6mo and 2 yr pictures

Zachariah Martin 6 months old and Gracelyn Elizabeth 2 years old.

They grow up soo fast!

The All-Nighter

• So I am sitting here thinking... about what the term all-nighter means. I think I had my first all-nighter back in grade school when my church youth group did a lock-in at a bowling alley and we stayed up all night of course bowling, and then watching movies, eating pizza, drinking pop, eating popcorn... who knows what else. The point of course was to stay up all night.

• Then I think in high school the all-nighter may have been a post-prom party hosted by the school. Again the goal was to stay up all night doing activities such as a hypnotist show, movies, popcorn, games, ect.

• As I approached college the all-nighter started to change a little. It now could be staying up all night to study for the midterm, or it could once again be staying up with friends doing, you know, what you do in college.

• Now I am thinking what the all-nighter currently means in my life. It is very much the opposite of years past for now it means my little boy has slept ALL NIGHT and I also had the long desired pleasure of sleeping ALL NIGHT (last night) as well. Little Zachy has only done this less than a handful of times in his 6 1/2 months of life... so it is very much appreciated.
  
• So what would I rather have the crazy days of staying up all night to party and hang out with my friends or sleeping all night as my little boy sleeps. I don't know. I think it is a toss up. As I love my children dearly and wouldn't trade a million, trillion bucks for them, I do miss the carefree days of when all I had to worry about was myself. Now that I have my head thinking about this thought, I guess it really isn't that hard of a decision. I choose my all nighters that I get now. I cannot imagine for even a tenth of a second not having my Marty, Gracie, and Zachy in my life. I wouldn't trade them in a million, trillion years for that once carefree-only-worry-about-myself time.

• Thanks Zach for giving Mommy an all-nighter. You can do it again real soon, she won't mind.

Funny Gracie

I have to share this story with you all, cause it is just so cute. Gracie for the most part sleeps very well in a big bed and rarely will wake up at night. A few times she will come into our bedroom or she will wake up crying. A few times I will be sleeping in bed facing the edge and I will for some reason wake up, open my eyes, and see Gracie staring at me. That is a little disturbing, because initially it is kinda scary to wake up in the middle of the night and see someone staring at you, but also disturbing because... how long has she been standing there? Has she wondered to other places of the dark house in the middle of the night? This leads me to the adventure I had last evening and the funny part of this story, which was what I woke up to last night. My little Zachy is still enlightening me by waking up at least once a night to eat (just 3 weeks ago it was still 2 times a night!). So at 3am last night I wake up to him crying, which as I said is the usual for the night, but the unusual part was as I get up I find Gracie sitting straight up in the doggy bed that is in our room. She is wide awake, just sitting like a good little girl with her blankie. It was like she was just sitting there patiently waiting for me to wake up and find her. But this gets me thinking how long has she been waiting? Did she stand next to the bed and stare at me for a while? My only guess is she did, and when I didn't wake up she decided she would wait in the doggy bed. Luckily Willie (the dog) has been sleeping sprawled out on the floor because he is hot with his thick winter fur. What if Zachy hadn't woken me up? (I am patiently waiting for those nights). My best guess is she would have fallen asleep in the doggy bed and I would have found her in the morning all cuddled up with her blankie. Then I think, if only she would try to wake me, by touching my nose or talking a little... then I would just gladly pull her in bed with us. But no, my sweet little Gracie just sits and patiently waits. Why can't she be that patient during the day? So that is my adventure for last night. We will see what tonight brings.

Sweet Dreams My Darlings.

There is something so comforting and peaceful about watching someone sleep, especially little kids and babies, especially your own babies. As I stand there and watch my kids I think how could anyone not love a child. As I see my kids sleeping deeply it reminds me of how vulnerable and helpless they are. How much they need me. How much I need them. How much I adore them. How much I love them. They don't even know I am watching them. They don't even know I am thinking of them no matter what I am doing or where I am every day. They are mine and I am theirs forever and ever! In light of our upcoming Easter holiday... these very feelings of mine make me think of how God feels for us, his children. He is watching even though we don't realize it. He is thinking of us every minute of every day. We need Him. We are His and He is ours.

Happy Easter my dear friends.

SWEET DREAMS MY DARLINGS.

MAY GOD'S BLESSINGS AND LOVE FOREVER SURROUND YOU.