Samantha at Cheer Camp

Samantha had a cheer camp the Saturday before I was due. I was really debating wether or not she would be going- but decided that if I hadn't had the baby by that Saturday, that she would be able to go. She had soooo much fun! The cheerleader that she had so much fun with was named Avery. I am so glad that she got to go. Now she does a cute little cheer and dance and she makes such a cute little cheerleader. Here are some pictures of her day.

Welcome Baby Joshua Donald Milam!

We would like to announce the new addition to the Donald G Milam family- Joshua Donald Milam! He is absolutley beautiful!!! 7lbs 15oz. 20in long. Lots of dark hair- our little tradition- and it looks like maybe another blue-eyed child. The C-section was the most strangest thing I have ever felt in my life! I thought having a little thing growing inside of me was strange as it was---- but having your body completely numb and feeling all the tugging and pulling and whatever else- definetly topped that! Needless to say- it only took 18 minutes (so Donny says) to cut me up, pull baby out and sew me back together again! Absolutley amazing!! This was my first sight of him- (below-sorry for the blood)being held by Dr. Kathleen Hanlon. Donny actually did great in the operating room and looked so cute in his "scrubs"- which he said- not the right look for him- I think he would rather wear his flying uniform. I thought he looked cute!

As far as the recovery goes- I am doing good. Up and about already- which people say is great! S0- Nothing to complain about on my end. Donny has been great at taking care of me and the kids and whatever needs to be done. The kids LOVE their baby brother! They were so excited to see him for the first time. Samantha was counting down the days! Here are some pictures with them and their new brother Joshua- whom they call "Joshie".

Aren't these faces adorable?? And- the first kiss-

Here are some pictures of our guests holding Joshua..... (L-R: Aunt Kathy, Grandpa Carroll, Grandma Carroll)

(L-R above: Cousin Nathan Pollock, Cousin Brittney & Brandyn Carroll, Grandma Milam) (L-R below: Uncle Shawn Pollock, Aunt Ronda Pollock, Cousin Bryce Pollock)

And some more: Unlce Scott Milam, Cousin Jamison Milam & Cousin Callie Milam

And last but not least----- Cousin Nicole Hoffman!

I thought I had pictures of Grandpa Milam, Uncle Brian Milam and Auntie EM(ily) Milam- but not here... hmmmmmm my cameraman (Donny) must have decided to take a nap!

Anyway- This is mostly all the pictures I have. I will add a few more misc ones at the end- including the one of my most favorite nurse I have ever had- Kristen Graves- who actually is a member and lives within my stake! She was wonderful- if you happen across this Kristen, thanks so much for a pleasant experience!

Hope you all enjoy my little bundle as much as I have!
Oh- The picture of the dragonfly.... for those of you who don't know.... This has kind of been Wendy's little trademark since she passed. She loved dragonflys and every now and then one will pop up in some way... and I noticed that in the corner of the artwork that was in my room.... was a dragonfly..... Hmmmmmm... So- I took a picture so that I will always remember that Wendy was there in her own small way (and I did notice on my walks in the halls that it wasn't the same picture in every room).

Baby coming tomorrow!! (hopefully)

Well, I went in to the DR's office on Monday- my due date and found out that the baby is breach. The DR tried to manually move him and turn him around to no avail! So, we have scheduled a c-section for tomorrow (Wednesday- April Fools day!) and hopefully with no fooling, we will have our baby boy tomorrow. Ronda jokes around and says maybe it will come out a girl! I would die!! I have totally prepared for a boy! The surgery is scheduled for 12:00 noon and from what I am told- takes 8 minutes to get the baby out and about 40 minutes to sew me back up. Sounds like way too much work! and Pain! So- Just wanted to give an update of where we were at with things. I will be back home probably Saturday, but don't know when I will get back on the computer again. Hopefully soon with some pictures! Thanks for all who have been calling to check up on me! I appreciate it! Talk more later!!

Baptism in the family!

Well, last month, Feb 28, 2009, my niece and nephew (Oldest Brother, Dave's, oldest kids) Brandyn (16 yrs) and Brittney (15 yrs) were baptized. They recently have moved back to Washington from Ohio with their mother, Kathy (age unable to share as she might hurt me). They started coming to church with my folks and Brandyn was almost instantly interested in what needed to be done to pass the sacrament and was asking questions. So, we gave phone numbers to the missionaries and scheduled their first missionary lesson. I think just over a month later, they were baptized. Their missionaires were Elder Blanc and Elder Tenney. They were great missionaries who I know will never be forgotten. Elder Blanc baptized Brittney and Uncle Donny Milam baptized Brandyn. It was a late night. Donny wasn't able to get off of work and didn't get home until 8pm to the airport- so the baptism was scheduled for 9pm!!! yes- that is right! And SOOO many people came to show their love and support. It was great! Amazing and Great! (This is them with their Mom, Kathy.) I am so proud of them and am so excited to see where their lives will lead them in the future. They are great kids! Anyway-Just thought I would post this very memorable event!

(to the right- some of the younger cousins- L to R; top-Samantha, Bryce, Nathan, bottom-Alayna and Jacob)

BTW- No baby yet! Stay tuned!!!!

Samantha playing "Teacher"

I was doing something and letting the kids just play- which they were doing so quietly! Which usually is a bad sign! So, I went to go check on them and this is what I found- Samantha pretending to be "teacher" and reading a book to Jacob who was sitting directly across from her. It was so cute. I quickly went to get my camera trying not to let them know I had just peeked in on them. The first picture I got without them seeing me, but then they started to pose and get silly! I thought it was adorable. Samantha says she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. I used to say that too- along time ago. I think it's a good reflection on the teachers that she has and has had- she must be having a good experience with them. She will even play teacher with me on occasion and give me "mini lessons" teaching me on a drawing board how in silent e words- how the words are sad without the e- something like that! It 's cute. I hope she always loves school as much as she does now- and I hope she is always a good student like she is now.

New York! New York!

January 10th- January 17th, 2009- New York, NY visiting Suzanne & Jim Quillen & girls.....

Well, I wanted to post some of our pictures of our trip to New York on here. We had so much fun! It was soooo cold! I can actually say, though, that I have been in colder weather before- St.Louis, MO on my mission. We were there for a week, just me and the kids. Donny had to work and with the baby on the way, I knew that if I didn't get over to see Suzanne and the fam before the baby was born, it just wasn't going to happen for a while. I am not too sure how I feel about flying with 3 kids by myself. We'll have to see. Anyway- Suzanne has a beautiful house! Huge! Wish it was mine! and a huge yard! When you think of living in New York, I just don't picture big houses with big yards. But, they actually live about 90 minutes away from New York- which would explain it a little. There actually is a "Po dunk" in New York. I suppose it's more like "country". Whatever! Anyway- It was really cool. Some of the things we did...... went sledding- the kids loved! loved! loved! this!!!! They probably sled a little bit every day. Although, I really mean a little bit when I say it. Because it was so cold, sometimes they could only stay out for ab0ut 5-10 minutes before they were FROZEN! Even Jim, Suzanne and I went sledding once- I figured if my doctor found out I was sledding while being 8 mos. pregnant- I might get into a little trouble. Gotta live, right?? We also went into New York city one day. Took the train in with the kids. That was fun. Certainly an experience. I must say it was very cool standing in Times square with all the buildings, lights, people and traffic! Just like on TV. Completly different than Las Vegas if you ask me!

We also went to Sleepy Hollow, NY. - we drove around, saw some pretty cool things. Spooky Hollow cemetery, a Gentlemans club or something- looked like a mansion! Saw a castle, and ate at a very expensive McD's!

Saw Jim's workplace. Took him to lunch. All the rivers were covered with ICE from being so cold. The day after we were in New York City, was when US Air Airliner landed on the Hudson and everybody survived! Truly amazing! That water had to have been VERY cold with all that ice on it.

Anyway- It was a fun trip! The kids had so much fun being at Aunt Suzi's and seeing their cousins! and.... Suz and I even got in a little scrapbooking! It was a great break! Thanks Suz! (and Jim, Paige & Perry! We love you guys!)

Wow, Time Flies!

Wow, I'ts amamzing how time flies! I didn't think it had been that long since I wrote on here----woops! I guess I have some catching up to do. Let's see---- Christmas---- Christmas was fun and stressful at the same time. I had some crazy idea this year to make christmas advent calendars for all of the siblings in my family and my husbands siblings- total of 14 were made. They were felt calendars that really had sentimental meaning to me- we had one when I was a kid and loved it! I really wanted my kids to have those same memories.... and the other kids in my family too! So- thus the wonderful idea! I actually started in January before Wendy passed away... but then the rest of the year kind of went downhill fast and these advent calendars got put on the BACK burner, the VERY back! So- I started it up again in November! I know- what was I thinking? But, with alot of help from my mom, sister, sister-in-law and bff Amber, I got them all done! I think everyone really LOVED them! Here is sort of a picture of what I did.... I have been wanting to do these for Sooooo many years... Finally done!

Also- another craft that I have been trying to do for years is stockings for my kids and Donny and I. Again, something that I started like 2 years ago at least! I wanted my mom to embroider (on a new fancy machine she got) on all of them something that related to each of us, but then she started having problems with her machine, then they moved and packed it up, then they forgot how to use the darn thing- so finally- got the stockings embroidered and finished those up CHRISTMAS EVE!!!! Crazy! Anyway- here is a picture of those----

Donny has the Santa, I have the Bear cooking, Samantha has the gingerbread house, Jacob has the snowman and I even made one for the baby- who has mittens.

So, trying to get all of these projects done by christmas was the not so fun... It actually was fun, but just a lot of work and stress- which I really didn't need. But, HUGE thanks to my mom and dad who did the embroidery on these stockings.... They turned out so cute! And I know they were just as busy as I was getting "projects" done.... So, I really appreciate their help in getting these done for me! Thanks mom & dad!

We did send christmas cards to hopefully everyone- sorry if we missed you this year- let me know if I did- maybe I don't have your address! Anyway- we took a little family picture to put on the card... It's a terrible picture of me- I think it should be a golden rule that you just don't take pictures of pregnant people! Anyway- here it is!

Well, I still have so much to catch up on- but it will have to wait until next time----- It is almost 1am and I need to get to bed! Goodnight for now!