In 8 days (counting today) I will be leaving my kids. (That is provided I have the baby by the 26th)
Leaving my kids for the rest of the year.
Deep breath...
I knew this was coming 9 months ago.
I knew I would be handing the education of my 7th and 8th graders to someone else. And I knew I was not going to like it.
You see, I love my job. I love teaching and I work hard at it (as do all other teachers I know). The thought of trying to explain to a sub each one of the kids' personalities, how I handle every single little decision that crosses my mind, how the lesson plans are supposed to go, how I modify or adapt to the unexpected on the fly, how to run the technology, how we handle fire drills, and many many other things that go on day to day in the life of a teacher. It was all a bit overwhelming in August.
I expressed my concerns to some of my fellow colleagues...they all said not to worry everything would be fine.
"But it's a STATE ASSESSMENT YEAR!"
They will be fine.
But...
They will be fine.
Now we are here.
Days away from handing my kids over to someone else.
And to be honest...I'm ok.
I have found probably the BEST sub I could to trust with the care of my kids. She will be wonderful! She will adapt if something isn't working, she will care for my kids, and at the same time won't take any of their crap!
I am starting to feel a little more organized. Desk is cleaned out, lesson plans are ready, and room is not a complete disaster.
The closer and closer I get to "D-Day" the more and more excited I get for the baby, and the less and less I care about what happens with my sub at school.
I do care...just less than I thought I would back in August.
And you know what.
They will be fine.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Random Chatter
~ I ordered some nursing shirts from Old Navy. BIG SCORE! Not only were they cheap, but they turned out to be really cute (which is always a risk buying clothes online), AND I can fit in to them now, so they double as maternity shirts too!
~ Tried Dark Chocolate Raspberry M&Ms this week, and the girl scout cookies we ordered arrived. My goal for the next month will be to not completely devour mounds of cookies and M&Ms. Maybe I should have given up sweets for Lent.
~ Down to once a week appointments. Doctor said baby could come at anytime now. We are very excited, but due to the fact that we are procrastinators there are still things that need to be done at home, bought for baby, and organized for school. So, I'm really hoping that baby waits until Spring Break to make her debut!
~ Ethan wants a puppy. I said no. (Actually I said "not right now...")
~ One thing I am really looking forward to about maternity leave (besides the cuddly little baby) is the fact that our gas bill will be cut in half. It is crazy the amount of money we spend on gas each month.
~ Ethan ordered a new camera lens and it arrived on Thursday. He is really excited to get to use it to take newborn pictures of baby Jacqueline.
~ I talk about babies a lot lately. So many of my friends and family are having babies. Makes it hard not to go on and on and on...
~ I have LOVED this winter. I know that it is very important in our region to get moisture in the winter. I know that I missed not having any snow days this year. I know that kids missed opportunities to have snowball fights and build a snowman. BUT I didn't have to drive in it, I didn't have to take the dogs out to do their "business" in it, I didn't have to shovel it, and I didn't sit wrapped in an electric blanket just to watch TV.
~ I was in the bathroom after our Wednesday night religion classes and there was a little girl in there washing her hands. She asked me if I was one of the 2nd grade teachers. I told her I was, and she responded with, "Oh...I think you look like a mom." It was a sweet comment.
~ I have decided that I want to write in "Jack Bauer" for president in November. I am not a fan of "party-line" voters and have always thought that I was the kind of person who voted based on the issues rather than the political party. Right now, I don't like any of my choices.
~ My mom and dad bought a new camper. They are thrilled and can't wait to start using it. It is smaller than the one they used to have (as far as places to sleep), but mom reassured me that there would be plenty of room for Ethan and I to take one bed and Jacqueline can sleep in the bathtub.
~ Tried Dark Chocolate Raspberry M&Ms this week, and the girl scout cookies we ordered arrived. My goal for the next month will be to not completely devour mounds of cookies and M&Ms. Maybe I should have given up sweets for Lent.
~ Down to once a week appointments. Doctor said baby could come at anytime now. We are very excited, but due to the fact that we are procrastinators there are still things that need to be done at home, bought for baby, and organized for school. So, I'm really hoping that baby waits until Spring Break to make her debut!
~ Ethan wants a puppy. I said no. (Actually I said "not right now...")
~ One thing I am really looking forward to about maternity leave (besides the cuddly little baby) is the fact that our gas bill will be cut in half. It is crazy the amount of money we spend on gas each month.
~ Ethan ordered a new camera lens and it arrived on Thursday. He is really excited to get to use it to take newborn pictures of baby Jacqueline.
~ I talk about babies a lot lately. So many of my friends and family are having babies. Makes it hard not to go on and on and on...
~ I have LOVED this winter. I know that it is very important in our region to get moisture in the winter. I know that I missed not having any snow days this year. I know that kids missed opportunities to have snowball fights and build a snowman. BUT I didn't have to drive in it, I didn't have to take the dogs out to do their "business" in it, I didn't have to shovel it, and I didn't sit wrapped in an electric blanket just to watch TV.
~ I was in the bathroom after our Wednesday night religion classes and there was a little girl in there washing her hands. She asked me if I was one of the 2nd grade teachers. I told her I was, and she responded with, "Oh...I think you look like a mom." It was a sweet comment.
~ I have decided that I want to write in "Jack Bauer" for president in November. I am not a fan of "party-line" voters and have always thought that I was the kind of person who voted based on the issues rather than the political party. Right now, I don't like any of my choices.
~ My mom and dad bought a new camper. They are thrilled and can't wait to start using it. It is smaller than the one they used to have (as far as places to sleep), but mom reassured me that there would be plenty of room for Ethan and I to take one bed and Jacqueline can sleep in the bathtub.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
40 Days of Lent and No Caffine
For the Lenten season I decided to give up caffeinated drinks. It's important to me to give up something that is a true sacrifice. In my current pregnant condition, this was a difficult task. A lot of the things I've given up in the past, I've been giving up for 8 months already.
Then I thought, well, what could I give up that would be a healthy alternative to what I'm already eating or drinking.
Fried Food?? I really don't eat a ton of it. (Plus the Knight's of Columbus put on a FANTASTIC fish fry throughout Lent, and I am not missing out on that!)
Chocolate?? Baby really likes it, and it makes me happy...
Pop?? I drink some, not a ton, but possible. Still not a good enough sacrifice.
Coffee?? About the same as pop...
Ah-Ha! I'll give up caffeinated drinks! That will mean I am at least sacrificing one thing a day.
Fast-forward to today...just at the one week mark of Lent.
I'm dead. I'm hitting a brick wall and all I can think about it how nice it would be to have an ice cold Diet Pepsi...a BIG one!
Temptation.
That's what Jesus faced in the desert.
And I'm sure this is what it felt like...
Then I thought, well, what could I give up that would be a healthy alternative to what I'm already eating or drinking.
Fried Food?? I really don't eat a ton of it. (Plus the Knight's of Columbus put on a FANTASTIC fish fry throughout Lent, and I am not missing out on that!)
Chocolate?? Baby really likes it, and it makes me happy...
Pop?? I drink some, not a ton, but possible. Still not a good enough sacrifice.
Coffee?? About the same as pop...
Ah-Ha! I'll give up caffeinated drinks! That will mean I am at least sacrificing one thing a day.
Fast-forward to today...just at the one week mark of Lent.
I'm dead. I'm hitting a brick wall and all I can think about it how nice it would be to have an ice cold Diet Pepsi...a BIG one!
Temptation.
That's what Jesus faced in the desert.
And I'm sure this is what it felt like...
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Boy or Girl???
Ethan and I are planners. We had our baby names picked out before we were married. It was obvious that we were going to find out whether our baby was going to be a boy or girl. We waited an agonizing 18 weeks debating if it was baby Jackie or baby AJ. The time finally came...the Friday before Halloween.
There we were, my belly all "jellied" up with that goopy stuff, and there was a great picture of our baby. Perfect. 2 hands, 2 feet, 5 fingers and toes on each, one nose, and one perfectly looking profile. Now...boy or girl???
This is where our little bean decided to be difficult. There was not a good angle available. The sonographer tried to get her to move (which consisted of banging on my belly...with a full bladder). Not a pleasant experience... Anyway, move baby did, all over. Except the way we needed.
Until finally...
I hear the sonographer say..."Well, I'm just not seeing much, and if there was something there to see, we would have seen it by now. I'm saying it's a girl."
And then finally the right move.
We have girl parts! And she's an active, stubborn little thing.
Since then we have been delightfully planning for our little girl, with much more pink than Ethan was hoping for (but he's getting used to it!)
The room is ready, we are ready, and we were especially excited for our little girl.
If it wasn't for the dreams...
I keep having dreams that we are having a boy. The baby comes perfect and healthy with a very specific piece that was not seen on the sonogram. I have had four so far, two within the last week.
And my doctor...
Every time I go in for my appointments and we get to listen to the wonderful heartbeat my doctor records the beats per minute and asks if we are having a boy based on the number being a little lower and that boys "typically" have lower heartbeats.
So...here we are. All ready for our little girl, but with those dreams and doctor visits in the back of my mind.
And because of that, I may just have to pack a little blue outfit that says "Daddy's little man" to take with our pink outfit just in case...
There we were, my belly all "jellied" up with that goopy stuff, and there was a great picture of our baby. Perfect. 2 hands, 2 feet, 5 fingers and toes on each, one nose, and one perfectly looking profile. Now...boy or girl???
This is where our little bean decided to be difficult. There was not a good angle available. The sonographer tried to get her to move (which consisted of banging on my belly...with a full bladder). Not a pleasant experience... Anyway, move baby did, all over. Except the way we needed.
Until finally...
I hear the sonographer say..."Well, I'm just not seeing much, and if there was something there to see, we would have seen it by now. I'm saying it's a girl."
And then finally the right move.
We have girl parts! And she's an active, stubborn little thing.
Since then we have been delightfully planning for our little girl, with much more pink than Ethan was hoping for (but he's getting used to it!)
The room is ready, we are ready, and we were especially excited for our little girl.
If it wasn't for the dreams...
I keep having dreams that we are having a boy. The baby comes perfect and healthy with a very specific piece that was not seen on the sonogram. I have had four so far, two within the last week.
And my doctor...
Every time I go in for my appointments and we get to listen to the wonderful heartbeat my doctor records the beats per minute and asks if we are having a boy based on the number being a little lower and that boys "typically" have lower heartbeats.
So...here we are. All ready for our little girl, but with those dreams and doctor visits in the back of my mind.
And because of that, I may just have to pack a little blue outfit that says "Daddy's little man" to take with our pink outfit just in case...
Friday, February 24, 2012
Fat Tuesday Feast
One of my favorite things about Ethan and my "dating story" was our Dinner Date Nights each week.
We had a show we enjoyed watching on Tuesday nights. We thought it would be fun to make that a night where we would try to cook a new recipe together and then watch our show later on. We had a lot of fun browsing websites and cookbooks trying to plan out what new recipe we were going to try. And I will say, that we rarely failed. We have many recipes that are now in the rotation that we found during this time.
One of those favorite meals is our "Fat Tuesday Feast." And what a feast it is. (Especially that first year we made it where everything on the menu was a new recipe).
I would love to say that we actually make and eat our Fat Tuesday Feast on Fat Tuesday, but the last couple of years just haven't allowed for it. This year we had our meal on Thursday after Lent had already begun. The kitchen was a complete mess, we were both exhausted after dinner was over (me being 8 months pregnant and he having just ran 3 miles), but the entire time we are enjoying ourselves and exclaiming over and over how we should really make this dinner more than once a year.
And as we were eating our meal, Ethan looked at me and said...
"I hope our kids like this meal, I want to keep this tradition going."
Made my heart smile!
We had a show we enjoyed watching on Tuesday nights. We thought it would be fun to make that a night where we would try to cook a new recipe together and then watch our show later on. We had a lot of fun browsing websites and cookbooks trying to plan out what new recipe we were going to try. And I will say, that we rarely failed. We have many recipes that are now in the rotation that we found during this time.
One of those favorite meals is our "Fat Tuesday Feast." And what a feast it is. (Especially that first year we made it where everything on the menu was a new recipe).
- Blackened Pepper-Jack Chicken
- Dirty Rice (with andouille sausage)
- Creole Sauce - From scratch
- Deep Fried Corn Fritters
I would love to say that we actually make and eat our Fat Tuesday Feast on Fat Tuesday, but the last couple of years just haven't allowed for it. This year we had our meal on Thursday after Lent had already begun. The kitchen was a complete mess, we were both exhausted after dinner was over (me being 8 months pregnant and he having just ran 3 miles), but the entire time we are enjoying ourselves and exclaiming over and over how we should really make this dinner more than once a year.
And as we were eating our meal, Ethan looked at me and said...
"I hope our kids like this meal, I want to keep this tradition going."
Made my heart smile!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
A Little Advice
This Sunday my mom and sister threw a baby shower for little Jacqueline. Many of my family and friends were able to come visit our new home and celebrate the new little life that will bless us in five short weeks(ish...)
The shower was filled with everything a good baby shower has; food, loud laughing, cute little baby clothes, and games.
One of the games we played was for everyone to guess Jackie's birth date, weight, and length and then offer a little piece of advice for the new mommy and daddy to be.
I thought it would be fun to share the advice from so many experienced moms and a few "someday" moms.
~ Pick up the baby whenever she cries.
~ Make sure you always take time to listen. Even that can make things seem so much better and easier for her.
~ Don't worry about the small stuff.
~ Patience is key
~ Listen to your mom, she's been there before. (This was not from my mom...)
~ Read to her.
~ Parent whatever way feels most comfortable for you and Ethan. Remember that you were chosen especially to be this little one's parents, so you have a PhD in her. Your instincts are probably right. The days are long...but hte years are short, so enjoy all the moments.
~ Rest, and be careful what you eat if you are nursing.
~ In all things turn to God.
~ Be very patient and love her lots
~ Don't worry about anything and pray about everything.
~ Even when you think you might be doing something wrong, trust your instincts. No one knows baby Jackie better than her mama. Even if it takes some time to get into the "groove." And all the other stuff, the dishes, laundry, cleaning...it can wait! Time goes so fast so enjoy every cuddle, diaper change, feeding, etc... And you can never have enough spare diapers, more importantly wipes! Those dissappear very fast!
And of course, the Grandma's-to-be had some expert advice also:
My mom: I love you! You will be a loving mother...and don't sweat the small stuff.
Ethan's mom: Call grandpa anytime. That is if he isn't out there already!
All such great advice! I'm sure Ethan and I will have all the help we need :)
And now I better get going on some Thank You notes!
The shower was filled with everything a good baby shower has; food, loud laughing, cute little baby clothes, and games.
One of the games we played was for everyone to guess Jackie's birth date, weight, and length and then offer a little piece of advice for the new mommy and daddy to be.
I thought it would be fun to share the advice from so many experienced moms and a few "someday" moms.
~ Pick up the baby whenever she cries.
~ Make sure you always take time to listen. Even that can make things seem so much better and easier for her.
~ Don't worry about the small stuff.
~ Patience is key
~ Listen to your mom, she's been there before. (This was not from my mom...)
~ Read to her.
~ Parent whatever way feels most comfortable for you and Ethan. Remember that you were chosen especially to be this little one's parents, so you have a PhD in her. Your instincts are probably right. The days are long...but hte years are short, so enjoy all the moments.
~ Rest, and be careful what you eat if you are nursing.
~ In all things turn to God.
~ Be very patient and love her lots
~ Don't worry about anything and pray about everything.
~ Even when you think you might be doing something wrong, trust your instincts. No one knows baby Jackie better than her mama. Even if it takes some time to get into the "groove." And all the other stuff, the dishes, laundry, cleaning...it can wait! Time goes so fast so enjoy every cuddle, diaper change, feeding, etc... And you can never have enough spare diapers, more importantly wipes! Those dissappear very fast!
And of course, the Grandma's-to-be had some expert advice also:
My mom: I love you! You will be a loving mother...and don't sweat the small stuff.
Ethan's mom: Call grandpa anytime. That is if he isn't out there already!
All such great advice! I'm sure Ethan and I will have all the help we need :)
And now I better get going on some Thank You notes!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Pardon me, but do you have the time?
I have an obsession with time.
I'm not exactly sure when this obsession started, or when I finally aknowledged it as an "obsession." I do know that for as long as I can remember I have wanted to, no I have NEEDED to know what time it is...at any possible moment of the day. Multiple times.
I can remember getting yelled at by my college volleyball for looking at the clock during practice.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? COUNTING DOWN THE MINUTES WE HAVE LEFT TO PRACTICE?!?!?"
Nope. Really I just want to know what time it is.
I know exactly what times I wake up in the middle of the night, and count up how many hours of sleep I got each morning. I report both to my husband faithfully. (He has been well aware of my time obsession since long before we were married.)
I know, down to the minute how long it takes to get from my driveway to the parking lot at school. As well as how long it takes between each turn I make to get to work.
I have timed the trip from our driveway to the hopital exit and from the school to the hospital exit multiple times.
If I think, even for a little bit, that I'm going to be late for something, I actually make myself sick with worry. I HATE BEING LATE.
I also hate being too early, but not as much as I hate to be late. I want to be just a little bit early, but never late. 10 minutes early is right on time in my book.
I have a clock in every room in the house (except the bathrooms...but don't think I haven't thought about it). I hate it when the power goes out.
I can't work out on a machine without looking at the clock a hundred times. When I swim, I time how long it takes to swim a lap (I could do a 500 meter swim in less than 8 minutes when I was swimming everyday...that's 10 laps on 50 meter pool).
I understand my obsession is mine alone and I try not to burden others with it. (Exept my husband...but he know what he was getting into).
I have tried to think of where this might come in handy with my life (other than being on time for things), and so far the only things I can think of are 1.) when I have to start timing contractions and 2.) if I ever witness a crime and the lawyer asks me "What time was it exactly when you saw ____?"
I will honestly be able to answer that question.
I'm not exactly sure when this obsession started, or when I finally aknowledged it as an "obsession." I do know that for as long as I can remember I have wanted to, no I have NEEDED to know what time it is...at any possible moment of the day. Multiple times.
I can remember getting yelled at by my college volleyball for looking at the clock during practice.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? COUNTING DOWN THE MINUTES WE HAVE LEFT TO PRACTICE?!?!?"
Nope. Really I just want to know what time it is.
I know exactly what times I wake up in the middle of the night, and count up how many hours of sleep I got each morning. I report both to my husband faithfully. (He has been well aware of my time obsession since long before we were married.)
I know, down to the minute how long it takes to get from my driveway to the parking lot at school. As well as how long it takes between each turn I make to get to work.
I have timed the trip from our driveway to the hopital exit and from the school to the hospital exit multiple times.
If I think, even for a little bit, that I'm going to be late for something, I actually make myself sick with worry. I HATE BEING LATE.
I also hate being too early, but not as much as I hate to be late. I want to be just a little bit early, but never late. 10 minutes early is right on time in my book.
I have a clock in every room in the house (except the bathrooms...but don't think I haven't thought about it). I hate it when the power goes out.
I can't work out on a machine without looking at the clock a hundred times. When I swim, I time how long it takes to swim a lap (I could do a 500 meter swim in less than 8 minutes when I was swimming everyday...that's 10 laps on 50 meter pool).
I understand my obsession is mine alone and I try not to burden others with it. (Exept my husband...but he know what he was getting into).
I have tried to think of where this might come in handy with my life (other than being on time for things), and so far the only things I can think of are 1.) when I have to start timing contractions and 2.) if I ever witness a crime and the lawyer asks me "What time was it exactly when you saw ____?"
I will honestly be able to answer that question.
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