Seriously Seven?!

We just can't believe how quickly time flies! Milo is officially 7 months old!!!  Just this past week, he sprouted 2 teeth and has 2 more on their way.....

Getting new teeth is NO FUN!

But don't worry.....Milo is still smiling 95% of the time. Especially when playing with his new best friend!

Milo moved into his 'Big Boy' carseat this week and definitely likes it better (although Yo Gabba Gabba helps the car rides along too)!

Granny Janny's 61st birthday would have been on November 12th.  We decided that we are going to celebrate this day every year and use it as an opportunity to teach Milo about his beloved Granny and tell him how much he meant to her.  We started the day off by reading her letter to him and singing Happy Birthday.  Birthday's take on a new meaning that one can only understand as a mother.  I will never forget the day Milo was born and now know why my mom thought my birthday was so special (even when I refused to celebrate after age 29).  There is no love in this world like the love a parent has for their child.

Milo's Daily Haps....

Now that we are back in SB, we are trying to get back into a routine (all revolving around the Milo Man of course).  We have started baby Music Class, Swim Class, daily walks and park runs!  Milo LOVES the pool.....

The baby swings are also a big favorite!

He likes to kick it in his stroller (finally!).

And loves his doggy!

He hasn't quite caught on to solids yet, which is shocking considering what an aggressive boob man he is, but we keep trying!

At the end of the day, who couldn't just LOVE this face!

Milo, you have forever changed your Mommy and Daddy.  You have brought us SO much joy in these past 6 months and given us a new take on love and life.  Every day is so much richer with you in this world.  The colors are brighter, the smells are sweeter, the birds sing louder.  It is amazing watching you discover everything for the first time, and this gives Mommy and Daddy a new appreciation of the little things.  You are the greatest thing to ever happen to us!

Milo is back.....and more awesome than ever!

It's been awhile since we have blogged.....but with the passing of our beloved Granny Janny it is time to keep everyone updated on the Milo Man.  She wouldn't have it any other way.  Since she is no longer with us to forward on all of Milo's amazing pictures and videos, we will just have to be more diligent with the blog!  The past months have been full of new amazement and milestones, but rather than reflect and catch everyone up, we will start from the present.  

This smile has helped my family through the hardest time we have ever had to deal with.  Milo is the biggest little blessing ever.  

Just when I thought I had seen her capacity for love, she showed me that the love a grandparent has for their baby’s baby is one of the biggest loves of them all. As many of you know, Milo was her pride and joy. It breaks my heart that she won’t be there on his first Christmas or birthday, that she won’t be able to hear him say Granny Janny, and that she won’t be able to spoil him with love like she spoiled me for the past 31 years. I guess it was just not meant to be.

Mom, I promise you that Milo will know you as his adoring Granny Janny.....I will speak of you fondly and take him to visit you often. I will tell him of his smitten Granny who sang to him every day that he was in the NICU and who smothered him with love the second he came home. Who snuggled him and read to him, and sent Pappa John out to get toys and balloons even in the final stages. I will tell him of your patience, courage and strength as you fought so hard. I will show him your pictures often and read him your letter. You will be his hero and his inspiration.


I have comfort in knowing that in my mom’s passing, my son now has the most loving and beautiful guardian angel watching over him. Mom, we love you with all our hearts and you will always be with us.  - Jaime

Milo is still Partying!

Sorry for the lapse in blogging..... wedding season and fire season are in full effect so Mommy and Daddy are busy, but Milo is still partying!

He has had the pleasure of hanging out with both sets of Grandparents and Great Grandma Sophie over the past few weeks while Mommy has had weddings to coordinate!  

He is also trying to get in as much quality time with Dad as possible before he leaves for Texas this week....

Stay tuned for more of Milo's adventures!

Daddy's Birthday!

So last Thursday was Daddy's bday and we didn't know what in the world to get him!  Mommy decided to throw him a surprise 31st Bday 'Stache' Bash!  It was a big hit and Daddy was totally surprised!  

Milo Monster got a little partied out!

Meeting the Fam!

Last weekend was quite the meet and greet for little Milo!  Not only did his grandma's and grandpa's on both sides come visit, but he got to meet his Aunt Bri, Uncle Kyle, Cousins London, Kyla and Tristan and Uncle Nimmie!  It is so heartwarming how much love everyone has for our little dude!  London kept checking in on him and saying to me, "He is just SO cute"!  Uncle Nimmie spoiled Milo rotten, and I think Auntie Bri would have held him the entire weekend had we given her the chance!  Milo has the best family in the whole wide world!

Uncle Nimmie!

Aunt Bri with Tristan getting to know his new cousin!

We also made it to the Zoo on Sunday with the kids!  As you can tell, Milo LOVED it (and Daddy had some fun too)!

Rubber Ducky, You're the One!

Milo had his first successful happy bath time last night (which is worthy of it's own blog when you are in Mommyland!).  We decided to use his plastic tub last night, since his belly button is all healed....prior to this we were just sponge bathing him, which resulted in a screaming, wet, pissed off baby!  Last night was probably quite a site, with mommy singing 'Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes' and the Rubber Ducky Song while bathing baby and then Daddy in charge of drying baby off, dancing around with him wrapped up in his ducky towel!  The things we do for a Milo smile!  After baby was all dry and dressed, Mommy decided to play with his hair, resulting in Milo's first mohawk!

That's all for today, as we prepare for a fun-filled weekend of Grandparents, Great Uncle Jim, Auntie Brie, Uncle Kyle and Milo meeting his cousins!  We are so excited!

Mommy's 1st Mother's Day!

It was an exciting weekend in the Kostechko household.....Milo's 1st photo shoot and Mommy's 1st mother's day!  On Saturday, the amazing Mia Fraas came over to take some 'newborn' pics of Milo.  The little dude did fairly well with all of the positioning, poking and prodding and only had a few meltdowns.  Mia is very kind and patient and talented and I can't wait to see some of the amazing shots she got!   Milo has his 2nd photo shoot on Monday with a very good friend of ours, Jacqueline Pilar.  

Sunday morning, Daddy told the Milo Monster to be nice to Mommy all day for Mother's Day and the little man was an angel!  Pappa John and Granny Janny came up to celebrate.......

After a nice brunch at Holdren's (which the Milo Angel slept all the way through) we watched the Halo Victory and Granny Janny got her Grandma's Day wish of holding the Milo Man all day!  It was a great day all around.  I love being a mommy!

The Daily Haps of Mr. Milo

This past week has been full of adventure (well for mom and dad....mostly ZZzzzz's for Mr. Milo!).  Here is a little look at what our Milo Monster has been up to this week........

Walks with Mom and Dad in my cool Uppababy Stroller.....

Dreaming of future chopper rides.....

Swinging life away in my new swing......

Bath time is always an adventure for Team Mom and Dad......

My first trip to Trader Joe's went well thanks to the awesome sling my Auntie Bri made.....

and my most favorite pastime is sprawling out on Daddy's chest for a good nap!

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz................

Milo is Popular!

Milo has had so much fun meeting all of his new friends!  We really appreciate everyone stopping by to see our little man!

Milo's grandparents on both sides came back to SB to see him over the weekend and it was a very special time for everyone.  We are all so in love with the lil dude, and the grandmas and grandpas finally got to hold their grandson (and didn't want to put him down!).  Everyone was so supportive the week of Milo's birth,  visiting him in the NICU all day every day, but it was so hard to not be able to hold him.  All of the stress and tears were a distant memory and the weekend was filled with pure joy (as you can see on the faces of the proud grandparents!).

Team Mom and Dad!

We are SO happy to finally have Milo home!  

Thank you to everyone who was rooting and praying for him in the NICU.  We had a false scare with little Milo's digestive system, but everything turned out to be OK and he is in perfect health!  Having him home is awesome and team Mom and Dad is in full effect.......

Milo is enjoying his new home and is excited to meet all of his friends and family.  Betty has taken the role of the loving big sister that we hoped she would be......

We are so in love with our little man!

Milo Comes Home!

So we decided to blog about our family, but mostly about our little man, Milo.

He was born 4/19/2011 at 9:12pm, weighed in at 7lbs 7oz & was 19.5 inches, here at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA.

We had been preparing for his arrival for, well you know, 9 months or so.  "Nesting" seemed to be a pretty common thing around these parts for the past week, but good thing as Milo decided to make his appearance a bit early. His due date was 5/5/11......

Here's a photo of Milo Nicholas Kostechko only 15 minutes old & already making us proud.

So, we'll be adding to this as time permits or something worth sharing comes up.
Stay Tuned & Cheers!