It's Christmas Time

Bah Hum Bug Everyone!
Christmas is such a hectic time around my house. We always have too many places to be and usually at the same times. Every year we vow to be more prepared for next year and to skip a few stops along the holiday trail. Then next year turns into this year and here we are again. Christmas....it doesn't seem as merry when your all stressed out and broke.

Merry Christmas Everyone!
Christmas is such a hectic time around my house. We always have too many places to be and usually at the same times. Hallelujah for hecticness and too many places to be. We are very blessed to be able to run around and have all these places to be and with the ones we love to boot. God is good.
Have we forgotten what Christmas is all about? Or, do we remember and just feel as though all this other holiday stuff is more important?
I think we remember but push the real Reason aside to make time for shopping and getting ready for Santa and don't forget the complaining about too many places to be and being broke. (Guilty as charged on that one. - see first paragraph)
We all need to remember how very blessed we are. God is so good. He loves us and cares for us like no one else could possibly even fathom. His only Son, Jesus Christ, was born in a meager little manger in a stable. He allowed His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live amongst us heathens. Then God's only Son, Jesus Christ, was persecuted and crucified so that we heathens could be forgiven of our sins. I cannot even imagine how excruciating it must have been for Jesus to be nailed up on that cross. To have hammers pounding individual, blunt nails into His hands and feet. And then, He was whipped without any remorse and all for us heathens. So I ask you this, " Who are we to complain?"
GOD IS SO GOOD!
Please remember those less fortunate that ourselves. Please remember to cherish the ones you love. Please remember to hold on to your faith. Strong faith can get us through anything. And please remember Romans 11:36 - "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen."
I wish for you all to have a very Merry Christmas. I hope that during all this hustle and bustle we have going on that we all remember the real Reason for the Season, Jesus Christ.

Let the Gymnastics begin.

We've done the whole t-ball, baseball, soccer, football and basketball stuff that all little boys just love to do but we are kind of scratching our heads with the thought of having to add gymnastics and dance and cheerleading to the mix. That is just WAY different from what we are used to in my household. :) And have I mentioned the PINK?
I had been having some regular contractions over the weekend and had to go in to the doctor on Monday to be checked out. I have an infection that we are hoping are causing the contractions and that once the infection is gone the contractions will go with it. I say hoping that is why because I had an irritable cervix when I was pregnant with Corbin that caused me to end up on bed rest for the last few months of my pregnancy and we definitely don't want that to happen again. So please pray for that specific need....NO BED REST!
They sent me over to the Women's Center yesterday for a couple of ultrasounds just to check on things and said that everything looked great. Yea!!!! (The whole gymnastic reference above stems from the ultrasound.) Ann Elise literally had her feet up over her head nearly the whole time. I guess she is already practicing her tumbles. She was so sweet and as the ultrasound technician was just finishing up with one last glimpse of her face Ann Elise started moving her little mouth as if to say "I love you". Talk about melting one's heart. God is so good!
Here are a few of her "Glamour Shots".
Sorry, no "It's a Girl!" shots this go round. Matt is really uncomfortable with showing those to everyone.

Ann Elise with her knee just about touching her nose. Her little leg curled up next to her forehead.

She is looking right at the camera as if to say,

"What? I meant to do that."
She is looking right at us.

Baby Ainsley has arrived!

Ainsley Kathleen Martin

(Looking just as cute as a bug in a rug.)

Sorry about the quality of the picture. This was taken with a camera phone. But isn't she just the cutest thing. She looks so much like Colby. Congrats again guys. Love you all.

A New Martin to love...well, almost

Daniel and Colby are at the Women's Center awaiting the birth of their daughter. Colby was admitted yesterday (today being one week AFTER her due date) and was administered Cervidil with the anticipation to begin Pitocin this morning. Well, Miss Ainsley had other plans. Colby started contracting early this morning and is now holding at nine centimeters. Hopefully, for Colby's sake, she will be here VERY soon. I'll keep you posted.

UPDATE!
She is about to start pushing. Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE!
She has pushed her down and is just waiting on the doctor to get out of surgery. She should be here very soon. (Oh, Dan says she has a head full of hair.)

UPDATE!
SHE IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's all I know for now. I will update as soon as I get another update.

UPDATE!
Ainsley Kathleen Martin was born at 11:01 am weighing in at 8 lbs. and was 19 in. long. Both mother and daughter are doing great. Oh, and dad is doing good too.
Congrats yall.

Matthew's 9th Birthday

Matthew & Christopher

(Yes they were born on the same day and year.)

Matthew with pie on his face.
Corbin, Matthew & Mama
Pop caught playing with the sombrero.

We recently celebrated Matthew's 9th birthday. I really can't believe that my first born is already nine. He has a friend, Christopher, that was born on the same day in the same hospital. Christopher is my uncle's wife's nephew, so the boys refer to themselves as cousin-twins. They shared a party this year with a Halloween theme and had such a great time.

Matt's grandmother passed away the day before his birthday so Matthew had to spend his actual birthday at the funeral home. Needless to say, Matthew's birthday did not go as he had planned. Anyway, my dad took me and the boys away from the funeral home for a little while to get something to eat at the local Mexican restaurant. Matthew was very surprised that they came over and sang happy birthday in Spanish and slapped a pie in his face. Just something that simple made his day much, much better.

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Better late than never I suppose

Happy 85th Birthday Oyce!!!!!!

Matthew, Corbin, Oyce, Kaylen & Wes

Matt's grandfather recently celebrated his 85th birthday. Wow, 85 years young and still running his own errands and mowing his own lawn. How awesome is that? We should all hope that the Lord would bless us in such a way. Thanks Oyce for sharing your amazing life with us.

Can't wait for 86.

A Little Comparison

Let's do a quick little comparison. As I have mentioned, my sister-in-law, Colby, is having a baby girl too. Take a look below at our two bellies. How close would you say we are to having the same due date? Well, this picture of Colby (which I stole from her blog) is of her belly at 39 weeks. Mine....20 weeks. I was so hoping not to get HUGE this pregnancy, but I am afraid that I am already well on my way.

Me at 20 weeks.

Colby at 39 weeks.

House for sale

I don't know that I have mentioned this before, but we are in the midst of trying to sell our house BEFORE Ann Elise arrives. Please pass this on to anyone and everyone you know that might be looking for a home in the Amory/Tupelo area.

Our house is located five minutes from Amory and 20 minutes from Aberdeen, Okolona or Tupelo. It is VERY secluded and sits on 56 acres of rolling hills. We have a 2150 sq. ft. home, four bedrooms, two and a half baths, with a den, eat-in kitchen and two car carport. There is a rustic barn out back. Anyone interested can leave a comment with their contact info or contact Joyce Leech at 662-369-1778.

Oh...Oh! We're half way there.

I am officially 20 weeks preggo today. Yea! The half-way point is very nice. Not to be a glass half empty kind of person, but I am looking forward to this glass being empty and these arms being full. My doctor's visit went very good yesterday. She is measuring right on schedule and her heartbeat is strong. I won't divulge how much weight they say I have gained over this pregnancy thus far, but I will say that my scales don't agree with theirs. (I like mine MUCH better! - HA)
Matt's brother Daniel, and his wife, Colby, are expected to be adding a new little one to our family in only ONE week. Miss Ainsely Kathleen Martin is due to arrive on Nov. 20th and we can't wait for her to get here. (Your glass is almost empty Colby, hang in there.) This will be their first born and sure to be rotten as most all first borns are and I have to admit I plan on helping aid in that spoiling process.
On a more serious note...Our family has been going through a lot lately and we really appreciate all of your prayers and support. Those prayers ARE working so please keep them coming.

A change is coming...

The Martin Household is a changin'. In approximately four and a half months we will be adding a LITTLE GIRL to our ever growing family. Our little girl....I don't believe I ever really thought that I would be saying that. God has been so good to our family. We have prayed for this little girl for so very long and He has just been so gracious to us with our new little blessing. It is by His grace that we have chosen her name, Ann Elise Martin. Ann means grace and Elise means God's promise.

The boys are so excited to be having a little sister. They hug her every night before bed. Matthew got a Wii for his birthday and they have created all these characters that are supposed to be people they know and last night Corbin declared that as soon as Ann Elise 'gets borned' he is going to create one for her too.

Her little face.

Notice how the tech put 'girl hair' for Corbin.

^ She was playing peek-a-boo with us.

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!^Her sweet little profile.