Bjorn...defined

OK...some clarification is necessary...we have had many a comment and question about the Bjorn. Don't worry Aunt Sarah, you weren't the only one.



Bjorn (n) byorn (thanks Aunt Peggy!): A fabulous front carrier for babies. You wear it like a backpack and the baby rests on your chest. It gives the parent freedom of his or her arms to accomplish tasks while baby can be close, feel you breathe, hear your heart beat and -with all the reminders of the womb- slowly drift into dreamland. Great for cooking, cleaning, eating and walking.

Note: When eating sloppy food, it is best to cover baby's head with something- this is demonstrated nicely here by Ian who is sporting a double paper towel over Blayne's head to ensure that no fish tacos are spilled on her sweet little face...or wake her up...

**For all the Buffett fans out there (and we know this crowd has many) these pictures were taken at Jimmy's sister's restaurant Lulu's in Gulf Shores, AL. Great place, we highly recommend it.

5 weeks

Must- get- to- the- other- side...all right, that's one arm...

and the other...

Made it! Ooohhh...floor....

Let's see...at five weeks I am very busy. I am not mobile by any means, but very strong. These pictures you see here I did all by myself with dad's hand just guiding my butt to make sure I didn't fall flat off the couch backward. I am mastering moving my head from side to side and getting better at holding it up despite the fact that it still makes up about a quarter of my body size.

I would also like to point out at this junction that at five weeks I am extremely well traveled. I have currently been to Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida (we were just miles from the Florida line in Orange Beach and ventured over for some food, beaching and exploring). Come next week at this time I will be able to add Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York to that list...not bad considering that will work out to be 8 states in just 42 days of life. I think I am off to a great start.

**Mom would like me to point out that I did in fact get a few Springsted features...check out those ears...those are hers all the way. I would have preferred a more appealing feature, but what can you do?

I put the BAM in BAMA

Bama Baby Beach Bum!

500 miles, casinos and gambling wasn't enough entertainment for me so we drove a few more hours east to spend the weekend in Orange Beach, AL. Wow, that place is pretty nice! We have some friends who let us stay at their beach house which was awesome! Above you can check out my own personal beach home away from home. Note the Bjorn again under me...that thing is magic.

After a day in the sun, we went for dinner on the water at a place called Tacky Jack's. In all the four weeks I have been on the outside, my mom and dad have not before now ventured out to dinner in fear that I will not behave myself (never ;-) But, with little choice on vacation, I would like to note here that I did remarkably well. We went out to dinner every day this past week and not once did I misbehave! Maybe one of these days we'll try this at home...

I also had my first ocean swim! There is no doubt that Miller blood runs through my veins. I LOVE the water...the pool, the ocean, the bath, hot, cold, it doesn't matter, just put me in! The beaches were fabulous! We had an awesome trip and I can't wait to leave again on Friday to see and meet all my family in the North!

Oh craps!

Gambling for diaper money...I mean with mom not working, somebody has gotta pay the bills!

Did we mention that our hotel in Mississippi was in a casino?

Don't worry, though, even with my fake ID, I couldn't get into any of the high dollar games. I will say, however, we were the most popular people in the place...not bad seeing as though we didn't spend a dime gambling!

Down in Biloxi

Traveling with an infant is easy, right? Sure...it's all her stuff that makes it tough!

Blayne was clearly exhausted after toting all her things the whole way to Mississippi. I mean, who does she think she is? We all have to pull our own weight around here...

Daddy had to work this past week in Delilse so we figured...why would we sit at home when we could go with him and hang out at a hotel?!?

We thought this would also be a good trial run for our big trip to my Aunt Quinny's wedding next week. We definitely got a feel for what we will really need to take with us and what can stay at home. This was an important lesson to learn because mom and dad say that packing all this great stuff for the airplane would be a bit more difficult than throwing it in the back of the car.

Bjorn knows bjest

What do you do with a fussy baby? You bjorn her.

To all parents out there- is this not the best thing ever created? I have no idea how to pronounce it, and yet I am pretty close to making a petition for it to be officially named the 8th wonder of the world. This fantastic little invention is one of few sure-fire ways to calm our little angel when she is having a rough moment.

A huge hug and thanks to Aunt Kirstin and Uncle Dan for giving us the best gift new parents could get- quiet, and a smiling baby :-)

Since we missed our 4 week update- we'll brief you here. Well, at 4 weeks down Blayne is doing an incredible job at sleeping through the night (of course, it seems every time I brag on her about something she makes a liar out of me...so let's keep our fingers crossed on this one). Since Saturday, she has gone to bed somewhere between 10 and 11pm and not woken up until between 6 and 7am! We are really enjoying the extra hours of slumber and hoping that this sticks.

Of course, as we all know, life is give and take. That said, yes-she does sleep through the night- but there is a good possibility it is because she refuses to take a nap after 5pm and is fussy from then til bedtime. By the end of the night we are exhausted, so we know she must be. We figure 8 hours of sleep is well earned at that point- and hell if we won't take advantage of them!

She is eating really well (note the rolls) and as of last Sunday had gained another pound or so putting her at about 10lbs (on our home scale so not totally accurate). She had also grown another 3/4 of an inch measuring 21 1/4 inches!

She is smiling more and more everyday. She has also started taking a pacifier (when she masters this, it will give the bjorn a run for its money on the wonders-of-the-world-status). She is not supposed to truly discover her hands for a little while yet- but she is doing a pretty darn good job, considering. She hits things (like the pineapple man) and grabs and holds the "juicers" when she eats. She is also working really hard at getting her hand in her mouth to suck- she hasn't done it yet, but I don't suspect it will be long.

She is busy growing, learning and growing! And we're busy just loving her and being constantly amazed at what she can do!

Happy Father's Day Dads!

Happy Father's Day to all!

My daddy is really the best! Notice I dressed for the occasion.



Here is my daddy with me and my brothers! It may be Father's Day but as you can see, the focus is still on me!



I have been smiling more and more, but mostly in my sleep. Today, though, special for my daddy I saved a couple of smiles just for him.