Baskets, Bunnies & Babies

Spoiler alert: I totally failed my self-imposed challenge to get caught up on the blog before leaving for my sister's wedding.  So alas, I am even further behind.  I'm well into the second trimester and I thiiiiiink work is finally slowing down, so let's try another self-imposed challenge, shall we?  This time I vow to get caught up on the blog sometime before Emery's sibling makes their appearance.  Too ambitious?  Only time will tell.

As we sit here sweating our tushes off looking forward to a weekend of hot dogs, burgers and fireworks, what could be more appropriate than a flash back to another family-filled holiday a little earlier in the year?  Nothing I can think of.  So let's take a look back at Easter 2014 for the Martin crew.

Because this was too cute not to share.

Papa Bear's birthday fell on Good Friday this year so I took the day off.  The birthday boy's big wish for his special day was to... wait for it... eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel before we headed off to Conroe to see the Boarman crew.  What kind of wife would I be if I were to deny him all the pancakes, french toast and coffee his little heart desires?  A single one probably.  So Ryan, Em and I slept in and then headed over to Cracker Barrel with most of the rest of Katy around 8:30.

Tell me again about the biscuits, Daddy.  I like that story.

Double fisting toddler style.

You would have thought by the excitement level Emery was registering that it was HER birthday.  I am talking hands-over-her-head-squealing-and-clapping kind of enthusiasm people.  You'll read more about it when we get to her 15 month update, but this kid LOVES to eat.  Which is exactly what she did.  She ate some biscuit.  She ate some of Daddy's french toast.  She ate some of Mama's eggs.  She ate some potatoes.  She ate some grits.  She ate some bacon.  If we hadn't been watching her closely she probably would have stolen some food from neighboring tables.  She ate and ate and ate.  And furiously signed more.  She was in hog heaven.  Even our waitress commented on how much this child liked to eat.  She probably was considering calling CPS when she went back to the kitchen because obviously this poor child's parents had never fed her in her life.

After breakfast we swung by home to pick up the Lola-bean and all headed up to Casa Boarman.  We spent the weekend just enjoying hanging out as a family.  We went on plenty of walks (upon review of my Dad's photos from the weekend, contained plenty of shots of all of our backsides which I will not reveal here).  No one wants to see the backside of a lady in her first (or really any) trimester.  We ate plenty of delicious food.  We did way too much laughing.  Basically all the things we always do when we go visit their house.

Nonnie, don't be scared.  He's not really alive.  You can turn him off and on here on his foot.  (Gosh, adults are so silly!)

Let's go, peeps.  Follow me!

Did you hear me?  I don't see you following.

Being a movie star is so difficult- Grandpaparazzi always on your tail.

I could really use a tiara if you're going to chauffeur me around in this thing.

What to do when your kid won't leave her hat on but you're walking into the sun?  Have Daddy pull her backwards.

Sunday morning Emery got not one but THREE Easter baskets to tear through.  Later on when she tells me how much better all her friends have it, I will refer her to this exact post.  She certainly is one doted on little lady!  As you might expect from the Cracker Barrel story above, her favorite elements were of the edible variety.

Basket from Mama & Daddy.  This photo was taken sans baby Bucket (you'll see her below) because I had the high hopes I would get this post written before the baby news was out of the bag.  Silly me!

If I am going to eat all this food I may as well work in some curls with this basket first.

Mama, another one showed up!

Get your mitts off, lady.  I'll take care of those peeps.

See this?  It's not edible.

Emery and Bucket's initial introduction.  You can tell by Emery's furrowed brow that it's love at first sight.

After a delicious meal of hamloaf mid-afternoon, we packed it up and headed into town to celebrate with the Martin side of the family at Ryan's parents' house.  There we noshed on even MORE delicious food- mmmmmm, Guadalajara fajitas.   We watched Emery and Miss Kylie go through even MORE Easter goodies.  Somewhere amidst all the eating and looking through Easter baskets, the Easter bunny must have snuck over to Grandma & Paw-paw's, so the girls ran to the front yard to see what he'd left them.  Kylie was so sweet to help show Emery the ropes during her first egg-hunting adventure.

The Easter bunny really outdid himself this year.  FOUR baskets!

Too many things Mom.  I don't even know where to look.

Hey- how did you get in there?!

What do you want from me, Daddy?  I have one in my hand and one in the basket.  Is this child labor or what?

Kylie cleaned up!  Such a smarty pants- she figured out all the tough places the Easter bunny found.

Ahhhh, they just warm my heart!

Overall, as always, we had an incredible time with both of our families.  I know that I sound like the ultimate broken record, but I really don't care- we are so, so much luckier than we deserve to be.  Thank you to all of you for such an incredible holiday full of so much love and family.  Can't wait to do it all again next year - with a plus one!

November to Remember

Okay, at this point I think it's safe for me to assume that I will NOT be caught up on blog posts by the time I get my fanny back on a plane Wednesday morning at 6:30 am.  I really wanted to save this post until I was caught back up so that I could reveal it in sequential order but alas- life is what happens while you're busy making plans.

You might, once again, be wondering why we are skipping ahead months.  Although many of you may already know, for those of you who do not- this November Ryan and I will be pulling one more tiny chair up to the table for Thanksgiving.  The Martin family is expanding by one!  (In laymen's terms: there's once again a bun in my oven.)

Ryan and I, as well as our incredible families, are over the moon to be blessed with another tiny miracle.  I know the struggle that building a family is for many and we do not take the fact that we have been granted this gift a second time lightly.  Being a parent has truly been the greatest joy I've known and I can't wait to experience it a second time.  Well, I can wait until November.  Preferably well in advance of Thanksgiving or a comfortable margin after.  You hear that, little one?!  Happy Mama, no drama.  Remember that.

Emery, of course, doesn't really fully understand the concept but I am sure that at the ripe age of 20 months she'll have plenty of life knowledge she's ready to pass on.  Plus we got her a baby for Easter and I'm happy to announce that nearly 2 months later this baby no longer is confined to living in a bucket.  Baby (affectionately named Bucket) now gets toted everywhere with her.  We are hoping she doesn't feed this baby a bottle in his/her eye as often as Bucket but we'll take what we can get.

Why am I revealing this news today when I don't have time to fully catch you up on all the exciting details of this pregnancy?  Because tomorrow we find out if the newest Martin is a boy or a girl!  I'm sure I'll be too excited and will post a picture on a Facebook then.  So it only seemed appropriate to share the news that Mama's got a brand new bag baby-on-the-way first.  

I sincerely look forward to catching you up on life happenings once I reach a lull in living them.  In the meantime, the most sincerest thank you for everyone's love, support and well wishes thus far.  We truly are the most fortunate people on the planet to have the support network we do and we couldn't do it without you!  I hope you have as wonderful of a day as you make ours.

Looking a little reserved about sharing that chair.

Little mama showing me how it's done.

Portrait(s) of a Diva

Why hello there blog-o-sphere!  I apologize for YET AGAIN completely ignoring you.  This is becoming a bit of an abusive relationship, isn't it?  Is this the part where I buy you some diamond earrings, promise to do better and we start this whole song and dance over?  (Total JK- I in no way advocate the type of behavior this insinuates.  I do advocate completely random purchases of jewelry for stellar wives though- *cough* Ryan *cough*).

So my slight hiatus from blogging will make sense to you in the near future but alas that's a post for another day.  In the mean time, your girl has a work trip across the pond for a week coming up and then a couple days later we ship out to the DR for one Julie Boarman's wedding.  I've challenged myself to try to get caught up before I leave for the nuptials.  Let's see how I do, huh?

Okay, for starters, dial it back to Sunday March 23rd.  After weeks of rain delays, Shawna finally met up with us to take Emery's one year pictures.  We met at Katy Heritage Park at around 9 AM.  The deck was actually stacked against poor Shawna.  It was overcast.  It was way colder than usual for nearly April in Texas.  Emery was in a rare morning funk.  It was way too windy for someone who went to the effort to Chi her hair.  Overall- she was really up against a wall.  Per usual though she was a total rock star and managed to capture some incredible images of my newly minted toddler princess.

Thank you, as always, to Shawna for her patience with Ryan's inability to keep his eyes open and general mad skills with a camera.  We love you to the moon and back!

You know- just hanging out in a beach chair on a random lawn.  Ain't no thang.

These are my parents.  I didn't ask them to ruin my picture by being in it, which is why I look so unimpressed.

Seriously guys- photobombs aren't cool.  This is such a classic Em face.

Yuuup- I sat here about 25 seconds.  That's 24.5 more than I wanted to.  Deuces.

Nothing bonds a father and daughter more than a duet on some steps.  I think that's a lost chapter from Happiest Baby on the Block.

Death by kisses.

This is precisely how excited I get when she does anything.  Seriously anything.

Completely unbiased Mom comment- is she not the cutest child you've ever seen?!

That look can only mean one thing- the kid sees stairs.

I will personally be sure that every one this kid ever dates sees this picture.

This day Emery was a total Daddy's girl so I'm glad she got one shot looking happy to be with her Mama.

Oh.  You again.

See you in 6 months Shawna!  You bring the bubbles.

Showering the Future Mrs. Herndon

On Saturday March 22nd, I helped host a bridal shower for the prettiest bride I know, my sister, at our house.  My incredible Mamacita was kind enough to have a slumber party the night before to help me get everything prepared.  This may or may not be because my husband was worried about sprouting lady parts if I requested his help in one more girly task.  Regardless of the cause- I really don't know how I got so lucky or what I'd do without her.

Julie's fantastic friends and bridesmaids, Rachel & Morgan, put together a preeeeeetty hilarious quiz game for us to play.  Another ah-mazing bridesmaid and friend, Lauren, brought delicious desserts from Nothing Bundt Cake because what gathering of more than 2 women is complete without some sugar-y calories?  Last, but in no way least, Julie's sweet bridesmaid and friend, Leah, brought the most important ingredient for any bridal soiree- champagne!  If the above factors don't equate a good time to you- I don't know what does.

We spent the afternoon showering the gorgeous Bride with all the love, support and good natured jesting that she's always showed all of us. As you can tell, Julie is definitely the better of the Boarman sisters and I hope that she enjoyed her shower as much as we did throwing it.  Love you lots, JuJuBee!

Oh, and although I know you'll be able to tell immediately by the quality of the photos below, I didn't take these.  Shawna did.  Probably the only time any photos in my house will look like they belong in a picture frame- all on account of her skills and definitely not mine!

The Herndons cleaned up!

Caddy's flower arranging skills strike again.

The spread.

Ryan would probably insist I let you know he made these.  He'd probably also insist you give him a standing ovation right now at your desk.

Fashionista from the get-go- rocking the sun hat decades before it was hip.

Mimosa bar.

This is an example of how things sound easier in your head than in reality.

Fruit.  And dip.  In case the card wasn't helping you out.

Lauren was totally MVP for the day with these bad boys.

What's a bridal shower without some bling?

Thank yooooou.

Julie & her Mama & Mama-in-Law.  I have no idea what was so enthralling in the corner of our dining room.

I really hope this deep conversation was Bachelorette Party shenan plotting.  (Lauren, Morgan & Leah)

Mrs. Herndon, Mamacita, Ms. Brenda & Mrs. Howarth swapping tips for how to live with a dude, and stay married, for 20+ years.

The only 2 people in the world (besides myself) who have landed me grounded.  Ahhh, youth, marshmallows and neighborhood children's bikes.  (Jen & Erin)

Quiz time.  I think Lauren is looking up answers on her phone.  JK JK.

Morgan, look.  The peeps story would have made for a GREAT question on this quiz.

Mrs. Herndon giving an all-knowing smile.  She knows what life with David is like.

This is the most focused I've ever seen Jen look.  Clearly a prize was on the line.

It's really hard to look good opening presents.  Unless you're Julie, apparently.

Julie & her bridal shower helpers- Mamacita, Yours Truly, Morgan, the Bride, Lauren & Leah.

Mrs. Herndon, Julie & Caddy.

Discussions with Daddy: Segment 4

Welp friends, it is that time again.  It has been another quarter (in non-financial-geek-speak: 3 months) and Emery's Daddy continues to be... well, himself.  Life in the past few months has been pretttttty busy between work, sweet new babies (shout out to Avery & Patrick) and social events, so I will be the first to admit that a few Ryan-isms may have slipped through the cracks.  Don't you worry though- I've still managed to collect a few gems for your viewing pleasure.

Without further ado:

• (Emery displaying a few waterworks while Papa Bear was changing her diaper)  Oh you don't like this?  Well learn to poo in the toilet.

• (On the morning that the waking up video here was filmed)  Man she looks like a drunken boxer.

• (Background to this story- Ryan ALWAYS says that I "have the fire," which is really code for I let him know immediately when I'm dis-pleased with something.  Also, we like to play a silly game arguing about who Emery loves more.  We both know she loves us equally.)  Ryan:  She loves you more.  She won't even let me give her kisses.  Me: That's ridiculous.  You shouldn't try to give her kisses when she's eating.  Besides, even if she did, she will do a 180 when she hits teenager-dom.  Ryan:  *hearty belly laughter for like 45 seconds*  Yeah she will.  You both have the fire.  It's going to be volatile and I'm going to watch with some popcorn. 

• (Laughing in the car seat getting ready to leave for work/school in the morning)  Oh you think this is funny?  You're going to grow up and work some day too.  We'll be retired.  We'll see who's laughing then.

• (One evening during dinner Emery was putting macaroni in her hair)  Can we not bedazzle ourselves at the table, please?

• (One morning during a particularly appalling diaper change)  Ryan:  You are just radiating funk.  You know we prefer you save that for school.  *1.5 seconds pass*  Oh.  dear God.  Why?  This smells like blended noodles and burnt hair.  WHAT DID YOU EAT?  Me:  You have to stop.  Ryan:  Stop what?  Keeping my food down?!

• (One morning while I was doing dishes in the kitchen as Ryan sat on the couch "watching" Emery)  Me:  Are you aware your child is in the laundry room?  Ryan:  Yeah.  Leave her in there.  I'm hoping she's going to do some freaking laundry.

Any day that starts with a tickle fight with Daddy before school is a winner.

Emery Tracker: Month Twelve

The Story
Allllright, it's April now and tomorrow my sweet baby turns 13 months old.  So... I guess it's time for me to go ahead and put her last one year-related post in the books.  I have been putting it off because I think it makes it real.  One could argue that last Sunday when she decided to 1) try to put her sippy cup in the trash can, 2) dropped her father's keys (with fobs) into Lola's full water bowl and 3) dropped a magnet down the toilet might have really cemented toddler-hood.  Alas, I will bite the bullet and fill you in on her 12th month of life.  Heaven knows it was a fun one!

This lady thinks I am going to start taking a sippy cup.  HAAAAA- she's so cray!

The biggest development this month was... drum roll... she took her first REAL steps.  She took them on February 7th.  When I showed up to pick her up from school, she was standing in the middle of the room with an audience of 4 teachers cheering for her.  Her main teacher told me that she had been walking.  Obviously, I was pumped.  We all were coaxing her toward us so I could see her showing off her new skills.  She scanned the room and immediately started crying.  Baby girl hates being the center of attention as much as her parents do.  Despite being incredibly fussy, I was successful in getting her to take a few steps as soon as I got her home.  Thankfully I caught it on video because she was pretty stingy with flaunting her new moves for quite a while.

She spent most of the month sometimes taking steps, gaining confidence, walking more and more, but by her birthday it still wasn't her main mode of transportation.  Obviously I'm a month out and let me assure you- she is a WALKER.  When she is headed somewhere she shouldn't go, I feel confident she could give the olympic run walking team a run for their money.  By 14 months she will probably be a runner.

You did say there would be banana after this, right?  Just want to be clear.

I can't even express what a heart-warming feeling it is to see your baby take those first steps.  It was probably my favorite milestone so far.  She was SO PROUD of herself.  It also made her so happy to be able to walk around like the big girl she has always known she was in her heart.  I just love it.

Let me think what else happened this month... our little angel has really channeled her inner Nonnie.  Anyone who knows my Mom knows she is the queen of consolidation.  If you spent any time at our house growing up you probably know that you would go to grab a granola bar from the granola bar box and find... teddy grahams, or something else that fit in the box, mixed in with the granola bars.  Nonnie is not one for excessive containers when one can house multiple things.  Emery must have inherited this gene in spades.

Emery loves to put things in other things.  This month she not only experimented with what kinds of things fit in what spaces, but she has some pretty serious opinions about where things go also.  Often times Ryan and I find the SAME object (for instance a red ball) inside a space it doesn't go.  Not a blue ball or a shape from the shape sorter.  She clearly thinks certain things go in certain places and it's really funny.  She puts her sippy cup back into the space for it on the tray of her high chair 99% of the time.  I don't know, maybe all babies are like this?  I find it hilarious regardless.  Silly little toots.

Is that another...?  No...She wouldn't...

Another thing that kept us in stitches this month was that she insists on picking up the biggest, heaviest things she can find and carrying them around with her.  She must have some aspirations to revive and star in American Gladiators.  She regularly totes around Ryan's work shoes, which are a solid 75% of her height.  A lot of the time we have an extra package of water bottles on the floor next to the fridge.  She will toddle around with one in each arm.  She's also been known to try to pick up the entire package if there are 4 or 5 water bottles in there to drag around.  I have to applaud that level of strength & determination.  It sure doesn't come from her mama.

Emery loves to be "chased".  It usually entails Mama clomping around like a big idiot and pretending to run really fast while moving at a snail's pace.  So in hindsight maybe she really is just laughing at me.  I'm going to pretend she likes to be chased though.

While she doesn't say any real distinguishable words yet, the tiny diva definitely amped up her babbling this month.  She says "da" a lot.  It miiiiight mean "that" because she usually uses it when pointing at something, but I wouldn't swear to that.  Her babbling is hilarious because she changes intonation and expressions.  She will raise her voice and start babbling super fast and it really seems like she is bossing her toys around.  It makes Ryan & I giggle.  Maybe Aunt Julie will get her wish and this little one will be sassy with a smart mouth.

ACK.  She did.  MOM!  What are you thinking....

It would be an Emery update without a challenge, would it?  The ONLY challenge the boogie presented us with was the sippy cup.  Ryan and I spent most of the month, and our budget, on trying to get this child to take a sippy cup.  We tried, I kid you not, 8 different kinds.  Ones with handles.  Ones without handles.  Ones with the flow control.  Ones without.  Ones with short straws.  Ones with long straws.  Basically we Dr. Seussed the sippy cup market.

Finally, as I sit at 13 months, I can say we have officially conquered this hurdle.  How did this happen, you ask?  One Friday at school I picked her up and her teachers said she did great with the sippy cup that day.  Trust me- this would be unusual.  So I get her home, unload her things and discover that- this is not her sippy cup.  I washed it and gave it a whirl and sure enough- Emery loved it.  What was this magic cup?  Oh, only the cheapest possible sippy cup.  It was a take and toss cup that you can buy 5 for $3.  She made her Daddy so proud.

Overall, this was an incredible, incredible month.  As sad as it makes this mama to kiss infancy good bye, I am even more excited for all that toddler-dom holds in store for us.  Thank you to all of YOU for helping us all survive this year- both the ups and the downs.  Your love, support and generosity keep us going!

Get off.  Get off.  Get off.  Get off.  Get off.

The School Stuff
This month at school Emery's teachers had lots of funny stories.  One day when I got to school one of the ladies at the front desk commented on Emery dancing a lot that day.  I passed another teacher and she commented on how Emery likes to tap her right foot to music.  Then when I walked in, her afternoon teacher asked if I had Emery in dance classes.  I don't know what kind of moves this kid is busting out at school, but they must have been impressive.  They also must look nothing like her mama's after a few glasses of wine.  Or I hope anyway.

One afternoon when I picked Emery up her teacher told me that Emery had done the sweetest thing that afternoon.  Her teacher had one baby across the room in the rocker feeding her.  One of Emery's classmates was in a bouncer and started crying.  Emery toddled over to the bouncer and started playing peek a boo with her friend to cheer her up.  Seriously, does that not melt your heart?

When Ryan drops Emery off in the morning she has had some separation anxiety issues.  Luckily she is obsessed with bananas.  Almost every morning Ryan walks her around for a little bit, she starts fussing when she can tell he's about to leave, then her teacher pulls out a banana and Emery barely even remembers she has a father.

Why hello there.  Again.

Which I guess brings us to the next thing her teachers tell us.. she LOVES to eat.  I am not exaggerating when I say that her teachers, all of them, have told us no less than 3 times a week how much our child loves to eat.  One day one of them proudly told Ryan that the day before they had tuna and none of the other babies would eat it but Emery scarfed it down.  Maybe she really does dream of being an American Gladiator.  Sweet, silly goose.

This next story is actually post 12 months but who knows if I'll remember it when I do the next post so we'll stick it in here.  One morning when Ryan was dropping Emery off her teacher told him how one of the teachers who feeds the babies does a prayer with them first.  Apparently during this time Emery likes to put both hands up over her head a la Notre Dame's Touchdown Jesus.  Seriously, where do they pick this stuff up?

I know I have said it before, but I feel so thankful for caregivers that so genuinely seem to love and care for our tiny monster.  It makes the struggle of being a working mama just a teensy bit easier.

I'm not sure what was so hilarious.  Clearly not Ryan or I.

The Stats

• Height:  30.25" inches (86th percentile)
• Weight: 20 lbs 13 oz (56th percentile) 
• Head:  18 in (73rd percentile)
• Diaper size: 4
• Clothes: 9-12 months & some 18 months
• Shoes:  I think she's a size 4 now.  It is kind of hard to tell because her feet are pretty "plump," so sometimes I think length is okay but we just can't quite get those Shrek feet in there.
• Milk:  She's started having about 6 oz every 4 hours.  This month we finished our BM stash and finished the month out on formula before introducing whole milk.  Mama definitely cried on the last day.  It was a loooong, challenging journey!
• Solids: Emery tried lots of new foods this month.  As noted in the school section, she loooves food.  By the end of the month Ryan and I are basically feeding her leftovers of what we eat.  We only feed her leftovers because we normally try to get her to sleep before we make dinner.
• Firsts: 
• First REAL steps (February 7th)
• Felt sixth tooth- top left next to her middle 2 (February 9th)
• Last day of breastmilk (February 13th)
• First time we saw her take an actual sip from a sippy cup (victory was short-lived) (February 14th)
• Games:  Likes being chased.  She also likes to speed up when she knows that you don't want her doing what she's doing- e.g. climbing the stairs.  She also still loves giving you things and you giving them back.
• Favorite Toys:  She still loves keys.  She also loves the balls that go in the Hamster house.
• Songs:  (Same as last month) Really whatever is on the radio when I pick her up from school.  Mama tries to make the trip home into a sing a long.  It's usually more of a scream a long.  One day, right?
• Sleep:  (Same as last month) Amazing sleeper this month- when we have her at least. She normally went to sleep between 7:30 & 8:30 PM (dependent upon how fussy she is after school) and sleeps until we wake her around 6:30 AM.  She will sleep until some time between 7:30 & 8:30 AM on weekends.  When we have her she will nap 1 or 2x a day for about 1-2 hours a piece.  At school she takes 0 naps.  At most 1 20 minute nap.  It makes the evenings after work rough for all of us.
• Other Notables:  I am hooked on this kid.  For serious.   Parenting really is all it's cracked up to be.

And so the sun sets on the first year.