Martha Metzler.com

Oh hello still perky 37 week pregnant Martha. You look adorable in your outfit and make-up and thinking that you’ve gotten your nesting to-do list taken care of.

Oh there you are 39 week swollen Martha, it’s good to see you again since you’ve been avoiding mirrors lately. It’s kinda adorable you thought you’d be in labor by now but alas, I think that this little boy will follow in his brother’s footsteps and might take his sweet time. I’m still experiencing a lot of Braxton Hicks but all in all, I’m pretty grateful to still be able to go on long walks and play with my kiddo. Despite the look on my face in the 39 week picture, I’m at peace with the fact that this baby will come when he’s ready… I SWEAR I AM AT PEACE DAMMIT!!!!!!!

While last weekend was action packed, we laid low this past weekend. I think we’re all just getting ready for 2.0 to join us so we are trying to soak in time together without feeling rushed.

I went in for my 38 week check up (even though I was over 38 weeks) on Friday morning expecting them to tell me it could be any day because I’d been having lots of Braxton Hicks (which I never really had with Bud) and they just laughed and smiled this pity smile and basically told me I wasn’t even close. YALL…… for real! Send labor vibes my way because this mama does NOT want to be 9 days late like I was with Bud.

I’ve got my 39 week appointment tomorrow so hopefully I’ll have some better news.

So Friday we played with our neighbors who we ADORE and are so grateful to have such great friends right there in our backyard.

Then Saturday Sam went crabbing with some guys and we got to enjoy the fruits of their labor that night as we ate crab and watched babies play.

Sunday was laid back, I got stuff done around the house and walked my tail off. Sam played golf while Bud and I did the opposite of anything active by eating frozen yogurt and playing hide and seek followed by snuggling with Roy on the couch. Life is hard folks…..

Sweet Bud-

You have grown into such a big boy and there’s not much baby left in you. With the loss of baby fat, toothless gums, and dimpled knees, you have grown quite the personality.

You can go from super sweet and snuggly (mainly with Roy)

To mischievous and stubborn (I told you a million times the doggy door is for doggies)

To brave and independent, not needing Mama to help you down stairs or ease you into social situations!

I’ll soak in every last ounce of that personality my Bud. I adore you little man!
 

Well, August has officially come and I’m officially a baby soon…. and wine, because I’m also having wine as soon as this dude makes an entrance. We have been savoring our days as a family of 4 (duh, Roy included) and knowing that they are limited. We can’t wait for this little boy to come into our lives and Bud keeps saying, “Baby brodder?” No son, not yet even though I realize it looks like he might be trying to donkey kick his way out of my lady bits. 

Our days have included:

– Many trips to the park where Bud’s new favorite game is to throw his toy cars down the slide.

– The baby pool because sometimes Mama just has to float.

– LOTS of walks, which include me waddling while strangers drive by and stare in the event they get to witness the 38 week pregnant lady give birth while shoving goldfish in her toddlers mouth and wrangling a dog around a stroller. Real life folks.

– Soccer in the field near our house…. mainly with Daddy because I can’t see the ball when its at my feet.

– And hiking Mt. Rainier. Oh I didn’t mention that? Yep. We decided it was a beautiful day last Sunday to hike the giant mountain. We were afraid we wouldn’t get to it for awhile (two kids and all) and so we decided to hell with being giant, we are going to hike!! And I’m so glad we did. While I moved at a snail’s pace and I’m sure I looked like Snuffleupagus running a marathon, we had an awesome hike and got to have a snowball fight in August.

– Crabbing with my guys.

– And the nesting…. oh the nesting.

I’m loving the little and big memories that we are creating in our last couple of weeks together. I know that we will have many more when 2.0 comes along but for now, I’m quite content with my 2 guys.

It’s been a pretty eventful week around here! Bud started preschool last week….. WHAT?!! He is attending an amazing Montessori/Reggio Amelia school in our neighborhood. He goes two mornings a week and it was the weirdest thing having a few hours to myself! I dropped him off on the first day and while the drop off wasn’t easy (he cried), they said he calmed right down after a few minutes and had a great time! When I picked him up, he was so happy just running around and playing with the other kiddos. Oh man, it made this mama’s heart so happy. Every day it has gotten better and he seriously loves it. He came home with a painting of an asteroid and he wanted to put it on the fridge with his other art and he kept pointing to it saying, “asser-oid”. Insert joke here that my mom would not be happy about so I’m trying to restrain….. astronauts hemorrhoids….. I have the worst will power. 

Here are some cute pictures to make up for my dumb jokes.

Then we had a jam-packed fun weekend. Friday we threw an impromptu pizza party with some friends and it was too fun that I didn’t capture any photos of the 10 kids running around in the back alley riding scooters. It is what summer was made for.

Saturday I went to lunch and pedicures with two girlfriends and it was so relaxing and exactly what I needed. We had some friends over that night for supper and went to bed happy and worn out. So we decided to relax on Sunday……. famous last words.

I woke up sick to my stomach and super light-headed. But tried to rally and so we went to the driving range. First off, it was adorable watching Bud trying to play with his Daddy. He even has his own little golf bag and clubs that I found at a yard sale.

But I was about to fall out and just didn’t feel right so we decided to go to the hospital to make sure that the baby was ok. My amazing friend Emily came in  literally 2 minutes and watched Bud while we went to get checked out. Everything turned out fine, his heartbeat was awesome and while they were monitoring me they saw a couple of little contractions but honestly, I barely felt them so we went on home with the peace that our little dude was still healthy and we are just in the waiting game now!

Bring it on Metzler 2.0!
 

I  haven’t done much to prepare for Bud’s little brother coming. I’m 37 weeks today and have a to-do list that seems 37 pages long. But here’s the thing, hopefully Thelma and Louise still work and can feed him, the crib is still set up (linens still stained from Bud but still… it’s set up), and there’s a carseat somewhere in the garage. So- I think he’ll be ok.

Meanwhile there’s a boy with giant blue eyes, wild and tangled hair, and a personality that cannot be contained in our tiny house that needs me. This boy has emerged as an unstoppable force. Lately there have been some days when he has really tested us. I collapse on the couch and am convinced that he woke up with an elaborate plan to take me down. He is loud, he is a speed-racing bulldozer, he is stubborn, and he is my boy. But instead of thinking there’s something “wrong” with him, I remember that he is two.

I love that he is loud, I love that I have to jump over him when he barrels at me with his trucks, and I love that I have to sit him down and explain what boarding school is (I kid). 

I feel like I’m constantly learning to embrace the Now. And I don’t necessarily mean the “now” as a period of time. What I mean is that I’m learning to embrace who he is now. The good, the bad, the crazy.

He hated the cold water of the Pacific Ocean while we were in San Diego so he didn’t want to go on the beach. Okay. I’m embracing the time I get with him in the baby pool in the backyard instead.

He wants to fight me tooth and nail on every rule in the house like “Don’t sucker punch Mama”. Okay. I’m embracing that he has an independent spirit and if raised with prayer and direction, hopefully that’ll serve him very well in the future.

He wants to dig in the dirt and watch a lady bug crawl up his arm instead of play with the tricycle, balance bike, or scooter I just set up for him. Okay. I’m embracing his wonder at nature and know damn well that we’ll get to the other things another day….or maybe not. But either way, he and I are both better off embracing what’s happening right now because soon his little world is going to change and I might not be able to just sit with him and watch a lady bug crawl up his arm.

My boy was not created by accident. That includes his little personality, knots in his hair from where he twists it, and boisterous voice. So it would be a shame to not embrace who he is now…. amiright?

We just got back from an amazing vacation in San Diego (Encinitas technically) and it was seriously awesome. My whole family fit into a beach house overlooking the ocean. The morning views, the sunsets, the random putting green in the backyard, and the laughter around the dinner table were completely priceless. We know our lives are about to change big time and spare time will seem few and far between so this week has been so nice to soak in family time and see how happy Bud is with this grandparents, cousin, aunts, and uncles.

We did the Zoo and SeaWorld of course. We tried to go to the beach every day…. more on that later. Dad, Graham, Sam, and Nomi went hang-gliding off of a giant cliff overlooking Torrey Pines. I begged to go but apparently they frown on 9 month pregnant ladies soaring through the air in a harness. I figured I had a water birth with Bud so it was only natural that I’d tackle as many of the elements as possible? They kindly disagreed. We ate great food and laughed until our stomachs hurt (that also might be because I ate 5,980 popsicles a day). And every night we bet on how many items Bud would throw off the cliff behind the house- for some reason the kid loves to throw junk over a cliff…. including golf clubs. I choose not to over-analyze.

Bud is still mastering trying to be gentle with a baby…. he threw a water bottle at Talia and yelled, “CATCH TATA!”. The good news is it hit her square in the forehead and he won’t be dealing with another infant soon…… oh wait.

The kids were so spoiled, so much love from the entire family.

DOLPHINS!

Naturally Bud gravitated to the beer cooler every day. At least he doesn’t have a barbed wire tattoo on his arm and isn’t wearing a beer stained fraternity shirt. KAPPA SIG FO LIFE!

He kept calling my brother Steven “Don” because he kept hearing us say “SteVON”… I love the way toddlers portray sounds. Either that or I just need to clean out his ears.

My morning view…. take me back now please. I woke up this morning in Washington wearing jeans and a fleece vest since the sun didn’t come out until 1pm.

My sweet family, seriously, how did I get so blessed? And large? Blessed and large.

Watching Shamu…… and afterwards he promptly suckered my dad into buying him a Shamu stuffed animal which he has refused to go anywhere without.

Bud’s love language = head butting. Deal with that Chapman.

My husband jumping off of a cliff…. so jealous. It’s not a Bennett vacation until there is an extreme sport involved. Last time it was bungee jumping, this time hang-gliding!

The two days Bud went on the beach without screaming were the first day and the last day. This was the last day after I gave him TWO chocolate chip cookies in order for him to not freak the ever-living crap out when the cold water got close to us. I’m not above bribery in order to feel sand on my feet.

Hope yall had a great week! I’ll be spending this week watching Youtube videos of the ocean, listening to the waves setting on the sound machine, and trying to actually prepare for 2.0 coming. Also- Bud starts preschool this week so there’s that. WHAT IS HAPPENING?????

* I am on vacation and Emma contacted me about posting this article she wrote for military members searching for jobs. Thanks for writing Emma!

Four Myths About Finding a Job After Military Service

 Myth #1: Asking for a referral from someone is annoying and time-consuming.

Truth: Asking for help from friends and former coworkers shows that you respect their opinion of you. If you’re a hard worker and your friends know it, then they’ll be glad to write you a referral. While traditional means of getting a referral, such as letters and phone calls still apply, there are some new and unique options available. Many employers have started to partner with mobile recruiting companies like JIBE, which make it easy to request recommendations from people already working in the company using social media sites. In a world of smartphones and accelerated technology, referrals have never been easier to get.

Myth #2: After leaving the military, I won’t be able to find a civilian job service to help with my transition.

Truth: Prior to the Vietnam era, veterans were expected to return to civilian life and get jobs without the aid of professional organizations. This was a mistake that has since been rectified. Many organizations now exist to help make the transition from the military to civilian jobs. Hire Heroes USA, comprised of military veterans in various capacities, works to help veterans and their spouses make the big leap from military career to civilian occupations. If you join this organization, you’ll gain access to a plethora of tools to help you find a job and network with other veterans in similar positions. Hire Heroes is not alone. Check with your local Veterans Affairs commission to see if local chapters exist for this service; chances are, you’re not alone in the transition phase.

 Myth #3: It’s too difficult to change careers.

Truth: People change their minds all the time about things as simple as toothpaste brands to complex decisions like career paths. Changing careers 5, 10 or even 20 years into your job might sound impossible, but it happens all the time due to a variety of factors. With new technology and advanced resources, people now can get certified in a wide array of subjects and skills that were previously unavailable. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing your current job, if you want to pursue another passion get out there are do it! Sometimes, the biggest obstacle to pursuing your dream is your own doubt about whether you qualify for a new job. The fact is that if you’ve been working at all, you have transferable skills that a company will find useful. For instance, if you’ve been working as a desk clerk and suddenly want to teach art classes at a community center, then you might not think you have what it takes. But keeping detailed records, meeting with a diverse range of people and organization skills transfer readily into work with the general public. No matter what you want to do, you can do it if you put forth the effort to start anew.

 Myth #4: As a veteran, I won’t be able to compete because companies aren’t looking specifically for veteran applicants.

 Truth: With the world increasingly dependent upon technology, science and math, military veterans actually have the upper hand when it comes to certain private sector jobs. Many engineering, nuclear and similar companies value veterans with technical backgrounds for their extensive training and on-the-job experience. Veterans preference isn’t just for the tech-savvy, though. As a member of the armed forces, you gained valuable experiences and know proper discipline, which many companies value in employees. Even better, some companies are offered incentives for hiring veterans. To learn more about these programs and find out which companies specifically hire veterans, check out Veteran Job Listings, a website dedicated to helping veterans connect with the companies searching for them.

Bio: Emma is a mid 20-something year old with a passion for life, love, fitness, and helping others. She loves to be active and get involved in as many sport and community activities as possible. Emma is currently studying to become a Career & Life Coach, and loves to network with people from around the world! Check out Emma’s blog at http://smileasithappens.blogspot.com/!

Fourth of July weekend was one of the best weekends we have had here in Washington. It started with a parade in our neighborhood that we watched with some friends. Bud LOVED it because there were firetrucks and loud cars. Then we had a festival in the townsquare and I ate my fair share of cotton candy and didn’t share it with Bud….. you know, for his teeth’s sake.

Then we went to our neighbor’s house for the afternoon and ate, played, let the kids run their sugar rushes out, and then…… set up our own fireworks. I laughed so hard and even had tears in my eyes at one point because all the kids were happily watching the fireworks, the adults were laughing hysterically at Sam and John trying not to burn their hands off setting off the fireworks, and it was a little piece of heaven. Then the exhaustion of the kids set in and they were all up past their bedtime by hour+ and so we all decided to call it a night for the kiddos before the big fireworks show. They don’t start until around 10:30 so there’s just no way we could push Bud that late. Plus, they LOVED their own fireworks in the back alley so they were satisfied.

I hope yall had an awesome 4th, that was like….. weeks ago. Womp womp. I accept your nomination for the Blogger of the Year Award.

Can you see the exhaustion setting in??

My Bud is TWO.YEARS.OLD. This is crazier to me than the fact that Miley Cyrus has a new single on the radio. I know a lot of people get sad as their little ones grow up but honestly, this dude is so fun that I am loving each stage as he gets older. His vocabulary is blowing up like crazy and he’s starting to talk in sentences and hilariously says phrases like, “I don’t wannnnn tooooo” which just cracks me up more than makes me mad. I should probably get that under control.

Bud,

You are pensive, observant, hilarious, and kind of a show-off. The Lord truly made you a mixture of your Mama and Daddy. I adore watching you play with Roy and run around with this joyful laugh that literally makes my heart feel like its going to burst out of my chest.

You love trains, cars, planes, dancing, jumping on the couches, hide and seek with Daddy, wrestling with Roy, and pulling my hair… this last one is not so awesome. You have decided to grow up quickly in the last month of your first year by not wanting to sit in a high chair and only wanting to sit in the grown up chairs. You also graduated to the big boy room/big boy bed to make room for your little brother and you handled it like a champ!

You are speedy, stubborn, and loving…. these are things you get from your Daddy. You love to laugh, dance, sing, and yell with gladness when people come into our home…. these are things you get from your Mama.

We adore you little man, happy birthday!!

We had an awesome party with about 30 of our/Bud’s friends. My sister-in-law did his invitations, check out Saint Folly if you ever need any stationary or invitations! Clearly it was a train theme and it was so fun having a dozen kids running around while the parents made sure no one burnt the house down. Bud loved his cupcake of course and only ate the icing (he gets it honest), loved being the center of attention, and we gave away fun party favors of handkerchiefs, train whistles, and train lollipops. It was an awesome day and we had a great time celebrating our little Bud.