Jane Gracen Martens

It's time to talk about our two and a half year old daughter, Jane. Where do I even begin?

2010 has been a fun and fun-ny year. We have watched our baby become a little girl. She has an ever expanding vocabulary, funny faces/expressions, emotional outbursts, sassy attitude, an endearing smile, a naughty smile and a wonderful ability to work a crowd for laughs. While we don't even question anymore that she is our last biological child to bless our lives (I am always open to loving more children into our home) it does make my heart ache as I think of Jane outgrowing the baby stages and getting more independent.

We have funny kids. This is a fact. Each one has been unique in their sense of humor and those characteristics have carried on as they have matured. What made them funny as a baby is still what makes them funny as adolescents. Jane is just a crazy fun kid. She can be a real pill to be around too.....lordy don't cross her when she is in a snit.......but typically laughter is the response she is looking for. Sometimes we still have a problem understanding what she is trying to say, to which she compensates by talking slower and louder at us....we aren't deaf Jane, just stupid!

Recently she has been on a kick of repeating movie lines and phrases that she has heard on television. The movie clip from Megamind "Olo.....It's Hello....oohh" is her trademark right now. She also loves the movies Open Season, Over the Hedge, Madagascar, Marmaduke, Despicable Me, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Toy Story 3, and anything else animated, action packed and funny. She tends to get on streaks of wanting to watch the same movie over and over and over.....

Jane loves music. She loves loves loves to dance and listen to music. While most kids her age are singing kiddie songs and learning nursery rhymes, Jane is asking to listen to "the 3-3 station!" (which is Mix 93.3...not my idea....her daddy likes that station). This Christmas our beloved 2 year received an Ipod shuffle as a gift and knew EXACTLY what it was when she opened it, stating "It's an Ipod!" and then insisting on listening to it while she opened the rest of her gifts. She is also know to spontaneously break into her version of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" ...which can be awkward in mixed company.

The things that make Jane smile are as follows: pickles, apple juice, Scooby Doo fruit snacks, chocolate, her pah, her cee, dancing(also known in our house as shaking your booty), singing (Twinkle Twinkle, Row Row Row your Boat, and Rock Chalk Jayhawk) watching movies and cartoons, coloring, playing with Play Dough, Barbies, stuffed animals, pushing her babies in strollers, playing kitchen, taking baths, playing outside, nuggling (snuggling), wrestling with her daddy, wearing boots, trying to be like her big sisters, and being with her Grandpa Loren/Grandpa Ken.

Finding a a new toy for Jane is always a challenge, as there are very few things on the market that we haven't already had in a similar color/style/version/category. She is surrounded by toys that are for older girls, so she can't help but be bored by typical 2 year old toys and seek out toys/objects intended for an older child....do you know another 2 year old that has an actual Ipod? She's a smart kid, and she is a naughty kid......so you can guess what kind of parent teacher conferences we are going to have. Let's just say she doesn't just look like a Martens.

Jane's nicknames are Janey, Jingle Jane, Stink, Sissy, Baby Jane, BJ, and Boo. When we introduce her she points to herself to make sure others clearly understand that she is Jane. We love to play the "Boy or Girl?" game. We ask her if someone is a boy or girl...and she is usually spot on. If we try to trick her, she is quick to let us know. Once I asked her if her daddy was a boy, and she said NO. When I questioned her answer she said, "he's a Silly Boy!"

I don't know what else to say about our beautiful baby Jane......yet I don't think I could ever run out of funny stories and loving memories of things she has done to make us laugh, cry, smile, or want to pull our hair out in frustration. She has the most beautiful smile that is without a doubt from her Grandpa Loren. Jane is a built solid, physically strong, insanely active child who doesn't like to slow down for anyone or anything, unless it is her idea first. She can be fickle with her hugs and kisses, but when she wants to give some love, it is without a doubt some of the most heavenly moments I have experienced. This daughter actually chooses me over her daddy(most of the time) and I get to experience the JOY of hearing the "Mommy, you're home!" squeals of delight when I come home from work......music to my ears.

By the Grace of God we were given a third beautiful daughter to love....We are so blessed. Her middle name is Gracen as a constant reminder to us, and more importantly to HER, that we are so thankful we were chosen to be her parents.