Well, we survived! Baby and I had our first day of school with all my cute and crazy kiddos today. I had one student who was extremely concerned about the change in my appearance and stopped the music therapy session to ask, "Miss Jen, why is your tummy so big?". Not wanting to stop and teach a sex-ed lesson, I just informed him that I had a baby in my stomach. He didn't quite get it, and I heard him talking to himself later saying something to the effect of "and then Miss Jen's stomach got fat!". It was pretty funny! You have to love kids and the crazy things they say!
Other than that, it was a rather uneventful day overall. I had to adjust the strap on my guitar to make room for Baby and had to sit at one point when Baby's head was right where I needed to place the guitar to stand and play. Other than that, Baby seemed to enjoy him/herself. It was very apparent that Baby's sense of hearing has improved and increased quite dramatically since the end of May. I have always hoped we are growing a music lover and if today was any indication, we are headed in the right direction. Baby danced most of the day...which I hope means we sleep better tonight!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The Summer Vacation that wasn’t
Well, here we sit on August 15th, the night before school starts yet again, and I am wondering what happened to our vacation. I am not trying to sound ungrateful, as I recognize that many of my friends and family don’t enjoy the “luxury” of 2 ½ months off, but if it is any consolation, we didn’t either this year. This year, I think we learned the true meaning of a working vacation. So, with what were we so busy?
Chris and I both taught in our Extended School Year (ESY) programs. We had lots of fun with our kiddos and enjoyed the shortened days and four-day work week! We also spent the summer as students. Chris took 2 classes towards his autism endorsement and I finished my last class for my masters. Yes, you read that correctly, I am now a master (minus the diploma currently, but that’s another story)! I spent 5 semesters with FSU’s distance learning program and now have my Masters of Science in Special Education Studies, with an emphasis in severe disabilities, including autism. It is such a relief to have that one finished before Baby arrives, and I think it will give me lots of different options for the future.
We did manage to sneak in our annual trip to Iowa, but other than that we spent the summer close to home. And thus the nesting began…
We painted and rearranged our living room (for those of you who remember the trippy Dr. Seuss inspired pastel on the wall, it is no more).
We painted the lime-ass room (which has now become our bedroom).
And, we painted the Baby's room and added furniture as well (The cats love it and think they have acquired a room all to themselves...they have no idea!).
We have had a massive purge around the house. I am amazed at the amount of stuff two people can amass and despite making multiple trips, I am constantly finding things that can definitely go to Good Will with “the next load”. A huge thank you goes to my parents who were here for the better part of 2 weeks to help. I don’t know if they had any idea what they were signing up for, but we will be forever indebted to them for their help and support, both physically and emotionally. It was on their recommendation that we take a little break and introduce Baby to the beach! 
And thus we come full circle because we spent the last two days of vacation in school, a childbirth education class to be specific. I am not quite sure that it makes us any more ready for Baby’s arrival (especially since we still don’t have names decided upon), but it was nice to get that one out of the way before school actually starts. So between teaching school, going to school, an Iowa visit, one trip to the beach, a childbirth class, nesting, painting, purging, AND enough heat and humidity to last a lifetime, I am exhausted and actually looking forward to going back to work, if for no other reason than to recoup!
28 weeks!
29 weeks--no wonder I was so tired between these two. Baby did a LOT of growing!
Chris and I both taught in our Extended School Year (ESY) programs. We had lots of fun with our kiddos and enjoyed the shortened days and four-day work week! We also spent the summer as students. Chris took 2 classes towards his autism endorsement and I finished my last class for my masters. Yes, you read that correctly, I am now a master (minus the diploma currently, but that’s another story)! I spent 5 semesters with FSU’s distance learning program and now have my Masters of Science in Special Education Studies, with an emphasis in severe disabilities, including autism. It is such a relief to have that one finished before Baby arrives, and I think it will give me lots of different options for the future.
We did manage to sneak in our annual trip to Iowa, but other than that we spent the summer close to home. And thus the nesting began…
We painted and rearranged our living room (for those of you who remember the trippy Dr. Seuss inspired pastel on the wall, it is no more).
We painted the lime-ass room (which has now become our bedroom).
And, we painted the Baby's room and added furniture as well (The cats love it and think they have acquired a room all to themselves...they have no idea!).
We have had a massive purge around the house. I am amazed at the amount of stuff two people can amass and despite making multiple trips, I am constantly finding things that can definitely go to Good Will with “the next load”. A huge thank you goes to my parents who were here for the better part of 2 weeks to help. I don’t know if they had any idea what they were signing up for, but we will be forever indebted to them for their help and support, both physically and emotionally. It was on their recommendation that we take a little break and introduce Baby to the beach! 
And thus we come full circle because we spent the last two days of vacation in school, a childbirth education class to be specific. I am not quite sure that it makes us any more ready for Baby’s arrival (especially since we still don’t have names decided upon), but it was nice to get that one out of the way before school actually starts. So between teaching school, going to school, an Iowa visit, one trip to the beach, a childbirth class, nesting, painting, purging, AND enough heat and humidity to last a lifetime, I am exhausted and actually looking forward to going back to work, if for no other reason than to recoup!
28 weeks!
29 weeks--no wonder I was so tired between these two. Baby did a LOT of growing!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Confessions of a nesting dad-to-be, Part 2
Well, this whole thing is getting realer and realer. We got a call yesterday that the nursery furniture was in, and we kicked it into high gear. We got the nursery all cleared out and the floor thoroughly scrubbed. Today we went to pick up the furniture (between rain storms), and of course we couldn't get both boxes to fit in the car at the same time. So I left Jen to shop while I flew home to drop off the crib, and then I went back to pick her up (and the dresser, of course).
Once we got home (and dried off), the real fun began. The crib was not assembled, and the only advice the salesman at the store gave me was, "This will be great practice for Christmas!" Surprisingly, the crib went together smoothly. The instructions were in a language I knew, and all the parts were there. I had lots of help (the furry sort), and we managed to get the entire thing put together in about an hour.
It's crazy how a single piece of furniture can change your outlook. I must admit that I am a little jealous of all the times Jen gets to feel the baby move (well, not the kicks in the ribs when trying to sleep). That's not to say I haven't gotten to feel plenty of kicks, somersaults, and the like. But today, when I put the crib up against the wall in the nursery, it's like everything changed yet again. I was finally getting used to the idea that there is a PERSON in there, and now that person has a place to sleep (or not sleep). I'm sure that there will be many other changes in perspective on this journey, but today was a big one.
We have lots of projects we are still working on around the house, but it seems that having the nursery look more and more like a nursery has really recharged our batteries to keep working on the rest of this tired old nest we live in.
Once we got home (and dried off), the real fun began. The crib was not assembled, and the only advice the salesman at the store gave me was, "This will be great practice for Christmas!" Surprisingly, the crib went together smoothly. The instructions were in a language I knew, and all the parts were there. I had lots of help (the furry sort), and we managed to get the entire thing put together in about an hour.
It's crazy how a single piece of furniture can change your outlook. I must admit that I am a little jealous of all the times Jen gets to feel the baby move (well, not the kicks in the ribs when trying to sleep). That's not to say I haven't gotten to feel plenty of kicks, somersaults, and the like. But today, when I put the crib up against the wall in the nursery, it's like everything changed yet again. I was finally getting used to the idea that there is a PERSON in there, and now that person has a place to sleep (or not sleep). I'm sure that there will be many other changes in perspective on this journey, but today was a big one.
We have lots of projects we are still working on around the house, but it seems that having the nursery look more and more like a nursery has really recharged our batteries to keep working on the rest of this tired old nest we live in.
Naked Nursery!
Gender neutral yellow, anyone?
The great crib adventure begins (note the look of confidence!)
I couldn't figure out to do with this one fuzzy piece.
Gender neutral yellow, anyone?
The great crib adventure begins (note the look of confidence!)
I couldn't figure out to do with this one fuzzy piece.
Sometimes you just have to get down and get after it!
Getting closer...
Success!
Rescue "supervised" us putting the knobs on the changer/dresser. That was the easy part!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Confessions of a nesting dad-to-be, Part 1
It's been a while since I've had time to post anything up here, but there's good reason. Jen and I have been working like crazy this summer. We both taught ESY this summer (with a trip to Iowa in the middle), and we both were working on grad-level classes. Jen was taking her LAST class for her Master's degree(I am so proud of her), and I took two classes toward my Autism endorsement. All of our classes finished yesterday, so now we can really get down to the task at hand- making room for baby!
Actually, we have been working hard on the house already. Lots of projects are going at once, but there are a few that are wrapped up. Jen's folks spent about two weeks here working on the house, and I don't know how we would have gotten much accomplished during that time without their help! Jen and I were able to sort out some of the rooms that weren't ready for the deep clean and/or paint while her folks worked on the ones that were closer to being ready. As a result, we have a fresh coat of paint in our living room (which led to freshly painted trim and door, which led to a new lock set, which led to a gaping hole in the door at 11:00 at night, etc. etc.). The lovely mural left for us in the living room is gone. (Just a note- do not use oil pastels on a wall and leave the work unsealed unless you are sure it will live there forever.) I finally had to resort to using a sponge and Dawn to get the mural off the wall. I figure if it will get crude oil off of a pelican, it might just clean our walls!
The most significant accomplishment at the house so far is the relocation of our bedroom. We now have our room in what used to be the lime-ass green (thanks again, Mr. Landlord) home office/library. Jen and I enjoy literacy, let's say, so there were six bookcases full of literacy to be relocated! Some of the books are now living at Goodwill (on their way to new homes, I'm sure), most are boxed up in storage, and a few have new homes right here in our house. It ONLY took two coats of primer and a coat of paint to cover the lime green paint, and now it is a much more soothing blue. Now the room that was our bedroom can be converted into the nugget's nursery.
I know I have been rambling on and on about little things around the house, but these little things are adding up to be big steps in getting ready for the munchkin to arrive! By the way, if you need a ceiling fan replaced, I know a couple of guys. They work cheap, and they are EXTREMELY handsome.
Off to paint in the NURSERY! (Pictures to come later.)
Actually, we have been working hard on the house already. Lots of projects are going at once, but there are a few that are wrapped up. Jen's folks spent about two weeks here working on the house, and I don't know how we would have gotten much accomplished during that time without their help! Jen and I were able to sort out some of the rooms that weren't ready for the deep clean and/or paint while her folks worked on the ones that were closer to being ready. As a result, we have a fresh coat of paint in our living room (which led to freshly painted trim and door, which led to a new lock set, which led to a gaping hole in the door at 11:00 at night, etc. etc.). The lovely mural left for us in the living room is gone. (Just a note- do not use oil pastels on a wall and leave the work unsealed unless you are sure it will live there forever.) I finally had to resort to using a sponge and Dawn to get the mural off the wall. I figure if it will get crude oil off of a pelican, it might just clean our walls!
The most significant accomplishment at the house so far is the relocation of our bedroom. We now have our room in what used to be the lime-ass green (thanks again, Mr. Landlord) home office/library. Jen and I enjoy literacy, let's say, so there were six bookcases full of literacy to be relocated! Some of the books are now living at Goodwill (on their way to new homes, I'm sure), most are boxed up in storage, and a few have new homes right here in our house. It ONLY took two coats of primer and a coat of paint to cover the lime green paint, and now it is a much more soothing blue. Now the room that was our bedroom can be converted into the nugget's nursery.
I know I have been rambling on and on about little things around the house, but these little things are adding up to be big steps in getting ready for the munchkin to arrive! By the way, if you need a ceiling fan replaced, I know a couple of guys. They work cheap, and they are EXTREMELY handsome.
Off to paint in the NURSERY! (Pictures to come later.)
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