New Jersey

So we're here! Caroline and I arrived at my best friend Alicia's house in NJ yesterday afternoon. Caroline has had the best time playing with Alicia's baby Emma-Lee, who is about 6 weeks older than Caroline. The girls have done such a good job of getting along and sharing. I was afraid that Caroline would be a bit rough with sharing with Emma-Lee just because with 2 older sisters she's used to standing up for herself when it comes to her toys or whatever she is playing with. So far it's been great and we've only had a couple little run-ins with Caroline taking toys away form Emma-Lee. Caroline has also taken to Alicia's Dad. When he walks in the room Caroline runs up to him with her arms reaching up for him to pick her up. I said that she knows he's a grandpa! I think he's her surrogate grandpa for the week. Today is going to be just a lazy PJ day (okay...we did get dressed and run to the store and then back into comfy clothes) to scrapbook and eat our pile of junk food. It's a total bonding girlfriend day with Alicia and her mom Joye. This is totally what a busy mommy to 3 kids need for her mini vacation! Ahhh!

I'll keep you all posted on our adventures. I know that one day we are going to go down to the beach and take some pictures (yes...that would be that OCEAN!) and another day we are touring a couple Victorian houses here in town and then having an afternoon tea at one of them! Yep...eat your hearts out fellow ladies! LOL!

OB Appt.

So I just got back from my first OB appt with baby #4. I would post the ultrasound picture but to be totally honest with you...you can't see much. It just kinda looks like a black oblong shape in the middle of a darker black circle. But, I did get to see the tiny peanut who was wiggling everywhere and I got to see the hear beating. For anyone who's been pregnant before you understand the first time you see your child's heart beating. It's just a sense of relief. So to end all rumors.....it's just one...no twins this time! LOL! We also found out that my official due date is DECEMBER 24. So that takes me back a week. They said that my chart says the 17th, but the measurements say the 24th, so the @4th is is! It's funny because that was the NFP Chart date as well. So Christmas this year will be VERY crazy! Nathan said that being due on Dec. 24th kinda makes me like Mary! Oh Nathan! I said if I don't have this baby by the 20th, then I will be in a chair resting all through the holidays just to be sure that I can make it past my due date! I don't want a Christmas baby necessarily or to be in the hospital over Christmas as well!

Just thought I'd pass on the news. I have to run now for a hair appointment! YEAH! Stay at home mommies totally understand how exciting it is even to get your hair done...without the kids. It's like a mini spa day! LOL!

Our Weekend in a Nutshell

I am just now realizing that it's Tuesday night and I haven't blogged since Friday? I mean yeah we're always busy but nothing that major happened to make me miss blogging that long? So here is a re-cap of our weekend.

Friday - Nathan had to work so, so the girls and I went to a friend of mine's daughter's 3rd birthday party. The kids had so much fun playing together and of course it was nice to have adult conversation between the parents. For a craft project the kids all painted their own mini terra cotta pots and planted flowers in them. How cute!

Saturday - Nathan again had to work a long shift that day so I called a sitter so I could go grocery shopping. I know sad, but when you do twice a month shopping, it usually takes at least 2 hours. So paying a sitter for a few hours to shop in peace is totally worth every penny! It was so funny shopping because I think I picked up just about everything that was now okay because I am braces free! LOL! I got apples, taffy, lemon heads, roasted peanuts, and tea to make sun tea. I guess it was my own little braces-free-party! LOL!

Sunday - After Church we went to lunch at Panera Bread with my parents, aunt, and cousin. It was delicious but lest just say that Panera B-R-E-A-D is not the best place to fine something for a baby who has to have wheat-free food! LOL! Afterwards we went to my little cousin Leah's 7th birthday party. This is my little cousin that my aunt and uncle brought home from China just about a year and a half ago.

Monday - I spent the day getting a large order out for one of my wholesalers and then fixed green beans with salt pork for dinner. It's almost a sign of the season's changing when we have our first green beans of the year! After the stores start stocking them again (beyond the like $2.50 a pound skimpy looking winter ones) we have a dinner of green beans, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, and sweet tea dinner. My girls got a kick out of snapping beans. They both said they were for sure they had never snapped beans or eaten them before? Uh...we've had these every Summer since you were both babies?

We also decided this weekend that Caroline and I are going to be flying to NJ to visit my very best friend Alicia, her baby Emma-Lee, and her parents Bruce and Joye! YEAH!!!! We are so excited! We haven't seen Alicia and Emma-Lee since last Summer when they came here to visit. We have already planned a week of catching up, and lots of late nights scrapbooking and laughing over old college stories. Hey Alicia.....remember that night with the dyed shampoo in Christmas colors! Oh how insane we were back then! LOL! So Caroline and I will be flying out on Monday and returning on Friday just in time for my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary party on Saturday. Nathan has the week off of work next week so he will be staying with Maddelyn and Emma doing the Daddy-girls week. So for all of my blogger friends out there please say a prayer for both the girls AND Nathan's sake next week! They both can use it! Just kidding, I know he'll do a wonderful job running the house.

Thursday we go to my first OB appointment! YEAH! It will be the first time seeing Martin baby #4 on our ultrasound. they do a early ultrasound just to make sure that we have the right due date based off of the baby's measurements.

Friday we go back to Columbus Children's Hospital to see Emma's dermatologist.

A quick question...you know one of those odd questions from one mom to another...are glow bracelets ( the kind where when you bend them they clow in the dark, usually seen at like fireworks shows and such) anyways are they toxic and do they stain???? Yeah you can only guess why I am asking and which child it was? Yep.....Emma bit threw one and now there is a nice green glow on my carpet? I am hoping that in the morning when the alien glow has disappeared, that the stain will come up with carpet cleaner. The things that you never knew you would have to know BEFORE you had kids! See Alicia NOTHING your child could ever do would make me think she was a bad child. I've pretty much seen everything or...with Emma will be seeing it in the near future! Hey, at least tonight the girls won't need a night light! Oh My!!!

Alright I need to head off of here and get some laundry put away before bedtime.

New Layouts

So I got to scrap a bit the other night. It seems like the only time lately that I get to scrap is for my twelvefridays commitiments. Oh well better than none at all , and beside their stuff is too cute to not want to scrap with during my few scrapbboking moments! So this month the kit had a boy theme, and even though they were adorable papers.....we don't really have any boy-ish photos! I think it's hard to scrap princess outfits, tea parties, and korker bows with boy scrapbooking paper. I guess I am just not that talented to strech my imagination that far! Now some of the other design team girls did a wonderful job in using the papers with their adorable daughters. I just didn't have that many creative juices flowing. So, I kinda cheated and asked my friend Jenn to borrow photos of her 3 adorable bows and she graciously said yes. Thanks so much Jenn, Grant, Griffin, and Grady! :D I also included a simple card that I did with my kit this month.

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day....

Okay so I know how Alexander felt in the children's book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day! LOL! So I think pretty much everyone I spoke to today all said they were just having a crummy day. Yeah, I can agree with that. Let's just say that my days started WAY too early after tossing and turning all night....info for all, MANDI IS NOT A MORNING PERSON! Anyways I walk in to the girls' room to see that it has snowed small pieces of white plastic? Hmmm??? Maddelyn then generously turns in her sister by saying that Emma has broken my window?? What? Ok, she didn't break the window, just my mini blinds! Yeas this child literally sat there this morning and ripped off tiny bite sized pieces of white plastic mini blinds and scattered them all over the floor! Oh my goodness! So needless to say Momma was not happy!!!! Bad morning to mess with Mommy! That was basically the start of my yucky rainy day.

So here is some pleasant news instead..... my friend Elaine is expecting again! YEAH! So once again there is someone else I am always pregnant with. I guess we're all trying to space our children about 2 years apart. Well Elaine's new baby and our 4th are due within a week of each other. I'm sure we'll both have a very busy Christmas!

I have a few pictures to share tonight as well. These are of Maddelyn and her very best friend Miss Lizzie at Lizzie's birthday party last weekend. Of course Emma needed a little camera time as well! Such a ham!

Maddelyn and I after our mommy-daughter dance at Church on Mother's Day.

My 3 girlies and I on Mother's Day

Okay these photos just make me laugh out loud. While we were practicing our dance on stage Sunday, Caroline was playing behind the pulpit. Yes...she is sucking on the clear pulpit!

Oh So Sleepy!

So Happy Late Mother's Day to all of my blogger friends and family! We spent the weekend at Maddelyn's best friend Lizzie's birthday party, church, and a cook-out at my Aunt and Uncle's in Wilard. We did our dance for the second time infront of the church for Mother's Day. It actually did not go as smoothly as it had the last time. We totally forgot to warn the preschooler's that the tv monitors and the HUGE screen behind them would be on and have them on it! So I think the entire video that Nathan took of us dancing that morning was basically me telling Maddelyn "Quite looking at it!" "Watch me!" "Pay attention!" At one point she is literally just froze with her back to the congregation just staring at herself on the huge screen. Nathan said it wasn't that obvious but I think it probably was?

I've been kinda under the weather the past week so I haven't been in the blogging mood too much. I don't remember being this sick or tired with the other 3 pregnancies? I'm not like horrible sick or anything just queasy and super tiered. I think running after the other 3 has something to do with it? I told Nathan that I am already wishing the pregnancy was over. He said I usually don't start saying that until about month 8? I guess this time around I'm just too tired to do it? LOL! That is even with taking time to lay down most days. Maybe if I just go to bed and someone wakes me up mid-December? LOL! Anyone have an quick fixes for no energy the 4th pregnancy around, besides sending my other 3 to family until after the baby arrives? HaHa!

Stages in Motherhood.....

Tonight we had out Mother-Daughter Banquet at church. This evening was a special night because Maddelyn and I danced as part of the program. We had a mother/daughter dance which included 4 preschool girls and their mommies. It was done to Plum's "In My Arms" song...tear jerker. The dance was pretty simple since the girls had to be able to follow along. We've only been practicing for a couple of weeks but the kids did wonderful tonight! We had several ladies tell us that there wasn't a dry eye afterwards. I wish I had a video of it to upload for you all but of course I don't. Afterwards we had a special reading where several moms read a small verse just explaining the different stages in motherhood. Well I was the first reader with "2 am feedings." I did fine until it said about how I should be remembering to thank God for all these sleepless nights because some women would do anything to hold a wee one at 2 am. So yes...I started tearing up and had to re-collect myself before I could finish. Well I think I started something because almost every woman who got to read their stage of motherhood was in tears! When I sat down the row behind me (all family) was sniffling and wiping eyes. I said man... it feels like we are at a funeral you guys!

On a lighter note, Emma's newest phrase now is..... my leg/arm/foot/whatever hurts. I then say I'm sorry to hear that. She then replies but it's going to fall off! Oh the drama!

So the little baby bump is becoming more noticeable. It's much easier to see in some outfits than in others. Like tonight's dress...yep, baby bump! It's so funny to think that with Maddelyn I couldn't wait to get into those cute maternity clothes and it seemed to be forever before I was showing. With #4 I am like man....how can I be showing this much already? I mine as well just live in those maternity clothes! It says a lot about your child spacing when all of your "good clothes" are maternity clothes! LOL! I guess I just find the best deals on them! LOL!

So just in case you haven't had your daily tearing up...here are the words to that some by Plum that we danced to. I also included some comments that she had about the song she wrote. They really hit home about what being a mother in today's world is all about....

"A picture of peace to me is not a life without pain, but knowing you will always be held and loved through it. Motherhood has allowed me to better understand God's love for me and, in tum, to be able to love my children in what I believe to be a very similar way. "In My Arms" is about how we live in a fallen world, how life won't always be storybooks and ice cream cones and will involve pain and fear and loss, and innocence will fade away. And for me, as a mother, how it's a hard reality to believe. But no matter what...we are all loved. We are never alone. We are safe...in His arms. And for me, to know my children are loved by a God that great can help make them feel safe in mine." - Plumb

In your Arms by Plumb

Your baby blues

So full of wonder

Your curly cues

Your contagious smile

And as I watch

You start to grow up

All I can do is hold you tight

Knowing...

Clouds will rage up

Storms will race in

But you will be safe

In my arms

Rains will pour down

Waves will crash around

But you will be safe

In my arms

Storybooks

Are full of fairy tales

Of kings and queens

And the bluest skies

My heart is torn

Just in knowing

You'll someday see

The truth from lies

When the...

Castles they might crumble

Dreams may not come true

But you are never all alone

Because I will always

Always love you

The Truth of Children!

I got this email from a family member and thought it was just too cute to not pass on. Oh how I wish children could just keep that raw truth! These kids seem to be wise beyond their years! Oh...I forgot to mention that our new microwave just randomly started working again? I give up!!!!

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.-- Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED? You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.-- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?Both don't want any more kids. FAMILY: Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynn , age 8 (isn't she a treasure)

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10 (Martin is wise beyond his years)

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that..- - Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -- Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is........HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK? Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.-- Rick, age 10

The Killer Touch for Small Appliances!

Okay..that's it! I am done with small household appliances! Last week I was warming up the girl's lunch when I took one item out of the microwave and put another item in . Well when I went to start the second item it just died. So we've been without a microwave all weekend. So today Nathan brought one home from Walmart and I was like great....I can fix popcorn. I started it like normal and everything was fine until I cooked it too long and had burnt popcorn (normal for me). So I decide to pop another bag instead of picking through that one and don't you know it...the new microwave won't even turn on! UHHHH! I think I have the killer touch for small appliances right now. Or, they really just don't like me. So tomorrow we'll try microwave #3!

We spent yesterday going through a few open houses. It was kinda disappointing, not at all that we thought we'd find "the house" on our first day out. But, as Nathan said ..... if I'm going to pay that much for a house I don't want to have to do that much work on it. Each house was lovely but both needed some serious updating to get rid of outdated paint. light fixtures, cabinets, etc. It was just frustrating to pay that amount and get something that yes had the Sq footage but still needed bought out of the 70's-80's. I mean pink bathroom??? Yes the girls might love it but it kinda would get old as soon as they realized how "un-cool" it really was! So more on the house search as we keep our eye out.

I need to head off of here. My friend Sarah is coming over in the morning to work on my website with me! Woo-hoo! It's pretty much getting to the point of where she is just waiting on me for all the final little details to get the site up and running. So very exciting. Of course I'll post on here when it's open!

I'm still here!

Okay, I know it's been a while. From my frequent blog checkers I have heard that you're checking everyday and I'm not updating! Sorry but life was busy as always this week. Nothing really big happened we just had a busy day and I just kept putting off updating my blog. So lets see....what all happened this week that anyone might actually care about?? LOL!

The girls and I have been fighting our lovely allergies all week long and Miss Caroline is cutting 8, yes... E-I-G-H-T teeth at once! Ouch! She is getting her back two teeth on both sides of the top and bottom! Poor little thing! Besides a mild runny nose and a low fever one night I haven't heard much out of her. Now the night with the fever she was up a lot (hence we didn't make it to MOPS that next day.)

Thursday I went to the Orthodontist for my last check! I had a bracket that he had worked on the last time I was there and I just needed him to look at it again. Anyways he said 2 weeks and they come off! YEAH! I do know though that I will have a "tooth positioner" retainer? I am thinking it might be something kinda like invisaline braces??? I'm just guessing though.

Thursday we also went to have dinner with my mom and we told Emma to hurry up and eat because we were going to go to the fire station to see Grandpa at work. She then says with total seriousness....does he have a baby in his belly too? Oh my goodness! We laughed so hard! Emma it's not nice to tease Grandpa!

We then spent Friday night chaperoning a youth event that our church went to. For all of those familiar with the Church of God, we went to Teen Talent. Anyways it's basically a talent show for the teens of our denomination to compete with outer teens from the rest of the state. So while my parents sat with our kids, we "sat" with some other people's big kids. I told a friend...why is it that all youth events involve almost no sleep(running on 2 hours today) and it's always VERY loud there??? Oh my I'm getting way too old for this!

When we showed up at my parent's house to pick up the girls today, Emma's first words out of her mouth after seeing me were "Why didn't the baby come out yet?" Oh if time would only fly that fast! Poor little thing will just bust if she keeps asking me that every day all the way through December! Well, I guess when you have only lived 3 1/2 years, 9 months is a lifetime!

Tonight we watched a great movie, "The Last Sin Eater" It was a definite must see. I had heard the book was wonderful and seeing how I am a tad bit busy in my life now...haha...I honestly don't find the time to read all that much. Well at least books WITHOUT pictures or that don't rhyme. So when I saw this movie on Netflix I new I had to put it in my que. So if your looking for a great rental about Appalachia folklore and with a Christian theme....it's a must see! Or...if you have more time than me...haha...read the book!

Okay, I need to head out and get to bed. I think those 2 hours of sleep from last night wore off about 8 hours ago!