Cheese Making 101

Tonight was the big night... CHEESE MAKING NIGHT!!! In order have a true Swiss float, you have to include Swiss cheese. One of the biggest questions from the very beginning of this whole float making process has been "Where do you find fake Swiss cheese???" Thanks to my creative/handy brother-in-law, Ben, we found a solution. We made Swiss cheese out of left over wood from a basement project. Ben cut the wood, Scott cut the holes, I spray painted and Dusty played with Bailey. What a team!!!

Scott and I are working very hard with our friends, James and Natasha Miller, to create our first float ever. Needless to say, we are rookies!!! Luckily, we have gotten outside help from a seasoned float maker. Bailey will ride in the float with Skylar and Sydney (James and Tash's girls) on Friday for the Swiss Festival Kiddie Parade. They each have their own Swiss outfits to wear. They will for sure steal the show! I will post pictures of the actual float and the girls in their outfits later. For now, enjoy some Swiss cheese...

A Mom, A Student, A Career Woman

If you know me, you know that I face a constant struggle with the pull I feel as I fill the shoes of three different people while only having one body. Sound strange? I find myself switching between three different frames of mind all throughout my days. As I went for my morning run, I was aware of the fact that I thought about my mom duties, my homework, as well as my work at the hospital.

With my school work I face the most horrible fear... getting a... B!!!! I am actually laughing at myself as I type this because I know that this way of thinking is silly to most "normal" people. I am not sure when I developed this behavior either. I used to be very content walking away with a B in undergrad. Maybe I am just more mature??? Ha! I am also faced with accounting this semester, and I am the type of person that if I see a word problem with numbers I freak out. I am taking this semester as yet another learning experience and definite challenge. Maybe I can become "normal" again by the end of the semester!

My work at the hospital is extremely important to me. If you knew me in college, you know that I had very hard time picking a major. (In fact, I had at least four or five! Remember when I had to take an art class???) Well, my broad outtake on my career has payed off. I truly enjoy human resources. For me and my Gen Y tendencies, if I can still say that I enjoy something after doing it for three and a half years, that is saying something. I had the opportunity to attend a user conference in Atlanta, GA on Monday and Tuesday for Halogen software. (This is a software we use at work. I'll spare you the details.) I was really thankful for this conference, because I needed the reminder of why I went into human resources in the first place. Fresh out of college I remember wanting to read books like "HR from the Heart," and it is easy to lose that fire after a while. Being reminded of true talent management this week gave me perspective once again on one of the reasons why I chose the HR field. I love to be developed, and I want to develop others!

Though I feel pulled in three different directions, my most important job at the end of the day is being a mom. Watching Bailey grow and begin to communicate with me has been amazing. I often wonder how in the world she knew what to do by the words that I used. She is very smart!!! :) (I know a lot of mothers say that about their children, but she really is!) We went to an orchard today, and I decided to let her walk on her own. She actually followed me and listened to my directions. This was a very proud moment for me as a mom. I know that the next time we go out she may wander from me and throw a fit, but days like this give me hope that I am doing something right. Scott and Bailey had a great time together while I was in Atlanta. I am thankful for a husband that can take on the "mom" role when I am not able to.

I know that my mom role is where my true priority lies in this season of my life. Though I love learning and being a student this season will come to an end in May. The season at work is just that too, a season. I am blessed to have the ability to work part-time in a job that is my career. Even though I sometimes get the urge to take on the world of human resources and dive in head first, I know that in this season I am where I should be. For me, true success at the end of the day is putting my selfish ambitions aside and developing Bailey into the person that God wants her to be.

Four Days without Mom???

For the next four days, the tables will be turned at the Miller household. Scott will be the one getting Bailey up in the morning, taking care of her all day and putting her to bed at night. Where will mom be??? I have the Fall Trail Run for work first thing Saturday morning, then I head straight to Columbus for class, then I leave for Atlanta Sunday morning for a two-day conference for work. Usually, it is the other way around with Bailey and I preparing to send daddy away for four days. To be honest, I prefer being the "sender" instead of the "sendee". Bailey and daddy will have a great four days of bonding time, and I will be soooo excited to get home Tuesday night!!!

Watch out world... daddy's in charge!!!!!

Teeth Matters

Scott had to travel to Lynchburg, VA this week for work, so it was just me and Bailey this week. Before having a child, I looked forward to the day when I'd have a companion while Scott was away; however, it's A LOT of work!!! Scott did not leave until Tuesday because of Labor Day. Normally, that would be nice, except now he doesn't return until midnight tonight (which is Friday night).



When I think about this past week, one word (or object) seems to have taken over our lives... TEETH! Somehow I made it through an entire work day with three hours of sleep as well as countless hours of fussiness followed by soothing and cuddling (not that that part is hard at all). In these moments, I tend to be more thankful for my mom and all she did for me. It also makes me thankful for a husband that shares the load (and who will definitely take the morning shift tomorrow morning). :)



Bailey now has four teeth and two or three on their way. She won't let me look in her mouth for very long, so I am having a hard time counting an exact number. I'd love to share a picture, but that's not going to happen this week either.



Running was our reprieve this week. I wanted to keep up with my training schedule for the Columbus half marathon in October, so I took Bailey in the jogging stroller with me. Usually, my running time is my "me" time, but this week it was even more special than that. Being able to bring Bailey along while I was running was soothing for both of us. She loved it, and my favorite hobby distracted her from her teeth for a while. We both got fresh air as well as exercise. I look forward to the day when Bailey will possibly want to run beside me instead of in the stroller in front of me.

An Unfaithful Blogger

Hi Everyone,

Since I haven't posted since January 2009, I have surrendered to the fact that my faithful blog follower (aka Michelle Underwood) may be skeptical of my sudden interest in blogging. (And yes, Michelle is my only known follower at this point.) I am hoping to recruit more followers as I prove my true loyalty to blogging.

So, what has happened in the Miller family since 2009? Let me give you a quick update:

In the summer of 2009, I started the journey towards getting my MBA. Three years later, I'm almost finished. I plan to graduate May 2012.

Scott moved into a senior project consultant position at Ontario Systems (I can't remember when this happened).  In 2010, Ontario Systems closed their Berlin office, and Scott has been working from home ever since. He still enjoys his job as well as his travels.

The biggest and best change was welcoming Bailey Elizabeth into our family on July 5, 2010.



Needless to say, Bailey came sprinting into the world and has blessed us in so many ways. Bailey is teaching me a lot about flexibility, and this has been good for me. I am a "planner," and when Bailey came two weeks early, I knew I was in for a learning and growing experience.

Five weeks before we welcomed Bailey into the world we welcomed Grady David. Little brother to my nephew, Gavin, and Lesli and Matt's second boy. What a blessing he has been to our family!

Scott and I celebrated four years of marriage on August 18. It is hard to believe it has been four years, and it makes me feel old. Scott is a wonderful spriritual leader for our family, and he challenges me in many ways to grow in my faith. Scott is an awesome dad as well. He has changed his fair share of diapers and taken the early morning shift numerous times. (Thanks for all you do, Honey!!)

Most recently, Scott's sister Heidi got married. She is officialy Heidi Yoder now. We are so excited to have Ben in our family, and Bailey loves having another uncle.

Bailey was the flower girl in the wedding, and Ben's nephew, Liam, was the ring bearer. An animal cracker before the ride down the aisle was the key to success. In fact, Bailey waved and said "hi" the entire way down the aisle. I was a very proud mommy!

I still work in human resources two days a week at Pomerene Hospital, and we still live in our first home in Sugarcreek. We are constantly making updates to our home, and we are about ready to take on the basement. I feel like I am leaving out numerous occasions, but I wanted this to be a quick update about the last 2-3 years; however, a lot happens in 2-3 years. (Another great reason for keeping up with my blog!)  One thing that hasn't changed is our desire to remain in the center of God's will and wait on his timing for all of the "occasions" in our lives. I look forward to sharing more of our journey with you.

Thanks for reading, and I will post again soon! I promise!