Summer is Here

I went into summer mode over Memorial Day weekend - parades, backyard cookouts, bike rides to the pool,constant sunscreen application, ice cream outings and later bedtimes.

 
This was a great thing except that I still had one more week left of school that I needed to be concentrating on...and I can't lie, it was tough.  Almost to the point of torture.  My students were so DONE - they too had summertime on the brain and certainly didn't want to be stuck in a classroom.  Well, we finally made it - and as exciting as it is to have summer here, it is always sad to see your students go.  Especially this year, being a brand new school and facing so many challenges and obstacles.  It will be a year I will never forget.

This year will also be unforgettable because I received an award that means more to me than any other award I've ever received.  I was honored as Teacher of the Year!  There is nothing sweeter than being recognized for doing something you love.  From the bottom of my heart - I thank all my peers for their support, especially Krista, my teammate - who has worked equally as hard to make our kindergarten classes the BOMB!  I am so excited for next year as we move into our brand new school with space to move around.  Great things are gonna happen!

The first official weekend of summer we spent at the pool with all the other neighborhood families.  Mattie would simply drown if you'd let her - she demands that you put her down in the pool even though she has no flotation device attached to her.  She is such a daredevil - it scares me.  She jumps off the side of the pool with no care in the world, trusting that someone will be there to catch her - luckily we are.  Evan, on the other hand, is way more cautious and reserved.  That seems to have come with age because he used to be more like Mattie a couple of years ago.  He's still sportin' the water wings, but I'm hoping we can get him swimming on his own by summer's end.

I'm gonna try to really enjoy the next few weeks.  I start my Master's at the end of June, so that will start taking up some of my time, as well as my magazine writing.  When school starts back mid July, Lord help me.  I'm not really sure how I will find the time for everything - but I will manage.

Twenty Twelve Resolutions

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that a new year is upon us.  I absolutely have no clue where 2011 went.  That may have something to do with my life being swallowed whole consumed by a new baby, a new job and a new way of life.  Staying busy certainly doesn't make time stand still.

Feeling like I finally have everything under control, or maybe that I'm able to deal with my load with some sanity in tact, I am feeling refreshed welcoming 2012.  I'm coming into this year with a clear head, but with some definite changes in mind.  Behold, my twenty twelve resolutions:

1. Register for a 5K
I began training for a 5K (my marathoner mom is laughing at this right now, I'm sure) at the beginning of this year and did something to my ankle.  Taking time off to let my ankle heal turned into giving up on the race all together.  I was really disappointed in myself for not sticking with it...so I joined the gym.  Two weeks later, I accepted a new job and all of my free time went right out the window, as well as my motivation to work out.  Not one year (since high school) have I not been dedicated to some form of exercise, except for 2011.  I will change that.  Time to get my fitness back.

2. Prepare more natural meals
Constantly feeling like I have no time and running on empty, I have resulted to those evil frozen meals, or worse, take-out.  I would say we currently take-out or dine out at least three to four times a week and the remaining days meals are literally just thrown together - usually in a microwave.  This year I want to plan my meals more effectively.  Buy fresh produce, buy foods with less preservatives, make meals from scratch.  I generally eat healthy, even given the habits listed above, but I want to learn to enjoy cooking as well.

3.  Have date night once a month
Robert and I actually started this trend a few months ago and, with the help of my mom, have been able to stick to it.  I want this to continue into 2012 so that I always have that special weekend to look forward to.  I love my children to pieces, but there's nothing better than a night alone with my husband doing things we used to do pre-kiddos.

4.  Start reading again 
Due to lack of time (are you beginning to see the theme here), I haven't read a book in its entirety in at least a year.  I hope to pick up a book and begin reading again - even it takes me a month to read it.  There was a time when I would read 1-2 books a week.  I miss that.

5.  Finish projects left undone 
Hello dining room chairs, memory boxes, photo books...

6.  Watch my tone
I am notorious for being really snappy when I'm tired, in a bad mood or what have you - and unfortunately I'm one of those who takes it out on the ones I love most, i.e. Robert.  This year I want to make a genuine effort to take a deep breath, think about how I'm coming off to others and keep my attitude in check.

7.  Pay off student loans
I'm almost there, but if I choose to take some money each week out of our normal weekly budget, I can get those bad boys paid off a lot quicker.

8.  Live a more balanced life
Be successful at work, as well as at home. My kids deserve me just as much as my students/readers - actually, a lot more.  Be a fantastic teacher/writer, but be an even more fantastic mother.


There's my list in all its glory.  Once it's published I become 100% accountable.  Here it goes...

Questioning Myself

I had to stay home today because MJ picked up conjunctivitis, likely during her first week at Belin.  She wasn't feeling bad, but had to be on an antibiotic before she could return.

So today we played.  Went to the park, strolled around the neighborhood - soaked up as much sunshine as we could.

And I gave this up because...???

Catching My Breath

I knew making the transition from work-part-time-from-home mom to work-full-time-from-home-AND-away-from-home mom wouldn't be easy, but I honestly wasn't expecting to be this tired.  I think most of my exhaustion comes from not knowing how to manage all of my responsibilities efficiently.  I am one of those that must have my day in order from the moment I wake up until I go back to bed at night.  If I don't, not only does my productivity decline, but my day will be a complete nightmare that I'd rather not have.  So this past week was a trial week that has hopefully prepared me for this coming week and the many weeks that follow.  It is my mission to find a good routine that works for me and my family.

Due to my inefficient self, today was my only true day "off."  We chose to lay low for the first part of the day, but got outside to enjoy the beautiful weather after the kids had their naps.  Grandpa and Grandma Stinnett bought Evan a bicycle with training wheels for his birthday.  Robert spent some time last week trying to show Evan how to use the pedals - the lesson did not go so well.  We're not sure if coordination is the issue, but whatever the case, something wasn't working.

Today we decided to try again, but this time we thought if we all rode bikes it would get Evan a little more pumped about trying to ride his own.  Fail.  He can't seem to grasp the concept of pedaling quite yet.  Oh well - we will revisit this later and until then Evan will ride his $19 motorcycle that he got for his 2nd birthday and of course his police car.  But please check out Mattie Jane in her bicycle seat.  Have you ever seen anything cuter?

It wouldn't be normal for us to end the day on a happy note, so let me share Evan's melt down when we told him it was time to go inside.

  Cheers!

Catching Up

I've been slacking off a bit in keeping up with everything going on around here.  Last week we had a fantastic visit from Grandpa and Grandma Stinnett.  They rolled in from Knoxville on Tuesday and stayed with us until Saturday.  The kids were given much needed time with them and they enjoyed every minute they had.  I could kick myself for not dragging out my camera.  I did manage to get a cute one of Grandma and Mattie at the pool.  And speaking of the pool, Evan is now swimming on his own with floaties.  He couldn't be more proud of himself.

We sincerely hope Grandma and Grandpa can come back soon.

I also haven't mentioned yet that I am going back to teaching.  While I will continue writing for Gage Publishing, I am also going to be teaching kindergarten at the Academy of Hope.  Being able to write AND teach is the best of both worlds for me.  I am so happy about this new development in my life.  It is however keeping me very busy as I am preparing to be away from home more.

We also have a special little someone who will be turning 3 on the 11th.  We've been searching the internet like mad people trying to find that perfect gift - but we finally gave up on the "wow" gift because we all know what Evan really wants - I'll give you a hint.  Starts with a "C."  We'll be taking him to see Cars 2 to kick off his birthday weekend.

Might as well mention here too that Mattie Jane has two bottom teeth that just broke through yesterday.  We also lowered her crib a few days ago after we found her sitting up and desperately trying to pull herself up on the rail.  This girl is on the move.

First Day of School

Evan starts "school" on Monday.  Yes, you read that right.  Our little two year old was accepted into the Belin Methodist Learning Center today - just a couple of days shy of the first day of school.  We are pumped!

We decided we wanted to get Evan into a program for several reasons.  (1) He desperately needs to be socialized with other children.  He needs to be aware that this is not Evan's world.  (2)  With Mattie due to arrive in a just a few weeks we felt it necessary that she gets my full attention for a few hours a day since she will only be at home with me for 3 months.  (3)  Let's face it - it's just gonna make it a hell of a lot easier on me. In order to get any of my writing done I need to be sure I can get at least two hours of silence per day - that probably isn't very likely with a newborn and a two year old fighting for attention.

I was so ecstatic to get the phone call today that Evan was accepted into the two year old program.  We've been on the waiting list since April and things were not looking too favorable.  Evidently families from Georgetown all the way up to Myrtle Beach are trying to get into this school - we got lucky!  I actually spent the better part of my day today researching more programs because I was reaching the point of desperation.  Most programs in the area begin on Monday so if you were not contacted by August 1st that meant they were full and more than likely would not have an opening until the following May.  I had basically given up on the idea that Evan would possibly get into Belin so I was putting him on waiting lists for other programs I wasn't nearly as fond of...I wasn't sure what we were going to do because we received no phone calls by August 1st and I will be going back to work in January (I will talk more about that later).

This morning, in my desperate state, I sent Robert to what would be better described as a day care and he literally walked in, got one glimpse of the place and walked out.  He called me and said, "Absolutely not.  Our son is not stepping foot in that place.  It smelled like a dog kennel in there."  This pretty much sums up what many of the local day cares were like - dirty and chaotic - two qualities that just aren't gonna work for me.  We wanted Evan in a structured environment where activities were carefully thought out and planned.  We wanted him to be surrounded by kids his own age and be in a classroom where every child gets the proper attention they deserve.  Our hope was that the program we found would be focused on reading and literacy, but also incorporate physical activities and fun.  We found all of this and more at Belin.  Thanks to a family dropping out at the last minute, we were called to attend Open House tonight and were so excited with everything we saw and heard.  Evan's two teachers are fabulous and he only has 6 other kids in his class.  You can't get a much better teacher/child ratio than that.

This is not only a big step for Evan, but a huge step for me too.  I already started crying during our meeting at Open House.  I'm sure I'll be a blubbering mess on Monday morning.  But I know this will be such a great experience for Evan.  We also felt by starting him now rather than after the baby is born we can prevent Evan from feeling like he's being pushed out because of the baby.  We wanted him to feel like this new experience is solely for him and for no other reason.  Of course we also had no choice but to start him now unless we wanted to give up his spot and that was definitely not gonna happen.

I actually feel like I'm the one starting school on Monday.  I'm excited, but nervous and feel completely unprepared.  I'm praying my follow-up posting to this will be a sane one - I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Add Published Photographer to the Resume

How do ya like that?  Ha.

Not too long ago Robert asked me to come by the Soar and Explore booth and take some pictures of the ropes course and the zipline.  He mentioned Wonder Works was in need of some high resolution images that they could use for marketing purposes.  I guess I never thought they would actually make it into their brochures or on their rack cards. Yes, I am aware they're not worthy of any awards, but hey, their mine.  Maybe having a nice camera has its advantages.

Soarin' and Explorin'

Get a glimpse of Robert's new summer hangout - let's just say it's a far cry from a suit and tie and hours at a computer responding to an overwhelming number of corporate emails.  For the first time Robert may have a better tan than me.

Evan REALLY likes to visit Dada at work now.  In fact, I have to deal with a tantrum every time we say goodbye.

 (By the way, the scab beneath Evan's nose was from one of his rambunctious incidents - never saw it happen and never heard him cry - it's a mystery.)

Back to the Carolinas

I can finally make an official announcement that we are moving to South Carolina!  Robert has taken a new job in Myrtle Beach that not only brings us a little closer to home, but also puts us near our restaurant in Georgetown.  Robert gave his notice today and plans to work out the last two weeks - we will be moving the last week of May and Robert starts with his new company June 1st.

I was able to keep my writing gig with the publishing company I work for and I am really happy about that.  I also plan to work part-time at our restaurant.  We are still currently looking for a place to live which is becoming extremely frustrating.  We obviously don't have much time left so it's crucial we find something fast.  We are looking in the Murrells Inlet/Surfside area so we can be somewhere in the middle between Robert's job and the restaurant.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we find something by the middle of next week.

All in all, I am thrilled about this change.  Robert's new job provides a Monday-Friday, 9-6 schedule which is completely unheard of in his industry.  We may actually have a normal family life.  It will be nice to have my husband around more and for us to be able to spend more time together as a family.  I couldn't be happier about that.  With another baby on the way, this move couldn't come at a better time.  Looks like we might finally be planting some roots!

Preggo Takeover

I'm gonna do my best not to let my pregnancy take over this blog because naturally that's what pregnancy rants would do - but I'm gonna focus on keeping a good balance.  For documenting purposes, I definitely want to keep track of how my body responds to this particular pregnancy because I think it's going to be completely different than the first time around.  With that being said...

I am SOOOO nauseous!  In the morning I either make a dash towards the toilet or I'm lingering around the bathroom ready to make the move.  The remainder of the day is spent fighting off that urge.  I feel better when I eat, but as soon as I'm done the nausea is back.  This is, by far, one of the worst feelings in the world.  I think I'd rather have the flu for a few days than nausea for 3 months!  I was lucky with Evan and never experienced this torture.  I may have had a week or two where I felt queasy at times, but nothing compared to my current situation.  I was at a meeting this morning and I was so nauseous that I began sweating and my mouth was watering - I was two seconds away from bolting out of my chair to the bathroom.  Luckily, I overcame it, but my boss was looking at me as though I was diseased.  Might as well be, I guess.

And to not leave Evan out of today's happenings - he found some dried up dog poop on the bottom of a sneaker this afternoon and found out it didn't taste so good.  While I freaked out, Robert laughed.  It was a very small piece, but like I needed anything else to induce vomiting.  It was his breath that finally did it.

Thoughts Opinions Suggestions

I had the tedious task this week of building the website for Buzz's Roost (our business in SC).  I haven't built a website since my first job out of college - I was definitely a little rusty.  I had to reteach myself so many different skills which took almost three days in itself.

I have the site built.  There are a few pages without content because I am waiting for our General Manager to send over the information.  It will be up as soon I receive it.  Until then I'd like for you to visit the site and give me your thoughts, opinions or suggestions.  Buzz's Roost

Back to Work

My 15 month maternity leave has come to a close. Well, sort of. I begin work today as a writer/public relations specialist for Gage Publishing. What about teaching? some of you might be thinking. And that answer is quite simple. There are no teaching jobs. So what does one do when they want to work, but can't find a job in their desired field? Find a job in another desired field.

I am really excited about this job for two general reasons. (1) I enjoy writing and being involved in the community and love the idea of being paid to do it. And (2) I'm able to work from home. I have found a job that is providing me the best of both worlds. I'm able to work and start feeling productive again AND Evan is able to stay at home - saving on day care is a victory in itself.

I'm starting out part-time (20 hours a week), but my position will grow into full-time over the next few months. This a great way to slowly transition myself and Evan into a different routine and schedule.

I am downright stoked about this new development. And seriously, would you want any day care to have to deal with this face?