I love being a mom.

Before I was a Mom...

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom...

I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom...

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom...

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop
the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom...

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important
and happy.

Before I was a Mom...

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to
make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the
wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

December Madness

Wow...since when has December been so crazy?? Oh my! School is crazy. We're trying to cram everything into the next three weeks, and it is nutty. The kids are wound up, and it seems like a zillion assignments are due.
Meetings out the wazoo.
Grades due next week.
Three observations in the next week and a half.
I took the PPR exam tonight which is the last exam I have to take to get certified. Woohoo. I have no idea how I did.
Christmas shopping.
Decorating.
Daycare.
AHHHHHHHH!!!

Ya gotta love it.

Testing

I feel special...

Ok, I originally had this posted on Ella's blog, but this is more for me than it is for her. Last Friday one of my students gave me a paper telling me that I was her favorite teacher and that she loves the way I explain things to the class. And she wanted me to go to her volleyball game Monday. I felt so special...I mean, I have only been there a little over a month - but this little girl is so sweet, and have I mentioned yet how much I love being a teacher.

Anyway, Monday morning she comes to my classroom with this big corsage flower thing with all these ribbons hanging down. Now, I've heard about these mums. I've seen them pinned to other teachers' bulletin boards when I was a sub. Apparently its a big thing in Texas - they give them out for homecoming courts and possibly dances? All I know, is the way I love attention, I would've been a mum-a-holic in high school if this was cool at ole St. Charles. So, she made me this mum...thats her picture on the button. Isn't that just the sweetest thing ever?!

So, Monday was their last volleyball game, and I attended proudly. There were several other teachers there being honored as well. I guess since I'm a first-year teacher (and a nerd), I made it out to be a really big deal in my head, but it really touched me. I stayed for almost all four games...my student won her game (she's a really good player too!) - I should've gone to more than just this last one! Oh well...there's always next year.

Next Friday is the last day of the second six weeks. I have been super busy trying to get everything graded and work made up. I have a lot of students that aren't doing to well. My mentor tells me thats normal, but I really take it to heart. Things are so much different for some of these kids than it was for me when I was their age...but that's another whole story for another whole posting!! So glad it's the weekend!!

Natchitoches Weekend

Bart, Ella and I had a great little getaway this weekend. It was very spontaneous, and that made it even more fun. I love not making any reservations sometimes. I loooove Natchitoches. It is the cutest little town with little shops and the river and old houses and hills. Its just so quaint. And of course there's Northwestern and all the memories that come along with it. When we drove through downtown, there was obviously a rowing race going on, and I remembered when I was on the rowing team. How did I ever wake up every morning at 5am for practice to go in that cold a$$ water and freeze my ta-ta's off?? I guess that's why I was so skinny and yet thought I was so fat! Ha ha!

We passed by a lot of old hangouts. Nicky's mexican restaurant for one - fun times. Oh, and I got a snapshot of the McDonald's while we were trying to decide what we would pick up for lunch. Look at this pic.....only in a cute town like Natchitoches would there be a waterfall in the drive-thru line!!

We also had a blast hanging out with our friends Tyler and Veronica and our godchild Breanna. She is such a cutie. We always have fun with them...we were hanging out at her sister's house. Her sister was in Baton Rouge for the weekend, so we just kinda used their house while they were away. They have this really pretty house with the most perfect backyard. I love the outdoor fireplace...I could sit by that thing every night. And then we had fun with their electric scooters. And Tango had fun with the basketball. Ha ha.

Well, I am tired and am ready for a new week at school. I graded a lot of papers while we were in the car. Still not done though.

Without a Paddle

Ok...so, its a lazy Sunday afternoon, and I'm watching a movie I have seen many times, but I think its been overlooked. I don't remember it being a big hit at the movies, unless I just missed it. It's called "Without a Paddle." It's about these four guys who have been best friends since they were kids. One of them goes on to do great things, but passes away (I'm not giving the movie away...it happens in the very beginning). Anyway, the remaining three boys decide to go on an adventure in memory of him. Needless to say, their adventure is the movie, and it is HILARIOUS!! It stars Dax Shepard (from Baby Mama), Matthew Lillard (from Scream and Scooby Doo) and Seth Green (from Austin Powers). They are sooo funny...I laugh out loud every time I watch it, and even though they're boys, the movie brings you back to your childhood. Matthew Lillard and Seth Green deliver outstanding performances - Seth Green's character is so adorable. Burt Reynolds even makes an appearance.

If you have not seen this movie, do yourself a favor. It's been coming on MTV this weekend. Here's the imdb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364751/

Election 2008

I am SO ready for this election to be over!! The commercials are driving me nuts...not just the McCain and Obama commercials, but the local commercials as well. They are so vindictive! I voted last week during early voting. I'm off from school for Election Day, so I surely don't want to spend my day off waiting in line! It was great to vote early...there was no line at all! Now, I will say I have been enjoying the Saturday Night Live skits during the election...I don't normally watch SNL anymore (I mean, its just not the same anymore), but I like Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, and since I've been so into this election, the satire is refreshing!


I'm so not going to get into my political views on here because its just not that kind of blog, but I am very excited for Tuesday. Either way, history will be made. Bart has got me listening to AM talk radio and watching all the coverage, but I'm kinda glad. It's nice to be informed. Guess we will know one way or another by Tuesday. Woohoo!

P.S. If you're reading this and you HAVEN'T voted yet, GET OUT THERE AND VOTE ON TUESDAY!! Your vote DOES make a difference either way!!

$1.99 - holy smokes!!

I stopped at the Valero a couple of days ago, and when I saw how much the gas was, I almost ran into the gas pump. It was $2.09!! I was so shocked, I had to take a picture of it!

Then Bart went yesterday to the Racetrack on Highway 6, and he said gas was $1.99!! Oh my! How awesome is that?? I don't know how the economy is doing, but the gas prices rock! (and yes, it IS sad that I am excited that gas costing $1.99!)

Like Totally 80s!

This week at school it's Red Ribbon Week, and if you don't remember what that was from school - it's the Drug and Alcohol Awareness week. Anyway, everyday is a different dress-up day for school. Monday was red, white and blue (I think it was something like "America joins the fight against drugs.") Tuesday was "Block Out Drugs and Alcohol," and everyone got to wear hats, sunglasses, and black under our eyes. Today is "A History of Red Ribbon Week," so we got to dress like our favorite decade. Mine of course was the eighties!!

I cut up an old sweater and made leg warmers. I dug out some big, circular silver earrings and a tacky necklace. I pulled a tight side ponytail into a purple scrunchy, and my makeup was made up of frosted blue eye shadow, blue eye liner, and cotton candy pink lip gloss. The only thing I was missing was a fingerless lace glove. Ha ha! It was so much fun!! I love being a teacher.

I went to Randall's grocery after school to pick up some 7up for my ailing mother, and everyone gave me funny looks. No one looked at me with a smile to say, "nice costume." They just gave me freaky looks as if to say, "are you really wearing that?" I mean, really? Do you really think me, a 30-year-old woman, is going around in everyday life with a side pony, frosted blue eye shadow and leg warmers?!! C'mon people!!

Tomorrow is "Fight the War Against Drugs," and we can wear camouflage. And Friday is crazy hair and clothes day....hmmmm. I can definitely do that.

Ready or Not, Here We Go

Well, there's no easy way to start this thing other than to just get started. I created this blog to express myself. I love Ella's blog so much. It helps me stay connected with friends and family, and it's the best thing ever!! So because I love it so much, I wanted one for my very own. I have random thoughts and things to get out sometimes, and where else to express that kind of poetic therapy than my very own blog! And here we are...

I have to say my life is pretty great. I am so blessed. I have a wonderful husband. I couldn't have asked for a more involved, giving person to spend my life with. He adores Ella. He wakes up in the middle of the night to feed her - even if he has work the next day. He dresses her. He changes diapers. He loves bath time as much as she does, and he's always taking her for walks in the backyard to just "look around." I'm sure lots of new dads out there do this very same thing, but its just so heart-warming to see my husband do it. He's really great.

Then there's Ella. I am so grateful that she was born a healthy, bouncing baby girl. She's growing so fast, and every day I have to pinch myself that I really gave birth to her. I mean, it seems like just yesterday Lacie, Jenny and I were living in Baton Rouge, getting into trouble and loving the single life. And now here I am with this little person that depends soully on me for survival. I love motherhood though. I love having that power of being the one who can calm her when she's upset. The one who can make her laugh even when she's starving for a bottle. The one who can put her to sleep in 3.2 seconds. Hee hee. Its an unbelievable feeling, and every day I can't wait to see what happens next.

My newest happening in my life is my teaching job. I decided to become a teacher when I moved to Houston. I loved the marketing thing, but once I left Your Other Warehouse, I was done with it. I wanted a career change no matter what it was. Quite honestly, I've always thought about being a teacher. My sisters are teachers. Lots of friends and family members are teachers, and I always envied them when they got to decorate their classrooms. Ha! I was always crafty and creative when it came to kids. I loved being an RA at Southeastern. And when I did some searching in Houston, I thought back to what I love to do most in life....what was some of the best times of my life. It was Camp Roindel. I loved it for sooo many reasons, but it all came down to the kids. So, it just seemed like a logical direction to turn. I enrolled into a program to get my certification a year ago, and here we are. Now, I'm teaching 8th grade Language Arts, and I loove it. I love teaching. And if I must work, what better a job than a teacher when I have a little baby. I get off at 3:30 every day, and I'm off holidays and summers!! It rocks!! So, so far so good with that.

Most of you know, my first teaching job was a long term substitute job I took teaching Communication Applications. Comm App is basic communication skills, interviewing, etc. I looooved teaching it so much, and that's my ultimate goal as a teacher. Meanwhile, Language Arts isn't so bad. I just feel like a dope sometimes. I can analyze a story till the cows come home, but all these strategies!! We never really spent so much in-depth time with stuff like that when I was in high school - or if we did, I don't remember (and I loved all my English classes). I don't know....I'll get it! It's just gonna take a little time.

I miss my family and friends every day. I'm not just saying that. I really mean it. I miss taking time out to meet Jenny and Lacie at Chilis. I miss slumber parties at Mel's house. I miss LSU games. I miss eating mexican food with Stina. I miss seeing my nieces' dance reviews and baseball games and carnival balls and sporting events. I miss the family birthday parties. I miss going see my mom and dad whenever I want. I'll miss my mom and dad's house when they move, and I hate that I can't spend more time there while they're still there. I just miss everything, and sometimes it just gets to me. I like Houston...I really do. The shopping and resources are to die for. The public schools are truly unbelievable. There is no better mexican food, and there is always so much to do. But it's not home.

Anyway, that's my life in a nutshell. I promise not all my posts will be that long....I just had to get that out. It's an exciting journey ahead....teaching, motherhood, superwife. Who knows what will happen next.

angle

Coming Soon!

I decided that along with my Ella blog, I wanted to create a blog just for me too. Mine won't be as fancy as hers, but I will write a lot. I just wanted an outlet to express my random thoughts and funny stories about my goings on. There's always a bit of humor in my life. I'm an 8th grade English teacher now (and that's always generates funny stories) and I can share some of my motherhood stories that may be a little too much for Ella's blog. So I am sure to have lots of funny stories and interesting things to say.

Hope to see you back soon!

angle