Fire and Ice, Ice {Baby}

It's still shock and amazement that we are now less than one week from having baby Abby join our family!

a few more tweaks to personalize the room

ready for their new roles...I couldn't talk Alex into the Biggest Bro shirt!

washing little clothes...we just increased our laundry load!

But even having nine whole months to prepare and adjust to adding another little one to the family...there never seems to be enough time!  And the last week especially seemed to speed up the days to her arrival! 

 

Last Friday, Elizabeth had her first field trip with our MOPS group to the local fire station.  She seems to love big trucks, so this was a really fun trip for her!

 

When we first arrived, we were able to experience a true fire emergency call first hand...one of the trucks left with sirens blaring and lights flashing headed to an electrical fire!

"There it goes!"

The kids were allowed to touch the fire truck, check out all the equipment and have a turn to sit in the driver's seat!

showing the kids how a firefighter looks in all the gear

 

Ellie and I had a fun morning and lots of respect for those who keep us safe and also take the time to talk to us about what they do!

 

That same day began the first of Emily's four performances for the annual Ice Show!  This year marked her fifth show...her very first when she was just 4-years old!

 

It's always the highlight of her year...especially the costume reveal!

great skaters and friends...Emillie, Tiffany, Maddy and Emily

The first routine included all the girls {and boy} in the A level group of skate club.  This is her first year in skate club and she was excited to be in not just one, but two routines...which also meant two dresses!

 

The second routine featured just the four {smallest & cutest} skaters in level A...

 

They did such a great job!  We are so proud of Emily and how far she's come from the very first time she stepped out on the ice!  It is one of her loves and it shows when she performs!  She truly shines!

 

It takes a lot of practice and dedication for a successful show...and as with any sport...it can affect the whole family.  And after a full week of rehearsals and 17 hours spent at the ice rink over the weekend...I am just so thankful to have been a part of a great dedicated group...and that I made it through with Abigail's full cooperation to stay put!

 

{Now, just one more weekend until we are a family of six!  We are so excited, anxious and a bit overwhelmed...but ready to meet Abigail!}

Dear {Abby}

{broken record alert...}
The time is going so fast! 

I still remember the exact day when we found out about baby #4 like it was yesterday {a trip to Target with Alex on a Sunday, Labor Day weekend, a hot flash and a rush of nausea on the way prompted a quick purchase to test if my instincts were true!}...and now we are closing in on meeting this sweet baby girl with just two weeks to go! 

And it was only just about one week ago that we all agreed on the name as a family...

Abigail Marie Martin

We are so excited to meet you and have you complete our family! 

We've been getting busy {trying} to organize closets and clothes and prepare for having another little one join our family!

Emily and Elizabeth have become great roommates...and Elizabeth is happy to help get the nursery ready for her little sister! 

seems like we were just getting this room ready for Ellie...

ready to love her little sis

I'm the big sister now!

Big brother Alex has been a great helper too...he was eager to put the baby glider together...and he did a wonderful job all on his own...{with just a little supervision on my part}

So the countdown is on...

{Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.}

So many things in life are uncertain, but no matter what...we have experienced nothing but joy at the small blessing of life that was created to us...and expect nothing but joy once we hold you in our arms!

...and soon these arms will be completely full!

...and even though we can't wait to meet our sweet Abigail...

I wish I could s-l-o-w time just a bit to savor these very last movements, jabs, hiccups and having an awesome reason to eat ice cream like it's going out of style before she makes her grand entrance into the world!

{...to be continued...}

{Spring} Fever

It's been a typical winter season here...but we are finally having some wonderful Spring weather, sunshine, green grass and blooming trees and flowers!  So we have been soaking it up while we can...the weather, after all keeps plunging from the 70s and 80s back to the 40s in the blink of an eye.

Last weekend, we had a great visit with Aunt Nicole, Hunter and Grammy!  They weren't able to celebrate Emily's birthday or Christmas with us this year, so they came with gifts!  They all enjoyed Emily's new pogo stick...and she and Alex were also happy to receive iTunes gift cards!

So excited to try her new pogo stick!

Elizabeth and Grammy- it was a windy day!

Alex trying out the pogo!

I'm so excited that my sis and I will both be having baby girls very soon...just about six weeks apart!  Obviously...I have a little bit more baby than she does! ha!

This week we enjoyed more outdoor time...yard work, playground fun, swimming and a little rocket launching contest!  {Mostly, I've been a happy admirer sitting by the sidelines watching all the activity...this baby belly has been a bit uncomfortable these last few weeks!}

enjoying the playground while Emily is ice skating

having a fun morning at home!

watching Dan and the kids go for an evening walk/bike ride,
while me and my belly take a few moments of quiet time

enjoying a popsicle on a pretty day after MOPS!

three eager swimmers!  First swim of the season! 
Thankful for the heated pool...but the air was still a bit chilly!

Alex got a new rocket in his Easter basket this year, and this weekend was a perfect time to build it!  He and Dan were going to have a contest to see if his rocket or the one Dan built a few years would go the furthest!

Ready to launch at Brown County State Park!

"Which way will it go?"

heading out to set it up!

Daddy goes first...
his rocket went really high, but the parachute didn't open up!

watching for the rocket!

"Watch out!"

Alex's turn

Blast off!

Alex's rocket went so high I lost sight of it, until it started to come down! 
We lost both rockets in the woods, but look forward to coming back and trying again!



windy sisters

Now that we've been spoiled with such nice weather...we get to look forward to a true Spring forecast for the week...rain, rain, rain...and back in the 40s by weekend.  We will be having Spring Fever for a bit longer it seems...but at least there is no snow in the forecast!