Back in the Saddle?

I haven't posted to this blog in about 2 years. Where has the time gone?
Is it even cool to blog now?

I think I'm gonna get back on it. After all, I gots tons to talk about! Yoga, toddler, work, yoga, toddler, hubs, doggy, my flirtation with a Paleo diet and some more yoga.

So join me, won't you?

Get your run on!

The OBX Half Marathon is just around the corner. Looking so forward to running this fun race for the first time with MM, Leigh Hodges, and B-rad. Should be a BLAST!!

Oh, and I've got some pimpin' new shoes to run in too... WHOOT!

When did you get so big, baby girl?

Yep, that's her. The absolute love of our lives. And for real? She's two years old! When did that happen and how in the world did those last two years fly by so quickly?

Sometimes I look at her and I cannot believe that Michael and I are lucky enough to have such a smart, funny, and loving little girl. Most times I look at her and think "How in the HELL have I been successful at motherhood for the last two years???!!"

But we've done it, baby girl! You are two years old and you are wonderful, sweet, kind, so very smart and so much more than we ever dreamed or hoped for.

Happy Birthday, Finley Claire! Mommy and Daddy love you!

Where in the world have they been?

Bueller? Bueller?

Anyone?? Bueller???

I'm back - and I'm seriously going to start posting again. Just wanted to see if anyone was still reading?

We've got a big birthday celebration coming up this weekend that includes Charleston, SC, Finley at Nana's, and Hootie and The Blowfish.

Stay tuned folks... it's gonna be AMAZING!!!

Tobacco Road Rivalry - Its not just for ballers anymore

Everyone has heard all the ESPN analysts go on and on regarding the "Tobacco Road Rivalry" between all the triangle area colleges during basketball season. Well, this past weekend gave a whole new meaning to that rivalry...

A few months ago, Michael and I decided we would train for a half marathon together. We've each run one before, we had just never trained or run one together.

I ran one a couple years ago after training with my good friends, Heather and Ashely, and finished with a pretty respectable 2:35 - not bad for my first big distance run, and not bad considering it was the City of Oaks course from hell. After that race, I decided I was done. Done with the training runs EARLY on Saturday mornings, done with the crappy runs when it was either freezing cold or hotter than 40 hells outside, and done with the shin splints and sore feet. DONE I tell you! FINISHED! Checked that goal off the list!

Then along comes Mr. Martin. Who without really even training, ran the OBX half this fall and beat my time by about 5 minutes.

Oh hell to the no! I'm super competitive when it comes to exercising with Michael. I want to run farther than him, run faster than him, and overall just beat the snot out of him. (I think it's the whole girls vs. guys thing)

So we decided to train and run the Tobacco Road Half Marathon. Together. As a couple. And see who would win bragging rights this go round.

DAMMIT - He beat me. By 2 minutes and 58 seconds. So he's all, "Yeah, I beat you by 3 minutes" Oh no, mister, you beat me by 2 minutes and 58 seconds.

So, we'll let him have the win this time, but just know that I'm training harder, running faster, and next time, I've totally got the "W".

And I look way cuter in a foil pashmina (thanks Lis, for styling this shoot)...

Heres the speed racers drinking a well deserved beer after the run. That's Bentley on the right. He beat both the Martins by about 30 minutes - YOU GO BOY!!!

It's Cookie Time!

Does anyone remember that movie from the late 80's, early 90's "Troop Beverly Hills" where Shelly Long is the girl scout leader to a group of spoiled little Tori Spellings and they are competing to be the best troop there is and they are in the middle of Rodeo Drive pimping girl scout cookies like it's their J-O-B??!! No?? Well, I swear, I think of that movie and the song they were singing everytime I hear that it's girl scout cookie time!!

ANYWAY - It's cookie time, and the girl scout cookie ordering process sure has changed since I was a girl scout. Did anyone else get a hangtag on their door over the weekend to place an order? WHAT? A freaking hangtag? With a contact number to call and place your order? What happened to wearing that sweet little girl scout outfit and walking door to door with that big order form and guilting your neighbors into buying boxes of cookies? DANG, I love me some gs cookies, but I refuse to call a random phone number for some random girl and give her the sale. I'll wait until I'm accosted by the little boogers out in the Harris Teeter parking lot!

This is what Christmas Looks Like!

Christmas this year was a big flurry of activity!

My 'lil bro married an awesome girl the Tuesday before Christmas in a gorgeous ceremony all befitting of Holiday Wonder. Unfortunately, I didn't take a camera, and I was also on Grandparent patrol making sure that my Grandparents were seated in the right place and not talking at their normal level of sound to disrupt the ceremony, so I have no pics to post as of yet.

Here's one of the happy couple that was taken earlier this year. I'm soooooo excited to have a sister in law!!

We were in Hickory from Monday - Saturday, so we had some time to spend with good friends, some time to spend hanging with Nana and Papaw, and then Mr. Santa Claus paid a visit to Finley and Maggie on Christmas morning!

Even though Baby Fin is not quite 4 months old, I used that whole "First Christmas" motto to death! Big personalized stocking with tons of crap in there that she'll never use.... Loads of toys that she can't play with until she's walking or at a minimum balancing on 2 feet. I even baked Cookies for Santa and penned a note for the guy on behalf of Mags and Fin. (That will be something for the baby keepsake book) Michael thought I was half-cocked when I made him help me drag out all the toys and goodies late Christmas Eve night and set them up for a photo op so Fin can remember what she saw when she woke up her "First Christmas Morning"! Um, yeah, not even 4 months old.

So, without further delay - this is what Christmas looks like!

I think Doodlebug was pleased by the look on her face!
Wow- I can't wait for next year when she really knows whats up and can tear into those presents like theres no tomorrow!

Missing in Action?

Where have the Martins been? Missing in Action you say?

We're here, but we've been just a tad busy with this new little baby that we brought home a couple of months ago. Miss Finley Claire Martin was born on Friday, Sept. 4th at 5:13 in the afternoon. Weighing in at a whopping 6 lbs and 4oz. (Not bad for arriving a month before her due date!)

All is well at the Martin house. Finley is getting settled in and has finally decided that she's pretty cool with sleeping through most of the night. Maggie loves Finley, and gives her all the doggy sugar she can handle. I can't wait to see the two of them grow up together - I envision lots of disasters throughout the house in the coming years. As for Michael and I, I don't know what we ever did without this precious little bundle. I'm sure whatever it was involved lots more sleeping, and alot less dirty diapers.

So anyway, now that we're in more of a routine, and since I'm being called out for my lack of blogging (thanks, Ms. Clark - I needed that) I promise to devote more time to Hickory in the House. Stay tuned for more adventures and lots of photos. I PROMISE!!!

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!

The Martins Been Busy, Ya'll!

So sorry for my neglect of the Holler lately. We have been soooooo very busy. Busy with the new dog, busy with our chaotic lives, and oh yeah - busy with this mortgage business that we're in!

I don't know if you guys watch the news, but it's been a crazy couple of months for lenders, and we are so grateful to have interest rates hovering at an all time low - we've been doing tons of refi's, lots of purchase business, and my hubby has got me working like a DAWG - dawg! (I kinda feel like I'm back in the advertising business what with all the late nights and weekend work - only it's just like I'm working on a realllllllly lame account)

Speaking of the hubby... check out this spot on the local news. (You've gotta click on the link - I can't get the dang video to upload on Blogger cause it SUCKS!) We're actually thinking of going on a media tour. Please give me a call to set up speaking engagements - HAHAHAHAHA!!


http://www.news14.com/content/top_stories/605928/struggling-homeowners-may-find-relief-in-plan/Default.aspx?ap=1&Flash

Happy V-D!

Yeah, That's Valentine's Day! Valentines was pretty laid back for us this year, but a great holiday nonetheless. I remember back a few years ago when Valentine's was like the biggest deal for Michael and me - we treated each other to weekend getaways, spa treatments, exceptional dinners at fancy restaurants, etc. BOY - how times have changed! Not that it's not a big deal, but I kinda feel like we treat each other to great things throughout the year, so there's not a huge focus on this one day anymore.

Oh, well, it was still a pretty awesome day. Especially since it fell on a Saturday, which meant we could wake up whenever we wanted (ahem, as late as Miss Maggie would let us sleep, that is... so, I think we were up around 7:30), go get our gym on, and pretty much stay in our workout clothes for the biggest part of the day!

The chef of the house fixed a special Valentine breakfast of heart shaped pancakes! Dude, I really, really, really love my husband. Who else makes heart shaped pancakes??!

Then I took off for the laundromat to wash all of our comforters and pillows. Now that, my friend, is a blog post all on its own. Have any of you been to a laundromat in the last decade? It is freaking BRUTAL! But anyway, that's for another post. I'm still trying to process the visual stimulation I was treated to while spending 2 hours at the local laundromat!

We had made plans to take Bryce to paint pottery on Saturday afternoon, so we picked him up and headed over to Clay Funk in Wake Forest. This has got to be one of the most fun activities for kids and adults! We had a blast! Here we are, working on our Masterpieces.

I think his parents took pity on our lame V-day plans and asked us to have dinner with them. I'm so glad they did, because Pat made an awesome, awesome dinner of snapper piccatta, pasta, and mixed veggies. It was a great dinner, and I'm serious when I say that it was better than what we would have gotten at any restaurant around town! He even made fresh pesto for the pasta! Mad props to you, Pat, mad, mad props!

Bryce was super pumped that we were there for dinner!

Dinner with the Polsons also meant that we got to spend time with Bryce and his baby sister, Trinity. (Yep- she's the one that I made wear the diaper backwards all day the last time I babysat.) She doesn't seem too traumatized by my lack of parenting skills - she still lets me hold her and bounce her all around!

It's really clear that Michael is her favorite. Babies absolutely love him! I'm not sure what it is, but babies love for him to hold them and it is absolutely precious!

We absolutely love these two little ones. If the Polsons ever wake up to find their babies missing, it'll be pretty clear that I've got them over at my house. Such cute, cute kids and soooo well behaved! I only hope that Michael and I can be that lucky one day!

Mags-a-Million has a Slumber Party!

Michael and I are pretty cool parents, and we decided that even though Maggie had only been with us for a little less than a week, we would let her host her very first slumber party!

She invited her best friend Bailey, and showed how much she loved him by stealing his dog bed, taking all of his really cool toys and generally just annoying the total shizz right out of him.

Bailey was cool though, and took it all in stride. Especially when the grandparents came for a visit and spent all day and night making sure that each dog had equal playtoys, equal treat consumption, and round the clock belly rubs.

By Saturday night, Maggie had completely worn herself out. She and Bailey had been partying all day - and she passed out in her dog bed.

Bailey took this opportunity to capitalize on some one-on-one time with Nana Vickie - she's the main supplier of the chew toys and rawhide treats.

AND - did I mention that Maggie already has a boyfriend? Oh, yes. It's a long distance romance with Higgins - a boxer from Hickory. He is so sweet on Mags that he sent her a doggie bed and a stuffed animal for her to cuddle with! Dude - Higs is a total playa! He really knows how to work it with the ladies! Heres Maggie snuggling with her valentine gift in her sweet new bed!

Spoiled Rotten. Yes, she sure is!

Welcome Home, Maggie Belle Martin!

Look at what we just brought home!

Maggie Belle Martin was born on December 1st and we just brought her home last night. She's a little wiggleworm, and we are spoiling her rotten as fast as we can.

She loves hanging out in her "redneck condo"

And she loves playing with Mary in the snow!

She even digs riding in Mary's sweet sled! Thanks for the ride, Mary!

Stay tuned for more cute pics! You know I'll be snapping pictures until I completely KILL this camera battery!

The Cutest Little Girls in the Whole Wide World!

We are truly blessed with great friends who all have great kids - and sometimes, they even get brave enough to let us watch those kids!!

Here's some pictures of some of the cutest little girls in the whole wide world! I swear, their daddies better get ready, these girls are gonna be heartbreakers one day!

Here's Mary, she looks just like a little doll. We watched Mary one night while her parents went to the movies. I think she may have been a little traumatized by the fact that the Beaudog was barking his head off, I burned dinner, and the smoke alarm started going off and wouldn't stop for about 10 minutes. This child was probably soooo ready to get back to her own house!

The very next day, I babysat all day for Michael's goddaughter, Trinity. She is such a cutie pie, and I spent the first couple hours of the day walking her around the house and propping her up for pictures everywhere. She would just grin and laugh, but as soon as I snapped a picture, she would stop smiling and look at me like I was crazy. I love this little Christmas outfit!

The funniest part about me babysitting for her was that all day long, I had put her diaper on backwards. Her poor Mom had to pull me aside and let me know that the tabs go in the front, not in the back. I was so freaking embarrassed. Clearly, I have no business having a child of my own. I don't even know how to work a diaper!! I bet all day, that poor baby was like - "Dude! I'm so uncomfortable!!! Can you please get my drawers on right??!?"

Oh well, doesn't look like my lack of parenting skills kept her from snoozing the day away - look how SWEET!!!

And here's our newest little neighbor, Reese. So sweet, and she doesn't even mind if Michael holds her!

Absolutely PRECIOUS!! I can't wait for us to have a house full of our own!