January:
-I found out I was pregnant with Kate Rivers at the very end of December, so I had my first doctor's visit at the beginning of this month. I was just trying to take in the fact that I was pregnant, and I was also trying not to worry myself sick!
-We also started back to school from Christmas Break this month. I was trying to get back into routine.
-Nothing else extremely exciting happened this month besides going to my first doctor's visit. :)
February:
-We had a snow day this month so we were out of school the Friday before Valentines Day. It was so nice because we were also out the next Monday because of President's Day! It was a fun 4 day weekend!
-Keith and I had several movie/dinner dates this month. That was a lot of fun, too!
-At the end of February, I announced that I was pregnant!! :) So exciting!
March:
-I stayed sick most of March with sinus stuff. So not fun.
-We also had Spring Break this month. I spent most of Spring Break sick--so miserable.
-We gave my sister-in-law a baby shower this month (she had a baby boy in April).
-The Monday after Spring Break, I got SO sick with the stomach virus and sinus infection. Keith also had it....I was terrible!
-The last day of March, we found out that we were having a GIRL! I was soooo excited!
April:
-Easter was at the beginning of this month. We had a fun Easter. Ava's dress was gorg (if I do say so myself) :) We went to eat at Keith's parents with the whole family on Easter Sunday.
-My sister-in-law, Nancy, had her first baby (a boy) on April 12th....such a wonderful day! John Wesley has been SUCH a blessing to our family, and he is soooo sweet and laid back--always has a smile on his sweet face. Love him!
-My 28th(!) birthday was April 15th. We went to dinner and a movie for my birthday. My parents also came from North Mississippi to visit and take me out to eat--they also brought a cake.
-My class took a field trip to the zoo mid April. We had a great time!
May:
-Ava turned 2 on May 7th. We had a birthday party for her the weekend before her birthday. She had so much fun, and got lots of cute things. Keith and I took her to the zoo the day of her birthday (we did this the year before, too, so I think we may make this a tradition).
-We got out of school at the end of May. It was kind of a stressful time because I found out I would be moving from 4th grade to 5th grade, which meant I had to change rooms. Therefore, I had lots of packing to do....
-I was just so happy to be out of school for the summer so I could enjoy being home with Ava. It was also nice to be out of school the last trimester of my pregnancy.
-We also went to Ship Island at the end of this month with Keith's sister and her husband. That was a lot of fun.
June:
-June was a fun month. I was enjoying my summer, and having so much fun with Ava.
-This month began my "every other week" doctor's visits. I was actually glad I was to that point. I never minded my doctor visits at all. My doctor was great, and I loved to hear what she had to say about the pregnancy.
-Towards the end of the month, we took a trip to Gulf Shores. This was during to oil spill, and we were worried about the oil, but the beaches were fine until the very end of the week. Our little family with with my sister's family and my mom, and it was really just the best time!
July:
-Another fun month! I was really hot by this point, but still enjoying pregnancy.
-Keith and I took a trip to Vicksburg to watch the Miss Mississippi pageant. We had so much fun.
-I also spent a good part of this month getting my classroom ready for school, and getting my lesson plans done. I was honestly not happy about it. I just REALLY wanted to be able to stay home with my girls this year, but didn't think I would be able to.
-I got the nursery ready for the new baby. We also got Ava switched to a new room and a big girl bed.
August:
-This was probably the best month of the year for me!
-I started school August 2nd. My last day was August 20th. School went well. However, I was really starting to swell from the pregnancy so I was kind of uncomfortable.
-I was having weekly doctor's visits by this point, and honestly starting to deal with some anxiety. I don't think I stopped really worrying about Kate Rivers and my pregnancy until she was in my arms....it didn't help that she wasn't as active as Ava was. I went to one of my weekly appointments, and it took a few minutes to find the heartbeat--scared me to death!
-As I said earlier, August 20th was my last day at school. My c-section was scheduled for Tuesday, August 24th. That Monday I took the day for myself and did some shopping and getting last minute things ready for the baby. Keith and I went to dinner that night while my mom watched Ava.
-August 24th-Kate Rivers' birthday!!!!! Such a great day!!! :)
September:
-I was on maternity leave this entire month, and just trying to adjust to life with 2 children.
-I just don't have much to share from this month because we spent most of the month at home! :)
October:
-We finally started getting out more this month.
-We took Kate Rivers to the state fair, and it was sooo much fun!!!
-I went back to work for a week after maternity leave, and decided that I was going to stay home with my girls full time--Best.Decision.Ever!
-We also had our church's Fall Festival this month. It was so much fun take the girls to that.
-For Halloween, we went to a friend's house and took the kids trick-or-treating.
November:
-One of my favorite months! I love November.
-We didn't have a whole lot going on this month. We just enjoyed the girls and Thanksgiving with our families!
December:
-This was a busy month.
-We had lots of Christmas parties this month, and just really enjoyed the Christmas season!!!
I look forward to seeing what 2011 holds in store for our family!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Kate Rivers is 2 Months Old
Kate Rivers turned 2 months old Sunday. I can't believe she has been with us for 2 months. Time has flown!
Here is what she is up to right now:
-She smiles all of the time! I think she is going to be a happy baby!
-She has discovered her feet. She will sit in her bouncy seat and stare at them for the longest time. She is amazed by them.
-She loves her playmat, but she is not a fan of tummy time.
-I think she is beginning to like bath time better. She doesn't scream the whole time we are giving her a bath anymore.
-She does not like being put in her car seat, but once she is all buckled in, she is fine!
-She is now awake most of the day. I am going to try to start putting her down for naps in her own bed in her nursery. I am trying to ease her into her own bed.
-I am not sure how much she weighs now, but I can definitely tell she has put on some weight. This is a good thing.
-She is still spitting up quite a bit, but I *think* it is getting better.
She is such a joy, and we are just loving being a family of four!
Here is what she is up to right now:
-She smiles all of the time! I think she is going to be a happy baby!
-She has discovered her feet. She will sit in her bouncy seat and stare at them for the longest time. She is amazed by them.
-She loves her playmat, but she is not a fan of tummy time.
-I think she is beginning to like bath time better. She doesn't scream the whole time we are giving her a bath anymore.
-She does not like being put in her car seat, but once she is all buckled in, she is fine!
-She is now awake most of the day. I am going to try to start putting her down for naps in her own bed in her nursery. I am trying to ease her into her own bed.
-I am not sure how much she weighs now, but I can definitely tell she has put on some weight. This is a good thing.
-She is still spitting up quite a bit, but I *think* it is getting better.
She is such a joy, and we are just loving being a family of four!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
My New Job!
Well, I decided to be a stay-at-home mom again last week, and it feels great!!! I really don't even know where to start with this besides the fact that I have wanted to be home with my girls while they are so young for a long time now.
Most people know that I stayed home with Ava the first 15 months of her life, and it was the most wonderful job I have ever had. I felt like I was really where God wanted me to be at that point in my life. However, financial reasons forced me back to work in August of last year. Let me just say that Keith and I are very good with managing our money and saving. We are frugal. We don't have a house payment (we live in a parsonage) and no credit cards. The only debt we have is my vehicle. We just came to a point where it was necessary for me to go back to work. We were just spending a little more than we were bringing in.
I was ok with going back to work at first. However, I quickly got to the point to where I just wanted to be with Ava and felt like that's where I should be. However, money was still not working out.
In December, I found out I was pregnant with Kate Rivers. This added to my longing to be home with my children. I was SO worried that I would wish I had stayed home with Kate Rivers her first year of life when I got older. Keith and I sat down numerous times and looked at our budget. Even cutting back to the bare minimum, the numbers still weren't adding up. However, we figured out the amount we would need in order for me to be able to stay home. I could make this much money working at a half day preschool or a Mother's Morning out. That wasn't an option, though, because of the time Kate Rivers would be born.
I was devastated that I was going to have to teach Kate Rivers' first year of life. I knew she was going to change so much, and I would miss out on a lot of that...my job is not one that I can leave at school. I HAVE to bring work home in order to keep my head even halfway above the water. There is not time at school to get this done so I must bring it home. Also, I felt bad leaving my children in daycare all day everyday, especially when I ended up working a lot of 10-12 hours day. It is MY job to raise my children, and their parents should be the ones to spend the most time with them while they are so young. Also, God can find another great teacher for my students, but there will NEVER be another mother for my own children. This is the only shot that I get at being their mother, and my priorities were just all out of order while I was working. I had hardly any time to spend with them even when I was home because I was bringing soooo much work home with me.
Now, if you must work, or even if you feel called to be a working mom, that is fine with me, and I have no problem with that. That's great that you are doing what God is calling you to do. I just felt like I needed to do what is best for me and MY family. Every family is different, but I just knew with all of my heart that I was supposed to be home at this season in my life--without a doubt.
Like I said, I was just really upset about having to work this year, but I was trying to find a way to stay home next year, or at least find something part time. I was just going to enjoy my maternity leave to the fullest and tough it out for the rest of the year. However, I got to thinking how old Ava and Kate Rivers would be in May (9 months and 3) and how much I would have missed out on (because I would always be counting down to the next holiday or summer break).
I actually went back to school last week. We found out Monday morning that Keith got a pretty big raise. The amount of money we will get paid each month is almost the exact amount we had figured we would need to come out ahead at the end of the month...wow! After coming home home a few days completely stressed, I talked to my principal Wednesday afternoon. I just told her how I was stressed out, and I told her about Keith's raise, and how I probably would have stayed home this year if I knew he was getting the raise. She then asked me if I was trying to tell her that I wanted to stay home, and I told her that I really did feel like I was being called to be home right now and be a full-time mom. She told me that would be fine as long as she could find another teacher. The next day, she came to my room and told me she had found someone. The lady she found had just finished a maternity leave teaching a 5th grade class at our school for a friend of mine who had just had a baby. Our principal went ahead and hired this lady after the maternity leave to tutor students, but she really wanted to be in the classroom. My principal offered her my classroom job, and she was so happy and excited to take it.
I just all worked out. First, I was soooo thankful that my principal was so understanding my wishes to be home at this time. Second, it worked out well with the teacher who took my place. She stayed home with her children for 13 years, but she decided last May that she was ready to get back in the classroom. She came and talked to my principal at the end of May, but unfortunately by then, my principal did not have any positions available. However, it worked out for her to do the maternity leave for Mandy. Something DID come available at the end of the summer, but this teacher couldn't take that position because she was already committed to the maternity leave position. The timing worked out perfectly for her because she was able to take my position after the maternity leave position. Last, the fact that Keith got the raise he did was just perfect. People just don't get raises like that right now. We thought that if he got anything, it would be a lot less than what he did. It just amazes me that it was just the right amount for me to stay home.
I felt God calling me to stay home a long time ago, but being the planner that I am, I was just too afraid to let go and trust Him and have faith in Him that He would work it out. It just shows that if God has a plan for you, He will take care of it, and He will come through and work it out for you. I have honestly never been so sure that God has called me to do something as I do about this, and it just feels awesome that I am able to live out my dream!
Let me say, though, that I am VERY thankful that I had the job I did. I know that I was very blessed to even have a job. There are so many people who are not able to find jobs, and I am thankful that I was. I just felt that at this point in my life, my calling is to be home with my children full-time. I hope anyone reading this will not think that I was unappreciative of my job because I was. Thanks in advance for understanding this! :)
It has been a long road to get to this point, but I am so thankful that it worked out. I am so looking forward to this new exciting chapter in my life! :)
Most people know that I stayed home with Ava the first 15 months of her life, and it was the most wonderful job I have ever had. I felt like I was really where God wanted me to be at that point in my life. However, financial reasons forced me back to work in August of last year. Let me just say that Keith and I are very good with managing our money and saving. We are frugal. We don't have a house payment (we live in a parsonage) and no credit cards. The only debt we have is my vehicle. We just came to a point where it was necessary for me to go back to work. We were just spending a little more than we were bringing in.
I was ok with going back to work at first. However, I quickly got to the point to where I just wanted to be with Ava and felt like that's where I should be. However, money was still not working out.
In December, I found out I was pregnant with Kate Rivers. This added to my longing to be home with my children. I was SO worried that I would wish I had stayed home with Kate Rivers her first year of life when I got older. Keith and I sat down numerous times and looked at our budget. Even cutting back to the bare minimum, the numbers still weren't adding up. However, we figured out the amount we would need in order for me to be able to stay home. I could make this much money working at a half day preschool or a Mother's Morning out. That wasn't an option, though, because of the time Kate Rivers would be born.
I was devastated that I was going to have to teach Kate Rivers' first year of life. I knew she was going to change so much, and I would miss out on a lot of that...my job is not one that I can leave at school. I HAVE to bring work home in order to keep my head even halfway above the water. There is not time at school to get this done so I must bring it home. Also, I felt bad leaving my children in daycare all day everyday, especially when I ended up working a lot of 10-12 hours day. It is MY job to raise my children, and their parents should be the ones to spend the most time with them while they are so young. Also, God can find another great teacher for my students, but there will NEVER be another mother for my own children. This is the only shot that I get at being their mother, and my priorities were just all out of order while I was working. I had hardly any time to spend with them even when I was home because I was bringing soooo much work home with me.
Now, if you must work, or even if you feel called to be a working mom, that is fine with me, and I have no problem with that. That's great that you are doing what God is calling you to do. I just felt like I needed to do what is best for me and MY family. Every family is different, but I just knew with all of my heart that I was supposed to be home at this season in my life--without a doubt.
Like I said, I was just really upset about having to work this year, but I was trying to find a way to stay home next year, or at least find something part time. I was just going to enjoy my maternity leave to the fullest and tough it out for the rest of the year. However, I got to thinking how old Ava and Kate Rivers would be in May (9 months and 3) and how much I would have missed out on (because I would always be counting down to the next holiday or summer break).
I actually went back to school last week. We found out Monday morning that Keith got a pretty big raise. The amount of money we will get paid each month is almost the exact amount we had figured we would need to come out ahead at the end of the month...wow! After coming home home a few days completely stressed, I talked to my principal Wednesday afternoon. I just told her how I was stressed out, and I told her about Keith's raise, and how I probably would have stayed home this year if I knew he was getting the raise. She then asked me if I was trying to tell her that I wanted to stay home, and I told her that I really did feel like I was being called to be home right now and be a full-time mom. She told me that would be fine as long as she could find another teacher. The next day, she came to my room and told me she had found someone. The lady she found had just finished a maternity leave teaching a 5th grade class at our school for a friend of mine who had just had a baby. Our principal went ahead and hired this lady after the maternity leave to tutor students, but she really wanted to be in the classroom. My principal offered her my classroom job, and she was so happy and excited to take it.
I just all worked out. First, I was soooo thankful that my principal was so understanding my wishes to be home at this time. Second, it worked out well with the teacher who took my place. She stayed home with her children for 13 years, but she decided last May that she was ready to get back in the classroom. She came and talked to my principal at the end of May, but unfortunately by then, my principal did not have any positions available. However, it worked out for her to do the maternity leave for Mandy. Something DID come available at the end of the summer, but this teacher couldn't take that position because she was already committed to the maternity leave position. The timing worked out perfectly for her because she was able to take my position after the maternity leave position. Last, the fact that Keith got the raise he did was just perfect. People just don't get raises like that right now. We thought that if he got anything, it would be a lot less than what he did. It just amazes me that it was just the right amount for me to stay home.
I felt God calling me to stay home a long time ago, but being the planner that I am, I was just too afraid to let go and trust Him and have faith in Him that He would work it out. It just shows that if God has a plan for you, He will take care of it, and He will come through and work it out for you. I have honestly never been so sure that God has called me to do something as I do about this, and it just feels awesome that I am able to live out my dream!
Let me say, though, that I am VERY thankful that I had the job I did. I know that I was very blessed to even have a job. There are so many people who are not able to find jobs, and I am thankful that I was. I just felt that at this point in my life, my calling is to be home with my children full-time. I hope anyone reading this will not think that I was unappreciative of my job because I was. Thanks in advance for understanding this! :)
It has been a long road to get to this point, but I am so thankful that it worked out. I am so looking forward to this new exciting chapter in my life! :)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Prayer Request
Please keep me in your prayers over the next few days. I start back to work on Monday. I am very thankful to have a job and I LOVE my students, but it is going to be REALLY hard to go back.
I have really enjoyed being home these past few weeks, and it has really made me miss my stay-at-home mom days. To be completely honest, I am hoping and praying I can go back to staying home after May. It's just something that I feel God has called me to do at this point in my life.
If you are a stay-at-home mom, NEVER take it for granted. I would give anything to be in that position right now, but it's just not doable right at this point being under a contract and all.
Like I said, I LOVE MY STUDENTS and have always wanted to be a teacher, but right now my babies at home need me more. Even though we have a great daycare, I feel really guilty that is where they are spending a majority of their days. I heard someone say recently that there will always be another teacher for the students. However, there will never be another mother for my children. I only get one shot at this, and I just want to do what is best for my sweet girls.
This is just hard on me, and I find myself counting down to the next holiday or break, so I will have more time at home with Ava and Kate Rivers. I hate to do that because I am missing out on all of the ways they are changing by wishing for time to go by.
If you think about it over the next few days, just say a quick prayer for me as go back to work that I will quickly get adjusted. :) I just keep reminding myself that working is not forever, and I am thankful that I will hopefully have the opportunity to stay home after May! That will get me through!
I have really enjoyed being home these past few weeks, and it has really made me miss my stay-at-home mom days. To be completely honest, I am hoping and praying I can go back to staying home after May. It's just something that I feel God has called me to do at this point in my life.
If you are a stay-at-home mom, NEVER take it for granted. I would give anything to be in that position right now, but it's just not doable right at this point being under a contract and all.
Like I said, I LOVE MY STUDENTS and have always wanted to be a teacher, but right now my babies at home need me more. Even though we have a great daycare, I feel really guilty that is where they are spending a majority of their days. I heard someone say recently that there will always be another teacher for the students. However, there will never be another mother for my children. I only get one shot at this, and I just want to do what is best for my sweet girls.
This is just hard on me, and I find myself counting down to the next holiday or break, so I will have more time at home with Ava and Kate Rivers. I hate to do that because I am missing out on all of the ways they are changing by wishing for time to go by.
If you think about it over the next few days, just say a quick prayer for me as go back to work that I will quickly get adjusted. :) I just keep reminding myself that working is not forever, and I am thankful that I will hopefully have the opportunity to stay home after May! That will get me through!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Kate Rivers is 1 Month (A Little Late)
Kate Rivers turned 1 month September 24th. Yes, this post is a little late!
She has really "woken up" lately. She is giving us the sweetest smiles and "cooing" a lot. Her "fussy" time is in the evening. She usually gets fussy around 7, and she does not like to go to sleep until about 11 or 12. This would be fine, but I have to go back to work on the 18th. :(
I really need to get her in a better pattern before then. Once she goes to sleep, she doesn't wake up until the next morning, and will usually go back to sleep after her first morning feeding, but I have to get up at 5:00 (I have to be at work no later than 6:45), so I am really going to have to start going to bed earlier. We are working on it, though! :)
Of course, I can't write a whole post about Kate Rivers without mentioning sweet Ava. She is doing great, too! She LOVES her "baby sister," and is such a great help!
She has really "woken up" lately. She is giving us the sweetest smiles and "cooing" a lot. Her "fussy" time is in the evening. She usually gets fussy around 7, and she does not like to go to sleep until about 11 or 12. This would be fine, but I have to go back to work on the 18th. :(
I really need to get her in a better pattern before then. Once she goes to sleep, she doesn't wake up until the next morning, and will usually go back to sleep after her first morning feeding, but I have to get up at 5:00 (I have to be at work no later than 6:45), so I am really going to have to start going to bed earlier. We are working on it, though! :)
Of course, I can't write a whole post about Kate Rivers without mentioning sweet Ava. She is doing great, too! She LOVES her "baby sister," and is such a great help!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Free Udder Covers!
I saw this on another blog and thought I would share too. You can get free Udder Covers from uddercovers.com You just have to pay the shipping which is great! These usually run about $32.00. These are great to have if you are a nursing mother, and they are really cute too!
The code is: family2010
The code is: family2010
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