Happy ... errrr.... Fall?!

We don't do Halloween.  We just don't.  When M begs and begs to get a chance to dress up maybe we'll find some sort of happy medium.  For now we're just definitely not encouraging it.  I did buy some Halloween stickers to hand out like I always do.  Kids get enough candy.  End of story.

Today are the Halloween celebrations at my school.  (with outrage from the Muslim community - allowing kids to dress up?  in school?!)  Many teachers are dressing up and most of my kids wanted to know what I'm going to be for Halloween.

While we don't do Halloween, I just can't help myself.  I think I'm going to casually go to school with jeans (because we CAN!) and an orangish top.  If people ask, I'm going to tell them I'm a pumpkin patch and point to my little punkin...  < insert cheesy awwwww >

Proof she's a BIG GIRL

I am amazed that M is becoming such a big girl in all facets.  She went potty on her big girl potty chair on Friday.  She slept in her big girl bed Monday night.  She pushes her own grocery cart (when we can locate an unused mini one in a reasonable amount of time).  She sits through longer books and peruses cookbooks.  She tells us what she wants... and... namely what she doesn't.  Sometimes these changes work out well.  Other times it would be nice if she was back to the lumpy little thing that I could manipulate!  : ) 

For example, she has become super picky about her clothes lately.    I am not prepared mentally to battle my child already.  Terrible Twos?  How about 20 months!  I had to talk her into the purple pajamas with the CUTE LITTLE BUTTERFLIES on them just tonight.  We had already made one change.  AND the little stinker can take her clothes off now.  We've found her naked in her crib on more than one occasion.  Good thing she leaves her diaper on still.... knock on wood.  Tonight she also would not sleep in her big girl bed.  Pick your battles, right?  We're just getting used to the big girl bed, so this is not a non-negotiable at this point. 

Baby must be on a growing spree...

I have felt pretty terrible all weekend.  I have been having really bad headaches - right at my temple and my head just throbs with every pulse.  JJ put M to bed and I was laying on the couch for a good half hour when I realized that my pulse was pretty high -- above 80 bpm and like I said, I was just laying there.  I'm so wary about medicine during pregnancy - even armed with a list of meds I can take from my doctor - but I started taking extra strength tylenol and got some relief.  Not complete, but lots better. 

Sunday morning we got up and I made some FABULOUS banana bread french toast.  I asked for this recipe after seeing it on a friend's status update on facebook.  We love banana bread!  We love French Toast!   So what do you do?  I later told JJ about it - - and how easy it was to make it!  You just make banana bread and then, get this, you USE it instead of bread with the french toast batter.  He was totally rolling his eyes at me.  I guess it was pretty obvious, huh...

JJ was kind of looking at me like I was crazy.  I think that *sometimes* when I'm sick - I think this is especially true when I'm pregnant and not feeling well - I try to barrel through it.  Carry on.  Live life and trick myself into feeling better ?  JJ said, "When I'm sick I want to do nothing.  When you're sick you want to do everything."  And off we headed to Church.  MVJ had on the CUTEST outfit, I must add.  A pink polka dot fleecy sleeveless dress with a long-sleeve pink onesie, pink tights, and get this, PINK BOOTS.  Oh my, oh my.  While I was in the shower, JJ added piggy tails and a pink bow.  Seriously.  So cute.  I made it through a song when I started feeling woozy.  I sat down and tried to let the feeling I was going to faint pass me by.  Back up again.  Back down again.  Three times.  I finally told JJ that I was not feeling well so we snuck out of Church fearful that I would completely pass out.

I took what would become the first of two big naps Sunday but nothing seemed to make me feel better.  I was also drinking boatloads of water by this point.  Getting up to go to the bathroom made my head throb.  Blowing my nose was killer.  I did have very similar experiences -- of going to Church and having to leave -- when I was pregnant with MVJ but I don't remember the headaches being so bad.  JJ said they were - I'm sure he'd remember!  We're hoping it's just a stage.  I was trying to describe the head feeling -- it's like when you take a really big drink of water and after your gulp you start breathing again.  Sometimes you get that rush to your head because you haven't taken regular breaths ?  That's how I've been feeling all weekend.  I'll be calling my doctor today, but like I said, I (we) think my body's just adjusting to having to share O2 with a sweet little thing in my tum-tum.

I also did something I don't *think* I did with my last pregnancy - JJ can correct me - but I sent him on a cravings run.  I wanted NEEDED a banana split milkshake from Robeks AND either cupcakes with frosting or cookies with frosting.  He looked at me like I was crazy, but the crazy in my voice must have won out because he packed up MVJ and they headed out and came back with my goodies.

Gunshots rang out like a bell!

JJ is wondering why I am quoting Vanilla Ice.  Well, let me tell you a little story.

Friday night we had put M to bed but were still on a high of sorts after seeing JJ's awesome musculoskeletal finals weeks scores.  We were chatting when all of a sudden we heard a noise.  I thought it sounded like tires popping or perhaps fireworks.  JJ said he thought it sounded more like shots fired.  I quietly began singing Vanilla Ice and we laughed it off until the next morning.  JJ was looking at the news when we realized they were actual gunshots - a high speed chase did not end well for someone after a deputy had to shoot at him.  Yikes!

She dances too!

M-girl has always been a mover and groover - really from the time she was in my tum-tum.  That is yet another way this pregnancy is different.  This new little person (well... while still only 18 weeks along) is pretty laid back.  I'll feel a bump or two but not to the extent M was always all over the place wiggling and bouncing around.

Anyways, back to big sister!  So M has always loved to dance and beebop around.  Now she's adding singing to her repertoire (YES, spelled right without spell checker!! I think I always forget the second "r" or something...).  I think the unit at school this month... let's see, it's only the 19th... I probably should've figured out the unit before now.  Bad, bad Mom.  WOW.  I am off track a lot this post.  Sorry... I'm claiming preggo brain!

OK.  I think the unit is music.  M sings wherever she goes.  She'll start the ABC song, which will inevitably turn into Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.  She also sings The Itsy Bitsy Spider (or did for a while, now when I try to get her started she'll look at me very seriously and say, "No Spider.") complete with actions - if you're lucky.  Another favorite is Baa Baa Black Sheep.  Randomly she'll belt out, "Yes, sir!  Yes, sir!" OR "Baa, baa black sheep." but usually not together.

Her teachers at school, too, have noticed her vocabulary shooting up.  She is quite the talker.  We love, love the fact that we can tell her, "Use your words." and she does!  Most of the time anyways.  Communication by hitting or scratching still occurs... strangely usually about 20 or so minutes before sleepytime...

You'll be happy to know...

MVJ and I got right back up on the horse again and we cooked together this weekend.  Actually, we performed my preference and baked.  Mmmm, we made some yummy blueberry muffins - that M keeps calling waffles.  Has she had one too many blueberry waffles in the morning ... ?  Maybe.  But seriously they are so easy to transport eat if we're in a hurry.  Anyways.  They turned out great, no teener palms were burned in the process and she actually did help dump and pour ingredients.

Oooh, and I cooked breakfast Sunday morning that was a hit with both Daddy and MVJ -- scrambled eggs and bacon.  But, alas, I can always find negatives with my cooking.  1) We ran out of eggs and I only had three to work with; 2) I accidentally knocked over the bowl once and so some of the precious little amount of eggs I DID have was lost; 3) I forgot to butter the frying pan... JJ quickly said it's ok because it's nonstick anyways -- the butter just adds flavor and he added a little bit to the already started eggs. 

I wouldn't know.  I don't eat eggs or bacon... : )

Our Neighbors... : (

Our fabulous neighbor family of five girls had to move.  : (  I was commenting to one of the girls that I liked their Halloween decorations and then one of them said, "Yeah, but we have to take them down.  We're moving." 

I asked the Mom about it later and she said, "Actually we're being evicted."  I was like oh jeez, how do I ALWAYS get in conversations where I feel like my foot should be ten inches down my throat?!  I was all, "You don't have to share the details!  I'm sorry I'm being so nosy!" 

She explained, "No, no, it's ok, we are getting housing through my husband's company - they have a housing finder that relocates families and they set us up here.  BUT apparently there are rules about how many people can live in each apartment and we exceed a three bedroom by one person." 


Basically the place we live should've been aware how many people were moving in -- this family was never trying to hide anything.  The Mom was upset, too, because her husband is gone Monday through Friday anyways (he sells orthopedic equipment in a five-state region).  I told her that we'd take a kid every weekend if that would help!  Anyways, they had to move, and they had to move fast.  The place we live only gave them two weeks to move (ridiculous).  Hubby's company was going to be helping them move, but still you have to do a lot of work to get that process taken care of - and with five kiddos.  Oh my!  AND it was by NO fault of their own.  My frustration with the situation didn't help anything, but I really feel for the family. 


Then, later we found out that the place they were supposed to move to was a total dump.  The Mom (and Dad I'm assuming -- I just know the Mom much better because the Dad is always gone for work) decided to move the family into a hotel for two weeks so they could sort everything out.  OUR place wouldn't give them an extension in any way.  Creeps.  I really hope nothing goes wrong with us because they certainly don't seem to want to help out in any way...

This and That

One of my students [my high needs student] told me the other day, "Thanks for calling me dude."  I call all my kiddos dude and they usually do get a kick out of it, but no one has personally thanked me for it.  I said, "You're welcome bud!"  He said, "Just dude is fine."  : )  hehe

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I totally reorganized my craft area -- and even moved it!  M is getting ready for the big girl bedroom and I just don't want any of my scissors or various other fun (read: dangerous) tools to get in her precious hands.  Also, if I craft it's usually after she's gone to bed, so that's just not convenient!  We went to Michael's AND Target today to get some necessary supplies and my new little nook now resides in our room.  On an organization spree, I even figured out how to set up the little temporary nursery in our room.  We have an over the door shoe holder that is only holding JJ's dress shoes right now, which is only the top two rows.  I am totally going to use the other shoe spots for baby powder, outfit changes and maybe even teeny tiny diapers (I forget how small they are!!).

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I never know what to dress M in on school days.  We've been beginning the day in the 40s and usually end in the 70s.  (80s today!)  Ugh.  She has several changes of clothes at school that represent different possible temperatures, but still.  I usually have about three jackets there too, because I'll send her in one and then she definitely doesn't need it in the afternoon and I usually forget to bring them home.  It's not a problem to dress myself-  my room (and most of the building) is FREEZING!

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Project Runway!  Next episode we get a peek at the collections of the four possible Fashion Week finalists!  I keep falling asleep halfway through my PR Friday night catch-ups via the internet.  Good thing it IS on the internet so I can just rewatch it at a later date.  Spoiler alert: I DID think April would be going.  Gretchen just gives me a bad taste in my mouth.  Like she would HAVE to say, "I'm just glad the judges gave me the second chance YOU ALL have gotten."  Pretty sure your butt has been on the line before, too, woman.  : )  Enough of that drama!

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Busy day... and bonus time!

Today we had a district day to have training in the morning and time to work on grade cards in the afternoon.  BUT, lucky me, since I have a new(ish) kiddo on my caseload with high needs, I got to attend a full day of CPI training.  I DID have the training in ND, but here teachers has to be re-certified every year.  Yippee...  It wasn't the worse use of my time, it's just that I happen to have 14 other kiddos that I have to prepare grades/progress reports/print graphs from AimsWeb and easycbm.  [Hey!  You spedies -- have you seen easycbm?  I love it!].

Ok, so anyways, because it was training, we did get out a little early and it felt like a heavenly gift to be able to pick M up almost an hour early.  She was so surprised.  She pointed to me and yelled, "MOM!" to her teacher.  It was so cute!  We went for a nice walk, played with M's "new" kitchen (our neighbor girl decided she was too old for her kitchen set - that even makes boiling and frying noises!), and had a great snack all before we would normally have been home.  Gift.  Total gift.

In the meantime, I decided to launch into a new recipe.  Ugh.  I feel like such a failure in the kitchen.  First of all the recipe (Baked Potato Soup) called for... you guessed it... baked potatoes.  JJ has taught me several times how to bake a potato but I've never had to do it on my own.  I'm not too proud to admit I had to do a quick google search for step-by-step directions.  Did you know they take like OVER an hour to cook?  Ridiculous.  Completely ridiculous.  Anyways, I got them going some time into our *bonus* time so that my soup could be ready by around 5:30.

SO, while the dumb potatoes cooked, M helped me vacuum and sweep.  Then I thought she could help me measure the spices to go into the soup so we could have them ready when... you know... the dumb potatoes would be ready.  I kept telling M that the oven was hot.  HOT.  Don't touch.  Careful.  Hot.  She knows hot - when we say food is hot she blows air and waves her hands.  Then I had the brilliant idea to get the base going so I could just add the hot potatoes to it.  I got the burner going with a big pot on top and added the three cans of soup, milk and spices.  The [insert expletive here] potatoes still weren't done and now the soup was bubbling.  I kept turning the burner down, down, down, until I turned it completely off and removed the pot from the burner, leaving the burner exposed.  I told M again (who was now happily going through the measuring cups and spoons in the "baking" drawer) that everything on the stove was HOT.  The potatoes came out and I began trying to cut them when I glanced over to see her hand hovering over the coils.  I most likely yelled, "NO!" and startled her, but in any case, she made contact and started screaming. 

Ugh.  Not only can I not cook but I also don't know how to cook while also caring for my child.  : (  Really sad day.  I abandoned my soup to care for my baby, who, thank goodness, loves ice cubes.  The rest of the evening she was grumpy and sad.  Even during her bath, which is never hot, she gingerly held her hand above the water saying, "hot".  : (  Poor honey.  We ended up just having baked potatoes and pears for supper.  I did not even want to look at the stupid soup.  : )

To Do List

I am a list person.  I LOVE lists.  However, my To Do List just seems to get longer and longer.  When I get home I just like to spend time with M.  She is a helper - so we usually get a load of laundry done if needed as well as loading or unloading the dishwasher.  While I maybe get a thing or two crossed off my list, it seems like ten things get added.  M does go to bed somewhat early (7:30ish so I don't feel too bad about her wake up time!), but then I usually have "homework" and of course need to catch up on facebook and my bloglist!  Priorities!  ; )  JJ comes home beat from his crazy schedule.  How do people do it?  As it stands, a lot of things get saved for Saturday morning (and then sometimes we have an outting planned or JJ is able to be home for a brunch before heading off to school)... so that usually turns to Saturday nap time (and then sometimes I want to take a nap too)...  so that usually turns to Saturday after M goes to bed (and then I get quite a bit done but I can't get it all done in one evening).  So back to the piling up...   

Fashion ? What fashion?

I am seriously lacking in the fashion department.  I am all about comfort.  Seriously - if you see me in makeup you know it's picture day.  But beyond that I just don't know what looks good together so I just go with what feels good.  But, I see all these cute chickies wearing leggings around my school and I decided enough is enough.  I'm getting myself a pair of leggings.  Now may NOT be the best time to start jumping on the fashion bandwagon -- with my ever-growing belly and all.  But what the heck?  Old Navy was having a big sale --- 40-50% off clearance -- holla!  So, I snagged a pair along with a few other "essentials".... like a baby boy outfit or TWO (I'm feeling boy, ok?  And if we have another girl, I know like 30 preggers again so one of them is BOUND to have a boy). 

So I tested out my leggings today with an oversized-ish sweater.  My first critique - JJ --

Me: What do you think of my outfit?
J: It looks nice.
Me: But, really, does it make my legs look fat?  Am I too short for this outfit (usually the case)?  Am I just looking pathetic and pregnant?
J: No, really, it makes you look skinny.

And with those magic words, off to school I skipped (hey - I'm not even waddling yet!).  Then, at school, several people gave me comments.  One lady, who was walking behind me, caught up to me and said, "You don't even LOOK pregnant!"

So.... is everyone lying to appease the "trying too hard" preggo?  OR are these in fact magic pants?  AND if it's the latter, how often is TOO often to wear these??!  : )

Appointment

The patient: MVJ, 20 months
The symptoms: cold that started with a snotty nose, progressed to a crusty nose with a cough that continued to get worse and lasted for more than four days, waking up in the middle of the night, appetite seemed affected, fingers in mouth constantly

Appointment with a NP, Monday at 4pm
The tests: interview with patient's mother, chat with patient : ), checked oxygen level, checked throat, checked ears, (brave) finger sweep of mouth, listened to chest and heart

Momma's fear: some kind of chest cold (one of M's teachers at school - the one there right away in the morning for an hour or two - who is VERY kind but not super-duper intelligent said that, "Oh yeah, one of M's classmates had been out sick with a coughing disease..." WHAT coughing disease?  Whooping cough???  Anyways, not a good bug to put in a Mom's ear when I say that M's been coughing all weekend - I'll be calling at noon to see if she seems to have gotten better or worse to know if I should make a doctor's appointment.

NP's diagnosis: MORE TEETH.  I thought she had them all the way M's mouth is full of teeth and the way it seems like she's always getting them.  Plus, which seems to happen most of the time with new teeth, she has an ear infection in her left ear and fluid on her right one.  Good thing M LOVES taking medicine and always asks, politely of course, for more please!!

Out with the Old!

I get so sad every time M changes clothing sizes.  Boo.  I think I've posted about this before.  It is something that just keeps coming up as our baby grows and grows and grows into a big girl!  : )  M has all these super cute size 18- and 24-month clothes so I shouldn't be so sad about it.  One funny thing I've noticed is that the lovely miss M has quite the tum-tum.  Because I'm not a good Mommy that tries her clothes on her frequently, she has completely outgrown some of her 18-month pants before she's even worn them.  Boo.  Also, she doesn't like jeans or khakis yet.  Of course the sped-y that I am jumps to sensory issues...  No, I think she's just not used to a button at her waist but also I may have been trying on pants that truly didn't fit her and did hurt her tummy.  Also, hey, what would I rather wear??  Comfy stretchy pants (if I looked as cute as M in them!) or jeans?  Yeah... sweats EVERY time.

We have been totally fortunate in the clothing department.  I'm still finding clothes given to us by our old upstairs neighbors (HEY!  They have their own blog now!).  M has a girl cousin a few years older than her (with two brothers and no girl cousins on her Mom's side of the family).  Have I mentioned that this girl cousin is also blessed with a Grandma who sews beautiful clothes?  I hardly feel comfortable putting her in these fine clothes, but we've done a few for pics anyways!  ; )  Then there's a gal at work who brings me a bag a week (I swear!) of fun new things for M (including TWO, count 'em TWO fancy Christmas dresses, tights and black patent shoes!).  Lastly, our dear, dear neighbors.  I love them.  They have five girls -- all names starting with H!  Their youngest, twins, just started preschool.  And the other day they came with two bags full of clothes.  M tried on about four shirts (at the same time) on the spot.  One funny thing is since their youngest are twins, there are several doubles or matching outfits.  I may have to pass these on... or have backups for school ??  We'll see if I turn generous or greedy...

But, along with M's changing wardrobe, alas, mine sadly is changing as well.  I am marking today as my last work day of "normal" clothes.  Monday I'm breakin' out the maternity!  I have TOTALLY pooched - check out week 17 photos to be taken tomorrow if you want proof.  I LOVE my maternity wardrobe, it's just that when I go there, I know I won't be back to the land of "Misses" until after Mr. or Miss thing makes his or her appearance.

16 Week Appointment

It finally came!  My first appointment!  First of all, I could not have a better OB.  Love her.  Only downside I see is that she works three days a week - but she has kiddos that go to my school and she's often at my school days she's off (Wednesdays and Fridays -- so baby -- this is your Momma talking -- no funny business except possibly on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays).  Which, I guess doesn't do anything for ME except show that she's a committed Mom who loves her kids.

My adventure began running (of course) a little late out the door of school.  I knew *about* where I was going but had never been there before, so I plugged it into my "trusty?" Gar-Gar.  Sure enough, I was at the right spot, but Gar wanted me to go through a whole medical campus to get to my destination.  With one ways and random inlets, I decided the Garster was possibly being my ally this time and I followed the directions.  Right to a surgical center.  Not wanting surgery today, thank you, I did a u-ey in the parking lot and headed out.  I thought I saw a sign for the Women's Clinic, so headed back around the whole medical campus.  Fun times.  I was supposed to be 15-20 minutes early and was bordering on 10 at the moment... Saw the sign, which pointed me to... the surgery center.  I got out my very quickly jotted notes from when I set up the appointment and sure enough, the clinic WAS located in the surgery center.  I found a close parking spot and ran in.

Being the obedient preggo that I am, I was prepared.  Make that OVERLY prepared to pee in a cup.  So when I got in I asked the lady as demurely as one can in that situation if I could do that FIRST.  Seeing my desperation she sent me back there immediately.  When I returned after that fun experience she asked if I had all of my paperwork that they had sent me.  I told her no one had sent me any paperwork and she looked a little displeased.  She simply stated, "Well, you're going to have a lot of it then."

I sat down to begin my task.  First of all: four bubble sheets of history, including (which made me chuckle being the immature person that I am) if I have ever been sexually active.  Well, I AM pregnant with my second child... soooo...  Then insurance and OB history (liver problem - check, blood transfusion - check, blood pressure - check)... hey my past pregnancy gave me a more interesting history if nothing else.  While I was waiting in the waiting room I noticed that it was a half hour past my appointment time and then I was called back to the office.

The nurse was awesome - funny, kind, informative.  I even got a bag of goodies!  Woohoo - I'm a sucker for free stuff!  Then the doctor came in.  Like I said - she's awesome.  She told me there's hope after HELLP.  She said that many women have a very "normal" delivery after HELLP syndrome however there is a trend starting of it happening in subsequent pregnancies.  She assured me that all that meant is I would be watched VERY closely.  With that she gave me an official due date of March 20th and listened to the baby's heartrate.  I *think* it was 132 - something like that.  It sounded so strong and healthy!  Then she sent me for labs and... AND... an ultrasound!  Woohoo!  She said that since I was considered high risk with my last pregnancy she wanted to double check my due date and check to make sure everything looked good.

While I was waiting for my labs the nurse came back and gave me a flu shot.  Then I had four vials of blood drawn (where I heard all about the phleb's recent trip out of town with her dog...) and was ushered off to an ultrasound lady.  She got me prepped with the goo and away we went.  Oh.  My baby!  My precious baby!  She asked about finding out the sex and I said that we DEFINITELY want to find out - but that I wanted to share the experience with my husband, who was coming along to the next appointment.  She told me to look away a few times so I'm pretty sure she found out.  She did say that the baby had his or her little feet tucked up and the arms were crossed too - the baby was just all cuddled up.  I was tearing up because it is just SO amazing.  Even at 16 weeks you can see SO much - it's amazing!  She said, "Ooh!  Is this your first pregnancy?"  : )  No... but STILL precious!  : ) 

National Card-Making Day

Last night.

7pm: Daddy down for the count (not feeling well).
7:20pm: M down because she was too crabby to make it to between 7:30 and 8.

Me... twiddling my thumbs.  I decided it was time.  Time to go into the craft room closet.  I originally thought I would organize my photos.  I felt like I had lost some and didn't even know where I had left off in the THREE albums I keep going.  (Our family album, M's 2nd album which has yet to be started but is here complete with a lot of fun paper and accessories to use!, and my Dad's album that I gave him as a present a while ago and just keep filling little by little).  While rummaging around the closet I found a CM kit to make Christmas cards that I had bought like two years ago... I had a magical thought that if I made them now I wouldn't get so busy at Christmas time that I missed yet another chance to use them.  I got myself all settled in in front of the TV with all the supplies I needed to complete my craft.

I learned a few things.  #1: I have ENOUGH supplies that I don't need to buy kits to make cards.  #2: Kits are kind of finicky (i.e. Cut a 4x5.25 piece of dark blue paper.).  #3: I am way too Type A to not follow the directions, including the exact sticker saying they used on each card --- what if one I chose to replace it was needed elsewhere?!  #4: Using a kit, however, takes the guesswork out of it - follow steps and viola!  You have a card (or 18).  #5: After cards are made, you can still add your own flair -- for me the glitter glue (I have ALL THREE packs!) my BFF gave me for last Christmas... or two Christmases ago ??  I can't remember now but I love them so much and use them all the time!

Today I found out that yesterday was in fact National Card-Making Day.  I guess it was meant to be. 

Corrected by Kiddos

Twice now I have been corrected by kiddos because they don't "understand" my accent. 

The first time it happened was during a second-grade session.  I am so lucky to have in my schedule time to be IN a second grade classroom with the most wonderful second grade teacher ever.  The group is wonderful (most of the time) and I have two unique kiddos that I get to monitor especially closely.  The other day we were doing some ketchup and relish time (you know - "catch up" time for kiddos not quite finished with something and free time to "relish" for those all done with everything) and one of my students had some morning work to finish - a crossword puzzle with clues.  This particular student is very interesting.  He is very low in reading and takes considerable time to process, but when he does, he comes up with very detailed answers.  That doesn't really come in to play with this scenario, but he's just a very interesting kid!  Anyways!  The clue was "married to your aunt" (pronounced ah-(as in open your mouth and say ahhh)-nt).  I read the clue to him so it would take the pressure off decoding so he could work on comprehension and choosing the word that worked.  He was so confused.  I tried to rephrase - you know - these people go in a pair, your aunt and blank.  Do you have any aunts?  Are any of them married?  What do you call that person?  Several clues here --- with ample wait time.  Still nothing.  Finally one of his table partners helped him out -- she means married to my AUNT (pronounced ant).  Then he got it right away...

The next time came with a small reading group of fifth graders that comes to see me.  We were talking about palm trees - their fronds, coconuts, trunks and roots (r/u/ts).  They all cracked up and said I was saying it wrong!  The absolute only way to say that word is roots (r-ooo (rhymes with boo)-ts).  Teachable moment!  Teachable moment!  Let's talk about dialects and accents and more than one possible pronunciation.  And how the teacher is NEVER wrong.  (heehee -- just kidding -- definitely always teach my kids the opposite of that statement!)