Days Go By

I'm busy and things don't seem to be slowing down so below is a quick look at what our Spring has been filled with. I hope you are all doing well. :) 

Jayden spent the day with me on one of our teacher work days this spring.

Pebbles is such a cute part of our family. 

Jayden's first time eating rice cereal. Woohoo for solid foods. 

Nap Time

Morning fun. The Johnny Jump Up is the best thing to use when Jayden is up before the boys in the morning.

The kiddos striking a pose with Granpa Mike and Grandma Carrie.

Spencer had a blast at Chris' birthday party. The party was at Jump Time in Meridian.

Jayden loves her baths.

Jayden and Autnie Devon

Big girl holds her own spoon. 

Oh no you didn't!

Happy Girl

We love the hat, we love the girl.

Spencer helped me make sugar cookie.

It was a messy event.

Jayden loves and hates this toy. She loves to chew it but becomes enraged when she can't control it. 

My beautiful children.

This was the costume of the week after we watched "Despicable Me".

Trying bananas in the rice cereal.

Not a big hit.

This is Jayden's spot while Spencer and I work on school stuff.

Spencer had an animal project at school that he did awesome with. We made a poster at home for his presentation.

The Annas are so gracious.

We celebrated Tammy's birthday in Hidden Springs. 

BBQ burgers and chocolate cake ala mode.

Our Beth Moore Bible Study crew.

Playing the Pride & Prejudice board game was a fun activity.

At Planet Kid in the ball bin.

We met up with the Cramers and had a lovely afternoon playing, talking and eating pizza.

Me and my girl.

Spence had a blast playing with all the kids there.

Trish and I chatted about baby stuff. She's holding little Mackenna.

The boys played chess and talked about work.

Boring!

After all of his hard work on reading this year, Spencer got Proficient on his Reading ISAT. 

We went to Starbucks to celebrate with warm drinks and cake pops.

I love my family and I love the life we have together.

Happy Spring!

Express Yourself

Okay, when you hear that phrase, Express Yourself, you probably think of that lovely song, or being outspoken, or sharing some part of yourself with the public... well that phrase had double meaning for me today. I am a nursing mom that has to pump on my breaks at work. I do it, it's not fun, but it works. Today, after school, I put the do not disturb sign on the door, made sure the room was locked, and set myself up for a "milking session". OMG! Of course, today would happen to be the day I didn't have a nursing cover because Jayden spit up all over it. Yep... I was barged in on. I heard the key enter the lock and started hollering: "No, you can't come in here! Get out! Close the door! Stay out! I'm pumping! You need to leave now! Oh my gosh, shut the door!!!!"

The custodial worker that collects the trash in the evenings came in despite my shouting denials and stopped in the hallway of my room, staring in shock at the boobs that were staring back at him though the opalescent cups of the pump. It was deer caught in the headlights syndrome at its finest. Kill me now. He just kept staring, stuttering, and saying that he just needed to get the trash. Finally, he backed out of the room and shut the door. I just looked down at myself realizing that, despite the fact that I had tried to slump, the desk was still at my bellybutton and my bust was on prominent display above it. I was finally able to turn off the pump and detach my mortified breasts from the torturous pump before calling Rhonda to share my laughter and tears.

I guess the questions will be: Will he leave a number on the board? Can that be considered a tip? Will I get beads like I would for the same occurrence at Mardi Gras? I'll just have to suck it up and head back to work tomorrow despite my short stint as the topless teaching dairy gal.

That's all she wrote... I just wanted to keep you abreast of the current work situation. Enjoy your week and seriously, when the sign on the door says "DO NOT DISTURB!" don't open the dang door.

Back in the Saddle

I love my colleagues. When I came in this morning I was greeted with a cute yellow sign along with lots of hugs. :) Thank you, I love you all.

I got up early, woke up Jayden to nurse, sing and read together and then, after crying on Steen's shoulder, I went to work. I spent first hour sorting through papers, pumping at the end of my prep. My students were awesome and it was fun to be in the classroom again. We had a fire drill during the last class, students kept peeking out the window at the snow and wishing for a snow day, and Leslie rescued me fourth hour for an "emergency" pump session. I still wish I could be home with Jayden but if I have to leave her, I realize how fortunate I am to work in an amazing department with such wonderful people.

Jayden was super tired when I got her up but she looked adorable.

Someone drew cute flowers on the board for me.

Coming back to a big yellow welcome sign was so nice. :) Thanks again Leslie.

Moments

Today is my last day with Jayden before I have to go back to work. I'm on the verge of tears as I think about someone else getting to share her cooing silliness in the early afternoons or getting to feed her before her afternoon nap. I love being at home with her and I would love to be a stay-at-home mom, at least for the first few years. Yikes. I never thought I would say that but it's the truth. There are just so many wonderful things that I will miss when I go back. At least I'll still get to be the one to walk in and get her out of her crib. She cries her pathetic "why doesn't anyone love me and hold me and why am I alone" cry in the morning and then I walk into her room, she sees me and the grin breaks across her face. She adores her mommy and the feeling is entirely mutual. I love this little bundle of baby goodness and am going to miss her for those hours I am at work.

So all you working moms out there, please share, what was the hardest part of going back to work and how did you cope? Also, does anyone have any great advice for pumping at work? Take care and have a happy Monday.

Spencer's Puppet Show

Spencer got to write and preform a puppet show titled, "How to be Reliable" in Mrs. Emerson's Puppeteers this winter. He worked really hard, had a blast, and made us so proud. :)

We celebrated with dipped cones from Dairy Queen after the show.

Such a fun event.

Friday Nights

It is 5:06 pm on Friday and I just got home. I cleaned my classroom and put together a packet for the sub I will have on Monday and now it is time to relax... just as soon as I:

• do the dishes
• take out the trash
• get some groceries
• email my mom some info.
• read with Spencer
• help him with homework
• go to the home football game

How is it that our to-do lists never seem to get any smaller, no matter how many items we check off?

Woot woot Bulldogs, nice comeback!! (9/26)

Santa's Crush

One of my all-time favorite professors was/is Gaymon Bennet. I always thought his jovial personality and optimistic outlook were reminiscent of an intellectual Santa Clause. Little quirks, such as the fact that he totally had a crush on Anne Bradstreet (if you don't know who this is... google it, and seriously, read a little poetry now and then) made his class highly enjoyable. When he would read her poetry, his eyes would get a little twinkle, his grin was contagious, and he always seemed to go "somewhere else" as he spoke.

This little trip down memory lane was inspired by the fact that I am currently having my juniors read Upon The Burning of Our House, a poem by Anne Bradstreet. It is such a beautiful poem and, while I am not keen on all Puritan ideals, her faith and resiliency is something to admire. A colleague found the above film clip. Enjoy!