Starting again...

School starts again tomorrow... I already miss:

1. Sleeping in

2. Lovey time with Lady

3. Eating whenever I want

4. Using the bathroom whenever I need to

5. Our Lazyboy chair

6. "A Baby's Story" on TLC

7. "Bringing Home Baby" on TLC

8. Naps (this should be number 1)

9. Being "Tech-free"

10. Zoning out for long periods at a time...

What I am excited for:

1. See my students again

2. The students asking to touch my belly (which I said they could do after break...)

3. The 11 week countdown to summer!

4. The busier I am for the next 11 weeks, the sooner the 21 weeks will be over and we can meet the little Beaulieu!

5. Having a schedule

I believe that I will LOVE being at home this summer and this fall, but I do know that I became a teacher for a reason, and I will always want to go back to school. (How is that for trying to convince myself that tomorrow will be positive?!)

Two more days...

I have Spring Break in two more days... I only have to teach for two more days. I am so EXCITED!

Many people I work with are traveling... I am happy to be home and able to clean and get some things accomplished that I have put off - because well, I use the pregnancy as an excuse. I can't really do that right now as I have my energy back, and my stomach is showing - but not totally in the way --- yet.

I am so excited to be a stay at home sans child for Spring Break. I was awesome at it this summer.... So I am pretty sure I will be able to have a good time. ;)

I also hope this weather will stick around for at least another week so I can really enjoy the time off.

Advice

So, the other day my Mother and I were shopping for some new clothes that may actually fit me for work... with not very much luck. (Thanks Albertville...)

But while we were going we had a good conversation where she suggested I contact my friends who have children, or are pregnant and get input from them regarding this whole process, from clothes to cribs...

I had no idea at the overwhelming amount of information I would receive. I asked a handful of friends I sent the email to, and I got some good information... and then I got a spreadsheet from a friend that her coworkers gave her. This thing covers so many things I would never have thought to ask about... yet would need to know.

One thing I thought was interesting is that you will most likely need nail clippers or a file for the baby's fingernails - AT THE HOSPITAL - what?! I didn't think that I would have to be that ready... hmmm... I guess I am glad I asked so early so I have plenty of time to start packing!

Thank you Friends! I appreciate all information!

Keeping quiet...

I have been pretty quiet lately on this blog, and the main reason is that I wanted to keep talking about how Josh and I are expecting our first baby this August! I have been quiet as we have been scared out of our minds that the baby wouldn't stay with us, but at 17 weeks and just starting the 5th month, we are feeling much better. Maybe the bump that is appearing is what is helping re-assure us...

Two months ago my family was standing together watching my Grandfather's funeral and military burial. I kept thinking about how many lives by Grandpa and Grandma had touched and created. He had his three children there, along with his seven grandchildren, one grandchild (one couldn't make it), and I kept thinking about the three grandchildren that were all there, waiting to join the world.

At this point in the day, most of Josh and my extended family didn't know we were also expecting (my two cousins were very obvious!). As we stood there freezing, with the snow falling and the horns playing, all I could think about was how lucky all of these people are to have been able to share in my grandfathers life... and how lucky these future children would be to have such a close, and loving family... all touched and a part of the family values this group of people share. Although these future grandchildren, and even more to come, are not going to be able to meet this man, he had created them - all with his wife some fifty years back as they decided to start a family. Through him, their children committed to be the family that they are today - extremely caring, compassionate, and loving people.

I kept thinking about the circle of life... he had a good life- he had told us such many times through his 80's as he kept saying he wouldn't need a birthday cake next year... ironically enough, those birthdays kept coming, no matter how much he didn't want them. Toward the end, he refused to say he was 87... because he swore up and down he was 88. His circle ended, yet there are so many more circles that are starting. It was a sad day, it was a sad week... lets be real, death is very sad. I still think about going to visit him.

Bryce and Luella created their family, which in turn created their own families, and now we are on to our next set of families. We all still hold each other close to our hearts, no matter how far we may actually be from one another.

I love what I have been given, and I am truly happy.

Josh and I get to start our family - and we are so excited.

(this is also a warning that this blog may turn into more of an 'update' on how things are going along with a bit of what I am doing in school... and I guess maybe I will include some things about Josh! ;) )

So much for my goal this month

Well, I thought I would be able to make 14 posts this month - and I guess not. Not that I didn't have good faith and even effort - many posts are saved and not posted... I guess because I thought they were boring.

Well, Lady update:

On Valentines Day I came home to a broken Blu-Ray remote. And by broken, I mean it was hidden under our kitchen table smashed into bits and pieces. The batteries were smushed... Yes, Lady thought it was a bone.

This morning we realized we had run out of dog food and gave Lady cat food - as she LOVES Bandit's food. Yea, too much. She wolfed it down in 10 seconds and about 3 minutes later it was back up on our one and only rug in the house.

Don't worry - she cleaned it up.. she didn't want to waste that AWESOME food! ;)

So gross.

School is school. The kids are so up and down. I feel like I need the weather to get nicer so the boys can expend energy before and after school - not as much during school... I am getting a grip on the curriculum planning, I just don't want to do it. This weekend it has to be done. For Monday. No more putting it off.

Not really much more right now... just enjoying some couch time with Josh and Lady.

Curriculum planning...

Wow - it is ever exhausting.

Today we had to have 2-3 weeks of curriculum for my World Geography class. I was missing a couple of things, but everything was well laid out.

HAHAHA

Yeah right.

Our Principal was there to 'help' go over it with us. She tore into me. I need differentiation and more higher level of blooms to make it better.

The best part is that I felt confident as I thought she was there for another teacher, one that seems to be struggling - and not really doing anything.

Then I remembered something a coach told me once - 'You worry when the coach doesn't give you attention - when they stop yelling at you - they have stopped caring.' Makes so much sense!

My Principal gave me so many suggestions and ways to get better - and the other teacher - well, she just happened to mention that he only had one lesson and we all had weeks... Where were his lessons? Then she left.

I am going to stick with she wants to make me better - and that is the whole reason for getting on me so hard.

My brain hurts.

Goodbye

My Grandpa died last night, about 4:50pm in his bed, surrounded by loved ones.

We were expecting it, yet, we didn't expect it. Can you really expect that your Grandpa - who has fought so well for his live the last 87 years - would stop fighting when you were sitting by his feet talking to the family in the room?

Nope.

I went to work today - weird day at school. I told my students hoping they would be more compassionate and they were - for the most part. I don't want to go back tomorrow, but the three days I get I took Wednesday through Friday as the funeral is Friday.

I don't really have a lot to say about this. I loved him. He was a great positive male role model growing up. He fed me an endless supply of fruit from his gardens. And Pumpkin Pie.

It is because of my Grandpa's wonderful pie making skills that I LOVE Pumpkin Pie - until every other family member decided they would make me pumpkin pie for every occasion... His was still the best.

Rest In Peace Grandpa. You loved and you were loved.