I remember when I was teaching, I always dreaded Mondays. The start of the week after a weekend away was always the most difficult day of the week to get the kids back into gear for learning. Now that I'm not teaching anymore, Mondays don't bother me so much. I don't get designated weekends anymore anyway. In retail you work when people have time to shop, specifically in the evenings and weekends, because more people are around then. I also noticed this year that I didn't dread the coming of August, like I have in the past. Just like Mondays, after having 2 months off, the start of the school year can be rough. It takes a lot of time and patience to build rapport with the new students and allow them to get a good handle on the classroom rules and the way that I wanted them to behave in my room. But this year, August was no big deal. I loved teaching. I loved my students and my coworkers. I didn't always love my administration who wouldn't stand behind me and back me up. I didn't love being so concerned with NCLB that we didn't get to teach social studies or writing. Our education system needs a rehaul. I hope that things will get better and that my daughter will receive a rounded education and not one based to tested standards. If being a teacher has taught me nothing else, it taught me how to be a good parent. And I intend to make sure that my daughter gets a great deal of learning done at home as well as at school. :) I can't wait! :)
Michael and I decided that we are going to be the uncool aunt and uncle who give books for Christmas. :P We'll be sure to give our nieces and nephews other things as well, but we'll make sure that a book is always part of the gift. I guess there are worse things in life that we could be. ;) On Pinterest I saw a "gift-giving guide for our kids" and decided to adopt the motto as my own. :) The motto went like this: "One they want, one they need, one they wear, one they read." Now, as our nieces and nephews range from newborn to 5, not everything will be appropriate for each of them. There is not much that a newborn or an 8 month old want. But clothes and books are always good. :) I'm getting excited to begin my Christmas shopping. :) I already have a few items bought! I think our baby girl and I will have to do some Christmas shopping together while I have so much time off work after she arrives. :)
When Michael left for work this morning he said, "Let's have the baby today." :) If only!! I think he was saying it more for my sake than anything else. :P I'm getting bigger and more uncomfortable, rolling over in bed is more difficult and more painful, my insides are literally kicking me, but more than anything I'm just anxious. I have very much enjoyed being pregnant. There have certainly been some aches and pains associated with it, but it really has been a fun and gratifying experience. I enjoy having my little girl with me all the time and feeling her bumps, kicks, nudges, stretches, turns, flips, and wiggles. They remind me that my inconveniences are for a purpose and that my perfect baby girl is on her way. I have loved Michael's reaction to the whole process. At first it was shock and disbelief, it was diificult to wrap our minds around the fact that we were pregnant and that our lives were going to change forever. I think he really believed that changes were happening when he saw how sick I was. Hearing her heartbeat for the first time was a big moment of reality, but I think he liked the second sonogram better when at 10 weeks and 4 days, we were able to see her tiny arms and legs moving all around and hear her excited heartbeat again. She finally looked like a person at that point and not a blob. I think things became a little more real for Michael at that point. My body began to change and Michael could tell them she was growing as she caused me to get bigger and rounder. Then she got strong enough that we could feel her movements. That has been very special for us. Michael likes to feel her rolls and kicks when she's active. But he has to stay quiet, because we have learned that he calms her down quite a lot, and when he talks, she doesn't want to move, just listen to him. :) Then she got big enough to see her movements outside of my belly. That has been crazy to see! But we have enjoyed all the little bumps and milestones along the way. :) We are down to 11 days until her due date. Maybe Michael's right, maybe today will be her day. I can only keep my fingers crossed and hope. ;)
I hope all of you have a great Monday. I need to go get ready for work. Stay tuned here for more details as our baby girl gets closer and closer to arriving! :) We have another doctor's appointment tomorrow, so I'll have more stats for you then, and hopefully by the end of this week we'll have a baby girl in our arms. :) I'm a numbers person, so here are the stats so far, can't wait to see more progression tomorrow!! :D
36 weeks + 4 days: 2cm dilated, 50% effaced, head engaged, 106,000 platelets
37 weeks + 4 days: 3cm dilated, 70% effaced, head in -2 station, 120,000 platelets
My prediction/hope for 38 weeks + 4 days: 5cm dilated, 100% effaced, head in 0 station, 125,000 platelets
Hey, if it's my hope. Then why not dream big, right?? ;) We will just have to wait and see. :) Have a great Monday! :D
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