Baby May is the Size of an Olive!

So, I'm taking a page out of my friend, Katie's, previous blog posts. She recently had an adorable little girl, and I enjoyed the way she kept everyone updated about what was going on.

Katie, if you're reading this, thanks for the ideas!

Weeks: 9.5

Morning Sickness: I think I've finally got a handle on handling the morning sickness - at least most of the time! I usually get it right when I wake up, especially if my stomach is empty. This hunger-induced nausea is most easily solved by eating something light like a cereal bar. Other nausea that occurs can last either all day, or it pops up around dinner and lasts until bedtime. Ginger ale and peppermints usually help alleviate some of the symptoms.

Fatigue: I have been SOOO tired this past week. There have been several days when I use my 30 minute "break" to nap. Of course, right after my break is nap time for the kids, so I have to be careful NOT to sit down in the dark, quiet, lullaby-filled room; that leads to me napping along with the kids. I've needed to go to bed early pretty much every night, but that's impossible on Monday and Tuesday when I have grad school. On those days I usually nap in my car before I go into class.

Happy Foods: I've found that there are some foods that tend to agree with my stomach, especially when it comes to combatting nausea. Grilled chicken, goldfish, raspberry cereal bars, ginger ale, fruit-flavored popsicles, and deli sandwiches (the kind from Arby's or Lenny's). I've also been eating a lot of Crispy Rice cereal and rice-based dishes (like gumbo and stir fry).

Smells: On days when I've felt particularly sick, certain smells have nearly knocked me over. The smell of the grocery store when you first walk in, spaghetti being served in the cafeteria, and spending time in certain restaurants are some particular times when I've had to leave rather quickly.

Baby Bump: Not really at this point - just bit of a pudge that I'm pretty sure was forming before I got pregnant. However, my checklist on "Thebump.com" keeps telling me to take a belly picture. I have yet to take their advice.

Clothing: My pants are definitely getting tighter, as are certain shirts. The pants problem I've been able to solve by pushing them a little lower below my stomach, right on my hips. I'm having to wear slightly looser shirts, which are more comfortable anyway. I'm hoping that I'll be able to save some money on maternity clothes by wearing sundresses and loose summer clothing. It just needs to warm up first! Also, I just found a cute dress shop here in Norcross that has incredibly reasonably priced clothes that are nice and flowy (and you get 20% off on your birthday!)

Thankful: I am so thankful for everyone who has made this process as easy as possible (so far). In particular, my husband, who has done everything from massage my back to clean the house to stand in the freezing cold to get the cookie dough ice cream I wanted.
My graduate professor understood when I was too sick for class last Monday, and has already worked out me missing some classes in the fall when I have the Little One.
Also, my principal is working with me on making my doctor's appointments since I have to leave work around 2 to make it on time.
And I can't forget my Mama! She makes a great sounding board when I need to ask someone whether I can still eat deli meat without fearing contracting listeria or how to "fix" morning sickness!

We haven't had our first OB appointment yet, but that's set for March 12. I'll be at the end of 11 weeks, and we're hoping we can hear the heartbeat! I'm ready for a sonogram, because right now, all I can envision is a raspberry or olive or whatever food the baby is currently the size of - and what an image that is!

Baby May: 8 Weeks

Over the past week, as I’ve battled fatigue and morning sickness, I’ve tried to spend a few minutes here and there thinking about the first official blog entry about Baby May. I think the best way is to begin at the beginning with how we found out…

A few weeks ago I started to feel like my stomach muscles were tight, especially when I stretched; I mostly noticed it when I was putting away mats after nap time since I stretch to put them on top of the cabinets in our classroom. I knew it wasn't because I was exercising - hah! - so I decided to take a pregnancy test. Exactly 1 year and 8 months from the time we got married, I tested positive on a home pregnancy test. (I then woke Davis up at 8:00 on a Sunday morning to show it to him - he thought it was a Hot Pocket at first!)

Of course, the rest of the week was chaotic as College Heights prepped for the President’s visit. I managed to get an appointment with a nurse just to confirm the pregnancy for Thursday afternoon (Valentine’s Day)! So, needless to say, I was ready for the President’s visit to be over so I could get to that appointment. However, we weren’t allowed to park at the school that day, so I’m pacing around frantically as we wait for the shuttle bus to the high school that was 30 minutes late. When I do make it to my car, I called the doctor’s office to let them know I’d be late; they told me if I arrived after 4:30 I would have to reschedule. I was NOT about to let that happen.

I picked up Davis at a gas station, and we hustled to the doctor’s office, arriving at 4:35. I was almost in tears because I thought for sure they were going to make me reschedule. (I was ready to give them the whole story about how it was the President's fault we were late- not mine!) Fortunately, the nurse was still able to take me, even though she had to switch out with another nurse halfway through the appointment. We found out rather quickly that I was pregnant at 7 weeks and 1 day!

Not much has changed since we found out. I stopped drinking alcohol (of course). Davis started reading a book – The Caveman’s Pregnancy Companion: A Survival Guide for Expectant Fathers. And I realized that crackers and cheese make a decent meal when you really don’t want to eat anything at all. Also, now people ask me how I “feel” instead of how I “am”; it’s kinda funny, actually.

Well, it's nearly 8:30 on a Friday night, so that means it's bedtime! 

"No."

So, I think I finally came up with a decent life resolution (not the same as a New Year's Resolution in case you were wondering). My new life goal is to NOT be taken advantage of, and so far it's going okay. Here's why I've decided this is my new resolution:

The building that Davis and I are currently living in is for sale. We live in one of the four units, and the selling agent, Jamie, has contacted us several times about showing our apartment. The first time, he just took some pictures. About 2 weeks ago, we got another request for a different agent to bring by a buyer, which went really well. I figured any other showings would go that well. I was wrong. A fiasco has ensued.

• Last Saturday we set 1:00 as a time for a different agent to show it to a potential buyer; at 1:30 we found out they were going to be at least another hour, so we told them to reschedule. 
• They tried to reschedule for Wednesday by tell us at 2:00 they wanted to see it at 5:30. I told them NO and that our lease allows us a 24 hour advance notice (my first step towards not being taken advantage of!). They set it for Thursday at 5:30. After cleaning our house from top to bottom, we found out at 4:30 on Thursday they couldn't make it. Immense irritation has set in. 
• Yesterday morning, Jamie told us the same buying agent wanted to bring by another potential buyer at 3:00 today. And at 2:30 that agent calls me to tell me she has to reschedule.

At this point, I'm just about ready to tell Jamie that this other agent may no longer come. We've been burned by her 3 times now, and I am fed up, especially since we've put our lives on hold for her.

The other area where I have decided I'm not going to be taken advantage of is at work with a certain co-worker, but I won't discuss the details here. It's about time I stand up for myself and start telling people, "NO."

Quick Update

Does anyone else have those moments when you think you have something great to say (or blog about), but no time to blog. Then, when I do have time to write a new post, I can't think of anything to say. Well, today's one of those times. So, here's just a few words to let the world know that I'm still kicking here in Georgia.

1. I started my second semester of grad school this week, and I attend class on Monday and Tuesday nights. This makes for a very tough beginning of the week. I'm hoping that I'll get adjusted to the new schedule - soon!

2. Davis is getting a new project car - a 300zx turbo... I think. Which means that my warm, cozy garage parking spot is being relegated to the new project.

3. I didn't make a New Year's Resolution. I haven't for ... well, I can't even remember the last time I made a Resolution. I figured I probably wouldn't keep it any way, so why make one? What I am attempting is to cook more meals at home and be better about cleaning. This seems to be a goal every semester since it's easier to start fresh when everything is clean and organized.

That's all I've got for now. I'm going to take a nap until it's time to cook dinner.

Oh, and Roll Tide and Go SEC!

My Vote

Despite having cancelled cable a couple months ago, I have been able to watch the two Presidential debates and the Vice Presidential debate online and on the Xbox. (Hey - I even got Davis to give his full attention to last night's debate. I have hope for him yet!) Here are my brief thoughts on the debates before I get into the issues I'm voting based on.

1) As humorous as it was to watched Mitt Romney dominate the first debate, I thought it was an embarrassing display on the part of our current President, especially given the fact that he said debate prep was "a drag". I almost felt bad for Barack, but it finally gave Americans some insight into the attitude and abilities of our current President. I'm glad Mitt Romney was forceful in pointing out when Obama was misconstruing Romney's plans and beliefs.

2) The Vice Presidential debate was a bit more of a debate, which I appreciated. I thought Paul Ryan was incredibly well spoken, particularly when compared to Biden's childish snorts, eye-rolling, and disrespectful attitude. That kind of behavior is something I expect from my 3 year old students (and even then they're given a choice to either be respectful or be removed from the group until they can control themselves). However, there was an awful lot of he-said, she-said going on, which I suppose is what happens when Vice Presidential debates have no real bearing on the election itself.

3) Last night the President showed up, and it was actually somewhat of a...well, a debate. However, we witnessed an incredible disregard for the moderating rules when Candy Crowley took Obama's side over the phrase "acts of terror".  She has since admitted that she shouldn't have taken sides and that Romney was actually correct. Are you kidding me?! She is supposed to be an unbiased moderator, and it's a shame that she couldn't follow the rules.

When I vote, I will be voting for the man who I believe has America's best interests at heart.
I'm voting for the man who embraces the Constitution instead of looking for loopholes around it.
I'm voting for the man who believes government has no right interfering with matters of religion, especially where contraception and abortion are concerned.
I'm voting for a man who will not make apologies to our enemies.
I'm voting for a man who has legitimate experience running a state, an organization, a business.
I'm voting for a man whose campaign budget is actually balanced.
I'm voting for a man who wants to bring stability to Social Security for the younger generations without endangering it for those who are currently near retirement.
I'm voting for a man who believes in the 10th Amendment, which states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
I'm voting for a man who won't give details on his plan because he actually wants to sit down with Democrats and Republicans alike to formulate a plan together- no man is an island!
I'm voting for a man who knows that The United States of America should not be borrowing money from China to fund PBS (a group who has said that if the small amount of federal funding is pulled, Sesame Street won't be going anywhere because they rely heavily on other contributions).
I'm voting for a man who wants Americans to get off food stamps and into jobs that will provide for their families.
I'm voting for a man who understands that small businesses create jobs - not the government.
I'm voting for a man who, when he was Governor of Massachusettes, spent time working the jobs of other people including a garbage man, asphalt paver, emergency room volunteer, food server in a nursing home, and a child care assistant. I'm voting for him because he understands how hard I and all my colleagues work when he says, "I'm often asked which was the hardest job - it's child care, by a mile."

How Grad School is Like Preschool

Yesterday, as I was driving home from the second meeting of one of my graduate classes, I was thinking about how grad school can be a lot like preschool, especially on the first day.  Here are some examples:

1: The "Here's what you need to know" packet

• Preschool = Welcome packet that includes everything parents need to know for the time being 
• Grad school = Syllabus, schedule, due dates, and assignments

2: Seating assignments

• Preschool =Assigned seats on the carpet (using previous teachers' opinions about who to separate)
• Grad school = Assigned seating groups for the semester

3: Set the tone

• Preschool = Here are our rules, routines, and expectations for the class
• Grad school = Here's how the class operates, so follow that code of conduct

4:  Discovery as opposed to "preaching"

• Preschool = Set up activities so that the students discover different concepts on their own
• Grad school = Provide hands-on activities so that the teachers can learn the same way their students do

That being said, I am really enjoying the one graduate class I have been to (I'll go to the other one on Thursday for the first time). It's nice being on the Griffin campus, because it's small and intimate. Student Affairs met me and one other student at my class an hour early to take our photo, order our Campus I.D.s, and do a quick orientation for us since we're both new. How wonderful is that? As much as I love The University of Alabama, I can't say that they would have gone out of their way to set up a special orientation time for just two new students.

As always, Roll Tide!
And now, Go Dogs! (Go Dawgs?) Hrm, have to check on that one...

3 Weeks with 3 Year Olds (Almost)

We are 2.5 weeks into school, and it has gone incredibly well! I am super pleased with my students, and I have great parents!

Here are some of the awesome things my 3 year olds can do already (most of the time):

Open their own milk carton

Walk in a quiet line

Remember to wash their hands before using the sensory table

Line up to go inside when they hear the bell

Clean up after centers

Okay, so these are things you would expect students to be able to do, but keep in mind that they’re 3, and we’re less than 3 weeks into school.

Zeke (instructional coach) has already observed me teaching 3 times, and that has gone very well. I've done something to impress him, so the goal is to continue doing so. It's reassuring to me that even after a year as a Para, I can still create lessons and teach :)

Last night was curriculum night, and I had 4 parents come (representing 3 different students). We got started just after 6:30 and didn’t leave until 7:50. The school was dark, and everything was shut down by then. I’m pretty sure we were the last cars in the parking lot. However, I actually enjoyed having that time to talk with these parents (being the nerd that I am). What really blew me away is that they asked me what I needed from them. How amazing is that?! One of the Dads is a tech person for another school that has just switched from PC to Macs, so he’s got a lot of supplies he’s looking to donate. We’re getting 5 netbooks with mice, and couple digital cameras, and maybe more. I’m SOO excited to be getting some technology in the classroom. So many blessings in the past 3 weeks!

Well, I'm going to lay on the couch and do nothing in an attempt to cure this gunky cold the children gave me over a week ago (hello back-to-school germs!). In my next post, I'm hoping to have some pictures of my classroom!