Brady

Brady will be two tomorrow. It's so surreal to me that my baby really isn't a baby anymore. It seems like just week I was waddling around MHS capturing the stares of many students who hadn't seen someone quite so....large. If you think I'm kidding, I'm not. Even the pediatrician asked me at 34 weeks if I was sure there was only one baby in there.
It took about two hours from when my water broke to deliver my new son. After it happened I remember feeling so dazed like, "What the hell just happened?" It's probably the closest to shock I have ever been.
I remember, while awash in my hormones, feeling so sad that this was it. No more feeling a baby kicking inside of me. No more feeling hiccups. No more watching my belly go topsy turvy. I remember feeling cheated that Thad told me it was a boy before I got to see for myself.
Don't get me wrong....I was elated with my new baby. I was full of love and happiness. He was so beautiful. I had another healthy child....who looked just like his dad. Damn my genes must be weak!
People say all the time that you'll know when you're done having kids. I have never felt that. If money allowed us to have more and more and more babies, I would do it. (I'd also have a full time nanny, a tummy tuck, and a boob job just so you know.)

So on this eve of Brady's second birthday, I am again filled with happiness and excitement for him. He is one of the happiest kids I know. He is hilarious. He is charming. He is mine.

Now, for those of you who've had enough of my cheesy post, here's one for you: Tonight Brady touched his belly button and said penis, only it sounds like 'peenith' when he says it. "No honey that's not your penis, that's your belly button." Nice try though huh?

A conversation with Kate

Kate: "Mom when I grow up, I'm not gonna be a teacher anymore."
Me: "Why?"
Kate: "I hate getting up early."
Me: "Well Kate no matter what job you have, you will have to get up early."
Kate: "Then I'll just be a mom."
Me: "Kate you have to get up early when you are a mom." (and all night honey...but I didn't say that)
Kate: "Well then I'll just spank them."

Sometimes you can't win when having a conversation with your children.

A new blog to follow

If you look on the right of this page, you will see that I am following a new blogger. She is new to blogging, but she is one of my oldest and dearest friends. Stephanie and I go wayyy back. I know I have written about her before, but I am so proud of her. I encourage you to follow her too on her journey.
She is embarking on a new life. She is my age. She has decided to live for herself instead of others. She is following her heart, her dreams, and her desires.
I love this girl so much I can't even express it. She's been with me every step of the way in my life, and it's only right that I am for her, even if we live two time zones away from one another.

Some people their lives never once doubting themselves, their career, or anyone in their life. Even more question their life continually and complain about it. Steph is a reminder that sometimes in life, things pop up that take us by surprise. We don't know where those emotions come from or that we even had those within us. I for one have questioned, "Why am I feeling what I'm feeling? Is it me, someone else, the circumstances, or even fate?
We can't control how our heart feels. We must be more in tune to ourselves.
She's following her heart and as she said, listening to herself. I love that. I just love that.

Here's to you Stephie....!

PS: Do I sound like Oprah?

Whirlwind week

It's been a whirlwind week now that school is back in session. Can I just say that I am love, love, loving being back in the classroom. It's energizing. It's fulfilling. It's my passion. It helps that I had not one but two awesome educational experiences this summer. Oh how I love my job.
Yes I am a mom first and foremost, but in all honesty, this is a calling as well. The only current downside is a few boys are continually stopping in to visit me....I'm feeling slightly stalked.

Ryan and I are going to sign him up for orchestra. Where the heck did that come from??? The teacher is a-mazing, and he has fired up a huge crew to sign up. Part of me is thinking, "Really? Do we need to do this? That's expensive...it's time consuming to practice. He isn't home as it is." But he wants to and what kind of parent would I be to not encourage music? Especially when he is an uber sports fanatic.

Olivia, after many tears is getting better with kindergarten. I have pictures, but like some of you, I have no time to load them.

Kate and Olivia have started dance again. Ryan still has football. We are busy.

Now if only my brain would shut down at night so I could sleep....

Summer recap

Gone is another summer. Bummer! I did so many new things this summer. I can honestly say that I challenged myself in more ways than I thought I could. No I didn't do anything real major, but I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone a few times. Here are some of the highlights:
1. Chicago. After a week-long seminar at MSUM, our Teach American History grant gang headed to Chicago. We saw a lot, froze our butts off, got poured on, and most importantly, laughed like crazy.

2. Richmond, VA. Below is the dorm I stayed out. I loved flying in, spending an evening with my friends Ryan and Kara, and spending almost a week with total strangers. I will do it again. I learned so much. I am so pumped to share with my students and colleagues all I gained.

3. Baseball. Watching Ryan play travel baseball was great. The parents were fun, the games were exciting, and other than the 'ball-to-the-face-black-eye-swollen-shut-fiasco' it was a fun experience.

4. Being home! I got to take the kids to the pool, work out, and just enjoy my children. Priceless.

5. Our neighbors. We have some wonderful friends. We hang out, watch each others' kids, and enjoy one another.

6. Seeing my cousin Mike. He is the coolest, nicest, funniest guy ever. AND he's a single dad. He deserves major props for that. Jasmine is a doll.


7. Getting these butt a$$ ugly braces off. Enough said.

8. Spending four days in Vegas with these two and our hubbies. May we be bonded forever by our experience at the adult pool BARE at the Mirage.

8. Yeah, this place.

9. The lake. Kim C. is a saint for having us down not once, but twice. Talk about being a scaredy cat in the water...but I did it. I tubed. And jet skied. Damn.

10. Brady. I swept up more messes, dealt with more broken glasses and plates, chased, wrestled, and snuggled more than ever with this little hunk of burning love.


**You know what's funny? I had no intention of having a perfect 10 list. I guess the list spoke for itself.