Miller is 3.

I don't know how this happened.

The day she was born. and then the actual birth story is here.

The girls look like babies. just... sigh. look at reese. just barely a toddler. They immediately fell in love with miller as they do with any sister that comes into their lives.

I talk a lot about miller on IG (theskelteseven) because she's with me all of the time, mostly. And because she is so funny. and so terribly naughty.

I've never had a 2-3yo who talks the way she does. I never had a toddler who used adult euphemisms and speaks in hilarious banter. I never had a kid who finds lipstick and takes it and writes on things with it "bepuzz I can". She walks over just to say "I love you, mommy" for no reason. She has been using the potty since before 18 months and STILL is not fully potty-trained... because she does.not.care. She falls asleep, on her own, like an angel - and has since the day she slept through the night.

She is "go with the flow" because... she always has been. After reese was diagnosed, she spent countless nights with my parents, then back at home, then to my brother/SIL's, then back to my parents, whatever was needed until we were home from the hospital. she never minded, she still just loves to hang out with people. she loves school. loves her teachers. loves her friends.

Today I followed her around. We had things to do. Take reese to school, birthday donuts, a quick store trip --- one that turned into a "yes" trip. so i said yes to disgusting fruit snacks and cheesy PJs. then we had to take corbin to the doctor (she has RSV. boo.) we met miller's bff for lunch, who happens to have the same birthday :) and then resting, playing on the trampoline, loving on her sisters, the park, a giggle-seth, and finally - birthday fro-yo.

Happy birthday, Miller Paige. You make my days happy, you make me go nuts. You warm my heart with sweet kisses and know exactly what buttons to push. I love you, #badbabymiller




goodnight, sweet baby. it was awesome spending yet another day with you.

time passes.

time passes and we are still doing the same thing. i realized i had not blogged in a few weeks and i thought "well so much has happened..."

but really, no. an ER fever trip here, a dance competition there. trips to ikea or to chemo. and while all very significant, each moment important by itself, and in line with our daily lives, its like time just whisks by and i move on to the next thing without much appreciation for what was.

i sat down to look at the photos i had taken over the past few weeks. so many wonderful moments that i rarely even edited. i don't know if i am just not motivated right now, but it just felt tasking. then tonight, i felt the need to get it all done. i am overwhelmed with other things and editing and uploading each photo felt like a check mark on a to-do list.



we had one trip to the ER a week ago sunday. "raging ear infection" is what they said. aidan came with, per reese's request. she is such an angel to her sister. reese asks for aidan when she's sad and they have a very special bond.

i watched aidan shine this weekend at her dance competition. i told her we weren't getting a hotel and were just going to drive in early and she nearly lost her mind on that idea (lol). her favorite thing is to get a hotel and just spend the night with me. no one else. and so, with some help of a friend, we got a quick room across the street from convention/competition and we got to just relax and play.



i love watching her do all of her dances. i love watching her try her hardest at convention. they won 3 golds and 1st place for junior small group (their tap). i am so proud of the girl that she has become. her heart is bigger than life.



miller turns 3 this week and that seems mind-boggling to me in a few ways. 1. how has it been 3 years? and 2. i feel like she's been a 3 year old for 18 months haha

she is funny. she is sassy. she is smart. beyond smart. she talks so much. and she is reese's bff.


but tonight, reese is in sawyer's room. reese went to bed alone and then came out of her room only to be scooped up by the whispers of "tell mom you want to come in here...". i say okay and know the almost immediately, reese will be snug as a bug in sawyer's bed with her dozens of blankets. sawyer shares her "chloe" and reese will feel totally safe.




writing this blog has lifted my stress-filled heart. because none of the things i was worried about matter. corbin took her first REAL steps today. not stumbles that ended up with a lean forward, but meaningful steps toward her sister. tomorrow, we will have school, ill make dinner, we'll go to dance. another day will pass with moments that seem insignificant at the time, but as time passes, and i look back, its easy to see that each second has a purpose.


my goal for this week is to take note. to remember that the love that the girls have for each other is compounding and important with every breath. that every errand we do, every chemo we go to, every hug that we squeeze. its all intertwined into our story. nothing left out. and that the stress of each day should leave with the morning and not return.

because "miller, wash my back?" will only be said for so long.