Day 302...time with the family

Nov. 25

Today, I'm thankful for getting to spend time with my family. We had a nice day today. Martyn had a bit of a rough night, mostly just because his little nose was all stuffed up. He went down at about the normal time, around 9 or so and woke up around midnight. I just got him in bed with us, and he did ok after that, even though he was still pretty stuffed up.

I got up with him about 7:30 and no one else was up yet.

I was a little cold, so I decided to make a fire in the wood stove. That woke Miriam up, and she came down from the loft and helped me get the fire going. It wasn't long until everyone else was up.

After breakfast, everyone but Mary Jane, went for a walk. Dang, that was a lot of walking, I wasn't quite expecting that, but I suppose I did ask for it, ha! Eli and Martyn and I came back early and just relaxed for a bit.

We spent the rest of the day just hanging out. It was so nice!

Eli and I left around 5 or so to head up to my sister's house. We had a good trip up. Surprisingly, Martyn went straight to Rachel when we got there. I was totally shocked. It must be because she looks like me.

It was good to visit with her and Bryan for the evening. Martyn was super tired, but just would not go to sleep. He didn't go down until about 11! Uhg. He's been pretty snotty today....me too. Hope it goes away soon.

Day 301...Safe travel

Nov. 24 Today I'm thankful for safe travel. We saw a pretty bad accident on the freeway, on the way to Eugene. Everyone made it here safely, but I hope that family in the accident are all ok.

Thanksgiving day. What a great day! Eli and I were shooting to leave our house by 10:30....we had most everything done and ready to go, but didn't quite make that time goal....we left at 11:15. We had to drop the dog off at Rachels house in Dallas, then head the rest of the way down to Robin and Miriam's house.

Martyn fell asleep on Eli's lap while I was making the deviled eggs, and he slept the whole drive down. He woke up right as we pulled into Robin and Miriam's driveway. We got all unloaded and just hung out until Walt and Mary Jane arrived a few minutes after us.....then we all just snacked and enjoyed each other's company all afternoon. Miriam had gotten a Sophie Giraffe for Martyn, which is one of his favorite chewers at the baby sitter's house.

After dinner, we played a round of apples to apples, and then everyone was pretty much ready for bed.

It was a great Thanksgiving.

Day 300...Short weeks and long weekends

Nov. 23

Today, I'm thankful for short weeks and long weekends! Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays, partly because I get a four day weekend. It's so nice to be able to take a little bit of time off.

Day 299...My mama

Nov. 22

Today, I'm thankful for my mother. I'm thankful for the values she helped to instill in me. For all the work, and tears she has put into raising me....I'm thankful for all the prayers she's said, and continues to say for me.

One day, I hope that Martyn will be thankful for his mother....though I know being a mom is often a thankless job. I hope to help instill the same values in him. He's just a baby, and I've already cried tears for him, I know I have many many to come....along with a lot of hard work. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, it is my joy to put time and effort into raising him right.

I have a wonderful picture to go by.

Day 298...Food to eat

Nov. 21

Today I'm thankful to have food to eat. I take for granted every day that I can have what ever I want to eat, whenever I want it. I am able to make food for myself, and whomever I please, and I have access to regular, every day food, and exotic foods if I like. What a blessing that is! (Because I like food, ha!)

Day 297...My Siblings (10 months!)

Nov. 20

Today, I'm thankful for my siblings. They have greatly enriched my life, and I can't imagine life without either of them.

Martyn Lyle Loehrke is 10 months old today! What the heck?

As always, this is my favorite post of the month, here are Martyn's milestones for the month.

He is full on crawling. When my brother's oldest child was learning to crawl, she would do this thing where she put her head down, and basically just bulldozed her way forward. Martyn is doing that. Full on Bulldozing. It's awesome!

He's walking around the coffee table, and couch, and all furniture in the living room and dining room. He's getting bolder in letting go of what ever he is hanging on to, and transferring to another base, sometimes hovering for a few seconds with out hanging onto anything.

He's talking all the time. There's pretty much a constant stream of chatter coming from him all the time. He really thinks he's saying something! He says mama and dada or daddy in the appropriate context, but he also says them both interchangeably. He has started saying (or screaming rather) "DOgeeeeee" when he sees Sheba or any dog, or when he's just excited and happy. It's SO cool. That's his happy word, ha! He says Dog in sign language when he sees Sheba.

I've been nervous about giving him more food, but he is really ready for more and different kinds of solid food. I'm going to take my baby food grinder down to Robin and Miriam's house for Thanksgiving, and give him a taste of some turkey day food.

Yesterday, we picked up a potty chair at IKEA. My awesome babysitter said she sat him on the potty chair the other day, because he was dry when she checked his diaper, and he totally went in the potty chair. So we're going to start getting him used to the idea. The goal is to have him potty trained as soon as possible....which I realize could still be quite a while, but there's no time like the present, to start at least introducing the concept before he has the presence of mind to object.

He knows when he needs a diaper change already. Eli said when he's home with Martyn, and hasn't noticed if the boy needs changing, that Martyn will crawl over to the baby gate and cry, and only when he needs a diaper change. Also, when he's hungry, he will crawl over to the kitchen or highchair, and cry. What a smarty pants!

He started smacking two toys together now, one in each hand. Usually only with blocks. He also plays games with Eli and I too. Games like run away because he's going to get tickled, or provoking us to tickle him. He's really funny about it it too.

That's about it for now.

Day 296...My sister in law

Nov. 19

I'm thankful for my sister in law, Miriam. Today is her birthday. It's been really great to get to know her over the last few years, and I'm looking forward to getting to know her more over the years to come.

Day 295...Music

Nov. 18

I'm thankful for music. I've always loved it, I will always love it. It's in me, to my very core. I hope Martyn develops a love for music too.

Day 294...parents in law

Nov 17

Today I'm thankful for my parents in law. I love them so much! They are fantastic parents, and grandparents, and I couldn't ask for more wonderful in laws. I love getting to watch them be wonderful grandparents to my sweet baby boy.

Day 293...The Rain

Nov 16

Thankful for the rain. I'm home today, and just enjoying the cleansing of the rain. It's soothing.

Day 292...Good driving time

Nov 15

Today I'm thankful for my commute to work. It's good thinking, praying and quiet time. Good driving time.

Day 291....The most awesome babysitter

Nov 14. I am thankful for the most awesome baby sitter ever! She's just amazing. She loves Martyn like her own, and treats him as such. Her kids love him too, and he loves them. What a blessing!

Day 290...Breast feeding

Nov 13

Today I'm so thankful, to be able to breast feed Martyn. He's so healthy, and I'm positive it's because he's been breastfed. What a wonderful gift.

Day 289...Saturdays

Nov. 12 Today I'm thankful to get to spend Saturdays with my fellows. It's a super special day, and I love just relaxing with them.

Day 288...A warm bed and snuggly blankets

Nov. 11

Warm and snuggly blankets are the best thing ever!

Day 287..Daddy time for Martyn

Nov. 10

Today I'm thankful Eli can stay home with Martyn part of the week. It's soo good for both of them.

Day 286... 7 hours sleep

Nov 9.

Today I'm thankful for more than 7 consecutive hours of sleep, and that my son is learning how to soothe himself when he wakes up. The glorious days of a full nights sleep are on the horizon again!

Day 285...Great is Thy faithfulness

Nov 8. Today, while driving to work I was thinking, what am I thankful for today? Then the chorus from an old hymn popped into my head...."Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness...morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed, thy hands have provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"

That pretty much sums it up.

Day 284...Two working vehicles

Nov 7.

Today I'm thankful for two working vehicles.

Day 283...Great is Thy faithfulness

Nov 8

Monday. Today on the way to work, I was thinking 'what am I thankful for today?' and the chorus from the old hymn, Great is Thy faithfulness popped into my head and has been stuck there all day. It says, "Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see...all I have needed, Thy hands have provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."

I love that! I was kind of chuckling a little too, today while singing this chorus over and over to myself...thinking about my step dad Jack singing this song. This is probably one of his favorite songs to sing, and he sings it with a lot of bravado....I really shouldn't laugh about it, but I can't help it, it's just so funny. Ah well, it's a different time I guess.

This morning Martyn woke up about 4:15 and was just chattering away out in the crib. He wasn't upset or crying so I just let him chat and didn't get up to get him. That went on for about a half hour, then he started to get upset. I figured I would just let him cry it out, as good practice....since we were going to have to get up anyway in 15 min. That was harder to do that I thought it would be. Martyn would cry and carry on for a little while, then be quiet and wait for me, then when I didn't come get him, he would cry and carry on some more.

Day 282...Two working vehicles

Nov 7

Sunday.

Today I'm thankful to have two working vehicles. They are probably both near the end of their lives, but for now they both work. That makes things a lot easier on both Eli and I.

Today was a nice easy day with my boy. It was kind of chilly, and we didn't have a lot on our list...but we got the big things done and that's all that matters.

Day 281...My health

Nov 6

Sunday.

Today, I'm thankful for my health. I'm in the best health I've ever been in, my whole life and it's awesome! It feels so good to get up each morning, and feel well. Also, feeling well physically has made such a difference on my mental health over all, as well.

What a beautiful day it was today! It was totally bright and sun-shiny all morning, it was great! Still pretty chilly out though. Martyn didn't know that it was time change last night, and he was trying to be up at "the normal time" this morning, which was actually 4 instead of 5....silly boy. Even so, both Eli and I felt like we got our extra hour of sleep.

It was so nice to just spend the day with my boy and dog. We went for a nice long walk, and met up with my favorite neighbor and chatted with her for a few minutes. Then came home and rearranged the living room. I like it, but we'll see how it goes after a week or so....it needs a little bit of time to see how it feels.

We snuggled up on the couch in the middle of the day and took a nap together....I really needed that, both the nap and the boy snuggle.

Part of rearranging the living room, was making it so that Martyn can be contained in the dining room better, if you are cooking in the kitchen, so you can keep an eye on him with out him being under foot. That worked pretty well, even though he just wanted to be with me. While I was making dinner, Martyn and Sheba both were in the dining room. Martyn was harassing Sheba, and Sheba was just sitting there very patiently, taking it. She's such a good girl! She doesn't even look bothered by him (most of the time). Usually he's really interested in her tags, because they're jingling and shiny. She will totally just sit there and let him grab onto the tags and pull them this way and that. If she does get fed up, she's just walk away. She's never snapped at him or growled at him. I sure love that dog, she's just great!

I moved the crib to other side of the room, we'll see how he does sleeping in it tonight...or rather how I do with navigating the living room to get to him, if he wakes up and needs to be be put back down. He had a pretty serious melt down tonight, hopefully that means he'll stay asleep for longer.

Day 280...My home

Nov 5

Saturday. Today, I'm thankful for our cozy little home. I don't mean the house exactly, although today I'm thankful for that too because it's dreary and cold and raining. But our cozy little home, our little family, Eli, Martyn, Me, and Sheba. Our family is what makes this little house a home, and it feels good to snuggle them all up, both in my arms and in my heart.

Today was pretty chill. We went to Eli's bank in Vancouver and finally opened Martyn a savings account! They also gave him a little red piggy bank, super cute. We went to the store and got groceries, and spent the evening together....why oh why do we always manage to go to the store in the middle of the day on Saturday? There were some serious shenanagains going on at Winco....uhg.

It feels good to have finally opened a savings account for Martyn. We've been meaning to do that for a long time....It feels like a huge weight lifted off me. I'm excited to save up for the boy. It's so simple, but why has it taken so long to do? Oh well, it's done now. I'm proud of us.

Day 279...The Love of the Lord

Nov 4

Friday.

Today, I'm thankful for the Love of the Lord.

With out it, I'd be sunk. There are times when I know I am unlovable by any human standards. I mean really, I'll be honest....sometimes I can be a real bitch. I take comfort in knowing that during those times, My Lord loves me no matter what. I take even more comfort and Joy in knowing that it's not just me He loves..... I'm looking forward to teaching Martyn and any more babies I have, about this Love....It's kind of a daunting task though, I have to admit.

Tonight, I was playing with Martyn in the living room. He got up and started pushing his toy box around, and walking behind it. It was so awesome! He just did it, all of a sudden. I was like "look, he's totally walking!" Eli and I had a little proud parent moment, and praised the boy a bunch and took a bunch of pictures and a video. It was super cute. We're such nerds. We love our son though, that's for sure!

Day 278...My Job

Nov 3

Thursday.

Today, I'm thankful for my job. I know I often complain about it, but I really am glad to have a job and a decent paying job at that. I'm glad to be able to help my family out in this way right now, and someday I know I'll be able to be home like I want....For now though, I'm thankful I'm not in the high pertentage of people in this country who are unemployed. I'm able to help provide for my family, and even be a little comfortable.

I really shouldn't have anything to complain about.

Day 277...My Son

Nov 2

Today, I'm thankful for my son. He is the biggest joy of my life. He's so sweet, and funny, and smart (of course I'm biased). He is with out a doubt, the love of my life, and I can't imagine my life with out him.

I can remember what it was like before he was born, and life was good. But now, it's so much better. I feel like a complete person, because of both Martyn and Eli. Being a mother has changed me in a profound way, that I could never even begin to explain to someone....not even to Eli. I know he knows what I'm saying, to a certain extent....Daddy's are changed by becoming daddy's, too. But not the same way as Mama's.

My mom always used to call me the Joy of her old age, and she named me so as well...my middle name is Joy. That always made me feel special, but I never fully understood what she meant until I had Martyn. I'm not old, but he most definitely is my Joy. What a wonderful blessing!

Day 276...My husband

Nov 1

Tuesday. Not a whole lot that's new. I've been slammed at work the last two days, and don't fore see that to change any time soon. It's hard, even on baby sitter days like today, because I'm having to stay kind of late, and missing out on time with Martyn. Hopefully I can figure something out to change this!

With it now being the month of Thanksgiving, I've decided to list a new thing I'm thankful for every day this month. Today, I'm thankful for my awesome wonderful husband. He's my best friend, and lover...the most wonderful daddy to our boy, a hard worker....he takes good care of me and Martyn. I'm so blessed to have him.

Day 275...Halloween

Oct 31

So for Halloween, I got Martyn this really cute little astronaut suit from the consignment sale I went to at the beginning of the month. I've been really looking forward to him getting to show it off.

Eli dressed up as a lumber jack, which was fitting because he's not shaving his beard or cutting his hair until December, so he's looking pretty mountain man-shaggy right now. He was SO excited for trick-or-treaters. I have to admit, I was pretty excited too. I got a bunch of pumpkins carved, and had the porch and drive way all lit up with them. Our house is kind of on the dark end of the street, and is hard to see from the other end of the street......that said, we didn't get even one trick-or-treater.

There was even a big group of kids that went by the house, but they didn't stop. They didn't go to the other houses right around us either though. We decided there must be some kind of neighborhood approved thing that all the kids go to. Still, it was disappointing to say the least.

Eli and Martyn were so cute in their costumes, it just really made me chuckle.

Next year, if we still live in this house (which I highly doubt we will) I'm going to decorate the heck out of the yard so the trick-or-treaters know they should come to our house! If we don't live here, I'm still going to decorate a lot, because I want some stinkin' trick-or-treaters! Next year too, we will be able to take Martyn around the neighborhood I think....he was a bit too little for that this year, ha!

Day 274...catch up

Oct 30

Sunday.

Day 273....catch up

Oct 29

Saturday.