No Good Very Bad Day

Day 2 of school means I'm more tired, more frustrated, and more ready for maternity leave.

It was a day full of tantrums, crying, scissor scariness, and shouting. (That might have been from only ONE child)

This year I've adopted some Whole Brain Teaching techniques that I thought would be great. And they are great...or they will be at least.

We do the "class"..."Yes" we do 5 basic rules that we have chants and motions that go along with them that we will review everyday. And we do smileys and frownys. Later I'd like to add in some more. So far it's just chaotic...

It's only the 2nd day, it's only the 2nd day, it's only the 2nd day....

Oh and it turns out there's a water leak somewhere in our yard. So that's happening too. Joy.

Return of the Children

Today was the first day of school. I'm 36 weeks pregnant as of yesterday and I had a class full of first day kindergarteners. I ate lunch at 3:30 and probably sat down a total of 20 minutes the whole school day. Awesome. I think I've had Braxton hicks all day, constantly. My entire stomach feels hard as rock. But, the day went smoothly...as smoothly as a first day can go. I only had 1 crier, and only 1 kid got lost. I mean, I didn't lose him, he went to the wrong class...all day. I'm the only kindergarten class at my school and somehow he ended up in 1st grade. Oops.

Out of the kids who didn't get lost, I certainly had some funny ones.

"Hey teacher, what's wrong with your stomach?"

Another student "There's a baby in there...duh."

First kid "Oh! So are you gonna take it out one of these days?"

...I was speechless.

Every kid at some point "Hey I gotta use it!"

Me "Use what?"

Kid-very puzzled look

Me "the restroom?"

Kid "yeah"

Me "can you think of a question to ask permission to go to the restroom?"

Kid-another puzzled look...and returns to their seat.

Me-"Okay then, let me know if you have any questions"

It's going to be a challenging 3 weeks before I'm out for maternity leave...

In-service Week

I know everything can't be timed out perfectly. But setting up a classroom and working 12 hour days for the first time in months is not fun when you're 9 months pregnant. Somehow I managed to stay awake through the meetings and finish setting up my classroom and make it through a 4 hour meet the teacher night. I have 20 kinder kiddos on my roster, but only 9 showed up to meet me today. I think its kind of sad not to bring your kindergartener to meet the teacher night. I still remember going to meet my 1st grade teacher. I remember telling her that there was no way I would learn how to read, it seemed too hard. Mrs. Moore proved me wrong. She was a great teacher.

The husband and I have been slowly making our house a home. I'm having a hard time decorating though. For one, its expensive. And two, I want all new stuff. But we've also been scrambling to get things ready for school to start. We did make some time to get some important things done...like maternity pictures. I've only seen the sneak peak photos and I love them!

They're by Pamela Rosenthal at the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth. I can't wait to see the rest!

So I have 1 weekend before school starts and 4 (or less) weekends of not having a child.

And I have about 100 things on my To Do List. I hope all the to do list doing doesn't put me into early labor...

It happened!

We have now slept in our house 3 nights. The renovations aren't finished, but it's a livable home. Our butcher block counters are in and the stain is setting so we can't use them. Its getting a little tricky without the use of counters in the kitchen and bathrooms, but they are beautiful!

Most of our boxes are still in the garage and/or shed. We still have to paint both bathrooms. We have no blinds or curtains on most windows...including the bathroom (yikes!). But we freaking live here! Alleluia!

My mom was in town for my Mansfield shower and so she helped out. In my classroom, our house, sewing curtains, running errands, making me rest, and being amazing! Saturday after Owens fabulous story book theme shower we (my mom) sewed curtains for Owens nursery. Then we finished painting his room, took the glider/rocker chair out of the box, built the crib, bought an awesome dresser for the changing table, and now we almost have a nursery!

It doesn't quite seem real that we live in this giant house, like real grown ups!

Time is Running Out

8.9.13

This school year I'm teaching at a different school. It's closer to our house. I'm not terribly excited about moving schools. Although I'm grateful to get a job at a school that's only 30 minutes away instead of an hour. So yesterday I saw my new room for the first time. I wanted to cry, or scream, or have a panic attack, or a mental breakdown. I didn't do any of those...I was too busy being absolutely speechless. "Where do I begin?" Is all I could think or say. Now, I do not claim to be the most organized person is all parts of my life, but you bet your butt my classroom is kept as organized as possible. This new room....looked like a bomb went off. I left my previous room as clean and orderly as I would have liked to have found it. Why can't this dude (yes, a dude kinder teacher) have done the same. My mom and I spent 3 hours just trying to figure out what was trash and what wasn't. I found state reading test booklets, report cards, and tons of student work...everywhere. First of all, that stuff is supposed to be turned in to the school to be added to the students file. I have no idea what I've gotten myself into. I knew there was meaning when the new principal said "I was sent here to do a clean up."

All I have to do is turn the room into a functioning classroom. It is about 25 hours of labor away from that right now. It's not going to be the cutest, or the most creative, but my God...it will be ready.

We still do not live in our house... We "SHOULD" be able to move in today/tonight/tomorrow.

Owens nursery is not finished...or hardly even started. (Not even done being painted)

My classroom literally gave me nightmares last night.

School starts in 2 weeks.

My 2nd/last baby shower is tomorrow...(and I can't find my curling iron)

And my poor mother is having to stay in a hotel...because WE STILL DO NOT LIVE IN OUR HOUSE!

Owen... If you know what's good for you. You'll stay in my belly as long as possible.

Never remodeling again. Like, ever.

The Husband is on his own dealing with our remodel right now. I'm still out of town from the Houston baby shower. (Finally headed back tomorrow) He's informed me that I'm not allowed to leave alone for this long ever again. I promised him that I never will...because I'm about to have our baby and it won't be a possibility even if I wanted to. Anyway, the house was scheduled to have all the last work done by Wednesday or Thursday...NOPE. (I'm well aware today is Tuesday) The countertops arrived yesterday, (2 weeks late) and the SOB had the nerve to show up without our full order because he forgot, had made incorrect cuts due to his own mistakes, AND broke the piece for our bathroom. Then he told my husband he can come back in the middle of next week. No. Sir, you get your crappy business owning butt back ASAP because you're ruining my life.---Too much?

This countertop is holding up our tile backsplash, plumbing work, and our move in. This man (who is based in Oklahoma) does not seem to have time management skills or the basic concept of keep-the-customer-happy-because-we-pay-your-bills.

So, I feel terrible not being there to help my husband deal with the drama. I know he's handling it, but this stuff is driving us nuts. It's now very obvious that we will be moving into an UNFINISHED house and teacher inservice starts in a week and a half. Awesome.

Deep breaths.

GREAT day :)

This weekend brought many greats. I got to see my sister who lives in Portland, OR (not for much longer)! And I got to spend some time with my family in Houston for Owen's first baby shower. During my shower in Houston, The Husband had his diaper shower back home. So, although I'm having to spend a few too many days away from him, we're both getting to have some fun. It was so great to have a day where instead of house remodeling/drama/craziness or work related stress, the whole day was just for Owen and getting ready for his impending arrival. I've had very little time to devote to baby prep. So today Owen was showered with some necessities and baby essentials, and cute little things that made all the baby shower guests say "cute!" in high pitched sing song voices. It was GREAT. I'm feeling more like a mommy, and less like a lady who just happens to also be pregnant.