Field Day

So today was field day for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade at our school. It was a pretty good day. We went to 9 of the 11 stations and spent most of the day outside. After lunch they had a teacher volleyball game which was supposed to be fun for the kids to watch. Well, not all of the classes came back to watch the volleyball game and the coaches had all the kids 'sit' on one side of the court.

Well, the problem came when the other teachers went to play the game. That left about 3-4 teachers to watch the 12-15 classes that were there to watch the game. The problems began when the game started. Several students stood up so they could see the game, not realizing that the game was going to be visible from any seat.

From that point, everyone else began to stand up. Then kids started getting bored and running around and chasing each other. I had to break up several shoving matches and the beginnings of at least two fights. Then a group of about 15 students decided it was a good time to try to go play on the obstacle course. Needless to say, that ended the game and any chance of field day that our students had left.

The most frustrating part was that the coaches had a bull horn; they could have told the students to sit down. Instead, they were watching the game themselves and not paying any attention to what was happening behind them.

Throughout the day I could feel Zoey kicking when the kids were playing at different stations. It was also entertaining to see one of my girls put her hat to the side like an 80's kid and do the running man when they put on an 80's song. It was also comical to hear some of my boys talking after I made the comment "I don't know about you, but I'm hungry!" trying to get the kids to line up for lunch. I could here about 3 of my boys talking and they said something like "and so is Zoey. When Zoey gets hungry so does Mrs. Lowe!"

My Innie

I discovered today that my belly button is becoming shallower and shallower.

It always makes me smile when someone comments on my belly getting bigger. Today it was our school librarian. She was one of the first at school to know as she was in the principle secretary's office when I came by to ask for the FMLA paperwork. She is such a sweet person to begin with and she was so excited when she found out!

I've started taking down things in my classroom. I focused on the walls and shorter bulletin boards today. The next step is to get the kids to help me organize the leveled library plus pack up all my books and everything I have in the cabinets.

Hopefully by the time next week rolls around I will have it all packed up and can just spend Friday moving boxes and cleaning staples out of the walls so that I am ready to go ASAP.

It is so hard to focus on these last few days. The kids are done and frankly so am I. Also, my mind is already on things to do to get ready for Zoey over the summer so everything is ready by the time school starts again and things to prepare for next school year moving grades and going departmentalized. I have all these ideas I want to start on and things I want to prep and things I want to look up and decide on for my room! It's all just so exciting! 6 more days!! Hip-Hip-Hooray!!!

Weekly Update A little late :/

How far along: 23 Weeks

How big is baby: The size of an ear of corn (8.5 in, 1.5 lbs.) This makes me laugh seeing as yesterday was Memorial Day and we had a cookout including corn on the cob!

Total weight gain: Last dr appointment it was about 8 lbs. and the dr. seemed satisfied with that so far.

Maternity clothes: Nothing new but I did discover this morning the only way I am still able to wear my black dress pants anymore is to wear a maternity top with them. I used to be able to wear them with a rubber band and zipped up most of the way so I could wear whatever top I wanted. However, the zipper only goes up a tiny bit now. 

Stretch marks: None yet. My skin is feeling tighter and itchy but I haven't seen any official stretch marks yet. 

Sleep: No real changes. I have noticed an increase in stuffy nose-ness. They say this is all due to hormones and other pregnancy things. It seems if I elevate my head ever so slightly I am able to clear my nose and sleep better. 

Movement: Earlier tonight I was laying in bed and Zoey must have been doing all kinds of summersaults and flips and flops in there because it sure looked like I had an alien trying to escape from my belly button!

Food cravings: Nothing consistent. 

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach (still) and being able to stay up till 2 am then get up at 6 for school and be perfectly fine to function all day. Hubby and I stayed up watching movies last night (well, one really, Juno, which got him SO excited about being a daddy!!) and didn't get to bed till 2:30 or 3 then we had to get up at 6 for work and school. Needless to say, when I got home I was more than ready to go to bed around 7 or 8 tonight. 

What I am looking forward to: Getting Zoey's room painted so we can start setting up her crib and sheets and everything. I also think we have nailed down a shower date so I'm starting to look forward to getting an invite list together for that. 

Milestones: Zoey is developing her sense of touch more and more each day. 

Oh, and THIS: I discovered in the shower today that if I stand up straight (I tend to hunch my shoulders out of a terrible habit from middle school) I am unable to see my toes anymore! Of course, I'm still small enough so that I can bend over a little and see them perfectly but the thought that Zoey is covering them that much is so exciting to me!

Monday Night Bible Study

I began attending the Monday Night Women's Bible Study when Jill began it around the beginning of this year. We read through the book Lies Women Believe and man oh man was it good! This time around we are reading Redeeming Love. I don't know all of these ladies very well yet but I am excited to get to know them better and to grow spiritually with them on our journey together.

I feel so blessed to be able to meet with these women each week and to grow together and to have that bond and to know that if I ever needed them any of them would be there for me in a heartbeat. 

Earlier tonight Zoey was doing all kinds of flip flops and summersaults in my tummy. It was so cool to be able to lay back and watch her make my stomach look like an alien was trying to emerge. Maybe she will be an Olympic swimmer or gymnast or maybe she'll be a soccer player or kickball champion or ballerina. Regardless she LOVES to move around when I lay still. 

This weekend

Wow, just one week until Zoey is technically viable outside the womb! That is amazing! Of course we hope she continues to grow as long as necessary but that thought along just blows my mind!

I also never thought I'd say this but it's only Sunday of our three day weekend and I'm bored already! I cleaned yesterday and I don't really have much to prep for school since we are so close to the end of the year. I just don't know what to do with myself.

I don't have anything to prep for Zoey right now (we are waiting to get her room painted before we start moving things in and rearranging). Plus we don't have any clothes or anything for her yet (we still have time of course she isn't coming for another 4 months).

The only things we are providing for the cookout tomorrow is a meat and the corn so there isn't anything to prep there.

Maybe I will go spend some time at the pool.

Dr Appointment

The doctor appointment went really well. He said everything looks good. And I found out so far I've gained about 8 lbs.

11 Days and Counting!

Just a few more days until summer vacation. I. CAN. DO. THIS. I am looking forward to having the time off and so are the kids. They are certainly looking forward to it.

I don't think I will ever get tired of feeling our sweet angel kick and wiggle around. It's so awesome-most of the time. It's not as wonderful when she decides to start playing jump on mommies full bladder right before lunch time but maybe she is just trying to remind me to make sure I go every change I get!

Weekly Update

How far along: 22 Weeks

How big is baby: The size of a papaya! She's 10.5 to 11.8 inches and weighs between 12.7 to 20.8 ounces!!

Total weight gain: We don't currently own a scale so I'm not sure. If I remember I can update when I go to the doctor on Wednesday

Maternity clothes: Nothing new added to the collection. However, the jeans I bought last year a size to big (for school so the legs weren't skin tight and they were appropriate for school) are now to the point where I have to close the button with a hair tie!

Stretch marks: None yet. My skin is feeling tighter and itchy but I haven't seen any official stretch marks yet. 

Sleep: It's going okay. The biggest issue I am having currently is not being able to sleep long hours anymore. The other night I went to bed around 10 I think but at 3:30 I woke up having to use the bathroom. From that point on I was wide awake. It got to the point where I got up around 4:30 to watch tv. 

Movement: The entire 4th grade went on a field trip to Arabian Knights on Friday. During the show they were playing music to go along with different parts of the show. Every time they played something she would just dance and kick away!  was teasing Tyler that she is going to grow up to be a horse lover!

Food cravings: Nothing consistent. It seems just the power of suggestion is what gets me. I saw some chipotle in a friend's fridge and began craving that. Or we drove past a chick-fil-a Friday on the way home from the trip and I wanted that.

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach and the occasional mixed drink. Of course she will be worth it all but it was nice after a tough day to come home and relax a little.

What I am looking forward to: The end of school! We are down to 3 weeks (13 days for the kids and 14 for me!!) and then I can start really working on Zoey's room and getting things ready for her. Our sweet roommates are officially moved out now so we have an empty room that I can start transforming!! I'm also looking forward to just generally getting the house ready and being able to prepare for next school year teaching 2nd grade math and science. 

Milestones: Zoey is developing her red blood vessels and her heat beat can now be heard not only with a doppler but also with a regular stethoscope!

Oh, and THIS: My mom and i went to church and then lunch. Then mom told me she wanted to buy me something for Zoey and it could be anything I wanted. I decided on the crib set because it was on sale and was the last one. We also went over to look at the crib to see it in person and to make sure that I liked it since I registered for everything online. Then mom tells me I was also getting the crib, mattress and converter rails today! So, we went home with a brand new crib and converter rails, a mattress AND the crib bedding set!! Sadly, someone opened the bedding set and took two of the mobile animals but we can always get different animals to add to it. I just love the bedding so much I don't want to risk taking it back and then not being able to get it again. 

Long Day

So, this morning like normal I was up between 7 and 8 am. Boo. I guess this is my bodies way of preparing me for when little Zoey comes. Anyway, I got up and I started a load of laundry and made breakfast. Then I cleaned the kitchen and got the last box of kitchen supplies from my father-in-law out of the garage and put in the dishwasher to wash. I also moved all of Zoey's stuff into what will be her room just to get it out of the garage.

Then I made my grocery list and went to the store. I came back and ate and then began working on the living room and dinning room. This included moving some of the extra pictures from our bedroom out the the living room. It is exciting getting to decorate our house for just the two of us again. Then I sat down and looked up a few things for next year as well as took a peak at my math curriculum just to get an idea of what I'll be getting myself into.

Tyler helped me move the extra bed into one of the spare rooms despite his poor back. Then mom and dad came over and dad changed the oil int he truck and we rearranged the garage so that the roommates stuff is on one side and ready for them to be able to pick up. Plus the stuff we are trying to see is out in case anyone wishes to come look at it or buy it.

I came in and made dinner, ate, looked up more stuff for next year and now here I sit watching Zoey bounce around. It's not even 7:30 and I already feel like I could lay down for the night and sleep! It was a very productive day and for that I am glad but I am no exhausted!

It's hard to believe that tomorrow I will be 22 weeks pregnant! Just two more weeks and little Zoey will have a chance of surviving outside my body should it come down to that! Wow! Of course I pray she stays put until she is fully developed but it is mind blowing that we have come this far! I pray she continues to grow and get strong each and every day!

Bittersweet Day

Today (well, yesterday really) was a bittersweet day. The girls moved officially moved out. On the one hand, I am SO happy for them! The new apartment complex they are living at is pretty sweet. It has an awesome pool, a mini gym open from 5:30-11 daily, a business center where you can print for free, a "dog spa" with treats for the pooches, free breakfast every Saturday morning and much much more. And, I would be lying if i said part of me wasn't glad to have the house just Tyler and I again. Especially with Zoey coming.

But, it certainly isn't the same without them. It's strange not to see two extra cars in the drive way or to see at least one of them sitting on the couch when I walk through the door. It's strange to have their bathroom empty not to mention most of their rooms.

I know they are just down the road and I have not doubt that we will be seeing lots of each other. They still have keys to our place and they know the garage code so if they want to come over of course they can at any time and know they are welcome.

This also gives Tyler and I the opportunity to (well, me I guess haha) start rearranging things in the kitchen and to bring in the things for Zoey we have. We can also bring in the extra bed and set it up to get it out of the garage. Plus it's just plain exciting to think about starting to set up Zoey's room!

I also found out today that next year I will be teaching math and science for 2nd grade. I'm excited about who I will be team teaching with. She is my age and the few interactions I've had with her (teaching different grades we haven't had much of a chance to interact yet) have shown her to be SUCH a sweet person. I am a little anxious about switching again only because I had such a rough experience with it earlier this year. However, the more I thought about it I realized it is a beautiful thing. If one of the classes ends up being a terribly tough class I will only have them for half a day verses risking having a tough class all day. Plus, in 2nd grade how tough can they really be? I mean, I've seen most of the first grade classes in the lunch room and none of them seem to be too terrible. All in all I think it is going to be a great year! The 2nd grade team is AWESOME and like I said my new partner seems like we are going to be a great fit!

A First Time for Everything

This morning on my way to work I had to pull over because I was getting sick. So far this hasn't happened to me during my pregnancy. I was really surprised. I've come to the conclusion it was just a fluke of my prenatal vitamins because for the rest of the day other than being a little sleepy I've felt fine.

I also got my lessons plans done for the rest of the year! It isn't much (there are only about 3 weeks left at this point) BUT it just feels good to have them done and ready to go. To have a direction to go and a plan laid out. Besides that, it frees up my time to think about how to plan for next year!

I have this vision in my head of what a good mom does and looks like in the morning. In my mind she is up in plenty of time to eat breakfast (now I am not saying homemade pancakes or anything but cereal or something) and then time to do a devo and drink some coffee all before getting ready for the day (and getting the baby ready). In my mind this is something I have been trying to do all week. I set the alarm so that I have an entire hour before I need to leave. I tell myself every night before falling asleep that this is going to be the day; I am really going to get up with the alarm and do all this. But, what ends up happening is I hit the snooze until I only have about 20 minutes or so until I have to leave the house. It doesn't matter if I go to bed at 8 or midnight, I still cannot get my behind out of bed. Clearly this is going to half to change in the next 4 and 1/2 months but just getting there is going to be a challenge.

Weekly Update

I saw this on a sweet friends blog and thought it would be fun to (attempt) to do the same on my page...I know I am a wee bit behind BUT seeing as I got things rolling a little late I think it's acceptable! ;)

How far along? 21 Weeks

How big is baby? Between a banana and a spaghetti squash!

Total weight gain: about 9 lbs.

Maternity Clothes?  A few that I have gotten as gifts for my birthday or from a friend when I first discovered I was pregnant. Thankfully most of my school clothes (skirts and such) have elastic waists so I can continue to wear them throughout the pregnancy...at least for this year!

Stretch marks? None that I can see yet!

Sleep: It is ok. The biggest issue I am having right now is getting woken up in the middle of the night after catching a few hours. This makes it very difficult to fall back to sleep as I have gotten a few hours already.

Movement: She is moving in spurts. I notice it mostly when I am sitting down or laying down and relaxed although I have felt her a few times a school sitting at my desk. 

Food cravings: Almost ANY type of food. I LOVE banana peppers and I also can't get enough of the sweet, sugary things like cookies that I shouldn't have!

What I miss: Sleeping in till all hours of the morning (or afternoon) on weekends! I don't know if this is because my body is accustomed to getting up for school 5 days a week, because of the baby or both but by the end of a work day I am so exhausted I long for being able to sleep hours upon hours again1

What I am looking forward to: The end of school! It is so close! This summer is going to give me the opportunity to nest some (which I am starting to do in bits and pieces already!!) and plan for teaching second grade next year!!

Milestones: We are half way there! I am so blessed to be able to partner with God through this growth and development of little Zoey. It just amazes me that we are half way there already!!!

Oh, and THIS: Yes, I will be teaching second grade next year!!! I am SO SO SO grateful to have a grade that does not have to worry about FCAT and is also not so needy as to require me to tie their shoes either. I have SO many ideas for my classroom and am SO excited to scour the internet to see what other great ideas I can come up with. 

I don't know what it is about the end of the year but man oh man am I exhausted! Maybe it's because we are SO close to the end of the year.

Or maybe it's because I know I will be switching grades next year and my mind is already reeling with ideas and things I want to look at and discover.

I think a HUGE part of it is little Zoey. I am so excited to start putting things in her room and rearrange things in ours to get her pack n play set up for the first few months or so.

I am also torn emotionally right now. See, our roommates that we've had for the past year are moving out (long story short when we moved back to the Orlando area we couldn't afford to live on our own on just one income so we got a couple of roommates to help out. We have come to look at them as family and we LOVE them to death.). They are only moving 5 minutes down the street and they will still have a key to our place and everything, but it won't be the same without them. On the one hand, I am excited for hubby and I to be on our own again. It will be nice for it to just be me, him and the girls. When they are gone that also means that I can start planning dear Zoey's nursery. I can plan where we are going to put the crib and her dresser and all her sweet clothes. But on the other hand, it's going to be hard to see them go. It won't be the same not having them here to talk with and hang out with and do stuff with. It is also truthfully going to make things tighter financially with them gone.

This is where the relying on God must begin. How can I call myself a Christian, a Christ follower, if I cannot trust Him to provide for us?

Last One for the Night (I think!)

Since the big reveal is out I can share these now!!!

I am already so in love!!

And think about it. If we as imperfect humans can love this much how much greater is God's love for us? I mean, yes, I know that He is perfect and we are fallen human beings, but He still lives us so much more! He wants us to pursue Him. He LONGS for a relationship with you, with me. He wants to be top priority in our lives. This whole concept just blows my mind. The God of the universe, the One who created the world, who thought of the earth and the beach and the mountains and the birds and the dogs and people and who paints the sky each evening with beautiful sunsets and each new morning with sun rises, is crazy about me and longs for a relationship with me and YOU. 

The Big Reveal!

So Tyler and I found out Wednesday the gender of out little one but we waited until Friday to share with others than our close family and friends. We wanted to do a big reveal for our Give Kids family. This is how Tyler chose to reveal to them the gender of our baby.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200950630631062&set=vb.1324947269&type=2&theater

Then, after he announced this to them I posted the following on Facebook to announce to the rest of our family and friends about Zoey.

I am so excited about this little one! I love feeling her kick! And I feel so blessed to be able to partner with God to bring this little life into the world. 

On that note though, it is TERRIFYING to think of raising a little girl. There are so many things that can go wrong. It is such a HUGE responsibility to raise her right and to do the right thing for her and by her. 

If anyone has any must read books about raising a girl I would LOVE to hear the suggestions! 

New Here

This is going to be a blog about my journey with little Zoey. We'll see how things go.