So we are officially Moved! Sigh! We spent the weekend busting our rear ends to get all the final packing done as well as moving all of the furniture and most of the boxes. We owe more than we could ever repay to our sweet, sweet family members who were packing, painting, and moving boxes for us. I have no clue what we would have done without them! THANK YOU SO MUCH FAMILY!!!! Since it ended up that we had to be out of our old house before we can be into the new house....we were so blessed when my parents offered to once again put us up! Now all three of my children have lived at Grandma and Grandpa's at one point in their life. What slacker parents are we! At least this time around it is just for a couple of weeks and......Daddy is not leaving us here for Iraq! So last night was the first night we spent at my parents. We went back to the old house this morning to begin sorting out all the odds and ends that were not boxed yet as well as begin the cleaning. I left the house today having everything packed...well besides a couple odd things and most of the house cleaned! Nathan worked all day and then spent all evening loading boxes to move to the new house. Since our house is not ready yet, and my parents definitely did not have room for all of our stuff, we are storing it all in the garage at our new house.
I also had a OB appointment today. Many of you know that we were in Labor and Delivery last week with a preterm labor scare. It all turned out okay but since we are a high risk pregnancy the doctor's office is pretty jumpy whenever I say I have cramping and low back paint on top of increased contractions. I did go in today for my regular visit. They did and ultrasound and I am not dilating yet...woo-hoo! I also had her get me a quick guess on the baby's size so I would have a better idea. She said he is still measuring about a week ahead and at 31 weeks 5 days he was 4 lbs 10 oz! Wow! Can we say BIG baby boy! I think he might just have Caroline's 9lbs beat!
Today totally out of the blue Maddelyn asked my mom if Emma was adopted. I know sounds odd, but we thought it was hilarious. Especially since the whole time Nathan was deployed Maddelyn would tell everyone that Emma had a different daddy. I guess since Emma came after Nathan was deployed she assumed she came form nowhere? After lots of coaxing, Maddelyn then changed it to ...she doesn't have a daddy so I share mine with her. Oh my...what the rumors I 'm sure that started! So for her to randomly ask if Emma was adopted sure brought up a bunch of laughs from past memories.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Good-Bye Parkview Street!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Still Kicking!
I am just letting everyone know that indeed...we are still alive! As you probably guessed we are spinning like crazy right now trying to get our new house ready to be moved into. Pretty much every spare evening has been spent on either packing or painting. We did take a few days off however to go to our annual family camp-out this past weekend. We have been hosting this Fall family camp-out since long before I came into the world. The weekend is a time filled with sitting around the campfire joking and laughing, kids playing with their out of state cousins, enjoying great camp food, and ending the weekend with the kids trick-or-treating. This year I believe we had 5 campsites with about 40 people from 4 states! It was so nice to have everyone one of my mom's family home this year, all at one time! It seems the bigger the family gets the more rare all of us getting together becomes! We kinda had a baby boom in our family over the past several years, and of course they are almost all girls! Camping this weekend we had 15 kids, all 6 and under! Funny part was that 11 of them were ages 4-6! Yep...baby boom! Well seeing how there were THREE sets of twins in that group as well, it kinda pushes up our numbers! For trick-or-treating this year our girls were Nebraska Cheerleaders...again! Of course this was totally a hands down decision by the girls. They heard their twin cousins were going to be Ohio State Cheerleaders and wanted nothing but to be cheerleaders as well. I said I guess although you've already done that, but you'll need to be Nebraska cheerleaders instead for Daddy!! They all looked so cute with their little cheer outfits (made by my mom), hair bows, and pom poms. I'll have to post some pictures soon.
I also wanted to say congrats to a couple of dear friends. Rachael have baby girl #4 last week and I just wanted to say I hope my 4th delivery is that smooth! She had a 6 pounder with almost no labor! WOW! Congrats Rachael on little Megan! Rachael and I seem to have very similar lives with our kids spacing, wedding anniversaries, and we are both Army wives whose hubbies were deployed at the same time. I always tease her that she is just copying me. Well this time she got pregnant first and sure enough it changed everything up! She had her 4th girl and w are expecting baby #4 to be a boy!
Nathan's Aunt Tabitha also delivered a beautiful baby girl last week! Baby Joanna is girl #6 in their family! Can we say what a blessing! We saw her picture and oh my does she look exactly like her sisters did as babies! Congrats Tabitha and Steve!!!
It's funny that now that all these ladies who got pregnant right before me are all starting to have their babies. It makes it more real that we don't have too much longer to go! I am currently 31 weeks and getting more uncomfortable as the days go by. I think the thought that Christmas is only 9 weeks away kinda stresses me out! I just think of all we have to do with the house, moving, and 2 crafts shows in there all before baby comes on Christmas Eve! Where I need a break just from typing that all out! Oh and we have decided on a name.....
This is the same name that we have had for all three of the girls. We just loved Elijah and when we picked it it was very uncommon. The 2 middle names are the 2 grandpas' names. It's kinda funny that since we've had the name since we were pregnant with Maddelyn, it's almost like we already have a 6 year old with that name!
The house is coming along. The contractor said we should have or be very close to have the 1st and second floors done and ready for us to paint by this weekend. Next week they will start hitting hard the 3rd floor attic being turned into our master suite. After that they will do the kitchen expansion and then finish up the basement. So...needless to say the bedrooms will be done in time for our Nov 1st deadline to be out of here, but with the paint and carpet still needing to be done we are going to be staying with my parents for a while. they are so sweet to let us do that. My mom has joked that your kids never really leave for good. They keep coming back and each time they bring more! Yep...that would be true!
Well, I need to head off! I have yet another busy day tomorrow with some large hair bow orders and of course PACKING again! We will begin moving this weekend! Oh My!!
Oh...also I had to share this link! Nathan, the girls, and I were in our town's Halloween Parade Last night. I won't say what campaign we were walking for...but I think you can tell by even the sign that little Caroline is carrying! I hope the link works! http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=B7&Date=20081022&Category=PHOTOGALLERIES&ArtNo=810220804&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=33
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Emma's Birthday and Remodeling
So once again a quick update on the Martins..... Emma had a great 4th birthday yesterday, Since we are mid remodel we were kinda on a time crunch but still found time to celebrate with her. Emma got to go out to breakfast with daddy for her birthday breakfast. My mom kept all three girls that morning then so we could get some work done on the house. That afternoon we meant with them as well as Nathan's mom and grandma for lunch, a few presents, and ice cream cake. We were very excited to find out that at Dairy Queen you can order their cakes anyway you choose so we decided on vanilla with strawberries in the center layer. It was so nice to actually be able to order a gluten free birthday cake for Emma!
Since Friday morning we have been in full swing at the house. We are so blessed that both Nathan and I's parents as well as Nathan's grandparents spent the day with us today working on the house. I know it's a big job, but it's amazing how much of a job it is when you really get in there and start on it. So far both of the girls' rooms are done with paint...pink walls and white trim. When I left tonight the baby's room was trimmed in white and the men were painting the walls a sage green to match his blue and green crib set form Pottery Barn (pics later). Well....it's supposed to be sage green but sadly it looked more apple green...yikes! They are saying it will dry lighter so I'm saying a prayer! I know it always looks different when you get it up, but wow! Tomorrow after church we are hoping to get the playroom and breakfast room both painted tan. We'll see?? It's so amazing that it took all weekend to get 3 rooms done! Well, of course that also includes closets, doors, and 2 layers of both paint and trim. Oh...and before anyone worries...I did get permission form my OB to paint. He said the paints now a days are non-toxic so it was ok. I also have been wearing a mask whenever dealing with the sanded down rooms because we have no clue what is in that powder coming off those old walls. So, Mommy-to-be is being careful!
Oh...and as of today the house is officially ours! (Yeah after we've been demolishing and repainting someone else's house all week.) The owners came by and picked up what the movers didn't and handed us the key. It's so weird to think we own a home, especially a 6 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, 3600 sq ft one! Yes, we know how much God has blessed us!
Okay, enough for now I mommy needs to take a long bath to soak away the paint! I'll start posting pictures once the house starts getting put back together again, probably after the carpet starts going down in the bedrooms next week.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Pumpkin Patch
I just thought this would make a nice addition to the pregnancy scrapbook of our little pumpkin-to-be! Even he got to particiate in big sister Emma's 4th Birthday celebration!
Here are the photos of Emma's Pumpkin Party this past weekend at the pumpkin patch. The party was a definite hit with both the kids and parents and the weather was beautiful to go with it! Besides having cake, presents, and games in the hall at the pumpkin patch we rented, we were also able to go on a hayride to pick our own pumpkins off the vine as well as go through the straw bale maze! It really was a great party!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Pre-Holiday Sale!!!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Pumpkin Pictures
I'm so sorry that I have not been faithful to the blog lately. I think this is just a sad but true sign of what is to come while we are mid remodel and moving. I also have been swimming in ribbon....which is always great for the pocket book but keeps me busy. I believe I mailed out over 80 bows just today. We've had quite a bit on ebay as a little advertising bit we did getting ready for our pre-holiday sale that starts this week! I have been working on several new types of bows for the site and LOTS of new holiday bows! Just a hint of what is coming...bottle caps! You'll have to check out the site once they are up. I will announce on here as well when the sale starts.
I'm finally getting around to posting the pictures we did for Emma's party initiations. She definitely is excited about her pumpkin patch party this Saturday! So here they are....
