Getting ready for school

What a week it has been! I haven't been this busy in a long long time. The reason for all the hustle and bustle is that I am going back to work. In May, I decided to accept a position teaching the 4 year old class at our church preschool this fall. http://sunshineschool.prestoncrest.org/ .
I figure it is a win-win-win situation . It is only two days a week, I get paid a little and Ashley gets to go to school there for only $25 a month. You can't beat that deal!!
This last week we had three workdays and the week before we had 2, so I feel like I have jumped back into working with both feet! Ashley seems to enjoy herself up there although she does get really worn out since she really is not on her usual napping schedule when she is there. Hopefully that will work itself out over time. I have really enjoyed it though. It feels so good to get back to what I love doing and I am soooo excited that I am teaching the little ones again. I feel like I am going back to my "roots". When I was in college, I never dreamed I would be teaching elementary age kids, let alone 5th grade!
I also have loved the difference of working in a private Christian atmosphere! The changes are tremendous. Let me just share with you a few comparisons:

PUBLIC ......................................SUNSHINE SCHOOL
fairly strict dress code ..............wear whatever you want! Yea!
you buy pretty much all your supplies .....Huge workroom fully stocked!
PC discipline ............................rewards based on the Fruits of the Spirit!
Don't mention holidays let alone God ......Memory verses and chapel every day
36 some odd kids every day ............EIGHT students!!! Woohoo!

These are just a few differences, but it really is amazing to me! It is just very refreshing. While I always loved where I worked and who I taught before, this just feels so right to me. I am looking forward to this year and all the surprises and challenges it brings!

Cutting the Strings

I think this post is mainly for all the moms out there... guys, you can just skim (like you read these anyway! ;) ) Anyway, I have come to the immense realization that babies DO grow up. I know, it's a shocking revelation. Seriously though, all those sleepless nights you hold your sweet little bundle of joy and you think that their birthday seems so far away- heck, even a good nights rest seems like a pipe dream! And then one day you realize they are six months old and you have been sleeping pretty well lately. Then you blink again and they are a year and a totally different creature than what you brought home from the hospital just a year ago.
It really is quite stunning when you think about it...
The other thing that has really gotten me thinking this week is about how fast they begin to grow apart from you... From the moment they leave your body, your only job is preparing them to leave you! Aargh... what a job! The reason this has been on my mind is that as of this coming Monday Ashley will be completely weaned from nursing. For those of you that don't know (and actually care) Ashley has been exclusively nursed the whole year. She had a 2 months stint with an occasional bottle but decided she was not a fan. So, draught milk it was... It has definitely had its benefits and drawbacks, but now that it is coming to a close I can't help but be a little sad about it. As she has gotten older and more busy (and that child is BUSY) her nursing times were the quiet refuges of the day. The one time when she was peaceful, still and quiet. When she would cuddle and put her little fingers in mine... It was just so sweet! (Ok, I'll be honest, I am now crying. :( ) As she fell asleep in my arms for the last time last week it about broke my heart to know that she would, in all likelyhood, never do that again. Ever. The thought of that was amazing...
I wonder if she'll ever know how much I have loved this time with her... I wonder if, when she's older, she'll ever just crawl up in my lap and fall asleep- just for old times sake? I hope when I am old and gray I will still remember the feeling of her so peaceful in my arms. I have absolutely treasured the moments with my "little burrito baby" and I am sad to see them go. ( we called her that b/c she loved to be swaddled so tightly to fall asleep for so long)
Funny thing though, as if on cue- she has started taking steps this week! The other day we counted 4 steps. It's as though in one week she has decided she is "big". Like she is telling me to cut the first of many apron strings and let her go out into this big world... Well, I'll cut this one string now, but I hope she knows I am right behind her if she falls to cuddle and kiss her tell her it will be alright.

Lessons in Parenting (as taught by the little miss)

You know how some days you feel like you have this parenting this down... and then other days you feel like you don't have a clue?! Well, Friday was a perfect example of the latter... and Ashley was quick to teach me a few things that she thought I might have forgotten over the past year.
It all started out well enough... We had our Friday morning play group at 10:30 and Ashley's one year checkup at the doctors at 1:00. She woke up at 7 (normal), went down for a nap at 8:30 (normal) and all should work out just right... I thought I would make really good use of her nap time by running on the treadmill and taking a quick shower (I patted myself on the back for that!).
Well, 20 min. into my run I notice the monitor lights are flashing... huh?? She's only been asleep for 45 min?! I'm sweating profusely... uh... what's next? Well, my dear sweet girl had just taught me my first lesson of the day... and it continued from there. Let me share with you my knowledge...
Rule #1- NEVER ever ever plan what you are going to do around their "normal" schedule. Because that will be the precise day that they are not "normal". (the good thing is that they can hang out in their crib for 15 min. or so while you take a shower)

We finally got out the door and headed across town for our playgroup at 10:45. By the time we got there at 11:15 we found out that it had essentially been canceled... lovely. Since we were already on the other side of town, I made a command decision to go to the mall for lunch so we could make it to the doctor on time. And here is where our next lesson began...

Rule #2- NEVER ever ever feed a child more than they are willing to eat.
After being worried that she didn't eat much at breakfast, I was trying to get little miss to eat "just a little more" at lunch... BIG mistake. At precisely 12:29 (we had to leave by 12:30-ish to get to the doc. on time). She threw up ALL over herself!!!! Nice....

So after stripping her down (there was no hope for the dress at that point), I realized I now had a nekid child sitting in her stroller in the middle of the food court. And, cue the music... the next lesson...

Rule #3- ALWAYS have a change of clothes in the bag.

I did not.
However, $30 and a nekid ride through the mall across to Pottery Barn Kids later, she had a lovely outfit on. A little over dressed for the doctor's office maybe, but the child was clothed...

We left the mall at about 12:50 and somehow, by the grace of God alone, we made it to the doctors office at exactly 1:00. Miracles will never cease.
Fortunately, Ashley decided I had learned enough for the day and had a wonderful doctor's visit and came home to sleep for 2.5 hours. (and Mama took a nice little nap too!).
So I guess she did teach me one final lesson...

Rule #4- It WILL all be Ok in the end. :)

As for her checkup, she is doing fabulously! She weighed in at a little over 22 lbs. (75%) and is about 31.5" long (99%+). She's still a string bean! Dr. Nail said that she is developmentally ahead of the game and a smart cookie! (we all knew that already) Funny thing, the doctor, nurse and assistant all commented on how strong and willfull she is!! Haha, like I didn't know?! Why do they think I often say I am wrangling an octopus! Silly girl- I love her so much. And I am so thankful that she is growing up big and strong.
Looking back on the day, I am even thankful that she can give me those lovely memories to hang onto! Rest assured, though, I have learned my lessons!!

Party Till the Cows Come Home!

We celebrated Ashley's first birthday on Saturday with a FUN party full of family and friends. She had a BLAST! I have never seen our house so full of life and laughter. There were children and parents everywhere and it seemed that everyone was having a fun time. Although it was about a zillion degrees outside, kids jumped in the bounce house and played in the yard. The adults stayed cool (ish) under tents in the backyard and drinks in the coolers. Inside there were kids playing everywhere. I am soooo thankful we were able to get the game room ready in time so that kids could play back there too.
Ashley had a great time with all of her friends. She also enjoyed her cake a bunch. It took her a minute to figure out what she was suppposed to do with it (other than mush it around), but once she got a taste, she ate a ton of it! After cake and a bath she went down for a nap and we opened presents as a family over the rest of the weekend. (there were quite a few to open!) She loves all her new toys and books and I can't wait to see her in all of her new clothes. (I think she is set for the fall! Yea!)
All in all, it was a great first birthday party. So many fun memories and thanks to Gran, Aunt K, and Nana, lots of great pictures! Here are some of the many...

Getting ready for the party

Ashley's Cake

The Birthday Girl and her balloon

Happy birthday to you! (now gimme that cake!)

Yummy!!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl!!!!

Is it really August 8th??? I can't get over how quickly the year has gone. I feel like she was just coming home with us, and now I can't imagine life without her.
What a joy this year has been. I have loved watching her grow and change. I love watching her personality evolve (and what a little character she is!). Just by her being born, she has taught me so much about life and love. In her eyes, I get a glimpse of the "big picture". It is so hard to describe in words how she makes me feel, but I have a funny feeling that every mother knows just what I mean.
As I look into those big brown eyes, I see so much. I see hope, love, innocence, joy, trust, and faith. I have so many hopes for her future, but for now I rejoice in the fact that my baby girl is a year old.

Happy birthday darlin'!!!!! :)

August 8, 2006 12:25 pm

August 8, 2007

(after her bath) She was laying on the changing table and I thought about her picture in the hospital on the scale... what a difference a year makes!

Little Sippy

After learning how to drink from a straw (thanks Nana!), Ashley got a new sippy cup. I think she has been able to drink more out of this one than any of the others. Better yet, she likes it! Which is good since next week, she starts getting her milk from a cup...

Look at that concentration!! :)

"Dog"

Ashley was not totally cooperating in this little video... :) But you do get a chance to hear her sweet little voice!!

Rain, Rain Go Away

I truly wonder if it will ever stop raining! This has been the rainiest summer I can ever remember. We are very fortunate that we have not been affected by any of the flooding (and that we haven't had to water the lawn much at all this summer), but geez, it's getting old! I am ready to go to the pool!

The Next Van Cliburn???

Ashley got some new (to her) toys thanks to her cousins hand-me-downs. She LOVES her new piano!!! She will just sit there and pound away at the keys while smiling and "dancing". It is too fun to watch her!

Rockin' out to Old Mac

Hiya Chuck!

Ashley got to go to Chuck E Cheese's for the first time for her cousin R's 3rd birthday party. She had sooooo much fun!!!! She loved all the noise and lights. She gobbled up her pizza and then spent the next hour riding rides and hitting buttons. They even had her FAVORITE game there- Wheel of Fortune!!!!! How much cooler could this place be!

I hope I am this cool one day!

Ashley and I had such a fun lunch date with my dear friend Amy and her daughter Grace. You could just tell that Ashley was in awe of Grace and wanted to be just like her! She loved her "Big girl" room and loved playing with her pom-poms, books and piano! We can't wait to play with y'all again. :)

Prayer Request

I keep up with many blogs these days (as you can see from my list on the left). Most are good friends, but some are friends of friends whose stories I just find interesting (maybe their kids are the same age, I know of them through a friend, etc.). Anyway, one of the more poignant stories is on the blog called "Life Through My Eyes". This is a friend of a friend through church. This family found out that they were expecting QUADS! Now that doesn't happen everyday! Well, Suzanne has just delivered 4 beautiful babies and while they are doing well for 30 wk. olds, they need lots and lots of prayers to get them through (as do the parents of 4 new babies!). So, please, if you have a chance, check out their blog (by clicking on the link on the left) and say a prayer for this sweet family. Thanks :)

BTW, more of our story coming soon :)