Random pictures & Leg cramps

Okay, so I have had it pretty easy being pregnant, no real morning sickness, nothing too dramatic until last night. I woke up to excruciating leg cramps. I had had a few mild ones last week but nothing like last night. My whole left leg started to cramp up and nothing would get the tension out. Massaging it felt worse and I had to wait it out for about 10 minutes which seemed like an eternity before it began to subside. It still hurts from last night and I'm worried it's going to happen again tonight. I've had leg cramps before when swimming and such but NOTHING like this one. I'm praying this is just a phase and goes away quickly. Any of my pregnant friends going through the same thing?

On another note, I've had some pictures I've taken in the past few weeks that I've been meaning to put up on the blog. They don't go together but instead of making a separate blog for each I'm putting them all together. Please excuse the randomness.


Last Saturday at Castaic Lake with some friends from our fellowship group from church for a southern BBQ and boating day. The food was sooo good and the water was really smooth. It was a great way to end a crazy week.

Josh and Katy were one of the couples that brought their boat to share with everyone.

Two weeks ago I had this picture taken. I was 19 weeks, now I'm 21 weeks.

My favorite baby outfit so far. We bought it right after we found out we're having a boy. I was too lazy to adjust the picture so it's sidways.

Right before the fire really took off and the whole hill was on fire. I didn't get too many pictures because we were running around frantically trying to get all our important papers together.

The smoke from one of the fires when we got home from church a week ago. At this time I really didn't think we'd get evacuated because it hadn't come over the hill yet. This was just before all the smoke dropped and made everything really dirty. It looked like the end of the world.

The smoke is dropping and coming over.

We're having a . . .

BOY!

After an extemely stressful few days of being evacuated from our house because the fire was right behind it, we were able to find out that we're having a BOY. At first he wasn't cooperating and had his legs crossed so the technician couldn't tell and didn't want to give an opinion because she really didn't know. I begged her to keep trying and maybe if I got up to go to the bathroom the baby would turn around. Sure enough, he did move and it was very apparent he's a boy. She kept telling us he's a boy and that it was very clear. She even offered to buy us a new wardrobe if he wasn't :).

It made the stressful and tiring day end nicely. We are now back at home with Roxy (our cat)and the fire has gone elsewhere. It shouldn't come back our way because all the brush is burnt ;( around here and there's nothing more to burn. It's sad because now we see just black burnt ground instead of the green brush we had before. I'm super thankful that it didn't jump the street or our house would of been toast- Praise God! Alan, me, baby boy, and Roxy are all happy to be home.

Baby kicks

I started to feel little flutters and kicks in my tummy starting week 14 but nothing too dramatic. Yesterday when I got home from work I wasn't feeling too well so I ate something and layed down on the couch. While I was there all of a sudden the baby started to kick me really hard. I felt 2 kicks with my hand and Alan got to feel the third kick with his hand. I was so surprised that the kicks were that hard because I had never felt the kicks with my hand before just the usual flutters and thumps in my belly. It was the coolest thing! I had been waiting to feel them with my hand and would sometimes press down to try and feel them but never would. Then yesterday it was like the baby kicked out to my hand to touch it because I wasn't trying to feel them at first. All night I kept trying to feel them again but whenever I pushed down the baby would stop. It makes it so much more real and fun when I can actually feel them with my hands.

Too cute too not post

My sister- in- law, Lisa, took these pictures of my nephew, Jack, just after he got his new rain boots. He decided he wanted to strut his stuff so she couldn't resist getting a few snapshots. The pictures were too cute that I had to post them too.

VOTE!!!

Come on people, VOTE!!!!

Boy or Girl??

Please take our poll to let us know what you think we're having. We're curious to see what y'all think. You have until October 22 to post your predictions which is when we will find out; that is, if Baby is cooperating.

Fall Break

Finally Fall Break is here!! I love having a week off in October. The weather is perfect- finally nice and cool but not cold. I've been looking forward to having fall break for a while which made this past week that much longer. This past week has been a busy one with waiting for Fall break, getting progress report cards out and organizing/running our Math Night at school. Over 500 people came and we had the In and Out truck come to sell burgers. This is my 3rd year running it and it's always a fun night.

People at work said I was showing on Wednesday. It must of been what I was wearing. I was wearing my biggest pair of jeans so my belly was able to feel more at ease. I don't like wearing my old clothes anymore because I can tell the baby feels squished and my stomach gets tired after a while. I guess I'll have to go shopping during my week off.

During our center time at work I have a group of kids sit around a table and read to me. I have to lean over and help them with their reading and everyday at that time I feel the baby move because I'm squishing him/her. It's fun that he's/she's communicating to me already and I can tell what's going on.

Tonight Alan's brother and his wife are coming over for dinner because they are moving to Texas in a few weeks. Now we really have no family close. The closest family is mine in Oceanside (about 2 1/2 hours away). It's a good thing we have some friends that are like family to help us out and babysit every once in a while after the baby is born.

My sister, Renae, got engaged this week too!!! Congrats Renae and Todd. I can't wait to help her plan her wedding which will probably sometime in January, just in time for me to be huge. It'll make for fun family pictures to look back on.

Next week I'm going up to visit my brother, Scott and Lisa and Jack. I can't wait to spend some time with Jack since he's at that fun age to play with and to spend some time with Scott and Lisa too. They live close to San Fransisco so I'm flying up there- it's only an hour flight. I wish all flights were that long. Hope everyone is having a good week.

Puzzle

Ten tiny little fingers

and a cute little nose.

Tapping on her tummy,

with ten tiny little toes.

She'll be getting bigger.

You'll watch her tummy grow.

Inside a tiny baby,
soon everyone will know!

Think you know the answer?

Well that just may be.

'Cuz your teacher, Mrs. Martinsen

is having a BABY!

This week I sent this puzzle home with each of my students. When they put it together it formed this poem. It was a fun way for the kids and parents to find out that I'm having a baby. I've had great reactions to it and lots of excited kids. It went much better than I anticipated and I'm so thankful.

Hawaii and Baby update

Well it's been a while since I posted that I was pregnant because I realized the last I posted was when I was 10 weeks and now I'm at the end of 14 weeks. The time has flown by. With the school year starting and getting ready for our trip to Hawaii along with falling asleep all the time I haven't had time to update. Sorry for all the writing ahead of time.

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Let's see... first I'll update the Baby and me. As I said, I'm at the end of 14 weeks. I managed to get through the first trimester without getting too sick. The main things that bothered me the most were the HOT HOT weather and my toothpaste :) I can now brush my teeth without gaging too much and the weather is only in the 90s now. I've been tired as expected and just want to sleep alot of the time. I was a little disappointed at our 12 week appointment because I thought I was going to get an ultasound and didn't. They said I only get one more and it's at 20 weeks to see what we're having. We did of course hear the heartbeat with the doppler but it somewhat of a letdown beause I thought we'd actually get to see Baby again. We'll find out what were having in about 5 1/2- 6 weeks so I'll be taking a poll soon. Other than my belly now having no definition and my pants getting tighter, not much has changed. I plan on telling my students and parents in about 2 weeks so hopefully my belly will hold out. I've been trying to wear some of my bigger clothes so it's not so obvious yet. Pray that the reaction is a good one and not negative. I've heard too many negative stories at my school that it makes me nervous.

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So since Alan had his vacation time this month and we wouldn't have another time to go away before the baby is born we went on a last hurrah to Hawaii last week. We went on a cruise which took us to the 4 islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai. After the cruise we stayed another few days in Wakiki. We had a great time relaxing and spending time together. We got to go hiking under a volcano in some caves and to a waterfall. We also did LOTS of snorkling and swam with sea turtles ( a highlight of the trip). We went kayaking, swimming, Alan went surfing, we saw the aquarium in Maui and went to Luau. We stayed pretty busy and were off the ship mostly during the days. Our favorite island was Kauai. We had gone there for our honeymoon 5 years ago and loved it. Napili Bay in Maui come in a close 2nd to our favorite places on the trip. That's where we swam up to sea turtles when we were snorkling. Anyway, here are some pictures from the trip. I was hesitant on putting some of them up (the ones of me in a swimsuit) but thought I should so you can see my baby belly. To me it seems pretty obvious and I think I saw a few looks from others out of curiousity while we were there.

Here we are in the caves that are made out of molten lava. They went extremely high and when we all turned off the flashlights it was so dark you couldn't even see you hand in front of your face.

Alan's relaxing on our balcony. It was so nice to sit out there are watch the ocean.

Our cruise boat from the shore.

Dinner time in one of the resturants.

The biggest sting ray I've ever seen. It was in the shark and sea life exihibit at the Maui Ocean Center.

A diver feed the fish and sting rays in the aquarium as sharks swam overhead.

Alan driving the jeep we rented on a few of the islands

Kayaking up a river

The pig at the Luau

Luau

Okay, one of the riskay ones :) There's my 13 week belly. I had to buy new board shorts while we were there because my other ones wouldn't close.

Okay- the riskiest of them all but there you go, my belly! You won't get another picture like this from me again :) We're all snorkeled up ready to go.

Our first baby clothes purchase. We bought prepared for either a boy or girl.

The U.S. Arizona Memorial in Honolulu

Sunset in Wakiki, it was beautiful and ended our trip so nicely

Alan and me at sunset as the boat went by the Napali coast in Kauai. You can only see the Napali coast by air or boat.

We hiked to this waterfall and then went swimming under it. It was really pretty.

It's been a while

Hi readers!

I know it's been a while since I've posted. With all that beginning of the year stuff going on and being away for 10 days I haven't found time to post. I will post pictures of our recent trip to Hawaii (we just got back this morning) and update on the baby soon. Thanks for being patient.

Many say, well it's about time! We say, it's perfect timing!

Yay! We're expecting a little one around March 10th 2008. I've waited quite a while to post anything on our blog because I wanted to tell people at work first before they found out on their own. So I had to wait all summer.

Many of you may already know that we're pregnant and some of you it might be new news, sorry if it's new news and I didn't get to tell you in person. We are 10 weeks along and this past Friday we had our first ultrasound. Baby Martinsen's heartbeat was going 176 beats per minute and sounded strong. We were so excited to see our little "peanut" and hear his/her heartbeat. Baby Martinsen also wiggled his/her arms and legs for us. It was so fun to see.

Many have asked us if we are going to find out the gender of the baby. Yes, we are going to find out. I'm am such a planner that knowing will be more fun for us than not knowing. Some people say, "But then you won't have a surprise," however I think that whenever we find out, it'll be a surprise and just as fun.

I've had it great so far! No sickness at all. Only a couple of times around week 5 and 6 I felt a little nauseous from being in the sun too long or doing some activities too fast. Other than that, I thank God that I haven't had to run head first to that famous porcelain throne.

The picture is hard to see the baby but if you look closely you can see little arms and legs. In 2 weeks we go in for another ultrasound and the baby should be easier to see so I can post a better picture then.

We are super excited about our little peanut and can't wait to meet him/her!

Exchange Students from Sweden

Our two sixteen year old exchange students from Sweden, Katti and Natalie, said their tearful goodbye's as they boarded a bus to the airport this past Tuesday. Alan and I were their host family for two of their four weeks in California. They came with an EF group of high school students from all over Sweden and Norway. Many of them didn't know each other before the trip. They visited all over L.A. and even went up to San Fransisco for a weekend with their group. Alan and I were responsible for housing, feeding and driving them to and from their events in town. It was fun to have 2 teenagers living with us for a few weeks and learning all about their Swedish culture. The girls spoke great English which made it easy for us to communicate. Overall, it was a fun experience and we'd love to do it again in the future. If anyone else in the Los Angeles area is interested in being a host family for exchange students next summer, let me know and I can direct you to the people to contact.

Hi, girls if you're reading this! How was you're LONG flight home? Have you been enjoying your Swedish meatballs?

More pictures

Weekend in Oceanside

This last weekend my brothers and sisters and I planned a birthday party for my parents since it was a birthday year marker (60- sorry mom). My parents were born 4 days apart in the same hospital so it was only fitting that we plan one party for the both of them. Scott, Lisa and Jack flew down from Redwood City and the rest of us made ourselves available. The weekend started with a Padres Game at their new stadium, Petco Park. The stadium was really nice (still feels new) and the seats were good too. Unfortunately, the Padres lost but it was fun anyway.

Saturday evening we had the party for my parents. We played the games that they always made us play when we were kids like: pin the ear on Snoopy, drop the clothespin in the jar, cottonball races and a pinata. All the adults got way involved in the games especially with the pinata. People were diving and dogpiling to get candy. It was quite a sight!!

Those are just a few of the fun things we did that weekend. Below are some pictures of the baseball game and Jack playing in the water in the backyard. Jack loves water especially when you spray it on him. In fact, one day he got a hold of a spray bottle and kept squirting himself until he was soaking wet. He kept laughing and squirting- it was way too cute.

Me, Ruth and Renae

Alan and Chris

Scott and Lisa

Jack playing in the water

Fun times in Washington

This past weekend (Thursday- Sunday), Alan and I went up to Washington State to visit with his extended family and with some friends of ours. We stayed with one of Alan's Aunts and Uncles in Bellingham along with the rest of Alan's immediate family. His parents flew up from Guatemala and his sister and her family from Mississippi and his brother and his wife from Pasadena. It was fun for everyone to be together again. Alan's dad has 8 brothers and sisters and they are all married with kids and many of their kids have kids. So as you can imagine it was quite a weekend.

We had a huge family reunion Friday night where almost everyone was able to make it. It was 59 total that were there. A lot of names and connections for me to memorize, but by the end of the evening I could pretty much name everyone and know who they belong to. We took a family picture in the rain which was hilarious because trying to get 59 people to take a picture in the rain was quite a task. By the time the picture was taken we were all soaking wet. I can't wait to see what the picture will look like.

Alan's Aunt Jeri and Uncle Duane( the ones we stayed with) have a tea house in Lynden, Washington which is about 10 minutes from Canada. On Friday we had lunch at the tea house with his immediate family. It was such a cute store. Inside the main room were little rooms that were decorated differently for private parties for tea. People can reserve a certain room for tea if they'd like too. We ate in the main room because there were too many of us to fit in a smaller room. Below is a picture of one one the rooms. The tea was fun since everyone gets their own tea pot and strainer for the leaves. The food was really good too!

That morning (Friday) we took family pictures with Alan's immediate family so that's why we are matching in a few of the pictures. One of Alan's cousin is a professional photographer (Donette Studios) up there and so we were able to get him to take some pictures for us at another one of his Aunt's houses.

On Saturday we were able to see some friends of ours, Adam and Amy Ford and their daughter, Tatum. They used to lived in California a few years back and we built a good friendship with them from church. They moved to Washington and we've been planning to come up and see them ever since. We went to breakfast first and the we went to Deception Pass, which is the only bridge that connects to the San Juan Islands. It was a beautiful day and fun to catch up with them. We also got to meet Tatum too.

Saturday afternoon Alan's parents had an Open House for friends and family to come and visit. I met a whole new bunch of people that have known Alan's parents for years.

Sunday night we ordered pizza and and hung out with A. Jeri and U. Duane's kids (around our age) and their spouses for the evening. Caitlin (2 1/2) , our niece, gave everyone quite a show with all her singing.

Sunday we went to church in Lynden with A. Jeri and U. Duane and kids and then went out to lunch. In between church services Colleen and Todd (Alan's cousin and husband) made us expresso's at their place which was 2 minutes from the church. Those Washintonians (my made-up word) sure know how to make some good coffee drinks. Then after lunch it was back to the airport to fly home.

All in all, the trip went by way too fast! We had so much fun and loved being up there. It was nice to get away from the LA smog. We can't wait to visit again.

I can't seem to format the picture like I'd like too so below are some pictures of the trip.

One of the rooms at the Tea House. This one is for little girls because the tables are so low. The girls can dress up in the hats and boas that are hung on the side of the room.

This is Mount Baker, a mountain that Alan's dad was so persistant on us seeing while we were there. Saturday the weather cleared up so we could see it. The picture is from A. Jeri and U. Duane's house.

Alan and Caitlin goofing around in the airport.

Alan, Caitlin and Me after family pictures at Aunt Janet's house. They have a huge pond in their backyard along with a golf couse.

Adam, Amy and Tatum at Deception Pass.

Aunt Jeri and some of the tea pots for sale at the tea house

Alan and Me in front of Lynden's Cup of Tea

The Fords and Us in front of the Deception Pass Bridge. Tatum is being carried by Adam.

Romans Road

I am posting the Romans Road because I got the opportunity to use it a few weeks ago with a co-worker. I thought it may be helpful for others reading or simply just a good reminder of God's love for us.

The Romans Road to salvation is a way of explaining the good news of salvation using verses from the Book of Romans. It is a simple yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation, how God provided salvation, how we can receive salvation, and what are the results of salvation.

The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent.

Romans 3:10-18 gives a detailed picture of what sin looks like in our lives. The second Scripture on the Romans Road to salvation, Romans 6:23, teaches us about the consequences of sin - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death!

The third verse on the Romans road to salvation picks up where Romans 6:23 left off, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:8 declares, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus' death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus' resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus' death as the payment for our sins.

The fourth stop on the Romans road to salvation is Romans 10:9, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins - and we will be saved! Romans 10:13 says it again, "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The final aspect of the Romans road to salvation is the results of salvation. Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God. Romans 8:1 teaches us, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins.

Finally, we have this precious promise of God from Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Would you like to follow the Romans road to salvation? If so, here is a simple prayer you can pray to God. Saying this prayer is a way to declare to God that you are relying on Jesus Christ for your salvation. The words themselves will not save you. Only faith in Jesus Christ can provide salvation! "God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. With your help, I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!" Please let me know if you said this prayer for the first time today.

If I were President

Back in February I had my students write about if they were President. They were to describe what type of President they would be, who they would live with in the white house and what they would do. So with that said, enjoy reading about a first grade perspective on being President.

If I were president, I would be a cute president. I would live with mom, dad, Kayla, and Tess in the white house. As president I would make a difference. Next, I would make laws fair for everyone. Last I would read to children. I hope that they like me. I think it would be fun to be president. –Samantha

If I were President, I would be a fat President. I would live in the white house with my hamsters. As president I would pay bills. Next, I would go to work. Then last I hope I stay alive when I am 100. I think it would be terrible to be president. –Kevin

If I were President I would be a powerful president. I would live in a white house with a snake and his name is Mike. As President I would help children. Next I would make different laws. Then last I would make laws fair for everyone. I hope that Mike doesn’t die. I think it would be very hard to be President. –Michael

If I were President, I would be a fat President. I would live in the white house with my mom and dad. As President I would protect our country. Then I would talk and read to children. Then last I would make speeches. I hope that I get a dog. I think it would be painful to be President. –Reilly G.

If I were President I would be a tall President. I would live in the white house with my mom and dad. As President I would protect our country. Next I would say the laws of our country. Then last I would ask the people questions. I hope that I did the right thing. I think it would be painful to be President. –Taylor K.

If I were President I would be a vice President. I would live with my husband. As President I would help Alysah and live with her. Next I would write papers with Alysah. Then last I will protect our country. I hope that me and Alysah wont die. I think it will be fun to be President. -Taylor R.

If I were President, I would be a powerful President. I would live in the white house with my parents. As President I would do a flip onto the couch. Next, I would protect our country. Then last I would improve schools. I hope that I would help the citizens. I think it would be cool to be President. –Riley H.

If I were President I would be a nice President. I would live in the white house with my cat. As President I would name my cat Rodeo. Next I would have important papers. Then last I would improve schools. I hope that I would make the country better. I think it would be hard to be President. –McKenna

If I were President I would be a nice President. I would live in the white house with my children and my first gentleman. As President I would help people. Next I would write the rules. Then last I would improve schools. I hope that everyone agrees on the laws I make. I think it would be wonderful to be President. –Jacquelyn

If I were President I would be a nice President. I would live in the white house with mom, dad, and Connor. As President I would help people. Then I would protect our country. Then last I would make laws. I hope I’m a good President. I think it would be fun to be President. – Isibeala

If I were President I would be a nice President. I would live in the white house with my seven kids, my husband, and my three dogs named Marley Charley and Roxy. As President I would take people to the hospital. Next I would take care of my babies. Then I would go play with my dogs. I think it would be painful to be President. –Hannah

If I were President I would be a nice President. I would live in the white house with Veronica. As President I would make some rules. Next I would make a speech. Then last I would make a speech so the bad people can’t come. I hope it will be fun. I think it would be cool to be President. –Ethan

If I were President I would live in the white house with Taylor. As President I would help Taylor. Next I write on paper with Taylor. Then last I would walk with Taylor. I would not die. I think it would be fun. –Alysah

If I were President I would be a nice President. I would live in the white house with a cat named Sam. As President I would talk to the children. Next, I would protect our country. Then last, I would make different laws. I hope that I get a dog. I think it would be fun to be President. –Kayleen

If I were President I would be bossy. I would live with Abraham Lincoln, I would help the army. I would help the homeless. I would go to bed. I would hope to get respect. I think it would be hard to be President. –Anthony

If I were President I would be a nice President. I would live in the white house. I would live with my pets. As President I would make laws. Next I would write notes. Then last I would make laws fair for everyone. I hope that everyone will be fair. I think it would be fun to be President. -Jillian