martin band of brothers | august 2017

august 2017

three little beach loving towheads 

portrait of my boys

RollingStone Shoot June 2017 

(haha) In all seriousness, we have that amazing frame wall at the top of our stairs that Mikey put up a few weeks ago that has been in dire need of new photos .. so one by one I snapped a few shots of our boys. I feel like these photos have captured our boys perfectly ... Amos, telling me about volcanoes -- hands behind his back -- contemplative (and looking so big), Solomon, roaring at me ... being his feisty normal self, and Ezra -- showing off his teeth behind sleepy Dino, eyes squinted with his tell-tell Ez smile & wispy blonde hair just beginning to grow. 

martin band of brothers | june 2017

We're thrilled to share that the Martin Band of Brothers is growing by one more little boy come October! Mikey and I are praying prayers of thanks and rejoicing over another healthy baby boy to add to our brood. We love this crazy bunch God has given us to shepherd & grow and can't wait to see what boy no. 4 adds to it. He's going to be super loved and super tough, that's for sure. These little boys are such a treasure and Mikey and I know how blessed we are.

And, I'll be honest. I like being the only girl in my house (: 

the spa at dawson road | 4 bubs in a tub

i know 4 boys who sure did enjoy the spa at dawson road the past few days! bubbles, jets, water so warm their skin turned lobster red ... PLUS daddy in the bath! what more could these boys want? we laughed a bubble covered faces and solly repeating "ho ho ho" and watched the bubbles seep over the side and spill onto the floor and cover just about every other surface within flinging distance (sorry OD & Cat ... let's just say, your bathroom got a good bubble scrub) 

cheers to tubs big enough for all my boys and a quiet moment for mama while daddy took "spa duty" 

martin band of brothers | may 2017

Amos 4.5

Solomon closer to 3 than 2

Ez 14 months 

You boys are the delight of my heart. We're in such a fun season with you all right now. Ez, you're almost walking. You're snuggly and so full of joy. You love to be outside, period. Solomon, my little lover boy. You tell me, "mama, i wuv you" all day long...and that you'll take care of me when I'm old. You're crazy brave and keep us on our toes. I'm honestly surprised we haven't had an ER trip for you yet (knock on wood). Mosie, you know all there is to know about volcanoes. You can tell us what states / countries have them, what the types are, all about the explosions...can we just have a volcano school project already?! You're so smart. We really love watching your little mind work. Sometimes we forget that you're only 4.5 (and not a teenager / adult) because of your facial expressions, understanding of things like sarcasm and your reasoning / bargaining skills. 

I love you boys to the moon and back. 

taking stock | my boys

These boys - my heart. 

Mikey, I know it can't last forever (or can it?), but I sure have enjoyed having you home over the past few weeks. You're good to me, to us. You love us well and I know that we'll look back on our "early retirement" with a smile.

Mosie Mo, four and half is tough. You're stretching us and challenging us daily. You're smart...so smart. We've loved learning about the things you're interested in (currently, volcanoes) and are so enjoying seeing your little mind grow. You're fun and interesting. You love the kid fit class at the gym and are the coolest ninja warrior we know. You're a daddy's boy, through and through and would probably attach yourself to his hip if you could. 

Solly Mack, 2.5 is my favorite age on you! You're kind and sweet. You are the loviest boy we have, by far. You tell me and daddy all the time (unprompted) that you love us. You're considerate in ways that I never would've thought a two year old would be. You're such a sweet middle brother - you love and look up to Amos and you're the best big brother to Ez. Y'alls relationship is one of my favorite things in the world right now. 

Ez-a-roo, you happy, happy boy! You are strong and rough, but also the snuggliest boy I've got. You have a ton of words, can climb up and down our entire staircase (17 stairs) unassisted (we're right with you, but you do it alone), are pulling up & cruising, and sleep through the night. We love who you are and how you fit perfectly as the 3rd brother. 

martin band of brothers | february 2017

feb. 2017

honey's driveway. bubbles. mama's new camera. 

martin band of brothers | january 2017

You three. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again: you make me crazy and keep me sane at the same time. Our days are simple. I've loved being home in our white house with y'all lately. We're spending any warm days jumping on the trampoline and walking down to the "nature park" that's right up the street. We're having picnics and drawing ninja courses in the driveway. These are the best days, I'm sure of it. 

 My Mosie. You're incredibly smart. You love to learn. Right now you're into volcanoes, twisters, jumping on the trampoline, Ninja Warrior (always Ninja Warrior), and anything involving daddy. You can write the entire alphabet ("R" is my favorite), know characters on cartoons that I didn't now you knew, know mama's phone number (as does Solomon) and our address. 

Solly, my sweet, sweet Solly. Two is my favorite age on you. You're sweet, fun, spunky, taking so well, into anything Mosie is into and the sweetest big brother. You're actually also a wonderful little brother - helping Mosie, whenever he asks you to get something for him. You're super content to be by yourself but also love to play with your brothers. 

Ezra!! How are we a little over a month out from your first birthday!? You are the happiest baby around. You absolutely love Mosie and Solly. You wake up early with Solomon and are happy watching whatever show he chooses in the morning until Mama's had coffee. You're sleeping through the night for the most part (thank you child) and nap a couple of times a day. You love to be on the trampoline with the big boys & can hold your own when they get rowdy. You're a strong little guy. 

#martinbandofbrothers I love you. Plain & simple. Thank you for making our ordinary life an adventure, every single day. 

martin band of brothers | december 2016

december 2016 

"Baby, all I want for Christmas is yoooouuuuuuuu..."

This Christmas season with you three has been my favorite. Moose, you love looking at the gifts under the tree, all wrapped in brown paper & twine. Solomon, your exclamations of excitement over the lights as we drive down the street will never ever get old. Ez, you've scooted your way over to the tree once now...I found you plunking the lowest branches, sending ornaments swishing in the air. 

I know that I will always remember our first Christmas in our white house as one of excitement. We've waited a long time to be here & while we're still a ways from being finished, it's so good to be home. 

martin band of brothers | november 2016

My requirement when picking out a new sink for our white house was that it was big & deep enough to bathe babies in  ... I think this one is just right. 

We're still without hot water, so we fill the electric kettle over and over until the sink is just full enough, then the two big boys scramble over the edge and plop in like it's the best thing in the world.  They love splashing in the sink & I love that they all fit. Win win. 

martin band of brothers | october 2016

Somehow you guys were all in a pretty darn good mood for the monthly #martinbandofbrothers pic. Until the end. Ez...that middle finger (you get it honest). 

i love you boys & i love bein' your mama 

the martin band of brothers | august 2016

martin band of brothers | august 2016

You boys. You make me crazy and sane at the same time. I feel like that's probably how this is going to go with you three for the rest of my life. I love being home with you boys & spending our days doing ordinary things - Monday's are for grocery shopping, Thursdays are for community group (AKA sleepovers for you boys), weekends are for donuts & working on the white house.

I've loved watching your friendships grow over the past few months. Amos, you're a great big brother. You comfort Ez in the car when he's upset (which is always). You and Solly are sweet buds..typical brothers, but buds. I've loved catching sweet moments of you two playing in our (crazy messy) temporary house - you showing Solomon your nerf guns, both of you jumping from the coffee table to the couch, building forts in your bedroom. These are the moments that I want to bottle up and put on a shelf for years down the road. Ez, you're utterly fascinated by and enthralled with your two big brothers. You watch them with googly eyes and just enjoy being around them. They'll take care of you buddy. They may get you in trouble and get you to do crazy things with them, but they'll always have your back. I can't wait to see who you're going to be & what you're going to bring to our pack of boys.

Thank you boys for being flexible over the past year. We've moved a lot. I won't lie - it's been tough to move our lives that many times...even for your gypsy mama. We've packed and unpacked, settled and resettled. BUT, we've finally moved our stuff in to the white house (hallelujah, thank you Jesus!). It's still got a ways to go, but we're H O M E. Daddy and I are so excited for our family to be in this house and to keep growing our family here. I'm so excited for  you big boys to share a room and for Ez to eventually move in with you. I hope that you're one day as proud of this house as mama and daddy are. We can't wait for y'all to grow up here and for the memories that are to be made.

#martinbandofbrothers I love you. Plain & simple. Thank you for making our ordinary life an adventure, every single day.

martin band of brothers | june 2016

you three. 

growing together. learning each other and the ways of the world. already looking our for each other and taking care of one another. 

we're soaking every last drop out of each day this summer. mornings on the front porch with buckets o' water & water balloons galore. days spent in the pool. evenings at the white house or playing at a park. popsicles between every meal. tan lines and little bodies that smell of sunscreen. sleep-dog and pac always in hand (solomon), ba carefully being toted along too (amos), and sleepy tiger along for the ride when mama remembers (ezra) 

these are the days we're living.