Party Week

Summer and I have been in full PARTY mode all week while Daddy is away.  It all started with an awesome fever followed by a diagnosis of a double ear infection-hooray!

My little pumpkin was so patient as I got my hair done...and she got lots of special attention from the ladies.  She has a winter glove in her hand...obviously I need to clean out my purse.

 Oh and we painted!  Summer can paint up high...

 She can paint her hand

Summer loves painting!

I also want to share some pictures of my great visit from Rachel from Reno!

 I was a little excited that Rachel was in town...Chad was wondering how many cups of coffee I had??

 I gave Rachel a quick tour of downtown Asheville.  We went to our favorite breakfast spot and took her on a heavenly shopping spree at the JCREW warehouse.  She is ready to move here...JCREW sealed the deal.

 Thanks Rachel for making the trip to Asheville while you were out East.  Summer plays with her Rachel dress up doll every day.

Summer is TWO

We aren't having Summer's birthday party until next weekend but I had to make today extra special.  Her day began by being woken up by Daddy and Mama in order to take Daddy to the airport.  It ALWAYS makes me thankful when I see her sleeping, such a precious time.  Later in the morning we went to the Little Gym.  They sang Happy Birthday to Summer and her teacher, Ms. Sue, gave her extra special attention.

Teachers out there...you have such an influence on children.  When Ms. Sue compliments Summer on her skills, she lights up and strives to continue to do her best!

 

 Summer on the balance beam

 Once the bubbles start, Summer keeps her shirt lifted so Ms. Sue will blow bubbles on her belly!

After a delicious Chick-fil-A lunch, a much needed nap and a picnic dinner with Mama in the backyard we headed down to Biltmore Park for ice cream and play.  Summer got stawberry ice cream with sprinkles as well as a brownie pop covered in sprinkles. 

 She was ademant that she should sit on the pavers and not the grass.  She was also ademant that she eat her ice cream by herself and mama wasn't allowed to have any (my plan went crash and burn).

 Playing outside at the toy store.

 She was having a blast!

Thank you God for blessing Summer and I with a fun, easy, drama-free day!

Summer's Birth-day

Folks let me just tell you that I am going to relive this series of days back in 2009 every May 18-20th for the rest of my life.  It is part of my DNA as my mother has done the same to me.  I mean, it was literally a life-changing day and not just for Summer but for Chad and I as well.  And that is my disclaimer.

The short story...yesterday morning the Dr. told me I was having a baby.  Chad and I both called our families and our moms hopped on planes to come to Reno.  We went to the hospital in the afternoon but the contractions weren't as consistent as they needed to be to keep me so they let me go.  Before I walked out of the room the new shift nurse asked to draw blood.  They gave me an ambien and sent me home.  Once I was knocked into ambien heaven the phone rang and Chad woke me up to say we needed to go back to the hospital.  I can remember walking through the ER hallway and feeling so out of it from the ambien that I think I might have even hit a wall once.  Turns out I had H.E.L.P. and they were going to induce me.  We slept through the night and the next morning they broke my water at 7am.  Summer Marie Martin was born at 8:29am, May 20, 2009 weighing 5lb 9oz and 18 inches long.

 Proud Mama and Daddy

Honestly, this is exactly how I remember feeling...like I couldn't see!  Looking back I can tell it was because my eyes weren't open!  Just kidding, I was on magnesium and it really affected my vision.  I kept asking the nurses "When can you take me off this mercury?"  Of course, they would always look at me puzzled and tell me it was magnesium and I had to be on it for 24 hours which felt like a lifetime.

On a sidenote, we laugh that Summer has her hand reached out because I always sleep with my hand stretched out too.

Chad and I had no idea how wonderful our lives would be as Summer's parents.  She has brought so many smiles to our faces.  We love her beyond measure.  Her birthday party will be next weekend with family.

A Look Back...

It is wild to think that two short years ago, on this very day, I was feeling deflated (ironic since I was super inflated) because I wasn't seeing any progress in my hopes of an early arrival of the oh-so-anticipated baby Summer.  A few days prior I had begun video taping myself before bedtime in hopes that my water would break during the night (yes I still had 4 weeks to go but my Dr. had told me she would be healthy if born and that was all of the encouragement I needed)!  Without further ado, the video I will always remember.

Mom's Birthday Lake Weekend

All Mom wanted for her 60th Birthday was to spend some quality time with family at the lake.  Luckily, Jay and Jen have a lake house and we could do just that.  We missed Chad as he was on the beaches of Mexico for business.  The weather was wonderful and the company was fun!

Mother / Son fishing time - ironically these two are the only ones who caught anything the entire weekend.

Mimi and Summer relaxing...Sadie on stand by in case Summer wants to share her snack.

Mimi and Summer spent a lot of time swinging in the shade.

We went out on the lake in Jay's boat, but Mom's craft of choice was the paddle boat. 

We ALL enjoyed it...even Sissy swimming behind us - GO HOME SISSY!

Summer loved it too!  The movement of the water, sound of the swoosh and the warmth of the sun put her to sleep in minutes.  I would look to my side and under those lime green sunglasses would be gently closed eyes and her head balancing on the sturdiness of her life vest.  Moments to remember!

Spencer and Julie came down from Nashville and it was great spending time with them.

Sissy's sweet cousin, Sadie May, who played and swam her heart out.

Love my Mom and Bud!

Happy 60th Birthday Mom!

Happy 60th Birthday Mom!  I know, no way the cute girl beside me is 60, right?  Yes, and she is my mother and best friend.  I took her to Sips 'n Strokes to celebrate with a little creative painting. 

 Looking good!

 Base layer finished

 Starting the flowers

 Interestingly when painting the flowers we started differently.

We love our artwork.  Everytime we look at it hanging in our houses we will reminisce about our fun night.

Baby Shower

This past weekend we came to Birmingham, after the terrible tornado devastation, to celebrate a Baby Shower for my sister-in-law, Jennifer. She is expecting a boy named Brody! I can't wait to be an aunt in July (or sooner).

 Brody's Grandmamas: Gigi, Grammy, Mama, Mimi

 Summer and Grammy greeting guests as they arrive.

 Summer and Papa sneaking a few M&Ms off the table!

 Beautiful Nicole and Me

 Summer giving Luke a hug

Dad, Me and Bud - by the way, let me brag on my brother for a second.  Since February, he has participated in the state-wide "shape up" program and lost over 44 pounds!  He won the contest for his company and looks great.  Not to mention that he had surgery during that timeframe for a separated bicep.  Way to go Bud!  And Dad looks fit too.