Catch Up

The Miller family traveled up to Indiana for Christmas vacation. The first three days were more like a nightmare as we sat in traffic for a total of 18 hours. Next time we'll pay closer attention to the weather and hopefully avoid blizzard conditions.

Mackenzie enjoyed Christmas more than ever this year. She woke up everyone in the house with a sweet Merry Christmas that sounded more like "Hairy Hismass." Mac was in no hurry to open up gifts and insisted on playing with each new toy before moving on to the next.

I tried to savor every moment of this holiday season knowing that Nathan would not be here next year. I opened up the paper on Christmas morning to find an article about a mother who has three sons and her husband serving in the military. All four family members were deployed during the holiday season. I cried for her and all of the other families missing someone during this time of year.

Mackenzie spent some time playing in the snow when were home. She loved it and would have stayed out there all day.

Mackenzie has officially moved out of her crib and into a big girl bed. I fully anticipated her to be up and down all night, but so far it's been a breeze. We'll see if it lasts.

Oh my!

Mackenzie Stories

• The other day I had on a denim jacket and she told me I looked like a cowboy. I spent the rest of the day questioning my outfit.
• While sitting at the dinner table Mackenzie noticed Nathan's tattoo of an Eagle, Globe and Anchor. She told us it was a bird and then tried to feed it one of her pretzels.
• Her favorite day of the week is Friday (can you tell her mom is a teacher?) and will sing "It's Friday, it's Friday."
• We were out to eat and a man came in the restaurant resembling a certain Christmas character and right on cue Mackenzie yelled, "Look Mama, Santa!"

Onto baby news, we found out that we are having another girl! The baby is on track for my original due date of April 24th. I have been feeling her move a lot, mostly at night. The kids at school have finally started to ask questions about my expanding belly. One girl keeps asking if "that baby" is still in there.

Walking Feet

Our daughter is a lot of fun, but she also needs A LOT of boundaries. Strollers/shopping carts are her worst nightmare. She is starting to wise up and say things like, "Mama, I walking feet." It's cute, right? It was so cute this weekend that in a moment of weakness I let her out of the stroller in Old Navy. Gasp! What was I thinking? (To my defense, it was near the end of our shopping trip and I needed her to try on a coat.) She was free to walk around with her dad or sit next to the creepy dogs placed around the store, all I needed was for her to try on a coat. Sadly, it didn't go down that smoothly. She screamed, she cried, she tried falling to the floor anytime I got near her with the coat. People probably thought we were torturing her. What felt like hours later, we got the coat on, made our purchase and left. While I would like to be angry with her, she was true to her words and maintained walking feet the entire time.

Here I am at 17 weeks.

All of my doctor appointments have been good. The heartbeat has been 165 and 150. At first I was thinking it was a girl, but I now have a strong feeling it is a boy. We have an ultrasound on the 23rd, so I guess we'll find out then.

Happy Halloween

We'll keep this short and sweet, Mackenzie loved dressing up,

trick-or-treating, and the stuffing her face with candy!

11 Days and a Wake-up

Well it has been 5 weeks since I have left the homestead for the wastelands of Yuma, AZ. The countdown is now at 11 days and a wake-up till I catch a bird back to the East Coast. Yuma is a different place to say the least, a town were desolate landscapes collide with striking mountain views and the social scene includes the dirtiest dive bars, fancy night clubs and tons of karaoke. The training we have recieved out here has been tough with weird hours and a lot of field work...but we wouldn't have it any other way. Our days consist of mission planning, a helo ride to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere, execute, and catch another flight back to the HQ. I must say that I am anxiously looking forward to November 3rd when I reunite with my girls...you are some tough women and I want you guys to know how much I love you. I have to give a shout out to Kelly who has done an amazing job managing everything going on at home...Babe, I feel blessed to have you as my wife.


I remember when I first got this job after becoming an officer, I wasn't really feeling the whole air traffic control thing, I mean it just didn't seem to be the roughneck bit I had envisioned...but I had forgot one major factor...we Marines do everything a little bit different. Too my surprise I was wrong and I have included some pics and a few short videos of some of the stuff we are doing out here.

Lastly, I want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers especially those for the military family members who carry on in our absence.


This picture is of our class, two of these cats were talking to the C-130 in the background 7 seconds before the picture was taken giving him clearance to land at the expeditionary airflield we set up.

An AH-1 Cobra attack helo landing to get some fuel at forward postition we had established.

SSgt and myself controlling another division of AH-1's as they approach our position.




A couple of Devil Dogs getting dusted by a CH-53 while performing ops.



Flyover of UH-1 Huey

Nothing crazy, just a little look at what's been going on. I'm out until next time...

Wilson Street

To the Owner of the House on Wilson Street,

I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. I am the crazy lady in the blue Honda that drives by your house four times a day. See this little girl sitting in my backseat?

This is my daughter, Mackenzie. She refers to your house as the "big pider house" or the big spider house. We are HUGE fans of the 6 foot, inflatable spider sitting on the roof of your house. My daughter can easily navigate her way to your house by shouting directions from her carseat..."dat way mama" or "dis way mama." Please don't be alarmed or call PMO (military police). We promise to stop stalking you as soon as you take that spider off your roof.

Your Friends on Adams Drive,

Kelly & Mackenzie

Ouch

Mackenzie woke up crying around 5:00am. I lay in bed listening to the monitor for a few minutes until I realize that she has no plans of falling back to sleep on her own. I walked into her room and the first word out of her mouth is "Daddy?" Nathan has been gone for a little over a week and we are feeling it.

I took her into the bedroom with me and she proceeded to tell me that "Daddy go bye-bye." It's breaking my heart. Despite being up two hours earlier than normal, she had a good day at school (or so that's what they tell me). On the way home Mackenzie started chanting "See Daddy!"

I realized today that Mackenzie truly believes that Daddy is still in town and they just keep missing each other. How I wish that were the case. Hurry home Daddy.