Swim lessons

Emory is not a fan of swimming. Actually she's not a fan of having water in her face at all. It's been a constant battle in the shower for years!! This year was our second year with Emory in lessons and of course our first year with Gavin. Classes are Monday-Thursday for 45 minutes each day for 2 weeks.

I would say Emory has made huge strides this year. She went from not even puttting her face in the water to swimming short distances! She just needs to get more confidence and less timidity!

Gavin did well with his lessons as well. He wasn't a fan of going under water but stopped screaming at me after the first day. He's still not a fan of being on his back but he's getting better. As you can tell in the pictures below, Gavin's class was parent and child. With Emory's class, the parents didn't watch until the last day. Gavin's favorite thing was hanging on the ladder! He's a climber and was no different in the pool! Sheesh! We are going to have our hands full!!

Gavin and Daddy watching Emory swim

Gavin's turn in the water

He loved the ladder...as you can see!

Bedtime Giggles

This boy loves his sister!

What do you think?!

Emory is 9 months and Gavin is 10 months!

A Monster of a Party--Gavin turns ONE!

It's been a week since Gavin's party so I thought I would finally write a post. I took so many pictures...or rather my sister did...that I made collages out of them so not to have too many pictures! There were too many cute ones that I couldn't make up my mind!

First let's start with...I CAN'T BELIEVE MY BABY IS A YEAR OLD!!!!! He grew up WAY too fast. Good thing we have another one coming! Ha! I have to say it was slightly depressing to have my emails from Babycenter change from"Your Baby this Week" to "Your Toddler this Week." Sheesh. Like I wasn't having enough of a problem and they throw that at me...he's a toddler now!  And while he isn't walking yet...it won't be long...he is into EVERYTHING which means we have reached the toddler phase! I feel like I say "no-no" to him way more than I did Emory! "No-no Gavin don't play in the toilet." "No-no Gavin don't unroll the roll of toilet paper." "No-no Gavin don't climb on the dishwasher door." Now of course the last one I'm kind of ok with...if it breaks I HAVE to get a new one! :) Just kidding (not really)!

A year in (picture) review.

The party was a HUGE success and super cute! We had a monster theme because we call him our little monster, since he's into everything and so curious. It would not have been possible without my wonderful, creative friend Leslie.  I sent her a text about 2 weeks before the party and asked if she would lend her creative genius...and boy did she!! I told her the theme and to check my board on Pinterest and she ran with it! The only thing I contributed, craft wise, was the monster wreath that I had on the front door. It took me as long to do the wreath as it did for her to make all the other crafts!

The decor!

Leslie came the Saturday before the party and made the gift bags, the water bottles, and glued googly eyes on everything. Through out the week she made the little monsters that are in the red bucket on the table! I'm telling you she is awesome! She even came over Friday night and helped decorate for the party. The party was at 3pm on Saturday and we had everything set up and ready to go by 11pm Friday night! Definitely made Saturday morning go much smoother! The streamers are still hanging because I can't bring myself to take them down! She spent so much time and effort on them!

The guests!

This was an attempt to put a party hat on him. As you can see he was NOT a fan! He was fine after he had his food again.

Monster smiles!

He LOVED his cake and actually ate most of what you see missing.

 Thank you to all who came out to the party to celebrate our little monster's first year of life! He has been a true blessing and more than we could have ever asked for! He surprised us by coming 2 weeks early and has kept us on our toes every day since! We love you Gavin Rigney Martin!!

Kids Camp 2013

Emory had her first "big girl" camp this past Saturday. She really wanted to spend the night (it was a 2 night overnight camp or a "day camp") but I didn't think she was REALLY ready for that...or maybe I wasn't ready for that! Anyway, she had a great time and says..."next year I am spending the night mom!!" Got it!! Next year I can do!

Because she was a day camper, Chase was required to go with her.  She was VERY disappointed about this and gave Chase strict instructions to stay away from her! Chase said "I love you too Emory" to which she replied "I didn't say I didn't love you. I just don't want you to come near me at camp!" Some days her independence amazes me and other days she still seems SO young (I'm really referring to her non adventurous side! i.e. swimming, riding a bike, etc).

I sent the camera with Chase in hopes to get a few pictures...and a few pictures is what I got...I had to make a special request to get one of them together!

 Demonstrating the donut game...

 This picture makes me giggle!

 Miss Priss

 The Day Campers...I love that Chase wasn't concerned about taking a picture with someones head and arm in the way...hey at least I got a picture!  :)

After coming down the big slide during water play...apparently she got some air on the way down!

I believe Miss Amanda has recruited Chase to be a counselor next year for the overnight camp...I wonder what Emory will think about that?!

A weekend FULL of memories!

Memorial day weekend was one of the best weekends we've had in a long time! We were home and Chase didn't have to work! So we got to spend all 3 'off days' together and it was wonderful! We had toyed with the idea of going to Jacksonville for the weekend but the idea of traveling was daunting...Gavin is not the best traveler. He gets bored and he HATES to be contained! We should have known...he moved so much when I was pregnant with him that when he wasn't moving for over a minute or two I would worry! Not to mention he came 2 weeks early--hence the dislike of containment! It ended up working out for the best that we decided not to travel. Chase didn't get home Friday night until almost 9! It would have been a VERY late night of travel!

Anyway, Saturday started off our wonderful, memory-filled weekend...

Our first adventure...The Tennessee Renaissance Festival! We have lived in Nashville for 6 years now and every year we say we are going to go to this thing! It is open every weekend in May and Memorial Day. If you've ever driven down 840 and seen the "castle" on the hill, that is where it is held. We didn't get to see the castle this year because we got there too late but we still enjoyed our time. The weather was perfect and the company of my family was even better!
 

 Chase the pack mule!

 He was happy here, but he didn't last long in the carrier...containment problem!

 Emory ready to go!

 Face painting.

 

 Is anyone surprised she picked flowers?! The orange ribbon is because her daddy's favorite color is orange.

 The boys!

 The girls!

 Emory riding on the man powered "Ferris Wheel"

 

 Gavin and I waiting on the jousting tournament to start (and for daddy and sissy to come join us).

 Chase bought Emory a headdress thing.

 Family photo...not the best but it was the end of our day by then!

 The knights!

 We were cheering for the "UAB" knight. You can kind of see him here, well the back end of him and his horse!

We had a great time. Our only complaint was that we spent most of our time waiting in line for food...I had to have a turkey leg, which I meant to get a picture of, but was too covered in grease to get the camera out! I can mark that off my list now though...not my favorite! We learned our lesson though, next time we will get there when the park opens and maybe not wait until the last weekend in May to go!

Saturday night we attended a party for a friend of ours that received his one year chip that weekend! We are so very proud of Bret and the man he has become over the last year!

Sunday we slept in and spent our time getting ready. We then loaded up and did a little shopping around Providence and ate lunch at a new restaurant in our area...Blue Coast Burrito! If anyone knows my husband, they know he has an obsession with burritos...it's his life goal to open his own shop one day.

That evening we attended the 5pm service at our church (I think this may become the service we attend on weeks we don't serve in the nursery). We like this service because it gives you a whole other "saturday" with your family. Plus there's no rushing around to get EVERYONE ready early Sunday morning so no arguments occur.  :)

After church, since we were already out that way, we drove to Watertown and saw a drive-in movie. The screen we were on was showing Epic and Iron Man 3. We had already seen Ironman but we're hoping the kids would fall asleep and we could watch it again (they woke up about 30 minutes in). It is 7.50 per adult and Emory is still free this year, for 2 new release movies...can't beat that! Not to mention the food out there is actually good and doesn't break the bank! (I forgot to take pictures dang it!)

Monday we drove out to the Jimmy Floyd Center in Lebanon to enjoy the pool. Memorial Day weekend is not complete without a visit to some body of water! We live within 10 minutes of 2 lakes but opted for the pool.

 They have one of those zero degree entrance pools and Gavin loved just sitting there and splashing. It was FREEZING but it was hot so it was SLIGHTLY refreshing...if you'd sat and baked for a while...I'm hoping the water warms up soon!

 He enjoyed the splashing until it got in his face...this was courtesy of his sister.

 

 Going down the slide for the first time.

"little momma" helping feed little man. This boy can eat!!

We ended our weekend by, of course, grilling out! Because what would a summer holiday weekend be, without burgers on the grill?! Can't wait for the next long weekend and time with our wonderful little family!

Gavin's Dedication

This past Sunday (May 19th--I started this post a while ago and had trouble getting the pictures to load!) was a VERY busy day for the Martins. We served in the first service at church, attended the second service, and dedicated Gavin at the beginning of the 3rd. (leaving immediately for Emory's dance recital after...see posts below).

We procrastinated slightly in getting Gavin dedicated but we've been busy and our church has had A LOT of babies recently so it took a while to get on the list!

My sister came in town for the occasion (the dedication and recital) so she was able to take a few pictures for us.

 Four families were dedicating their children.

 He was flirting with the girls on the front row!

 The Glass family said they would pray for Gavin and our family.

Family photo.