What a weekend!!!

This weekend has been crazy! If any of you believe in spiritual warfare(I do) then you will know that is what we have been going through. Here is a little peek into what I mean. We, currently, are having 1 preview service a month for Free Chapel. A preview service is when we we set up and tear down everything just like it will be when we launch the church. We invite people to the preview service for two reasons. To get to know Christ and to invite them to be on our launch team. Derek loads and unloads the truck and he is the sound guy. I am the children's pastor. Derek gets there at 6:30am and I get there at 7:30am and we are done around 11:30am. We meet in a movie theater. The preview service in May was horrible! Not because of the service, but because Derek, Wade, and I all came down with the stomach virus that same weekend. Luckily it was on Friday night...so by Sunday we were pretty good. Then the Tuesday following that service Wade totaled our Honda Accord. Everyone was OK but not our car. Since then we have only had one car. Then Ashley and Jeremy had a flat tire on the way to a launch team meeting and the list goes on. Well...this weekend was also a preview service. Once again, I came down with the stomach virus(Haven't had the stomach bug in years!). This time, though, it was Saturday evening. I couldn't go to church on Sunday. I sent Derek and Parker. My sister calls me and says that Parker has thrown up. Parker got the virus. Ugh! THEN, on top of all that, Derek and Wade had to fly out to Colorado for a move about 1 1/2 hours after he got home from church. So, here I am sick, taking care of my sick child. To find out the next day that my brother(Wade) and my nephew have the same virus. Yup! That is spiritual warfare. And I think it has to do with Free Chapel and SquareCow Moovers. God has something HUGE for both things and satan is fighting pretty hard to not make it happen. But, I am so thankful that we have victory in God!!
I know that was long. But, I did want to tell you a little about Parker. He is so sweet and so funny! Right now, he is so easy. He walks everywhere. Is saying words and doing what I ask him(which I love!). I love to be able to say stand up in the bathtub so I can bathe him and he does it! Or go get your lovie and he goes and gets it. Today, I put him in bed with me at 7:30ish and I showed him my belly and said "Baby" and he pointed to it and said "Baby". I was so proud! I have had him do it a million times today. And then his Aunt Kimberly asked him where the baby was and he grabbed his belly. Ha ha! He has also started saying "yes" when I ask him things. It isn't as clear as "yes" it is more like "yea". He is so wonderful and at a really fun stage. It is amazing how much he has changed in two months! He is about to be 15 months old. I can't believe it! He loves, loves, loves, music. I am excited to be able to say that he is going to have a baby brother or baby sister. I should find out the last week of August. Woo Hoo! I am doing great(besides the whole stomach bug thing). I think I am FINALLY over "morning sickness". I will be 12 weeks on Saturday...so I will be done with my first trimester. Kind of weird because that means I only have two more to go!!! The pictures I posted are pictures that Kellen Coldiron took of Parker about a month ago. I love them and cannot wait to frame them. I probably won't frame them until I move into a new house(because we have no room here). Kellen is a great photographer if you are looking for some great pics of your family! I wanted a cute outfit and a cool outfit look. Well, after putting the white shoes on Parker it quickly turned the "cool" look to "cute". I LOVE the pictures of his shoes...just because those shoes are so classic. My brother had some when he was little and I will never stop buying them for my boys. Enjoy!

Sorry Free Chapel

If any of you went to the Free Chapel link I have to the right of my blog...I am SO sorry! I accidentally posted the wrong site and the one I posted was a really negative site bashing a different church called Free Chapel that is in Florida. A friend brought this to my attention so I immediatly fixed my mistake. Sorry Jeremy!!!
Just to let you all know, I am due Feb. 7th. I thought it was the 8th. But, after going to the doctor I was one day off. I am going back to the doctor on Wednesday. My pregnancy e-mail says the baby looks a lot like a baby now instead of ya know...and bean. :) But, unfortunately, I am still feeling morning(afternoon) sickness. Which did not happen with Parker this late in the game. I am officially 10 weeks. Thats all! My camera has been M.I.A. for the last three weeks, but I have it back now. Hopefully I can post some pictures soon. BYE!

Our newest addition

Hello! I haven't blogged in a LONG time! Well...Parker and I have been in B'ham, AL for a week and we just got back on Wednesday. My parents flew back with us...so we have been busy doing family stuff since we returned. Birmingham was great! I ate TONS of food because all of my favorite resturants are there and trust me I realized how much I ate after I went for my first doctors appointment on Thursday. Boo!! Anyways, I was able to hang out with all my good friends in Birmingham and Parker was so spoiled by Mama Don and Papa. It was so much fun!!!
Yup...I went to a new doctor for the first time since I had Parker. SCARY! Really, as ridiculous as that sounds it really was kind of frightening. Tim Stone is who delivered Parker and he was great. Plus, my parents have known him for forever and my brother is good friends with him. Which makes it a little easier knowing that someone you trust is delivering your baby. But, coming here...knowing no one at first makes it a little scary finding a new doctor. I really wanted to use a male doctor and here in Austin there a lot of females and not many males. To make a long story short(ha) I was referred to the #1 OBGYN in Austin(literally). He has 7 male OB's in his practice and his office is at the hospital. He is so busy that my first visit I had to see a nurse practitioner. I wasn't fond of the idea but she was great!!! Plus, she informed me that Dr. Seeker(my doctor) LOVES sonograms so I get one at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks! WOO HOO! PLUS the best part of it all is that I get to find out if this little person inside me is a boy or girl at 16 weeks!!! That is HUGE! I for sure thought it would be later than that. I am really excited and truly feel like God placed me with Dr. Seeker and his staff. I have really smooth pregnancies...but still I want someone great just because it is my baby.
So, I AM pregnant. Ha! And the baby looks wonderful and healthy. His/Her heartbeat is beating really strong. He/She wiggled while I was watching the sonogram. So sweet! I have to go back in two weeks for something that doesn't affect the baby at all...but Dr. Seeker wants to check me. Yay! God is soo good! Here is my scan of my sonogram. It is tiny and I don't know how to make it big. This is the first time I used my scanner. I will figure it out later.

I love my Da Da!

First of all, I have to say that Derek is the best dad and husband in the whole world. Parker and I(and this new baby) love him so much we can hardly stand it! Parker loves seeing him every day and he wants Derek to hold him and play with him every time Derek is anywhere near. Derek is working so hard right now it is unbelievable. Let me just put it into perspective for you. Have any of you physically moved yourself to another house?? Well, my husband does that every day sometimes more than once a day. PLUS, he runs a business. I know that it is not easy for him, but he keeps working hard because he knows this is what God has called our family to do. He lives far away from his own family which I know can't be easy. But, yet, he lives 5 minutes from mine. He is such a blessing and sacrifices for us. God has blessed Parker with a wonderful dad and I am so glad that he is my husband and the father of my kids. They will learn so much about God, loyalty, and many many more things that are so important. WE LOVE YOU DEREK!
On Father's Day morning I made muffins for breakfast and we sat down and enjoyed ourselves. We then headed to church, then to a yummy homemade meal that my sister made. Then we all went to the pool which was a blast. And of all days, Derek and Wade had a small move that evening. But the big surprise was in store for the guys on Monday. Derek, Wade, and Jeremy had no idea that we had rented a boat for half of the day with no kiddos and lots of their favorite food. We had a blast! And we all got a good tan(well I got burned). So, that was our day! So fun! And all because of our wonderful husbands who are great dads. AND OH, I have to give a shout out to my incredible Dad. I am so sad that they were not here in Austin to share in this wonderful day with us. But my Dad deserved every minute of it. Hopefully we can make it up to him. I love you Dad! You are so wonderful...and have always been my favorite my dad! Ha! :)


Derek and Parker on Father's Day

So sweet!

Derek tubing

Ashley and Wade. Ashley is a hard core tuber...seriously...she was giving Wade tips on what to do. Ha!


Kimberly and Wade

Ashley and Jeremy

This is what we do here in the Mills house

We eat popsicles, climb baby gates and play, play, and play some more.

I had this grand idea of giving Parker a popsicle for the first time about a week ago. I thought he would LOVE it! So, I stripped him down after his nap and we sat on the porch eating our popsicles. It didn't go over so well. I think Parker ate too big of a bite...which might have caused a brain freeze...because he was crying hysterically, but wouldn't let me take the popsicle from him. Eventually I got the popsicle and took him inside for an alternative snack. Which ended much better. Who knew a popsicle would be such a disaster with a 1 year old?! Oh well...I got a cute picture out of it. Needless to say...we haven't really had any popsicles lately. :)

Yes, this is my child climbing the baby gate and having a ball with it. Just something he does to entertain himself. He is a good climber...don't ya think?

Just playing.

Happy Birthday Gray Gray!

Gray had his first birthday party a few weeks ago and I am just now getting around to posting some pictures of it. I don't have many. My nephew Tyler plays the drums and he is so good at it. Well, we have discovered that Parker has a love for drums also. He plays them for a really long time every time he goes to Aunt Ashley's house. Derek loves playing the drums also and wishes he knew how. So, we have talked about buying Parker a set when he gets a little older and getting him drum lessons. We definitely see talent in Parker when it comes to the drums.

Sweet Gray Gray

Parker loving the drums!


Aunt Kimberly and Lawson

Lawson playing at Gray's birthday party. Ha! He is so cute!

Go Braves!

Papa K and Mama Lynn sent Parker some Braves pjs in the mail. Derek's favorite sport is baseball, so we are definitely showing off Parker's stylish baseball outfits. :)




Don't look at my belly! :)

Trying to give Daddy a kiss...but his hat was in the way. Parker gives kisses all the time now. Sometimes it is on his own...and then other times you just ask for one and he gives you one. It is so cute!

Just a few things going on...

So...here is a post with no pictures. Booo...I know...but I was just sitting here thinking how I could write a few things but do not feel like updating my pictures because that would require me uploading them on the computer and THEN to the blog. And if any of you know what it feels like to be pregnant in your first trimester you understand why I don't feel like doing it. Parker is around 13 and 1/2 months old. He walks everywhere and "talks" all the time! But, he won't say many words for us. He would rather talk in his language. He did, however, say "cow" for us the other day. And he has said a few things here and there for us...so we know he can talk...but he chooses not to use the English language. Who knows why? :) He is as sweet as he can be. He gives me open mouth kisses all the time. He hasn't quite mastered the whole pucker up and kiss mommy yet. So, I get some wet kisses. But I don't care. It is so sweet and I love it! He laughs at me and his daddy all the time. He loves it when Derek comes home from work. He is just so much fun!
I have pretty much lost count of how many hair cuts Parker has had. That is ridiculous! My child's hair grows at a rapid rate. Therefore, I bought my first pair of haircutting scissors at Walmart a couple of days ago. Yup! That is right...I have started cutting his hair. My mom did it about a month ago and I watched her closely. It looked easy. And it is easy! The key is to not cut too much at one time because you can't get it back if you mess up. I strapped Parker in his hair chair. Gave him a sucker. And started snipping. I only cut the front and his side burns, around his ears. He didn't need it in the back. Derek and I prefer for Parker's hair to be a little long(down to his eyes, shaggy...not girl long). So, I pretty much cut enough off so that in two weeks, when Kellen Coldiron takes his one year pictures, it will be exactly long enough. I am not a fan of the fresh hair cut look.
Anyways, I will post pictures later of Parker. I have some good ones. As for me, I am feeling pretty good. I am almost 6 weeks preggo and at this time with Parker is when I was feeling queasy for about two weeks(thats it!). It is definitely kicking in. At first, it was just coming at night. Now, I have waves of it all throughout the day. Plus, I am so tired. Almost every afternoon around 1:30ish...I crawl into bed after I lay Parker down. My house looks horrible. It is so hard for me to be motivated when I feel this way(did the exact same thing when preggo with Parker).
My cousin, Stephanie and her boyfriend Eric just visited for a few days. We had a blast! They were so easy and so much fun to have around. Parker loved them too. We are headed to B'ham in less than two weeks and I am sooooo excited! My parents haven't seen Parker since he has started walking everywhere. I am ready for Parker to get some good hang out time with his Mama Don and Papa. And honestly, I am SOOOO ready for some hang out time with my mom and dad. Ok...this is WAY longer than I planned. SORRY!
Peace....

Breaking the BIG news!

Here is how we told my parents and Derek's parents that we are having another baby.







Here we are right after I surprised Derek. Can you tell? By his face?? Ha! (He can't be that shocked, right?!) :)

Yup! You heard right....we are expecting Baby #2!

Hello All!

We have great news! We are expeciting baby #2. Parker is going to be a big brother(which I have no doubt he will be great at). I found out two days ago while Derek was at work and I surprised him when we went out to dinner. Then we surprised both of our parents by sending them three pictures of Parker in his highchair with a sign attached to the highchair in each photo. I will post pics later. Then we surprised my siblings by writing it in my nephews birthday card(he had his 1st birthday party last night). We didn't really surprise anyone last time because I was too excited. They all knew we wanted another baby soon, so it wasn't a complete shocker but they were still surprised.
My due date(from the due date calculator at babyzone.com) says I am due Feb. 8th. Last time it was only off by a couple of days. I probably won't go to the doctor for another 4 weeks or so. I am visiting B'ham at the end of June, so after that I will go. This baby is a HUGE blessing! We have loved every bit of having Parker in our lives. We feel so blessed that God has given us another baby to love and take care of. Wow! I will keep you updated.

What's going on in the life of 1 year old Parker Mills

So, here is an updateon what Parker is doing now. Ok, let me think...there is a lot. He is walking everywhere and it is so cute. I still laugh at him everyday because I cannot believe I have a child who walks everywhere. He now eats off of a plate and holds a fork in his hand. He hasn't quite mastered the art of putting the food on the fork, but he tries all throughout dinner. If he can't get it, he holds the fork with one hand, and feeds himself with the other. Ha! His high chair tray is attached to his high chair(it was Derek's grandpa's highchair). So now, we flip it over the back and scoot Parker up to the table. And he has his own plate and fork. He "talks" all the time. And really, we will have a conversation with him but have no idea what he is saying. He still doesn't say a lot of words. We have heard him say about 4 words but he won't say them all the time. He will mimick us all the time, which is hilarious.
He went to the doctor for a one year check up, but I already filed his report and I don't remember how much he weighs. I do, however, remember that he dropped to being in the 5% on his height which is odd. But, lots of kids do that, so I am not worried and neither was the doctor. One thing we do with Parker everyday is we say "Who loves Parker?" and then we raise our hands and say "I do". He will do it with us. We will go down the line on who loves mama, who loves daddy, etc. And he will raise his hand and do some rendition of "I do". It is so cute!! I think my parents started that whole thing when my oldest nephew was a baby. Parker laughs all the time and is so good. He is such a joy to us!! I am about to upload a video of Parker walking. I hope it works!

Memorial Day

On Memorial Day we had plans of going to Hamilton Pool for a little over half of the day. Our family and my siblings and their families all packed up and headed that way. Hamilton Pool is a natural spring with a beautiful waterfall and a beach area for the kids. It is pretty rugged but seemed like a lot of fun. Especially since it is so stinkin hot here in Austin already!! Hamilton Pool is not far from my sister's house which is nice. We were sorely dissapointed when we arrived because there was no swimming allowed because of the high bacteria levels(obviously, we didn't really want to argue with that...ha ha). So, the park personel sent us a couple of miles up the road to a place called Rimer's Ranch. The pedernales river runs through there and it is beautiful!!! We practically had our own private beach area and the kids LOVED it! There was a sand beach area and Parker loved loved loved the sand. He didn't care that it was all over his body...even while he ate. I tried so hard to keep him clean, but it didn't work at all. And he loved it. Here are some pictures from the day. If you want to see a really pretty picture of Hamilton pool and the pedernales river you can go to brother-in-laws blog www.freechapelaustin.blogspot.com.

Just Another Day

New Shoes! Parker got his first pair of shoes last weekend from Stride Rite. We wanted to wait until he was walking. As of right now, he will let go of everything and try to walk. He will walk until he falls. So, we are working on continuous walking. Because once he falls he crawls. We have seen him stand up from sitting on the floor without holding onto anything, but he doesn't do it all the time. I think he will be walking all the time pretty soon.

Don't you love those shoes?? I LOVE the classic white baby shoes. They are so old school, but my fav!

Happy Mother's Day! Here we are on Mothers Day right before church.

This is a picture of Mother's Day last year 2007. Parker was only a couple of weeks old. Crazy how time flies!

I love this picture. Just hanging out. It took me screaming and being silly to get him not to knock this down until I took this picture and the one below. Ha!

Date night with Papa and Mama Don

When my parents were here, we(me, Wade, and Ashley) all decided to get babysitters for the kiddos and go have a "date night" with my parents. It was wonderful! We went to a nice Italian restuarant downtown, and then headed to a really cool coffee shop where we got dessert. We all laughed so hard and just had a nice relaxing time with no rush since we didn't have the kids with us. We also celebrated Mother's day and Father's day with my parents. We will definitely have to do this more often with my family. It was too fun!

Jenny and Nolan visit...

Our good friends, Jenny and her son Nolan visited us from B'ham last week. We did fun stuff around Austin and Jenny was able to visit some of her good friends who live in Austin and San Antonio. Nolan is a couple months younger than Parker so they had a good time! We went out to eat, to the pool, and downtown. Fun fun! Here are some pics:

Parker and Nolan in their pjs.

Nolan in the swing at the park.

Nolan and Parker with their mohawks. Well...Nolan's wouldn't quite stand up, but as you can see, Parker's hair didn't have any trouble whatsoever! :)

Parker and his fabulous mohawk!!! Ha!

Jenny and Nolan at The Oasis.
I just realized after looking through my pictures that I didn't get any of Jenny and I. How crazy is that?? Sorry Jenny!!