Snow Bound

Today we have about 8 inches of snow and a little girl who is very sick. She has been throwing up since this past Wednesday late night. The throwing up stopped 2 nights ago, but still up all through the night coughing and crying. Jordan and I feel as if we are newborn parents again. However, my little fighter survived all her Christmas toys and now the “big” snow. She loved everything and plays until her pedialyte runs dry…haha! Jordan, is ready to get out. So, while Riley is taking a short short short nap, I am working on school work and Jordan is out wanting to clean off the driveway. Yes, here’s your sign that he is from the north….haha! Noone else is out in the neighborhood and probably looking out the window at him now. This has been a great challenge for the both of us and we are doing great. We (or should I say “I”) have had my meltdowns, but the two of us make a GREAT team! Thanks Jordan for the new computer with blogger live so I can blog much much more now! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everybody! Pictures and video to come soon!

TIME

Riley reading on the way to school today!
Still waiting on teeth but we do have a few more steps, especially when it means going to mommy...haha! School starts tomorrow for me. Wow! New school (Charter)/ New grade (1st)... little girl turning 1 in less than a month...time...where does it go?

-Randi

She's on the MOVEE!!

Watch out world....as of Riley's 11 month birthday! She is officially on the move! She is standing with no help and walking at least 10 steps across her bedroom to her daddy from me! I'm so proud of her!!! Yipeeee!!!!

-Randi

Teething Sucks!!!

So I hear some people go through teething with no trouble at all...

FYI...Riley is not one of those!! haha! She threw up all night last night and guess what? This is the week where I am here alone at nights because of Jordan being at meetings. Ugh! So it's just me and her! But, we made it through. Tonight she fussed but I sang church hymns to her and she loved this little light of mine.

When I finished a verse and got tired of singing the song, she said "mommy, I love God!" I thought she was going to say I love you because we have been saying that alot but "I love God!" is much better!

I love that little girl!

-Randi

Duck Pond

Yesterday after church Miss Riley woke up from her afternoon nap to a little swimming pool full of ducks at her Nana's and Papi's house. She loved it! It was adorable. I'm glad she is such a happy baby. It makes me feel as if I am doing something right!

Still no teeth...haha...but someone asked me the other day what words she is saying...wow! I have no idea if I could even imagine counting them all. I will list her favorites below...

mama, daddy, nana, no, papi and granddaddy now, map, dora, dog!!!!, duck, thank you, uh oh (so funny because it stops at uhhhhhh), mine, all the animals on her baby can read cards and she can copy about any word that you say (elephant is a little hard for her but she attempts it).

What a smart girl we have! I love her so much!

-Randi

Catching Up...

I've ALMOST got all the clothes washed, house cleaned, and errands run from all the time away the McMillen family has had lately! Now, it is home sweet home for a while! Invitations are addressed and sealed. Time to send those out soon for Riley's first birthday! I'm sooo excited! I can't wait for good friends and close family to share this special day with us! Well Riley is about to wake up from an unexpected nap she is taking from her ride home from school. Then, we are off to carry the Newton family and baby Parker some dinner.

-Randi

Looooooong Road Trip

Just got back from PA late last night. WOW- what a trip with tons of traffic on the way there and back. It was a looooooooooooot of work for a teething child who does not like to be confined for 6 hours straight. We tried to stop after about an hour and a half at a cute petting zoo in maryland. However, she got really upset that she could not actually get in the cages with the monkeys and jump in the pond with the ducks and fish. So, then we were back on the road in bumper to bumper traffic for 6 hours straight after that. Thank God for my parents having her favorite two foods on the table when we got there....blackberries and string beans! That was a relief and she was one happy and purple little girl! Now, time to clean the house, wash clothes, and get some errands run! Hopefully this is the last road trip for a while. Home sweet home!

-Randi

Hair Cut Bloopers!

So last night we got to Nana's and Papi's house and Riley continues to do the Justin Bieber head toss to get her bangs out of her eyes. After her bath last night....yep...you guessed it! I trimmed her bangs. I know I am supposed to wait two more months but I could not let my baby girl be any more annoyed with me. Don't worry...I kept the little peices in a ziploc bag for her scrapbook. Whew! Thank goodness Nana reminded me! Then of course Riley felt much better and took her nightly stroll to her Gigi and Papa Tim's house on the golf cart with Papi. They are too funny! Love them both though!

Still praying for Nana to heal through prayer and strength! We love you Nana!

-Randi

First Bruise

Sooo...I go to pick Riley up from school yesterday and she had an accident report I had to sign saying that she had fallen at the outside door trying to get outside to play. She had a bruise on her chin. I wanted to cry even though you could barely see it. But, I just wanted to hold her and kiss her. (she had probably already forgotten about it...oh well) Still no teeth, but oooooooooooooooooh has the restless sleep and weird eating habits just changing away! I rocked her until about midnight last night so that she could rub her gums on my shoulder! It felt so good that she sighed over and over! I woke up to a sweet letter from my wonderful husband saying that he was thankful I stayed up with her and let me get some good sleep! I enjoyed it! The sound of her sleeping in my arms in the recliner and his snoring from the bedroom beside us was priceless as I watched TLC and the Cooking Channel...haha! What a day! Gotta love my family!

Mama goes to the Cancer doctor...please pray for full recovery! We made it through once with prayer! I know we can do it again!

-Randi

Best Face Ever!!!

I got home last night from a great trip at Teacher Academy and the beach with Vickie and Tina! The face my daughter gave me when I got home was priceless! She has not let me out of her sight since. I thought she would have gotten a tooth while I was gone but luckily she is just as I left her! This morning she got up early and got in bed with me and cuddled as we watched "wow wow wubsy" (well she watched and I closed my eyes)...haha! Anyway...it's good to be back! Jordan was a great daddy and deserves an award of some kind! Yes...a shrimp dinner tonight! Sounds good!

-Randi

Wow, my first post. I had a hard time figuring out the username and password without Randi here. So Randi is away at Teacher Academy this week. Me and Riley are having a great time, but we miss mommy. Riley walked and has a full set of teeth now....no just joking. Randi did not want that to happen while she was away and I will say that Riley has been an angel.

I sure do realize how helpful Randi is though when she is away. I mean she did set out Riley's clothes and list out the foods for us to eat this week (She is very sweet and OCD), but we love her and everything she does. What Randi doesn't know is that we went through all the prepared food in the first day or two, now it is time for me to do some cooking. Yes, Randi included on her list everything that I could cook...she is wonderful like that.

So I'm glad I was able to post being my first time and all. Riley and I are just sitting waiting for Randi to get home. We miss her soooo much!

Oh yeah, and check out the McMillen Family Youtube page. There are some really great videos up. We will need to make sure that Randi gets in some of the videos in the future.

Videos are Posted

Riley's videos are officially posted... Riley's Videos

Teacher Academy

There are only a few days left to go before I get to go home and see my wonderful little girl...and husband! Soon! Soon! Soon! I hear that she is saying mommy and going to the hot tub where we took a bath right before I left...awwww!!!!

Hard Day...

Today was a really hard day for me. I had to leave for a week to go to a Teacher Academy in Greenville and then the beach with Vickie and Tina. Even though I am excited, I am also sad to leave my favorite two people. I miss Jordan and Riley soooooo much! Jordan sent me a voice message tonight with Riley saying mommy and I just wanted to cry on the bus back to the "dorms"...yes DORMS!! But, I will be home soon! I just hope she can't walk and get a tooth while I'm gone! Sad mommy signing off!

-Randi

Hump Day

It's Wednesday and still sooo much to do before leaving for Teacher Academy and the Beach with the Twins next week! I will miss my little family oooooooooooooooh soooo much! But, I made sure the house was clean, clothes are set out, and meals are organized and written down for them both. I think they will be good! I sure will miss them!

Riley took 3 steps last night towards me. She wouldn't walk much at her Gigi and Papa Tim's house but she was ready to get up and go at her Nana's and Papi's house.

Her new favorite restaurant is Skipper's...the green beans are her favorite...oh and the hushpuppies as an appetizer...haha!

Jen had Parker yesterday and Krista had Blaise today! New babies...yay...play dates for Riley!

-Randi

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday...July 10...Riley took her first 2 steps towards her mommy! It was great! I wanted to cry! I can't believe she is growing so fast. It's hard to believe that she used to slither around on the carpet like a snake trying to get on her knees to crawl. Now, she wants nothing more than to move around and get from place to place on her feet (with our help of course).

Today...July 11...Riley turned 1o months and clapped her hands together after riding her toy car. Her daddy pushed her and I clapped. She mocked me and it was great to see her admiration. She was extremely proud of her accomplishments. I'm so proud of her!

This also means 2 more months until the BIG birthday party! There are a few things done and a few things we are still working on. Pray for me!

Things done:
Cake prospect and invoice
Picture Appointment
Picture/Birthday Outfits (Thanks Vickie for a little help with this)

Things to do:
Talk to twins about cupcakes
Get ducks (wow...if I don't do that Riley might cry on her special day)

So long for now...

-Randi

The McMillen's are here...

Sooo...I started a journal when Jordan and I got married. After a couple of months, it stopped. I started another journal when Riley was born and after she kept me busy...guess what? That also stopped! However, there is sooooo much that is happening in the McMillen household that must be written and blogging just happens to be something I love to do.

I hope this site also updates our friends and family who are far away of all the blessings God is providing us with each day!

-Randi