Merry Christmas to all...

traditions from years past. 

Christmas morning.

gifts for him.

gifts for me. 

our baby's first.

Merry Christmas to all!

month one

month one [written 12.18.12]

Well, I’m sitting here on the couch [listening to Sister Hazel], once again, letting you sleep on my chest…soaking in every minute that you snuggle me like this [it's my favorite]. I know that our days like this are limited. Too soon I’ll be enjoyin’ your next stage, chasing you around the yard & spending countless hours playing with Match Box cars on the deck daddy built. I can’t believe how fast our first month with you has flown by. In this first month you’ve already changed so much little one. For one, you’ve gained about 2 pounds and grown 1.25 inches! Your hair is getting thicker in the back and on the sides, but you’re a little bald up top. Your dad has commenced to calling you “Harold” from Harold & the Purple Crayon (don’t worry, he’s a cute little cartoon boy). Other nicknames include: Little Buddy, ‘Mos, Stink, and Blondie. Currently you wake up one - two times a night to eat and mama usually falls asleep with you in the chair for at least an hour. Those hours are hours that I will forever cherish. I don’t even mind that I haven’t gotten to sleep through the night for weeks now. You grunt and make noises all the time. We think you’re going to be a talker! And, I swear you’re the gassiest infant that has ever been. It seems that it doesn’t matter what I eat – everything messes with your little tummy. Sorry bud! We do get a kick out of your old man farts…all I can say is, “you get it from your daddy.” (: Just recently you’ve started staring at lights. Once you lock your eyes on a light we can move your little body every which way and you’ll crane your little head around to keep your gaze on the light. You sleep better on your tummy than your back [just like mama]. And, you’ve rolled over twice!

Christmas on a budget

Mike & I have always had a $100 budget to stick to for each other when it comes to Christmas gifts. We knew before we had babies that we wanted to teach them Christmas isn't about the gifts that they receive. I've gone back & forth over how many gifts and how much money to spend on our kids at Christmas & finally [with Mike's help] landed on the following. We'll give our kids 1] something to wear 2] something to read 3] something they want, and 4] something they need. So yes, our kids will get 4 presents from us at Christmas. [Don't worry, if yo know me at all you know that I'm already secretly planning Amos' 1st birthday party...birthdays will be our chance to spoil our kids.] we also decided this year to do the 4 gifts [something to wear, something to read, something we want & something we need] for each other while sticking to the $100 budget. And, it's been so fun! Our budget has allowed / forced us to be extremely creative & intentional with our gift giving! [Something else I want to teach or kids is to be good / intentional gift givers.] (: Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Christmas is a comin'

Our first tree that we picked out as a family of 3 is up and decorated. Our stockings are hung (minus Amos' because Mimi is working on making it]. Presents are under the tree and the manger scene [hand carved by my dad] is up on the mantle. Christmas, do hurry!

 

Thanksgiving 2k12

[don't judge because it's almost Christmas]

Thanksgiving 2k12

Mike's parents [Mimi & Papa] graciously took all of us to Highlands this year for a Thanksgiving vacation & to pick out Christmas trees! We had a B-L-A-S-T toting Amos around one of our most favorite spots, spending time with family, eating way too much good food, hangin' out & catching up and picking out our 1st Christmas tree as a family of 3! (: 

Thanks so much, Mimi & Papa! 

sweet child of mine

Amos, sweet child of mine, you’ve been here for almost a month and you already have us completely wrapped around those tiny, long fingers of yours. To say we’re smitten is an understatement. We’re content to spend hours at a time holding you, staring at you, talking to you, watching you. You make the funniest faces that make us smile all the time. My favorite is the one you make when you’re stretching really big. You really are a sweet spirited, relaxed baby. You only fuss when you’re hungry and I’m not feeding you fast enough. Our tell-tell sign that you’re hungry is that you start sucking / gnawing on your little hands. And when you’re angry you kick your strong little legs straight out (you do this when you’re nursing too). You don’t like to be swaddled one bit – maybe because you were cramped in mama’s belly for so long?! And, thankfully for mama and daddy, you really don’t like a pacifier and haven’t seemed interested in sucking your thumb yet. You already like having your head stroked just like both your mama and daddy. One of your favorite things to do is to snuggle with daddy while you both nap. You’re so cute with your arms thrown up over your head when you sleep. We’ve noticed recently that you push your tongue against the roof of your mouth when you’re just hanging out and sometimes when you’re sleeping. You hiccup all the time – something you also did in utero. Your hair is getting thicker and more blonde / red by the day. Mama’s going to have to learn what to do with a pale skinned babe in the summer! One of my favorite things is when you snuggle up against my chest and sleep there with your little arms thrown over my shoulder and your legs squished up like a frog. Another one of my favorite things has been to hear your sweet daddy pray for and over you when he puts you down for bed every night. Little one, you are loved beyond measure! 

 

time well spent

I'm sitting here on the couch holding sweet Amos, still in my PJs for the 4th day in a row. Being the time sensitive person that I am I've found myself thinking (every day) that there are things around the house that need to get done, Christmas presents that need to be bought, errands that need to be run - but I find myself right where I need and want to be instead. I am cherishing every single minute I have at home with our sweet boy (I am forever grateful for the chance to be a stay @ home mom). Some mornings all I do is sit around, hold him & stare at him. What a sweet gift we've been given! (: I know these moments won't last forever. Too soon he'll be too big to cradle in my arms or snuggle against my chest. Too soon he won't let me kiss his precious little face a ba-zillion times a day. Too soon he won't sleep in my arms for hours at a time. But for now, I'll sit around in my PJs, cuddle this little one, kiss his face and tell him that his mama & daddy love him over, and over, and over.

life with a 2 week old baby

These past 2 weeks have been absolutely the most life changing weeks of our lives. Baby Amos has been such a delight and joy and both Mike & I are loving being parents to this little guy. He's already taught us so much about each other and ourselves.

A few things that I've learned over the past 2 weeks:

1. My time is not my own. Mike can tell you that my time is something that I’m super protective of, but this little guy has quickly made me realize that it’s no longer something I can be selfish with

2. I don't actually need my coveted 8 hours of sleep every night. And, I don't mind getting up in the middle of the night (sometimes multiple times...but not all the time!) to feed or rock Amos back to sleep 

3. Before having a baby I thought I was good a multitasking. Let’s just say, multitasking has been taken to a whole new level. Today I opened 5 cans and got all of the ingredients into the crock-pot for dinner tonight while breast feeding

4. I can do a lot more things with my left hand than I knew I could do

5. I still hate laundry...even when it includes cute baby clothes

6. I really, really love sweet cuddles from Amos 

One of my favorite things about having Amos here has been watching my sweet Mikey with him. It has made my heart so full and happy to see the boy who stole my heart in high school love on and take care of our baby boy. Seriously, there is nothing better. 

Mikey had to go back to work this week (after about 2 gracious weeks off to be home with me & Amos) and I’m figuring out how to do life with an infant. So far we’ve been pretty on the go…taking lunch to Mike at work, grocery shopping and Christmas crafting. Amos is a trooper to say the least. He sat in my lap today while I painted Christmas gifts for about 3 hours without making a peep. He’s spoiling us for sure.

Sweet Baby Amos

Amos Michael Martin

 

November 13, 2012

11:35pm 

6lbs 11.3oz

19.75" long

...perfect

"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you..."

Jer. 1:5 

39 & 40 weeks

Well - we've seen our "due" date come and go. I am and have been ready for this little one to make his or her debut for oh...about a month now. But, I am very thankful that everything is still checking out and we're both healthy every time we go to the doctor. Since we're past our due date I'll get to go to the doctor's office 2x this week (assuming nothing drastic changes between now and the end of the week). I'll keep you posted (: Hopefully by the end of this week (or the end of next week latest) we'll have us a bambino! AND I'll do my best to post pictures of the nursery before then!

mc mc's on etsy

 

Some of you know that I am officially a stay at home mom wife (I'll get the title change once this little one decides to make an appearance). (: This is something that Mike & I talked a lot about before we got pregnant with this little one, something that we prayed about and something that we're both pretty stinkin' excited about! Since I've had some "down" time from leaving work (really I've been running around like a chicken.with.my.head.cut.off trying to get stuff done) and Baby M's arrival and since I LOVE crafting and anything antiques and trinket-y I've decided to open an Etsy shop! Really it's given me something to do while waiting on Baby M and it's given me a chance to be crafty in my "down" time. Check it out if you have time: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mcmcs?ref=si_shop -- I'd love any feedback (like what you see?! want to see something else?!)!

 

Vintage chalkboard window (from our house)

Handmade banners - great for any occasion & can be as custom as you'd like!

Cheese grater earring holder (can be painted any color). 

mini apple pies

This past weekend I tried another new fall recipe: mini apple pies. They were yummy! And, being muffin sized, they're a perfect after dinner treat that won't totally ruin any healthy eating you've been doing!

 

 Here's the recipe [adapted from Little Bit Funky]:

Ingredients:

• 3.5(ish) lbs granny smith apples
• 12 tbs flour (I used 1/2 all purpose & 1/2 whole wheat--I'd recommend not using the whole wheat flour for this recipe)
• 1.5 cups Stevia 
• 4 tbs cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• lemon juice
• 2 chilled [not frozen] pie crusts
• 4 TBSP chilled butter, divided evenly 

Directions:

1. Peel & core the apples. Cut into 1/2" bite sized pieces.
2. Mix the apples with the flour, Stevia, cinnamon & nutmeg. *Make sure everything is coated well!
3. Add 1-2 tsp lemon juice (enough to give the mixture some moisture) & stir. 
4. Unroll the pie crusts and cut out circles. A mason jar lid (or something about that size) is perfect. I made 14 mini pies, so I used the left over crust for decorating the top of the mini pies.  
5. Spray your muffin tin, then line each muffin hole with 1 mini pie crust. 
6. Fill each crust with the apple mixture (pile it high).
7. Once each pie crust is filled with the apple mixture, add 1 of the pieces of butter to each mini pie. (I did not do this which may have contributed to the dryness of my pies...)
8. Cover as desired with left over pie crust. Brush with a little melted butter.
9. Bake at 400 for 18-22 minutes or until the crust is golden brown! 

38 weeks & a baby shower

How far along? 38 weeks + 4 days

Weight Gain: +17 pounds

Sleep: Counting my blessings and sleeping while I can!  

Best moment(s) this week: The sweet baby shower that Megan & Kayla gave me! (: Thanks ladies!!
Movement: We still have a wiggle worm 
Food cravings: notta 

Symptoms: thankfully everything seems to be better! (little to no heartburn and the nausea is gone) 

Gender prediction: no idea!

Labor signs: a few Braxton-Hixx contractions here and there 

Stretch marks: nope

Belly button in or out: outtie
Looking forward to: Seriously looking forward to Baby M's arrival!! Counting down! 10ish days (: 

Random facts about Baby M: According to the Bump, Baby M is the size of a pumpkin at 18.9-20.9" long and 6.2-9.2lbs! (How appropriate?!) (: 

Pumpkin Pecan Granola

Fall is in the air...well, right now it feels like winter is in the air, but you get the picture. I made this delicious new Pumpkin Pecan Granola recipe last night and our house still had remnants of my baking in the air when we woke up this morning. (:

Here is the recipe [adapted from The Sprouted Kitchen]:

Ingredients:

• 2½ tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice
• ⅓ cup Grade B maple syrup -- **I didn't have any maple syrup, so I substituted honey
• ⅓ cup pumpkin puree
• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup roughly chopped raw pecans
• ½ cup dried cranberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, salt, pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup, and pumpkin puree until smooth. Add in the oats, pecans, and sesame seeds and stir until well-coated.
3. Spread the granola evenly onto a large rimmed baking sheet, trying to keep as many granola clusters intact as possible. Bake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes or until the granola is dry and golden-brown in color, stirring every 10 minutes or so by scooping the granola on the edges back into the centre and then spreading back out into an even layer. [Watch carefully! Mine didn't take the full 35 minutes and still had a few burned clumps...]
4. Let the granola cool for a few minutes, then stir in the dried cranberries. Allow to cool completely on baking sheets before transferring to an airtight container for storage. Finished granola will keep for about a week, assuming you don’t eat it all long before then.

And, here are the nutrition facts [from CalorieCount.com]:

NOTE: a serving size is 1 tablespoon [it's a great add in for yogurt or to eat with apples, but it is high in sugar, so don't eat it by the cup full!] (: 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 25 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories 87 Calories from Fat 41

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4.5g 7%

Saturated Fat 0.6g 3%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 48mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 11.3g 4%

Dietary Fiber 1.4g 6%

Sugars 5.0g

Protein 1.5g

Vitamin A 13% • Vitamin C 1% Calcium 1% • Iron 3%

Nutrition Grade B

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• No cholesterol
• High in manganese
• High in vitamin A

Bad points

• High in sugar