PART-TIME

I'm thrilled to announce that on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays I will be a prosecutor....


and on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays I will be a Mom :)


I'm so lucky to work for an office that is generous enough to allow me to be home with my sweet pea a little more :) And, we are very lucky that our babysitter is willing to keep Jack on a part-time basis!! I'll start my new schedule in a few weeks....

Pictures From Last Weekend

John Paul Mills -- the first, the third and the fourth. Adorable :)

Hope you had a good birthday Grandma Terri!!! We love you!!!

And for the grand finale.....Jack and Uncle Kyle FINALLY meet!! We love you Uncle Kyle!!!

Playing in my digs at Nana and Grandpa Denny's

Goodnight Jack

Third Day...

..of daycare.


Daddy still hasn't apologized for hassling me over taking Jack's picture every morning, so I'm doing it AGAIN :) (Actually, I don't even think he has read the blog...which makes this all the more fun)


Each morning is getting easier and easier...although when I read Jack's "Daily Updates" from our sitter tonight saying that Jack smiled a lot today, I teared up all over again. It's hard to imagine someone else soaking up my baby's smiles....I want them all - every single one. But, as I dried my eyes I came to the realization that I should be thrilled Jack is smiling a lot at Stephanie's. It means he is happy and being treated with love & affection....and that's a true blessing.


AND....(drum roll please) JACK SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT!!! Yes, while my boy has been going all night (9p.m.-6a.m.) without a feeding for the last 2 1/2 weeks, he had been waking at some point for either a pacifier or a diaper change. But, last night our little sweet pea slept from 9:30 p.m - 4:06 a.m. without a peep! (yes, I wrote 4:06 a.m...I really am becoming more & more like my husband) We are so proud of our little bambino...and tonight's bath night. A clean baby in fresh pjs may just result in another 7 hour night!

Second day....

First Day....

...of daycare.

Tight Little Grip

Daddy's Week @ Home, Day 5

Just like Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak*, all good things must come to an end. Jack put up an 0 for 4 yesterday, and basically looked like Marion Mendoza** at the plate. It is probably a good thing that we did not venture outside the friendly confines of The House of Mills yesterday as Jack definitely tested my patience to say the least. It wasn't terrible, but in comparison to the 3 days that preceded it***, it was not a wonderful day yesterday - Jack was fussy pretty much all afternoon and needed to be held constantly (which didn't necessarily cure the crying anyway). To top it all off, I have apparently developed allergies in the last couple years, and yesterday my nose ran like a leaky faucet****. But he is a baby after all, and that is what babies do -they fuss. If Jack puts another good day out there today (which I anticipate happening), that makes him 4 for 5 for an .800 Batting Average. That friends...is a Hall of Famer.

*I was going to use Albert Pujols' record 6 season run (to start a career), where he hit at least .300/30hrs/100runs/100rbis every season (which is truly an unprecedented start to a career; the streak would be 7 seasons to start a career with those numbers but for the fact he only scored 99 runs last season. One Run Off!!!) - but since I have been using a hitting streak reference for the past couple days, I thought it best to be consistent.

**The guy for whom "The Mendoza Line" was named - in reference to his offensive ineptitude (is that a word?).

***I think that not getting out of the house may have been the reason why he was fussy yesterday. Perhaps Jack just wanted to let me know that he likes to get out around town too? You know, do baby stuff like playing in the dirt, crusing in his own 4 wheeler (read: getting pushed in his stroller), or even scoping out the babes at the foot court in the mall (his favorite pastime by far!).

****Met my similie quota today! Just trying to teach Jack basic elements of the English language...cuz I am master of it after all (somewhere Matt Friesleben, proof-reader of many Millsian documents throughout the years, shakes his head in disgust).

Daddy's Week @ Home, Day 4

Well, the hitting streak continues. A perfect outing to the barber and the ups store (to mail another of mommy's ebay items... I think she may sell our house this way!) kept us 3 for 3. We have an "off-day" today since we have no plans but to veg and nap. 2 things we are both very good at (like father like son).

Since I don't have a whole heck of a lot to talk about today, I will take the time to call out one of my friends. We will call him Tevin Kow. Tevin has a young son who last month turned 1 year old, so the Kow family has pretty much already experienced everything we are going through with Jack (and recently to boot). Tevin tells me that he has NEVER - EVER been pee'd on by his son. I take this to mean that Tevin has NEVER - EVER changed a diaper. Tevin states that he is just really fast on diaper changes. I am not buying what he is selling. It is impossible not to get pee'd on at some point. Heck I was holding Jack for a bath just yesterday and even though he was all wrapped up in a towel, he still managed to get me. Jack came out of the womb and literally pee'd all over the Doctor for what seemed like two minutes (good job buddy?!?). Anyway, I don't believe that Jack is just some super-pee-er; I think all boys are like this, and that Tevin is a big fat (read: skinny) goateed liar!

My dear wife mocked my outfit choice yesterday. I was not utlizing the hang-up clothes in the closet, rather the quick fold up clothes in the drawer. So we went full tilt on the outfit today, even though we will not even leave our living room (well maybe we will go for a walk if the sun comes out). Do I know style or what? What say you now, Lindsey?

Daddy's Week @ Home, Day 3

As you can tell from the jersey, Jack is on "Dad's Team" - and its a wonderful team we make.

We are batting 1.000 (2 for 2) so far into this young season (read: week at home). Yesterday was fantastic. We were able to get two pairs of $20 kahkis at a GAP outlet, and some $40 Nike running shoes (on sale from $75 thank you very much). But that's not all... we went grocery shopping too! - all within a 3 hour time frame in which Jack did not fuss one bit.

Today we are going to visit the barber - for Dad, not the Jackal*. I like our chances to extend our hitting streak to 3 straight days of Team Dad domination.

*I am testing out nicknames to "John's" nickname of "Jack." Think about this...Jack is already a nickname. But since it seems like a name, I feel the need to call him something else. We have been through Jackie, Bust (which was short for Buster Crabtree or Buster Brown), and Jackson (like Jack & son put together - but who actually lengthens a nickname?) Lindsey hates them all - I think I will try out some more tomorrow!

Random Side Note: Our little dog - Buddy, has been digging and getting out of the fence the last couple days (he doesn't go anywhere, just to the front of the house, but we still live on a fairly busy street). So I had to put up an airial runner for him. He is currently getting used to it, and it is quite comical to watch him test its limits. I feel bad, but we'd rather have him alive than getting out where he could be hurt.

Random Side Note 2: I would like to thank the "readership" (aka Heidi) for sticking around. I appreciate you sticking with us when other "readers" (aka Meg) decided they were too good for our blog!!!

Daddy's Week @ Home, Day 2

CHECK OUT MY SOCKS!!!

Yesterday went off without a hitch.

We have now made it two nights in a row that Jack made it from at least 9PM - 5AM without a feeding. That is truly awesome, except for the fact that he has done it both nights while sleeping on my chest, as I "sleep" in the recliner. Its a bad idea to get him used to sleeping like that, but I really wanted to see if the not-needing-feeding thing was legit or a fluke. Now that we know he can make it all night without a feeding, we will focus on getting him to do so in his crib. And then someday (still so far away)... sleep shall come to the House of Mills.

Today... well, we are off to a bit rougher start. Jack decided to spit up what felt like his entire 9AM feeding...while I was changing his daily mess (he is becoming more regular than a middle-aged man that drinks 4 cups of coffee each morning). So basically, I had to deal with extremes from all ends... not cool. After I got him all cleaned up, Jack and I had a heart to heart about Daddy's expectations and Jack's actions... needless to say, I don't think we will see any repeat performances out of the little guy; he promised to step in-line while Daddy is running the ship.

Today we are going to head out to the Legend's @ Village West so Daddy can get some new running shoes at the Nike store (psuedo-outletish). It should be about a 20-25 min drive each way, and is a pedestrian type mall (and it is super nice outside today), so it will be our longest journey together yet. We will take our time and spend some time in the sun. Also, I will be sure to pack multiple outfits in MY diaper bag (way better than Lindsey's). After our last experience at BabysRUs, where Jack decided to unload a doozy on us, and our "back-up" outfit was nowhere to be found (we had to buy an outfit at the store and dress him right there...classy!), I will never be without a backup (or 2).

Side note: Yesterday, we went to the post-office to mail our taxes and some other stuff Lindsey sold on e-bay. It is amazing how differently people treat you when you have a baby in your arms. An 80 year old lady offered to open a door for me (I still didn't let her...that is just not right). I think she was picking me up (Jack = chick magnet! ). Just kidding.

Wish us luck!

Daddy's Week @ Home, Day 1

Well it is 10AM and we are still alive. So far so good. Jack left me with a wonderful morning "present" in his pants, but other than that we are without incident.

He also said his first words: "Daddy is the best babysitter evAr!" (He hasn't learned how to spell yet...)

Fun Weekend

Aunt Cari and Uncle Matt :)








It was a great weekend. It all came to an end with Daddy finishing our taxes....












Pray for us this week: Mommy's maternity leave is over so she returns to work tomorrow and Daddy is spending the week at home with Jack :)

Just Jack

First Trip to Iowa (sans Daddy...)

While Daddy was here...

Jack and I made our first trip to Iowa. We stayed with Nana & Grandpa Denny -- making it an enjoyable and relaxing weekend. Nana threw a nice little "meet and greet" on Saturday and Jack had a blast (although you can't tell from the following pic....)

He was finally able to meet his future prom date. I'm not quite sure what to make of his response....

Leah was an absolute doll and we were so happy to meet her :)

Grandma Terri had the chance to feed the little man (again!)

It was the perfect weekend. Thanks Nana (aka Mom)

His onesie says is all....