happy thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. 

May your day be filled with friends, family, good food & meaningful conversation. 

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

2 

    Worship the Lord with gladness.

 Come before him, singing with joy.

3 

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

    He made us, and we are his.

 We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

    go into his courts with praise.

    Give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 

For the Lord is good.

    His unfailing love continues forever,

    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

psalm 100 

month two | solomon

Solly Sol! You're TWO months old now! You are such a sweet little guy. I forgot how quickly you grow and learn and develop being this small, but you sure are growing and learning and developing! You consistently sleep about TEN hours a night (and I thought we were doing good with Amos sleeping about 5 hours at this age...kid, you're spoiling me) and are on a pretty consistent 3 hour schedule during the day. You've already outgrown your newborn clothes...I think you're definitely going to be tall. You can't wear anything with feet because your long legs can't stretch out when you do. 

You're very strong - you hold your head up and like to know what's going on like Amos did. You've also started smiling in response to us...oh boy, the crazy things mama will do for an ear-to-ear smile. You've spent a couple of weekends at the lake house and this past weekend picked up your very first new state (Georgia!). Unlike Amos, you ride very well in the car for the most part. Again, kid, you're spoiling me. Speaking of Amos, he really adores you little guy. I tell him frequently that you are going to be his very best friend, and I hope with all of my heart that you are (move over, Papa!). He already takes care of you and looks out for you. He knows that his job in the car is to tell me if "he's AWAKE!" or "he's sleeping," he shares his baths with you and likes to give you kisses before bed. Sometimes I even see him kissing your head when you're on the boppy or in your bouncer. You won't always want kisses from your brother, but it makes mama's heart so happy to see Amos loving you like he does. 

Solomon Mack, keep growing big and strong! 

amos | month two 

the "neaf" pile

nothing like a good "neaf" pile to jump in with your buds 

lake weekend

we had such a sweet, sweet time with the tingles last weekend at the lake. with FIVE boys under five the weekend was anything but quiet or relaxing...but what sweet memories we'll have of our boys growing up together doing little boy things. i am so thankful to get to do life with these friends - for late night chats while the fire crackled - for afternoon couch snoozes and extra hands for baby holding (somebody always has a new baby between the two of us) - for advice and encouragement - for shared meals and recited bible verses - for daddy's who play with their boys outside - and so, so much more 

pancakes for breakfast 

"running...running"

the perfect little boy spot while daddy & uncle matt chopped wood

"hey guys!!" 

BFFs

choke hold for lucas while amos skee-daddled

solomon soaking up some quiet time by the fire 

More Birthday Celebrations!

a number 2 cake *thanks, Honey

checkin' it out

Pop & Solomon 

eating only the icing & sprinkles, of course

"Happy Birthday to YOU, Amos Michael Martin!!" 

Moose's 2nd Birthday Party!

yearly chalkboard 

mighty moose munch: 1 pk m&ms, 1 jar unsalted peanuts, 1 bag pretzels | mix and enjoy

hand painted salt dough moose magnets | party favors 

the mighty moose cake (love!!) | by Cakes to Dye For

blowing out his TWO candles

Mimi, Papa & Amos

opening presents

Amos + Haley & Kendall

mama & daddy with the BIRTHDAY BOY!

showing off how hold he is 

birthday traditions

Birthday traditions | year two 

Something he wants, something to read, something to wear, something he needs (more on this soon)

go ahead...swoon 

his brand new "backets-ball" goal

birthday breakfast

pink icing + sprinkles for the Mighty Moose

daddy & his biggest boy 

a letter to my Moose

Happiest birthday, Mighty Moose

 

Sweet, sweet Amos,

You're TWO!!! (: For the past two years you have been and continue to be the biggest joy to your daddy & me. You are so, so fun! And boy are you smart. It is so neat to carry on a conversation with you (and funny because of your Southern, and I mean Southern accent) and to get tiny glimpses into your heart. You have sailed into big-brotherdom like it's nothing. Watching you treat "Solly Sol" with kindness & gentleness warms my heart - I know you two are going to be the very best of friends one day.

I'm trying hard to soak in this stage of life with you while balancing the needs of an almost 2 month old. You've become so independent since Solomon was born - which is definitely bittersweet. You constantly want to do things "all my-telf" (all by yourself) and are pretty darn good at doing things all by yourself (even if you are as slow as Papa Olander). I love watching you learn and being the one who gets to teach you new things right now. We're currently working on recognizing numbers and letters. You can already count to 15,  know (how to say) your ABCs and can spell "Amos."  We're currently working on recognizing the difference between "R" and "K" and "C" and "O."  And, you know that "i" has a dot. Seriously, Amos, you blow our minds with how smart you are...you're setting the bar high for your brothers & sisters. Oh, and your memory is pretty insane. You get that from your daddy. You pay attention when you're being read or sung to and can end sentences in books and can sing James Taylor's "Something in the Way She Moves" (I'm hoping you'll dance with me at your wedding to this) and Willy Wonka's "Pure Imagination."  You love balls and aren't picky when it comes to which one is your favorite (we have at least one of every kind you can think of). And, you remember who gave you every single ball. You also love balloons and your favorite color is red. You eat like a bird most of the time and drink enough "mmmmeeeee---yulk" to cause me to want to buy a dairy cow.

I hope that I will always remember your blonde hair and blue-eyed two year old self. How bossy you are, but how sweet you are too. I want to remember how you've just discovered that you can actually get out of your bed (even though you aren't supposed to) and come pitter-pattering into the hallway claiming, "Uh-Oh! I'm awake!" Or how you say, "Mel does" when you bounce the ball a certain way, or "Papa does..only outside" when you spit, and how you ask to call Car Car "on da phone." I want to remember how you love to go to the farm to see Andy, Cindy & Cayden's "GOATS and horsies," how Papa is your "very best friend," that you love "cokie" (coke) and "peta-butta" (peanut butter) and what a good helper you are when I ask you to do anything (most of the time). I want to remember how you love ba (your blanket), how you fight nap time like it's your J O B, and how you kiss baby Solly Sol on the head and tell him, "it's OK" when he cries.

Amos Michael Martin, keep growing big and strong! You are brave, you are kind, you are smart, and you have a purpose that is greater than anything your daddy & I could dream up for you. I love being your mama and cannot wait to grow with you over the next year!

"The Lord your God is with you, Amos, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." | Zephaniah 3:15

(the mighty moose turns one) 

life lately

popcorn & "daddy fish" (Nemo) with Belle

helpin' mama make salt-dough (it was a bust)

bath time at Honey's 

the start of party favors for Moose's 2nd birthday party(!!)