I am absolutely exhausted. . .

but i had to put her things on her shelves. I am sure i will move things around a hundred times, but for tonight, it is good. I feel a little more peaceful now that i got some of the bins of stuff emptied and put away. I know the post from a week ago on baby Ellis blog looked done, but they were missing a piece and not secured to the wall. We went to a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese's tonight. When we got back, tj headed to the garage and i headed to the nursery. This weekend is full. We have our birthing class from 9-4 tomorrow and then sunday 1-4. That doesn't leave a whole lot of time for the built-in, laundry, cleaning, or school work.

Baby on the Brain

School work just seems so pointless. TJ and i both have baby on the brain big time, which is fun, but it can also interfere with your sleep. I NEVER have had a problem sleeping before. . . TJ is a different story. So, when i was awake last night from 2-4, i didn't really know what to do with myself. Now it seems i would not have a problem sleeping to take a nap, but i am not letting myself. I need a good night's sleep.

Instead of doing more school work, I started to put the swing together that Gertie got at the shower today. It is adorable. I cannot wait to see her in it. The shower was so nice. It was refreshing to hang out with those friends again. I missed them, so it was good to catch up and chat and of course eat yummy food. Besides the swing, we got adorable classic pooh outfits, board books, a summer time outfit, a cute rabbit, a Dedicated to God Precious Moments, boob cream, and a soft sweatshirt. It is amazing to us how such a little person can have so much stuff. Our guest room is almost filled with things, but the car seat and extra base won't stay in there. The pack and play is in there too, along with our diaper champ and high chair.

Well, i have papers that must be corrected for tomorrow, so i guess i better go.

Attack of Pasta Roni

Mmmm. . . pasta roni, the San Fransisco treat. TJ is on his way home, so i decided to make myself the gourmet dinner of pasta roni,-angel hair with herbs to be exact. I was eager to see how my students did on their multiplication and division assessment, so i was correcting those and entering the grades in my gradebook (i know, on a Friday. . . i am crazy). When my pasta was done, i brought over a bowl and placed it on my gradebook, taking bites as i worked. I had a mouthful, chewed, just getting ready to swallow, when i had a sudden, forceful, unavoidable urge to cough. I spewed all the chewed up pasta and spit onto my gradebook and projected it on the table and in my box of markers, pens, and paper clips. GROSS. Because it was so liquidy, my grades written in marker instantly began to bleed through to other pages and smear. YUCK! I am thankful for two things. . . 1: i did not cough out my food on my electronic, web based gradebook on my mac and 2: that tj and i both have cell phones so i could call him with my story. I knew he would appreciate it. Life is funny. Today was sunny. Alanis Morissette's Simple Together is blaring on my ipod. 16 students out of 23 students got an "A" or a "B" on the assessment. My one boy that got a 1/10 on the assessment is getting tested for special ed, thank goodness. Today is Friday. Sunday there is a shower for baby ellis. TJ is coming home. Life is good.

Attempting to Wind Down

Last night, i got very little sleep. Once i got to sleep i was fine, but it was getting their that took so long. Tonight, i fear will be a repeat of last night. Maybe it is because TJ is out of town. It could be because Gertie's arrival is upon us soon. Whatever it is i need sleep.

Today, i felt more pregnant than ever. Just typing that brings a smile to my face. I feel like my strut has turned into a waddle, and my leg muscles have each turned into a ball shaped mass. Is it wrong to smile at stretch marks? I love my belly. It is really starting to lead the way through the hallways and part the sea of students. Thank goodness my belly button has not betrayed me. Maybe it never will! Her body parts are really protruding now. . . it makes me giggle. I am reminded that i really have no torso. . . i go from hips to ribs. I actually could feel my hips hit my rib cage before i was pregnant. Poor Gerite. . . not a lot of floating room for her. Whenever i picture her in me, i picture her clothed. I need to write that in her baby book. I just realized that that is pretty bizarre.

The end of the trimester is coming up, which means assessments, report cards, and conferences. Conferences are March 11. I hope i am not too miserable by then. I am glad this was a very short week. I don't know if i could have made a five day one.

Well, i should go to the couch and try another attempt at winding down because this is not helping.

An Extension of Mid-winter Break!

Today, both TJ and i are home because of another snow day. We got a ton of snow. . . i will try to post a picture later of our back deck, but it doesn't always show it properly. We are still under a lake effect warning until later this afternoon. i am still trying to get over my cold/cough. Another day off will help greatly. I think i am going to work on my sub letter for my leave, continue to clean from this weekend (i couldn't really cross it off my list because i didn't finish), and relax. I cannot believe that i have had a snow day a week for the last five or six weeks. With all of our snow days and our six days of pool school, i am really behind with the curriculum. Oh well. Tomorrow, after my doctor's appointment, TJ is going to Traverse City for a couple of days. He is driving the S10. . .i am not happy about it. Well, i guess it is time to start my day. :)

Mid winter break

This cold is knocking me on my butt. I tried to be patient, but my cough is making me go nutty. I have had a cough for three weeks now, and i am currently getting really stuffy. I think i am getting another cold, while still holding onto the cough of my last cold.

But that is the only pesky thing going on right now. My cold forced me to take it easy today, so i sat and finished up the remaining thank you notes i had from my shower last week. TJ and i had a date at 2 Tony's in spring lake. They have the best food. Right now, TJ is painting the second coat of blue in the nursery. It is the perfect blue. I am eating cottage cheese and chunky applesauce all mixed together. I just can't get enough of apples lately.

I have quite the lengthy to do list for this weekend, but when i woke up this morning and realized it was only Friday, it was the best feeling. I slept 13 hours yesterday. I was so tired from the all day field trip, i just crashed when i got home. It felt great to get that much sleep. I probably will tonight as well.

Mom

I cannot believe that today marks five years since my mom has passed away. It seems a lot longer since i have felt her hug, listened to her words, and heard her laugh, yet it seems as painful as a fresh wound. I think being pregnant has made that a bit more strong. My mom loved moose. A few years ago as gail was shopping at kohl's, she ran into a cuddly moose stuffed animal. She bought it and stored it away, waiting for a baby ellis. At my shower on Saturday, gail stood up and spoke before gift opening time. She said the nicest things about my mom. I was crying, smiling, and aching as she spoke. She was saying that if my mom had been at the shower she would be dressed in pink, laughing and being rather loud and excited. She went on to say that her and my mom were becoming friends as they got to know each other, especially after working a garage sale together. She touchingly said that she often sees pieces of my mom in me, and that Gertie too will have pieces of my mom in her. It was so good to hear that my mom will not be forgotten because i remind people of her when i do certain things and say certain words. Gail presented the moose to me and he sat on the table next to me as i opened gifts. I looked at him often and smiled, knowing my mom was there with us celebrating the life of her first grandchild and relishing in the fact that there were so many pink outfits that i was opening. It pains me to think of what my mom and Gertie will be missing out on by not meeting each other, but it brings me some peace to know that Gertie will see what her grandma was like. I am also so thankful for grandma gail. Gertie is a lucky girl.

I have a snow day. . . tomorrow!

I just got the best call. . . i have yet another snow day tomorrow. I can't believe it was cancelled the night before. . . well actually i can when i think of the treacherous ride home we had.

It took us 6 1/2 hours to make a three hour trip. We were making pretty good time until we reached grand rapids. They had closed 96 due to a fifty car pile-up. We were forced to take back country roads where the wind whipped the dry snow across all the fields. It was absolutely terrible. I m so glad tj is a good and cautious driver and that we were kept safe from other drivers.

Yesterday was a truly wonderful day. I get emotional just writing about it. I met and saw people that i hardly speak to, but they have been praying for us for years. They all came together to celebrate Gertie. I am continually amazed at the people that God has put in our lives. . . so much support and love. My aunt, Mom-in-law- and friend/sister-in-law threw an amazing shower. The food was awesome, the company was the best (not awkward at all in spite of not knowing some people very well), the gifts were overwhelming, the games were fun, and the enthusiasm was very evident.

I washed the mattress pad, put it on our crib mattress, and put the fitted sheet i made for Gertie on the mattress. TJ and i put it in the crib and put the bumpers on. I almost started crying. I am so eager to meet her, i can hardly stand it!!

As i type this, i am praying that TJ gets a day off too. He is coming down with a cold, tired from the crazy drive and busy weekend. It is unlikely, but you never know. My school closing still hasn't hit the TV, and i have known for half an hour. . . it makes me wonder how many other schools are closed in our county.

Another Snow Day!

I had no idea there was even a chance that i would not be running around teaching 26 students today. I knew that we got over a foot of snow (especially where my school is located), but i thought they would have it under control by the time school started. Both TJ and i were pleasantly surprised to have a snow day. I was praying TJ would get one after i found out i had one because he was out late shoveling, up late working and then woke up at 4:20 to finish some work. Because of the snow day we both got to sleep in.

Today, we are getting the nursery ready to paint. We are not doing the 2x2 squares yet. We are doing the color of the rest of the room. . . Bippity Boppity Blue. Yes, we are having a girl, but i wanted a background that wouldn't draw too much attention and one that would blend in with the mini mural above the changing table. I also plan on doing a bumble bee and such, so blue works. The crib wall will have 2x2 blocks of pink, purple, blue, green, and pooh yellow. This was planned as gebder neutral as possible, so that it could possibly be used for baby number two. The accessories will say "girl"

Tomorrow, we are going out of town for shower number two. I am so excited. Yesterday, when i pulled in (well, i should say when i got stuck in the driveway) i noticed a big graco box. I later found out that our brother-in-law's step mom got us our beautiful wooden highchair. I was shocked and excited! It will be nice to see everyone at the shower. TJ's grandma is going to be there. She had surgery to remove a cancer spot in January, and has recovered nicely. It will be wonderful to see her. It is so much fun to celebrate life. We are also celebrating TJ's and Lori's birthday. What a fun weekend of celebrating.

Random Happenings

I have a cold, so i promised myself that i would take it easy today. Lay around. Read Baby Laughs and Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. Finish thank you notes. Sleep. Maybe watch a movie. I want to be healthy for the Super Bowl get together tomorrow.

Yesterday, one of my lovable students brought me three hand knitted hats that she made for the baby. They are absolutely adorable. I showed them off all day.

i just made a much needed hair cut appointment and a pedicure appointment for Tuesday. My hair is so long, frizzy, and thick. I haven't had a spa pedicure since i got married. TJ paints my toe nails, but he is a little busy and at the salon i will get so pampered. I cannot wait.

TJ took yesterday off and worked on the built-in. He is getting pretty far. Today, he hopes to start the scary part of finishing the shelves. He just needs to cut the plywood for the back. He also has to take it apart and put it back together again. I think he said something about sanding it one last time before he finishes it too. He thinks he might have to redo the top of the window seat. . . he says that his inexperience played a role. He loves how the top of the bump out in the shelves came out, so now he knows. The top is currently warped, but beautiful. He said that when he cuts it to hinge in the part that lifts, there will be nothing there to hold down the warp. I am so excited to see what it all looks like finished. It looks so good now, he doesn't want to do anything to mess it up. . .