Dog Food for Lunch?

I make lunch in my classroom because I don’t have time to go to the teachers’ lounge (plus, there is so much gossip in there, I don’t want to get into trouble!).  Today after lunch a kid told me that it smelt like dog food in my room.  Guess that’s what I ate for lunch today!!

A Closet Full...

This is how I feel right now.

It's been 6 months since I was allowed to be fat, and now-- what's my excuse?? I can't seem to get the motivation to get working on my body again. All of my clothes are either too big or (mostly) too small. I can hand them off to Codi or Lisa so they are out of my sight. This way I don't feel bad that I can't fit into any of these clothes. But that just makes me have less in my closet. I have so many clothes and yet nothing fits me. I can't get skinny! Especially when I go to the store and buy about five pounds of chocolate. I need it. I want it. I gotta have it.

Help!

Wait a minute? Didn't I just blog about this exact same thing about two months ago?

Geez.

A Bump On Your Head

Ouch!  He tumbled right over and I heard a loud thunk!  My heart skipped a beat and my whole body began to tingle.  I felt tears swell up in my eyes and my nose started to burn.   You are the mother, Tenessa.  You need to show that you are the strong one.  You need to console your son and make sure he is okay.  Just hug him and whisper that you love him and he will be alright.  It’s going to happen many more times in his lifetime.  After all, he is a boy.  He will be climbing on things and seeing how high he can get so he can jump down.  Just a little bump on the head.

This was the first time in six and a half months that I actually had to comfort McCoy because he was hurt.  This will not be the last, but it was a whole new experience, none-the-less.  When I hold McCoy in my arms, he loves to look around at the surroundings and watch the other children play or look at people passing by.  Not on this morning—he buried his face into my shoulder and just cried and cried.  He screamed and hollered.  He looked at me and pouted his lip out and then took in a deep breath as he wrapped his chubby arms around my neck.  Mommy!  That hurt!  Let’s not do that again!!

We have been working on sitting up at home and at daycare.  Yesterday morning, when I dropped him off at daycare, we sat on the floor and he was playing with the various toys that surrounded him.  I was talking to one of his teachers, and boom!  He toppled over and bonked his head on the shelf.  I have never heard him scream that like before.  I swept him in my arms and just held him while he cried.  His teacher ran to the freezer and got an ice pack to put on his eye.  The swelling never came but a little bruise developed.

Sigh.  He’s going to be fine.  But let me tell you, that was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done so far in my journey to motherhood.  And once he stopped crying (still whining a little), I had to leave him.  And that was the second hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

I love you, McCoy—even though this is the start of many bruises and bumps on your head.

Technology: DVR and Podcasts

DVR:
The thing that I love most about DVR is the simple fact that all of my favorite TV shows are ready for me with the push of a button. This gets especially lovely when you have a very busy schedule (like me) and a baby (like me) and a husband who works crazy, odd hours (like me).

But one must be able to watch the episodes recorded in order to delete them to make room for new episodes. As a firm believer that DVR can change your television watching experiences, my goal is to make sure that the episode list stays current. It's hard though when you don't watch all the shows on time-- and have way too many to keep up with. We are currently *recording* Glee, Lost, American Idol, Gossip Girl, Ace of Cakes, Poker (Whit), Flash Forward, and Hoarders. Some of these shows come on several times a week (example: Ace of Cakes). Oh, the stress of television watching!

Onward: Podcasts.

Nick has been subscribing to many different podcasts and when we went down to Wichita to shoot the wedding, we listened and watched a few. It got me turned onto looking into the different podcasts available-- and since I have an iPod from school, I thought how perfect for my LONG drives to and from school. I spent the last 45 minutes downloaded several different podcasts to import on my iPod. I have a story telling one, a couple of photography ones, and a couple of organizing (flylady) podcasts. I'm looking for inspiration!

Technology rocks my world. Without it, I would be a lost soul. Or just really bored.

Sweet Baby Boy

What a Busy Week!

I feel like I haven't posted in forever! (Even though it's only been since Wednesday).

The biggest news this week has been solids! McCoy is eating solids! We started on Avacado on Sunday-- it was his (half) birthday eve. Then Monday morning, we started Sweet Potatoes. He's been on sweet potatoes for the whole week... Thursday, I gave him a taste of green beans. That's what's on the menu this week. He LOVES food! He fits right into this family. I love to feed him because he is just so darn cute! ;)

Here are a few pictures to amuse you for the day! He thinks they are tasty! :) Next stop: green beans!











Be sure to check out my Photography 365 project by clicking the link at the top of the home page. It will take you to an explaination followed by a link that will take you to the blog. Enjoy! It's been great fun to post pictures every day and see improvement. According to my brother, he says he can already see an improvment. There will probably be some of the wedding coming up so watch out for those as well! It was hard work! :)

Working Mother

If you would have asked me three years ago, I would have told you that I was going to stay home with my children instead of working. I believed that it was stupid for a mother to have children and then stick them into daycare for 40+ hours a week-- seeing them less then their daycare providers. I am torn between a beautiful son and a career. I can honestly say that I love my job (even if it sounds as though I don't sometimes-- especially right now-- the stress!!). And we all know that I love McCoy more than my job, but I can't help feel that sometimes I'm a horrible mother because I'm a working one.

I have been super blessed with awesome daycare teachers, and a prinicpal that lets me go over to the CDC to feed McCoy on my lunch/plan. It does make it easier to make it through the day. I drop him off at 7:00 a.m. and get to see him at 11:30. Then I leave about 12:15 and pick him up at 3:40. But everyday, he falls asleep in the car ride home. I think it's because he doesn't sleep much during the day-- he is averaging about two 20-30 minutes naps. His teachers say he is nosy and doesn't want to miss out! (Sounds like his Momma!!!). But today, we stopped at Me-Ma's house for a short while. We got there about 4:00, ate dinner and played. Then I packed up our stuff and got into the car-- he feel asleep about 6:15 and has been asleep ever since. It's 9:00 pm now. Will he sleep through the night? I hope so, only because he needs a good nights' sleep. It's been awhile since he has had a good sleep. But am I a bad mother because I want him to sleep? No, he needs to feel refreshed and well-rested... right? Today, I saw my son for 3 1/2 hours. How is this parenting?

A working mother. Sigh.

On a good note, summer is 28 days away. So, to McCoy-- Momma and McCoy time is coming, dear son! You will be sick of me come August!!! :)

Click here to see a pooped McCoy.

Confidence

Sometimes when I am stressed out or having a bad day, something speaks to me.  I usually find it in an unexpected place or fashion.  Today, 4^th graders are watching “The Sound of Music”, and they just watched, “I Have Confidence”.  How perfect.  Especially since the stress level of my job is on the fritz.  Four programs in six weeks left of school.  Goodness me. 

Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack

The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I'm worthy
And while I show them
I'll show me

So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me

And mind me with each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn't lie in numbers
Strength doesn't lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up -- Wake Up!

It tells me all I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone
(Oh help!)

I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me!

I have learned many things about programs this first year in this district.

1)      I will always put 6^th, 5^th and perhaps 4^th grade in the fall.  By April/May, these kids are out-of-control-crazy.

2)      The younger kiddos can use less time to get their programs ready.  Because we drill, drill, drill.  They get it.

3)      Auditioning after school.

4)      Print the programs at least week beforehand, as to not stress out the office staff.

I will make it through with flying colors.  I will do my best, and end with a wonderful year.

“Everything will turn out fine”.  I have confidence.

Twice as Much, Half Less

Dear McCoy,

Today you are 6 months old. You are half way to becoming one year old. It's hard to believe that 6 months ago you were being born into this lovely world. You have been such a joy and a blessing to have around. You have taught me patience, kindness and most importantly, love. You have taught me to think of others first, and to quit being selfish. You are the sweetest baby around, barely ever crying or fussing. You can always make me laugh, with your little quirks and coquettish smiles. The way you kick your legs and move your arms when you are happy to see me makes my heart melt. You are always learning and always eager to explore the world around you. McCoy, you are almost on your way to crawling. It's amazing to watch you move to get where you want to go (at least, try to get where you want to go). You can move in a circle a dozen times, rolling over from back to front and back again.

You are so many things and you will become so many more. But looking back on this time with you, you are twice as much, and yet you are half less as well.

Your weight and length is twice as much as you were when you were born. You coo and babble twice as much. You roll over and play twice as much. You are twice as happy as you were before. You can sit and stand (supported) twice as much as last month alone. You can see things twice as far and your personality traits are twice as present. You are flirting twice as much, and laughing twice as much too.

But you are half as much also. You poop half as much as when you were first born. Unfortunately you have half as much hair as when you were born (grow back any day now!). You cry half as much and you sleep half as much (during the day). You have half as many clothing changes (thank goodness!) and you sleep in your cradle half as much as before (we are moving you to your big boy crib!).




McCoy, it is amazing how you can be so many things and yet be only 6 months old. I can't wait to see what the next day holds, what the next week brings, how the next month shows, and what the next 6 months will be like. I love you, dear son of mine. You are the center of my world.

Love,
Momma

A New Project

Of course, my life seems at its busiest… I want to start something new.  I have my camera back.  I am going to start 365 Photography.  I read about this being done many times before, even saw that one of my friends on Facebook is doing this until she gets married.  I should have started it when McCoy was born, but I’m missing a few days.  That would have been a very neat documentation of his first year, but maybe I will start that when he turns 6 months.  Then I will have TWO projects, I guess.  One for McCoy and one for myself.  I want to take pictures of everyday things that make my life normal.  I don’t want to go out and find little artistic things that I am searching for—I want to take pictures of my flowers, my dog, my sidewalk, my trees, my food, my house, my family, my car, my yard, my belongs, my… my… my. (After all, it’s always about me!) 

 

So, I took a picture yesterday, I will upload it tonight.  Now the question becomes, do I post my photography on this blogger, or do I create a new one for this project alone?  I think if I start another one, one will get overlooked and become empty.  And I’m doing really good posting something more often.  (I know not every day, but I don’t really have time for that!!!)  Actually, speaking of time, I just figured out how to write a blog post in an email and send it to my site!  So, hopefully I will be able to write more!  In fact, I’m writing this from school, even though Blogger is blocked!  Let’s just hope it works.

 

Here is a little picture to tie you over. (this is just a test to see if I can send pics through this email thing)