First Trip to the Beach

On Labor Day, we decided to go out for breakfast
(The Original Pancake House - Yum!)
and then go for a walk on the beach.
She was a little grouchy, but she may
have been hungry and tired.
Oh, the life of a newborn...

First Bath

Time for Greer's first "real" bath since her umbilical cord
fell off and also time to try out her nifty new bathtub.
She seemed ok with the water, no crying, but
maybe just got a little cold.
We can't out do Elinor's bath in the sink, but just thought
I would post these pics, since they were similar.

Gotta love the cute bear bath towel!

(And the cute baby in it!)

Greer's room

We decided on a "theme" , which is dots and
Hoops and YoYo.
Thanks to Tash for the second idea.

My new chair, I am sure it will be well used.

Alvin put together some pictures from the
Hoops and YoYo website and printed
them out and framed them. I think
they turned out very nice.

Here is her changing area, with another
Hoops and YoYo picture.

Madison Greer Martens

Mommy and Daddy had a little bit of a hard time giving
me a name. After talking it over for many months and then
waiting till the last minute, they decided on my name the day
we left the hospital.
Madison is a pretty name (for a pretty girl)
that they chose together, and Greer is a name that Mommy
heard once, thought it was a good name,
and told Daddy, and he liked it also.
It was the one name that stuck and they both agreed on.
And after all that work, they decide to use my
middle name as my first name! So, officially,
my name is Greer Martens.
They say it is hard to name a baby... go figure!

Home from the hospital

Here I come!

Since I am a newborn, I love to sleep.
Here I am (well, not sleeping here yet) in my basket.

And I sometimes like to sleep on a pillow.

And it also is good to sleep with Mommy sometimes.

Baby Girl Martens is here!

Wow, that was hard work! Time to sleep, Mommy looks exhausted!!

I like to make funny poses while I sleep.

Getting ready to go home from the hospital.

First ride in my new car seat.

All snug in the car. And here we go, all ready to see my new home!

Time to go have a baby!

Leaving to go get induced at the hospital.

Waiting for the induction to work, can you tell there still is a smile on my face?
There was not one a few hours later!

Last belly picture

All right, time to have a baby! Can you tell it is time to go to the hospital when your pants do not stay up anymore, since your belly keeps pushing them down? At this point, we were not sure if the baby was coming naturally or was getting some help... This picture was two days before we went to the hospital. But, Alvin wanted one more belly picture, with the crib for some reason.

New Apartment in Torrance

Sunset Belly

Not sure why, but Alvin wanted me to pose for a belly picture in the sunset. Well, he just said now that he took it since we were moving away from the beach.

For all those who want belly pics, this is about all you are going to get. This was taken May18th and my belly is already a lot bigger. I just don't feel people really need to see my big belly......

So, right now, around 33 to 34 weeks - about a month and a bit to go. Unless the doctors tell me otherwise. Not sure if I am ready, but I guess I don't have much of a choice. Looking forward to meeting the person that loves to kick and move and is starting to infringe on my rib cage space.

A Sailor's Kiss

I noticed this statue from the deck of the USS Midway.
I told Alvin to take a picture of it since I thought it was neat.
But, I did not notice the couple trying to pose like the statue
by the statue until going through the picture later.

The gymnast baby

Here's the latest baby picture taken 9 days ago at our hospital.
The ultrasound tech noted the baby was very active, and I also
have been noticing a lot of movement in the last few weeks.
When you are a first time Mom, it's kind of weird and cool
at the same time to feel that bumping inside of you.
Makes you look forward (positive and negative) to having
feet in your ribs and being kicked from the inside.

USS Midway

The main reason we headed to San Diego
(sorry the posts are backwards) was to see
the USS Midway. It was interesting, but a
lot of walking and many narrow and steep
walkways and stairs.

Enjoying a "snack" at the restaurant at the
cafeteria on the back of the ship.

Enlisted officers sleeping quarters.

The "anchor room" where they hoisted in
the chains for the anchor. It was large
enough to hold meetings and church for the
sailors and air force officers.

Executive Officer's office - his spacious bedroom
and bathroom was behind his office.

Flight deck on the ship.

Point Loma

At the end of February we decided to make a trip to San Diego
and take in some sights we have not seen before.
Well, Charlene has seen Point Loma, but Alvin and
his Dad and brother had never seen it before.

Here is the view from the viewing area.
Looking towards downtown San Diego and
you can also see Coronado Island from here.

The Point Loma lighthouse.

The Cabrillo Monument.

Palm Springs.....

Martens week at Palm Springs

Happy Birthday to the Martens men!

Taking a lunch break before going back to the pool.

Lunch by the pool.

Enjoying the pool. The hot tub is attached in the background.

The Martens Visitors to California

Posing at the Hollywood Sign.

Chad enjoying Uncle Alv's headphones.

Cailey and Jenessa looking REAL excited
(and exhausted) after 2 days at Disneyland.

Not a Peanut anymore....

Boy they grow up quickly don't they?
Here is the latest pic - already bigger than a peach!
This picture of our little surprise is courtesy of the nice
technicians at UCLA Medical Center.

California Visitor

Howard taking pictures of downtown San Diego.



Hotel Del Coronado


Having fun eating Mexican food in TJ.



Howard having MUCH too much fun in TJ.
Mmmm, margaritas!


Howard made some new friends.

Doerksen Family Christmas and New Years 2007

Fun times around the Doerksen family table at Christmas and New Year's in Destin, FL. It was interesting spending a week in Florida seeing some new East coast sights. It was also good meeting our new niece for the first time and spending more time with other nieces and nephews. Fun times going shopping, eating seafood (except for me, sigh) and braving the freezing weather. Thanks for finding the house Cory and Tash and thanks for "funding the fun" Dad!