Mother's Day Surprises

My love cup is overflowing today; spilling over just a little with thoughts of my Mother's Day surprises yesterday. Ryan has a way of surprising me in the simplest but biggest ways. His dedication to making me feel loved and appreciated is never ending. He soars above my wildest ideas of what I imagined a husband would be.

Edee was especially tentative with her hugs, kisses and Mother's Day wishes. We unexpectedly got to share the day with Maddi too. I am grateful to have had time with all 4 of us together. There was only one thing to do on a holiday together: take advantage of the day.

After my favorite breakfast of Eggs Benedict with turkey bacon and avocado (plus smoked gouda cheese, a new addition), then freshly frothed coconut cream coffee we went on a little adventure to Whitehall. I knew we didn't have to travel far to add a little something new to our day.

It's been a few month since we've visited a lighthouse so I was excited to see a new one (technically, an old one considering this one was built in 1875). The White River Light Station Museum was closed but it didn't stop us from walking the pier and enjoying it's beauty. I especially love the tan bricks and black lantern room.

We were all amazed at the amount driftwood, sticks and grass piled up along the pier. Ryan immediately went to a large piece of wood mostly buried in the sand, he knew it had to be a part of a dock or ship and it was. The buried fragments of a ship appeared in 2018 and will become buried and resurface now and again.

We walked along the beach, climbed a giant sand hill and collected stones, of course. The most interesting pieces we found were are what we assume are old fossilized pieces of coal.

Exploring pieces of history has always been fun but, this light station was a reminder of how exciting it is for us. Even though the museum was closed we did some quick research and found information about the lighthouse keeper and the shipwreck on the shore. Discovering true facts and details that have stood the test of time is exhilarating. This is a part of our adventures that our whole family enjoys.  

I can't wait for our next journey. I hope it includes another lighthouse! 

I hope all the Moms were blessed with quality time and love yesterday. 

Keep Loving.

270 Days of Wonder Didn't Prepare Me for This

For the 230 some days I was pregnant with E the one thing I thought about the most was what will my baby look like? For the 9 month that life grew inside me I wondered most who this person would be, what would they be like? All though I put much effort- hours and hours (sometimes driving myself crazy) into imagining what she was like I never even came close.

My little human is outstanding. And that's putting it lightly. 

I've always heard parents describe their kids as, "13 going on 30," or "she's 5 but she talks like she's 15." I totally know what them mean now. E is 4 going on 14. When I say that I don't mean in the know it all, bratty kind of way. I mean in the creative, smart, huge vocabulary kind of way. One morning earlier this week, before cereal or a bath she grabbed her markers and paper and sat at the table and drew a picture of herself at school. She loves making paper books and drawing the story inside them. 

She thinks up the most adventurous ways to play. Magic Show, Zoo and building a Shopkins marketplace are three of her favorites. She also loves playing with her "neighbor friends" and most days her and her cousin Penny are two peas in a pod. 

Some days she's such a spitfire. She knows exactly what she wants and is determined to get it. Some of you have heard of the story about "the kitty with the big head and little body and big tail." When we left this fuzzy stuffed animal at the store and didn't take it home with us I felt like I was abandoning a real live cat. The sadness on Es face and loneliness in her voice made me feel like we just left a kitty alone in a card board box. That same kitty arrived on Easter morning. She carried it around with her for days. I try my best to not let her have her way every time and somehow bring her the things she really really wants as a gift or reward. 

E still reminds me so much of all the stories I've been told of her fathers childhood and my own. Sometimes she is sensitive just like me and the word 'No' breaks her heart. Yet, sometimes I swear she hears 'No' and she thinks 'challenge.' It's these times that a timeout doesn't phase her. 

We've got our hands full in so many ways. But it's a good full. The challenges she puts us up to make me a better person. I'm always striving to have patience, give her more attention and appreciate the simple things. 

I think that's got to be one of the most miraculous things about being a Mom. You can be as exhausted and worn out but you still have the utmost love for your little human(s). The future is just as miraculous. You can try to imagine as much as you possibly can but until you're there you have no idea. Motherhood and the future as the most precious gifts.

Keep Loving.

Mother's Day Story in Photos

(Told By E.L.M.)

Me n' Dad took Mom to Pentwater. 

We had to wear sunglasses. It was so sunny!

We went to Great Grandpa n' Grandma's too.

Swings and snacks. My favorite.

I love hanging with Mama.

We got to see Grammy's new cottage. Right by the lake!

This was the best playground EVER!

Told you swings are my favorite!

Me and Daddy. 

The water was pretty but too cold to swim in.

So we picked up stones instead. 

My family. (I wish Maddi was here too.)

Then it was time to go back.

I love trips to Pentwater. I can't wait to go camping this Summer. Dad says we're going to go a lot. We had a great day. Mom did too. 

Keep Loving. 

Happenings

Good Morning everyone!

There's definitely not a lack of happenings in the Miller house the passed couple days. Our weekends and work days are chalk full of events. Warm weather brings so many things to do!

My very 1st Mother's day came and went way to quickly. Ryan surprised me with beautiful purple cali lilies; one of my favorite flowers. Plus he made an amazing southwest breakfast of huevos rancheros; also one of my favorites. Lil Miss E must of known it was Mother's Day and to really show how much she needs me she decided to be fussy most of the day. Yet, when it came down to it I think she just wanted to snuggle more than usual. I didn't mind joining her for an afternoon nap either. She absolutely loves Mom and Dad's big comfy bed to snooze in.

This year, I enjoyed giving to a couple Moms celebrating their first mother's day. I made framed art with a quote about Moms and a chevron colored heart. Each one was unique to the Mom it was intended for. Then I shopped for flowers for my Mom. My siblings and I might have went overboard in the gardening department. BUT, hearing the joy in my Mom's voice the next day made it well worth it. Picking out the different colored flowers might have been the best part of my day.

Zach and Kacey came to stay for the weekend. It was another whirl wind of coming and going and chatting and so on. I always enjoy when family is in town. My sister is such a chatter box and has so much to say. Thank God she is also bubbly and funny too. She makes listening easy. Zach jumped in to help with Edee on Mother's Day. I suppose I am a little surprised by this. Only because not every guy is that interested to learn how to carry, hold and entertain a small child. I'm rather fond of the relationship forming between Edee and her Uncle Zach.


Speaking of family in town, my mother-in-law is currently making her way from Texas to Michigan. We weren't expecting her 'til July so it feels a little like Christmas for us. I can't wait for her to meet Edee and for Edee to spend some time with one of her Grandma's. Our long chats over morning coffee are alway my favorite when she comes to visit. Now I can enjoy this little occasion every morning. Ryan's Mom has a way of making you feel like you are on a permanent vacation. I am looking forward to a little bit of this bliss because who couldn't use a little more vacation time.


With all the commotion of the weekend my lil baby has gotten her first fever. Even with all the cleaning and sanitizing I've been trying my darnedest to keep up on her little immune system just isn't strong enough yet. I can't help but be hard on myself when she gets sick. She relies on me to keep her safe and healthy. When she is sick I feel I have failed this mission. I keep reminding myself I am learning, I am not perfect. I know I just need to persevere and push forward. What is life for but learning, right?
For today we are relaxing, cuddling and getting a lot of fluids.

Keep Loving.