Engaged: The Story

Yes, I'm sure everyone has seen Facebook blow up over the past day or so.

I am so excited to finally be able to say I am the future Mrs. David Carroll! :)

The proposal....

All afternoon David had been texting and calling me, trying to find out when I would be home from work. We normally talk in the afternoon when I'm leaving work, but on this occasion he was especially persistent in finding out when I would be home.

I thought there might be a small possibility that he would propose soon, but I wasn't counting on anything or even thinking it would be so soon!

As I pulled in, the screen door to the front was open which was unusual.

I walked in from work to find this path....

and two dozen roses waiting on the table...

I couldn't even think, and my mouth dropped. David said I took so long to make it outside he thought he might have to come in and get me. I honestly just stared around for a minute as I set my bags down. 

I followed the path outside... with my keys still in hand and work clothes on...

To another two dozen roses....

and a path leading up to a park bench overlooking the pond behind our house....

When he got down on one knee and asked for my hand, I still had my car keys in hand!

Three years ago, David asked me to be his girlfriend on a park bench in Orlando overlooking a pond. Yesterday, he asked me to marry him in the same manner.

I said a tearful yes as he put this beautiful ring on my finger.

It was the most meaningful and romantic way I could have thought of being proposed to.

July 1, 2013 will be the day we're officially man and wife.

Yay to planning a wedding!!! :)

It's a GIRL, St Patty's Events, & 19 week update!

19 Week Update


How far along: 19 weeks 4 days
Total weight gain: still 2 lbs
Maternity Clothes: My mom is amazing & decided to buy out Motherhood Maternity this weekend so I am now proudly rocking maternity wear
Stretch Marks: Yuck. I'm keeping my fingers crossed & using lots of lotion!
Sleep: Still good! Hot flashes here & there
Best moment this week: It's Monday so none yet! I'm waiting to feel her move like I saw in our ultrasound
Miss anything: Being able to run w/full lung capacity!
Movement: Nothing since last week
Food cravings: I had a crazy craving for pasta the other night & then ice cream another night. It begins!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing lately
Gender: Female!!
Labor Signs: Not yet
Symptoms: I feel fat. Is that a symptom? haha
Belly Button In or Out: More out than in
Happy or Moody: Happy!
Looking forward to: Feeling our baby girl move & picking her name

Girl clothes my mom & Kierstan bought in celebration of the news. :)

My weekend started early last week! Because of my ultrasound appointment- which had to be done early in the day- I was able to take a sick day off and enjoy finding out what we're having & hanging out with my mom.

My mom came into town Thursday evening and so we slept in Friday as David went off to work & moseyed around the house until my appointment at 9:30am. I know that's not super late but compared to my normal wake up time of 5:15am it was glorious!

I went to my normal checkup appointments and then it was time for the big moment- the ultrasound!

David arrived about 10 minutes before we were to be seen, and we anxiously waited in the waiting room until they called us back.

Unfortunately, they only allowed one extra person in the room while they checked the baby's vitals and growth- lungs, heart, spine, etc. My mom graciously bowed out and David stayed with me to see our baby. We were so amazed at everything they could see!

Luckily, before the big reveal, they went and got my mom so she could find out with us what we're having. The nurse paused for a minute as she tried to get the perfect angle, and it was rather quickly we found out it was a girl!

Flashing back to the second month of my pregnancy when I had a dream that I saw our little girl, and it seems so crazy that a "mother's intuition" was spot on all along.

After the appointment we all made the rounds of calling and texting people to let them know the sex, and as David headed off to work my mom and I headed to Jan's Place for breakfast.

After an amazing breakfast, we dropped our leftovers off to David for a late breakfast at work and then went home to relax for a while before embarking on a marathon shopping event for maternity clothes.

I never want to shop again.

After a disappointing look at JC Penney's 1/4 of a wall of "maternity" wear, my mom and I stopped for a pretzel & then headed to Motherhood Maternity to see if we liked anything we saw there.

Holy cow is that store FULL of maternity clothes! I know, I know that's what you expect from a store with "maternity" in the name.

We had an amazingly helpful sales clerk who literally catered to us as I tried on clothes for close to 3 hours. The day was a HUGE success, but I almost had a heart attack when we went to buy the clothes. Hopefully these clothes last through the next pregnancy (or two) so I don't have to buy anymore!


With Friday drawing to a mellow close, my mom and I prepared for the Shamrock Shuffle 5k Saturday morning in Fort Pierce. Having run the bridge last month during the FK Sweets 5k, we were prepared this time to better tackle the course.

After arriving with literally minutes to spare, we found Kierstan, made last minute outfit adjustments, said hi to Kelli & her crew and then we were off! I finished about the same as my last 5k so for almost no training this month plus the extra baby growth I was quite proud!

Kelli shaved 2 minutes off her time, Kierstan finished in 26 minutes (holler!), and my mom rocked another strong finish! So proud of my ladies!

After the 5k, we went out for another great breakfast, this time at Pancake House, and then made our way home to shower and change.

After a disappointing show in downtown Jensen Beach, we made our way to the PSL Civic Center.
It was much more satisfying! There were carnival rides, food booths, craft booths, music and dancing.

We strolled around, grabbed some fair-style food and listened to music for a few hours before making our way back home.

Of course, they just happened to have a maternity/baby sale in the civic center so I bought books. No necessities- just books. I think I'm a little obsessed. My mom, in her normal generous spirit, added these four books (plus the Calm Baby DVD) to my small but growing collection.

Our last stop for St Patty's Day festivities was Shindig for some Irish fare. Boy was that place crowded! Satisfying our palates with corned beef & cabbage and shepherd's pie, we left as the crowd was just starting to get packed and rowdy. After being out all day, Kierstan headed back to Orlando to get some sleep while my mom and I cozied up on the couch to relax!

Sunday was the last day in a long weekend of events. My mom, David, and I all went to church and then commenced the normal Sunday activities- groceries, laundry, dishes, etc. I love the normalcy of Sunday afternoons!

Although it was super busy, I felt refreshed today and satisfied with my accomplishments for the weekend.


Side Note- Here's Dave's new car. He's so proud he has washed it twice already to make sure it stays perfect. :)

So cute. :)

Spring Break Shenanigans & 18 week update

I love the perks of being a teacher!

Spring Break is here (and gone tomorrow, literally) and with it comes the ability to refresh & visit with loved ones.

Trip to Land O Lakes

I was able to really catch up with a lot of great people while I was back home.

My first night in town my entire family plus my dad's side (my nana, aunt & uncle) met to have a lavish dinner at my nana's house. It was such a great time of laughter, fellowship, & so much food we could barely finish half of it!

Say hi mom!

See how full my plate is? I couldn't finish it all...and then dessert came.

Two homemade ice creams, a pound cake, and a strawberry pie. Are we spoiled or what?

 I met up with Alisa who is about a month ahead of me pregnancy-wise; she is having a little girl. It was great to catch up, have breakfast at The Breakfast Nook, & shop for little baby things at the local thrift store. If you're in the area you should check out Little Lambs Consignment!

I bought four hardcover children's books for $10! Aren't these awesome?!

Clothes from Little Lambs

All for $10!

While in town, I also met up with Courtney & Kristin to eat at The Refinery. I heard great things about them online, and my ever health conscious friend/vegetarian Jessica said they were amazing so I knew we were in for good food! When I visit cities (whether new or familiar) I always have the goal of visiting a local, favorite eatery or trying out something new or highly recommended. I love food. :)

We all tried something different- Kristin had chicken with homemade dumblings, Courtney had pork chops with a side of homemade spam, and I had fish with a salad/potato mix. They were all SO incredibly unique, locally grown and relatively afforable! I will definitely be visiting this restaurant again when I'm in town, maybe sitting at the rooftop bar next time?!

my food

PSL

After returning from my trip, I was able to relax in Port St Lucie for about 1 1/2 days before embarking to Orlando. It was nice to rejuvenate, sleep in my own bed, and play with the kitties before I left.
David was also thankful; he had to ride his bike all over town while I was gone or catch a ride. He left on Friday to pick up his new car, but I know those few days without his own were painful.

Trip to Orlando

On Friday morning at 7:00am, David and I embarked on our journey to Orlando and his journey to pick up his new car!! After a perfectly easy drive to the Sanford airport, I meandered over to College Park to drop my stuff off at Kierstan's house & camp out at a local Starbucks to grade papers.

It was a LONG day of grading, and I only got through half of my classes. How I pity and empathize with my former teachers now! Grading papers, especially lengthy essays, sucks to put it plainly.

After camping out on Kierstan's couch in a fetal position trying not to use any more brain power, Kierstan and I ate at Dandelion Communitea and picked up art supplies for a crafting extravaganza!

Dandelion is an amazing, amazing vegan restaurant and tea shoppe in downtown Orlando. I stuck with my favorite standby, the Bean There, Done That wrap. This wrap, although meatless, is ridiculously filling and yummy. After eating half of the wrap plus some homemade hummus, Kierstan and I went to buy supplies!

We went to a cute little local art store called Sam Flax for the canvases (which are apparently always on sale) and then to Hobby Lobby to buy paints and anything else we could think of.

I've been debating between these two nursery themes: Eric Carle & Dr Seuss

However, after deciding to make art for my little nugget's nursery, I knew Eric Carle was the way to go. Luckily (and amazingly) Kierstan had just watched a video on how Eric Carle makes his artwork! Watch this video, Illustrating the Very Hungry Caterpiller, to see for yourself!

I started here....

I painstakingly followed this method to get here by the end of the night....

And finally here the next morning!

I absolutely LOVE the finished picture. I'm thinking about making another similar one of Eric Carle's butterfly.

The girls- Kierstan, Abby, & Jaide- were all also equally focused and came up with some awesome pictures of their own! Craft night will definitely happen again in the near future!

Finally, Kierstan and I spent Saturday at Sea World with some free teacher passes!

The day was overcast but still nice and warm. Thankfully, it never rained while we were there though the clouds sure looked threatening!

I definitely noticed some personal differences in the theme park experience while pregnant. Poor Kierstan had to be super patient as I used the bathroom frequently...probably 5-6 times while we were there? I wish I could help it; I know it will only get worse! Oh boy.

We watched the Seamore & Clyde show, ate at the Sharks restaurant right next to the tanks, and generally walked around enjoying the animals. It was great being able to pop into Sea World for a few hours, see only what we wanted to, and head home feeling tired but not dead.

This was under the bar where we were eating- so cool!

A vegetative evening watching MoneyBall at Kierstan's house ended my stay in Orlando!


18 Weeks Update

I think I kinda look like I just ate too much. haha

How far along? 18 weeks  3 days( 2 weeks 'til 5 months!)

Total weight gain: 2 lbs... I lost about 5lbs during my first trimester so I'm just barely over my normal weight at this point!
Maternity clothes? I have some cute shirts and one pair of pants, but I'm going with the rubber band around my normal pants for regular work clothes still... Everything is definitely tight though!!
Stretch marks? nada
Sleep: I sleep great, but I have the WEIRDEST dreams & they're super vivid.
Best moment this week: On Friday we find out whether it's a boy or a girl!! I'm so excited for it!!!!
Miss Anything? Beer & Wine & Being able to exercise as hard as I did before.
Movement: I think I felt one little flip yesterday, but that has been the first I've felt anything so far. We will see!
Food cravings: Still lots of salads & veggies. I love ice cream after dinner. I've had more food aversions than cravings I think.
Anything making you queasy or sick: spicy/greasy food hasn't been sitting well with me.
Gender: ????
Labor Signs: Oh jeez, hopefully not for awhile!
Symptoms: fatigue & I'm super hungry a lot. I've gotten out of breath from exercise easily too.
Belly Button in or out? Starting to poke out in this freakish and disconcerting way. Ah!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: Friday's ultrasound & a St Patty's 5k Saturday morning!!

Time for spring break & 17 weeks pregnant!

I feel like all I do is count weeks nowadays.

Each week carrying the baby brings a milestone & new things to learn about.

Every week at school brings me one step closer to finishing the school year.

School news...

It's amazing to me how different the relationships are with kids as the year progresses. I now really see the vast wisdom in having teachers move with their students to various grade levels. On one hand, you're stuck with certain kids you didn't want to have again. However, you also have the advantage of not learning the new Little Johnny Trouble Maker's tricks the following year. You also get to enjoy your cherished students another year and watch them grow. I also feel the relationships you build with students can decide whether or not Johnny gives you trouble.

For example, I have a student, Trevor, who has never given 100% or even 50% in class. He failed the first semester of my class, much to my dismay. My initial method was honestly to berate him into submission. He would usually be quiet, but he never actually did work. When I tried the nice approach he would be sarcastic and troublesome. It seemed like a losing battle whichever method I chose.

Eventually at the start of the second semester, I sat down with him and asked him what was going on. I heard from a fellow teacher that his parents were going through a divorce and, noticing his ever growing unruliness, I wanted to talk to him about it before it escalated further.  He never did divulge the divorce news, but we talked about his future and I encouraged him to at least pass my class so he wouldn't have to retake it. I would like to think that little pep talk did it for him. Who knows. He is definitely not a model student, but lo and behold he actually does his work. It's not a huge leap, but it's definitely progress from where we started the year! If it took me almost 6 months to get to that point with him- it makes me think there are others who, with more time, would open up and become successful.


17 weeks pregnant....

See the clip holding my dress in? I'm just barely showing at this point!  Everyone say hi to David taking the picture for me! What a good guy. :)

I feel like everyone I know is pregnant right now!
As such, I wanted to share some things that worked for getting me through the first trimester & see if others had tips for the 2nd and 3rd!

For morning sickness/nausea-
Personally I want to stay as far away as possible from taking medicine just so my baby gets as much natural nutrients and antibiotics as possible. As such, my first few months were torture as I went through morning sickness.

Luckily, my friend Anna shared that she had used magnetic bracelets designed for sea sickness to help her out. Although I never used one, I loved that it was a natural way to deal with the inevitable.

Another thing I noticed was that my prenatals were making me very sick- the large amount of iron was too much for my stomach to handle. Changing my prenatal to an all organic one with considerably less iron brought immediate relief. I also started taking it at night before bed so I had a day's worth of food to help lessen the harshness.

For car rides, my mom bought ginger chew gum that she lovingly passed my way. It tasted disgusting, but I got almost immediate relief when chewing it. I only used this when I felt super ill though b/c the taste was daunting.

The last thing I used for nausea and the one I used most frequently was oil extracts, specifically peppermint, lavender, and ginger. Rubbing these on my stomach and neck/forehead provided extended relief and allowed me to stay away from synthetic drugs. Sure I smelled a little funny from the oils, but the benefit outweighed the old lady smell- even if David disagreed.

For fatigue-

First off, it is completely normal to be dead tired almost continuously. Allow yourself to sleep and get help where you can 'til your body adjusts to pregnancy. Do NOT feel guilty for needing extra sleep or extra help with household chores.

However, if your schedule doesn't allow much free time, like mine, make do as you can!

I found that exercising was super helpful in keeping me going on long weeks with little free time. It's funny how much expending effort can give you a boost of energy.

Also, you're probably not eating much. This adds to the fatigue! Find a few things you like/can stand and stock up! For a week or two all I wanted was popcorn b/c it didn't upset my stomach and was mostly bland. Next was fresh veggies and LOTS of fruit. Try to get your protein where you can- peanut butter and nuts are easy on queasy stomachs.

All in all, try not to worry. The first trimester is here and gone soon enough replaced by a growing bump and energy like you had before the pregnancy.

Where am I now?


-I have a tiny bump starting to protrude. It's almost disconcerting as I look at pictures of all the other people I know that are pregnant and how much larger all their tummies are. You really can't even tell I'm pregnant unless I'm wearing something skin-tight; it just looks like I ate too much at lunch.

- I have so much more energy! YAY!!

- My blood-sugar level is super sensitive now, and I've found I need to eat much more frequently to combat this. I thought I ate pretty continuously, but the pregnancy has made it even more so. I find if I don't have a snack with me and go too long without eating it results in a very sick feeling me.

- On March 16 we find out whether it's a boy or a girl. I personally want to know the sex so I can plan the nursery, name, and baby shower without all the neutral crap that comes with a surprise birth.

3rd Quarter Crunch

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It's that time of year. Thought your seniors had senioritis before?

Oh no.


Now is the time that their true daydreaming, slacker tendencies make themselves known.

Thinking back to my own senior year (a short 6 years ago) I can recall football games, senior camp out, senior skip day, homecoming.... and not much about what I actually learned.

What I do remember are the great teachers that had an impact on my life, on my future and the amazing memories made on that campus. That great teacher is the kind of teacher that I hope I can be for some of these kids.

 I don't remember what my English teacher taught me, but she showed me how to work like a college student and helped me to love literature. I don't remember a bit about what my history teacher taught me, but his stories and blunt honesty will stick with me. My psychology teacher was strict but her kindness towards students who gave a damn was immense.

These three teachers in particular- Mrs. Gorski, Mr. O'Brien, and Mrs. Browning weren't especially unique in their teaching techniques. We read a lot in English, took notes in history, and read the book for psychology. It was the teachers themselves imparting the information and treating us like adults that made me want to make them proud.

Back to my students now-

How do I get them motivated that way?

As a student, I know I was different that the majority of the students I teach. I wanted to go to college and took harder classes because of it. I always completed my work and rarely missed school. My students work full-time. They miss schools constantly. They really don't like English or reading. They are mostly planning on technical schools, the military, or community college.

I want to need to find a way to make my subject relevant to their lives while still meeting benchmarks, Sunshine State Standards, and Marzano's ultimate decision that teachers have no mind of their own and need to be told how to do basic skills such as monitoring, scaffolding, and lesson planning.


The question is how?

I know I've learned a lot during this school year already...

1. Be prepared
2. Always have a back up lesson plan or idea.
3. If you're going to show a movie you better make it tie into the curriculum or be able to explain why you're showing A Bug's Life to your administrators.
4. Always ask administration before doing something questionable. Always.
5. Planning ahead is a good idea- planning Monday morning before the bell rings is realistic.
6. Lessons don't always go how you planned- some take much longer than you planned. Some are over before you even realize you have to find something else to do.
7. Students can tell when you care and will work accordingly.
8. Having other teachers to vent and laugh with is crucial. Don't get too busy to talk to them.
9. Make friends with the copy lady, media center people, attendance clerk, guidance.... They will all make your life easier if they like you.
10. Be honest with your students.


Can't wait to add more to that list!
And now, on to the lesson planning i've been putting off... Or maybe I'll wait 'til the morning.

Two pink lines

Yes, it's true.
David and I are going to be parents in a mere 6 months.

At 14 weeks pregnant I can say it's beginning to really sink in.
The morning sickness is gone replaced by fatigue. I'm beginning to notice my bump showing, and my hormones are acting crazy.

For my random readers, if you pondered my absence from blogging (not that it's often enough on a normal basis) it was partially due to this big news that we were keeping to ourselves.

Now I feel confident that I can finish out this school year on a high note and start to make the plans necessary to care for our future addition.

I will now address the FAQ that I've gotten regarding the pregnancy:

1. Do you plan on getting married? When?
Yes we plan on getting married; however, we are following the same timeline as before we found out about the pregnancy. Meaning that we will be engaged before the baby is born, but there will be no rushed wedding with a very pregnant bride thank you very much.

2. When do you find out if it's a boy or a girl? Do you want to know?
We find out in mid-march and are very excited to know. David is pulling for a boy, and I will be happy either way.

3. What are your plans for teaching next year? Coaching?
I will be telling my school next week and will know more from there! Ideally I will take two months off and david will work later hours to allow us to spend less on childcare. Coaching is really up in the air unfortunately...

4. When are you due?
August 9th!

5. Have you thought of any names?
I will say this is a loaded question. While I don't mind sharing what we like, I don't appreciate people's opinions about what THEY like for my child. What gets me even more are unsolicited options for us to "consider". I understand it is completely well meaning; however, just because you think "Riva" is a great girl's name does not mean we will. As a couple we have perused many names, and the options we've come up with are names we really like.

Boy- Payton, William, Benjamin, Jackson
Girl- Zoey, Bailey

6. How does David feel about it?
This question makes me feel like people are expecting him to be upset about the whole thing or imply some underlying issue of longevity in our relationship. Yes, he was freaked out at first wondering whether we could afford it and how it would change our lives, but David has really been a great supporter and I know will make a great daddy.


I think this post has enough shocking information for one entry so I will try to post something more satirical regarding my lovely high schoolers next time. As we approach the end of a school year, I'm sure my seniors will oblige with amusing things to document.


Happy Sunday!

Christmas Day is in our grasp so long as we have hands to grasp!

Christmas Break Countdown:  6.5 School Days!


There are decorations & Christmas music in my class & around the school... I love the Christmas spirit!!

With Christmas break right around the corner, I am as antsy as the kids to get out of school and have a vacation. In talking to my mom the other day I complained, "Ugh. I only have two weeks off for break." Trust your mom to put it in perspective for you, "Two weeks? Jaquelyn I'll be lucky to have a day off."

I am very thankful for the extended holidays afforded those of us who work in schools. Although, I feel like without those breaks we wouldn't be able to handle the kids anymore than they can handle us! Teaching is tough, tiring, and full of work taken home.

I can't believe the year is almost half over as well! I passed out progress reports yesterday, and when we return will soon after be sending out report cards. Holy cow!! I have undoubtedly been stressed with lessons, discipline, and other such issues, but all in all I'm having an amazing first year teaching. The kids really seem to respect me and my classroom. While this doesn't guarantee they do their classwork, many of them will talk to me about it and attempt to keep up with it.

Overall: I really enjoy my students, classroom, and teaching (as tiring as it is)!

Christmas Countdown: 17 Days!


It sounds so scarily close-- and I haven't even begun to Christmas shop, AH!! Having a big girl job takes away leisure time to actually shop, boo.

This year, for the first time, David and I will be spending all of Christmas (& New Years) together! In college we mostly shared New Years together but never Christmas. We celebrated and then went to our respective family homes for a week or so on our own.

This year we are spending a day with my mom & siblings in Land O' Lakes before driving up to Hickory, North Carolina to spend Christmas day and the following weekend with David's family!

We are also making a post-Christmas trip to CO to snowboard. I actually bought snow gear and am super excited to be able to use it!!

I am very, very excited that I will be somewhere cold for Christmas, but I feel like a little kid and am sad at missing our Christmas Eve & morning traditions.

Life gets so busy the older we get... I appreciate, so much more, the small simple things:

- Opening one present Christmas Eve
- cheesy Christmas movies while stringing popcorn and cranberries
- Christmas plays at a local church
- Advent to celebrate Jesus & the real meaning of Christmas
- Breakfast casserole and coffee early Christmas morning
- Opening stockings first thing and then waiting for mom to wake up to open everything else.
- Spending time just hanging out with your family for an entire day where everyone is happy & full of love.

Lots of warm fuzzy feelings this holiday season!

 I will try to catch up on posting over break, until then Adieu & Happy Holidays!!!