I HATE Pregnancy Brain...

Prior to ever being pregnant, I was able to multitask with the BEST of them. Prior to being pregnant, I could make a to-do list, AND complete it. Prior to being pregnant, I could go on vacation - and remember to pack everything back INTO my bags.....

Since I had Noah, I CANNOT, let me repeat, CAN NOT remember anything, hear anything, complete a task AND, I can't remember the last time I went somewhere and packed everything back into my bags.



I thought pregnancy brain was supposed to go away when you weren't pregnant any more...

Just this morning, I was cooking dinner for a friend. I was putting noodles on the stove to cook, and guess what I did?? DIDN'T ADD WATER TO THE POT?? Really?? I literally put noodles on the stove to cook....After I smelled something burning, I went into the kitchen to find a pot of steaming uncooked noodles.

Lord, please either give me my abilities back....OR, just keep an extra eye on me. I don't care which.



On a different note - how many thought by the title of the post that it was going to say I was expecting #2?? NO WAY JOSE! This momma can't function with one, much less two. :)

Mini-Me

Since May 12, 2010, everyone, I repeat EVERYONE has taken one look at Noah and said, "Wow. He looks just like a Mills." I didn't see it. It has gone so far as a stranger (to me) stop me in public and ask if Noah was Billy Mills' grand son.

When I looked at my precious baby, I saw just that...a precious baby. I didn't think he looked like me or Cullen. I saw the personality traits: Cullen's calm side - my quirkiness. He flares his nose like I do. He goes with the flow like his daddy. BUT, I definitely didn't think he favored either one of us.

However, the other day, I made time stand still. I took a picture of Noah and saw baby pictures of Cullen flash in my head. It is true. Noah looks just like a Mills. He looks just like his daddy. It's a good thing his Daddy is so cute!

Need A Good Laugh?

Father's Day was this weekend. We spent the whole day just spending time together. We went to church, lunch with friends, and played at the water park!



{Let's go back to lunch......}

We went to lunch with a friend of mine's family. They are a wonderful family - whom I have come to love being a part of our lives. Pause - I am not sure if you know this, but I don't have the best hearing. Often, if you don't have my full attention, including my eyes, I won't hear you... - Unpause.

Noah was sitting between Cullen and I at Old Chicago. Cullen was feeding Noah lunch, while eating his lunch - which is often problematic because Noah eats at warp speed and if you aren't fast enough for him, he will fuss to let you know to speed it up. Well, I take a bite of my food, looking away from Noah, while digging in his bag. I hear him make a fussy noise so I look up and see Cullen's eyes closed at the table.

I knew he told me he was tired, but c'mon.....napping at the lunch table - while with company. How is that possible??? Instantly, I am so embarrassed for him. So, dumbfounded and quickly annoyed, I say loud enough to wake him, "Are you seriously sleeping at the table??" Only for him to look up at me and patiently say, "No, we're praying."

I felt like such a dumb-ass. Yep, I look around and everyone has their heads bowed....

Nice work, Mrs. Mills. Nice work.

Coffee With Dad

There is no doubt I love taking pictures of my family. It is one of my most favorite time-passers. Recently, I went to a wedding of a pledge sister, and while we were at the hotel, Cullen and Noah had an exchange over coffee mugs. It is by far, one of my absolute most favorite sets of pictures. It tells a story; it shows how much fun these two have together.


I am one lucky gal to have these two guys in my life. They feel me with joy and pride - I truly beam for them.

Summer Time, And The Livin's Easy....

I love song lyrics as titles. They just work.

Except, that this summer hasn't quite been easy living...yet. I have managed to stay BUSY with summer training and going here and there. Yesterday, Noah and I had such a fun morning. His Coco and Bedo had been out of town for about a week; so upon their return, Noah spent the afternoon with his Coco.

There is not a ton going on in the world of Cullen and Erin. We are both great; but nothing new to report. Noah on the other hand, changes by the day. In the last month, he:

• Has gone from crawling to walking 100%. While he was taking a few steps here and there before his birthday, he has perfected the art of "Frankenstein Walking". He is practically running.
  
• Communicates. Without words, he can communicate anything he needs. He points specifically. If pointing doesn't work, he will take your finger and DRAAAAAAG you anywhere he needs to go. He will take your hand and place it on something that needs moving, opened or closed. It blows me away that he can know exactly what he wants and is stubborn....persistent about it until he gets his need fulfilled.
• Can say: Mom, Mama, (any morph of mom), Nigh nigh (and only in your face, with a smile when he should be going to bed, but isn't!), thank you, Bye.
  
• he can imitate anything I do. I clap three times, he claps three times, and laughs at the situation...almost to say, "Look at me. I am so awesome."
  

Oh, he fills my heart. I know all moms are extremely partial to their own (rightfully so), but it blows me away how smart, funny and purely special he is to me.

Schoooooooooool's Out For Summer...

(C'mon, tell me you didn't sing the title.....)

School ended Friday, June 3rd. Summer is here, and it is HOT. I am regularly stewing and brewing about what to do with Noah this summer. Him nor I want to sit inside playing with the same old boring toys for the next two months! So, we are laying out the agenda and filling it up!

Here is what we have coming up in the next two months:

• Training this week...Noah is sick. SO, he is getting quality Dad time!
  
• Amarillo to see my favorite North Texas!
  
• Dinners with great friends.
  
• Play dates with Noah's BFF! ;)
  
• Go to Austin and play
• Go to Runaway Bay to see our favorite Aubrey (oh, and her parents!)
  
• Cousin's weddings

Along with everything we know we are going to do, there is the list of things I WANT to do:

• Finish my pantry project.
  
• Start and finish reorganizing the office closet.
• Figure out what I am going to do with my classroom this summer.....and do it!
  

Busy summer here!! But, that is how we like it. Two months off of school means we have 2 months to grow and play and soak up Mommy/Noah time.


This summer is going to be worlds different that last summer. Remember how little he was?? I am so excited to make memories this summer with Noah. It is one of the many perks to my job....built in Mommy time.

Lemons...

It really is the small things in life that make the big differences. When God gives you lemons, make lemonade. Isn't that how the saying goes?

I recently decided I want a fruit tree. My dear friend, Jenny, has a key lime tree and a couple lemon trees. I envy her fruit trees. I watch her little limes pop up and wish I could go home and check on my key limes. I can't. I don't have a fruit tree.

WELL, guess what?? Cullen gave into my annoying pangs of jealousy. He bought me a lemon tree...er, a lemon bush - not quite a tree, yet. THEN, I learned it often takes a season before we will really get any lemons on a tree. {Did you hear my heart sink??} Me? The one who does not believe in differed gratification? (Thanks, Mom). I have to wait till this time next year before I have a genuine lemon??

...Nope! Not me! Guess who's lemon tree has baby lemon's sprouting??? MINE! That is who's. I am such a proud fruit tree mom!


See, it really is the small things in life that make me smile.

It Has Been A While.. Which Means - LOTS of Pictures.

You know, it has been far too long for a blog post. There is so much to blog about, that I get overwhelmed... and well, quit. I post a picture and move on....

WELL, my friends, this blog will have writing, AND pictures.

Since I last blogged, my little infant turned into a toddler.
He turned ONE. It is so hard to believe he used to be so little! We took Noah to a Ranger's game for his birthday. SO much fun! While I did have a few minor meltdowns the actual day of his birthday, {thanks, Jenny for dealing with me} I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy {and fun} having a one year old really is! In the last few days, literally, two or three days, he has gone from walking a few steps to walking almost full time. He has gone from making mindless noise to mimic-ing Cullen and I. He sticks his tongue out ALL of the time. He can give kisses, make kissing noise and blow kisses. He attacks you with hugs and kisses. He giggles. He belly laughs. Nothing is better than a baby belly laugh. He LOVES to be outside... ...especially when there is something to do with Dad, like mow the yard, water the plants or rake. Afterall, he things his Daddy hung the moon.
And, much like is Papa, he loves being naked. NOTHING makes him more angry than to put on clothes. It causes me to break out in a sweat fighting him to put clothes on sometimes. He loves being with people, especially his BFF, Kylie.
He is eating real food all the time. He is drinking milk, not formula.
Since I last blogged my little infant turned into a toddler.

In the land of Cullen and Erin, not a whole lot is new or exciting.
Cullen is busy making the outside of our house beautiful. He plants trees, plots where the next something is going to go in our yard. I love him for that... as I walk outside, and have zero vision.

I am busy making the inside of our house functional. I am currently in the middle of a pantry overhaul. Boring, yet, so exciting! I try to throw in decor every now and then....but really, I just make sure the house is functional. This summer, Noah and I are going to spend our days really making our house a home {it's been almost a year since we moved in.... it is about time we really start unpacking those last boxes!!}

School is done in 7.5 days. I know that I shouldn't be excited about that. I am going to miss my students terribly, but I sure am excited to know what this summer has in store for Noah and I. Aahhh.....the memories that will ensue.

Cullen and I have the annual Elliott {Mills'} family reunion next weekend. I am so excited. Often, it is how I measure how long Cullen and I have been together. Gosh, it is so hard to believe, but this will be my 7th family reunion to go to. We started dating in 2003 - and I skipped out on the first one; we had only been dating for a few months at that point. Along with attending this year, I helped Cullen's mom and aunt plan it - no pressure for it to be great. It is in Austin this year. Given that I am from Austin, and haven't ever done the toursity side of life, it is going to be so fun to experience Austin like an out-of-towner.

I have a terribly long to-do list for the summer. I am so excited to post it, and continue to mark things off!

Noah is asleep, so, I need to get my beauty rest also. Until next time, stay beautiful.

Happy FIRST Birthday Baby Boy!

I have so many words for today. I have started to write a letter to Noah so many times. I just can't. I can say 100 different ways how much I love this child, how different my life is because of him. BUT, I can not write it down eloquently enough. Words are so permanent. I will write him a letter and stash it away before today is over...

Happiest Birthday, little man! I love you so very much. Your daddy and I are more proud of you with every passing day.

For Mother's Day, I was spoiled....spoiled rotten. Cullen blessed me with sleeping in, and I had the luxury of doing whatever I wanted. Do you want to know what I CHOSE to do?? Spend the whole day with my beautiful son and perfect husband. My first Mother's Day was a day that will be hard to beat...

We played in the sprinkler today!





Noah's birthday is this week. I cannot believe he is turning ONE. ONE. I cannot believe I have been his mommy for one year. I cannot believe he has been in our life for one year already. There are days that I cannot remember what life was like without him; there are other days that I feel like we JUST left the hospital. Where does the time go?? I love you little Noah. Thank you for being Mommy's PERFECT little bug!