Wednesday, May 23, 2012

A Flutterin' Goin' On

According to the doc, I'll be 15 wks Friday.  According to me--it'll get here when it gets here.  However, I began feeling fluttering/little bubbles (not the gas kind!) tonight, which is kind of exciting!

Today was the awards ceremony at my daughters' school.  Lovely got seven awards, along with a medal she will receive soon for the all A honor roll.  Go Lovely!  However, she was still recommended for the two-week summer school session for those with lower standardized test grades and teacher recommendation.  Honestly, I have no idea what she scored because her school never gives you that info--something that gets really annoying.  Also, she reads wonderfully (it is for reading) at home--so much better than previously.  However, she acts shy at school and doesn't want to answer anything, so I just don't see her having a problem.  She cried when I told her about the letter, so S and I decided not to send her--we'll work with her at home, one-on-one.  I had already planned on doing this, but I'll be a little more dedicated now.

Snugglebug recieved three awards, which she complained about, but I told her Lovely only got one last year in K, so be happy.  And she was.

What have you been awarded lately?  Or what should you be awarded for?

Monday, May 21, 2012

A New Week, A Dirty Wall

Monday already.  It's the last week of the girls' school, and a busy one at that!  Lovely has "Muffins with Dad" tomorrow for an early Father's Day treat.  I laughed (as anyone who knows S would) when I found out it begins at 8:35 a.m.!  Two field trips for Snugglebug, which I'm going on--one to the Louisville Nature Center and one to Henry's Ark.  I sub the other two day's for Lovely's class, which includes an awards ceremony for the school and early dismissal the other day.  Woo!  I'm already tuckered out! 

Speaking of tuckered out, I am finally getting my energy back.  Hallelujah!  And, I'm not nearly as bleck feeling as previously.  I've had several good days, actually.  In fact, I don't ever remember feeling this good during pregnancy with the girls!  So, other than getting up every 1-2 hours each night for the bathroom, I'm doing well! 

I'm in the process of cleaning the office (once again--it is my greatest nemesis).  I bought a crib & dresser/changing table Friday, both of which are piled up in my living room.  I'd like to get at least the dresser in the office and out of the way.  However, I discovered lots of little doodles on the wall, courtesy of my darlings.  Magic Eraser, I'm coming for you. 

I'd like to get a lot of projects finished this summer and maybe make a few gifts and a few things for the baby.  I never sewed for one of my own babies, so this will be new!  I'll probably take up the crocheting needles again as well, so I'll likely be glued to YouTube to refresh my stitches. 

I still have to plan my classes for the fall, but I haven't even received my teaching contract yet.  I'd really like to get the syllabi and class assignments out of the way, though.  I'd also like to take up writing again.  I hate to admit it, but I still haven't submitted my culminating project from grad school to any journals yet.  Fear of rejections rekindles itself.  It's difficult because although I was always told how wonderfully I write by my instructors and my CP advisor, I never get called back for any editing jobs and the two times I've submitted for publication = rejection.  I know there are a lot of wonderful writers out there, so I always feel lost in the crowd.  However, persistence is a requirement of the writing field, and so I must muster some dedication, drive, and thick skin. 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

I Don't Know About This...

As I lay in bed lastnight, I thoughtfully spoke the words, "You know, I've never liked being pregnant."  Who's with me?  Not that I would want to be not pregnant; I'm just the type who would like to, as I told my husband, lay an egg and sit on it for nine months instead of experiencing all of the nausea and uncomfortableness of pregnancy.  Again, I am thankful for what I am and what I have, but the egg thing has a nice ring to it.  In response, S said, "What do you mean I can't take it with me everywhere?"  So, I concluded that someone would have to come up with an egg-carrying contraption if this was the given method of procreation.  Surely, someone would create a real "fanny pack" for nesting, right?

Ok, perhaps I'm just being ridiculous right now.  I subbed kindergarten today, and I will tomorrow as well, and let's just say the children are a bit of a handful at the end of the year.  Quite a bit.  Also, I feel more "bleck" at night now.  Yes, "morning sickness" morphs throughout my pregnancy and so instead of feeling ill in the afternoons, it has now turned to evening/nights.  Perhaps it will eventually morph out?  I still feel ready to cry in despair when asked, "So, what are you hungry for?"  Truthfully, I'm not hungry for anything.  There are foods that I can stomach, and there are foods that I can't look at.  That's it.  And as much as I love the taste of Sunkist in all it's high fructose corn syrup glory, it makes me sick.  Go figure. 

So getting back to the phrase "I don't know about this," I was thinking of the little ole predictor that most girls I know have tried at one time or another--holding a ring on a necklace over your wrist to see how many children you'll have/what sex/age of mother at birth.  What?  You mean you haven't done such foolishness?  I used to amuse myself with it all the time.  In fact, it still shows girl, girl, boy, girl.  If I'm really at the "boy" stage, I told S that I really don't know about that last girl.  Now, this is all in fun and may or may not hold water (or break it!  haha...couldn't resist the pun).  I just pray my symptoms improve and this baby is healthy and strong.  T-5wks until the u/s. 

I've just discovered another pregnancy symptom:  rambling.  If you'll excuse me now...

Monday, May 14, 2012

2011 Top Baby Names

Not that I'm too influenced by pop culture or what is considered a "popular" name (Lovely's name was picked out long before it became popularized by TV shows), but I found my reaction to the top 10 2011 baby names, found here, interesting.  While I like/love/admire for someone else almost all the girl names, I don't care for most of the boy names.  Hmmm....

For boys:
  • Jacob (I've known too many bad apples since I teach all grades)
  • Mason (I always associate this with Masons, which leads me to "National Treasure."  While I enjoyed the movie, I don't want to think of Nicholas Cage when I look at my child--weird, I know.)
  • William (OK, but only if you call him Will)
  • Jayden (What?  I thought this was a girl's name...Guess I was wrong...)
  • Noah (Cute, but white beards and balding heads are what comes to mind.)
  • Michael (Again, too many bad apples.  Not always, but you know the saying about one bad apple...)
  • Ethan (I'm OK with this one.  I used to...ummm...dislike it, but it's grown on me.  And I've known several good apples.)
  • Alexander (My nephew's name, but I've always liked it.)
  • Aiden (Ehhhh.  Just ehhhh.  Not bad, not good.)
  • Daniel (Ehhhhhh.  More ehhhhhh.)
For girls:
  • Sophia (Like)
  • Isabella (Love--but too popular now)
  • Emma (Love)
  • Olivia (OK)
  • Ava (Only for a movie star)
  • Emily (Like)
  • Abigail (Love)
  • Madison (Ok)
  • Mia (Ehhhhh)
  • Chloe (Cute)
And now you can see why I haven't even considered names yet.  4.5 wks till the ultrasound, which means 4.5 more wks of burying my head in the sand!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Week 13

I believe I've told just about everyone that we're expecting now.  I normally tell around this time, and my belly can't hide it anyway!  I still haven't gained anything, and in fact, I had lost another pound at the last doctor's visit.  Also, my blood pressure is normal when I am not at the doctor's (a friend referred to this as "white coat hypertension"), so I don't have to go back until 16 wks.  I still have little desire to eat, and I'm having to force liquids down since lack of hydration causes...other problems.

I went yardsaling Sat., but only bought two little outfits, spending a total of $4.25 after 2.5 hours of shopping, 6 neighborhoods, and one church sale.  However, I went home that night and scanned Craigslist.  I happened upon this:

!

It's not super cutesy, but it's either-or and includes the valance, lamp, and diaper stacker.  I had actually picked it out weeks ago, so I was excited to find this.  I thought it would be quite fitting if we do have a boy.  I'm supposed to meet on Thurs. to pick this up.  Yes, I'm shopping early, but yard sale season is the best time to find deals, so I'm right there looking.  

Hope you have a wonderful week and let me know if you find any super yardsale deals!  Only 10 days of school left, also!  Woohoo!  Happy Mother's Day!  (I got a body pillow for Mother's Day--super woohoo!)

Monday, May 7, 2012

What I've Been Up To: Snugglebug's Six!

I decided to go all out for Snugglebug's 6th Birthday because  I've decided birthday parties will only happy every 2-3 years in order to give the Mommy time to recoup.  I let Snugglebug decide on what theme she wanted, and I took it from there.

Theme: Owls.  Night Owl Party, to be exact. I found this cute idea for an invite on Pinterest, located here.  Mine isn't quite as symmetrical, but it still came out pretty cute, I thought!  The wings are tacked on with tiny brads that once lost, will never be found.  I had no idea they could be made so small!



 This was the first time I attempted sculpting an animal from Rice Crispies covered in fondant.  I must say, it was sooo much fun!  Everything you see is a yummy buttercream fondant, except for the white base of the cake (and the lollipops, of course!). The basic owl design came from here.

When kids started arriving, Snugglebug started posing.


Here is the Owl Mask Making table.  There was also a ceramic owl painting table, but I wasn't sure if those kids' parents would want them on my blog.  I let Snugglebug invite four friends from class (1 didn't show) and I let Lovely invite two friends.  Then, we invited my mom's neighbor's girl (the party was in my mom's basement--not good for photo lighting!) and a family friend.  


Here is the Night Owl bed table, which you can find here.  I drew a headboard at the top and the kids sat on the floor around the "bed."  I placed napkins under plates, with clear silverware, empty goodie bags, and fancy plastic goblets I decorated with curly ribbon.  I also placed candy jewelry at each spot.


Snugglebug got some funky teeth as part of her present from me.


We had an egg hunt outside.


Then we hatched eggs for prizes (balloons filled with erasers and plastic rings).


Cake time! 


Gift time!  I always had the giver sit on the chair next to Snugglebug while gifts were opened. 


The beginning of Snugglebug's funky faces...
 
 


Notice the black feet?  My child NEVER wears shoes. 

Posing in front of the really bad, really fast owl cut out I made for the party to decorate the walls.  I had to use crayons...I'm embarrassed now...


Each child also received a handmade bookmark from the party.  Of course, it says Snugglebug's name at the bottom.
 
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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Updates

Cravings...there's nothing like fulfilling a food/drink craving you've had for several hours or several days.  Unless you can't figure out what you're craving.  That's me.  I just don't like eating/drinking right now because nothing is satisfying, and everything leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  Normal?  I don't remember this, so I don't know.  I craved root beer with Lovely (and gained about 35 lbs) and I craved Sunkist with Snugglebug (only gained 23 lbs--go figure).  This one?  Who knows!  Other than cheese (yes, I do like a good Colby Jack cheese right now), I'm craving...something...If you can tell me what it is, I'll clean your house for you.  Well, I'll think about cleaning your house for you, if my house is any indication of my cleaning prowess.