Martha Metzler.com

Every few days when I talk to my dad on the phone he always asks, “So what’s new?” and I don’t really have any answers. “Well Bud did this today… and ______ is happening with Sam.” But most days there really isn’t anything new happening with me. And you know what? That’s ok! Because in the big scheme, every day is different because I’m learning how to be a better mama each day, a more graceful wife, a more intentional friend, a more compassionate stranger, and trying to find a way to keep my creative humor in a life full of naps and stinky diapers.

I’m grateful for the little things that make my days steady. Here are a few things I look forward to each day.

drooly baby smiles

diaper changes because they make my boy so smiley

family floor time

my crazy dog's winter jacket...yeah its happening

funny random texts from my friend jude

the fact that my husband thinks its hilarious to train our dog to sit on me when i lay on the floor

my morning smoothie with kale from the farmers market

While my life may not be filled with exciting news or an activity-filled schedule, I’m trying to remember to enjoy this time when I can lay on the floor with my baby and just make funny noises while he pats his soft hand on my face. Or that I can sit down with my husband for supper each night because he’s not deployed. Or that I have a new place to explore and a new climate to experience as I’m out walking. I guess those things are pretty exciting now for my new life as a mama.

Have a great Thanksgiving my friends! I have been cooking all day and plan to continue tomorrow as my whole fam will be here! My brothers and I were all going to meet at my house and my adventure-loving parents decided they’d fly out and join us! Yay for spontaneous family get-togethers even when we’re spread out!

Happy Monday peeps. We had a great weekend here in ole Washington. On Friday night Sam and I had a date night in. We made supper and watched a movie and it was totally relaxing. On Saturday we had Sam’s promotion party in Tacoma. SO FUN! Yall I got out! We got a sitter and I put on a cute outfit and brace yourselves… I curled my hair! It was party time. We had drinks and went dancing and I laughed so much because all I could think of when I was breaking it down was, “OH MY GOSH I AM SOMEONE’S MOM!!!” 

We drove home and collapsed on the couch at…. 11:30. Yall, we’ve gotten old.

Sunday was productivity day and we got Thanksgiving grocery shopping done (a friggin’ nightmare) and Sam did a bunch of yardwork that I never feel like doing. We make a great team. Anything I don’t want to do I just leave it until it drives him crazy enough to just do it himself while I eat Gobstoppers on the couch.

Here is a picture of the ladies that were out on Saturday, love them!

And Bud got the best present this weekend. My dad named his boat after him! Too precious and so special. I know they will have lots of adventures together on that boat and Sam and my dad already have funny stories from their own adventures on that thing that they will have to share with him.

Life is good, hope you had a great weekend.

Long Distance Loving is doing a little “mix and match” challenge today so I thought I’d join in. I LOVE paisley so I’m smitten over this dress from Anthropologie. Add in a David Yurman ring, Tori Burch earrings, and TOMS wedges and this outfit makes me feel like a rockstar who isn’t afraid of getting spit up on. I love mixing patterns and I don’t have to make everything seem too “matchy”.

Hope yall have a great weekend and happy Friday Fancies, here’s to throwing a little quirkiness into your wardrobe!

On Friday we decided to celebrate our beloved Tarheels playing on Veteran’s Day by bringing some North Carolina culture to the Pacific Northwest. We have met a great couple that is also from NC (WOO!) and knowing they’d appreciate the game as much as we would, we invited them over! So they came and brought their gorgeous daughter. We also had some Texans over and showed them what “real” barbeque tasted like. Yall- it was such a fun night.

1. Sam made authentic Eastern NC BBQ! He made his own sauce and slow-cooked the crap out of that hog. We even put the sauce in mason jars to make us look like the people on Pinterest.

2. I made yummy banana pudding… I even made homemade whipped cream! DELISHHHHH! I may or may not have eaten half the bowl before dumping into the pudding.

3. We dressed our little people up in UNC gear… what can be cuter?

I love this one because the babes are speaking their secret language to each other

4. We had pork n’ beans (one kind of pig isn’t enough), potato salad, and Kim made homemade slaw that was SO good!

5. Our Heels played basketball ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER!!! WHHAA?!?!?! It was awesome.

I’m a terrible blogger and didn’t take pictures of our food. Oops. BUT it would have looked like this:

If this looks delicious to you, you’re ok in my book.

Sam and I have been trying to figure out when we should introduce solids to Bud. We have done a lot of research and while a lot of says to go ahead and keep breastfeeding until 6 months to avoid food allergies, plenty of research also says if your babes is ready, then go for it!

So we went for it on Monday night. It went awesome….. SIKE! Luckily Sam grabbed the video camera and we had a good laugh. I’m guessing Bud isn’t quite ready for rice cereal. We’ll keep sporadically trying but as long as he stays on track with his weight, I think we’ll avoid pushing it!

Is there a trick we’re missing… besides the ones you heard on the video. Don’t worry, we aren’t really considering laying him down and pouring it in his mouth or using a beer funnel. Although, both are valid suggestions yes?

Yall this video is hilarious.

The weirdest things calm Bud down when he’s crying. For example, the other day he started screaming in the car so Sam and I started blaring the Beach Boys and he immediately stopped and got a big smile on his face and was content the rest of the way home. Maybe I need to start trying some Tupac…

I forgot to put the comparison collage from months 1-4 of Bud! Seriously love this kid.

Our boy is cracking us up on a daily basis. Every time we sit him on the couch, he sits like an old man trying to tell a terrible joke. Here’s our proof. And yes, I have noticed my kid has drool in most pictures I put up here.

So a priest and a rabbi went into a bar...

and they each ordered a drink ya see?

Mama, you're not listening...

aaah crap I forgot the punchline but it was hilarious!!!!!

Here is a little jewel I worked on today to remind you I’m still a nutjob.

 You’re welcome.

My darling boy is 4 months! How crazy is that?!

Bud,

You are becoming more and more interactive each day. You make the craziest sounds. You will squeal, squalk, and blow raspberries. Your dad and I will hear you in the early morning hours just babbling to yourself in your crib. You have given us plenty of laughs. You really crack your dad up when you start blowing raspberries with your mouth, you get so into it!

You are getting so strong with your neck! You just sit in my lap and I know it’ll be no time before you’re sitting up on your own. You have rolled over from front to back several times but as we’re seeing more and more of your personality, you only do it when you want to.

At your 4 month check up you were 13 lbs and 3 oz. and 25 3/8 inches long. You are definitely not going into heavy lifting but we all think you are the perfect weight. You are in the 80% for height and head circumference! I’m so glad you got your daddy’s height and not your mama’s! Your eyes are still as blue as they can be, your lashes are gorgeous, and your skin is so perfectly sweet.

You love to grab anything and everything. Mainly my clothes and my hair. Your mama’s latest accessory is your spit up. Homie- you are a vomit machine. You spit up a lot after each meal without thinking twice about it. In fact, you look at us like, “What? Doesn’t everyone puke after they eat?” No my son, only at the Playboy Mansion and Paris Hilton’s house.

I think we’re going to start you on rice cereal this week because you’ve started waking up at 4:45-5am instead of your normal 6:30am wake time. And you are ready to eat so I’m thinking you might need just a little extra calories before bedtime. Just like your mom.

We fall more in love with you every day and you should see your daddy’s face when he comes in the door from work. He can’t wait to get his hands on you! The weekends are his favorite time because yall get tons of quality time. I caught him sneaking into your nursery this morning as he was leaving for work and he came out with a guilty look on his face, “I just wanted to see him before I left…” He loves his boy.

Bud, you’re beyond awesome and we have the best time being your parents.

Love, Mama

P.S. I like to dress you in preppy clothes to embarrass your dad. It works (just in case you need some help in the future)

I found my feet!

This is my church outfit that totes embarrassed Dad

We really like embarrassing your Dad....