Baby M is having a party...

...let's just say he or she is doing some very serious acrobatics this weekend! Love feeling him/her and even more listening at the end of the day. Just thought I'd share.

Smiling

I absolutely love that there are people in my life who always make me smile. I have been one hormonal rollercoaster the past few days. Seth worked all day today and I tried to get caught up on laundry as best I could and rest from a long week last week. This evening, I was able to catch up with an old friend and I just smiled the entire time. Every time I talk to her she just has the most positive attitude and kind things to say. Such a blessing to have people like that in my life.

Well it took 17 weeks, but they are here....

My hormones have finally arrived...in full force. I have spent the last few days going from high to low and back and forth. Thursday, I left school, was fine, couldn't get hold of Seth on the phone (mind you he is at work in a spray booth and typically doesn't have his phone on him or answer it on the clock) and then started to cry. I felt like a CRAZY person. I tried calling my dad to validate my feelings and he was busy, so I called Amanda who reassured me that my feelings were legitamate, agreed with me and made me feel much less insane. Friday, I barely got out of bed, made it to work, my students were great, but by lunch I wanted to cry because the person I eat lunch with was helping with interviews so I couldn't eat with her...again...CRAZY. This morning I woke up, watched a movie, hopped in the shower and then decided that I didn't want to get dressed because everything I would try would look awful and I would never look as cute as all those other pregnant girls. My way of coping? I want to stay home all day and clean my house. BUT, I have a family event (that I have been looking forward to, mind you) today at 1:00 in south Austin.

So here's what I need. I just need people to agree with me in terms of my baby and my pregnancy. If I say I think it's an alien, just go with it. If I ask you to look at various parts of my pregnant body and ask you if it's normal, the answer is yes. If I pick up the ugliest thing known to man and say how precious it is, just leave it alone. If I say I feel ugly, help me find something else to wear. The other thing I need....VALIDATE my feelings! If I'm weepy and crying, tell me it's okay to feel that way, that it's normal. If I call and you answer and all you hear is crying, tell me you love me and it's going to be okay. If I'm angry and acting like a looney person, explain to me that it's okay to be angry but try to divert my attention to something else. Don't tell me I am over-reacting. By the time we are having that conversation, it's too late. I am in complete meltdown mode and logic just won't work.

I feel like I'm not asking much. Agree with me (to pregnancy related items) and validate that my feelings are okay and normal.

Where to begin...

Christmas break has been, well, long. I got SUPER sick the Friday we got out and did not get out of bed until the Monday after Christmas. That is not, however, what I'm going to write about. I am going to write about how wonderful my husband is and how lucky I am to be his wife. Super sick doesn't begin to describe what I went through. We had quite a scare between fever and all the other symptoms added to my inability to put food down for ten days. Seth was so amazing through it all. He spent his day checking on me, slept on the couch so he could take care of the dogs without waking me up AND pulled together a last minute Christmas that was BEYOND thoughtful. Our plans had to change because I could not travel at Christmas, which meant we didn't get to see any family and I was horribly sad and disappointed. Seth, knowing how much Christmas means to me, spent Christmas Eve (his day off from work) going from HEB to WalMart and back again to gather things to make our Christmas special. He bought me a new stocking filled with a pregnancy magazine that talked about cold/flu while pregnant, two books and bath salts with menthol to help me breathe easier and a new body pillow so that I could sleep comfortably as my belly continues to grow. He also bought stuff to make Christmas chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing and rolls, a table cloth and hot pink tulips (my favorite) to decorate the table for dinner. It was by far the most special Christmas I have spent with Seth and I will forever be grateful!

The week following Christmas I spent trying to get my energy and appetite back and went and saw my parents. Then came New Year's Eve...let's just say if Jackass ever needs material, we've got some for them! Luckily, Seth and I were only spectators in it all, but let's just say it involved beer pong, powerful fireworks and bare skin...YIKES. We slept until 11:30 today trying to recover (not from hangovers, but exhaustion) from yesterday. Prior to the NYE festivities, we spent four hours shopping for Seth's Las Vegas Convention clothing and then had to exchange sizes today! It's been wonderful being home with him this week and last. It's nice to not have to worry about work for two weeks and actually be able to enjoy EVERY MINUTE of the day!

On the baby front, the doctor seems to think my illness is nothing to be concerned about but we will check Monday when I go for my monthly visit. My belly is continuing to grow and with my being sick, I still have no weight gain. We are 16 weeks and 2 days in today! I can't believe that in 5 short months Baby M will be here! Just can't wait...neither of us can!

Trains or Big Girl Panties...take your pick

So I've decided that some people are going to get the sweet Little Engine That Could train in the mail to encourage them this week and others, well...they are getting a pair of big girl panties...and a note that says "Put your big girl panties on and get over it!"

It's the holiday season...adults are tired and excited and kids are, well kids. They are acting like little angels one minute and turkeys the next. AND when you teach school, it is to be expected that a week containing a sing along, holiday fine dining and holiday parties is going to be miserably exhausting. I am pretty sure this is where the phrase if you can't beat em, join em was created. Sit back, teach fun game lessons and enjoy your students. After the break you can worry about re-training them for school and being a hardass.

It's not just teachers (all my teacher friends, trust me...if it were you, I'd tell you..)
I stood behind a lady in line at the pharmacy who actually put her hand on her hip and stomped her feet because it was taking longer than she liked. REALLY?! All I could her in my head was "Don'ta stomp your last season Prada shoes at me honey" (Legally Blonde anyone) GET OVER YOURSELF.

Oh and ps...the world does not revolve around just one or a few people...we all have stress in our lives and we all need to accept it, deal with it and move on...remember...you don't want the panties, you want the train...

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Have a little bit of the blues lately...

...trying to stay out of a funk. Seth's been busy with work, I've been busy with work, evenings are full of overtime type activities for Seth and grad school work for me. My body is changing and while I am grateful for that because that means it's doing what it should be, I'm feeling a little low about my appearance. I even convinced myself that my body disgusts my husband and that I look like a fatty. Now, add that to stress and hormones and imagine what's happening in my brain. I am not the first person to ever feel this way, I know that. And I don't mean to complain, I just need some inspiration. Trying to climb out of the hole I've fallen into. I keep telling myself, this is just one moment of hormones...who knows, the next I could be feeling like God's gift to men!~ LOL.

It's been a while...

Life has been crazy busy, but this post won't be a long one to catch you up...

Started Grade School, now almost through the first semester with A's in both classes. My case load at work is much lighter this year (not sure how it could have been heavier than last year). Got to attend a phenomenal Autism Conference in October - met Temple Grandin, Carol Gray and Tony Attwood!

The big news of the year though is that we are pregnant! Well...I'm pregnant and we are expecting I guess! As of today, we are 12 weeks and 4 days. Heading out to the doctor shortly. I've discovered that people say horribly rude and hurtful things to pregnant people. For example: That's not baby, that's fat. Are you sure it's not twins? A little walking would do you some good. AND THAT"S JUST THE BEGINNING! First of all, I have lost 8 pounds since we found out (if morning sickness is a sign of a healthy pregnancy, then we are all good here!). Secondly, most of the clothes that I bought are too big in the back and legs, it's just baby. Now don't get me wrong, lots of people say nice things, but it's the mean ones that you hold on to. I understand very clearly now why they tell teachers for every negative thing, have three positives to go with it!