This is a few days late, but on Saturday we celebrated Marty's first birthday. I love watching my kids grow and learn new things, but it also makes me sad because I realize they're one year closer to making me an empty nester. I know, that's a long way away but it's still coming faster than I want.
As I thought back to a year ago, I can't help but laugh about Marty's birth experience. It wasn't quite what we planned, but so memorable that I wouldn't change it for anything. Here's the short and sweet version for those of you who haven't heard the story. Josh and I dropped Vince and Aubs off to a friend and headed to the hospital early that morning for me to be induced. Hours and hours later not much was happening so around 6:00 pm Josh called his brother to meet us at the hospital to take the kids to his house for the night. Josh went to our friends, picked up the kids, and came back to the hospital. By that time, things had actually started rolling and I was within 30 minutes of delivery. We called Josh's brother to tell him he'd have to come up to the Labor & Delivery floor to pick up the kids and he informed us he was just leaving their house (about 45 minutes away). Needless to say, we were speechless, panicked, nervous, scared, etc. We didn't know what to do with our two children who would soon be welcoming a baby (we didn't know boy or girl). So, with help from the nurses and doctors - which were awesome with the whole predicament - our kids were able to be in the room with us when I delivered Marty. It was so fun to hear them saying things like, "I can't see anything yet", "Is it a boy or girl", and so many other cute things. It was fun to share the experience of finding out the gender with them. They were awestruck by having a new baby brother. Wondering when Josh's brother arrived? About 10 minutes later. It turned out great because the kids were able to meet Marty before they left. It was just another eventful birth for our family. We can't do it any other way. Something always has to be crazy with our deliveries. Makes me wonder what the next one will be like...I'm not announcing, don't worry!
So, to celebrate Marty in our life I decided to do a post about Marty's first year of life. Here goes... (this will be long...consider yourself warned!)
Welcome Martin Allen Grant!
Hi Sis!
Happy Family
Being born is hard work!
1 day old
First Bath
At 2 weeks, Marty was in the hospital for a week with RSV and then home with monitors, oxygen, etc. for another week. This is his first day home from his hospital stay.
First sledding outing
One month
Some pics I took at about 1 mo. old
Blessing Outfit
Look at these rolls! Why don't mine look that cute?
Enjoying the back yard
No more pictures Mom!
Hiking. He knows how to do it right!
Just cute!
Having fun in the stroller.
At the beach
So tired!
Camping fun
He loves peaches! During bottling season anytime I left a box of peaches on the floor he would sneak one. When it was quiet in the house I would start looking for him and find him in the corner eating a peach as fast as he could. When I would give them to him in his high chair he would shake because he was so excited.
Halloween puppy dog
Messy, messy, messy
Steering wheel riding
Swinging in pjs...is there anything better?
He loves to scrunch his nose and do the noisy breathing thing. You all know what I'm talking about, right?
First Christmas
How cute is he? Love this shot, only wish his stroller cover wasn't in it. Bummer! 
Happy Birthday! (before the birthday cake)
Give that to me already!
Eating his birthday cake. Yummy!
Putting it on your head always makes it taste better. Didn't you know that?
Using both hands to shove it in.
After a bath he opened presents. He's not so sure about the ride on feature.We'll have to work on that one.
What a great year with Marty. I can't imagine our lives without him. He is so loved in our house by his brother and sister. I always tell people that Aubrey would literally love him to death if I left her alone with him for too long. But, at least they love him, right? He is so happy and fun. The other day he was laughing at me so I asked him if his mom was funny. He smiled and shook his head NO! I'm sure this was a mistake...he really does think I'm funny! We love you Marty and are so glad to have you as part of our family!
The kids and I in front of the reflecting pool. So beautiful! I love the white nativity in the middle of the pool. Love it!
The temple with the lighted trees. I love Christmas lights...and temples - especially at night.
The last picture before we left. It was pretty chilly and the kids were goofy.
We gave the kids a few dollars to spread the Christmas cheer with those less fortunate than ourselves. When they gave some money to this street performer, his wife wanted to make balloons for them as a thank you. So, about 20 minutes later, and many popped balloons, the kids were angels. They thought it was cool and the lady was really nice.
We bought these outfits to have a nice family picture taken and decided to just do it ourselves after church one day because we weren't getting around to having a nice one done. Well, the kids weren't behaving...especially Aubrey...so I had to straighten them out. The steps we have to take to get our kids to behave...sheesh! Okay, I was actually wiping something off her face, but it looks like I'm putting the smack down.
Cute Marty trying to act all innocent...don't be fooled!
The annual trip to see Santa. Marty LOVED him. He just stared and smiled at him. It was so cute. I wasn't sure if he would cry or smile, but the smile prevailed.
Santa with the kids. How cute is that?
Josh's Aunt Bonnie sent the kids reindeer food to spread on the lawn on Christmas Eve. They loved it. We also left carrots for the reindeer and the kids checked the next morning to see if the reindeer had eaten them. Good thing the reindeer had taken a few bites and nibbles.
Licking the knives after icing the cookies...which didn't turn out for the first time ever. Seriously, how do you mess up sugar cookies that you've made a hundred times? Just ask me, I can obviously make it happen. It takes great talent.
This was Marty's first Christmas. He wasn't too impressed with opening presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas day for that fact.
Christmas Eve pjs. Marty apparently doesn't enjoy being held down for pictures. Go figure!
Aahh! They love each other.
Waiting to come down the hall on Christmas morning.
Aubrey asked for a doll that she could "style" 
The day after Christmas, we headed down to my parents' house to see my brother's family that came from far away Ohio. We loved seeing them and can't wait to see them again. On the drive down, all three kids sacked out. It was amazing to have a quiet car. It seemed wrong!
While at my parents' house, we went sledding at the clay hills. It was so cold but pretty fun. Marty is not too thrilled with sledding. Every time Josh started pulling him he would roll out onto the snow. Maybe next year.
Lori and Marty...she loves him and he loves her.
Vince is a die hard sledder. He carried his sled up this steep hill long after everyone else was done. He had so much fun and probably would have stayed all night.
The spread. It was good!
I gave Josh an ice cream maker for our KitchenAid. Here he is reading the manual before making our raspberry ice cream. You're so thorough Josh!
The fruits of Josh's labors. So, so, so good!
After Marty went to bed, we told the kids to pick some games and we'd play all night. So, this is the stack we ended up with. We made it through about half of the games but worked at finishing them off the next day.
Vince and Aubrey felt it necessary to put their cowboy (and cowgirl) hats on to play games. They are standing like that because Vince said they were cowboys who had been riding their horses too long and that is what happens to your legs. Go figure!
We gave our kids "Guess what I am?" for Christmas. They love it. Can you guess what we are?
Vince winning a game of chicken foot.
Welcoming 2009!
Vince stayed up until midnight to watch the ball drop. He was so excited. He thought he was so grown up! Aubrey fell asleep on the couch around 10:30. We bought confetti poppers, and the poppers you throw on the cement. Right when the ball dropped he started popping the confetti, throwing the poppers on the porch and yelling "Happy New Year". He ran in the house and said, "I just yelled Happy New Year to all of the neighbors." It was so stinkin' cute. Of course, we had to toast the new year with him too. He thinks celebrating the new year is awesome!
