormous suitcase. Hey, if you are paying for a bag, you might as well get your moneys worth, right?? Anyway, now my only concern is that my bag is going to be over the 50 pound weight limit and I will have incurred a $75 fee. Then all of my hard packing work would be a waste! It's a good thing Cameron and I have weighed, and re-weighed my suitcase about 20 times hoping to avoid that!

Anyway, I just had to gripe. I used to not mind traveling, besides the fact that flying is not my favorite thing. I just had to get myself through security, get to the gate, and plop down and read a magazine while I waited for my flight. Now it is a totally different story. Now my worries consist of juggling my baby while I get everything on the conveyor belt to go through security. Then keeping her entertained, as I wait for at least an hour for the flight. Then getting settled into one tiny seat for a two hour flight. Trying to feed her so her ears can equalize the pressure, while hoping that I am not offending anyone. Hoping that she doesn't cry, so that I am not that person that people are telling their friends or family about..."oh it was a great flight, but there was this baby crying the whole time...".

I tend to over analyze situations, and expect the worst while hoping for the best. I must say though....I definitely didn't appreciate how easy traveling used to be until now! But I figure, all of this is totally worth it when you get to see your family and friends, and be your favorite place for Christmas...HOME. And I do have to appreciate that traveling is as fast as it is now. I can't imagine having to spend hours or days trying to get somewhere......we really are fortunate that we can be somewhere in a few hours, even if it is a pain getting there. :)

Despite the negative tone of this post, I am THRILLED to be going home! I am typing this post to just try to make the time go faster until I GET to leave for the airport and the experience that comes with that....wish me luck! And for those of you in Wyoming and Colorado....I will be seeing you SOON! Can't wait!

I Can't Resist Just A Couple More...

Just because I wanted to post a few more in another outfit....here are a few more of Miley from the past week.

Photo Shoot

I have to give a little background on this subject. Cameron's family is VERY competitive. Especially the boys. One of the newer things that they have become competitive about is photography....always trying to outdo each other on camera gear, and the best photos. Steve (Cameron's dad) and Don (Cameron's brother) both have really nice cameras, and this last week we definitely benefitted from their competitive edge. Miley had a few photo shoots, and we have hundreds of pictures to choose from between the two of them...they of course had to try to show each other up and try to get the best ones. Miley was a wonderful subject. She was an absolute ham for a good few hours (split up during the week!) and was laughing and flirting with the camera. So here are just a few of our favorites.

Thanks Steve and Don for letting Miley be the subject of your competition...we love the pictures! :)

Thanksgiving and Family Visit

We have had Cameron's parents in town for the past week for Thanksgiving. It has been fun spending the week with them and having a big gathering for Turkey Day. There wasn't a lot going on while they were here, but everyone had some good R & R and enjoyed the time together. Here are some pictures from their time here.

The night Steve and Terri got into town, hanging out at Don and Cindy's

Thanksgiving morning, Miley resting up for the big day!

Miley with her Grandma Clark

Miley decided to make up for the fact that she can't eat turkey by eating her dad's cell phone

Cameron singing "Brick House" on the Wii

The Thanksgiving spread!

Cameron's nephew, Ben, was a little worn out after the long Thanksgiving day...

....but not as tired as Cameron was after waiting ALL NIGHT outside Best Buy to get us this new computer (and by all night I mean from 10:00 pm till 5:30 am in 20 degree weather!)!

And finally, a picture of the whole clan! We are thankful that we had family here to spend the holiday with!

5 Months Young

Miley turned 5 months old yesterday! Not a huge milestone, but she HAS really learned to sit up well in the past week, so that is our major 5 month accomplishment. She can now sit up pretty well unsupported for about 10 minutes at a time. We don't have any pictures of that, but we have some more of her in the Boppy, and I thought I would share a few more pictures from this weekend.

Sitting in her Boppy playing with one of the toys from her Baby Einstein Mat (see my Mommy-Must-Haves below!)

Getting ready for one of her favorite things...bathtime!

And finally, getting some tummy time while watching Baby Einstein Baby Beethoven on the computer.

Additional Mommy-Must-Haves

As I was going through my day yesterday, I realized there were a couple crucial items I left off my Mommy-Must-Have list....so here are my additions.

Glider - I don't know what I would do without this glider in Miley's room. When we first moved her into her own room, we didn't have a chair in there so I would go and get her, bring her back to our room and feed her in bed, and then bring her back to her room and put her down. Now I just have to make ONE trip, which definitely makes a big difference at 3:00 am! Plus, it is good for rocking her to sleep, reading her stories, etc.

Hooter Hider - I DON"T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT THIS, and I can't believe I left it off my original list! I am definitely not a person who can just nurse in front of anyone, anywhere. This is so nice, so when you are hanging out with people, you can feed your baby with no one feeling awkward! Plus, since I have already made a trip home, and making another one in a couple of weeks, it is nice to have on an airplane! Isn't this a great picture of ME?? :) Just kidding.