Walking on Sunshine

It was around Bridget's birthday (September) Trevor and I were talking about how she wasn't walking yet and if we should be concerned.

Trev: She's getting close, I bet she'll be walking by Halloween.

Ape: I don't know, she's not even wanting to walk holding our hands, I bet it will be closer to Thanksgiving.

Naturally we are a betting family, so the stakes were set. We decided on the day exactly in between Halloween and Thanksgiving, November 12th. If Bridget walked before that day Trevor won, and any day after, I won. 

(Walking meaning it was her primary mode of transport).

Whomever lost had to plan a romantic date for the other.

Bridget started walking...November 13th!

Sorry Trevor, you always sometimes lose.

She is such a cute walker:

And if you are curious, the romantic date Trevor planned:

   James Bond movie and the shooting range.

 Sometimes Trevor, you win.

  

Christmas Time is Here Again

I sent out Christmas cards this year. It was a first. 

I have a hard time paying for stamps, I probably need to join a support group or something.

But I sucked it up and sent them, mostly because our Christmas cards are so Incredible I needed to share it with the world.

Here you go, in case you didn't get one mailed to you personally.

Millar 2012 Highlights:

*We became debt free and called into the Dave Ramsey show for our debt free scream, paying off over $50,000 in three years.

*Bridget hit all the great milestones of the first year. She is now walking around on shaky legs, she is officially a toddler.

*Trevor hit his work goals and is continually progressing at Progress Mfg.

*April became a doula and HypnoBirthing instructor.

*We are currently under contract and closing on a home in Spanish Fork in a few weeks!

*Between Trevor and April we have had 9 callings in our ward in one year. I guess we aren't getting it right.

*We sold our 8th beater car and purchased our 9th since getting married. I guess we aren't getting it right.

*Trevor and April are now concealed firearm permit holders.

*We have been able to spend lots of time with family and friends this year; that has been our favorite part. There are so many wonderful people in our lives and we are grateful for every single one of you.

Babies will be babies

Lets be honest if you have read my blog.....at all, you will have gotten the gist that Bridget, like any other baby, likes to put stuff in her mouth. 

More often than not it's something that's less than appetizing. 

Maybe she's lacking some iron in her diet.

The Talented Mr. Markus

I have been working on trying to build a website for my "doulary" (that's what Trevor calls it) & HypnoBirthing business.

It's really hard when you have no website building skills.

(Luckily I have other skills like bow hunting and nun chucks.)

Hopefully I will have it launched soon. 

As I work on it I have had some pretty amazing people step up and help me out. Like Trevor's cousin, Tyler. He is an artist and fantastic graphic designer, he made my logo.

Isn't it beautiful?? 

Makes you just feel good, doesn't it? 

Makes you just want to be pregnant, doesn't it?

What do you think of my business name? 

April in Waiting? 

(It's because I assist [wait on] wonderful pregnant women and make them feel like Queens). smiley face

Tyler is a pretty talented guy, he just did the illustrations for an adult childrens book.

(I have your attention now, yeah? You are thinking, what in the world is an adult childrens book?

 

It is hilarious and so clever!

You will seriously want to buy it.

Luckily you can.

Go to http://www.whatifliberals.com/ 

It's perfect especially during this intense election time, we need a little light-hearted-ness that is totally spot-on.

Tyler has sent us a few of the nursery rhymes in the book and we have just busted up laughing. unfortunately?

I am getting my copy in a few days and I can't wait!!!

You will also want to bookmark their page because from what I understand they will be publishing more books.

The End of an Era

My parents put my childhood home up for sale. 

I have been having mixed emotions about it. Initially it's breaking my heart, all of my memories are wrapped up in that house so obviously those will be sold with the house. 
(That's not how it works?) 

I always had the thought growing up, If they ever sell this house, I will buy it. I KNOW I'm not the only one who has thought this about their parents house. Well now the time is here, the house went up for sale and sadly it's not in my budget to purchase it. 

Lame.

Obviously there has been some mourning, but the more logical side of me totally understands why they would sell. 

Empty nesters don't need an 8,000sq ft house.

Well I am here to announce, the house has SOLD! 

It's been a huge blessing and everything fell into place the way we have all been praying it would for months.

Aren't you so happy for my parents? 

But don't you still feel kind of sorry for me? :)

We fare thee well, dear house, we considered you part of the family. 

You indeed made it home.

Earth Baby

Or a  green tomato baby.

Bridget's favorite thing to do is to pull herself up next to the garden making sure she is completely immersed in vines and leafs, eat some dirt and pick herself a few unripe tomatoes to gnaw on.

She would do it all day, if I let her. 

Some days I do.

Our box garden is right out our front door. So I'll leave the front door open while I clean the kitchen and let her play in the dirt. 

I have had two different neighbors come "rescue" her from "escaping" and eating "stuff she's not supposed to." 

 "April?!" (standing in my door jamb holding a mud smeared Bridget)

"Hi! How are you?

"Bridget got out of the house and was eating the green tomatoes, I took it away from her."

"Oh no! Thank you! I don't know how that happened.... silly girl."

I somehow forget to tell them she eats at least one green tomato a day. When I say eat I mean she takes a few chunks out.

I used to be a bit more paranoid with what she put in her mouth, but it was exhausting. 

Now my philosophy is: 

"As long as it won't kill her and I don't have to call poison control." 
Besides it's good to try new flavors... don't want to raise a picky eater, someone who just wants to eat edible things.

p.s. when she is in the garden I check on her about every 90 seconds. 

The Last has Returned

My baby brother, Russell, has returned home from his mission in Colombia! 

He and I are exactly 5 years and 1 day apart. 

(He totally ruined my 5th birthday party by being born.... I have since forgiven him.)

My family, the Steeds, are super close. We all really like each other. And with us all living different places when we get together it's basically a non-stop party.

It is especially fun to have Doug and Russ back together, they are best friends and brothers and it's been 4 years since they were separated. 

Aren't they adorable?

And having four older sisters there isn't much about girls they don't know, which means they will be fantastic husbands. But currently they are both single... wink, wink.

Speaking of Doug, he made a couple of videos in anticipation for Russell's return, please enjoy:

August, say what?

It has seriously been a month! I haven't even looked at my blog or any other blogs in weeks. It's been a busy one.

A lot has been happening. Mostly fun stuff.

Actually all fun stuff.

Except for that I stopped breast feeding Bridget yesterday. It's breaking my heart. And my boobs are incredibly sore. And full. And heavy. Strapped down by 3 sort of too small sports bras.

Moving on, here is a sampling of our month of August:

You forgive me?

Millars in Pictures

I had to give back my mom's awesome Cannon camera. I'm not sure why she would want that back, weird.

So thanks to the camera phone we have our lives somewhat documented. 

Life is really exciting over here. 

Career Change

You may be surprised to find out that I have decided on a career change. 

Surprising? Yes. because currently I am living my dream job as a stay-at-home-momma. How, and why would I ever want to change that career?

But this new endeavor is a great compliment to being my baby's mama.

I am in the process of becoming a certified...... DOULA!

I can't even tell you how excited I am about this. 

For those of you who don't know, a doula is basically someone who provides continual physical, emotional, and informational support to the laboring mother and husband before, during, and after birth. A doula also helps the husband or birth partner assist the mother.

I thought that one would just use a doula if they had decided on an unmediated birth. But apparently doula's are wonderful no matter the circumstances even in c-section deliveries. When I thought about it I realized you have your husband but he is probably as afraid as you are, after all it's his wife and baby undergoing major surgery. So how comforting it would be to have someone there that you trusted that could talk you through what was happening, help keep you calm and relaxed.

I have to thank my friend, Jennie Taylor, she let me assist her and her husband in the birth of their baby recently . I came home and for three days that's all I talked about. Trevor finally said, "Why don't you just become a doula?" 

What? I was taken aback. 

It was so simple. 

Why didn't I think of that? 

Why don't I become a doula? 

For a few days I thought about it, discussed with Trevor what it would mean for our family. Researched what it would take to become certified. 

Then made the decision. 

Oh the incredible joy and excitement I felt. 

The birth process is, I think, the most awe inspiring thing in this world. 

It is an experience that is incredibly physical, intensely emotional, and overwhelmingly spiritual all at the same time. 

It does not matter if it's natural or with an epidural, vaginally or with a cesarian section, at home or in a hospital. 

Every woman is different, every pregnancy is different, every birth and baby is different. But each birth has the ability to bring us closer to God, our husbands, our babies, and even ourselves. 

I cannot wait to help women bring their babies into this world. If I can make the birth experience that much better for someone, what an amazing achievement that would be.  

Summer Drizzle

Mmmmm. 

I love a nice summer storm. 

I especially appreciate the rain when the state is on fire. 

I love when my garden gets watered for free.

 I feel a little less excited about the free fertilizer provided by the neighbors cat.