livin' in a boys world

It's their world. I just live in it (: (and I'm totally OK with that).

Their world is loud. It's dirty and dirt-filled. It's stinky (yes, even at almost 3.5 & 1.5 (and most certainly at 29)). We climb on things and jump off of them - sometimes head first. We climb trees, wood piles and dirt mounds and then slide down them. We throw rocks and sticks into any size puddle we can find. We burp-burp & toot toot and laugh about it (sorry future girlfriends & daughters-in-law). We travel in a pack of 2, now 3. We follow daddy around like little shadows and need his rough housing & time spent daily. We're full of energy and go non-stop almost 100% of the time. This mama wouldn't have it any other way.

I'll be honest...it's crazy around here most days. We know that we're #raisingfuturemen and that our time with them is limited - so we're trying our darnedest to train them up now (Prov. 22:6). It's exhausting, but we get tiny glimpses every day of our efforts paying off. We're working on manners (does "excuse me" after a burp-burp or toot toot count?), being polite and kind & helping one another (instead of hurting each other). We want a balance of these things with being wild and free. We want them to explore and to figure things out on their own, to get dirty every chance they get and to see the world as one big play ground & adventure (c'mon, mama's part gypsy (: ).

More than anything we want these boys to know Jesus. It's tough work shaping and molding little hearts, but so worth it. Our hope is that these boys (& all future Martin kiddos) would be world changers for His kingdom - that they would have willing and obedient hearts and that we would be okay with however and whatever that looks like for each of them. Amos, Solomon & Ezra (#martinbandofbrothers) you all are a joy and a delight to raise. I love that I get to be the one blowing bubbles with you and making puddles on the front porch at 10AM. That I get to be the one to kiss boo-boos and change your dirty diapers (all.day.long). Seriously, though. It makes my heart happy to snuggle in between you with Ezra in arms on the couch in the morning for cartoons. It is a joy to watch you wait for daddy, then to see you cling to him like you do in the evenings and on the weekends - wanting to be just like him. Yes little ones, I want you to be just like him too. Thank you boys for reminding me daily that it's better than OK to be dirty and to find wonder in the small things. For constantly pointing me to Jesus for grace (and patience, mercy, love, sanity, etc.) and the reminder that I too am in need. I am thankful to be your mama! All my love, always! 

celebrate | birthday love | Mikey's 29th

celebration [from March 4] of Mikey's 29th birthday

Scenes from Mikey's b-day dinner (celebrated a week early) at Mimi & Papa's house. 

We celebrated Mikey's 29th birthday early with a dinner at Mimi & Papa's house of chicken and waffles (birthday boy's request), homemade mac & cheese, broccoli & kale salad and Mimi's homemade poundcake! Mikey was super excited about having both of his sisters in town for his b-day this year (missed you DP!) -- it's been a long time since that's happened! 

I always love a good birthday celebration...even more so when it's for my special people. Mikey, enjoy your last year in your 20's! All my love, always -- your mc mc -- xoxo. 

celebrate | Brock & Meghan's wedding!

We celebrated Brock & Meghan getting married (just two short days before Ezra decided to make his appearance)! Mike and I love an excuse to dress up, eat good food and hang out with friends (sans kiddos) until the wee hours of the morning. 

Brock & Meghan, we look forward to continuing to walk through life with you two! We love you both! 

celebrate | showering BM3

Showering BM3
[from] March 6, 2016

Haley, Amber, Tammy & Ashton threw BM3 a shower BEFORE he was born...these girls are always so sweet to take care of us whenever we have a Martin baby on board. It's been such a sweet season of life to be having babies with my sister & cousins (who were like 2 extra sisters growing up). 

The spread was delicious & I love that they decorated with Easter eggs & Easter treats with his due date being so close to Easter! BM3 was set up with lots of diapers, wipes & outfits! I'm so thankful for everyone's generosity in loving on us as we've welcomed Ezra. Diapers, wipes, clothes, outfits, texts, calls, prayers - nothing has gone unnoticed! 

Sweet Baby Ezra

Ezra McCraw Martin

March 21, 2016

10:12am 

7lbs

19.5" long

...perfect

"...for the JOY of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 

a letter to my Solly Sol

*disclaimer: written a couple of days before BM3 aka Ezra was born*

Sweet Solly Sol! You are my littlest bud (even if only for a few more days). This photo says it all. You RUN everywhere, you're almost always clothed in big brothers hand me downs, and you're never ever far from his side. You love to be outside (all the hallelujahs from mama for it finally being warm enough to be outside with you two!), chase bubbles (and try to blow them yourself) & bees, and throw the ball. You've started to communicate pretty well - your current favorite thing to say is "uh-uh" while shaking your head no to anything and everything you're asked...even if you mean "yes." We are working on "yes" though. Unlike Amos, you still take a nap at this age & have even recently asked for "sleep" or to go "night night." Keep it up, kiddo. You do a great job snuggling your sleepy dog and putting yourself to sleep too. And (unlike Amos) you're an early riser. Most mornings you're our alarm clock - you and daddy hang out for a short bit before Mama & Moose get up.

I cannot wait to see you as a big brother to BM3. You currently like to ride on top of the baby bump & point to my belly button & say "baby." When asked where your baby is you proudly pull up your shirt & give the sweetest grin as you point to your belly. I can't wait to see a baby look up to you like you look up to Amos. Our prayer is that the three of you (and any other Martin babies) will be best buds like you and Amos!

You're still a fabulous eater - even though you're a super dinky kiddo. At your last appointment you were only in the 8th percentile for weight! I tell everyone that you eat like a McCraw with the Martin metabolism. I love squeezing that dinky little body in a bear hug! There's not much that you don't eat - except sweet potatoes, apples with skin and some tougher meats (still waiting on those teeth to come in---you only have 7 right now).

You love: Little Einsteins ("ein-teins"), Curious George ("monk monk") and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ("minnie"), to read the Dinosaur book ("dine-saur"), chicken nuggets & fries, baths, dumping copious amounts of water on to the floor (sorry daddy-o) and brushing your teeth, you prefer apple juice over anything else and definitely do not like milk of any kind. You do not like: being told "no," being still for very long, or being cooped up in the house.

You're also a HUGE mama's boy (: (be still my heart). It's a (partial) joke around here that you're going to be the one who takes care of me when I'm old and gray one day. If that's the case, I know I'll be in good hands.

Littlest boy, I love you to the big silver moon and back. I'm loving watching you grow and develop into such a sweet, brave (crazy?) little boy! You're a blast. You and big brother are constantly teaching me, keeping me on my toes and pointing me to Jesus. Keep growing big and strong dude!

rainy day shenanigans

when it rains, we put on some shoes, grab an umbrella (the only one we own) and find some puddles!

these boys may love puddles as much as anything ... and you know what? i love it too (so does daddy). what is life if we aren't splooshing in the puddles along the way?

a [birthday] letter to my mikey

Happiest [29th] birthday to you, my biggest boy! I sure do love you & love doing this life with you. You, my Mikey, are home to me. We've had a cra-zy year of moving, traveling, are soon to be adding another arrow to our quiver and are in the process of renovating a 100 year old house...know that there ain't nobody else I'd rather be doing this with. I've loved watching you be quite the adventurer over the past year...from relay races to a crazy 50k for this years birthday...you amaze me mister. I've also loved watching your eyes light up when you talk about the white house and our growing family. Mikey, you love us well. It makes my heart so happy to hear you wrestling the boys before bed, to know you've snuck out of bed an hour early in the mornings for time in the Word or to chisel away at work that needs to be done across the street, for you to be able to come home for lunch on almost any given work day (again), to watch the boys watching out the window for you at the end of the day, to sneak away for long weekends with you when we can (just the two of us), to plan and dream about the future (near and far) with you. I hope that you've felt special as we've celebrated your birthday slowly over the past week and that you wake up feeling extra special tomorrow (like "king of the world" status). My hope for this year is the same as last year -- that you are challenged and stretched, that you grow, that you are content and happy, that you are blessed beyond measure and that you know how treasured you are (and not just by us, but especially by us).

Moose, Solly (& BM3) & I can't wait to celebrate you all day!

celebrate | showering baby Johnsen

This past weekend we celebrated much. Saturday was spent showering Meredith & "baby L" as (s)he is lovingly being referred to since (s)he is due on Star Wars Day...may the forth be with you. (Laughing to myself...I may or may not find a unisex Star Wars coming home outfit...) We celebrated with lots of friends & family, a delicious spread of food & sweet, sweet baby gifts. 

I cannot wait until this sweet peanut is here! Mere & DP, you're going to be ah-mazing parents. I can't wait to do motherhood with you and to watch you fall seamlessly into this roll. Baby L, you are already so, so loved! 

[required friday listening]

in honor of mikey's upcoming |29th| birthday

mikey, you are home to me. i love getting older with you--day after day, year after year. punk, you're good for me in ways that i can't explain and don't even know. our lives are full...so full. 

PS--when we're old, wrinkly and gray haired i hope we can sit hand in hand (on a tropical beach somewhere) and know that getting old wasn't so bad after all. it's a good life we've had Mikey and good (if not the best) days are still ahead! 

looking forward to celebrating my boy starting tonight & stretching it out 'til his actual birthday (next week)! i actually let him open his main birthday gift last week before our charleston weekend - but the boys & i have a few surprises up our sleeves yet (: 

all my love, always, birthday boy. 

Travel | weekending in Charleston

Things I want to remember from this weekend: the way the light spilled into our room through the white curtains every morning as we woke up slowly // my arm looped through his as we strolled the Battery & zig-zagged through the neighborhoods // napping by his side mid-afternoon // dreaming & planning for our future // a food tour that any foodie would die over // soaking in a few minutes with our toes in the sand, hair blowing in the (chilly) wind, and dear friends by our sides // an unplanned lunch date with DP, Mere & Baby Johnsen