30 weeks = the size of a cabbage!

For anyone who was been expecting since the huge surge in technology, you've probably downloaded an app or been sent emails with updates about your pregnancy. It cracks David and I up the comparisons that these programs make for the size of your child. This week....She's the size of a cabbage. One week it was a chinese cucumber? I want to know who really knows these random vegetables...because they really haven't helped me get an idea of how big she is at this point, haha.

Anddd another 2 weeks has FLOWN by without so much as a post for me to show for it. I'm behind!
In my defense, David and I have been super crazy busy!

Baby Bump Update!

At the Ft Pierce Farmer's Market- 28 wks 4 days

How far along: 30 weeks today!

Total weight gain: 15 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Yep.

Sleep: I think my house is getter warmer. Either that or my blankets suddenly have heaters in them... It's HOT at night! It's going to be great as it gets hotter... Oh Florida. 

Best moment this week: Realizing it's a 4 day week & that next week is our LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!!

Miss anything: When I could do things for myself, hmph.

Movement: Crazy rolls, flips, and kicks! She's a cheerleader already!

Food cravings: I've finally moved past the daily need for watermelon, but I'm trying to stick with the healthy kick. Hummus, carrots, and smoothies for snacks.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nada

Gender: It's a girl!

Labor Signs: Some lovely braxton hicks but that's about it.

Symptoms: Back aches...swollen ankles, wah.

Belly Button In or Out: And it's gone.

Happy or Moody: Happy!

Looking forward to: School being out & finally nesting.

Onto my excuses for not blogging:

- Alisa's Baby Shower in Land O Lakes
- My baby shower in Port St Lucie
- House Hunting (fail. more later!)
- Getting my seniors OUT and graduated!

After typing it out it really doesn't seem like much, but I assure you it's been a tiring process!


Last weekend was full of baby shower bliss! Alisa, who is a month ahead of me, is about ready to pop, and we celebrated that with presents, cake pops, and good convos. I was a little jealous of all the non-pregos drinking sangria that her mom's friends supplied, but I contented myself with a couple fruit/yogurt servings and tea.


After the shower I visited my good friend Courtney in her new abode in Wesley Chapel. She literally lives 10 minutes from my mom's place so it was SO exciting to be able to visit her and her hubby. They just bought a new place and celebrated poolside with some awesome friends. I definitely ate myself into a frenzy Saturday...so much good food!

Courtney & I on our way to Opas one night in Orlando...

Sunday morning I ate breakfast with my dad, and we planned my baby shower menu for my Land O Lakes shower! I'm so lucky to have a dad who LOVES to cook and share that talent with others. We sat and chatted for awhile before he left for church and I began the longggg drive back to PSL for my shower.

This is what I was greeted with Sunday afternoon @ Kelli's house...

Isn't it cute?! Tony, our resident craft guru, was there in spirit with his diaper cradle. I was terrible and didn't take any other pictures of the shower, but Kelli & the girls did an AMAZING job providing food, decor, and good company Sunday afternoon. I'm so grateful to already have such great friends in the area. It will be a year David and I have been living here at the end of the month. Time flies!!


Besides that, the biggest news is that David and I have decided to rent the current house we live in another year. We spent all of last week researching, calling, and driving around looking at places to no avail. It was frustrating and frankly, quite a rip off for most of the places we saw. So, although I won't get that 3rd bedroom I so desperately wanted, we will be doing a MASSIVE cleaning & re-organization of our current place to make room for our new addition. Furniture will be sold & given away to make room for a nursery and a baby-friendly dining/living room.

For the nursery, I had a very talented student make me some wall art to hang up. She is great at carpentry and wood burning and is frequently employed to make things around the school. She is definitely one of my seniors that I hope to hear from in the future!

Didn't she do a great job?! I can't wait to get other cute things to decorate with and am super excited to have such unique art to put up. :)


Only a little bit longer before I can really devote all of my time to nesting, cleaning, and baby-proofing...I'm so excited!!

Class of 2012

Today is bittersweet for me. Although I will see some of my seniors here and there over the next week, since it's their last exam day some of them I will never see again. It's been a year of adjustments, learning, and patience for me. I always knew I wanted to teach middle or high school students with the mindset that I would teach ESE kids. After accepting a position teaching senior English a few days before school started in lieu of an ESE support position, it's been a vastly different experience than what I expected!

Reflection from my first year teaching:

- First impressions aren't always correct, and things or people are never just what they exude.

     I've had some students make dramatic turnarounds since the beginning of the year; most of them I'm happy to say have been good. One girl started off brooding and hateful but as the year has progressed she has shown that she genuinely has a good heart. It's those kids with prickly exteriors that I wish I had more time, another year with to really see them grow as individuals.

- Politics are ever present in education.

       As the year has progressed we've dealt with a lack of attendance policy, lack of supplies, no planning period, limited copies, no comp time for extra activites, and countless other annoyances too numerous to count. Many of these issues are NOT a result of a harsh administration but rather go further up to the county and even state policies. I am blessed with a great team of principles and administration that care about our kids and their staff's needs. Unfortunately, as our state of education declines, the trickle down effect is negatively affecting our schools. It makes me nervous for future teachers and our kids. The question begs to be answered: How do we properly educate all of our kids? Testing and performance pay doesn't seem to be the answer.

- Being able to laugh at yourself & admit you're wrong brings more respect from your students than the vast knowledge of your chosen subject ever will.

       I've had my instances of anger with my students unfortunately. It's hard to come in every day, ready to teach and interact with so many different personalities and issues. It's really been a test of my patience and ego when I can take lightly the discipline issues, need for re-teaching, or being proven wrong by an astute student. Kids are very straight-forward as I'm sure those with young kids can attest to, and even young adults will be frank with you if asked. I like to think I'm approachable and many students have shared their opinions of other teachers' methods of discipline. I've noticed that the ones they complain about are the ones who are unwilling to admit their own faults and get "real" with their kids. Though I don't believe you should be on a first name basis with your students and hang out with them outside of school events, I do think there's something to be said for building a real relationship with these individuals. The teachers I try to mimic are all ones I felt were personally invested in my life and really cared for me. I hope to be that person for as many students as possible.

- It's okay if not everyone likes you.

     This particular issue I have a hard time swallowing as I'm sure most people do. I think it's innate that people strive for a general sense of acceptance among their peers and co-workers. In the case of teachers, students aren't always going to like you. There were a few teachers that, as a student, I recall severely disliking, and those who didn't make much of an impact either way. It's something that you have to take with a grain of salt and realize that you don't like everyone either. As long as you can get along with people you have to interact with you're good!

- Racism is still an issue.    

       Honestly I can say that I, suprisingly, see a lot of reverse racism. In an effort to accept all minorities and pay a restitution of sorts for the past, anyone with light skin is held to different standards. Do we have a caucasian history month? A Caucasian specific literary or social studies course? Not that I would want these particular courses, but it would be deemed unacceptable. Yet, these courses are acceptable for Black history or Carribean history, etc.      
      On one hand, I have many Haitin, Jamaiican, and African American students who could care less and see no difference; their friends are all different. My Caucasian students are the same way. This gives me hope for our future generations; it's not them who carry a grudge. However, there are those of the "older" generation who still feel bitter and harbor those feelings of hatred and ignorance that gives white people and minorities alike a bad name.
      I haven't discussed any of these issues in fear that I too would be labeled an ignorant white person. I do believe though that it's worth addressing. Growing up in a very dominantly Caucasian area, I never saw the division between the races, probably because I wasn't exposed to it. In college, everyone seemed to interact, for the most part, in an understanding and open-armed way. Teachers stressed integration and acceptance, and it was expected all around. I believe that because college promotes education and understanding, this wasn't necessarily a "true" experience because it came from place of higher education.
     Currently, I teach and live in an area where minorities are the majority of the population. What I've seen has shocked me more in terms of people in authoritative positions. There are select teachers and administrators that band together and disapprove of others simply because they're black and others are not. How is this acceptable when they are authorities over our impressionable youth? Students, minority students at that, have told me that they are offended at the narrow and judgemental way these teachers talk about their students and others in front of them. They either refuse to take their courses, avoid them at all costs, or joke about how racist they are. Some of the things I've been told they say should be grounds for discipline or dismissal, but because our society would promote that as discrimination it's an untouchable issue. It saddens and sickens me to see that our society, in some ways, is still so antiquated.

These points have generally seemed like negative things that I learned this year, but really they have just been the most eye-opening experiences I've had in the "real world". As I say good-bye to my seniors, I'm truly sad to see them go. We've had our ups and downs throughout the school year, but I am ever anxious to see in 5-10 years where some of them have gone, how far their aspirations have taken them. These students truly have impacted my life, and it makes it worthwhile to teach and hope that in some way you've helped them grow as young adults.

Here's to another year gone by.

Good luck Class of 2012!

Lady A Concert & Baby Bump Update

Hello friends!

I know, I never update my blog mid-week. Crazy!! Expect more frequent posting as the school year winds down. Only 7 more day for seniors, but only 3 of those are exam days so that will probably be all I see them!

I've really been enjoying my weekends & my pregnancy lately. Baby girl is kicking like crazy now, and I am anxious to be able to get her nursery ready for her arrival! David and I checked out the hospital where I'll be delivering in a few short months, and the walk-through helped ease my mind considerably. They really think of everything and have this delivery thing down.

On to the Lady Antebellum concert!

On Saturday, the "Dream Team" (as dubbed by the older teachers) and I headed to West Palm to tailgate & listen to some country music. I'm super lucky to have a great group of new-teacher-friends that I've shared nights out and many lunches of venting with.

We brought tons of food and drinks with the goal of enjoying ourselves.

I think more time was spent laughing and carousing than really listening to the music, but the lawn seats were comfy and everyone seemed to have a good time.

Baby Bump Update

How far along: 28 weeks = 7 months! HOLY COW!

Total weight gain: 15 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Yeah Target has some pretty cute stuff

Stretch Marks: Yuck. I'm keeping my fingers crossed & using lots of lotion!

Sleep: Restless. Not so much b/c I'm uncomfortable; I just wake up a lot for water, the bathroom, or random sounds.

Best moment this week: Anticipating Friday when I say adieu to the seniors!

Miss anything: Not this week! Fruit and caffeine- free soda is keeping me content.

Movement: She's kicking SO much!! Did I mention she was line-dancing in my belly @ the concert? True story.

Food cravings: Still tons of fruit!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nada

Gender: It's a girl!

Labor Signs: Not yet!

Symptoms: I've felt out of breathe more easily...

Belly Button In or Out: Heading out!

Happy or Moody: Happy!

Looking forward to: Alisa's & my baby showers this weekend & visiting home!!

In Honor of My Mom

Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow Mommies-To-Be & moms out there!!

In honor of this day, I want to take a little time to write about my own mom, Cheryl.

When I think about my mom, I think of the painter who wants to remain anonymous, the chef who revels in their patrons expressions and gratitude from behind kitchen doors, or the teacher who only finds out years later that they made a difference.

She is an amazing woman who has always showed her love and made personal sacrifices for my siblings and I, whether we recognized it or not.

As I've grown older I've realized just how amazing my mom really is. She is a giver.

My mom gives of her time. I can recall countless times where she drops what she's doing or somehow manages to make her schedule work for something my siblings or I have going on. My mom has driven 2-3 hours to see me for a night, only to drive back to Tampa the next morning to work.

She gives of herself. For a long time, my mom neglected her own needs so that we could have things we "needed". I've come to realize these needs were more of wants, but I am so grateful that she took our adolescent sense of worth into serious consideration and treated us as if opportunities were endless.

She gives of her assets. My family has never been considered wealthy by any means. For many years, I was embarrassed of it. Going to a private school, many of your friends and peers have things you cannot afford. Regardless of where we stood financially, I never went without food, clothes, a good education, or shelter. My mom also has always generously given of her money even when I don't think she should. She lends money to employees, family members, and friends. When I was in college, she continued to help me with rent when my low-paying job wasn't enough. When David and I moved to the Treasure Coast, she gave us money to pay our deposits and then came over and helped furnish our place with odds and ends that were needed. I can't imagine I would ever be able to pay her back for everything she's helped me with to this day, and I know she would never ask for it back.

More than that, my mom has always displayed an unending amount of love. No matter what happens, when it comes to the people she loves that love never wavers. It has really been to her detriment at times, but my mom's innate ability to love people like Jesus does is something that truly amazes and humbles me. As a young adult, she took in stray animals, now she takes in stray people- those people who don't have  families, need someone to counsel them, or just rely on her advice and comfort to support them.

I don't know how she does it all.  Mom- I hope I'm near as good of a mom as you. I love you!

Baby Bump Update, Fruit Cravings, & Weekend Fun

Hello everyone!!

I think it's been two weeks since I last posted? Unfortunately, I was sick the weekend before last, and I spent most of the following week trying to get well and keep up with my students! Last weekend I finally felt fully better but nothing eventful happened so yet another week passed without a post.

Well, I've missed blogging! I believe it's about time for a....

 Baby Bump Update

How far along: 26 weeks 5 days

Total weight gain: 10 lbs...But I haven't checked since my last dr. appt

Maternity Clothes: I tried on some pre-prego clothes the other day...That was funny.

Stretch Marks: Yuck. I'm keeping my fingers crossed & using lots of lotion!

Sleep: I've been waking up more/having WEIRD dreams. FYI, if my dreams are right I'm having 4 kids total eventually. Yikes.

Best moment this week: Seeing so many people I care about this weekend

Miss anything: Having a margarita on Cinco de Mayo *sigh*

Movement: She's kicking SO much!! 

Food cravings: FRUIT!! Watermelon especially

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing making me sick, but I still don't particularly care for greasy or spicy things. 

Gender: It's a girl

Labor Signs: Nada

Symptoms: Jogging is much harder...I think my feet are starting to randomly swell, but I was wearing wedges that day. 

Belly Button In or Out: Heading out!

Happy or Moody: Happy!

Looking forward to: Moving & being able to put all my AWESOME ideas into play for her nursery :)

This week was quite interesting in terms of teaching. My seniors have one more week of actual classes & then finals! I'm just as excited as them, believe me!

This week I had the pleasure of two flabbergasting events...

1- Thursday I had a parent-teacher conference with the mother of a student who has barely shown up all semester. He failed my class for the first semester, and he just passed 3rd quarter. Keep in mind, I haven't heard from mom ALL YEAR up until this point. I've sent home deficiency notices, and it's apparent from his report cards (almost straight Ds and Fs) that he doesn't try. This student is smart enough to pass classes, pleasant to be around, and I generally enjoy him when he decides to show up and work. This quarter he currently has a 9.3%. Keep in mind he is a junior, and they have 3 weeks left of school before exams. Mom asked me if her son has any chance of passing. Really?  A miracle may be in the works! I gave him his work, told her what was expected, and now I will just sit back and wait.

2- A senior who hasn't shown up to my class since Christmas (apparently he still goes to some of his other classes randomly) decided to show up Friday. This student, who has a 0.00% in my class, decided to ask for ALL of his work for the quarter. Again, REALLY?! This boy unfortunately is so extremely intelligent that it bothers me he has gotten to this point. He is way too smart to be barely passing/possibly not graduating high school.

On to my weekend!!

On Saturday, I headed up to Orlando to celebrate my friend, Courtney, graduating from UCF! The two of us have grown up together, and our moms have been friends since high school. Needless to say, we have quite a history together! Her mom decided to throw a surprise party in Kissimmee at a Mexican restaurant, and she was so shocked she literally teared up. It was adorable, and I was so happy to be there to help celebrate!

ahh middle school!

Our moms w/their friends since high school & their high school cheerleading picture

When we lived together (briefly) in college!

W/ our moms a few years ago...

 Now: New UCF grad & soon-to-be mom...My how we've grown up!

After lunch, my mom, sister, and I met up with Kierstan and headed to the Harry P Leu Gardens in Winter Park. Even with living in Orlando for 5 years, this was my first time visiting!

It was ridiculously hot outside, but we trekked through the extensive grounds and were amazed with the extensive rose garden, beautiful butterfly garden, and the rest of the well manicured grounds. There was even a wedding taking place while we were there!

After the gardens, we went back to College Park to "Dancin' in the Park" to check out the event. It was cute and such a great little community event, but we only stayed for a bit to save our appetites for dinner.

I had my heart set on Mellow Mushroom; an Orlando favorite that I've really missed since moving. After dinner my mom and sister headed home, and Kierstan and I headed to a late movie. It was a great way to finish a fun day!

Sunday I headed home to Port St Lucie and on the way back decided to stop by Nelson Family Farms for some fruit. As I said in my baby bump update, I've been CRAVING fruit like crazy. After talking with Kierstan about an amazing fruit salad we made back in college, I decided I needed to replicate it.

All of this was in my basket at checkout:

Yes that is TWO watermelons. I've been scarfing them down lately.

The salad turned out amazing!! I'm so excited to snack on this multiple times a day for the next week or so. I wonder how long it will last?

Have a great week everyone!