Christmas Cards

Pretty much since we've been married we've taken a snowboarding trip for Christmas/New Years. We've taken a picture on the mountain and sent out New Years or late holiday cards. This year I have been begging JJ to let me get professional belly pictures. He finally conceded and we had an appointment scheduled for today. Had in past tense because the weather was craptastic this morning. Church was even cancelled! Our upstairs neighbor BB called at around 2:00 and miracle of miracles offered to take our pictures. She said her two kiddos were sleeping so to come up NOW! We quickly redressed in our picture attire and headed upstairs. She was ironing a white sheet. JJ tacked it up and the photoshoot began. It was so much fun! I had a few poses/props in mind and BB had a ton of great ideas as well. I was absolutely amazed at how well they turned out. BB should definitely consider a career in photography! She even took into consideration the lighting and wasn't afraid to tell us to move our heads or help with my hair, etc. It was fabulous! So I'll keep you waiting for the card in the mail. Which *should* be there before Christmas this year! Of course, that's if the Sam's Club photo printer gets fixed. Argh for my bad luck! But they said they should be back up and running Tuesday..... I suppose that's if the fix-it guy can get there. I'm still crossing my fingers for no school tomorrow!!

Tough week

I had a very tough week. Ick, I shudder just thinking about it. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster (but not in a good way) and am so. so. glad. to be off the ride! Here are just a few snippits from the week in no particular order:

*Got called a Bi@#^. Classic.
*Got all ready for a kid coming from DBR who reportedly got into a lot of trouble with another one of my students. Wonderful. Then, found out he's going to a different school in town. Elation.
*Prepared for four, count 'em four, IEP or Assessment meetings (for this coming week).
*Finished up Yu-Gi-Oh club. Single tear.
*Had chairs and garbages thrown down - not particularily at me, which was a good thing.
*Had principal observe me. Lesson bombed.
*Told I had made a huge mistake in a matter that occurred the week before. I had no idea. Oops. Big lesson learned. Check.
*Had a Character Ed. meeting where one of the ladies, the home ec teacher, had the audacity to say, "I'm sorry guys, I didn't get any of the things I was supposed to do for this meeting done. I don't know if you've noticed, but I've been swamped lately." I about jumped over the table. In my head: "Listen here, lady, I DID finish the things I needed to get done. And NO, I haven't noticed because I don't have time to GO TO THE BATHROOM during the day, much less poke my head into your room to check on you!" Ugh, just typing that made my blood get a little boily all over again. Deep breaths, deep breaths.
*One kid working in a self-contained classroom, who is supposed to be transitioning back into the general education curriculum, but is refusing. One kid on in school suspension. Not enough paras/teachers to cover all kids' needs.
*Had to bake THREE times for potlucks, parties and such.
*Had THREE parties, potlucks, and such! Woohoo!
*Didn't sleep well for at least three nights --- and for me that is VERY unusual.

Friday, last period of the day, I was scheduled to meet with my principal to go over her observation. I made a list of things I wanted to talk to her about. When I go in to talk to my principal, it's like when I go in to my see my doctor. I have to make a list otherwise, I get into the "Uh huh, uh huh, everything's fine." mode.

My principal assurred me that she is seeing great progress, that I shouldn't be so hard on myself, that I need to take time to collaborate with other specialists - even if that means checking out the I.P., and that she values me as a staff member and doesn't want me to get burned out.

She also said that this year is unique because a) the 7th grade class is the largest they've ever had, so obviously/statistically there are more needs, b) we have been working with a bare-bones staff -- we've had many people out, need for more para support, an 8th grade specialist who was never replaced at the beginnig of the year when the one we had got another job, etc., and c) we are the designated middle school for the ELL population -- even though those kiddos are not special education students, they still tax our teachers and paras. My principal mentioned that many specialists - veteran specialists - have come to her feeling overwhelmed. Phew, I thought I really was the only one and I thought it was because of my own incompetence.

I am so glad I had a chance to talk to her. It was an answer to prayer. We have been wrestling anyways with options for next year --> daycare, me stay home, JJ stay home, etc. At least I know that I have support from my principal in whatever happens.

What kind of baby will we have??

Before I was pregnant, I would eat a lot of something and tease that I had a [insert particular food I'd just eaten] baby in my belly. I.e. I have a sweet and sour chicken baby in my belly! Now I obviously have a real, human baby in my belly -- and she likes to remind us she's in there with a kick, kick, punch, twirl, twirl routine -- but my eating habits haven't altogether changed. For example, JJ is concerned we will have a mac and cheese baby. I could eat mac and cheese every meal for a week I think. I've tried to do the whole wheat mac and cheese now at least, but I know this is not the most healthy option for me. Thank goodness for that prenatal vitamin, I tell you what! Oh! And we finally got around to watching "Baby Mama" -- I really enjoyed it! I'm so thankful my prenatal vitamins are about half the size of the ones used in the film!

Ultrasound... the second...

So I went in today for our second ultrasound. The baby wasn't turning/cooperating the first time to get a good picture of the heart, thus a second one was scheduled. I've heard the heart docs where we live are superpicky and it is very common for them to request second ultrasounds. I was like, whatever, I g-u-e-s-s I'll come in and look at my beautiful baby again! : ) I get there (JJ has a crizazy week and couldn't attend this one) and she just does a few swoops to see where my girl's at. She verifies we are in fact expecting a girl. She takes a few profile shots; BGJ (Baby Girl J) is just hamming it up. She grabs her toes, waves, flutters about. Then on to the heart. BGJ is not having any of it. At one point she even put her hand to her face in a woe is me sort of way. Little stinker! I could see the heart fine. It looked just great to me... beating... four chambers... heart rate 150... the lady is not quite satisfied. She goes to look for backup. BGJ actually kicks the backup several tmes! I was like... uh... sorry about that. heehee Second ultrasoundist (??) or ultrasound tech takes a few shots but not without some struggle. I am on my left, then back to my back, then on my right side, then back. BGJ starts to turn and tech tries to encourage her, but to no avail. I guess I need to start reading the books on raising a stubborn child! The first lady comes back and says to not be surprised if they want me to come back. again.

Blaming Baby

There are times when I conveniently blame the baby for certain things. Oh, like, that extra cookie I need to have, or maybe even a toot here or there. But c'mon, basically my whole body IS being over taken by this dear little parasite we've already grown to love. JJ on the other hand doesn't have the baby in the belly, but he does still blame her for stuff. Just the other day he ate a pickle off my plate while I had stepped in the kitchen to grab something. He claimed the baby grabbed it and was now noshing on it! He's also been known to blame her for his own toots. Poor baby! I've heard niecey LJ and nephew BJ's toots and I'm a bit nervous for when our little bundle of joy makes her own since she's already been blamed for them her whole gestational life!

Never too late... right?

Our upstairs neighbor BB, who is pregnant with their third kiddo, lent me a preggo workout DVD for the weekend. I have been meaning to find a good preggo workout because I am way too concerned to stick with my old routines for fear I would do something to damage myself or the baby. So, now, at week 27, I have started my regimine. : ) I popped it in on Saturday and JJ just laughed as two very obviously pregnant women and one who I am suspicious if she was even preggers at all - she had a teeny-tiny little bump - bopped along to workout music. But, true to BB's words, my back felt oh so good and I just felt mentally good for doing some workouts and preparing my body for the big B-day.

Mastering the Middle-school Mind

In an effort to better understand (somewhat) the minds of the middle-schoolers I work with, I went to the movie Twilight. Oh, also, it was a girls night out with some of my coworkers at school. I went in with the mindset that it would be a teeny-bopper flick and didn't have high expectations. I wasn't disappointed. : ) I personally thought the acting was lame at times and there were lots of dramatic.... pauses.... (a la guy from CSI: Miami). But, I actually found myself getting into the plot and am interested to see the rest! A coworker lent me her copy of Twilight with the promise that the next three are just waiting after I finish the first one. Again, teeny-bopper book, not the best writing, but a fun, no-brainer read nonetheless. I'm not the best or fastest reader, so I need these every once in a while!

New Tricks!

The other day I found out that our baby is already a talented supergenious! I was laying on my left side watching TV and had the remote resting on my tummy. All of a sudden, the remote started bouncing and Baby Girl J (BGJ) kicked it right off! I put it back on, and same thing! She kicked it off! Isn't she cute? I told JJ to watch and you'll never believe it. She wouldn't do it again. Even later when I had given her some time to cool off. I guess she's not a performer. I read today that she is learning how to grasp things, like her umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is such an interesting thing. I worry about it, though. What if she gets it wrapped around herself? Oh jeez, it's already starting. I'm going to be the biggest worry wart Mommy!