Charlotte's Blessing

Sunday, June 6th, we blessed Charlotte. Priesthood blessing are the special times we get to hear Daddy say our actually given names :). Otherwise we're Mom or "the wife", Slim, Dude and Baby Stink. Yep, so far thats what has stuck for Charlotte. Jack even now calls her "Stink" most of the time. So she pukes or poops all over herself and others regularily and a bath freshness lasts less an hour, big deal...poor baby. I hope that one fades fast for her sake. Anyway, here are some pics from the joyous day :).
Getting the white fluff ready. A little while back, my mom gave each of us kids some "keep-sake" clothes that specifically belonged to us. Mine included my blessing dress. I had no idea she had made one for me (I just assumed with 5 older sisters, I shared the same). It was a VERY pleasant surprise and I now Charlotte gets her very own keep sake dress. (My mom made Elyette's for leftover fabric from my wedding dress- so was Jack's outfit. There must have been a lot of leftovers :))
With Great Grandma Rae --Oh and if you're wonder what in the world Jack is wearing, its his sister's tights. Don't ask. The boy's obsession with putting on anything and everything he finds cannot be helped. All the attendees.

Happy Birthday

...to one hot daddy.

I love you!

Farewell to Ray

On Wednesday, April 14th Boz's little brother Ray left on his mission where he will serve as a missionary for our church for 2 years in the Texas McAllen Mission, Spanish speaking. Wednesday morning he flew to Salt Lake City to report to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo where he'll be for the next 2 months. If you feel so inclined to send some encouragement his way is address there is:

Elder Ray Millar

mtc box 274

tx-mcal 0616

2005 N 900 E

Provo, Ut 84604

When I explained to Elyette that she'll be about 6 1/2 years old when Ray gets home, she realized how long it will be before she sees him again. At random she'll say "Mom, I'm going to miss Ray". She adores her uncle Ray and is very excited for him too. Jack also LOVES Ray and has been talking all week about him becoming a missionary and how he's going to be a missionary too! He's pretty excited himself.
We got to see Ray off at the airport and Jack ran after him for one last hug (and almost got grabbed by security when he started to take off running when he saw me coming to retrieve him). When ever we hear a plane Jack exclaims "That's Ray!".

We are so excited for you, Ray. Thank you for you wonderful example. We'll miss you. You're in our prayer! WE LOVE YOU!

-Boz, Maegan, Elyette, Jack, and Charlotte

(PROOF- Boz gave Ray a "real" hug)

And the Winning Name is...

Charlotte Nichole Millar Born Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 4:06pm
7 lbs 11 oz, 20 1/4 inches long

Its officially going on the birth cert... and it suits her, I think. We choose "Nichole" after Charlotte's aunt (my little sister) Marissa Nichole, with whom she now shares a birthday.

The Birth Story: -- feel free to skip ahead
As you know from the last post, we had a bit of a "surprise" induction on Tuesday. In a nutshell, here's the time log Boz kept of it:

1:30 - break water
1:45 - Start IV
2:50 - Start pitocin
3:35 - ask for drugs (7 cm)
3:40 - 9 cm
///wait for doctor
4:06 - born

My elaboration:
We checked in around 1pm. My doctor came to check me before we did anything at 1:30- I was at a 4 and he "poked" me to break my water. So I was basically very ready to go, so that was good (and expected....like I've said I had PLENTY of pre-labor prep). Due to my history of going fast (with the help of pitocin anyway) I was first started on IV and penicillin to make sure I had that in my system before starting pitocin. The Dr. wanted me to start the epidural early on to avoid a "Jack labor" repeat. -- With Jack I asked for the epidural way to late. I was ready to push before I even had enough IV fluid to allow one, but since my Dr. was 15 minutes away they gave me one anyway. And I was too out of it and freaked out by then to refuse. In order to get it to me faster they got a new guy who had never done one in the position (side lying) I was in with contraction that close together... the result: a NASTY spinal headache from him puncturing me which was only cleared up by a spinal blood patch (where they draw your blood and reinsert it into the epidural spot to patch the hole) over a week later and the blood patch resulted in back pain that kept me flat for days. Needless to say, it sucked and I didn't want that to happen again.

(1 hour before delivery)

By 2:50 they started me on pitocin and I talked "pain relief" with the nurse, because I wasn't so sure about an epidural for obvious reasons. I decided when the time came I'd try IV drugs first. The time came at 3:35 :). I had only had about 5 or 6 contractions since starting the pitocin, but each one was quite a bit stronger than the last, so I wanted to make sure I didn't ask to late again. Before getting the IV drugs the nurse wanted to check me during a contraction... yep still getting a lot stronger with each one, so I was starting to feel a little alarmed, I was at a 6-7ish she said. She left and I had an even stronger one that I felt some "bearing down" with. Ok, so I know how this goes, I was starting to getting very alarmed at this point since no nurse had ever taken us very seriously about this rapid progression thing. Well, thank goodness one finally did: She came back at 3:40 and started prepare my IV drugs and somewhat jokingly asked "no pushing contractions yet, right?". My answer "well actually..."- She got wide eyed and checked me... I was at a 9 and she set off some alarm...

The next contraction sent me over the top with the urge to push and I knew it was too late for anything, but holding on till the end. Back-up came into the room and they called my Dr. (who was much closer than mine with Jack was, thank goodness). After the next contraction I asked if the pitocin was off. It wasn't so we took care of that ASAP, which at least did help with each contraction not being ridiculously stronger than the last. My nurse set about, stretching me (the burning didn't seem that bad compared to everything else) and trying to keep me calm and not "blast" Charlotte out (as she kept saying). Um, yeah, that's hard. I just kept thinking "doctor, doctor, he'll be here soon, hold on" as the nurse called for nursery twice and said "we're having this baby any second". I'm pretty sure I convinced her that she just might be delivering this baby.At 4pm my Dr. walked in. HALLELUJAH! He walked over and just as another contraction began, he started adjusting his stool and I thought "AH! SIT DOWN Doc, she's a comin'!". He did, thank goodness, and gave me some little snips. I was instantly bummed 'cause I thought by your 3rd your chances for not tearing are pretty good, but I guess not with babies that want to "blast" out. It was odd, because while the snips were not at all pleasant, they were almost welcome. Like a distraction from the other pain. After that contraction and before the next the Dr. had me push to ease her out. That felt MUCH better and with the next contraction I had to resist again as he kept saying "take it easy, take it easy", but I just couldn't fully resist and gave in to the urge and POW. I felt the crown of her head "pop" and a HUGE rush of satisfaction and relief came as I felt the rest of her just instantly slither through. It was 4:06pm.
Sorry if that was too graphic, but this whole birthing thing is pretty stinkin' amazing. I expected more pain to come with delivering the placenta and everything, but I didn't notice in comparison and I had my sweet Charlotte on my stomach ( and not in it...ahhh). She hardly made a peep and was just looking around. Just then I got really dizzy and felt like I was on laughing gas. Turns out that was the IV drugs kicking in... hahahaha. Great. Thankfully those wore off in an hour, I got to hold and nurse Charlotte and my dinner came :).... Not a bad afternoon, I'd say.

My favorite thing of all that afternoon was watching Boz. He claims he's not really into the "newborn phase" (understandable) and while he loves his kids, its much better for daddy when they get to a more playful state :), but I'll tell you if you could see the look of pure admiration and love on his face when he peers at his children for the first time, you'd know better. That look can't fool me, he adores his Charlotte. And I'm quite fond of the moments I've been frequently getting that look too.

I had to giggle when I first saw Charlotte, cause already she's proving to want to be just like her big sister :)
Nice crooked noses, eh?

Charlotte's Home:

Since all was well with the two of us, Charlotte and I got the go ahead to go home the next day. We got home around 4pm on Wednesday (would have been more like noon if we could have gotten my non-existent nurse to see us once in a while. Not to bad mouth nurses, I love and appreciate them all, and my nighttime nurse was awesome, but this one just wasn't so much. It was REALLY good to get home and finally get some real rest and see what Charlotte's temperament is really like when she's not getting poked and prodded.

Charlotte, or Charlie as Elyette likes to call her, is a very sweet and calm baby. She doesn't cry a whole lot and when she does she seems to calm herself quite well for a newborn. She's much more patient than her 2 older siblings were :). I hope that doesn't change. She likes to listen to her family's voices and has given her mommy a 5 hour stretch of sleep 2 nights in a row (and from about 12:30pm-5:30am both times). Lets pray that keeps up!
Jack and Elyette couldn't be more pleased with her. Jack just coos at the sight of her "oooo, her cute ... cute ears, cute eyes, crooked nose" (haha). His favorite is to play "she eating me" with her and likes to sit nose to nose just staring at her. He's very sweet with her and I foresee a very protective big brother in Charlotte's future.
Elyette is of course the second mommy we knew she would be for Charlotte. And to an extent I wasn't anticipating. She even pesters me to wake her up to feed her when she thinks Charlotte's hungry. Apparently its "Elyette Mommy" who knows best, not me :). Elyette will even loose sleep to watch her and wait to hold her. Newborn feedings are long and boring I'd say, but Elyette will be there every moment. Supervising probably. Its hard to get her to do much else than just looking at and talking to Charlotte. She also likes to read to her and tell her stories. It was Sleeping Beauty she told her in this pic (she pretended the card was a book)Aside from Jack and Elyette fighting over who gets to sit closer to Charlotte (and what to call her, etc.) its been very fun watching the 3 of them together. I love my sweet little family!

Thank you all for your love and prayers. We're doing GREAT!

Crook Family Sealing

I don't think I have a very wide blog audience, but for those that may not know, I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And a central belief of ours is that families are forever. That through righteous living we can have our family with us always, through this life and the next into the eternities. The first step is being sealed to our spouse in our Temples. On December 5th, we were able to go up to Washington to see my sister Stephanie and her husband, Scott, be sealed together and to their children, Kaytee (9) and Dawson (7). It was incredibly special that ALL of my siblings (thanks Jacob for surprising us :)) and parents were there in that sealing room together for the first time ever. It was also a neat opportunity to explain to Elyette what was going on. That she and Jack (and her baby sister to-be, as Elyette pointed out) were born sealed to mom and dad and now Kaytee and Dawson get to be sealed to their mommy and daddy.
I've had the honor of attending a few sealing ceremony. Most of them being ceremonies where the couple was just newly getting married too. Its always sweet to see a newlywed couple there, but seeing Stephanie and Scott, taking this step together on their 11th anniversary was different. There was a strong love and bond shared by a couple that has been through so many ups and downs together already. I can't really explain it, but it was very cool. Another element that really choked us all up was when they brought Kaytee and Dawson in to be sealed to their parents. It just felt complete with their presence. Ah, what can I say, we love those Crooks :)! Congrats guys! Here's to Eternity!
(haha, this is the closest we got to a family pic. Cracks me up. Anyone else have a good one?)

5 Years and Counting

Ah...the days when you wooed me with songs like "George Foreman Grill" and flattered me with compliments like "your hair feels like a broom" and of course, when I kicked your butt at Rook. Good times. Here's to the even better times! I love you! Happy Anniversary!

Steve's Stripling Warriors!

Saturday was the Walk to defeat ALS in Seattle. We couldn't be there so we made our "Steve's Stripling Warriors" wristbands to wear that day in honor of my dad. We hope the walk went well! And thank you so much for all your support, love, and prayers!

Happy Birthday Boz!

With a name like Boz, you can expect a unique individual. That he is. This now 26 year old is unlike any other. Its almost unfair how much time and care the Lord seemed to take in creating this amazing man. He's oozing with talent all across the spectrum from once being a gymnast to music composition. He's one of those people you want to hate because they can easily do anything they want and yet you can't help but love them. I'm inspired by Boz's fearless drive to try and do anything and encouraging me to do the same. When he's interested in something he becomes a total sponge. The best is when he tries to explain what he's learning to me in laymen's terms. He actually does a really great job at helping me understand, but often I just smile and nod, but its his excitement that I love watching.

Boz is real. He doesn't try to showcase himself as anything more or less than he is. He doesn't let who he thinks he should be or who he was get in the way of just being, which allows him to grow unrestrained. Somehow Boz has lived in this world and gotten along well with it and yet has remained untouched by it. I believe this to be one of his greatest gifts. To live "in" the world but not be "of" the world (something most all of us have to keep ourselves in check with, he does naturally). I think he also achieves true humility. He can accept a compliment without shirking it off or feeling inadequate as well as not getting puffed up or cocky. His actions are always honest and with true intent. He's extremely even tempered (a good balance for is crazy, emotional wife) which can be incredibly frustrating at times :).

He is a wonderful husband (regularly taking a beating from me or kindly listening to my opinionated verbal diarrhea) and as a father...well they don't get any better than him. He is patient and loving with his little ones, while also being firm and steadfast when they need him to be...well...with the exception of his little girl at times. She's got him wrapped around her slender little fingers! He's fun and wild and somehow musters up the energy to play with them no matter what. Its obvious how fiercely Boz adores his children. He truly is a one of a kind, amazing man. Today we celebrate you, Boz. Happy Birthday! I love you!- wife (aka: Maegan)

General Conference

In all honesty, I've had all sorts of feelings about conference. I often dreaded it as a kid since it was like a super long sacrament meeting without the coming reward of primary. As my own testimony sprouted more and I realized what it actually means to have a prophet to guide us (I admit I still am discovering what that means) I started to enjoy conference more. It was in High School when my parents said that they wanted us to listen to every session on both days that I started really loving and looking forward to conference.

I remember thinking it would be torture, but the opposite became true. By the time I was a freshman at BYU and didn't have my parents initiating conference anymore, I realized I was really looking forward to conference. Since then I truly have had that excitement when conference is coming and been able to watch every session. I love it! I was particularly excited for the Solemn Assembly this morning and am very grateful for having been able to participate and sustain our new prophet Pres. Thomas S. Monson and all of our general authorities and leaders. I hope you all feel uplifted and sense the optimism that I think is always exuded during conference!

Also, my sister passed along this packet for kids. I looked through it, it looks really good and has a lot for all ages... even if you have a 2 year old like mine who can just look at the pictures and color on them. (depending on your internet connection you can listen to conference here)