Well its been real North Cackalack. I love you and will always consider you home. Bud and I will fly back to WA today. But we’ll be back before you know it… for realz.
Can we also just appreciate the fact that I have a middle seat from Atlanta to Seattle and will be nursing throughout the flight? Crap nuggets.
But I have the cutest passenger so we will survive.
Last Wednesday we had Bud baptised in the church I grew up in. The church is special to me because I was confirmed in it, grew up singing in the choir, and got married there. It was a sweet and intimate ceremony with immediate family and friends to promise they will help raise our boy up in Godly ways. Ben and Molly Parker drove all the way from the Outer Banks as his Godparents. Ben is one of Sam’s best friends growing up and has been such a steadfast friend since the guys were about 5 years old! They are an amazing Godly couple who love us well and we know will love Bud well. We know Ben will take Bud on plenty of hunting and fishing trips and teach him about adventure. We’re so grateful for them and their baby girl who is due any day! She and Bud are already betrothed… its a done deal.
There were some pretty powerful prayers said over Bud that night as he had water from the Jordan River poured over his head but these were the prayers that really stood out to me:
“Open his heart to your grace and truth” — Lord hear our prayer.
“Fill him with your holy and life-giving Spirit” —- Lord hear our prayer.
“Teach him to love others in the power of the Spirit”—- Lord hear our prayer.
Sustain him, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give him an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.
And then we went and ate Japanese food because nothing says classy celebration like hibachi. And yes, I made Bud wear his silk Baptism outfit in the restaurant…
Gimme that camera Mama
adorable baby shoes that my little brother wore at his baptism, we had to squeeze bud's feet in!
decorating the little cake squares with crosses and pearls... a labor of love
Ben and Molly- the Godparents
The aunts and uncles
Grandparents
Bud with Gammy... he has no idea what's happening
Bud is spoiled by his Aunt Mary and Uncle Hunter
The Rev
The blurry crew
So… do I win the award for the latest Christmas recap ever?? I’m still in NC with the Budster but we fly back to WA on Friday. I snagged my mom’s camera cord so I could post a few pictures from the magical day. Bud was a bit unimpressed by the whole present thing, even though he got a MOUND of presents. The kiddo basically got spoiled 3 times, once by Metzler grandparents, once by parents, and once by Bennett grandparents.
It was fun snuggling him by a fire and watching him learn to play with toys that actually make noises back at him! Plus he survived his first Bennett Christmas Eve party. He did amazing and loved being passed around to all 40+ Bennetts! Plus, he had on the most adorable mongrammed Christmas Eve outfit ever. Everyone commented on what a good baby he was and it’s so true, he is such a chill baby. Now that we have conquered his reflux, he’s just so happy!
Playing with Aunt Lauren and Uncle Mark
Santa and his Helper were at the SEA-TAC airport!
What are you lookin' at Santa?
With his Aunt Mary and this is my favorite because can we please see the look on Bud's face when he sees Spencer?!?! Perfect.
Lovin' on Aunt Lindsey
What? Your family doesn't put on fake mustaches for Christmas Eve?
My family can't have a party without some sort of competition!
First Christmas as a family of 3! (Well 4 counting Roy)
Christmas Morning giggles!
Look who decided to sit up! Mama's hand is there for head-catching!
I'm sorry, you can't take him home with you.
GAAHH!!!! Heart melting....
And remember that little Christmas craft I was working on?
Hope yall had a great Christmas!
Have you ever sarcastically answered someone’s question about how your life is going with “LIVIN’ THE DREAM!” Well… I have. I don’t always do resolutions because it usually ends with me binge eating Starbursts and some stale chips I found in the kitchen drawer because “I’ll start over tomorrow.”
I have decided that 2012 will be a year in which I give myself (and you SUCKERS!!) a new challenge each week. Each Monday I’m going to post a “Livin’ the Dream” challenge. I am going to complete it during the week and then fill you in. I’d love it if you’d join me… mainly so I don’t feel like a complete loser. Feel free to leave how you fulfilled your challenge in the comments OR if you have a blog, link up baby!!! That’s right folks, marthametzler.com has officially started a link party. (Is it sad I just made my own techno noises?)
So without further ado, here is Week One Challenge of 2012:
Write out 5 things that you DON’T want to change about yourself. You heard me. New Year’s Day ends up being a day when we make a list of things we’d like to change about ourselves… and swear you’ll never drink again or eat peppermint bark by the fistful. But I know for a fact that you are awesome and if I’m honest, I could spend a bit more time thinking about the things that are valuable about myself instead of just the negativo stuff. We ARE fearfully and wonderfully made after all. Kinda sucks for the Creator if we don’t even acknowlege his good work.
So here are the 5 things I don’t hate about myself:
1. I can make some people laugh. I am never afraid to make myself look like an idiot if the atmosphere needs a little lightening up.
2. I care for my son and hubby well.
3. I keep a clean house (for those that lived with me in college know this is a HUGE milestone).
4. I do empathy well.
5. I am pretty dang organized these days.
And while we’re on a self-encouragement kick, post a picture that you don’t analyze and critique of yourself!
First let me get the not-so-serious thing off my chest.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?! While completely devoted to my hubbs, why do I want to kiss both of these people on the mouth?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSq1cez_flQ
Second thing, I know I’m like the 234,908,346 billionth mom to blog about this today but get over it because I gotsta summin’ to say.
An article about a breastfeeding mama in Target came out today.
So we were all in the living room at my parents’ house the other night and it was time for Bud to eat. So, I sat in a corner and fed him and draped his burp cloth over me to not show too much. My family asked me how nursing was going and I told them it was going great but I wish that our world didn’t view my boobs as something sexual. First off, they are MINE… so where does society get off saying they are just for sexual pleasure?! Secondly, milk comes out of them like they are Super Soakers nowadays. So joke is on YOU society because nothing says sexy like milk flying out of my hooters. Before I had Bud I didn’t give nursing much thought to be honest. It never offended me when my friends would nurse in front of me or when I saw it happening in public. I figured a mama’s gotta do what a mama’s gotta do. And you know what?! We do! When my baby is hungry, I am going to feed him. Milk comes in for a reason… and its not for my cereal.
So this poor mom was in Target with a hungry baby and had a God-given way to remedy the situation. And she was wearing a cover for cryin’ out loud. She was going above and beyond politely nursing her hungry child. I have been in public before when Bud has needed to eat. At first, I used to try and sit on a toilet and hide but 2 things happened: I could only picture the poop particles that float around when someone flushes and oh yeah, I found out my son is terrifed of flushing toilets.
So if this happens to me I’ve decided to do one of the following:
1. Follow the Target employee around with my screaming child next to their ear. I bet they will be begging me to nurse him after 2 minutes.
2. Throw a dirty diaper at them.
3. Start telling them all of the things that I think are “offensive” and ask them to eliminate them from the Target stores. For example- mullets, capri pants, jorts, mini skirts worn with Uggs when its 20 degrees outside, giant fake nails with butterflies airbrushed on them, puppy purses, tights worn as pants, and sugar-free candy.
Have yall seen this article? What are your thoughts?
We decided to do a little Christmas on our own before heading to NC. I can’t wait for more Christmas fun as the years go by and making memories as a family.
So far Sam and I only have one Christmas tradition. We watch the Polar Express. Sam took me on an amazing date YEARS ago to see the movie at the IMAX in 3D and I cried because I felt like such a little girl again. So we watch it together every year and it still makes me feel giddy. So after watching Bud try and eat the wrapping paper, we snuggled on the couch and watched our Christmas movie.
But as we laid to bed that night I prayed we’d be able to show Bud what Christmas really means. That our God came down to redeem a world that was lost in the form of a helpless babe. I pray that for all of us as well. May we know that Love and Joy has already come down to save us… and you can’t find it at Macy’s or at Apple.
Roy got pretty worn out from all the excitement……
Alright yall, we board a plane in the wee hours of the morn tomorrow for North Carolina! We are very excited to be home for the holidays but I won’t lie, I’m dreading the toll that traveling always takes on my Bud’s sleep schedule. But I know it’ll be worth it as I’m snuggled by my parent’s crackling fire and shoving peanut butter balls in my mouth (*censored inappropriate joke here) and watching Bud’s eyes light up at all the Christmas wonderment that my mom always has around the house. Seriously, her house always looks like a Christmas wonderland every year, she’s amazing. He’ll get to spend the holidays with both sets of grandparents and I have no doubt he’ll get lots of spoilin’… and that’s fine by me.
I’ll probably be MIA for the next week as we soak up all the family time so here are some shots from this week. Have an amazing holiday and may you find the Joy that is designed to overwhelm you my friends.
I told you awhile ago that Sam has started brewing his own beer. It’s done! Well.. almost. We bottled it and we have to wait for it to do its magic and then we shall drink!!
I went to a cookie exchange with some fellow JAG wives and I made these adorable little dudes. Just melt a ridiculous amount of white chocolate, dip some NutterButters in it, and then decorate with chocolate and orange icing! GET IN MY MOUTH SNOWMAN!
There is a little sneak peak into a Christmas craft Bud and I did one day. I’ll show the final product after my family members cry with glee at the glorious gift we shall bestow upon them.
Remember when I used to be smart before I had a baby? Well, I had grand ideas of putting Bud’s handprint on some ornaments for people. So I ordered some ornaments that I thought were the appropriate size. Looks like Martha mixed up CIRCUMFERENCE and DIAMETER… oops. The damn ornaments came and were the size of my head. Needless to say the ornament craft was thrown out the window.
And finally, our beloved Tarheels have been playing this week and Bud got to watch the game with his Dada… and Roy joined in of course. All my boys in one place makes me a happy lady.
Yall- I have to brag on my sister-in-law, Lauren. The girl is AMAZING! She started her own illustration and paper goods company called Saint Folly. I have been SO blessed to be the ever so greedy recipient of several of her pieces.
First, she designed Bud’s shower invitations that I am pretty much obsessed with. Stop drooling…
Second, she designed Bud’s “Sip and See” invitation that was adorable.
Third, she designed Bud’s baptism invitations that I’m again… drooling over.
She also painted an amazing picture for Bud’s nursery that depicts his own treehouse. I just don’t have any decent shots of it.
Yall- for real, if you need anything whether its a customized invitation, customized stationary, or commissioned piece for a nursery GET IN TOUCH WITH LAUREN! She’ll blow your mind with her talent. If you get in touch with her, tell her you’re popping over from my blog and maybe we can convince her to do a giveaway one of these days 😉 You can reach her at studio@saintfolly.com.
Is Christmas seriously in 5 days?!
You are five months old my giggling, squealing, mo-meal eating boy! Your daddy and I have had the best time with you this month. You have become so interactive and LOUDLY react to the things that happen around you… I have no idea where you get that from. *sarcasm
You are around 15.5 pounds, are loving eating your oatmeal “mo-meal”, and you even tried avocado! You loved the mushy parts but were not so thrilled about the chunks. Hopefully Santa is going to bring Mama a food processor so she can puree the heck out of some baby food. You have great head control and love sitting in your bumbo and just looking around. You are trying so hard to sit up but alas, your big ole noggin (your daddy’s fault) gets the best of you every time and you just fold forward. It’s kinda adorable. He says its because you and him have huge brains. We’ll get it down though, you’re getting close!
You have your first tooth coming in! I have thought you’ve been teething for a month now because you drool like crazy and what do you know, a little tooth has poked through your bottom gums this week! It’s all very exciting and you’re growing so quickly.
You are so aware and interested in everything going on in the room. It’s an arm work-out for Mama when I’m nursing to try and get you to hold still long enough to eat. If there is any movement or funny sound from Dad (who always instigates your distracted personality when you’re eating), you just jerk your head to see the action. Not so fun for Mama…
You are hysterical when you’re falling asleep for naps. You just coo, sing, squeal, “ba ba ba”, blow raspberries, and all kinds of hilarious noises coming from your crib. You have your daddy and me laughing all the time. Your dad’s favorite thing to do is to go get you when you wake up. I can just hear him in there laughing away with you. You made me laugh the other morning though because instead of you squealing, I heard Daddy squeal. Turns out you grabbed two handfuls of his chest hair… BUD FOR THE WIN!
You love it when your daddy gets home, you smile so big and just reach your little arms out and bury your head in his chest. It’s my favorite part of the day. We love you so much wild boy and can’t wait to see more and more of your little personality come out. Happy 5 months!!
Do you think if I start talking in a New Zealand accent, Bud will learn?
