Yep- We're still cooking that turkey!

Little Baby Girl is enjoying her place in the spotlight and has pretty much decided that she's cool hanging out in her Momma's big belly for just a little while longer!

All her labwork and monitoring look ab/fab - and if her momma could do the same then we might get an opportunity to head home and try out this bedrest thing from our very own bed!

We're still in limbo - just waiting to get more info and more opinions throughout the week so we can get a game plan in process!

Thanks so much to all of you for your prayers and thoughts and positive energy. Michael and I had no idea how many GREAT friends we were blessed to have.

We're keeping our heads up, and we'll keep you all posted on everyones status via the blog or our daily updates.

Look at it on the bright side, if this little girl comes along early and all is well, she could make an appearance at a College Football Game sooner rather than later! Courtesy of an awesome gift, Baby Girl already has a pirate outfit to wear!!! I'd say she's ready to pull those Pirates through those first tough games!

Bebe today? Maybe they say!!!

Hey guys,

For those of you following the crazy saga of childbirth, Michael and I are at the hospital. We were admitted on Friday afternoon because I'm showing some high blood pressure, low platelet count, and basic signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia. Long story short, pre-eclampsia is a "momma" issue, not a baby issue, and the only remedy is to deliver the bambino just a tad early.

We've met with a high risk perinatal doctor, and baby girl is weighing in at just around 5 lbs. so they seem to think she's good to go if we deliver anytime over the next few days. Her heart beat is super super strong, and I've taken two rounds of steroid shots to make sure she's as completely developed as possible - and all the perinatal consults seem to think we're in great shape. We got to see a 4D photo of her, and she's cute as a button and looks just like her daddy!!! Poor child - we're gonna really need to work on that.

Right now, its strict bedrest - ummmm yeah, here at the hospital, which totally rocks, so they can constantly keep an eye on both of us. My b-day was yesterday, so we had a little party here in the Labor & Deivery Suite! Thanks so much Lisa, Stephen and Michael for the sweet b-day party that didn't get to happen! I promise to make it up to all ya'll!

We'll keep you all posted with updates via email and Hickory Holler!
Thanks so much for the prayers and positive energy!

It's ALL THINGS BEBE!!!!

And I'm not talking Bebe like that store at the mall where I used to be able to fit my former self into some scandalous clothing for a night out on the town!
I'm talking "BEBE" as in "Baby Girl" as in the little one coming our way in just a few short weeks!!!

Things are starting to fall into place - Theres a big crib in what used to be a really cool guest room, there's a cradle in our room that Maggie thinks belongs just to her, there's a pack and play in our living room, and a PIMPED OUT stroller in our dining room!!

We had our first baby shower on Sunday, and in a matter of a couple short hours our house has been overrun by All Things Baby!

I'll post about the shower later this week - I unfortch didn't take my camera, so the picture taking was left up to the Nana to be - so I'll have to show her how to upload them when I'm in Hickory this weekend.

Can't wait to show you all the cool new stuff we got!

Summer TV - Ya'll Watching?

Oooooh, I'm getting so excited about some summer TV right now. Big Brother Season 11 started last week, and with just two eps so far, it clearly looks like the drama is gonna be STELLAR this season. I love this reality show, because it is full of bobos, and I love the fact that it comes on 3 times a week! (That means I've always got some delicious trash in my DVR que to watch at any given time!)

So far, my faves are the hot guy from Chicago - Jeff. He's in the athlete clique and makes me a little weak in the knees! I also loved that he's not playing into the BS that the Head of Household Jessie is trying to rope him into. (Althought this could come back to bite him in the end)
I also like that little cute girl from Charlotte - Jordan. She's kinda in the background right now, but just seems to be an all around sweet girl that I think I'd be friends with.

We'll see how the season plays out. I may switch my faves up once the true colors start showing.

I'm also totally loving the Bachelorette right now. I had said after the last Bachelor with doofus Jason and his "most shocking reunion show revelation ever" that I was totally DUNZO with this show. But, who can resist watching 25 Hottie McHottersons every week with their shirts off chasing around this one lucky girl and professing their love!??!!

I'm rooting for Ed this season. I loved him from the beginning, was really, really devastated when he left and oh so happy when he returned! I think I'm gonna get a t-shirt and iron on some letters that say "Go Ed!" - I'm sure Michael would love that idea. He thinks both these shows are ridiculous!

Michael Martin for Man of the Year!!!

A few months ago, Michael was approached by the Eastern NC Chapter of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society to take part in a fundraising competition for area business people. Each year, the LLS selects 6 men and 6 women to run for MAN/WOMAN of the YEAR. The idea is that these candidates will use their contacts in business and social outlets to raise funds for research and help for children fighting this horrible disease each day! Michael is running on behalf of a little girl name Haidyn Rhinehardt. Haidyn is 6 years old and just finished her last round of treatment last month!

Michael is working hard to make a difference by raising funds for this great foundation! If you are interested in "voting" for Michael by making a donation, please click on the link below and help raise vital funds for this great cause! Voting ends on Tuesday, June 2nd - so QUICK - VOTE for MICHAEL!!!

Help us save lives by casting your "vote" for Michael Martin as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2009 Man of the Year by visiting www.lls.org/ncemwoy.

Thank you so much!

It's Fo Real, Ya'll - There's a Baby Martin on the Way!

For those of you who haven't already heard our good news....(You must be living under a rock if you haven't - because I believe my mother and father took out full page ads in the News and Observer, The Hickory Daily Record, the Charlotte Observer, and are negotiating a small spread in People) Michael and I are officially going to be parents to a wee little Martin!

We are over the moon excited!! Little Martin will be here on October 1st, and we cannot wait for her/ him to get here!

Speaking of her/ him - I'm totally convinced its a girl and Michael is willing to bet the farm on boy. I don't know why, but this entire time I keep thinking girl. I dream about the baby being a girl - I keep referring to the baby as "she" and I keep jotting down really cute girl names. So many people have said that the momma just knows... and clearly - I think I've got this one nailed. We'll find out for sure on April 27th - so I'll keep ya'll posted.

So far- everything in the pregnancy is going GREAT! I feel fantastic, and Michael says I'm an absolute DREAM to live with. (I'm positive that he's not saying that to be sarcastic at all!)

I can promise you this - even though I'll be doing occasional blog posts about all things baby - it WILL NOT be the main focus of this blog. There are too many other funny things that happen to us on a daily basis for it to be a baby central blog. And anyway - if you want to know anything about babies - I'm totally the wrong person to ask. I have no clue what I'm doing, and the more books I read the more over-stimulated I get. I think I'm just gonna wing this one. You know what they say about ignorance being bliss!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Luck 'o the Irish to all of you! (Maggie's thinking she's not so lucky because her stupid momma dresses her up and makes her have photo shoots like this lame one all the time!)

Hope everyone has a GREAT St. Pat's! It's my FAVORITE holiday of the year, so everyone please drink a shot of Jameson's and drink a big fat green beer in honor of the most awesome holiday ever!! I mean really, what other holiday celebrates drunken debauchery quite like St. Pattys??!!!

Erin Go Braugh!