The Terrific Twos!!

My baby is 2 today!! I can't believe it.

I will post more later. My computer at home is wacking out so we'll see what happens.

Christmas is Here!

The day after Thanksgiving Daniel surprised me and bought outdoor Christmas lights. It was so cool to go outside at night and see our house lit up. What a sweet man! We also decorated the inside of the house. Abby was asleep while we did this, so the living room was a whole new world when she woke up. She squealed in delight at all the fun new things to look at and NOT TOUCH LOL

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning we woke up ready to cook! I was in charge of sweet potatoes, and then we all made a yummy apple pie together. Abby likes to help. She made this appetizing little dish. Pie dough, apples, and cereal!

Here Abby and daddy are filling the pie.

Mixing the apples

She wasn't too sure about the messiness of it all.

Thanksgiving was a nice quiet affair. We went to my parents house at 1:00, then arrived at Daniel's parents at 3:30. I pride myself in the fact I had two dinners and desserts. I ate strategically. We ended the day playing Dominoes and fell asleep full and happy!

I had to put these pictures on. Memories of November. Ashlynn came over to play. I really don't understand the obsession with the dog kennel.

My book worm....keeping my fingers crossed.

I love the art work Abby does. I have kept just about every piece. I need to start becoming more selective. My Hope Chest is getting full!

I love decorating with it.


I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

I am Thankful

The month of November causes us all to think about the things we are thankful for. There have been quite a few days I have been selfish this month. Wanting things other people have, and not truly appreciating what I do have. I believe God has the word THANKFUL in my mind lately.

I will be in the weirdest places when I will randomly think, “I am so thankful for….” For instance, I was reading a book call “Fly Away Home” by Eve Bunting to my class. It’s about a homeless boy and his father who live in an airport. I am so lucky to have a house to go home to every night.

Yesterday and today have been very long days. We are doing conferences from 8am-9pm. Meeting with each and every parent has been great. I love my class and I am so thankful to have such a great group of loving kids. There are some parents and life situations these kids face each day and it breaks my heart. I am so thankful I have a husband involved in my daughter’s life and who takes good care of his family. I am also thankful Abby has a strong family base with her grandparents and aunts and uncles. She is growing up in a healthy and stimulating environment.

These little life lessons have caused my to see what wonderful blessings I have in my life. I may not be able to buy the most fashionable clothes, cutest purses, or even brand new clothes for my daughter all the time, but we have richness in love and happiness.

I need to remember my blessings each day.

Abby...

...will be 2 next month
...is saying 2-3 word phrases
...loves to snuggle in mommy and daddy's bed
...has to read before night,night
...gives the best hugs and kisses in the world
...loves princess any thing
...can sing Jingle bells, Jingle bells(we're working on the rest)
...wears 18-24 month clothes
...a size 5 is still a little too big, but her feet are growing into them
...is very excited about her birthday
...will not nap at her Grandma Hughes's house, but she still does for us (Thank goodness)
...loves to help in the kitchen
...enjoys washing anything
...likes to glue and make things
...loves her cousin Ashlynn

She is growing and developing so fast. I can't keep up with all of the new things she is doing. I feel bad, because I am horrible at the baby book stuff. I am going to start a journal for her.....hopefully!

Better Late Than Never

At first Abby wasn't too sure about the whole pumpkin thing. But pretty soon she warmed up to it and dug in!

Isn't she the cutest Fairy you've ever seen?

With her pumpkin

Abby is with her cousin Ashlynn (the butterfly) and her BFF Ava (the bee). Perfect theme huh?

Halloween was a lot of fun with Abby. She really got into getting candy from strange houses. We even had to keep her from going into some of those houses. My In-Laws had a special sack made up for her. She did not want to give up that sack or her pumpkin bucket. Hopefully cavities aren't in the future!

I'm Back!

Oh My Goodness! This has been a crazy month! Getting back into the swing of work has been stressful. We have had a lot of new curriculum, and programs thrown at us. By the time I get home and get things done here, I am exhausted! I don't even want to look at a computer when I am at home, because that's what I do all day. I have a great class this year. They are really sweet kids, but all over the board academically. I teach a 4/5 blend, but their levels range from 1st -6th. It has really been a challenge for me to accommodate everyone. I have done blends for years, but this is the first year I feel like I am floundering. I know things will get better.

I have missed blogging and reading every one's updates. I am really going to try and update once a week. So don't give up on me Dee.

A Working Mothers Worst Nightmare

I just excused my students to go home. I myself am fearing to leave. Yesterday when I picked my daughter up from my Mother's (she watches Abby 3-4 times a week) Abby flipped out! She clung to my mom and pushed me away. I felt like a big pile of bad mother crap. At that instant I wanted to quit my job and stay home with my baby. Of course, that is not an option for me right now. Any of you feel that way at one time or another? I know many of you are able to stay home, but there has got to be a time when you felt the same way.

New Pet

First of all thank you all for great hobby ideas. I like the encouraging note idea, and even the knitting idea. I have a contraption I bought at Michael's a few years ago that helps me knit hats. Maybe I will break that out and make my class hats for Christmas....I am sure my super cool 5th graders would love that! he he

Abby has graduated to the booster seat at the table. She loves it! She was starting to get really fussy and not wanting to eat in her highchair, so I decided to try this. It worked. I love mothers intuition!

We have a new addition to our family. "Elmo" the fighter fish. My sister in law had her classroom fish at her house for the summer. Every time Abby would visit she would have to see the "ish". She eventually named him Elmo. My mother in law surprised her with this beautiful guy a few weekends ago. He's been "Elmo"ever since. She sits watching him and talking to him for forever. I appreciate Elmo because I can get a few minutes of house work done :).

Hobby??

I need a hobby! I love to read, but there are times when I just don't want to. I need something productive that has nothing to do with work, that will take my mind off things and help with my restlessness and anxiousness. Any ideas??

Summer Recap

Well, tomorrow I go back to work. Its bitter sweet to leave my baby all day, but I am looking forward to a new school year. This has been an interesting summer. We have had our highs and one or two lows. More highs though! Since my computer has been a bit funky this summer ( I think we have all the bugs out now). I have not been able to blog as much. Here is a small look into our summer.

We have introduced potty training! She has peed twice in the big girl toilet! She is beginning to know when she has wet/pooed her diaper and tells us. This is a very good sign.

We went overnight camping at Trillium Lake. It was beautiful!

Abby was the messiest kid I had ever seen. She loved every minute of it.

Daddy giving a beginners fishing lesson. We were just steps away from the lake.

Our view of Mt. Hood. I have a ton of pictures of this. It was so gorgeous!

Bailey played in the water the whole time.

Our summer babysitter. Bailey charges a pretty penny, but she does a great job! Just kidding!! Abby closed herself and Bailey into the kennel. I had to snap a picture.

Oops! Forgot to turn this one. Packing for a day out.

Isn't that the most disturbing thing you have ever seen! We were laughing so had, and Abby loved the ride!

A day at the State Fair! Every animal was a cow.

The excitement of seeing cows!

Dairy Princess Ice cream! Don't leave the fair without it!

That's it in a nutshell. I hope all of you had a great summer too, and happy back to school!

I Made It

First of all thank you for all of the encouraging words. I really needed those!

Wednesday I went in for surgery and made it out fine. I was so nervous, but once the happy medicine went in I was floating. I still have a mild case of cramps from the surgery but they should go away soon. I will see my doctor in a couple of weeks and get right on the birth control. Again thanks for all of your prayers and encouraging words. Next post I have a ton of cute pictures to share. I have just been too lazy to down load them.....he he he.

Molar Pregnancy

My computer has been out with a virus so its been over a month since I have posted. However, I have some sad and really disappointing news to share. Last week I found out I am not pregnant with a baby, but with a large mass of crap in my uterus. Its called a Molar Pregnancy. Its when 2 sperm fertilize an egg. Its a freak accident that happens in 1 in 2000 pregnancies. I am sad, mad and just plain confused. I can't really explain how I feel. I am grieving, but there was no baby to grieve. Which, it may have been harder if I knew I had lost an actual baby. In this case I have lost the thought and hope of a baby.
I am having surgery this Wednesday at 7:30am. The will do what is called a D and C to clean the uterus out. Then I go in every month to have my blood checked to make sure its going away, and in one year we can start trying again.

Thank you to all my friends and family who have encouraged me and kept us in our prayers. My husband has also been fabulous!!

Unexpectant Surprise!

Friday, July 10th Daniel and I found out I was pregnant!! Now the surprising part is....I was on birth control! All you women out there make sure you take every pill!! I missed one and now I am blessed with a baby. We were planning to start again a year from now, but I guess God had better plans. We are still in a little bit of shock but very excited. Unfortunately I will not be able to stay home with the new bundle for very long but since we are due in March summer will be just around the corner (I am only about 4-5 weeks along). I just pray I carry this baby full term (Abby was 5 weeks early). I ask for your prayers to keep this baby safe inside me. My first appointment is not until September 16th!! I hate that I have to wait that long. Hearing that heart beat makes me feel so much better.

Michaela, if you are reading this please keep this to yourself (you can tell your mom). I am not ready for anyone at school to know adults or kids. I need to talk to Mr. E first. I'll let you know when you can blab. Love you girl!

A Day At the Park

Yesterday Abby and I met up with some friends at Bush Park. The slide was a hit. I felt bad a couple of times, because Abby did a few belly flops on the bark dust!

This is Michaela and Grace. Michaela was a 5th grader in my class last year. Her mom had a baby 2 months after we had Abby. Since then we have tried to get the babies together for play dates. We have only gotten together a couple of times. We all have a great time when we can get together!

Taking pictures of two very active girls was a challenge. It was rare if I got a picture of both of them looking at me at the same time!

Abby loved the swings! Can't you hear her laughing?

Birthday and July 4th

I had a great birthday! Sunday the 28th the whole family went to Burgerville for dinner to celebrate. Burgerville is my favorite, thats why we went. On the 30th, my actual birthday, I really wanted to go to the Oregon Zoo. I was so excited to take Abby for the first time. We had a blast!

My stupid camera string thing is in the way, but if you look really close Daniel has a bird on his hand.

We are pretty small compared to all of those bears. Abby loved all of the animals. She especially loved the fish we saw.

This is where the polar bear was. He moved before we could get a shot with him. Abby loved watching him pace. Then we enjoyed watching him pee right in front of us!!! I guess mother nature had to call! he he he

Family picture in "Africa."

The Fourth of July was a busy day. We went to the Mollala Parade, then to a reunion on my dads moms side, then back to Daniel's parents house for a BBQ.

Waiting for the parade.

A much needed water break at Grandma and Grandpa's. Brevin (Abby's cousin) is also joining in. Later the slide turned in to a water slide, thanks to Uncle Kyle's creative mind. The two kids loved it and Abby zoomed down that slide. She was fearless!

Enjoying some fireworks.

This last week has been full of fun. I k now 32 isn't old, and I sure don't feel like I should be in my 30's. Its just a little bitter sweet. I am at the heaviest wieght I have been, and yes I had a baby, but 18 months ago!!! My goal is to drop at least 30 pounds by my next birthday. I am not sure how long I will enjoy that, becuase we are going to start trying for another bundle of joy next summer, but it will be better than being 30 pounds heavier. I can't afford to go to health clubs, or join weightloss programs. I am going to start walking Monday. Any other advice you can give me???