Martin Family

Well, we've had this blog for several years now.  When we first started it, we had one kid - Micah.  And so we called it Life with Micah Man.  Well, we have added to our quiver and so it just isn't right to keep the same name.  So scoot on over to our new and improved blog...we'll be waiting for you!

So I'm more of a fan of the bright pinks and greens rather than the pastels for Haleigh. If you've seen her room, you know. Speaking of which, I will be posting pics of her room soon, since I am almost finished! This is one of my favorite outfits of Haleigh's that a dear friend gave us. It's one of those that you wish they would never grow out of, you know what I mean?

So a couple of weeks ago, my friend Emily, started a post of letter to who or whatever. Sorry Emily, it has taken me this long to respond, but I've been collecting some good ones! This is so up my alley!
Here's my latest:

Dear Ants,
Let me properly introduce myself. I am the owner of this house that you have chosen to invade. I have to hand it to you, you are a persistent little creature. And while I acknowledge the fact that The Creator did indeed make you, you are not welcome in my home. I will find you out! I will hunt you down until I find your home and destroy it. Stay away from my kitchen. Yes, our food is good, but you may not have any. And really, Caleb's vomit in the bathtub, is that delectable to you?? Hope you had a good stay in the Martin home, but you better either pack your bags or you will die! It's all out war baby!
Sincerely,
A Very Determined Human Who is Much Bigger Than You

Dear Snow,
I look forward to your arrival every year. And usually, without fail, you don't appear. But this year, you came and you came in abundance! You really are gorgeous!
However, we wouldn't mind you disappearing at this point. You've kind of run your course, most of us are over you and really we would be much more happy if you melted away from the heat of the sun.
Best Regards,
So Over the Snow and Cold for that matter, Katie

and speaking of "the heat of the sun"...
Dear Spring,
Oh, how I miss you! Its been a while since we've seen each other and I so look forward to your warm sunny days perfect for taking family walks. I know you are still a few weeks away, but what do you think about making an early appearance?!
Waiting Anxiously,
"I'm tired of being cold" Katie

Tomorrow my sweet Caleb is going to have surgery on his eye. Its a rather routine surgery, but when its your child nothing is routine about it. He will have to be put under general anesthesia for the surgery and it just breaks my heart. The moment when I have to hand my baby over to the nurses is going to be a very difficult one. I trust that he is in good hands and that ultimately the Lord is in control. To know that God is with him when I'm not, is comforting.
I'm not sure what the recovery will be like or how he will feel after, but that doesn't really matter. I will just be looking forward to it being over and to hold him and comfort him.

Caleb's personality has really developed recently and we are beginning to discover that he is our kid that makes everyone laugh. He has such a great sense of humor for a little 20 month old. Nothing like a little child genuinely making you laugh. In addition to being our funny kid, he also has a very tender heart. His feeling can't be hurt easily (esp. by Micah!), he is affectionate, doesn't like it when others cry, and he is so tender-hearted towards Haleigh. He always checks on her, makes sure she has everything she needs (blanket, paci, toy, etc), and makes sure we are quiet when she sleeps. The past couple of days he just wants to be hugged more and as his mommy preparing for this surgery; I'll take it!

What is up with this winter?? We have had three major snow storms this winter and now a little more snow tomorrow. Ed and I have lived here for four years now and this is more snow than all those other winters combined! I'm starting to realize that I could never live in the midwest - sorry steph! I'm just not made for it! Where's the 60 degree day in the middle of winter that gets you through to the next randomly hot day until you are FINALLY in spring? Between having a new baby, many sicknesses, and tons of snow I feel like I've been trapped in my house for months! I mean really, I haven't done anything outside of our house. Oh to take a walk again and not have your insides shivering!

And by the way...I do have other children - Here they are two snow storms ago...notice ghetto snow outfits!

Happy 3 months Haleigh! Little Miss has now been with us for 3 months and we have enjoyed every minute!
Here's the latest on Haleigh:
-she smiles all the time
-she's testing out her voice with coos and other girlie noises
-she going to be a talkative one! she loves to make noises and now loves to "talk" to me when she is supposed to be eating!
-we are getting close to having to feed in quiet because she is getting distracted by others
-she LOVES to watch her brothers
-she has rolled over a couple of times from her tummy to back
-she slept 8 hours last night for the first time!!! Yay!
-she has overcome RSV, nothing can keep her down!
-she weighs 12 lbs
-she is still fighting me on the bottles, but I am persisting, we will see who has a stronger will
-she has found her thumb, but we are still using paci, not sure if I should let her or not?? thoughts?

I've learned a lot these last couple of months with having three children. And one thing is that I can't do all the housework myself. I've slowly handed more things over to Micah to help me accomplish the housework. Its been such a neat thing to watch him take on more responsibility and really cool to know that it is not all on my shoulders. He now makes his bed, brings the dishes over from the table to the kitchen, unloads the dishwasher (with a little help), picks up his toys, cleans up the downstairs just by putting things in their place, and we are now learning the art of wiping things down. Today he cleaned the front of all the cabinets, the oven, the dishwasher, and some other random pieces of furniture that needed cleaning. I don't think those things have been cleaned in a long time! Even Caleb today helped wipe the cabinets clean! Now I can spend my time doing other things!
What about you? What chores have you taught your kids to do?

In our household NFL is important and so needless to say yesterday was a big day, even though our church didn't get the memo that there were two very important games on tv yesterday and so they decided to have our annual church dinner last night...whew! run on sentence, I know. (ha, why even bother with punctuation!) Anyway, we saw maybe the first quarter of the Jets/Colts game, and then missed the whole first half of the second. Thankfully, we could watch the rest.
So as we were watching last night, I realized my husband all of a sudden became a Vikings fan...ew! Ok, I'm sorry, but the Vikings remind me of one thing - the purple people eater. In 4th grade, in my dance class, we did this dance to that song. Yes there is a song, look it up! Anyway, there was this boy at school, bless his heart, that LOVED the vikings. He wore these purple vikings sweatpants, yeah the ones with the elastic at the ankle, ALL the time! So I always called him the purple people eater, no not to his face! That would be mean. Anyway, this boy was so nice, i think we even went to his bday party in elementary school. Anyway, as we got into high school, he didn't wear the sweatpants anymore, but the image just stuck in my head, so I still called him the purple people eater in my head...this is so stupid! Anyway, I've always associated the vikings with this boy and purple sweatpants...and their stupid mascot! (Sorry Steph and Krista, you may be offended) Ok Becky, you get a little shout out here too because this boy asked you to prom...remember in Hallmark! ha! I love it! He didn't realize you were totally out of his league! Anyway...
Back to last night, as the game is going on, my husband starts routing for the vikings, I guess partly because of Brett Favre, or maybe their purple uniforms, who knows. And so he starts whining about the NFL's overtime rules and how it is not fair. However, did they not have a chance to win the game at the end, my dear?! And did Brett Favre not have a chance to not(double negative) throw what 6 interceptions?! You, of all people, should not whine about the overtime rules! unless of course it is about the redskins! So I am sorry that the vi-"queens"(george) lost, but the leech and his team are heading to Miami, while the purple people eaters will lose their starting quarterback to retirement...or maybe not!

Ok, so I know this is a week late, but if you knew my life right now, you would understand! Little Miss is two months old now! And as you can see from the pictures, we are not worries about her weight gain...or maybe we are! There is something about our children where they just balloon out around two months and well stay like that for a while. Poor Caleb can't seem to shake that baby weight!Here is the latest on Haleigh:
-she weighs 12 pounds
-i'm not sure how long she is, but she seems really long
-currently she's stuck at the 4:30 am feeding, but I can't complain
-she loves to spit up on EVERYTHING!
-she recognizes her brothers' voices
-she's got the best closet in the family
-she is getting more noisy - exploring with squealing (which every girl needs to master) and cooing
-the double chin (see below) and thunder thighs have arrived-and as of last weekend, prefers her milk from the tap (AKA mommy) rather than bottle - we'll be working on this one
-and her fussy time is at night around 9:00 when the boys are in bed and mommy and daddy are trying to relax - working on this one as well!

Four years ago my first baby was born. My life was forever changed when that little boy arrived. And it is unbelievable that he is now four years old! I'm starting to realize that birthdays are as much for the mother as they are for the child. He is excited to have a party, receive presents, and just have his special day, but for me, it's about remembering that special day he was born. No mother ever forgets that day. It's as if it was yesterday. Every year we celebrate Micah's birthday, I love to tell him the story of the day he was born. I'm sure as he gets older he won't care...I'll just have to keep it to myself. Happy Birthday Micah!