I Think I'm In Love

I think I'm in love. With FlyLady.net. Yes, it's a cyber-person. I am in love with someone I've never met, never seen, and never talked to. But she/he is my hero.

This is right up my alley. Lists upon lists, schedules upon schedules, and cleaning to perfection to the nth degree. This is my new cleaning life. I just hope that I'm this hyped up about FlyLady in about... two weeks. So far, I've done everything I'm supposed to do (according to who??) for the first three days.

I've:

Shined my sink (even used an old toothbrush to clean around the faucets!)
Got dressed to my shoes (even though I did this before I met her)
Laid out my clothes for the next day
Did my before bedtime routine (this includes, laying out the clothes, brushing my teeth, shining my sink, and getting McCoy's bags ready for the next day)
Did my morning routine (this includes-- putting washed dishes away, getting dressed to the shoes, shower and clean the bathroom while you're in there)

Wow. This doesn't even sound like a whole lot, but as my best friend- FlyLady always says, "Baby steps! Baby steps!" I love her. She is the greatest.

I will be going to bed soon. Of course, after I finish my "before bedtime routine". Tonight, I'm throwing in a Hot Spot Cleanse (only 2 minutes! That's it!) I'm going to like this... especially if I can keep it up.

Go Tenessa! It's your birthday! You Rock! Go Tenessa! (doing the arm circle movement with fists clenched tightly... you know the one I'm talking about!!)

Poof! Probably in like twenty years I'll have a clean house (at this rate!!!)

A Bit About Myself

It seems that all of my blogs have been about McCoy.  And while I know that he is a big part of my life right now (and will be forever more), I haven’t said anything about myself lately.  I have neglected myself.  So this morning, I am going to blog about me. (of course that is my favorite subject—as we all know).

For the first time in my teaching career, I feel like I belong to the school.  I feel like I am a part of the Bradley family, that my opinions and decisions are valued, that I viewed as a professional in my field.  In the two years before, I felt as if I were a pawn in a chess game.  I felt that I was a baby, a newbie, someone who didn’t know how the system worked.  My Bradley principal is so awesome.  He is very supportive of the specials, especially music.  He has supported me in all my decisions with programs, discipline and any problems I have had.  He has made my transition to this school flawless and very smooth.  And now, he is resigning this year.  From the other teachers, I have heard that it will be awful next year.  I heard that he has made the building stress-free, that in the years before, the school was full of stress.  And now, the stress is gone.  And it feels like a safe place to work.  I love it!  I hope that next years’ principal will be just as supportive of the specials, and that they will not change a lot of things—schedules, programs, assemblies, etc. 

I have to keep thinking back to my former principal.  And then I will be reminded that anyone will be better than her. 

Other than that, my life has been pretty good.  Other than my head cold that I have had for about six days. 

I JUST CAN’T DO IT!  I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT MCCOY!!  Sigh… he is just so stinkin’ cute.

Baby Food

So far, we've had:

Cereal
Oatmeal
Sweet Potatoes
Avocado
Green Beans
Bananas
Carrots
Acorn Squash

I've also tried mixing several things together.  Of course, I've added cereal to almost anything that appeared too runny.  But I've also done:
Avocado and Bananas
Acorn Squash and Sweet Potatoes

I plan on trying:
Apple and Pear with Cinnamon
Trio of Root Vegetables (sweet potato, carrots, parsnip)
Butternut squash with orange juice
Sweet Potato and Broccoli
Mango and Bananas
Prunes!

This afternoon, I bought five apples and five pears.  I plan on introducing those fruits in the next couple of weeks.  Then the fun really begins!  I can start adding fruit to almost everything.  I can't wait to use more recipes from "Top 100 Baby Purees" by Annabel Karmel.  They look like so much fun!

Here are a few that I can't wait to make (during the summertime when I have a little more time):
Rutabaga, Carrot, and Peas
See-In-The-Dark Puree (onion, carrots, chicken stock and orange juice)
Potato, Summer Squash and Peas
Cinderella's Pumpkin (with leek, chicken stock)
Sweet Potato with spinach and peas
Chicken with sweet potato and apple
several fruit purees (ex. banana with apples, cantaloupe and strawberry, banana, avocado and yogurt, banana and tofu (I know!), mango and yogurt, banana and pear)
Peach and banana
Apple, strawberry and peach
Easy One Pot Chicken (with leek, chicken breast, carrot, sweet potato, chicken stock)
Tomato, cauliflower, and carrot with basil

The list goes on and on.  I just love cooking for my baby.  It's so much fun!!

My Baby Can:

Smile when he sees his Momma

Laugh when he finds something really amusing

Army crawl on the hard floor

Wiggle crawl on the carpet

Sit up on his own

Eat dinner with the family

Clap his hands

Clap his feet

Sit correctly in his high chair

Sit in a big boy car seat

Roll over—front to back, back to front

Eat paper

Drink from a sippy cup

Notifying Momma and Papa that he is taking a dump (by the grunting clues!)

Say “dada”

Keep a steady beat to music (only for a few measures though!)

Push the music buttons to get his toys to play

 

My baby is learning and growing so fast.  And I just love every minute of his new discoveries.  He is the best baby boy that a new mother could ever ask for.  I love you, McCoy!!

 

Here is what I did on Wednesday...!!!!!!

12:00 AM—sleep

5:15 AM—wake up

5:30 AM—shower, get ready, prepared bottles

5:45 AM—loaded up car, McCoy in the car

6:00 AM—drive to CDC

6:15 AM—PUMPED (yes, while driving)

6:30 AM—

6:45 AM—arrive at CDC

7:00 AM—fed McCoy, changed diaper, get dressed

7:15 AM—leave for Bradley

7:30 AM—band

7:45 AM—

8:00 AM—back to classroom

8:15 AM—back to auditorium for 6^th grade rehearsal

8:30 AM—6^th grade rehearsal

8:45 AM—6^th grade rehearsal

9:00 AM—6^th grade rehearsal

9:15 AM—6^th grade rehearsal

9:30 AM—6^th grade rehearsal

9:45 AM—4^th grade class (started at 9:50 am)

10:00 AM—

10:15 AM—

10:30 AM—

10:45 AM—3^rd grade class

11:00 AM—

11:15 AM—

11:30 AM—drive to CDC

11:45 AM—fed McCoy

12:00 PM—time with McCoy at CDC

12:15 PM—drive to Bradley

12:30 PM—PLC meeting with specials teachers

12:45 PM—Kindergarten #1

1:00 PM—

1:15 PM—switch—Kindergarten #2

1:30 PM—

1:45 PM—1^st Grade class (started at 1:40)

2:00 PM—

2:15 PM—

2:30 PM—2^nd Grade class

2:45 PM—

3:00 PM—

3:15 PM—Pack up stuff, milk out of the fridge, gathered bags

3:30 PM—drive to CDC

3:45 PM—Pack up McCoy/ talk to teachers

4:00 PM—drive to CVS, pump while driving

4:15 PM—CVS for medication pick up

4:30 PM—

4:45 PM—Arby’s for a quick dinner… I know, sick!  Drive home

5:00 PM— finished picking up the house

5:15 PM—fed McCoy

5:30 PM—

5:45 PM—

6:00 PM—changed clothes and got ready for recital

6:15 PM—people arrived

6:30 PM—PIANO RECITAL

6:45 PM—

7:00 PM—

7:15 PM—

7:30 PM—

7:45 PM—

8:00 PM—fed McCoy

8:15 PM—

8:30 PM—fed McCoy avocado!

8:45 PM—last people left

9:00 PM—cleaned up the kitchen and dining room, took leaf out of the table

9:15 PM—

9:30 PM—went to bed

9:45 PM—started watching tv (American Idol) but fell asleep

10:00 PM—

10:15 PM—

10:30 PM—

10:45 PM—

11:00 PM—

 

And McCoy slept through the night!  Bless his little heart!!!!!

 

 

Here is what I did Tuesday....

12:00 AM—sleep

5:30 AM—wake up, get ready, prepared bottles

5:45 AM—loaded up car, dog outside, McCoy in the car

6:00 AM—drive to CDC

6:15 AM—

6:30 AM—

6:45 AM—arrive at CDC

7:00 AM—fed McCoy, changed diaper, get dressed

7:15 AM—leave for Bradley

7:30 AM—choir

7:45 AM—

8:00 AM—back to classroom

8:15 AM—auditorium for 6^th grade rehearsal

8:30 AM—

8:45 AM—

9:00 AM—back to classroom for 5^th grade

9:15 AM—5^th grade class (started at 9:05 am)

9:30 AM—

9:45 AM—PLAN (started at 9:50 am)

10:00 AM—PUMPED

10:15 AM—

10:30 AM—prepared for 3^rd grade

10:45 AM—3^rd grade class

11:00 AM—

11:15 AM—

11:30 AM—drive to CDC

11:45 AM—fed McCoy

12:00 PM—time with McCoy at CDC

12:15 PM—drive to Bradley

12:30 PM—lunch

12:45 PM—Kindergarten #1

1:00 PM—

1:15 PM—switch—Kindergarten #2

1:30 PM—

1:45 PM—1^st Grade class (started at 1:40)

2:00 PM—

2:15 PM—

2:30 PM—2^nd Grade class

2:45 PM—

3:00 PM—

3:15 PM—Pack up stuff, milk out of the fridge, gathered bags

3:30 PM—drive to CDC

3:45 PM—Pack up McCoy/ talk to teachers, changed McCoy twice!

4:00 PM—

4:15 PM—drive home, pump while driving!!

4:30 PM—

4:45 PM—arrive home, unloaded McCoy, milk in the fridge, started laundry, folded laundry, fed McCoy

5:00 PM—Rachel’s piano lesson

5:15 PM—

5:30 PM—Kyle’s piano lesson

5:45 PM—

6:00 PM—Elizabeth’s piano lesson

6:15 PM—

6:30 PM—fed McCoy

6:45 PM—Elizabeth Jordan’s lesson

7:00 PM—

7:15 PM—outside with Whit (watched him water trees!)

7:30 PM—cleaned McCoy’s room

7:45 PM—cleaned kitchen, dining room

8:00 PM—

8:15 PM—washed bottles

8:30 PM—cleaned sink

8:45 PM—talked to Whit

9:00 PM—got bottles ready

9:15 PM—made McCoy’s teachers’ gifts

9:30 PM—

9:45 PM—headed to bed

10:00 PM— watched TV (glee)

10:15 PM— and zzzzz… fell asleep

10:30 PM—

10:45 PM—

11:00 PM—

 

Woke up at 5:15 AM, to do it all over again.

Okay... ENOUGH!

Alright, enough pity partying.  Let’s get back to business:

May: Become a better mother.

This shouldn’t be so hard; I’ve only been a mother for six and a half months.  I consider myself a mother who is laid back and gentle.  I want McCoy to discover things for himself, but with the help of a leader (me).  I hope that he understands that he can always explore and look around, ask questions and listen to the answers.  I want him to be able to make conclusions and predictions and learn about the world around him.  I want to help him through these processes without hindering his abilities to grow.  I want him to fall down a few times (*gasp*) and hit his little head (*double gasp*) so that he learns how to prevent it the next time.  I want to raise an independent young man who will be able to take care of himself and a family one day.

So, to do this, I’m going to focus on a couple of things for myself.  First, I will try better at rushing to him when he starts to cry.  I am going to start doing this to encourage him to become a self-soother.  But let’s not get carried away—I mean, if he’s crying, I will comfort him.  Second, I want to always show him that I will be there—even if it’s in another room or across post.  I want him to know that I will be back soon.  I think this is an area where I need the least amount of work and the most amount of work.  Confused?  Well, I do a good job of arriving to and from CDC at the same time each day.  But when I’m teaching piano lessons, I could practice telling McCoy I will be back in a little while or after Elizabeth’s lesson.  I mean, he can understand me.  I just know it.

I also want to spend more quality time with him.  My little project this week will tell me exactly how much time I’m spending with and without him and I can re-evaluate my situation.  Mom told me that the time I do spend with McCoy is quality time—she assured me that even some stay-at-home mothers don’t spend quality time with their children.

May should be a fun month!  I’m glad that this is what is in store for me to practice, because with all the stress of the end of the year and programs, I will need my safe-haven—McCoy.  I love him dearly!

Every Second Counts, Every Minute Matters, Every Hour is Important

This is NO WAY, shape or form against what my mother and I talked about when I got home from Rezound tonight. I promise, Momma. I'm not mad or sad or angry about our conversation-- it just made me think about time.

Time is so funny. I have been accused before (not just by my mommy) that I spend my time in an un-prioritized way. So, I want to prove to myself that I actually do more than just play on the computer, blog, take pictures, watch tv or eat. I want to prove to myself that I'm doing what I say I'm doing. Every second counts, every minute matters, every hour is important. How can I say that I don't have time  to do something that is necessary for my family or the up-keep of my household.  I don't have time to do the dishes; I don't have time to clean the floors; I don't have time  to mop the kitchen floor; I don't have time to run to the bank, or fold the laundry or, or, or.  The list will go on.

I have done this assignment before.  I did it once for a class (now I can't remember which one).  I know that Dr. Johnson was our teacher and for one week, we were to record EVERYTHING we did.  This was to prove that people say they too busy to get stuff done and they don't have time for anything.  This was to prove that they have the same 24 hours as the rest of us.  So, maybe it's time that I re-visit this little assignment.  I will get myself a little notebook (don't worry, Whit, I will use one I already have.  There is no need to buy a fresh one, although I'd like to!) and I will record what I'm doing for every 15 minutes of a week (let's try for the rest of the work week-- maybe I can remember what I did today, but we'll just start tonight). This is to prove what?  That I really am busy?  Or that I really don't have the time to the necessary stuff I need to?  Or to prove to myself that I need to re-visit the way I spend my time?  I think we shall find out!

(Just a little side note-- don't you think it's funny that I'm excited about giving myself a homework assignment?  I think someone  is ready to go back to schhoooooooolllll!!!) :)

Now, should I post every night?  Or wait until next week and post the entire thing?  Let's try every night... I think that will hold me more accountable.

Again, I want to stress that my mom loves me and that she is not scolding or yelling at me about time... I love my mother and I think she knows exactly what I need, when I need it.  Thank you, Mother!