The Life of the Marty Party: July 2011

Friday, July 29, 2011

Metamorphosis

A little summer project: Monarch caterpillars to butterflies

step one: eat. poop. grow.

step two: attach to the top of the cage and form a "j"

step three: shed skin one last time and form chrysalis

...they stay in the chrysalis for 9-14 days

just before emerging you can see the butterfly through the chrysalis

step four: emerge and hang to dry

step five: release

What a miracle!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

The Smothered Brother

Jude 8 weeks

awwwww...this picture makes me feel bad for him...I guess there is such a thing as too much love!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Jude's first road trip was to Wisconsin when he was 7 weeks old. Daddy was on a guys' fishing trip up in the Boundary Waters so I decided to head the other way with the kids for the weekend so I could be at my cousin's bridal shower and also so baby Jude could meet my side of the family...they were pretty eager to meet him too. It was a super fun, long weekend. We went down Thursday afternoon and stayed until Monday. I was keeping my expectations REALLY LOW for traveling with a newborn...still nursing every three hours mind you. So I figured if we plan things right, we might only have to stop once in our 4 hour trip. Well, things turned out BETTER THAN I EXPECTED! Jude slept the whole way there I didn't set foot outside the car even one time the entire trip. That's the good news. The bad news is that on Monday, I had my expectations WAY TOO HIGH. I thought "hey, we just did this on Thursday...piece. of. cake." I couldn't have been more wrong! for the trip back home I lost count how many stops we made it felt like we stopped every single exit and rest stop between my parents' house and here. Long story short, we managed to stretch 3 hours and 45 minutes out to SIX AND A HALF HOURS!!!

Jude with Auntie Remick

Meeting Great Grandpa and Grandma Blaser for the first time. (Blaser is Jude's middle name)

...how sweet is this!

Britani, the beautiful bride-to-be. So happy we got to be at her shower.

girl cousins

Haley(13)...Dakota(16)...Eden(11)

Dakota and Remick

so happy to meet Great Aunt Nancy...

...and Great Grandma Betty for the first time

more girl cousins

Briar(5)...Sawyer(4)...Evyn(3)

beautiful Evie

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Jude 7 Weeks

Jude loves to be on his tummy. He always sleeps on his tummy and is a very good sleeper too. He's learned to put himself to sleep for naps and bedtime and he started sleeping through the night consistently at 7 weeks. THIS IS VERY EXCITING FOR MOMMY!

Jude is getting so big! We are having so much fun getting to know him. First thing every morning the kids can't wait to see him and hold him--he certainly isn't lacking in the love department. He started smiling at 5 weeks and at 7 weeks he is so precious recognizing our faces and cooing back to us! MELT ME! He rolled over from his tummy to his back for the first time the day before he turned 7 weeks.

Q and I have been married for 16 years. We've been through so much together from traveling the world and living overseas to the births of each of our 4 children and everything in between. Our marriage is stronger than ever and for that we are very grateful. We do not take it for granted and we're always working on staying close and improving our relationship. Marriage definitely has it's ups and downs just like every part of life, but we've chosen to relish the good and to learn from the bad and grow through it. In 1996, we started our life together in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Q was an associate pastor for 5 1/2 years. Our life changed forever in 1999 when we had our first baby...a girl. In 2001 we had a boy.
In 2003, Q began working for HOPE International. We moved our little family of four to Kiev, Ukraine for the first 15 months and then transferred to Lancaster, PA where the HOPE headquarters is located. We lived in Lancaster for 4 years. During that time we happily welcomed our sweet baby #3, another girl.
Then, in January 2009, Q resigned from his position with HOPE and we moved our family overseas to Krakow, Poland to join Q's parents and siblings in a family business. The business was called "More Than A Cookie". We baked and sold gourmet cookies and brownies, ice cream, and specialty coffee drinks. Our passion has always been to further the Kingdom and support ministries close to our hearts so the idea was to give a portion of every purchase to support children's ministry.
In December 2009, we moved back to the states yet again. This time to the home we know and love *Minnesota*. [We have since sold the rights to our family business in Europe]. It has been a great experience to reconnect with family and friends after being gone for 6 1/2 years. I was able to start up my cleaning business again and I still love it. Q is back with HOPE International working as the development representative doing fundraising work here in the twin cities and Chicago as well. We feel so blessed to be part of such a great organization.
In May 2010, We bought a house on a lake...which is so fitting for Minnesota...and we have really enjoyed getting settled into our life here. Have you heard the saying "new house new baby"? Well, we found out baby #4 was on the way only 4 months after we moved in!*SURPRISE*
We evened the score with another boy and our party of five became six last May. We know each one of them is a special gift from God and we are enjoying this incredible journey of parenting together. It's not always easy but we can't imagine our life without any of them. We feel so blessed.

Eden is 12 years old. She is a beautiful, sweet, fun and very creative girl. Eden enjoys sewing, drawing, painting and any kind of art project. She is also very talented in singing. She's played fall soccer for the past 2 seasons and this year her team even won the championship. It has been such a joy to watch her grow into a young lady {preteen}...it could not be more true "the years go by so fast" we have enjoyed every stage so far. What a great big sister and help to Mommy and Daddy she is! She is very responsible and is always watching out for her little brothers and sister.

Truman is 10. He loves sports. His most favorite is football...any version...He plays on a city league team, he plays on the Playstation, he plays with his friends at school and with just himself in the backyard while narrating the play by play (this version is especially fun to watch out my kitchen window) and then of course there's his favorite NFL team, the Vikings, he loves to watch on Sundays...he even collects football cards. He also plays on the traveling basketball team and he is very good. He was on the track team in the spring and he won several blue ribbons in that as well. He's just one of those athletic kinda guys.
He also really loves fishing! His biggest catch was on a guys' weekend with Daddy when he caught a 24 inch Northern.
Although Math is his favorite subject in school, like his sisters, he is also very good in art and he even has his own little creative side.
He has such a great sense of humor. He's always making all of us laugh. He is a total entertainer. But, he is also one of the most thoughtful, sweet and sensitive boys you'll ever meet. We love this about our Truman. Most of all he is so happy to finally have a brother! It's been so fun to watch him with Jude.

Briar is 5. She started Kindergarten this year and so far she loves it. She goes for half days. In the morning she rides to school with Truman and then she comes home on the bus at noon. I love getting her dressed in the morning and doing her hair in fun braids or piggy tails, buns or curly buns. I want to take a picture of her every day because she is so stinkin' cute! Briar also played soccer for the first time this fall. She did a great job. She's not terribly aggressive or anything but it was still really fun to watch her.
She is such a fun little girly girl! She loves to play kitchen, babies, Barbies, Polly Pockets, dress-up, make-up...I guess "girly girl" would suffice! She even has her own little sense of humor. I wish I could video tape every moment right now because she is so adorable and she says the cutest things in her sweet tiny voice.
Briar is my best helper in the kitchen. I love that she doesn't just get bored with it half way through and quit. She always helps until everything is completely done.
She has been loving her new role as "big sister". She is definitely Mommy's little helper. Briar always helps me with bathtime for Jude and she loves to change his diapers and even burp him. I have loved watching her with him. It is truly precious. Every day when she gets off the bus she runs to give Jude a big hug and kiss!

Jude Blaser Marty baby number 4. Arrived on May 21st at 10:27am via C-section.
Weight: 7 lbs 6 oz
Length: 21 inches.
We didn't know we would ever have a 4th baby, yet here we are...completely in love with this little boy. He has completed our family. We are all crazy about him.
Jude is such a perfect "baby of the family". He is so laid back. He is very patient...it's like he knows there are 3 siblings to compete with for our time and he's totally okay with it. He's such a little love nugget speaking of which he already has so many nick names including but not limited to:
Ju.d.ju
juju.b
jude dude
lovey love
the man
the one
total munch
munchabunch
love munch
kicky bubbles
honey love