We're Makin Progress Now

Take a look at all the colors we've finally settled on for the house. Green is living room (It's the middle one), orange is hallway, grey is our bedroom and teal is Hazel's room. Super excited to get these started (Dad's working on trim today) and see how different my house looks. We've lived with that mocha brown for so long, I can't imagine anything else. Picking out actual colors has been a challenge and a stretch for me. I'm not very adventurous when it comes to paint because it's a lot of work to redo it if you hate it. I tend to lean more toward the safer side of things. Dad always helps me step out though and do something fun and creative. I always end up liking it once it's up but it's a nail bitter till it gets there. I'm for some reason the most nervous about the green but know it will look amazing once it's done. I'm TOTALLY in love with the color for Hazel's room. I originally wanted to just stick with browns in there. Not get crazy but once I saw the orange in the hallway I knew something more fun was in order. So excited to see her room all put together. Still don't have bedding but that's my fault.

In other news. It's the day before Thanksgiving (In case you've been asleep for a long time or something). There are a total of five people (that's counting myself) on my floor at work today. I knew it would be like that but I'm always amazed how empty the parking lot is. I'm almost certain going home early is in my future. I tried to save some work to do today because I knew it would be just super dead. We'll see how long I actually have to stay.

Happy Turkey Day to everybody!

Things to Look Forward To...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unrulythings/2186340763/in/set-72157603720643491/

I miss my flat belly (I never realized how flat it was till it wasn't anymore. boo.) and cute jeans. Looking forward to holding my baby girl and seeing my feet again sometime soon. Well, not like it's next week or anything but soon in the grand scheme of life...

I'm also looking forward to a new fancy camera. It's all I really want for christmas, new year, valentines day, birthday, 8th year anniversary. Yeah, I figure it will be the last thing I get for awhile but it will be worth it because I can bring you amazing shots that only I can come up with. With Hazel on the way I feel more than ever like I need to document life each day. I've not done a great job of it so far but soon my job will change and I'll have more time to just think up new things/ways to photograph things. New fancy cameras help a lot too.

It's Almost Here!!!

I am so excited for Thanksgiving this year. I'm excited to see my family but also excited to eat. I mean this year, I won't have to worry if I want hat extra roll. I'll just eat with with butter and not worry about the calories because I can. I'm so excited. My friends and I have been talking about Thanksgiving food all morning. It's always interesting to me to hear what people's family signature dish is. Each family has one. I would say ours in the noodles. I miss getting up early with my Grandma Ann to roll out the noodles on her huge oval kitchen table. I can't wait to make memories like that with Hazel. It's hard though because you never know what things end up making a lasting memory in someones head. This year we're doing something different. We normally try and go to one family or the others for the day of but this year we're kind of going to both. First Dad's side for pre meal snack and hello. Then over to my Mom's hubbies family's house for the actual day of meal. Then leaving Friday around noon to drive down to John's family and lunch with them. I'll certainly get my fill of yummy food. I can't wait for my Mom's banana muffins, John's sisters stuffed mushrooms and Aunt Bev's sour cream mashed potatoes. Seriously, I'm drooling just thinking about all this food.

Infectious Giving

Giving always becomes a topic during the holidays. Most people think of giving either of presents to loved ones or tossing a few coins in the little red buckets as you enter the grocery store but I've been trying to think of this topic in a new way this season (and hopefully into the future). Infectious giving is what comes to mind. I'm not talking purely about monetary giving. I'm talking time, resources, food, sometimes it's just a smile for a stranger. I'm asking God to show me new ways I can give of myself each day for Him.

Our church is doing an amazing thing this year. They've set out to donate 10,000 pounds of food to local shelters and local families in need. That's a huge number and seems impossible to me alone but every week thousands of pounds of food get delivered by people around the northland that want to help out. It's been amazing. John and I filled up eight grocery bags for the cause this time. It feels so good to give stuff away. It's always nice to get stuff but it's far more rewarding to give it away. Not everyone has money or time to give away, that's understandable BUT if God has blessed you with something (time, money, a passion for a specific cause), use it. Give it away like it's on fire. God's blessed John and I in the area of money right now and I'm so thrilled to be able to buy food for needing families or to buy a new coat for a teenage girl who's family can't afford a new one. It helps me keep my life in perspective. Seriously, how many pairs of shoes do I really need? How many lip glosses can I really use at once? I often feel like we get caught up in the things we want and neglect to think about why God's given us the resources we have. I'm not suggesting we sell our homes, move into shacks and give all our personal belongings away. I think God wants us to enjoy our lives (Get new shoes, have cozy bed sheets, eat out sometimes) but I also think He calls us to be wise with our lives. Wise with our resources.

These are just random thoughts I've tried to put together to make full sentences. I know it possibly doesn't make a lot of sense at this point. I'm sure I'll continue to bring pieces of this puzzle out in the coming weeks. Below is an article I linked to from our pastor's blog. It's basically about infectious giving. Take a read...

http://inmed.us/news.asp

Nesting

To start with, I'm totally in love with these little rubber stamps from Target. I think I'm going to have to order these for fun projects in the future.

Yesterday I mentioned I cleaned my house and was kinda freaked about it. That feeling only compounded itself when I got home last night and realized all I had to do was make dinner. Even Hazel's (well Dad's temp room starting tomorrow) room is clean. John and I were marveling at how never in our marriage have we not had a junk room or at least corner. The only place left to tackle is my crafting desk. It's covered in, well crafting stuff. I don't really have enough storage for all that and I find myself wanting to get into other crafts now as well. One step at a time I guess.

Who Are You and What Have You Done With Naomi?

I started out today by getting up around six and cleaning my house. That's right, cleaning. Weird huh? Then I made breakfast. Like I actually cooked something for myself to eat before work. Equally strange. But, the really testament to how strange my behavior is today is that I just ordered a bunch of stuff from Lands End. LANDS END, PEOPLE. I've always thought of them as a place where preppy folks bought all their stuff. I've looked at their site briefly a few summers ago for a swim suit but that's the extend of my love for them. All that changed recently when I got a random catalog in the mail. I flipped through it out of boredom really because what is a pregnant lady going to buy from the preppy catalog? Well, apparently my taste has changed considerably. I found tons of things I was drooling over (mostly coats, hats, tote bags) and wasn't even ashamed of myself. Maybe it's the pregnant hormones talking but they have some great prices on some great stuff. Pretty much any basics you could need (t shirts, sleep pants, robes, house slippers, cardigans, winter stuff, tote bags, swimwear, winter boots, etc) they have it. I've grown into a fairly no frills basics girl and when winter rolls around each year I reach for anything that is going to be soft and keep me warm. This year in particular I have a mild obsessive love for fleece. No idea. Again, totally out of character for me but I can't get enough. I'm also in love with these puffy vest things. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I'm telling you all, the body snatchers have arrive and took me first...
BTW, The pics aren't the things I bought but if I didn't have a preggy belly I would. I got things like hat, scarf, gloves, house slippers, etc. I'm excited to get a puffy jacket and vest next year though AND wear real jeans again.

Not Much

Not much to say today from the Land of Naomi. Glad it's Friday. A cold weekend is a head but thankfully everything we are going to be doing will be inside. I'm planning to do a major clean/rearrange starting tonight. I guess I'm feeling that nesting feeling. I've been looking around the house and realizing we have so much stuff. So much stuff we don't ever use or really don't like. My plan is to keep the stuff we love and use. I will pack up any clothing I currently can't fit into but other than that, I plan to make a large haul to the goodwill. I'm excited to focus on one thing at a time till it's done. Not sure why.

In other news, Dad's coming to town. Next week my Dad's coming to KC to paint the entire inside of my house. Walls, trim, the works. It's in desperate need and I'm so excited!!! Excited to have him here for a unexpected visit AND excited to have fresh paint on the walls. Haven't decided on a color yet. I'm terrible at paint colors for some reason. He's REALLY good at it though and I'm hoping he can give me some help there.

Also, I've purchased some cute things recently that I haven't shared (nothing fabulous but little things make me happy these days). The coffee maker was an extremely awesome gift for our anniversary. Boy do I love it...

New canisters, new knee high stockings, some pretty flowers, some fuzzy yarn that is planned to be a cute bunny animal for my Hazel. Also, in the shot with my canisters, you can see a tiny orange bowl. That's actually a set of really cool tiny bowls/measuring cups that I'm totally in love with. I'm on an orange kick again.

5:00pm can't come soon enough today...

Weekend

The weekend has come and gone. Rather quickly I must admit. Saturday Gran and I braved the cold to do some furniture shopping. We ended up leaving with only a few kitchen items. Had dinner at one of our favorite places.

Lovely food and company. Woke up feeling yucky for our seventh anniversary. I think my sinus thing has either returned or was just hiding for a bit because it's back with a score to settle. I managed to drag myself out of bed for some quick errands and a lovely gift. Napped on the couch for a while and then realized I was gonna have to pull myself up and be awake for our dinner plans later that night. We ended up going to Lidia's Italian Kitchen. It's such a lovely place and the food is always good.

The restaurant itself is gorgeous and I'm always just in love with the decor every time we go. This is the huge stone fireplace near the entrance. The lighting is so dim in this place I couldn't get a great shot but you get the idea. So cool. Also, they have three of these amazing Dale Chihuly light fixtures down the middle that's I'm totally blow away by every time as well. What that guy can do with glass is amazing!

Montage to The Cuteness That Is John

Since we've been together SEVEN years this weekend, I thought it only fitting to do a mini montage to my husband. We've had many many funny times together.

Like this one for example...

This was before we tried to cross that water you see behind us. We of course got the thing stuck and the funniest story every told unfolded. All I will say is that it involved my mom standing in her underwear in the middle of that water trying to pull us out using her pants as a tow rope. I'm laughing so hard I'm crying just thinking about it.

Next, we have...

This funny shot is of John dressed up for my dad's pirate birthday party. That in itself isn't the funny part. They funny part came when we all came home late full of piss and vinegar. The boys decided to steal the target practice deer from the neighbor behind them to put on the back porch looking into the kitchen window of the other neighbor. I'm pretty sure they started WW3.

Then we have...

This was from my 25th birthday party. We had a huge bash at Gran's house with family and work folks. Tons of food and of course booze. I'm not sure if it was the mixing of the booze or the excitement of all the new people he's met that night but we found John a few hours later passed out hugging the toilet in my Grandma's bathroom with the towel bar ripped off the wall. He spent the night in there as he was completely against sleeping in an actual bed that night.

Last but certainly not least. The Darth Martin head gear. He used to wear this to play video games till I made him put it in the attic. I'm a mean and evil wife, I know.

I gotta say, he always manages to keep me laughin. Love his guts more than I can ever say.

New Cuteness For Me

New Corso Como brown mary jane heels. I've been looking forever for the perfect pair and here they are. Best of all, they were on sale!!!

Secondly, super cute white mini bird planter my mom sent me as a gift a few weeks ago. It's such a sweet piece and I think it will have to go in Hazel's room. By the way, the lighting in my house really sucks.

Finally Friday. We're having dinner tonight with some friends, I'm going out furniture shopping with my Gran tomorrow and then Sunday is our 7th wedding anniversary. Amazing that it's been seven years. We both always say it seems like we haven't been together all that long but that is seems like we've known each other our entire lives. I can't wait to share our special day together again this year and many more to come...

Not much going on with me today. The weekend was nice. Nice weather for sure. We saw the movie Eagle Eye Saturday night. LOVE Shia (the main actor) in just about everything he's done so far. It's an action-y movie per usual for me. I sometimes wonder why I'm not one of those deep, art movie type of people but I'm totally not. I want stories to play out and make sense and then at the end be done (and preferably a happy ending. I know that happy endings aren't always reality but I think they is enough sad in this world without having to make movies about it too). Anyway, good action for those of you, like me, that like action.

Also, the time change spent the entire weekend messing with my head. I'm finally getting around to liking the idea of it (not that I had much choice). I got up an hour early today and felt totally awake. I got a ton of little things done around the house before I had to leave for work. I felt like Wonder Woman!

Tonight John and I are going to try and tame the wild forest of leaves in our front year. We have to huge trees in the front and a ton of big-ish ones in the back. Our little old people neighbors are out in their yards every morning raking leaves and trying to make us feel bad. Hasn't worked so far but I am getting tired of every time I open the front door a gust of crunchies fly in. The cat loves it, I however have to sweep it up.

Hope everyone was able to get out and vote today. As I get older I see more and more the importance of it. I've heard horror stories today of people waiting in line for around 3 hours to make their mark. Crazy times.

Happy Halloween

No, this is not my pumpkin. Wish it was. I actually totally forgot about this holiday until I was driving to work and cute kids at the bus stop had funny hats and such on. I was like "What's up with that?" Then I remembered. Sad really given that this is John's favorite holiday (Besides our anniversary, I'm sure). We never seem to get around to decorating or even making plans for the big night. We don't pass out candy or anything. We're so lame. I know that will all change now that Hazel is on the way. John is already talking about taking her out trick or treating and what fun costumes she might like. More important to him, HE will get to dress up and not feel silly for doing so. He's so cute. He's a little photo of us from years ago on Halloween.
Who knows what we're going on about. Bet you can't guess what is costume is. ZOMBIE...

Glad today is Friday. This week has seemed long but only really because I spent two entire days of it at home, sick. I'm better-ish now. Sinus stuff doesn't just go away seems like. I'm excited however because this weekend, we have NOTHING planned. Other than church but nothing else. I'm sure we will decide we want to go and do something at some point but it feels nice to not have plans. I hope to just work around the house and relax. Seriously, we never relax and do nothing. I think the weather is suppose to be really nice too, so hopefully we can spend some time outdoors with our little girls.

In other unimportant to anyone but me news. Awhile back I got an award at work and part of it was $100. I saved it forever because honestly I wanted to spend it on the right thing. Something I would love forever. That's a hard thing to find. Well I did it. I've been searching for the perfect brown purse for I can't even remember how long. Looked everywhere seems like but couldn't find anything I was in LOVE with. Finally came across one by The Sak and spent a few weeks thinking it over. Did it have the right amount of pockets? Was it the color I wanted? Was it to big? John was about to go crazy from me talking about this stupid purse already! Anyway, ordered it last week and got it this week. OMG, I love it so much. It's just perfect and will even be perfect when Hazel comes a long because it's big enough I could use it as a mini diaper bag for quick trips to the store and such. I'm in total love. I keep getting it out of my work drawer so I can just look at it. Behold...

Yes, these are the things that excite me these days. That and all the INSANELY cute baby clothes out there. Anyway, hopefully you all will have a lovely weekend filled with nothing to do just like us.

Hat Obsession

So if you know me at all, you know I'm totally obsessed with hats. I don't tend to wear a lot of them in summer but as soon as those leaves start falling my head starts itchin for some sort of covering. I get this love of hats from my Dad of course. He's been a hat man forever (even though he's resorted recently to the dreadful Titans cap. Yeah, I'm watching you buddy!). Last year I got a great new coat that's black and white tweed with big black buttons. I love it but my hat, scarf, gloves combo are always so drab. This year I'm hoping to get something a lot more fun and pretty to livin up the wintry weather. Here are my hat picks for today (All from Urban Outfitters):

Growin...

So as I promised last week (well sometime) I got a better picture of my belly for you. Here I am in all my splendid pregnant glory...

She's nearly a foot long now. We keep calling her out little chili cheese coney. Last night I had a terrible time sleeping. She was awake and kicking around 1am. Got up and had some choc milk to calm her down. Just like her mom a good dose of sugar will chill her right out. Finally got back to sleep on the couch (yes the couch. The bed really isn't very comfortable for some reason) and then around three something I woke up with a cramp in my leg. Up walking around for ten minutes trying to get it to calm down. Alarm at 5:30. Sigh...

At least today is sunny though. Hopefully that will keep me awake and motivated to work. Hopefully.

As Requested...

Been a few requests recently for a updated belly shot. Here you go. I do plan on getting some not so terrible shots at some point. She's really sticking out these days. Only to get bigger I know. She's moving around a lot too. Sometimes she kicks so hard it makes me jump. We have another doctors appointment next Monday. I've never been to the doctor so much in all my life.

This weekend was good. John had to work Saturday, so I stayed home and cleaned up the house and took a lot of breaks. Getting harder to do things I'm used to doing. Like clean the toilet for example. Our plumbing has been acting up lately. John had to come home from work and work on our house more Saturday night. Sad but we got it all fixed I think. Sunday he got up early and went off to his sky diving class. That's right, sky diving. He's always wanted to do it and as nervous as it makes me, I wouldn't be a good wife if I kept him from doing something like that just because it scares me. He had to take a five hour safety and procedures course and then they were suppose to jump. However, the wind was just a little to high yesterday and he had to get a rain check. So sometime within the next 30 days, John will be jumping out of a plane. Yikes! He's excited though.

Got a new book this weekend. "Twilight". I really know very little about it but I've heard a lot of people talking about it. I know it's a vampire book and that they are making a movie of it that is to be released soon. I picked it up at Target to just read while waiting on John to look at games and it seems easy to read but also could have a good story. I guess it's one of like four in a series. Just what I need. Another series to get painfully hooked on and then devastated once I've read the last book. I still can't manage to get past the last Harry Potter book. Anyway, haven't started it yet. I'll keep you posted.

Cute pic for today (besides my beastly belly), Emma looking oh so sweet in one of our chairs. She's never laid in this chair before or since. I think she was just looking for a photo opp.

I'm In Love With A Sock Monkey

Or actually a variation of one. A friend shared this site with me today and I'm over the moon for a ton of stuff here:

http://www.blablakids.com/

I can't decide between the cute little bug guy and the long legged rabbit. Both are equally as cute and match Hazel's room. Decisions, decisions.

They also have tons of other cute for your liking. Rattles, blankets, backpacks, sweaters, pants and so on. I'm in obsessive love over the bird rattles too. Imagine!

Yucky Day

What a rainy yucky day outside! Makes me want to bake. I find this my common response to gross weather recently. I'm eyeing a recipe I just saw for something called Sour Cream Apple Pie. I think it's a must for this week. If it turns out good, I'll put the recipe here.

This weekend went by like lightning. Friday night Granny and I went out for a little shopping fun but returned fairly empty handed. Saturday John and I got up and drove down to the lake for his Grandpa's 80th birthday party. It was more fun than I thought. Partly because I got to spend most of the day holding my sister in law's sweet 5 week old baby girl. Something about that made this entire thing click for me. I know being a mother 24/7 isn't like that but looking at that little girl made me just melt all the worries I have away. I can't imagine when it's Hazel there in my arms. Anyway, we drove down and back on Saturday. 6 hours in the car isn't my idea of a good day but we managed. Sunday we did church, then another birthday party (tailgate for my great aunt Bev), then home to fix a known plumbing issue that's been brewing for awhile. Being married to a plumber has it's perks people (Besides the fact that he's so cute that my head very nearly explodes every time I get home from work and he's there). Thankfully all is functioning properly now and we can have clean clothes and bodies again.

More later...

Oh The Torture!!!

Seriously, Amy Butler. Stop it right now. Stop with the cuteness that makes it so hard for me to decide on bedding fabrics for my little girl. I have enough problems without you making such cute stuff!!!

We're going with teals, greens and browns for Miss H's room. I'm not a pink person. Now comes the terrible task of narrowing it down. Sigh...

Her Name and Other Cuteness

So we've decided on a name for our little girl. The one who is coming so quickly it seems I'm sitting in the first class section of a speeding bullet train towards motherhood.

Announcing...Hazel Verna Martin.

Yes, it's unusual. We are aware of that fact and are quite ok with it. We are an unusual pair of people and I'm sure our little birdie will be just as unique as her parents. We thought and discussed for a long time and finally landed for sure on this one. The first name is just one we both love. Old lady-ish but cute (just like my name). The middle name is my beautiful great grandmother's name in which I knew from the start I wanted if she was a she.

In other cute baby news, we're slowly getting the room ready now. We've got the crib up (pictures to come. Honestly I've had no life but my job for the past month) and are getting ready to order her rocker soon. I have some art ideas and I'm working on picking out the rug. I'll be excited to see it all put together once it's done. Hopefully that will be before She arrives.

Lately, I've been totally immersed in work. Not by my choosing but because sometimes your job demands things of you and you have no choice but to just give up and get happy about it. Today is the last day of our huge yearly client conference in which we have literally thousands of our clients in one spot doing tons of meetings, education session and just general getting together. This takes months of planning and hundreds of people to support. I always seem to end up one of them. We also have another big event going on tomorrow all day in which I've been pulled in to help with. These things always require long hours but most of the time turn out to be some fun along the way. Thankfully life will return to normal after this week is over.

Today I took a little time out to do some online clothes oggeling. I've been in down right obsessive love with Eileen Fisher clothing for awhile now but don't think I've mentioned it here. I'm in love with the simplicity of the clothing but how when you pair different things together you can make some very comfy, cozy and really cute outfits. Here are some of the things from the Fall collection I'm totally into:

These images are a bit small. Sorry. Best I can do but check out the website if you are interested in seeing more. Really pretty stuff here. www.eileenfisher.com

I promise I will soon get back to photos from my life and actual stories about stuff you might care about soon. More later...

Kindness

I've been thinking a lot lately (praying a lot too) about our little girl that is on the way. Wondering what she will look like, who's features she will get but mostly who she will be. Rather how she will be. I keep coming back to the words: kind, merciful, loving. I've been reading about those words and what they mean. I find myself wondering if I'm those things and if I'll be a good example for her as she grows up. Today I read this story and I hope and pray to be aware enough of others around me to give them what they need. I also hope and pray my little one can learn that people like this man, selflessly giving of his time and emotions, are how you show God's face in this amazingly grey world. Enjoy this today:

The Cab Ride I'll Never Forget
by Kent Nerburn

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One time I arrived in the middle of the night for a pick up at a building that was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.
So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute," answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.
"It's nothing," I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated."
"Oh, you're such a good boy," she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"
"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.
"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice."
I looked in the rear view mirror. Her eyes were glistening.
"I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long."
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. "What route would you like me to take?" I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.
"Nothing," I said.
"You have to make a living," she answered.
"There are other passengers."
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you."
I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware—beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.