Be vewy, vewy quiet... I'm hunting a job

This spring, as I finished my third year of teaching (the second in a self-contained special education classroom), I found out that I would not be coming back in the fall. The numbers in our special ed. department had dropped, and there were not enough students enrolled to support two self-contained classes. This news hit me like a Mack truck. For years, I had been trying to find what I was supposed to be doing, and I had finally landed in a job that I loved with kids I loved even more. Then the rug got pulled out from under me.

I got this news on Friday, May 13th. You read that right. Friday the 13th. In addition to losing my job that day, I was headed to Orlando to attend the state Special Olympics Games. We had two students competing in track and field. As it turns out, a four hour drive can do you a lot of good. I was so excited to watch my kiddos compete. Even though I was all over the place emotionally, I was reminded just how much I care about my students and their success.

The rest of the school year, needless to say, was awkward. I was walking a tightrope between loving on my students as much as possible and feeling like a social outcast among my colleagues. No one knew quite what to say, so most people didn't say anything. I made the decision not to tell my students or their families that I would not be back in the fall. I wanted to be sure that the end of the school year was focused on them, not on me.

In addition to not having a job for the fall, I was left without a job for the summer. I had planned to be teaching the summer session for my students, but that position had been filled. The day I found out that I lost my job, I went to Jen's school to tell her face-to-face, and I left with a job for the summer. I am teaching a class of high school students with severe and profound disabilities. I am being stretched and challenged in lots of new ways!

Along with summer school came the inevitable job search. I was in a tough spot with this as well. I am not yet on a continuing contract with our district (I will be eligible after completing three years- the district counts my two years and eight months as only two years...), so I couldn't go to the district's transfer day. I knew a couple of people who were attending transfer day, and I also knew of a couple of potential openings that I would be interested in. Once the dust cleared, the couple of people I knew got the couple of jobs I was interested in. I was happy for them, but now I had to start over.

I started applying for any job that came available under my certification areas (although I'd rather clean toilets than teach a fifth-grade class). There were a few special education positions open, and I got called for interviews just the other day.

I had an interview on Tuesday at a middle school here in town for a position teaching study skills to low-performing students (I think middle schoolers might be even worse than a class of fifth-graders). The interview went o.k., although I didn't have much to say, having not worked much with that population.

The second interview I was called for was at the elementary school two blocks from our house. The position was in a classroom much like the one I had taught the last two years. The teacher who had been there retired at the end of the school year, so I knew that this position would be open, but I thought it would get filled at transfer day. Plus, it would be too perfect. Right down the street with the same population I have been teaching.

I interviewed with the special education team rather than the administration. It was nice to be able to communicate my skills on a collegial level rather than having to rely on formal interview-speak. The interview went well, and as I was walking to the front office to sign out and drive home (Yes, I drove the two blocks to the school. It's summertime in Florida, and I was all spiffy.) I heard an announcement over the intercom. I wasn't sure what was said, but as I signed out, the secretary said, "I think they just called you back to the interview."

So I turned around and went back into the media center, where the administrators were sitting with the special education team. The principal offered me the job on the spot. After I picked up my jaw off the floor, I accepted gladly. I don't think my feet touched the ground all the way home.

Graham was down for a nap when I got home, so when I told Jen I got the job we had to do the Happy Dance in total silence! I can't begin to describe the overwhelming sense of relief that has swept over our house. I know that this job is an answer to prayer, and not just on our part. Many friends and family have been praying for us through this whole ordeal.

I know that this job will not be perfect. I know that there will be tough days and politics to deal with, just like at every school. I know that there will be times when I am ready to pull my hair out, but all that is overshadowed by my excitement and joy at the way God provides for us. I had been praying for a job, yes. But more than that, I had been praying for understanding in this whole situation. While leaving the students and the school I loved is still very hard even to think about, I am buzzing with anticipation for what lies in store (quite literally- it's four in the morning in the middle of summer!).

Happy 8 Month Birthday!!

Eight months already? It seems to hard to grasp, but here we are once again amazed at how fast time goes when you are trying to keep up with a changing, growing, learning, and happy little boy.

There have been lots of changes this month, the biggest being that I have spent most of it at home with Graham full time! Being a full time mommy has been fabulous thus far. I am already convinced that there is no way I will want to go back to work in August. Perish the thought! We have settled into a nice routine that involves sleeping in (for the most part 8 or 8:30 every morning), eating, singing songs, playing with toys, eating, getting dressed and heading out on a morning adventure, eating , napping, eating, more playing when Daddy gets home, going for walks, eating some more, etc., etc., etc.

Are you starting to see a theme here? Eat, eat, eat!! I feel like we spend the better part of our day eating! And Graham is into eating lots of different things. We have expanded his culinary tastes beyond just baby foods this month, and he is LOVING it! He has had bananas, berries, potatoes, mum mums, and cheerios to date. The two new additions this month, his two bottom teeth, are making eating a whole new sensory experience as loves to use his “chompers” to crunch all different things, both food and otherwise. Graham is also trying, though not with much success, to use sippy cups and straws to drink water and frappuccino as well?!?! One morning this month, I was holding Graham on my hip with one hand and a frappuccino in the other hand. I turned my head to look behind me and when I turned back around, Graham had his mouth on my straw and was desperately trying to suck up my drink! Let’s hope he doesn’t inherit his daddy’s Starbucks habit quite this soon!
All this eating has definitely led to a lot of growing. Graham is about 15 pounds and 26 inches long. He has lengthened out a LOT and we are starting to have problems with clothes. The onesies and shorts that fit best around the middle are getting too short, while the ones that fit lengthwise, are WAY too big around the middle. I am sure that he will eventually even out, but in the meantime, it would be great if they made baby suspenders! =)

Eating and growing have also definitely helped Graham’s mobility. He is now big enough to fit comfortably in the stroller without a car seat and loves the new world around him, finally being able to face forwards and see out! We are also officially “on the move” in our world! This month, he finally got the hang of using rolling as a means of transportation and will roll his way around the floor, room, crib, etc. While Graham will get on all fours and bounce on his knees, he still shows next to no interest in crawling and wants to spend the majority of his time standing up. He would stand in his stander or holding onto one of us for hours, if we would let him. He loves to tell us that he is ready to stand by sitting and leaning backwards against us, in a kind of reverse plank, so that his feet reach the floor. Graham’s strength (and stubbornness) amazes both Chris and I, as when he is ready to stand, there is absolutely NO bending him back to a seated position.

When we can get him seated (or even when we can’t!), Graham loves to play. He still loves to play with the cats has only gotten hissed at on one occasion when he got a hold of Rescue’s tail and held on a little too long! He continues to love playing peek-a-boo and will find things he can hide behind. One morning, he was sitting on the floor in the bathroom and he had a blast playing "Peek: The Shower Curtain Edition".Graham has become a big fan of bath time and it seems to take longer and longer each night! He enjoys playing with his rubber duck and a good old Wartburg Cup. Daddy enjoys playing with Graham's hair, and he has gotten plenty of interesting "bath time do's" (don't's as I say!)!Graham also loves to play with his toys, and can dump an entire bin of toys all over the floor in a matter of seconds.
And although he has a bin full of toys, I think his current favorite “toys” are my phone and the remote control! He takes after his daddy with that one, so much so that Chris went and found one of our old remotes and gave it to him since everything still goes straight to his mouth. Speaking of mouth, have I mentioned this month that Graham loves to talk?! He is imitating all kinds of sounds and stringing more and more sounds together. This month he has discovered how to whisper and thinks that it is hilarious! While he loves whispering and can crack himself up for hours alternating between loud and soft sounds, he is also extremely tickled when we imitate him and whisper his “ba ba ba” sounds back at him! Graham definitely understands conversation patterns and responds to his name and sounds coming from all different directions. We have also seen an increase in his receptive skills and his understanding of the signs for more and milk. He laughs and smiles for “more” and since it is usually presented in conjunction with food, he will either hit the high chair tray or open his mouth in excitement rather than imitate the sign as a request. When asked if he wants milk with sign only, he will reach for me and nuzzle in towards my chest. It is pretty gosh darn cute!

Graham is adorable and still loves to interact with…well anyone and everyone who will smile in his direction! He has gotten lots of attention this month as we have enjoyed a family wedding in Kansas City, complete with another airplane ride,

Chris’ first Father’s Day, Sunday mornings at church, and story times at the library. He has also been on a few playdates. He loves being around other kids and is definitely watching everything they do. We have also been finding ways to stay cool, and Graham has been a real trouper in dealing with our hotter than average summer thus far! We have been swimming in both indoor and outdoor pools and are learning to enjoy wearing a hat to keep the sun at bay! This is such an amazing time, and I feel so fortunate that I get to spend the next few months at home with Graham. Chris and I are both so proud of our little boy and are having a blast watching him change from a baby to a little boy, complete with his own spunky personality and sense of adventure! And what an adventure we are on!!

Happy Father's Day!

I don't even know where to start in sharing about my first Father's Day. Like most Sundays, we got ourselves put together and headed to church. The woman who was covering the nursery offered to take Graham, but I wasn't about to give him up. We skipped the last church potluck until the fall (for those of you who know me well, you understand how monumental that is) and headed to IHOP for a healthy lunch (Graham even shared some hash browns).

Enough of all that boring stuff. I was eagerly awaiting the traditional Father's Day gifts. You know, a tie and a #1 DAD coffee mug. Jen and Graham had been sneaking around all week, and I knew they were cooking up something good. After Graham finished his nap, it was time for presents!!! I'm not sure how much help Graham was in getting the gifts wrapped, but he sure was a lot of help in unwrapping them!



While I didn't receive a coffee mug or a tie, Jen and Graham got me some pretty fantastic gifts. I got a book called I Love You, Daddy (I bet you can't guess who that one was from, huh?). Graham and I will have lots of chances to read this one, but we made sure to try it out right away. I also got a Starbucks gift card (Woo Hoo!). The last present was the "secret project" Jen and Graham (and apparently a few other people) had been working so hard to put together. Jen wrote a poem and framed it with Graham's handprints. Once I stopped crying, I was blown away by how thoughtful Jen was with this gift. The poem reads as follows:

The Hands

These are the hands you dreamt about
For such a long, long time.
And these are the hands you first saw
And said, “Son, you are mine”.

These are the hands with fingers small,
You counted them to ten.
These are the hands that will grow and change,
And what will happen then?

These are the hands that you will hold
As I learn to walk and fall,
And these are the hands that you will teach
To throw and catch a ball.

These are the hands that will chord and strum
Just like you, on the guitar,
And these are the hands that will ask for the keys,
So I can drive the car.

These are the hands that someday
May leave you for a while,
But these are the hands that will bring me home,
And hand to you my child.

These hands they will do many things,
But this I know is true;
These are the hands that give hugs and kisses and say,
“Daddy, I love you!”

There aren't words to describe how touched I was by this secret project. I never knew I could love someone as much as I love my son, and I can't wait for many more Father's Days!

(Somebody had a little too much Father's Day fun!)

Breakthrough!!

We have recently had a return to the throws of sleepless and restless newborn nights, and for good reason. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have teeth!


I know this is not the best picture, and I am sure we will get more photos of those cute little pearly whites soon, but we just had to share this latest milestone!

We knew this day was coming, sort of. For the last two weeks, Graham had been pulling at his ears, drooling buckets, chewing on everything (especially my shoulder), and just not quite his usual happy self. Upon closer inspection, we could tell that the bottom right tooth was right at the surface, and when it broke through on June 12, we thought we had a reprieve as the left tooth was nowhere to be seen.

However, just two days later, we had an extremely rough night! We were up several times, and nothing could quite seem to console our little guy! The next morning at breakfast I discovered the problem. The left bottom tooth was there, right at the surface, and as of today has almost completely broken though his gums. Poor guy...teething is hard work, but we know it will open up a whole new world of experiences for him! Hopefully (for all our sakes and sanity), sleeping through the night will be one of them once again!

Happy 7 Month Birthday!!

It is amazing how much can change in seven months! Graham is growing and developing right before our eyes, and seeing the world through his ever-changing, on-the-go perspective has definitely been the highlight of this month.

Graham’s perspective changed a lot this month because 2 days after his 7 month birthday he starting sitting independently. I got to Natalie’s at lunchtime on Thursday, and when she didn’t have Graham in her arms, I assumed he was sleeping. She just opened the door and pointed to the middle of living room where there he was sitting all by himself. She said he was just so proud of himself and had been sitting like that for most of the morning! I was so EXCITED that I didn’t even have time to be jealous that he did this for Natalie first! Of course Graham had to show off his new talent to Chris when he got home and both sets of grandparents via the webcam!
It seems crazy now, but at the time, Chris and I were both just blown away by this accomplishment. It was so awesome to think that one day, he couldn’t sit up without support, and the next day, he just could. If only we had known that we would feel that way about every milestone from here on out! Sitting has definitely opened up a brand new world, as now Graham reaches for everything and anything that is remotely near him.

His favorite things to reach for by far are the cats!! This month, it seems as though they each really discovered each other! Graham LOVES LOVES LOVES the cats!! He watches their every move and smiles and squeals when they come into sight. Rescue loves the attention and is content to sit with Graham and let him pull on his ears, tail, and whiskers. Of course, Rescue gives it right back when he tries to head-butt Graham just like he does the rest of us. We take it as a sign that Rescue now sees Graham as a member of the family. Frankie on the other hand is still not a huge fan of Graham’s flapping arms, flailing hands, or high pitched yelps! Needless to say when Graham can catch a piece of Frankie’s tail, he gets really excited. We have discovered, however, that Frankie does like to be near Graham and when Graham is sleeping in his crib, Frankie is often on one of the rugs in his room or when Graham is sleeping on our bed, Frankie can be found curled up in a corner (as far away as possible, but still on the bed). We figure there is hope yet (at least until Graham really becomes mobile and tries to ride Frankie like a pony)!

So I have mentioned that Graham both squeals and yelps. As of this month, he also talks NON-STOP and laughs hilariously (see the piggy video a few posts back if you missed it!). Graham is definitely going to be a talker. He likes to babble back and forth and is really starting to get the ebb and flow of a conversation. He loves it when someone answers back and he gets to respond. He is stringing together both consonant and vowels sounds and having great chats with anyone or thing that will listen. Apparently, his pacifier and Sophie both make great audiences as he has been overheard giving both of the what-for at various times!
We are starting to use a few simple signs with him (more, milk, and waving for hi and bye) and although he is not doing them independently yet, we know he is starting to understand what they mean. In addition to talking, Graham has spent he month learning to make all sorts of interesting raspberry and vibrating lips noises as well! He thinks it is just great, and let’s face it, Chris and I do too and we encourage every bit! He still coos and smiles for everyone he meets and loves to use those "baby blues" to flirt with people everywhere we go!

Using his mouth seems to be a theme for the month, as Graham has not only started talking, but also really started eating…everything…food…books…even his toes! For beginning life as a slow eater, Graham has definitely picked up the pace. He loves to eat anything and everything that we have given him. We are well into the stage 2 baby foods and have yet to find something that he doesn’t like. As a result, he has continued to grow and is about 14 ¼ lbs. at this point. While he is still able to wear his 3-6 month clothes, we are finding that they are getting a little short, so we may be making a move to bigger things soon!

Graham has definitely been on the move this month! He continues to stand up whenever possible, and is showing a definite interest in moving about. He rolls from his back to his stomach and flip flops back the other way. He still hasn’t completed a full “revolution”, but we know it is coming soon. Although he likes to move, Graham is still happy as can be sitting on our laps listening to stories or singing songs, and the snuggle and quiet time is greatly appreciated by all of us.

There were a lot of first this month (most of which were covered in other blog posts); my first Mother’s Day, my first go-round as a “single parent” when Chris was in Orlando for the State Special Olympics meet, Graham’s first airplane ride, (and subsequent flight delay) Graham’s first wedding (and suit), and the list goes on and on! With Graham changing so fast, it seems as though everything is a first and we have to stop and enjoy every minute. For this month (and I am sure from here on out), I think Ferris Bueller might have said it best: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”. So, here’s to not missing a moment!