32 weeks....

Today at the Christmas party in my classroom, one of the parents said, "You look skinny...."  stunned by her comment, I said, "What did you say??"  I was right, she said, skinny....Haven't heard that in a long time :)

Birthing Class 101

Last Sunday I went to my 8 hour birthing class.  After that 8 hours, you are supposed to know EVERYTHING you need to know about popping out a baby...Not sure if that is the case, but I feel better about it.  God designed my body to do this...I just have to keep reminding myself of it.  Then, I am going to ask Eve why she decided to eat that fruit in the garden...I bet she is apologizing to every woman who has birthed a child for all eternity.  

So, to simulate a contraction, we stick our hand in a bag of ice...It is supposed to put stress on the body and you are supposed to work through breathing through the cold.  We did this for a LONG time...I think the instructor was secretly laughing at us.  

I got better at it as time went on....It was nice, because I got some breaks and during those breaks Melissa had the job of rubbing my back, playing with my hair, and walking me through the "relaxation steps."  I know during labor I will be the one going through the pain, but I felt a little bad for Melissa, because all she did during that time was do things for me!

(notice the baby face down in the pelvic bone in the back..I think it is hilarious that is just sitting on the chair)

Melissa and I danced...It was nice, however, I am quite tall and I don't think we did it right.  Ideally, you are supposed to be able to lean on your partner with your head on their shoulder.  That didn't work out well for Melissa and I.

But, we were still happy :)  Look at our cuddles!

Thank you Melissa for being the best friend EVER!  Coming to a birthing class all day, asking questions (so I wasn't the only one) and taking pictures of the silly things we did was fun!  

When I get bored, I annoy the dog...

I sometimes put him in outfits....This one was bought in the $1 at Target....It has pockets for all of Gus' things.

Then I put him in the stroller...He didn't like that.  I thought about strapping him in, but that wouldn't have been fun for either of us.

Thankful...

Today has been the best day of pregnancy so far...Several things happened that just made my day:

1. I woke up this morning NOT feeling tired (that could have been a combination of the new "noise sleep machine" that was bought for baby Abby or because I went to bed at 8:30 last night).
2. I woke up to Abby moving all over the place
3. She kicked all day - today is the first day I have really felt like we have been, "connected"  Some people say this happens instantly with their baby, some people say it happens the moment they get to hold their little baby...For me, it happened today...I actually talked to her like she was there today. (Maybe I am a bad mom, but I don't talk to my stomach that often.)
4. Three kids in my class today gave me "oh so gentle" hugs (I get hugs all day long, but these ones were different) they reminded me that, "yes, there is a baby growing and they can all see her and we are going to be careful around her."
5. I saw one of my old parents and when I told her when I was due she said, "Oh my gosh, you are due that soon?"  You look so small.
6. A teacher in our school saw me today and said, "How is our beautiful, pregnant, mom doing today?"  (She really made me feel beautiful, and I am going to leave it at that, because I don't want to cry...Good tears of course).
7. Today I ran...It was s.l.o.w but I ran...The weather was perfect, no wind, sun in the sky, and just clean, crisp air.

Today has been the best pregnant day so far.  I am so thankful that God blessed us with this precious life.  He truly is amazing.

1st Grade is Challenging...

My challenge for the day....Interpret this section of writing from a first graders journal:


"frsh they made bons tree branch, second they madke wigwam adu stit and boke"


Yes, I am a first grade teacher, and I was able to figure it out!
"First they made houses out of tree branches.  Second they make wigwams out of sticks and bark"


(We are learning about the Woodland Indians and writing paragraphs using topic sentences, first, second, third, and concluding sentences.)

High five my belly!

Monday I was letting my kids out for lunch recess.  I usually walk them almost all the way to the door outside, and then stop and let them finish the way all on their own....Partly so I can watch the back of the line, partly because I don't like standing by the freezing cold air coming in from outside.

Anyway.  My kids are all bundled for the cold.  As they walk outside they all start passing by me, holding their hand out to give me a high five.  But they aren't giving me a high five, they are all rubbing one hand across my belly, as to give my belly a high five!  Valerie witnessed it all and started laughing out loud.  Those kids are too funny.  It completely threw me off!  They didn't slap my belly by any means, they just gently slid their hand across it!  They didn't even talk or say anything...Like it is completely normal to slide your hand across a teacher's bulging stomach.

It's December!

It is December....Sometimes the months feel like they are flying by and sometimes they feel like they go by slowly.

Just 9 days till our half-way point for this deployment.  Not that we are counting (I am not going to pretend that for the last week I have thought, "What can my facebook status be on December 11?  I want it to be clever, funny, and a little sarcastic."  

Christmas will soon come and go.  I am learning and working to enjoy each season of my life.  This isn't easy.  But, life isn't always easy and honestly, we are not here to live an "easy" life.  We are here to live in relationship, learn from each other, grow and change.  Sometimes the "hardest" parts of our lives are where we grow the most.

I am just thankful I can do it with a sovereign Lord standing next to me saying, "I do love you Carey and I am watching out for you and your family.  Nothing is greater than me." Keep reminding me Lord, I need it.

29.5 weeks

Had a baby shower today with work friends.  I am overwhelmed...I work with some pretty amazing people.

Full

Either I ate way too much at Thanksgiving, or there really is a baby growing inside of me...I think it is a little bit of both....

It's Christmas!

And...It was fun coming home because I was able to unpack all of Abby's new things....It was nice to get unpacked and settled back into normal life.  I also got to decorate for Christmas, make homemade chicken soup and light a fire.

After Jack left...Gus was exhausted....I even called him out of his crate and said, "Gus, treat!"  He lifted up his head, opened his eyes, and then laid back down....

Our crystal ornament tree (all white lights with crystal ornaments...My mom used to have a special tree like this when we were growing up and she always let me help her set it up), this brings back fun memories!  It is right in the window so when you drive by you can see it!

I saw this on a blog and decided to try it.  It is a Styrofoam circle wrapped in ribbon.  I got some decorative little things at Hobby Lobby to spice it up.

Ann Arbor Hands on Museum

There were little colored squares on the ground and Sam and Beaners had a fun time running from square to square.

Man...This kid is beautiful.

Waiting patiently to go into the museum.

Love this picture.

They LOVED the room full of foam blocks!

Elli had a hard time getting to the middle of the pile because she had to climb over so many blocks.  It was really cute.

Beaners is a patient little girl...She was waiting for the tornado to form.

Being in the ambulance made her nervous, check out her face!

It was a beautifully chilly day in Michigan.  The sun was shining, but it wasn't like the CO sun...We were all still chilled to the bone.

Overall, it was a REALLY fun day.  

Shower in Michigan

I have the most amazing aunts...They take care of me like I am their own daughter and they throw some awesome parties.  They threw me a shower...the food was delicious, the decorations were beautiful, and everyone had a good time.  It was great to see all those people I don't get to see all the time.

28 Weeks + The Turkey Trot Predict

Sarah and I before the run...

Showing off our preggo bellies!

Shh...we took this picture before we ran because we both didn't have time to hang out afterwards.

37 seconds past my guessed time of 31 minutes.

(The guy behind me (the one with the mustache) was OUT OF CONTROL. He would breathe in and then HEAVE out afterwards...If you want me to describe it to you one day, I will....)

Did it!

I ran a "race."  It wasn't really a race, but a "turkey trot predict."  The goal was to finish and run a 5k at 28 weeks pregnant.....I did it!

Thanks Sarah for doing this with me, I would have never done it alone!

Here are the results, Sarah is #15 and I am #55 (that is being closest to our predicted time...
http://www.pprrun.org/results/2010_results/2010_turkey_trot_predict_5k.htm  I ran it in 31.39.

The internet is too slow for me to update pictures, I will soon....

Wow! I am pregnant!

I woke up today to a stomach that was huge!

 (I know in a few weeks this stomach will seem small, but it was huge today!)

Come on baby Abby, keep growing!

What a Day!

Yesterday I spent the entire day in Denver at and IB training.  It was a great training led by a teacher who used to teach at AIES.  I left with a lot to chew on both in my teaching career and in my personal life.  It was one of those great trainings that left me with a long "to do" or "to try" list at the end of the day....I came home mentally and physically exhausted (the room we were in was about 80 degrees and this pregnant lady was not fond of that....)

But, that meant today was incredibly busy..Lots of  stuff to do and lots of errands to run (something I am not crazy about).  But, here are some of the things I accomplished today:
1. Went to church
2. Dropped off Steve's snowboard at REI for a free wax (although, it was more than a free wax because his board was so scraped up...I figured as a present I would make it "as good as new" and spend a little more) - Hopefully he can get in one boarding day when he comes home.
3. Made a return at Kohl's - bought a brush to baste chicken for $2 with a coupon.
4. Saw some friends for a few seconds at a clothing swap.
5. Got the windshield fixed so that our long crack won't get any longer.
6. Found some maternity clothes for the shower this weekend, so I can try to look cute.
7. Sold a chair on craigslist for $20.
8. Ran 3 miles and clocked it, 31 minutes, 42 seconds.
9. Went grocery shopping and got all that I needed for our K group potluck on Wednesday
10. Got a Christmas present for Steve
11. Took a shower
12. Cleaned the kitchen
13. Raked the front yard and mowed it (yes, I was the weirdo with the lawn mower out in November)

It was a busy and productive day...Now the things I have to do before bed:
1. Make Christmas Cards
2. Make a present for Steve's parents (ohh...I bet the suspense is killing you Midge!  Haha, only Andy, Steve and I know this secret).
3. Order some things online for Christmas

I like making lists...I like checking things off a list....Can you tell?

27 Weeks

Steve gave me a hard time and said my pictures were "not of great quality."  I am not a professional photographer and don't claim to be, especially when I have to take the pictures on my own with a timer....I also find editing pictures a pain the in butt...So, you get what you get. :)  

Today one of my students asked if he could touch my belly....Not sure what the protocol is with that type of request.  

Bite me Duct Tape....

Today I RAN....Ran 2.6+ miles and didn't stop.  No cramps, no duct tape, just me (in my regular running clothes) and the cool crisp air; it was delightful and as I finished my course I SMILED ear to ear because I RAN THE WHOLE WAY.  (In my non pregnant days, this was a normal run 2x a week and was not much of a problem).

Thanks Katie, Melissa, and Alison for your laughs and kind words, I thought of all three of you on my run today....

I am going to sign up for a 5K with Sarah (Don't worry, I am not planning to run WITH Sarah, she is carrying child too, but I know that she could kill me in any race, any day, any time, and under any circumstance).  My goal is to finish...I think doing a race at 28 weeks pregnant is pretty awesome and I want to mark that off my bucket list.  So, next weekend it is!

Things not to do....

Yesterday I learned something....when you forget a sports bra to work out in....Duct tape might seem like a good idea...But it isn't.

It does the job to support you (a really good job), but doesn't always let you breathe.  I got severe cramps while running and officially had to stop and walk (and this time it wasn't just because I was tired).  I cried while on my "run."

Steve told me it was the duct tape...But also said, "You know Carey, you might be at a point where you can't run anymore, and that is OK, you are 27 weeks pregnant."

I hope it was the duct tape.....I really don't always enjoy running, but I love it that I can do it.  It is a little smack in the face when your body says "no" but your mind says "yes."  And, right now I have to follow what my body says, not my mind. We will see, I try running again tomorrow.....

Valerie, Suzanne and I had a great laugh looking at the turquoise duct tape over my t-shirt.....I wouldn't allow pictures.

Thankful

I am thankful for a few things today:
1. A husband who is humble, hard working, and who puts others before himself.
2. A school "family" that lifts me up even on tough days
3. Friends that work hard to understand the difficulties of military life and realize the sacrifices that are made
4. A different, better, higher paying job for my brother

The last few days have been pretty good...

Work is wonderful - I feel fulfilled and satisfied there.  I work with some great friends where we laugh, exercise and cry together...I have great kids in my class with parents that want to work together with me to see their child excel.

My friends are incredible and call me on a daily basis just to see how I am doing, even if we don't have anything to talk about.

My mom and I talk almost every day and if I don't talk to her for one day, she says, "Well, you haven't called me lately, and I am worried about you..."  She lets me talk about anything and everything whether it is important or not.

My brother called with great news and I am so happy for his family and their new adventures.

All in all, it has been a pretty good week...

Veteran's Day was today and three of the kids in my class had parents step up to talk to our entire school about how they serve in the military.  I am proud of what they do and I was thrilled that they would take time out of their busy lives to come to an elementary school and talk to 600+ kids.  I love my job and I love the kids and parents I work with on a daily basis.

Several of my friends wrote on Steve's facebook wall today and it was so nice to see that they appreciate him and take the time to write on his wall even though they know he can't always check it while deployed...Some even wrote about him on their blogs and that really meant a lot to me (Jen, Jennifer, and Cathy).

And with snow comes CHRISTMAS CARDS

My friend, Melissa, blogged about these Christmas cards.

What a great way to spread the word about great cards and a great deal.

I have made our cards on paper the past two years and sent them out with pictures printed on the back....It is hard to get those all together and I am thinking that when BK arrives, I will need to limit my writing time and do something a little less time consuming.

I would love to have a place where I could document all of our Christmas Cards as the year goes on and maybe make a small photo book out of it.  

I'm thinking this year I may go with one of these:

I love the idea of lots of pictures, but I feel like I have to write something on the card!  It is so fun to read Christmas cards, I figured everyone would want to read about us, right?  For the rest of the Shutterfly Christmas Card collection go here.

Another thing I love to make for the holidays are calendars. Look here for some great templates.  I LOVE to give these as Christmas gifts and whenever Steve leaves for a deployment I make him one.

Steve and I are all for decorating with pictures rather than buying expensive wall art....This is a great way to transform some of our favorite pictures into wall art.

Bloggers, go here to see the deal!

It Snowed....Which means.....

Two years ago (when Steve was gone last time)....I got a little excited for Christmas and needed some joy around the house, so I decorated early (and, as in early....I mean early.....Before Halloween!)  This year I decided to take it a little easier and wait till the first snow fall....Which happened today!

Thankfully, mother nature waited till after the 3:30 bell rang to make her grand entrance.  But, by the time I left school at 4:30 today there was snow on the grass!  And now there is even more!  It is already dark outside, but I figured a "not so great" picture was better than no picture at all.

So...Snow means....

...The Christmas decorations come out! 

I haven't put up the tree yet, but I did pull out some of my favorites: a snowman given to me by one of my students with a card that said, "It's tall....Like you"  and some classic Christmas CD's and DVD's.  I think Elf will be playing on my computer as I grade papers tonight.  I will
save A Christmas Story for when I set up the tree.

And, yes, those are stockings on the fireplace in the basement.  I am enjoying my hot chocolate and roasted pumpkin seeds....And can't wait for the Christmas season!

26 Weeks

25 Weeks

Yeah!  Only 15 to go!  That means Steve comes home after baby Abigail comes! 

(I think I look bigger in picture #1)...

But, I had to put two pictures here to let you know that I am still a fan of MSU even though Iowa creamed them today....