Eyebrows

Korra has her daddy's eyebrows.  So often the facial expressions she makes remind me of Nate because of how she moves those little eyebrows.

Gmail

Big news of the day- the school system's moving our email over to gmail in a few weeks!  Yippee!

Found out I didn't get the job at the college camp this year. Said an explative (maybe a few times). Realized there was another teacher in the library. Suck x2.

Jin Express for dinner!

On our way home to assess the hail damage on our roof, car, and yard.

Wide Awake

Jude and Korra are both wide awake at 6:30 am.

Jealous

Sometimes Korra gets jealous when I'm holding Jude. 

Big Eater

Korra's eating solid foods!  She's been eating rice cereal and apple sauce very well at dinnertime and today she ate some of my banana at lunch.

Korra and Uncle Dan

Apparently the beach is not a "big bath."

Korra found both the waves and the sand scary and upsetting.

First Beach Trip

I'm super excited to be taking Korra to the beach today!  I can't wait to see how she reacts to the ocean and sand.  It seems odd that she's getting her first taste of the beach so early- I was is 8th grade before I saw the ocean!

Terrorizing the Cats

Korra is far more interested in the cats (who are terrified of her) than she is in her cousin.  Not really surprised.

Rough day with my assistant. Extra thankful for 4 days away. Time to feed Korra, finish packing, and we're on our way to Florida!

Collage

Here's my second piece of "art" for the media center walls!  What do you think?

In the closet pumping, but forgot my book. It's boring, but still better than proctoring that test.

4 Days Off

Going to focus on the fact that I have the next 4 days off to help me get through testing today. We're leaving for Florida after school to go visit Dan, Genevieve, and our nephew Jude!

Korra and the cats conspired against me and took turns waking me up every 10 minutes from 4:30 until 6 am. So tired.

Thumb Sucker

Korra's regularly sleeping through the night.  She's also become an avid thumb sucker.  I'm pretty sure the two are related.

Even More Reasons

Today gave me 2 more reasons to hate the CRCT.  1) it interferes with the time I usually pump in the morning (nothing like almost leaking through your shirt in a room full of 8th graders).  I finally begged my way out of the room an hour and a half after I usually pump.  2) I got in trouble for a "testing irregularity"- I started testing as soon as I received the materials.  I had no idea there was going to be a "begin testing now" announcement 20 minutes AFTER I began.  Not my fault but I still got a serious-face sit-down because of it.  I seriously hate this test.

So Stupid and Boring

Today begins the CRCT.  I've seriously considered it and have decided that administering this ridiculous standardized test is the most painfully boring and pointless thing I've ever had to waste my time enduring.

Laundry Basket

She's been playing with the laundry basket for 20 minutes.

Peace and Quiet

All the kids and my assistant are in the gym for a pep rally.  I'm weeding the biography section in complete peace and quiet.

Allergy Shots?

My allergies are bad enough to make me consider going through another 5 year round of weekly allergy injections.  I hate pollen.

Ewwww

Korra threw up IN MY HAIR AND EAR.

Clean Cats

Both cats got baths today for the first time in almost a year.  Turns out they still hate it.

Korra and I took an hour and a half long nap snuggled up together.

Pulling Up

Korra can pull herself up to standing!

Finally getting to watch Lincoln. Abe is my favorite.

Little Things About Korra

She still doesn't like it when I put food in her mouth, but she doesn't mind when I brush her teeth.  She can get into a seated position from her tummy.  She loves the Xbox controller and our cell phones more than any of her toys.  Her hair is now long enough for bows, but Nate despises them.

Last day of book clubs. Last day for reciting poems. Time for pizza and a movie with Nate and Korra.

Reminder

Sometimes, students recite a poem and tell you they love it.

Sometimes, you buy a book specifically for a student and their face lights up when you hand it to them.

Sometimes, you remember why you wanted to be a teacher in the first place.

Little Girl Speakings

In honor of National Poetry Month, here's one of my favorite poems!

Little Girl Speakings

 

Ain't nobody better'n my Daddy,

             You keep yo' quarter,

             I ain't yo' daughter.

Ain't nobody better'n my Daddy.

 

Ain't nothing prettier'n my dollie,

heard what I said

don't pat her head,

Ain't nothing prettier'n my dollie.

 

No lady cookinger than my Mommy,

smell that pie,

see I don't lie,

No lady cookinger than my Mommy.

 

- Maya Angelou

 

AC Wars

I've reminded my assistant several times (directly) that the AC is not to be set below 74 degrees.  Even still, I find it set at 60 several times a day.  I think I'm going to request a lock put over it.

Recant

I take back my previous whining about Starbucks.  Looks like Nate might have off after all!  I'm more than a little ashamed of how quickly I let the possibility of something not going my way ruin my day.

Had about 25 kids recite poems. Not great but not terrible either.

Failure?

An hour into school and only one student has recited a poem to me.  Feeling a bit like a failure.

Today is my first Poem In Your Pocket Day. fingers crossed it's successful!

Stupid Starbucks

Looks like Nate won't be able to take off any time soon so I'm going to have to travel alone with Korra to visit our new nephew(s).  I am pissed.

Sometimes I accidentally text my blog when I mean to text Nate. It is embarassing.

Tooth Number 2

Korra's got a second tooth!

Bath Water

Korra makes a disgusted face when we put water in her sippy cup but she'll happily suck the bath water out of the wash cloth.

Wagon Rides

Korra likes riding in our neighbor's wagon.

Sweetheart

Just had one of the special ed students say to me, "Good morning, Sweetheart!"

Adjustments

We lowered Korra's crib (since she's starting to pull up to her knees) and also adjusted the shoulder straps on her caraway. I can't believe she's getting so big.

Nate is quoting every line, humming along with the soundtrack, and still laughing at every punchline.

Nate had a rough morning at Starbucks so we're going to see Jurassic Park. Though I'm a little worried the 3D is going to make my headache much worse.

Wrestling with and tickling Korra makes her laugh, so I do it... until she throws up. Best mom ever?

Lights Up

I love how Korra's face lights up every time I hand her a toy- almost any toy- like it's the coolest thing she's ever seen.

Why does Korra want to stick her fingers in my mouth and up my nose while she nurses?

5 year old's birthday party, more time chatting with neighbors, running errands, reading, listening to the Braves' game, and getting a little housework done.

Broken Record

I know I've said it a million times, but I love our neighborhood.  It took Korra and me an hour to walk a mile because we kept stopping to chat with friends.  I worry that we will never find another neighborhood like this one.

Nose on the Wall

Got in a little trouble for telling a student that if kept turning around that I would make him stand with his nose on the wall.  We are not allowed to use humiliation as punishment.  While I get why that's a rule, I don't really get why putting your nose on the wall is any more humiliating than silent lunch.

Creativity

Here's the product of my work-related burst of creativity.  My Poet-Tree window display and my magazine mustang (school's mascot made out of magazine strips).

Eleanor and Park

I'm only half-way through this book and I am in LOVE.

Poem For Fines

Offered the kids the opportunity to memorize a poem to pay their fines.  Had several kids pay fines over $3 rather than recite a poem.  Lazy kids.

Drug Dog

I head that the drug dog is here.  What excuse can I come up with to go down the hall and watch?

Korra woke up at 5am. Trying to look at it as an extra hour with her rather than an hour less of sleep.

Nobby caught (and ate half of) a large mouse. Thankfully it was outside and he didn't try to bring it in. Ewww.

A Shrug

I confronted an administrator about why she always asks for my assistant on the phone- even if I'm the one who answers.  Even when it's almost always things I can/should answer.  She just shrugged.

Baby- amnesia

Nate just said that Korra "wasn't that bad" when she was a newborn.  This is why people have more than one child.  They forget how insanely had it was/can be.  I can look back at previous blog posts to help me remember.  Korra is an amazing baby now, but I haven't forgotten those first 10 weeks yet!

Sleepy

I stayed up too late.  Korra woke me up too early.  I need to take Benadryl for my allergies.  Guess who's very sleepy?

Spoke Too Soon

I was overly optimistic about my lack of allergy symptoms.  They are now back in full force.  Kind of makes me consider weekly allergy injections again.

I love the smells of wisteria and honeysuckle on our evening walks.

Drug Books

Being a crazy liberal librarian and taking all the books about illegal drugs out of my office and putting them on the shelf... where the children might actually read them!

Our house is part of the realtors' caravan this morning. Kind Of weird to have people going through our house but I guess we'd better get used to it.

Jogging with a stroller is weird and hard.

Jogging Stroller

Going to actually jog using the jogging stroller.

Lottery Email

Mid-morning, my assistant makes her regular joke: "Need to check my email!  I coulda won the lottery and I'm sitting here working!"  Is that how they usually inform you you've won the lottery?  By your work email?

Nate's starting his second part-time job (at DASH) today. Taking Korra with him to the office. Really hoping it goes well for them both!

Going back to school was a little easier knowing there are only 7 weeks left.

Grilling steaks and veggies with our next door neighbors!

Now that Korra can crawl she's spending a lot of time chasing Nobby. He's spending a lot of time running away and hiding.

Chilling in the Tub

Korra relaxing in her ducky tub.

Follower

Korra followed me from her bedroom to the bathroom where I was running her bath.  This little girl is quite the crawler!

For Cheri

Because I know how much she likes pictures of Korra.

Smoothie

Enjoying my first smoothie of the spring- strawberries and spinach. Yum!

For Sale

It's official.  The sign is in the yard.  Our house is for sale.

Mama

When Korra is happy she babbles "dada.". When Korra is upset she whines "mama.'

Made it through the 6th inning before we gave in to the cold and headed home.

Wearing layers of clothes, got our blanket and snacks- ready for Korra's first Braves game!

Trying to leave for the Braves game. Contractors are still working.

Korra got to skype with her new cousin!

5 Minutes Later

Seriously, this child is either awake or asleep- there's very little in between.

Nap time?

Can you tell it's nap-time?  No?

Hiding

All 3 of us are holed up in the guest bedroom.  We're both trying not to get in the way of the painters and enjoy the warmth of the space heater as the painters keep leaving the front door open (and it's 45 degrees outside).

All Done

Korra's new signal that she's done eating? Blowing raspberries on my nipple. I guess it's better than biting...

Contractor

Guess who forgot that the contractor was coming this morning to repair the ceiling?  Yep, that would be us who were still in our PJs.

Braves Game

We have tickets to see the Braves tonight.  It's supposed to be rainy and in the 40s.

Nate just got the best birthday present ever- a nephew! Welcome to the world Jude!

The muffaletta is my new favorite thing to eat at Brickstore Pub. Nate's birthday has been full of good food.

Nate really hates traffic.

First nephew on his way! Genevieve's in labor! So excited!

Conan Show is really fun!

Picked up our Conan tickets and had lunch at Haute Doggery. Now it's time for Decatur Farmer's Market and dropping Korra off with Jenni.

Went to pick up what I thought was Nate's birthday present at the post office. Boy was I surprised when they handed me a package Of 3 pairs of TOMS!

Nate's Birthday!

Today is Nate's 30th birthday! We're heading to Atlanta to see eat lunch, see Conan, and hopefully have a really wonderful day.

Korra just pulled herself to standing in the bathtub. Hoping it's a one-time thing for now. I'm not ready for that yet!

Wreck-It Ralph, a long walk, and icees. Great day.

Lunch with the in-laws and now Marc is here to visit!

Getting the oil changed im both cars and enjoying breakfast at CFA with Noelle and Chuck!