Snow Day Give Aways

Bed time smed time... it's a snow day tomorrow!  Time for some give aways!

1. Fun stationary!
2. Just because I have started to try this on my own doesn't mean I don't enjoy cute stuff for free!  : )
3. Love funny t-shirts!
4. I've been looking for cutesie headbands for M - she's not all about clips anymore and declares "too tight" when I put her hair in a ponytail!
5. Gum!  How fun is that?
6. CUTE baby stuff!
7. Free kiddo book shelf!

Real KC-ers

JJ was really stressed out (as stressed out as JJ gets) about uprooting us and moving to KC this summer (I think especially knowing at that time that baby #2 was on his way - even though no one else knew it at the time).  I was reflecting on living in KC the other day and am just really feeling happy about this period in our lives.  I am so proud of JJ -- he is doing so well in school and is so balanced.  I love how he puts his family first but is committed to school.  I love how he gets excited about new things he's learning.  I just love how he can explain it to me too - I can see how awesome his bedside manner will be.  I'm so hoping he gets into a specialty where he can use his skills at teaching people as well as healing them.  Ok, enough about my amazing hubby!

I was at a bookstore the other day and found A Kid's Guide to KC and had to snatch it up.  I gave it to JJ as a gift saying how much I'm loving where we're at.  I want this piece of our family timeline to be remembered by special family times together exploring this new area.  Oh, and I all of a sudden have this pressure of --- What should we be doing before we have a newborn in tow??!

So, here are a few of our outings (a picture session with our friends took us to most of these places!):

*The Great Mall we met friends here and had a good time discovering new stores - there was a fun play place but when we have more time, we would definitely hit up Monkey Bizness!
*Union Station fun restored building with LOTS of room for kiddos to run!  It also holds Science City - which we'll have to hit up another time, as well as a planetarium.  We checked out a free train exhibit with tons of "choo-choos".
*Crown Center COOL shopping area.  We didn't have a chance to check out too much - but I've heard we need to go back and visit Kaleidoscope.  Did you know Hallmark originated in KC?  They have a neat area for kids to do crafts with tons of card supplies.
*Crayola Cafe  Ok, I'll be honest.  I thought this would be neater.  The food was good, for sure, and we had a good time hanging out with our friends, but I thought for a CRAYOLA place, it would be much more kiddo centered.  M did walk away with a cool crayon-themed cup and balloon (that flew to the ceiling shortly after...).

But... the thing that makes us feel most like true KC-ers?  We finally had our very first taste of Chick-fil-a.  And, oh yeah, it was gooood!

Future Announcer?

Lately M is our little play-by-play announcer.  And, if I may say, the kid kind of has a knack for it.  She makes any old situation sound pretty exciting.  Take, a routine bathroom break, for example.

Mommy going potty!
Aaaaaand Mommy wiping!
Mommy WASH HANDS!!!

This is particularly "amusing" when we're out in public. . .  Like when I took M to work one morning (before Christmas break).  As we walked down the hallway, M couldn't help but tell everyone, "Mommy going potty."  (and just to be clear, she means Mommy is going to go potty... or Mommy has to go potty... or some such phrase that would indicate Mommy is not ACTUALLY currently going potty!  I am 34 weeks along, but have been doing my kegels, thankyouverymuch!)

This is also very useful when Mommy is busy -- like this morning -- I needed to jump in the shower and JJ was finishing up our entry for our Church's chili cook-off tonight.  I brought M with me and let her tool around in the bathroom.  She's usually *pretty* good and of course we have childproofed our bathroom somewhat.  I also checked on her between each step.  But, it was VERY useful when M narrated, "M climbing!"  She might as well have come with an alarm: *warning!  warning!  warning!  M climbing!*

Summer Exploration

I'm debating teaching a Summer Exploration course.  Here's why:

1. I'll be paid - and JJ is off during June.
2. It's from 8-12 Monday - Thursday.
3. Class size is limited to 16.
4. It's flexible - could be a one, two or three week course, or I could do one session three times (each one week long), three different courses, etc.
5. And I get to pick the topic, make the plans, have access to technology and a budget.

Sounds pretty ideal, right?  But what to do?  Hmmm... here're some ideas I've brainstormed:

1. Teaching History with American Girls (there is actually a teacher's resource book for this very thing, but it is ... ugh... out of print.  I did find one on Amazon)
2. Spanish -with a podcast project? --- using lessons from my previous foreign language days 
3. French -with a book project? --- using lessons from my previous foreign language days
4. German -with a body outline project? --- wow, that foreign language gig was pretty useful!
5. Something with remedial reading --- readers' theater, literature circles, book boxes, readers' workshop, etc.
6. Something with remedial math --- file folder games, computer games, mathsafari, etc.
7. Arts and Crafts --- I have three books devoted to this already from my summer babysitting days!  : )

What do you think?  One thing I think for sure - I'd want to do the same week-long course three times.  Why reinvent the wheel, right?  Plus, by week three, I will have that unit DOWN.  : )  Poor week 1 kids...

Church

Lately M is all about purses.  She looooves the little basket filled with beanbags her auntie LJ made her for Christmas (I guess to be clear, she made the beanbags, not the basket - that I'm aware of anyways!), and carts it around calling it her purse.  Other examples of purses include, but are not limited to, reusable Subway bags, Mommy's purse (of course) and this metal basket we have our wiimotes in.  When M was bumping that thing around JJ asked what she was up to.  She said, "I'm going to Church!"  We asked what she was going to do at Church and she said, "Play with Jesus!" 

Our little emotional thing...

M is SO emotional.  And she is SUCH a dweller.  I'm going to give you a few examples of things she's cried about just this week.

• Her friend at daycare had a bonk.  We heard about it ALL night.  MP (M's daycare gal) said that S fell and was crying so M brought her her doll hoping it would make her feel better.  (Love that!)
• M was literally sobbing over the "David Gets in Trouble" book when, at the end, David realizes it really WAS his fault, says he's sorry, and tells mom that he loves her.  (rolling eyes)
• Actually there are several books and even some magazines that make M tear up.  If she remotely things someone or some thing is sad, she gets this BIG lower lip and declares them "saaaad".  : (  Often if a baby is asleep she'll think that baby is sad.  It takes a little while for me to convince her that the baby is sleeping -- baby is happy!
• Daddy had the brilliant idea of telling her that Mommy was sad when she wouldn't come out of the guest room --- "Mommy is sad that you won't go out and play with her."  Allllll evening: Mommy sad.  Mommy crying.  NO dear, Mommy is very happy!  Look at me!  I'm happy!
• During our snow day extravaganza, I realized I left my phone charger in my classroom - so it had been there over the weekend plus an extra day.  On day 4, it officially died, so when M and I were out running errands, we stopped at my school.  What I didn't count on was the gate being down by my classroom, so we couldn't actually get my classroom without driving to a different door.  Since I had buckled and unbuckled the now fidgety Miss M a few too many times, I decided to just head home and hope for school the next day!  M, however, was beside herself.  "Mommy's phooooone... Mommy's phoooooone charger in classroom!  Mommy's phoooooone!"  I soothingly reminded her that I could use Daddy's if I needed to.  Right when we got in the door, M wails up to Daddy about Mommy's phoooooone.  ... 

Also just for funsies (and I'm totally rolling my eyes just thinking of this list), these are some things M canNOT let go of.  Let it go honey.  Let it go.

• Mommy locking her in the car that day.  She says, "Mommy lock door." with a really sad face.
• A neighbor's elderly mother lives with him and she fell and broke her hip, which was very terrible, over Thanksgiving.  I don't want to minimize the situation, but M still brings up that the "Mom fell." again with the sad face.
• How the doctor made her better.  Do you even remember when M had to go to the doctor for her nursemaid's elbow??  I DO because M won't let me forget.  Obviously it was a very traumatic experience for her.
• There are lots of good things M remembers too, but I'll save those for another post!  : )

I hope we're not paying for her therapy 20 years down the road if she's still hanging on to these things!!

A quick tale from the Big Girl Bed

We have been easing into the Big Girl bed for some time now.  Honestly, I think it would've been easier to just totally do up her big girl room, take down the crib for a few months and be done with it.  But, anyways, back to the easing...  Saturday night M was exhausted (yeah, that 30 minute nap in the afternoon?  Yeah, it didn't quite cut it JUST like Mommy and Daddy said it wouldn't!) and went right to bed in her bed without any fuss.  Before I went to sleep later that night, I checked in on her and to my surprise she was on the floor.  We didn't hear a thud and definitely no crying, so I don't think she fell out of bed.  We're still confused on the how, when, why...?  She had about four blankies on her, so I'm not sure if she was cold and got out of bed to find more covers??  We keep our apartment fairly warm, so again... not so sure.

But, anyways, on the floor she was, so I gently picked her up ready to deposit her in the crib for the night.  She woke up a bit and mumbled something about water.  I reached over to retrieve her sippy from her bed but by the time I got it to her mouth, she was already back asleep.  Then I started giggling a little so I knew I had better get her in her crib and get out!  I put her in her crib and she mumbled something incoherent that came out something like this, "masdfmm msdfawef... rubbaback...", so I again got her covers (two blankies this time!) lined up and situated but by the time I was ready to rub her back she was completely out.

A few hours later, M is yapping loudly in her crib about wanting to sleep in her big girl bed, so I went in, put her in her bed, and she slept there the rest of the night (until about 7:15 -- woohoo!  We had a string of about 6:15 and, well, that just isn't acceptable!).  At her first real "I'm awake" peep, I rushed in there, eager to praise her for sleeping until a good time in the morning.  And there she was.  On the floor.  With about four blankies surrounding her.  

New project

I have NEVER ever complained about snow days so you may be wondering what the heck is wrong with me.  The very biggest reason is we have to make up for snow days at the end of the school year --- you know --- in June when I want to be playing outside with my TWO babies.  Another reason is there is just too much to do before a) I have this baby and b) I hate to say it, but before State Testing. 

My principal, who sadly isn't always the most reliable source, announced yesterday that they had been told not to order food for the cafeteria both Thursday AND Friday... so I'm not holding out my breath for tomorrow either.

So what do I do with this extra time?  How about try a new project??  I decided to start appliqueing!  Why not??  After a few emails and calls to my Mom I got all the necessary supplies and instructions.  M's two-year birthday is coming up (still can't believe it!) so I made her a shirt with a two on it.  Simple enough, right?  Now I'm addicted.  M currently has two shirts (and another almost done!) and baby brother even has two onesies of his own!  JJ (whose school also closed today) said he'd take me out later (when M wakes up from her nap).  The roads are not bad I just have this guilty conscience of "It's a snow day!  I should not be out and about!" - so having JJ drive me around somehow makes it better!  : )  

More tales from Momma Bird

Project 1
Ugh.  So how long have we lived here?  About six months?  And my pantry was looking disgusting.  Not only was it seemingly overflowing (with NOTHING to make for supper...) but there was also a crumb here and there.  Throw in some just general disorganization and this nester found her next project!

Step one: empty EVERYTHING out.  (I forgot to take a true before picture.)

Step two: CLEAN.

Step three: organize items by purpose, kind, things I'd want accessible to MVJ (or, more concerning: things I DIDN'T want accessible to MVJ)

Step four: put back in....

And voila!

Project 2
Here's the hanging baby organizer (known in a previous life as an over-the-door shoe organizer).  If you know my SIL LJ, you probably recognize at least half of those outfits!  : )

Nesting??

This weekend (oh, and the TWO snow days we had this week... ridiculous... completely ridiculous) I ORGANIZED like no other.  I went through all of M's... well... basically through her WHOLE room.  It was fabulous!  It's embarrassing how much stuff she has accumulated.  We have been blessed by tons of people giving us hand-me-downs and gifts, too.  I condensed, ugh, I don't even know how many boxes and totes we started with - but anyways, I condensed them down to three, which I thought was reasonable.  I'm not getting rid of all baby girl stuff, because, hey, you never know for the future.  But, I'm also not hanging on to all. that. stuff. and moving it across country. again.  It was pretty fun going through everything, too, because I guess I just like that sort of thing.  As I enlisted JJ's help in moving stuff (I AM at 31 weeks now people), he noticed a few things in the "to go" boxes and this was overheard from the hallway.  "You're getting rid of that??  Oh!  I'm such a girl!  I remember when she wore every single thing in here!"  I know, buddy, I know.  That is how we ended up storing ALL this stuff in the first place!  He chose two more things to save from the pile, cleared out our deck storage and we were in business.  Here are the highlights of our organizing extravaganza:

• Took down all Christmas stuff, organized it, put it in deck storage
• Basically cleared out M's closet (make room for BLUE!) 
• Got all neutral outfits out of the girl totes and organized baby boy's two small rubbermaids (for now.....!)
• Gave SIX, count 'em SIX diaper boxes of stuff to friends in Bible Study having a girl in April
• Started to reorganize the guest room/M's big girl room closet (more stuff in deck storage!)-- and get her room ready (including a fun art project where I took pictures we scanned of M's art and framed them.  I currently have eight framed plus a LOVELY alphabet done by a certain special niecey of ours.).
• TOTALLY reorganized the living room - we do NOT have anything under our coffee table or end table anymore.  Woohoo!  The under the coffee table organizer went under the crib (now that M's extra boxes are gone!) and actually all the toys in it were thoroughly gone through --- some were kids meals toys that just do not need to be hung on to any more (the flying Yoda head freaked her out anyways).  Some stuffed animals were also donated.  My Grandpa made me a wooden doll cradle that is BRIMMING with stuffies.  I think we're good.  M did save one from the pile and that's ok with me.  : )  
• The reorganization of the living room INCLUDES paper.  Ugh.  That is my total weakness.  So, when I say that it's reorganized, this is still a work in progress too, because I threw a bunch of stuff, shredded some others, recycled some, and the rest (which needs to be either scrapbooked or filed) is in a drawer I keep for future projects/pages or a pile above the filing cabinet, respectively.  
• STARTED getting our room ready for when baby joins us in there for the first few months.  I have big plans there too.  First of all: furniture -- the big chair is outta there (and into the living room).  The chair from there is going into the "baby room", where M's big girl bed currently is.  The wooden rocking chair will join us in our room (and blessedly take up much less space to conveniently accommodate for the bassinet!).  Second of all -- stuff -- I think I posted about this before, but I'm totally repurposing our over the door shoe organizer and using it for baby's accessories (everything from burp cloths to booties).  I also have a spare drawer in my 3-drawer rubbermaid that currently houses my casual t-shirts and socks (dipes and wipes perhaps?).  Got the vision?     

Work

I have had a HUGE thing happen at school.  My district has hired my long term sub -- and has hired her NOW.  She's working as a para -- mornings at a Middle School and afternoons with ME!  How fabulous is that?  I think it's pretty genius.  1) Who knows when the babe will decide to show up.  2) One of my kids in particular NEEDS to build rapport with anyone working with him.  3) I don't have to work too hard at transition plans --- my sub will see what we've been doing (i.e. programs, rules, which teachers to go to for what, the "hidden curriculum", etc.).  She seems pretty on top of things and I think she'll be great with the kiddos. 

Isn't it awesome?  I continue to count my blessings.

The other thing I recently found out is that I only have to come back to school for roughly two weeks in order to keep my benefits.  Phew!  I'll still have several days without pay, BUT at least I won't have to pay COBRA or lose my insurance.  If you're confused - I haven't worked for a year in the district, so I don't qualify for FMLA (which guarantees 12 weeks off).  That magic day is May 13th.  That's IF the little bugger comes when he's supposed to!

Bible Study

We have joined a really great Bible study through our Church.  It's a young couple's group - in fact - three of us our currently pregnant!  You can see where we're at as far as live stages!  The parents of the leaders also come to babysit so it's been wonderful! 

I have realized my desperate need for a Bible study in a strange way (and not just attending a group but also personal devotions and prayer).  Over Christmas vacation, we broke out a fun new game at the J house: Outburst, Bible Edition.  Superfun, right?  Yes, it was, but I was totally showed up by all people present --- which is not normally a big deal (I love games, but am not the best with trivia... or drawing... or guessing... sooooo) BUT this time, two of the players were 6 years or under.  Get the point?  Of course niecey L, who brought tears to my eyes (for real... I'm a proud auntie ok?  Make that a proud PREGNANT auntie.), is in the midst of learning all sorts of Bible stories and memorizing passages (which totally impresses me) through school and Awanas, but still, I should at least be able to get a few characters of the Bible right myself, right?!

At our Bible study, we're currently going through the Nooma series, with Rob Bell.  This last time, we watched "Today".  It was so for me right now.  I do struggle with living in "Today" and trusting that God has provided for me NOW.  As a parent, especially, I find myself in a constant battle between, "Oh, remember when..." and "I can't wait until you can..."  But also, I've felt like we've been in limbo for quite some time now -- waiting for JJ to take the MCAT, then interview, then get into Med. School... now it's where will he do rotations?  Where will he do residency?  In what?  Where will we live?  Are we done having kids?  Will I continue to work?  It's been tough for me to stop and enjoy THE NOW.  So, THANK YOU God for all of the huge blessings you have given me TODAY.     

New year... new Give Aways!

1. Sweet address label stamps!  I've been thinking about getting one of these anyways!
2. Monkey fabric baskets!  I think M would love this to tote around her stuff; I'd love it to toe around her stuff too!
3. Love, love, love Pediped shoes!  I think I'd get baby boy a new pair!
4. Not sure how I feel about silly bandz, but these chomp charms ARE pretty cute.  
5. Check out this baby travel system!  The testimonial makes me definitely want to try it!!
6. Maclaren seems pretty top notch.  M, who is totally immersed in that doll playing stage, would love this set!
7. JJ would love a new wallet... the ladies clutch is pretty cute too!

Preggo Update

I had another appointment right after Christmas break and everything seems a-ok.  I had the glucose test.  Is it bad that I enjoyed the drink? ?  : )  I did suffer later from an upset tummy - maybe a little too much sweets in one day along with the glucose drink.  I haven't heard back from my doctor so I'm assuming I'm good to go there.  I also got my rho-gam shot (I think that's what it is) - since my blood type is negative and JJ's is positive.  My doc asked what M is and I don't know... I'll have to look that one up!  Everything else looked great and baby boy is an active little bugger.  The BIG news of the appointment is that I have an induction scheduled.  WOAH!  I'm trying to wrap my brain around possibly knowing when this baby will be born.  I am still in total denial that he will come close to his due date.  I guess it's not a bad thing to be ready for whatever happens, but on the other hand, if I do go full term those last few weeks/days will seem like forever.  I'm trying to get in the right mind set.  So basically I requested an induction for a few reasons.  One: with no family in the area it's just going to be nice to know so M can be taken care of.  My Mom is planning on coming the night before (if boy doesn't show up early) and hang out with us for a week (yay!!).  Two: it's during my school's spring break.  What?  A whole week off?  That I would be paid anyways and not have to use my sick leave/have days without pay??  YES please!  So here you go: if baby boy doesn't come before, we should be holding and admiring him March 16th.   

A break in the Christmas action... M update!

Miss M started a new daycare last week and is LOVING it.  Can everyone join me in a collective sigh of relief??  She loves to go see M, and her having a horsey (one of those guys on springs) sure doesn't hurt!  From the very first day she was a little sad to see me leave, but then didn't want to go home either (which is always a good sign in my book!).  S (age 4) is her big buddy.  And apparently J (age 20 months or so) is obsessed with her.  It's kind of funny because M has all these admirers but she could pretty much care less.  Today in Church, for example, S ran up to M and gave her hugs, kissies, and some tickles.  M just sat there.  Then S went back to her seat and came back up in the middle of the service.  THEN M was ready with some lovies for S.  J's mom (JH) said that before bed, J says her name and even gave her a kissy before he left daycare Thursday.  I was like oh so cute, but it caused JJ to raise his eyebrows a little.  : )

Besides a new daycare, M has also been on a word explosion.  She not only copies pretty much everything she hears, but she is reusing phrases correctly later.  For example, she always talks about the sun being so bright when it's in her eyes in the car.  Another favorite phrase is, "M sad.  M crying." or "M happy!"  I guess she is a true girl already in touch with her feelings.  BUT, her all time favorite phrase right now (can anyone say TODDLER?!) is "M do it!"  She loves to point out colors, but is still not 100%.  She has yellow and blue down pretty well but is still iffy on pink, green, and orange.  She doesn't pay much attention to the rest of them.  She loves the clean up song - you know "Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere!" and will take just about anything with a handle and pretend it's a broom or mop or vacuum.  She counts - especially when getting in trouble.  I.e. Mommy said you need to sit in your chair.  One... two... --- and she counts right along with me.  How can I discipline with that going on??  She has been VERY consistent in telling us when she's gone potty or poopy... we're still working on the timing there.  Lately she has been asking to sleep in her crib almost every nap/sleepy time.  We're not forcing the big girl bed, but I'd like her to be adjusted to that somewhat soon as well.