Catch Up

Jace in front of the Christmas tree: to die for

So I am here to play a bit of catch up with everyone. Josh went to an interview last week in San Jose California with Hensel Phelps. There were 9 participants and they said they were looking to hire 3 to 5 people. We are expecting to hear back sometime in the next week. Josh did everything possible he could to prepare for the interviews, and feels he did well, but he also knows the people he was out there with were very competitive associates ... so we just have to wait and see.

On the other hand Jace has been a PEACH lately. We love him, and his huge adorable smile. We went to St. George with Melissa & Lee-ann with their kids (Josh's sisters) and between teh 3 of us we had 8 kids. CRAZY but actually very fun. And they were amazed at honestly what a great baby Jace is. It's true having the other kids around to watch Jace helped too - he is truly entertained by other children. Here are some recent photos of the baby...

Jace & Halloween for Gramalita

So in spanish Grandma is Abuela, (spelling?) you could also say Abuelita ... it's like 'little cute grandma' so now we call Grandma Brenda - Grandmalita! Grandmpa McNeill is gramps (Grandma Martin is Nana and Grandpa Martin is currently Grandpa but we are trying to change it to papa or papi) That is just incase any of you care what we call our parents :o)

I am going to try to figure out today how to post pictures on my blog.

Jace is sitting all by himself!!

He thinks it's great!

Here are some Halloween ones - not great of me but fabulous of the rest of my family!!

We so enjoy watching Jace grow. He's teething right now - not the funnest stage, but I would rather get it done early.

With Love

-the Martins

Joshie

So really, I just wanted to post about what an amazing guy Josh is. This is going to be full of cheese, so if you don't like the flava' either deal or get out. So I have that husband. I have the husband many girls talk about they wish their husband would ... they wish he would change that light-bulb already, or take out the trash, or watch the kids for an evening. Well my husband does it all ... and does the dishes. Joshie can't stand to have something 'undone' around the house. As far as messed up door handles or ... well literally the trash. He just gets it done.

He's also an AMAZING father. He loves Jace so much and you can totally tell. He likes to be the one to go get him out of the crib, even though I am going to have to be the one to feed him, just because Josh likes to be the one that sees him smile. Josh will always do tummy time with him and loves to make him laugh. He always make sure that I get out of the house and has no problems watching Jace while I go out with friends or whatnot.

Joshua is a fix-it-man. He built our deck off the back of our house - oh and put a door where a window was. The toilet seat cover was coming off a bit, so he went and bought a new one and was able to drill, screw, etc. and make it work even though it wasn't exactly the right size. Our lock gets stuck sometimes, to the point where we were getting locked IN our house - so he went and got a new one, and put it on the door. He jimmy-rigs frames to make them go horizontal instead of vertical.

I freaking have an amazing husband - and I am so lucky to have him. I love him! and he's all mine for all of eternity. teeeehehehehehehe (evil witch laugh :o)

Nice People

I am pretty nice person, I really like to help people, mostly because it makes me feel good - so there goes that saying that there really is no selfless act ... but that's not what this is about. this is more of a reminiscent blog - about how for some reason growing up I always left my nicest friends in the dust. Honestly, I believe I think it was a self worth, self esteem issue. I somehow thought being rude or a little stand-offish was cool, and man I wanted to be cool. My friend Jessica Cantor was one of the sweetest, nicest, coolest people I knew - and for whatever reason we kind of grew apart. I don't really know why, I am sure it was my fault, and I kick myself for moving away from some of those people in my life. I think I couldn't stand on my own two feet and leaned on my stronger friends and therefore felt that some how being nice was weak? I know, dumb. I know myself better now, trust myself more, stand on my own two feet better. And know that nice, is well, just that, nice. I surround myself with really good friends who not only would I do anything for them - but they would do anything for me in return. I just wonder how many Jessica Cantor's of the world I let slip away because I wasn't strong enough to realize rude was rude and nice was not my weakness - but my strength.

The Gym

So we got our carpets done yesterday, and we were supposed to put everything back in its place today - buuuuut I feel like blogging instead. So while half my household sits in the kitchen, (we did put the big furniture back) I am resting on the couch, very sorely, typing this blog.

I horseback rode yesterday, loved it, but sometimes it makes me miss it more than I can even enjoy it. But that's not what this blog about (most of you probably thinking, thank goodness).

The Gym. Ok, this is me who's talkin here ... Me, Mame, who had to be encouraged during the last lap to run a 12:38 minute mile ... Me, Mame, whose only D in my academic history was in Swim P.E., ... Me, Mame, who has never in her life gone to the gym more than 2 weeks in a row in her life. Well I am happy to say I have been going for a month - and LOVING it. I started off very gradual as to not kill myself, but now I do classes at least 4 times a week, and run/do the machines 2 days a week.

People used to tell me working out was addicting, I thought they were crazy, or had some weird chemical make-up in their brain that the rest of us didn't. Well either my brain has morphed, or we all have it because ladies and gentlemen ... I am addicted!! Now, I can't say I love to run - I am not sure I'll ever get there - but I do do cardio classes, and yes love/hate it, and I do make myself run at least once a week. and needless to say, I am getting better at it. Nope, still haven't ran a mile faster than 12 min - but I'll get there one day. But I do achieve a very high heart rate (I do a pretty steep incline on the treadmill) ... it's just I think my legs would rather just work harder with each step than actually run faster.

Hope this made you smile - baby Jace is doing fabulous and Joshie is still looking for a job. So just a plug - anyone know anyone hiring in construction (ya ... I know) or more likely in something like design manufacturing or production management please let me know!!

xoxo,

Mame

Josh's Birthday

It's Josh's birthday today. We aren't very big celebrators in this house, which I plan to change one day, but as of right now it works. I got him some movies though ... one of which we already had ... WOOPS. but let's be honest, it's a bit hard to keep track when you have well over 100 probably approaching 150. As many of you may not know, this is a big day for me. It's my father's birthday, Josh's birthday, my best friend Shae's birthday and Josh's sister's birthday (Lee-ann). I know, and in the next 3 weeeks 2 more of my very close friends (Pamela and Lili) have their birthdays. soooo, I have to plan my time accordingly.

Jace is such a great baby - he sleeps well, eats well, and is thoroughly happy most of the time. He smiles alot, giggles some, loves to grab things and put them into his mouth. I love LOVE his chubby cheeks and is officially in 6 to 12 month clothes.

I always think of cute stories to tell or things to write about, but then I don't ... I'll try to do better

oh! and p.s. - I got contacts!!!

Wow..

I truly can't believe how life flies by. I always think of cute things I want to put on the blog and then never get around to it. There is so much to update you on - Jace is smiling now and it might be the cutest thing you have ever seen. He gets this big huge smile from ear to ear and even his eyes squint a bit. He just started sleeping through the night this last week. He finishes eating at around 11:30 pm and gets up between 6:30 & 7 am. He is such a good baby I can't even believe how lucky I am. I realized my life officially revolves around my child - well sort of. In the sense of milestones. He's still small enough where I can tag him along where I want to and what not. As in "he is smiling" and "he is sleeping through the night" ... and I don't mind one bit that my life is about milestones.

I love being a mom. I mean I truly love it. Don't take me wrong there are hard times when I don't know why he's crying ... plus I feel like I am always messy (about 1/2 hour ago I got projectiled spit up on - something out of a movie) and I have to change my shirt probably average once a day. He's also been having 'blow outs' and for you non-parents out there, it means his poo blows right out of his diaper - so we have been cleaning lots of poopy outfits lately. but really, I love it. I could never imagined how much I was going to love it. And how lucky I am.

Finally..

Ok, so updating my blog has been hard for me because the few precious moments I get online, I want to read other people's blogs and check my e-mail ... and then I am done. But I wanted to let everyone know that baby Jace is good and healthy (except for a bit of reflux) and so FREAKING adorable. My favorite thing about him are the faces he makes - when he stretches in the morning he squints his eyes. sometimes even moves his mouth all the way over to one side. He makes this little 'O' with his mouth that is adorable. sometimes he 'smiles' even though he doesn't realize that's what he's doing. he's such a great baby - goes to bed at night, eats well, is pretty content. don't take me wrong I am exhausted from having lack of sleep, and def get frustrated, but really it's so much better than I ever imagined. I love this little man to death. Josh is such a great dad and husband. He does most things around the house, he helps out with Jace - takes him when he's been crying in my ear for awhile, he's even fed him a bottle twice. (I am breast feeding, but I pump and he gets a bottle once in awhile.) Jace is just barely right now growing out of his 'newborn' size clothes and into the 0-3 months size. he's probably about 9&1/2 lbs, maybe more? who knows...?? I get pictures soon from when he was 2 weeks - and I will FOR sure be posting them all.

I also want to send a quick shout out to all my friends for their support. Thank you so much for the well wishing, the gifts, the food etc. Please, if you did not get an individual thank you, or a thank-you note in the mail, please understand it was not because of lack of trying, or because of lack of appreciation, simply because a brand new baby has consumed my time. but I really do appreciate it and love you.

love ya!

-Mame

waiting around...

So today is my due date - and no baby.  Really even if I went into labor right this moment it would have to be a pretty quick delivery to get him out while it was still officially the 9th!  I had a lazy day today, did a whole lot of nothing.  oh well, the rest of the week was pretty busy - just getting everything ready for the baby.  My doc left out of town Friday afternoon and gets back tomorrow afternoon so I am ok for Jace to wait until then to come.  Preferably not a moment longer.  I actually physically am not doing horrible, but mentally I am a bit drained.  It's very monotonous to wait around for something you have NO idea when it is going to happen!! 

Have you ever noticed how TV shows are about middle aged people and younger.  You don't really see many shows featuring people in there 50's & 60's ... which is strange to me bc alot of our population is in that age range .... you would think someone would tap into that market?  maybe at that age and older you watch mostly news and what not.  but still, it makes people think their 'peak' is middle ages, and really 50's & 60's can still be very peak like.  you still got alot of life to live at that age ... even 70's!!!  wow ... Dad is 70 next year, that is crazy to me, he is so YOUNG at heart.... may we all be that way.

Embarrassing Moment!

So every-time you go to the doctors when you are pregnant you have to pee in a cup and then dip a little paper stick in it to see if it changes colors.  (it's to test for too much protein in your blood).  Well this last week at my checkup I pee in the cup, then I have to put the cup down on the counter so I can grab one of the sticks out of the container.  Well as I go to grab the container of sticks ... I KNOCK OVER my cup of pee!!!!!!  All over the place, all over the countertop, the floor, the sink.  It was horrible.  Needless to say I wouldn't let them clean it up, I cleaned it up with toilet paper and then they disinfected it when I left.  so VERY embarrassing.  Oh well, so far that's been the most embarrassing thing about pregnancy, so not so bad.

Joshie graduates tomorrow!!! I am so so soooooo excited for him and quite jealous of him I must say.  my parents arrive tonight.  They are here until Sunday.  Shae Tandy will be in town this weekend.  It could be adding up for a great one!! 

Age

So it is interesting to me how there are some things that can make age so irrelevant, and yet others where it can destroy something.  Obviously, when dating age can be a big factor, when parenting it can be as well, when getting married or even when you are in school.  Yet some sports surpass the age challenge - you could be a 30-something-yr old who has played basketball all your life, not professionally mind you, just in high-school, maybe in college, and then whatever leagues you joined since then.  And yet you could get SCHOOLED by some 19-yr-old who has gotten a full ride to some college and might enjoy a stint in the pros.  And then there is motor-cross where an acquaintance of mine's son who was 7 could pull his bike over him in a backwards spin-thingy (sorry, not technical names here), I am not sure I could keep the bike on it's two wheels for any long period of time.  Even some well ridden 40-yr-old men couldn't do it.  Then there are the sports where age can start to work against you.  The best female gymnasts in the world peak well before they are 25, probably much close to 19 or 20.  Most professional sports you are considered old once you hit your 40's and especially your 50's.  The two main exceptions I can think of:  golf and horseback riding.  Now I really don't know anything about golf except Tiger Woods is great at it, and it is NO fun to watch on TV.  

But horseback riding, well horseback riding to me is a phenomenon of sports.  Men and women compete at the same level, not true for most sports, almost all sports in fact.  Second at the top levels you have some 22 year olds competing and some 52 year olds.  Even on the local competitive level you can have a 13 competing with a 53 yr old, and there is no guarantee bc of age who will win.  Obviously, the 53 yr old probably has much more experience, but what if her horse is newer at it?  what if the 13 yr old has an amazing horse, or just amazing talent and the 53 yr old is average.  it's a sport where the brain really makes a major play, and also this 'other' part of the team ... your horse.  so it really could be more about the 'age' of the team, the 13 year old could be riding the same horse for 3 years, and it might be the 53 yr old's first time showing her new horse.  it a sport of will power, yours and your horses, of confidence (yours and your horses) and game the sweeps the ages.  (both ages of mankind and the age of each individual).

Age is a funny thing, would you want your doctor to be too young?  would you want your professor to be too young?  would you want your surgeon to be too old?  At what age are things considered proper?  Do you remember girls how badly you wanted to shave your legs growing up?  and now wish you could just get laser hair removal so you never had to do it again.  Remember when we all wanted to learn to drive so badly, and now wish someone else could just drive us around.  When do you let your gray hair come through and stop dying it?  when do you stop shopping in the teenage section and go for the adult clothes?   

I read in an article about a woman who endorsed her age, whatever it may be.  She thought her wrinkles were reminders to all that she new of everything she withstood.  She thought her grey hair was a sign of the life she'd lived, and the experiences she'd endured.  I hope that I too am that kind of woman, and besides the fact i might just get bored with gray hair (like I do with my own now) i hope to grasp at life, no matter my age, and hold on tight to the ride.

My Belly!

Well as you may or may not know, I have no belly button at the moment.  Well I do - but it's all pushed out flat so it's like a dark ring on my big belly.  Also, I am running about a million degrees hotter than I normally am.  So I was pulling out the cookie sheet out of the heated oven to cook some Bagel Bites on (my very healthy dinner :o)  and as I pulled it out of the oven, I didn't realize how far my belly stuck out ... and I have a big burn mark on my belly now!! It's this dark blue/purplish line that is about 2 inches long across my 'belly button' area.  So now I wonder ... will I have a scar?  Or will it go back in with my belly button when my belly button returns to an inny ... or will a tail from the scar come out of my belly button?  It will be interesting to see. 

So then, I told like 8 people about this right?  and it took the 8th person to say ... why were you pulling out a cookie shirt with no shirt on? I DID have a shirt on!  it was just pulled up on top of my belly because I was hotttttt!!!!!!!!  

hope you all enjoyed my story, I am going to continue to try to update more ... no promises though.

HosTAGE

So this is for Pamela who threatened to hold our friendship hostage untill I posted again.  (and is probably bugged that I put 2 "l"s in until).  I am typing on my dad's old MAC which is my new MAC and it's fascinating bc it spells check on all programs automatically - it's great for me!  

Pregnancy I have decided, after being done with the horrible sickness, has been pretty easy for me.  I mean obviously this is minus the first 4 months, but besides that I am grateful for how easy it has been.  I mean don't take me wrong - not being able to bend in half is annoying, your baby kicking you as you are trying to fall asleep can get old and not sleeping for more than 3 hours because you have to have a potty break is frustrating - but I guess that's just how it is.  Plus, soon i'll be up every 3 hours to feed my baby, so oh well.  

I am currently organizing all baby clothes/hand-me-downs/gifts.  It's fun to see all the baby stuff out and excited to realize it's only 6 weeks away, which is not that long when you consider we will be waiting a total of 40 weeks.  AND when you consider I know more than one person who delivered 4 weeks early with their first baby - and that is in 2 weeks!!!  I am having cleaning ladies come to my house (which is a first since I lived at home) to do a deep cleaning.  I want a 'fresh' start of sorts for the baby.  

Josh is graduating in 5 weeks - and THAT is out of this world exciting!!!   He has had a few interviews and we are waiting to hear back from those people.  We are also sending out more and more resumes.  

I am always hungry it seems.  In the last 3 weeks I have eaten an entire rack of ribs on 2 different occasions.  SO YUMMY.  probably not so healthy.  My doc also has informed me that as long as I get sushi from a reputable restaurant I am ok eating it - so Sushi it is on Monday, and I am BEYOND excited because I have been craving it for months.  I do miss horseback riding, alot.  I daydream about it all the time.  I am excited to cuddle a lil tiny baby (think about that in baby talk - like wiw tiwy bawby).  I am excited to be a mom - which surprises me but excites me.  I am not stressed about delivery, so we will see when/if that kicks in.....

ThanKFul

These are a few of my favorite things:

Tinkie curled up in a ball on my lap.

Harlee snuggled into my neck

Feeling Jace kick slowly, more like just move around

When Josh calls for no reason

My kitchen, freshly cleaned with Mrs. Meyer's fresh smell

A hug from my dad

A back rub from my mom

Nectarines (with a paper towel)

A sunny sky

A day spent with the Martin clan, all gathered together

A great song on the radio turned up (singing along of course)

A day on horseback in the mountains with my BFFE&BFFA

Lunch with Tiff, Candace and Kent ... and the laughter that always comes with it

Scrapbooking a fabulous page that I love!!!

A really good hardy laugh, where I can't stop and I can't catch my breath

Confetti cake

Good Sushi

Vacations with Devany

Shopping with Pamela

Watching my stomach move when Jace moves

The peaceful feeling of living the Gospel

Green & Turquoise patterns, on material, plates, scrapbook paper, walls, on anything

A great new outfit (or SHOES)

A good cry

A good hair day

Fun makeup

Sailing

rock climbing

Adrenaline pumping activities

and of course... The feeling when you're on a horse, and you take off from the perfect spot to clear a fence ... the unity, the adrenaline, the pure joy

hOOters

So I have been craving hooters wings now for about a month, month and 1/2 because I had some at Candace's party and found them delicious. Well today I found a perfectly good reason to go pick some up to go (it's not really like a 6 month pregnant lady can walk in and sit down at Hooters, though I've begged Josh to go with me a few times). Well I ate about 10 wings myself, maybe more, and sharing the others with Lee-ann. They were delicious and satisfying.

Well it's now almost midnight, and I have officially thrown them up. yup, that's right, back up they came tonight, burning the crap out of my nose, and what a horrible smell that is just stuck in my nose. I tell ya - being pregnant is a funny thing - my body does the darndest things! craves things just to reject it, makes your once oily skin dry, and well the obvious one of growing out in all directions but up.

But on a fun pregnancy update, it is so cool to feel Jace kicking all the time. Yesterday all day he was kicking, I am not kidding, I was laying in bed reading (another random story, i sprained my foot?) and for hours I could feel him just moving around, kicking and tapping. it was so fun and exciting! It's crazy thinking about him coming out....

WooHoo! It's about TiMe!

Well isn't this exciting that I have finally and officially started my blog. It took me hours, and I know you think I am exaggerating, but I am not. Truly, it took a ridiculous amount of time to try to think of something cute, creative, witty. To find a cute page (thank you jess & rebecca for explaining how to do that) and then to find the cute colors to match, the photo, the right size. Ok, but really, I am so excited! and secretly wish I had a scrap book page with that background and that cute photo. Speaking of scrapbook pages ... guess what I did tonight?! Scrapbooked my first baby page ever!! That's right ... I scrapbooked my ultra-sound pics ... funny I know but it actually was a really cute page. It's past midnight, I woke up entirely too early for a doctor's appt, Josh gets home tomorrow (Yipee!), I need to clean the house, and my pregnant bladders is calling the bathroom's name sooo....off to bed I go. I hope future updates will be whittier and more creative, this was simply a I want to see what the updates look like on my masterpiece of a blog page.