BOYS!

The official results are in and we are having 2 boys! It was confirmed yesterday in another Ultrasound. We are thrilled. I am so excited to finally be able to go shopping.

Right now the debate is on for names. With Madison we knew right away what her name was but have always had a harder time with boys. I posted a new poll on the side with a few name combinations just for fun. Make a vote or choose other and make a suggestion in comments.

More ultrasound and Christmas pictures will be coming soon.
We hope you all had a blessed Christmas Season!

Merry Christmas Greetings!

I didn't get a chance to include a letter in our Christmas cards this year so here it is. For those of you whom I don't have addresses for please consider this a Christmas card from our family to yours.

Dear Friends & Family
I hope this letter finds you all well. 2008 has been a very busy and exciting year for us. We started the year with our house in Banks on the market. Many house showings and 2 offers later we sold our first home. The last week in April we spent 5 days in Disneyland with Melissa’s family. We had a great time experiencing such a magical place as parents. Madison loved watching all the people and parades but wasn’t sure of the characters.

One week later we finished packing our home and moved into Hillsboro. It was a sad but exciting move. We love our new home and being so much closer to so many of you. While we settled in and unpacked our new home we also enjoyed many family weekends. We spent Memorial Day in Seattle with Matt’s family, camping trips, weekends at the beach, and many trips to the zoo.

In September we found out that we would be adding to our family with the new addition to arrive June 3rd. We went to our first appt in October and had an ultrasound. Much to our surprise there were not one but two babies. We were shocked, overwhelmed, but of course thrilled. They will most likely join our family sometime in May. Madison tells anyone who will listen, “Two babies Mommy tummy”. We are preparing her as much as we can already for the arrival of these two little bundles.

Madison has been such a blast this year growing and changing so much. She is now 2 and talks in full sentences. She counts to 12, knows all her colors, many shapes, loves to draw, read, play with her friends, and play outside. She is becoming such a big girl. She is fully potty trained and moving into a big girl bed next week. I cannot believe how fast the last 2 years have gone. We are so thankful for our fun, energetic little girl.

Matt is still working for Wells Fargo in Portland as a Compliance Manager. He recently bought a new Ford truck, enjoys working on his Chevelle (still in progress), golfing, and is taking up fly fishing.

I, Melissa, am working part time for my mom at www.MyPreciousKid.com. We opened a new store front location in Hillsboro this summer. I am loving the time I get to spend at home with Madison. We attend a Mom’s groups one morning a week and keep plenty busy. I will be home full time once the babies arrive. I know that life as I know it will change completely. It will be a big adjustment for our family, but we cannot wait.


Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May 2009 be full of many blessings for you and your families.

The Marteney’s

Birthday and Birthday again!

The other excuse for my lack of posting has been the abundance of birthday celebration in our house. Last weekend we started the festivities by having a joint party for Sydney and Madison. It was a Veggie Tales theme attended by several of the kids from our Mommy to Mommy class the same age (all boys). It was fairly laid back with lots of play time, cake (made by Dara and I), and presents. The girls had a great time.

The second was a family party yesterday. Some of our extended family were planning on attending but the snow kept them home. Instead my family, Matt's parents, and our good friends the Kephart's and Wills' helped us celebrate. It was Minnie Mouse themed due to Madison's love of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Minnie in general. After a rush to clean once again in the midst of finishing her cake an hour before we had a great party. I felt so blessed to have so many our our favorite people come even in the snow to honor Madison. Madison had a great time and knew just what to do when it came time to open gifts and blow our her candles. She even got to enjoy the snow for a little while.

Saturday, as I posted earlier, was Madison's actual birthday. I included some way to cute pics of Madison enjoying her very own ice cream Sunday and Christmas lights. Enjoy!

Christmas is in the air!

I know I am a bit behind in my posting. The last few weeks have been quite busy. The week before Thanksgiving we became the first house of our neighborhood to have a holiday glow. Yes MY husband put up Christmas lights BEFORE Thanksgiving. This was a first. He claimed it was due t the beautiful weather and possibly only chance to not hang them in the rain. I think I am rubbing off a bit in my excitement for the holiday season. A week later the rest of the neighbors followed in their holiday cheer displays.
We spent Thanksgiving dinner with the Marteney's in Lebanon and then traveled to both sets of my grandparents for the evening. Friday morning my mom, grandma, aunt, and myself set out at 5:30 on our traditional hunt for the perfect Christmas gifts. I will admit I was exhausted by the end of the day, but surprisingly had plenty of energy to get through my needed gift hunting.
Matt stayed with his parents overnight Friday and went to the Civil War game Saturday covered in Orange and Black attire. Of course the DUCKS kicked some Beaver butt! Madison and I were cheering along to the tv from home.
Sunday was another very important hunt and annual tradition. The hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. And now several weeks later our house has been fully decorated for quite some time with presents under the tree. Our holidays festivities start this coming weekend with 2 celebrations with extended family weather permitting. I love this time of year and the chance to spend so much time with family.

Happy Birthday My Sweet Girl!

Today my little girl turned 2 years old. 2 years ago right now I was being moved to my postpartum room, just staring at her. Amazed that I had something to do with creating that little miracle. I cannot believe how much she has changed and grown. She is such a joy to our lives. Her energy and excitement make every day fun. We spent today getting ready for her family birthday party and then going to dinner and seeing Christmas lights with my family. She really noticed the lights this year and even knew who many of the characters were. It is so fun to see the holidays through her eyes.
I cannot wait to continue to see her grow and learn. There are so many fun memories yet to be made.
Madison, you are my miracle baby and I am so blessed to be your mommy! I love you so much!

1day old

1 year old