Updates

Hi fellow readers.... if anyone is still reading...lol

Life is going great. I'm still tired a lot, but getting better. My students are starting to understand how 2nd grade works and their crabby teacher.

Olivia is getting so big! Within the past two weeks or so we have gained excellent control of our arms. She can now bring her hands to her face/mouth without banging herself in the head. She loves to rub her eyes and chew on her fingers. She is also able to grab a toy hanging and sitting somewhere and hang on, even bring it to her mouth!

She also HATES to lay back. Anytime you lay her back, she will protest by pushing her little body forward! Quite the defiant one I have on my hands.

I am looking forward to the three day weekend. I hope everyone else is as well!

Work Work Work

Hello all. I started back to work about two weeks ago. It has been a whirlwind. It has been so hard transitioning from 3rd back to 2nd graders. They are so little and needy. I don't even know what is on my desk or what my chair feels like any longer. Forget any type of lesson plans unless I want to stay at work till 5pm. It is just insane.

Mom has been keeping Olivia. I think she wears Mom out, but Mom is a trooper and an absolute saint for helping me. I couldn't ask for a better caregiver. Love you Mom! The week after next Mom starts a class on Tuesdays, so one of my moms from school, Michel, will start watching O on Tuesdays. I think she will be great with her as well.

I get so sad leaving her. It is also hard when I come to pick her up. She really doesn't want anything to do with me. Which, I am so glad she loves her Nana and is doing so well with her. But I literally see her awake for 3 hours a day. She is asleep when I take her in the mornings and back asleep by 8:30pm. It's so sad. I really cherish my weekends.

Olivia is getting so big. Long gone are the days where you can lay her on the couch and walk away. The child has become mobile. She turns her head and digs her feet into the floor/bed and turns. I NEVER wake up anymore to find her still laying 'normally' in her crib. She is always sideways in her crib now. Mom said she did the same thing on the floor yesterday, moved herself off her play mat. Oy vey.

She is also teething something terrible. We go through at least two bibs a day. Her gum is turning a bit white at the bottom and the other night she was running a fever. Poor thing. She is still a pill to take care of between 7-bedtime. I won't leave her with anyone for awhile with this behavior. It makes me feel terrible and I can't imagine what she feels like. We are lucky to get a peaceful bath.

Yet, I will trade that all in since I am getting wonderful sleep. Like clockwork (assuming we are home and on schedule) she is asleep about 8:30 and doesn't wake up until 5:30am. It's great. And yes, she is in her own crib and has been for quite awhile. I sleep well and I'm assuming she does too.

I can't remember if I put it on my last post or not, but Olivia will be welcoming a baby cousin in April!! I am so excited!! They will be less than a year apart and hopefully will be close even though its a bit of a drive. We can make it happen! I know Mom will be down there tons and once summer hits, we will be on the road too!! Congrats to Andrea and Rex. Love you guys!!

Well, I have put off going to work long enough. Have a great weekend!

Back to Work

Well, I'm back at work. Blah is all I can say. I'm, of course, blessed to have a job, but I still don't really want to be here. I have 19 second graders. They all have the attention span of about 5 minutes. I forgot (after teaching 3rd last year) how little these kids are, how much they don't know, and how much they NEED to know!
Leaving Olivia is of course still tough. I feel like I never get to see her awake anymore. I'm supposed to start working at Sylvan again next week. I'm rethinking. I'm definitely needing the money, but being away from her is so sad. I'm so scared she is going to know her Nana more than her Mama. :( Send the prayers my way! My mom is doing a GREAT job with her! They run errands and do fun things together. Once again, so blessed to have her with my mom.
If you haven't heard, Andrea (my sister) is pregnant! I get to be an Aunt! I'm so excited for her and Rex and pray for them daily!
That is about all for now.

Well...Well....Well...

Okay, so I KNOW it has been WAAAAAAAAAAY too long since an update. So here it goes:

- Olivia hit her three month mark. My goodness, time flies.
- She now weighs approx. 13 pounds. My little porker. She even has fat rolls on her thighs you can't UNroll!
- We are in size 2 diapers! Oy!
- She is smiling all the time! She is the happiest in the morning.
- She wants to laugh SO bad, but just can't seem to get it out!
- We are starting to roll to our side, but have not yet made it all the way over.
- She HATES tummy time.
- My mom (Nana) is keeping her while I am at work.
- Did I mention she will have a little cousin in April?
- She still has monkey hair, but it is getting a bit longer and fuzzier!
- We have been sleeping IN OUR OWN CRIB since 9 weeks!
- I love her so much!

In a nutshell, that is us!! I returned to work this week. BOO. But, it will be okay. One step closer to May, right? Did I mention I will have a neice or nephew in April? I am so blessed my mother is getting to keep Olivia. I couldn't do it without her. Her Grandma Karen is also keeping her bunches which helps me so much!

As for XDAH, he is not around. I think we saw him once in July? Maybe? But you know, I am so happy. I don't think about him or the negativity he creates. I am just so happy with my life and my little girl, it's amazing. My grandfather was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It is super sad, but I know God has a plan for every single one of us, and in reality, it is not up to us when we go. I am so glad I had a wonderful life filled with his laughter, jokes, and love. I get teary eyed when I know my daughter will never know him. :(

Enough of that sadness, enjoy some pictures!