I'm Feeling It

Went to yoga tonight with a different instructor.  It became clear just how out of shape I've become in the past year of missing my weekly yoga classes.  I'm going to be sore tomorrow.

Double Standard

Korra blows raspberries at me and smiles.  When I blow them back, she cries.

I hate going to those system level meetings. I always feel so out of place.

Addiction

I seriously think I have an addiction to chocolate.  Trying to kick the habit because these last 5 pounds of baby weight have got to go!

Quart

I did the math and I am producing at least a quart of milk a day.  That's quite a bit.

Waiting for tornadoes to pass In a closet with 4 students makes me hungry and have to pee.

Tornado warning. Dismissal delayed by 30+ min. Ugh.

Indulging my creative side- spending most of the day designing a bulletin board.

Giving Korra her medicine now requires protective goggles. She just spat it in my eyes.

What Do I Say?

Teacher:  Are you going to the board meeting?

Me:  No, they just make me upset.

Teacher: That's how I feel every time Obama opens his mouth.

Me:  ...

Anxiety Level RED

I'm mostly ok about being at work, but when I learn about an after school meeting my anxiety level goes through the roof.  What it is about that extra hour (missing a feeding with Korra?) that makes me feel crazy upset?  I got permission to skip the last one.  I think I'm just going to out-right skip today's.

Charades!

Had my first good day with my theater class all year.  Yay!

Stay at Home Dad

Nate's pretty amazing.  He reads to Korra, takes her for walks, goes on play dates with the neighbors, AND he responds to the dozens of texts from me asking how Korra's doing.

Crochet Lessons

A parent from my old school came by the library today with the sole purpose of asking me a crochet question.  Weird but I loved it.

Thanks, Starbucks

I had a bagel and coffee this morning and I have a panini in my lunchbox.  Thanks for the free food, Starbucks! (and Nate and Laura!)

Disney Bonding

I watch Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin today.  Korra liked it when I sang all the songs to her.  She liked it even better when we danced.

11?

Got rid of 4 purses.  Good enough?

Cutest Baby Ever

Purses, Sweaters, and Shoes

Going through my closets today.  Is 15 purses too many?

Terrible traffic & an ill informed GPS have made this trip even more frustrating. Thankfully Korra settled down & there are cupcakes and friends waiting for us

If you expect to be paid in cash, you should say so before I drive 2 hours to buy your stroller. Made us drive with a screaming baby to an ATM.

Jogging Stroller

Driving all the way to Duluth today to purchase a jogging stroller we found on Craigslist and then going to hang out with our friends Roger and Rachel in Marietta.  Here's hoping Korra's going to be really good in the car.

Missed Meetings

Was just informed that I'm supposed to attend the monthly grade-level meetings.  I guess February's a good time to start.

After weeks of only doing it sporatically, today Korra has mastered rolling over from her tummy to her back!

1 PM Headache

I have a headache.  It must be 1:00.

Return of the Yogi

Going to a yoga class tonight for the first time in over a year.  I'm really excited!

Sloppy Joes

Making Sloppy Joes for dinner- and for the first time in my married life they do not contain any carrots, lentils, or soy crumbles.  Just ground beef, can you believe it?

Traitor

I bought a school spirit t-shirt for this school.

The art teacher invited me to come use the pottery wheel!

Today Is Better

They brought me my button maker from West Side.  I got to chat with a teacher friend who was visiting.  The 8th graders are all taking a writing test so none of them are here to be rude to me.

In The Parking Lot

As I'm getting out of the car this morning, a teacher yells at me from across the parking lot that a couple of students who have fines are no longer in her homeroom.  She then proceeds to list them and tell me what homeroom they should be in WHILE WE'RE IN THE PARKING LOT. She huffs at me when I ask her to email that information to me.

Is it bad that I laugh at my daughter as she yells in frustration because she repeatedly fails to get a toy in her mouth (missing by a mere inch each time)?

Italian Meatball Soup

Tonight's crock pot recipe was a real winner!

Once I'm in my house nursing Korra in the rocking chair, everything seems a lot less sucky.

Ugh. Traffic in LaGrange?! Moved less than half a mile in 12 minutes!

Korra's been difficult for Nate all day. Got permission to skip the long budget meeting to go home. First good thing all day.

Worse

Got yelled at and hung up on by a parent.

Today sucks.

Meal Planning

I have all the meals for the week planned and prepped, breakfast burritos and muffins in the freezer for on-the-go breakfasts, and tortilla roll-ups ready for lunches.  Here's hoping all this prep work makes the week easier.

Bubble Bath

Enjoyed my first bubble bath since... um, I think it was like July?  Anyway, it was nice.

Enjoyed a free CFA biscuit and the company of some lovely ladies & babies this morning. Great start to this extra day off.

Today's To Do List

• Apply for several online tutoring jobs.
• Go through all kitchen cabinets.  Sort into Keep, Pack Away (during selling process), or Sell at Yard Sale.
• Book an AirBNB apartment in Savannah for our visit in March.
• Decide on a night to take yoga and sign up!

Korra's laugh is my favorite sound in the whole world.

How is it that I have to cut Korra's fingernails every 3 days but I've never had to trim her toenails?

Going to Auburn to enjoy lunch at Amsterdam Cafe with Nate & Korra followed by a bit of shopping.

Walks are the best

Ran into a former student who decided to come alone on my 1.5 mile walk.

Pictures from Nate

I love that Nate sends me pictures of Korra while I'm at work.

Today is Nate's last 5 am shift at Starbucks!

Oh, Korra. Why do you have to wake up crying 45 min before my alarm goes off?

Wishful Thinking

They emailed out the Faculty Phone Tree... just in case it snows tomorrow.

TV Watching Baby

I really wish Nate wouldn't let Korra watch TV.  Especially when it's From Dusk Til Dawn.

Lock The Door

So I discovered that the door to the closet I pump in was not actually locked as a believed it was.  Embarrassed 6th graders.  Embarrassed me.

What Is My Problem?

I scheduled myself to teach a research lesson at the exact same time as 8th grade book club today.  Ugh.

Hiring Freeze

Just got an email saying that a job I applied (the one at the UM Children's Home) for is no longer available because of a hiring freeze. Boo.

Sometimes I forget how self-conscious & obsessed with popularity most middle schoolers are.

I could cut 3 min off my commute time if I didn't have to drive to my parking spot at the back of the school & then walk to the front where the library is.

Dentist, Take 2

Leaving early for my dentist appointment.  For real this time.  They called and reminded me.

Not Me

A teacher is looking through old newspapers I'm about to trash.

Teacher:  You can't throw these out!  It's our history!

Me: You're more than welcome to take them.

Teacher:  Well, I don't want them, but someone should keep them...

The same situation played out a dozen times with old pictures, books, and just about everything else I've tried to discard.  Ugh.

Clown Car

I will never cease to be amazed by the sheer number of children that leave this building every afternoon.

Korra's been in the bath for 25 min and is still happy. Seriously, I think she'd stay in there all day if we let her.

Favorite Time

It's my favorite time of day!  Leaving school to go home and hug on Korra and Nate!

Text from my brother who is watching Korra: Your daughter is a poop machine.

Dinner and Breakfast

I made this Creamy Mushroom and Chicken Stew (which was pretty good) with fresh baked french bread for dinner tonight.  I also made these oatmeal applesauce muffins for breakfast tomorrow morning.  I haven't tried them yet, but they smelled amazing!  Really enjoyed doing some cooking and baking today.  It's a past-time that I've missed quite a bit since Korra was born.

Other Babies

Sometimes when I kiss all over Korra (and she smiles at me), my heart almost breaks when I think about babies and kids all over the world who don't get that.  All children deserve that love and bonding.

After visiting Nate at Starbucks, I decided to take Korra on a walk around the college campus & show her where her mom & dad met & got married.

Nate's Risotto

Nate made his delicious mushroom and asparagus risotto for dinner and we got to enjoy it with our friends.  Great night.

75 Degrees

It's gorgeous outside.  Very thankful for this unseasonably warm weather.  I desperately needed some sunshine.

First my dentist appointment and now I am an hour late for a baby shower because I wrote down the wrong time. Ugh.

Thumb sucker

Korra found her thumb!

Shots

Korra and Nobby both handled their vaccinations well.

Ticklish

I was putting Korra's rash cream on her armpits when she started to laugh.  I guess someone's ticklish!

Sick Day

Taking a sick day because Korra and I both have doctor's appointments.  I've decided to make the most of this extra day off so I'm making myself buttermilk pancakes for breakfast and since Nate has off too, we're going to go out to lunch.  Also to be crammed into this day are a trip to the library, grocery store, and the vet.

Why I Blog

I like to share the minutia of my life, but more than that- I really enjoy writing.  Sometimes I spend a good deal of time picking out exactly which words I want to use to tell the story and convey my feelings.  I know I'm not an amazing writer, but I think I do a fair job of expressing myself.  I find a good deal of joy and satisfaction in that.

No Texting

I don't know today's babysitter well enough to text her (every hour) and ask how Korra's doing so I'm using it as an opportunity to let go a little.  Waiting to text Nate at 1:30 (when he gets home) is proving to be very difficult.

New babysitter this morning. Thankful Nate's work schedule changes after next week so one of us will be home with her all the time.

Guess who was so excited about her dentist appointment that she accidentally showed up a week early?

Would You Rather

You know it's bad when you'd rather be at the dentist than at work.  Skipping off to my yearly cleaning.

Old Photos

Found a large amount of school photos from 1992-1995.  Very interesting to go through them with some of the teachers (who were here as students then!)

The fact that it occasionally makes her gag does not seem to discourage Korra fron trying to put her entire hand in her mouth.

Laugh!

Got our first big giggle out of Korra!

Intent to Return

Next week I have to sign a paper declaring my intent to return (or not to return) to this job next year.  Do I sign it YES, as a back-up plan/safety net (since it's not a contract), or do I take that leap of faith and sign NO?

Short-Lived

The before-mentioned triumph only lasted for 15 minutes.

She's Doing It!

My assistant is actually doing what I've been asking her to do for days!  Yay!

Skype

Skype is a new grandparent's best friend.

I'm Sorry, Nate

I'm driving my husband nuts asking about how Korra's doing about every 30 minutes.  I miss spending my days with them.

Waste of Time

I know it isn't entirely logical, but I have so much less patience for these disrespectful kids when I think about how I'm with them instead of with my baby.

4 Day Week

Being back at school today is easier because I know I have Friday off.  Took a sick day for doctor's appointments.

Stuffed Animals

Korra has shunned all her plastic teething toys.  She prefers to drool all over her fluffy stuffed animals until they are soggy and gross.

Pack It Up

Thinking about moving makes me want to start packing.  And throwing lots of stuff away.  And I've been looking for jobs (for me and for Nate) during each of Korra's naps.

Raspberries

Korra has started blowing raspberries at me when I try to give her her medicine.  Its super cute but it makes the process even more challenging.

These Hips

Decided to get rid of all my pants that no longer fit.  There's still hope my waist will get a bit smaller but I think I'm just going to have to accept my wider hips.

Breakfast Buddy

Enjoying my blueberry muffins and coffee while sitting on the floor playing with this cute thing.

Uninterrupted Sleep

It seems impossible that only a year ago it was totally normal for me to sleep for 8 hours straight.

AP Sense

Somehow my AP sensed that I was thinking about leaving 15 minutes early and called to ask me to do one more thing before I leave. Boo.

Trash Time!

Throwing a lot of stuff away as there's no one looking over my shoulder (or pulling stuff out of the trash) today.

Resolution

I will stop slouching and have better posture.

Decided to go home and have lunch with Nate and Korra since I would have gotten a lot of dirty looks if I left at 2:30.

Lunch Break?

If they've allowed us to take a 1.5 hour lunch off campus, does that mean that if I stay and work I can leave 1.5 hours early?

Book Clubs

I have 5 book club meetings coming up.  5 different books and I've only read one of them.  Guess who has a lot of reading to do?

Another Day

I laid in bed this morning and planned out what I was going to say to my assistant- how I was going to assert my authority.  And then, she's not here today.  Ah well.  Guess that's a battle for another day.

Back to school today. Thankful it's just a teacher workday and that my brother could watch Korra this morning as we still haven't found a new sitter.

Selling

Made the first steps toward selling our house today.  Found out exactly what we still owe and compared it to the Zillow estimate and... it looks it's totally reasonable to sell it for that much.  I think that's a good start to what I know will be a long and probably stressful process.

Yeast Rash

Korra's had this rash for over 6 weeks.  It's gone away several times but every time I think "It's gone!  We'll go back to cloth diapers tomorrow" that dang rash is back in the morning.  Ugh.

Home Again

Had a wonderful time celebrating the New Year at the cabin with Nate's family.  Now it's time to do all that housework I've been putting off.