The Mills Family

2010-04-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!!

2010-04-04T12:19:00.001-07:00

Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-29T07:35:00.000-08:00

We made the long trip to Dallas to spend Christmas with my family there. We had a great time. The girls were as good as could be expected in the car. I think Chip and I were just as figity as they were. The weather was terrible on Christmas Eve....we had a blizzard with snow and wind and ice and it was my first and hopefully my last White Christmas. Too cold for me!!!

We had a wonderful trip and a great Christmas. Madeleine and Ava loved all of their presents and they even sang Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus and helped blow out the birthday candles on the pie we tranformed into a birthday cake!!

we hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. There are some videos below of the girls and some of their presents.

Lots of love to all,

The Mills

Our Cool Barbie Jeep!!!

2009-12-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.......YEAH!!!!

2009-12-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

Ava is almost a birthday girl!

2009-05-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that Ava will be 1 in August. We started messing around with ideas for her birthday invitation and we thought we would share!

Love,

Ann

Princess Madeleine

2009-05-31T19:45:00.000-07:00

Madeleine got a couple of dress up outfits from Aunt Chelle. We just couldn't resist.

Enjoy,

Ann

Millie and Ava giggling!

2009-03-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

Turn up the volume and you can hear the giggles!

Madeleine is getting some hair!!

2009-03-05T08:37:00.001-08:00

Ava loves her Exersaucer!!

2009-03-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

2009-03-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

All of us....Ava stayed home with Millie!

Mardigras with Daddy!

Spanish Town Mardigras with Mommy!

Happy in the tub, just like my sister!

I love to eat like my Mommy!!

Just before bedtime!

Daddy goes hunting!

Playing in the mud!!

Her Indian name is "Smiles after poop goes up back"

Watch out!! Woman Driver!!

2009-03-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

This our friend Carey with Ava!

I love my rubber boots!!

2008-11-29T16:54:00.000-08:00

madeleine has a thing about shoes. her aunt chelle got her some crocks that she can't wear enough and tonight she put her rubber boots on with her pj's!!

hope you are all doing well, ann

Ava's Christening

2008-11-26T08:27:00.001-08:00

Ava got Christened last Sunday and all the grandparents and great-grandparents were there. It was a lot of fun.

Hope you are all doing well!

Ann

Trick or Treat?

2008-10-30T20:12:00.001-07:00

Madeleine had a really good time trick or treating in the neighborhood! Here are some pictures of her!!

2008-10-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

Things are settling now....

2008-10-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well, the house is finally coming together, Ava is doing better but we have still not started sleeping consistently and Madeleine is in love with her LSU Tigers! Here are some pictures for everyone to enjoy!

Hope all is well!

Chip, Ann, Madeleine and Ava

We made it through the storm.....

2008-09-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

Well we made it!! I can't believe it. Things are settling down a little bit. We actually spent some time in the house today trying to get organized and hung a few pictures. We are not settled by any means but we are making progress towards it. Ava is doing well. We had our first Dr.'s appt and she has gained a pound since she was born....we weigh 5 pounds 11 ounces. Madeleine is doing great. She walks around the house saying "baby" all day long. She wants to hold Ava and pat her. We have to watch her but so far she likes her little sister. I think it helps that Ava was already on a schedule and not really used to being held all the time. If I had to hold her all the time I think Madeleine might have a harder time. We have it pretty good with Ava. She is an easy baby---so far. I hope this finds everyone doing well. We love and miss you all.

Chip, Ann, Madeleine and Ava

Hurricane Gustav......Yuck!

2008-09-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well, we got home just in time for Hurricane Gustav. We have nicknamed Ava, Stormy, because she has already been through 2 hurricanes and she is a little over 2 weeks old. We are doing well but have 2 children under 2 in a house full of boxes and no a/c because we have no power....well, let's just say it's challenging. The storm was pretty bad here. The locals say it was way worse than Catrina because of the side of the storm we were on. We lost a shutter and our wood fence was blown down. One of our pine trees fell on the neighbors property and there is a lot of debris everywhere. Some of the houses in our neighborhood flooded and we are so thankful we dodged that bullet. All in all we are surviving but it is tough. I am so looking forward to the day that I can wake up and my house looks lived in and my children are settled in their rooms. I am so thankful for everything that we have, even through all of the obstacle we have seen over the last few weeks. It is times like these that make you appreciate all that you have. This too shall pass.....Hope everyone is doing well.

Everyone pray that Ike and Josephine stay away from Southern Louisiana. I hate to wish bad things on anyone else but I surely don't want it to come this way. Let's pray that it poops out in the gulf and doesn't hurt anybody!

Lots of love,

Ann

We graduated!!!

2008-08-27T18:55:00.000-07:00

Ava graduated from the incubator to the crib!! Yeah!! We are so happy. She is probably going to be released from the hospital tomorrow. Here is a video of her in her crib. Enjoy......

2008-08-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

New video of Ava. She was more alert today than usual and we couldn't resist.

Enjoy.....

Ann

My cousin Sydney comes to visit.....

2008-08-26T12:30:00.000-07:00

My cousin came to visit me in the hospital. She had fun playing with my sister's new toy, Dancing Elmo. Enjoy....

More Feeding Time!!

2008-08-26T07:18:00.001-07:00

Ava eats well and we are still putting some extra calories in the bottles. She has gained 1.5 ounces so we now weigh 4 lbs. 13.5 oz. Her body temperature reached the 98 degree mark for the first time yesterday which is a great sign. Aunt Claire is bringing Sydney's car seat for us to test today. The preemie babies have to sit in the car seat for an hour a day to be sure they tolerate the position the chair has them in. They check their breathing and their oxygen saturation levels while they are in the seat. Who knew? We are doing well and on our way down to the 11 am feeding. We will keep updating the blog. Keep praying for us because I know this is the only reason we have gotten all the wonderful news we have. We certainly believe in the power of prayer! Thanks to all.

Ann

My Batman Glasses

2008-08-26T07:12:00.001-07:00

GiGi wanted everyone to see my Batman glasses. I have to be under the Bilirubin light because of my jaundice. This should be the last day. They are testing me again this morning and we hope my levels are down. Lots of Love, Ava

Ava Bishop Mills

2008-08-24T16:24:00.001-07:00

GiGi got here today and got to meet her new grandbaby. Ava is doing well and is eating well. She is gaining all the weight she can so she can come home and meet her sister, Madeleine. We miss Madeleine and can't wait for our family to get back home and back together. Here is another video for you.......

Ava Bishop Mills

2008-08-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

Well, we are still in the NICU but we are making good progress and we are gaining weight!! We are adding a protein shot to her breast milk bottles and they seem to be agreeing with her. Here is a video of her.....

Baby Girl Mills #2 has arrived...with a bang!

2008-08-20T02:08:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

Well, if you haven’t heard the chain of events…..Chip and I traveled to Tampa this weekend for a wedding. On Saturday morning I woke up with some kind of fluid leaking. We called our Dr. in Baton Rouge and he sent us directly to the Women’s Hospital in Tampa to get checked out. They confirmed that my amniotic fluid was leaking and quickly checked me into the hospital. We were told that if I went into labor on my own they would deliver the baby but if I didn’t they would not induce for approx. 4 weeks. The baby was not due until October 4th. Not knowing what would happen, Chip’s parents gladly took Madeleine back to Zachary and we began the waiting game. This morning around 3:45 I started having contractions and we delivered our 2nd precious Baby Girl at 8:59 a.m. She is small, weighing only 4 pounds, 11 ounces and almost 17 inches long. She will remain in the NICU for a little while but she is full of fire, just like her Mama! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I am attaching some photos for you to see. Enjoy!

Hangin' out with Dad!

2008-07-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

Madeleine turns 1!!

2008-07-07T08:45:00.000-07:00

Madeleine turns 1 this week and we had her birthday party on Sunday. It was pretty fun. Her GiGi, Aunt Chelle and cousins Holt and Davis were here. We had the party at her Millie and Grumps' House (Chip's parents) and her Great Grandmother was there to celebrate with us. We had lots of great food and Millie made Madeleine her own jumbo birthday cupcake. It was precious. I will be posting more pictures if I can and we have a video but I may not be smart enough for that, we will see!!

Lots of Love to you,

Ann, Chip and Madeleine

Update on the House in Austin

2008-06-23T10:54:00.000-07:00

Well, we closed on our house in Austin last Wednesday. Now we are free to find something here in Zachary! Yeah!! Baby #2 is growing and all of our Dr.'s appt's have gone well. We are scheduling the C-Section for the last week in September. That is only 1 week before my due date and with Madeleine we went into labor 2 weeks before. I don't think I am going to be able to convince my Dr. to move it up but I will see. Stay tuned for more updates....

Talk to you soon,

Ann, Chip and Madeleine

Boys Club Pics

2008-06-08T10:18:00.001-07:00

These are our cousins, Shane and Z!

6 months pregnant and growing......

We spent the weekend in Sherman because my Dad was being honored by the Boys and Girls Club for his service. Here are some pics from the banquet. Madeleine stayed at my parents house because she would have hated sitting through that.........

Swimming again!

2008-06-08T10:12:00.001-07:00

Swimming is my favorite thing to do!

Bath Time in Sherman!

2008-06-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

More breakfast in Sherman!

2008-06-08T10:09:00.001-07:00

Trip to Sherman!

2008-06-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

I woke up with GiGi and Whiskers and we played in the yard while I was still in my PJ's!

Update from Austin Housing Market!

2008-05-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

Well, the good news is that we have accepted an offer on our house. The inspection was last Thursday and the option period ended on Monday. All is looking hopeful and we are scheduled to close on June 20th. All the prayers have truly helped and we appreciate all of you who have had us on your minds. We are still praying that all will continue to go well because June 20th seems like a year away.

Chip and I have been looking in Zachary for houses, patiently awaiting the day that we could seriously consider one. We haven't really found our dream house so we are thinking of maybe waiting a little while, renting a bigger place while we build....along with some other ideas. Who knows what we will land on.

Madeleine is doing great. She will be 11 months on June 8th! I can't believe it. She is growing and developing her personality more and more every day. She will be walking any day. She has gotten comfortable enough to stand without holding onto anything but she hasn't yet taken a step unassisted.

More to come. I am trying to do a better job of updating the blog. We will see how I do!

I hope this finds you all well.

Lots of love,

Ann, Chip and Madeleine

Swimming with Daddy!

2008-05-30T19:24:00.000-07:00

Here I am with my Daddy! We had a lot of fun in the pool!

In the pool

2008-05-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

I love swimming!! I am going to be a little fish.

Madeleine and Daddy at the zoo!

2008-05-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

Here we are at the petting zoo!

Mom and Madeleine at the zoo!

2008-05-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

Here we are at the zoo for the first time. Madeleine wasn't too interested!! Maybe she will be soon.

Baby #2 is......

2008-05-24T19:32:00.000-07:00

another little girl. Can you believe it? Chip is still in shock. I think he is going to start collecting guns for their high school days. Wow, 2 girls 15 months apart. This should be a wild ride! I had a work trip in Chicago all last week and Chip was super Dad. He took cares of things like a champ. I'm thinking we should have 5 or 6 more kids.....just kidding. Madeleine got to swim in a pool for the first time and she loved it. She got into her floaty and kicked liked she had done it a thousand time. She is going to be a little fish. We are heading to Sherman to see my parents in 2 weeks and we are excited about that. I will post some of Madeleine's pictures in the swimming pool when I can get to it.

Deidra--It was awesome to see your comments. I tried to go on your blog but I am not smart enough. Email me when you can at ann.mills@pfizer.com. I would love to catch up!

Talk to y'all soon!

Ann

Some more New News!!

2008-03-07T19:05:00.000-08:00

Chip and i are expecting Baby #2! I know, what a shock.....we were equally shocked when we heard the news. Now that the initial shock has worn off we are excited for the wonderful blessing and are hoping that we will be able to handle everything. Please continue to pray for us as we add another member to our family and continue to try to get settled in Zachary and sell our house in Austin. We love and miss you all!

Ann, Chip and Madeleine!

What's New with us!!

2008-02-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

Well, where do I start.....

The Mills Family has made a move to Zachary, Louisiana. The same town that Chip grew up in. Chip got a great job with a local developer and I got transferred with Pfizer. Madeleine has a great babysitter and is growing like a weed. We still have a house for sale in Austin so we are renting a house in Zachary until we can get that behind us. Please pray that we can sell our house soon. The housing market is crazy right now and we are praying that good things will happen for us.

Madeleine is doing so well. We crawled yesterday...just a couple of steps but she did it!! At her 6 month appointment she weighed 17 lbs and was in the 75th percentile for her size. She is such a good natured child. She is always happy and sleeps very well! We are so blessed by her and are having more and more fun everyday.

In a few weeks I will be out of town for business and Madeleine is going to stay with her Aunt Chelle, Uncle Ben and her cousins Holt and Davis. They are excited to spend time with her and I know she will have a wonderful time playing with her cousins.

Well, this is all I have for now. Please stay in touch and feel free to post comments!

Lots of love to you,

Ann, Chip and Madeleine

Krewe of Spanish Town!

2008-02-04T10:07:00.000-08:00

I love fried food!!

2008-02-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

Mom! I had no idea there was better food out there!

My first Mardi Gras!!

2008-02-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

Here I am with my Daddy at my first Mardi Gras!!

Christening

2008-01-14T08:09:00.001-08:00

Me and Mom on Christening Day!

Christening

2008-01-14T08:07:00.001-08:00

Me in my pretty dress! My Daddy wore this dress when he was Christened!

Christening Picture Family

2008-01-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of all of us. I got Christened with my cousin, Sydney!

Christening Picture w/ Sydney

2008-01-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of me with my cousin Sydney, MawMaw and PaPa!

Uncle Bill and Aunt Jackie

2007-10-06T08:20:00.001-07:00

This is my Aunt Jackie and Uncle Bill. It was their house in Connecticut that I visited. It was a lot of fun.

Cousins Matt and Robyn

2007-10-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

Here I am with my cousin Matt and his girlfriend Robyn. They were both really nice. Robyn is the one who made me the Bed fit for a Queen.

A Bed Fit for a Queen!

2007-10-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

2007-09-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

Here I am with my Mommy and my GiGi at my Aunt Jackie's house in Connecticut.

2007-09-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

I got to take a plane ride to Connecticut with my Mom and GiGi. My Aunt Jackie lives there. We went on a boat ride and we got to visit with my cousin Matt and his girlfriend Robyn! It was so much fun! I was really good on the plane. The hum of the engines put me right to sleep. There are more pictures to come so check back soon!

The Louisiana Bunch!

2007-09-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

Here is the whole family!

Four Generations!

2007-09-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

This is our 4 generations picture! My PawPaw my Grandpa Grumps and my Daddy!

Me and my parents!

2007-09-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

Here we are in Baton Rouge for our cousins wedding party! It was fun. Check out my pretty dress.

In Z's arms

2007-09-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

I'm hanging out with my cousin, Z!

Eight weeks old!

2007-09-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

I'm eight weeks old, TODAY!!

GiGi with all the grandkiddos!

2007-09-05T16:07:00.000-07:00

GiGi has her hands full with all the kiddos!!

Napping with my cousin, Davis!

2007-09-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

This is my cousin Davis! He thinks I'm cute.

Napping with Daddy

2007-08-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Dad and I were pooped after church so we too a little nap!

me and my Aunt Chelle

2007-08-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

This is my Aunt Chelle. She bought me a lot of presents. I can't wait to go stay with her in February. My Mom has a meeting and I get to stay with Aunt Chelle for a whole week!

Burpy Baby

2007-08-08T13:20:00.001-07:00

Jeez, if I'm not eating or pooping, they are beating me on the back trying to make me burp.

I am a good baby!

2007-08-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

Check me out being really good!

In my GiGi's arms

2007-08-08T13:18:00.002-07:00

I like to be held by my GiGi!

Peaceful Baby

2007-08-08T13:18:00.001-07:00

Please let me get my beauty sleep!

Peaceful Baby

2007-08-08T13:16:00.002-07:00

Who would guess that I can wake the whole house up at 3 am with this face?

Catching some zzzzz's

2007-08-08T13:16:00.001-07:00

Finally trying to get some rest!

My Mommy's Frown

2007-08-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

I have my Mommy's frown....

Awake again

2007-08-08T13:13:00.002-07:00

Can a girl get any sleep around here?

All the cousins

2007-08-08T13:13:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of all 3 of us together. Aren't we a goodlookin' bunch?

The Specs

2007-08-08T13:12:00.001-07:00

This is the last time I will be sharing my weight with anyone.

Me and Davis

2007-08-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

This is my cousin Davis. He loves to hold me. I like to hang out with my cousin.

My Foot

2007-08-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. I need a pedicure.

Me and my cousin Holt

2007-08-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

This is my cousin Holt. He is pretty cool!

Madeleine and Mommy

2007-08-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

It's hard to be me.

Madeleine stretched out

2007-08-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here I am doing my first high kick! I have my Daddy's feet.

Me and Mommy

2007-08-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

My Mom looked a little rough. She had been through quite an ordeal....let's cut her some slack, o.k.?

Mommy's Arms

2007-08-08T13:04:00.002-07:00

This is a picture of me and my Mommy hanging out in the hospital room.

My Profile Pic

2007-08-08T13:04:00.001-07:00

No autographs, please!

Me and Uncle Ben

2007-08-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

This is my Uncle Ben. He took all of these pictures of me!!

Me and my Whiskers!

2007-08-07T12:06:00.001-07:00

I really have the wool pulled over his eyes!! He has no idea how loud I can scream. He is going to buy me a pink fur coat!

Me and my GiGi

2007-08-07T12:03:00.001-07:00

I love to sleep and drool on my GiGi's shoulder!!

Me and Millie again!

2007-08-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

Here we are again! Aren't we cute?

Me and my Millie

2007-08-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

This is my Millie! She is a good cook. I can't wait to get some teeth!

Me and my Grandpa

2007-08-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

This is my grandpa and he has big hands!! They are good for snuggling!!

Me and my Grandpa and Daddy

2007-08-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

I've got these 2 wrapped around my finger!

Together Finally

2007-08-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Finally after all that pushing and screaming we are all together!

Like Mommy

2007-08-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

This is the picture that Daddy says looks like Mommy. I can't recall my Mom every looking like this?

Like Daddy

2007-08-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

This was our first day at the hospital. Daddy thinks I favor him in this picture but that is only because I am peaceful and quiet. What do you think of the hat?

Keeping up with the Mills!

2007-08-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! Well, needless to say, our lives have been turned upside down since July 8th. (I have a little bone to pick with all of the mothers out there who never warned me about having a child and the sleepless nights that would accompany that!) I have to say I think I am adjusting, finally, to less sleep. Chip is the lucky one. He gets to sleep in the guestroom during the week because of work, what an excuse. He doesn't get off that easily on the weekends, though.

Our new arrival's name is Madeleine Ann Mills. She was born on July 8th, 2007 at 5:53 a.m. She weighed 6 pounds and 12 ounces. She lost at least 7 ounces in the hospital but at our 2 week appointment we were back up to 7 pounds which pleased our doctor. I am trying to fatten her up as quickly as possible, but as you will see, it is not happening. We went back to the Dr. with acid reflux issues at 5 weeks and she weighed 8 pounds and 11 ounces! Yeah, I think we have hopes of seeing a fat roll very soon!!

She is very popular with both sets of grandparents. Chip's parents are now Millie and PaPa and my parents are GiGi and Whiskers. Millie and PaPa spent 2 weeks with us when she was born. They were a lot of help and left us with a full freezer of meals. That has definitely come in handy. GiGi and Whiskers came when Miss Madeleine was born and then we made our first roadtrip to see them in Sherman. That was fun and Madeleine had a good time stealing all the hearts of the women who work for Whiskers. GiGi had a good time strolling her around the neighborhood and Madeleine loved the attention. GiGi came back to visit us last week and she took 3 night shifts. I didn't know what to do with myself. That was the best gift ever!

She also has 2 very excited cousins, Holt and Davis. They love to hold her and they think she is pretty cool. I have added a few pictures of them. It is really fun to see them with her.

Madeleine changes so much everyday. Here are some pictures to keep you updated on our Little Angel. Mom and Dad are doing well and are very blessed to have such a perfect little girl!

Lots of love to all of you,

Ann, Chip, Madeleine and Sadie!