fresh

I love a good new year.
This one is especially hopeful and bright.

My sons are at fantastic ages - ones I am kind of savoring more than ever.

Leland gives kisses.  Jude still snuggles.  Receiving love back from my kids  -  Makes it all so worthwhile.

Joel & I enjoyed an 11-day vaca together - do you know how much freelance he did?  NONE!  First time he could say that in over 2 years.  We rested.  We laughed.  We enjoyed one another. 

We set some goals for the New Year.  They aren't resolutions.  They are very specific & ones we can achieve.  I'm excited to to be running 2-3 miles right now. I'm so glad to have formed some new & inspiring friendships lately.  I'm excited to be cooking more food than I ever have in my life.  I'm turning 30 this coming July & I am excited about walking into what I pray is the healthiest decade of our lives. 

With knowledge at our fingertips about food/exercise/rest, we are excited to build a future for our children that will provide them the best shot at a healthy long life.  What a gift that is.

Wishing you all a healthy 2011 full of wisdom & love. 

best of '10

top ten in 2010

Enjoyed watching Leland go from teeny crying baby to a true & perfect member of the Miller fam.

Jude began Kindergarten - while I miss him - I'm so proud of the little man he is.

Joel's career as a designer reached a fantastic peak this year. 

I did a ton of makeup with a fantastic friend & so enjoyed the art form it has become in my life.

I cooked with more creativity this year. 

Homemade became something I could achieve this year.

I exercised more this year. 

I enjoyed running again. 

Let go of a lot of fears

I enlarged my heart for others - better yet, I watched my sons do the same. 

Hope you are proud of your 2010 & have a 2011 ahead of you that is brimming with hope.

Cheers! 

~Jess

quiet Christmas

This Christmas was so lovely & one I will never forget.

Leland was really into it.  He peeled away the paper, said "oh oh OH!" at the sight of each toy he received.  Jude was my little responsible helper.  He assisted Leland in the proper opening of his gifts and then telling him what they were. 

I loved that we didn't host.
I loved that we didn't travel.
I will cherish time with family.
I will also cherish those moments when the kids were asleep and Joel and I were quietly reflecting on what our sons would think of their gifts...how excited he and I were to exchange with one another.
It was quiet.  It was perfect.  It was necessary.

Silent Night.  Holy Night.  All is calm.  All is bright.

Merry Christmas.

can I just say...

how excited I am to have this man at home for the next 11 days straight?

Winter fun, family celebrations, enjoying fantastic cuisine, a Kajal Christmas Party and lots of date-nights with my man....seriously going to savor & enjoy this Christmas & NYE like no other.

From us to you: 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

big brothers

As an only child, I'm constantly fascinated in the relationship between my sons.

It's altogether beautiful & hysterical.

A few conversations between Jude & Leland have made it into my mind as a few I hope to remember so I must write them down.

Jude has been helping us out a ton (esp on Sunday mornings) when we're trying to just get out the door, boots & hats on, etc.  It's such a production.  Gone are the flips flops & tank tops and now it's like 45 minutes of 'gearing up'

We noticed that Leland will be fine as long as his brother is playing with him or alongside him.  Jude asked if he could 'babysit' him up in his room and I decided to give him a chance.  I would go up and quietly listen to ensure no harm was befalling my 13 month old.  All I heard was laughter...sounds of block towers falling down and rebuilding again. 

Just this morning, Jude 'babysat' and I prepared & brought breakfast up to them for a special 'Breakfast in Bed' morning.  Well, Jude decided to tell me that he was playing 'Pretend Trap' with Leland.  I asked how does that go?  He simply said this:

"I just take a blanket and trap Leland." Jude says with a proud smile.

"hmm...does Leland like that?"  I respond.

"He LOVES it, Mom. Well....he sometimes will cry & won't like it so then I untrap him and then he loves it. " 

I guess this is the world of a little brother.  ;-)

unforgettable gift

I have been meaning to write this blog for a while now.

I'm such a fickle gift-receiver.
I like too many things and then I feel like..."Geesh, the money could really go towards (Insert something practical & unfestive here) "

I like jewelry but feel like when I have little ones, I worry about it being tangled, lost or broken.
I love clothing but I'm so funny about how things fit - so I always prefer to pick it out myself.
I love perfume but that is just SUCH a hard one to pick out for someone else.

I got a gift over the Thanksgiving holiday from my sister.  (I should use the term 'inlaw' after but I choose not to as she is really truly more of a sister than an 'inlaw)

See, this little blog you're reading right now.  It's intention was not really much more than a record of the happenings of our little family.  Perhaps out of towners could catch up, have a laugh, or simply understand us better. 

My sister took this little blog to a new level and put together a gift I will forever cherish.

In fact, I've gotten notes & emails from dozens of people telling me..."You should publish that blog...I think people would buy it!"  Well, that is certainly not in my plans. 

But, my dear sister took it upon herself to have my blog published and put in a hard-back book form.

I opened the gift in the kitchen with her...pulled out this shiny blue book....saw our familys photo on the cover and then I saw..."The Miller family blog" - tears welled up in my eyes.  She gave me one of the few gifts that I loved so much that I couldn't contain the tears.

I flipped through the pages - she had cut/pasted each and every word onto the pages - included photos and all.  I read through some of the memories I had with my sons and I sat there 'remembering' - the tears didn't stop.

If I think of a gift and what its purpose is to have.  I think of this gift.  It made me remember, smile, be grateful and cry all at the same time.

Thanks sis.  I love you.

to write

Writing is so powerful. 

From Jude    Two Mommy

I've always felt something incredibly powerful happen once I allow my emotion and expression to come out in written form.  I sometimes understand my emotions and manage them better once I can read them.

Tonight, I saw something that truly touched me. 

I saw my son write.  I read what his little heart intended to communicate.  I understood him a bit better. 

Joel & I just joined a gym.  We have been going somewhat frequently.  The kids go to a play room divided into ages.  Both my boys love it and look forward to going. 

On our way there tonight, Jude told me he was excited because they have movies there.  I encouraged him to move his body and be active while he had a kid-size bball court and tons of other kids to play with.  He nodded.  

I worked out.  

I got my stuff from my locker.  

I got my kids and bundled them up. 

Jude had made something while he was at play land.  He had made 'Christmas Presents' for us all to put beneath the tree.  He made me swear not to peek.  On the way home, he kept asking me, "Mommy, how do you spell Leland again?"  "L-E-L-A-N-D, bud" I would reply over and over. 

He got home, raced to the crayons and markers and began to write each of our names on his little handmade gifts.  He may not have written much besides who the gift was for and who it was from but it was the most important thing to my son at the time.  I watched his lips purse as he carefully spelled out "TWO DADDY" and "FORM JUDE" and just smiled at his tenacity to communicate his love to us. I asked him why he was so excited to give them to us.  He simply said, "It's so fun to make stuff and then watch you open it, Mommy."  

He totally gets it.

I know what gift I'm most excited to open.

Two Daddy    From Jude

Two Leland    From Jude