Martha Metzler.com

Well my first time away from my little man was a success! The weekend was so fun and Mom and Dad said that he was an angel. I thought I’d be really anxious but I wasn’t! I was able to really enjoy myself and not worry about how he was doing because I knew he was in a familiar place with people who loved him like I would. He ate and slept great and they had tons of fun together. But I did miss him something fierce. It was really strange going to bed without checking the video monitor or waking up in the morning to him talking in his crib ready for his nursing session. I left early Sunday morning because while I had an awesome time, I couldn’t wait to get back to him!

I came home on Sunday right as he was getting up from his nap and it was the GREATEST feeling ever! He just beamed and started laughing and reached out his arms for his mama. Seriously, the greatest feeling ever.

reunited!

After this I nibbled on his bicep for an hour straight...

The wedding was GORGEOUS and Ben and Kelli had perfect weather. I relished in not feeling rushed while I was getting ready and dressing up without worrying if I had mushed banana in my hair. Plus, I got to stay with one of my college roomies, Grace, and that was so wonderful. I’ve missed her and her hubbs Michael SO MUCH.

UNC ladies!

Friday I visited with Grace for a bit then was off to the rehearsal dinner. It was so sweet but we sure did miss Sam. Then Saturday I got to hang with Grace and some other friends from college and eat an AMAZING brunch. Then Grace and I got our nailz didddd. And then I was off to rehearse with the band for their first dance song and then to the wedding! I danced until I felt my feet were going to fall off and ate some of the most DELISH bacon-wrapped scallops EVER. Mmmmm I’m dreaming of them now.

Congrats to Ben and Kelli, we love yall and thanks to the Fultons for letting me crash your casa!

About to get my wedding on!

the ladies! and yes, kelli was the hottie bride extraordinaire!

Well the time has come! It’s my first time leaving little Bud overnight and its for the whole weekend ah!!! Luckily I’m leaving him with my folks who he’s super comfortable with and will be in his normal surroundings so I’m sure he won’t even be phased. But man, I’m going to miss him!! I’m so blessed though that I completely trust my mom to take care of him and know how much he’ll be loved while I’m gone.

Yall should see the refrigerator because I pre-made all of his meals so that it’d be super easy on my parents…….. to say I “over prep” is an understatement. I was one kickass girl scout though!

I’m going to celebrate some of our dear friends Ben and Kelli. Remember them? 

We have more ridiculous adventures/memories with them to count and Sam is having me read his rehearsal dinner toast over the iPhone so this could be interesting…..

Our first visitors when we moved to WA!

This might be one of my fav pics of all time. Ben is completely panicking because Bud started to fuss

Our law school crew, so excited to see everyone again!

Love you Kelli and can't wait to celebrate you!!

Bud has had some seriously fun playdates this past month.

Miss Tinz:

Miss Taylor at the lake!

Bo, Evie, Branch, and Ava at our house!

the daddies and uncles

Bud loves his friends and I can’t wait to look back on these pictures as they get older and show them the history of their friendship! And who knows, maybe we’ll be including these in some rehearsal dinner slideshows 😉

Bud, this picture captures so many things that just melt my heart about you. It shows your little curls that are starting to form behind your ears. I LOVE THIS! You see, your dad has had amazing hair. It was McDreamy hair. But then he shaved it all despite the fact that I informed him I married him for his hair. So I’ve been hoping you’d get his curls! They really stand out when you get sweaty, its adorable.

YOUR FEET! Are you seeing your feet? You always sit with your little ankles crossed and its pretty much the cutest thing in the world.

And your gorgeous blue eyes are still the best thing I look at all day. So much curiosity, mischief, and sincerity in those blue eyes.

I know I say this each month, but you really are getting more and more fun! You have the best giggle and are really ticklish on your neck. You are pointing at everything! I love it. You are reacting to the world with no filter whatsoever and I hope that never changes. You squeal when things are exciting and you furrow your brow when things have you baffled. You have inherited your mama’s faces so beware, you will make people laugh but will never be able to conceal what’s going on in your head.

Still no movement besides rolling around and belly flopping… dude, for real? Please don’t be that 40 pound kid that I’m carrying around in the backpack because he refuses to walk. You like to walk when I’m holding your hands so you’ve at least got the motion. But I do love how much of a wiggle worm you’ve become. And you love to pull up and stand… but you’re definitely testing your limits. Mama has had to make some serious action-movie-style saves to keep your little head from bounding to the floor.

You are truly embracing the “whining to get what I want” phase and we are starting some tough love this week. Of course you haven’t crawled because Mama gets you everything as soon as you whine. So, I’m just going to have you let you work it out and go to my happy place when you whine for something that’s possible for you to get. Mama needs a glass of pinot and sour patch kids STAT……

You love playing “hide and seek” and anytime there is a blanket, you pull it over your head and wait until I say, “Where’s Bud?!” and then throw it down with a big giggle. I never get tired of it…. and judging by the 50 times we play it a day, clearly you don’t either. And you started clapping! You love to clap!!

You still love your doggy and think its hilarious to feed him your food from the high chair… where you learned this, I have no idea.

You love your friends! Friends are really important to your Mama and Daddy and you are picking up that trait flawlessly. Some of the pals that you play with often are Ava, Branch, Evie, Margaret, Ian & Parker, Alden, Wyatt, Miles & Ethan, Taylor, and Bo. You love your auntie Mary and auntie Liz. You are very well loved little boy.

I can’t believe the first year is coming to a close so soon but I can’t wait for all of the adventures that we will have as a family and think of the fun we’ll have with your Dada when he gets home!!

I love you to the moon and back little man,

Mama

P.S. The biting… really?

Don't worry, my kid is NOT playing with cords in this picture...

Oh these open?? What happens when I pull on this one...

oh S#$t! Don't worry- Mama swooped in and caught me before I went down. She's super stealth like that.

I have no idea why I’m completely moved to say “BITCHESSSSSS” after I announce I did something lame. I think it makes me feel a little more Tyler Perry and a little less Everyone Loves Raymond.

For instance:

“I just did the laundry BITCHESSSS”
“I just folded my fitted sheet correctly BITCHESSSS”
“I just tried a new Pinterest recipe BITCHESSSS”
“That Honda Odyssey rides smooth BITCHESSSSS”

“CAPRESE SALAD BITCHESSSSSSS”

……..

You get the idea.

Anyways, I MADE GRANOLA BITCHESSS!!!!!!!!

I used sunflower seeds, raw pumpkin seeds, raw almonds, oats, cranberries, raisins, honey, cinnamon, and EVOO. I mixed together the dry ingredients and spread them out in pans. Then I drizzled EVOO and honey and cinnamon over top and mixed it all together. I baked it at 350 degrees for 10, then tossed it around again and baked it for 10 more. I kept doing this until I felt like it was golden enough.

Eat, enjoy, rinse and repeat……. BITCHESSSSSSS.

think i made enough?

get in mah belly

Every year our town does a huge Greek Festival and it’s awesome. Why is it awesome? Because I can shove as many chicken pitas and baklavas into my mouth and justify it by saying I’m “appreciating culture”. For reals yall- the Greeks know how to throw a party. My cousin/sister/bestie Mary and I took Bud for lunch there and met up with some of our other friends and babes. It was so much fun to try and navigate a stroller through crowds… wait. That part wasn’t fun. The fun parts: 1. the food 2. watching adorable little children dressed in traditional garb dancing around 3. the food and 4. hiding in the Greek soldier’s peripheral vision.

Judge me if you will but I'm not afraid to use a sippy leash...

P.S. I love that my kid was terrified of the Easter Bunny but loved these guys...

And you want know my favorite part? I love that the teenage boys were 100% unapologetic about their heritage. They were dancing on the stage and walking around in costumes… and their moms weren’t making them do it. YES PLEASE! I feel like most tween boys would be texting Siri just so they wouldn’t have to have real conversation or sneaking Marlboro Lights behind a dumpster or discussing their next Xbox victory. But these dudes were killing it on stage and having the time of their lives.

Dear Boys, please never change. You give me hope that not all teenage boys blare LMFAO out of their Tahoe and drink Busch Light in their parents’ garage.
Sincerely, Martha

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have 567809 miles to run off the copious amount of baklava culture I ate.

I went to Nashville last week and it was so amazing and soul-renewing. It was exactly what I needed. I was in desperate need for a retreat somewhere and a change in scenery. So after promising I’d visit for years, I finally bought the ticket and spent the week with my dear friends from college, Scott and Michelle Cash. They have the most beautiful house and it is so welcoming. Bud and I just made ourselves at home and became official squatters. We spent the days playing with the girls, eating and enjoying healthy food, visiting the zoo, and discussing child rearing theories and how to raise our children in Godly ways.

It was a wonderful week and I’ll always remember the mornings that I got to sit out on the back porch overlooking the farm land with a warm cup of coffee in my hand reading Scripture. I’ll remember the sweet way their older daughter spoke to Bud and read him books on the floor. I’ll remember Bud’s first trip to the zoo and the way he squealed over the fish and pointed at the meerkats. And I’ll remember the authentic conversations I had with Michelle about how we want to raise our children and the conviction we both spoke with that I know we’ll do it along side each other until we’re sending them off to UNC whatever college they decide on  UNC.

Thanks to the Cash fam for hosting us and we can’t wait to see yall again! We miss you and I’m sorry Michelle but I only last one day without eating candy. I’d repent but I’m not really that sorry…. it was too good!!

Bud has decided to hate the carseat again. I’ve talked about my screaming baby in the car theory before. I geniunely think there is a tiny corner of hell for terrorists and people who abuse animals where they are forced to sit in a car with a screaming baby. Poor. Torture. 

Anyways, I resorted to passing him a wheat teething biscuit the other day and when we finally got home I found him like this.

I love that it looks like he has ginger beard. Hope yall had a great weekend!!

This cutie and I are off to Nashville for the week to visit some of our dear friends from college. Don’t miss us too much….