Where is Spencer?

This is our adorable little toddler bed. Someone kindly gave it to us when we were living in Iowa and Mason just loved it. Of course he did, wouldn't any two year-old little boy (or girl for that matter) love this car bed? You would think so. I guess our little Spencer is not a normal two year-old because he seems to have quite a hard time staying in it. He rarely takes naps in his bed although he will fall asleep in a heartbeat if he is in the car. He also really struggles staying in at bedtime. Often when we go to bed we will find Spencer. . . . .
In our bed most of the time although we have found him. . . . .

On McKena's bedroom floor or. . . . .
On the stairs or even. . . . .
On his windowsill. Can this possible be comfortable?
This is what happens because of his poor napping skills.

Our beautiful yard

This is our before backyard. This pond was very attractive but not at all what I wanted in my backyard with the kids running around. It was way to overwhelming to keep it clean and so I was just so sick thinking of all of the bacteria floating around in that thing. So when Kent came out he helped Ryan tear it out. I was so happy.

So here are some pics of our yard currently. We have so many beautiful flowers. The last owners were really into gardening and because of that I get to see so much beauty.

This is Ryan's grass. It is coming in rather nicely. It is currently a different color than the other grass. Hopefully we will be able to blend it in a little better.

Ella Diane Martushev

I had somewhat of a De ja vu of sorts when Ella decided to get here. Here is her story: I called to schedule an induction as she had not yet arrived. So I got off the phone, was schedule to be induced the next morning and left it at that. Well little Ella must have caught wind that the Dr. was going to be delivering her on his time and not hers, because just after I got off the phone with the Dr. at about AM the contractions started coming.

Artyom had gone to work, so I called him to let him know he had better be on call if I needed him. We basically decided he could probley just leave work a bit early- around and we would see from there...Hmmm. good plan- too bad it did not happen that way. Within a few hours my contractions were right on top of one another, I called Artom twice within 30 minutes - the first time to tell him they were getting closer and the next time? To get his hiney home. We were headed to the hospital.

I must not have been clear enought with the nurse when I told her that I go through labor quickly based on my only other experience- why wouldnt she be a bit skeptical? We get to the hospital about and they basically leave me in the room dealing with my contractions. When the nurse comes in and checks me- Im already at a 7..AGAIN! Same story with Sofia- hence the De ja vu. I got an epidual at a 9, pushed for 25 minutes and Ella arrived. The nurse did not even think my Doctor was going to make it for the delivery. So within the 3 hours we were at the hospital- we had a baby!

And here she is. Weighing in at 8 pounds 8.8 ounces and 21 inches long. Ella Diane Martushev

We had a bit of jaundice when we got home. Just enough to put us over the limit and in need of the lights. Luckily this neat mini tanning bed went home with us and after just 24 hours, she was jaundice free and not in need of the lights any more. Thank goodness!

Then and now...

I just found the file with pictures of our last 4th of July... This time last year, Sofia had a tumultuous baby love affair with a cutie named Sam. They were together for about a day and as most baby love affairs do- it ended tragically when the fireworks ended and we went home. Here are some of the "thens"....

Sam and Sofia- He had her number...can you tell?

The very brief courting stage....

And Sam goes in for the Kill. Sofia does not seem to mind so much...

And the Now...

Here are the Now- Our big girl! Strange how much they change in a year... they all but forget about thier Fling on the Fourth (thank goodness!) THEN....

AND NOW...

Independence Day with the Russkies

It is fun to get together and since Artyom was itching to get out of the house and I was only contracting non-consistently, we headed down. They all went for a swim and I decided to make some food. I made a Russian salad but thought since it was the Fourth we had to have the basics; hot dogs, potato salad and watermelon. Well we got there and it ended up being a toss-up. I had the yummy hot dogs and thought people would love them...They all ended up making the potatoes MASHED (not into a salad) and eating the hot dogs WITHOUT the bun ....So very Russian. Needless to say we had quite a few buns left over. Guess what we had for lunch today?

Baba with Sofia at the pool. I decided it was too much work this time to get her into a suit, so everyone took turns watching her. Baba- Artyom's mom, Artyom and Sofia.

Our Fourth with a Flare...Russian Style.

Well leave it to the Martushev's to not be able to spend a holiday without making it into a Russian one. I was hoping to have a newborn in my arms about this time, but here I am still blogging away on my actual due date. One good thing is we were able to see the parade with Sofia and then since everyone we knew thought I would still be in the hospital, we had a get together with our Russian friends and celebrated our Independence Day... Funny thing? Sofia and I were the only American's in attendance at the get toghether later on that day. So that made 1 and 1/2 of us... Here are the highlights of the morning Parade.

This was before it actually started. Once Baba (Grandma Martushev) figured out that people were actually throwing candy at us and it was free- she went NUTS! She was out in the middle of the street grabbing away at the parade loot before some of the kids were! And the worthless flyers they hand out to you? She got all offended if they did not give her one. It was hilarious to watch!

Our Yankee Doodle Darling....