Busy, Busy, Busy!!

Ok, I've been a little lax in my blogging lately. My apologies.

We have been very busy over the past week. We had a nice visit from GrandMary, Aunt Meredith, and Grandma Mac, who graciously cared for our little Sweet Pea as my two-day work week turned into a four-day work week. Madeline was instantly drawn to her Aunt Meredith. I think those two are going to have an awesome aunt/niece relationship! I wish I had taken some pictures. :(

What I thought was going to be two days of new teacher orientation became orientation and a meeting, and then orientation sandwiched by unexpected meetings. Did I mention that they changed the date of open house so next week is turned upside down, too? All the new information and paperwork can be overwhelming, but once we get into a routine, all will be well.

We also had orientation at Madeline's new school, which went very well. We let her play in her new room while we talked to the director. When we went back to pick her up, the teacher was sitting on the floor with the babies, reading a book, holding Madeline on her lap. Good, good, good!

Throw in some back-to-school clothes shopping, an oil change, and a trip to The Wal-Marks, and that's how busy our week has been. :)

I promise to post pictures over the next week, especially since Babyhead will be EIGHT MONTHS OLD in a few days!!! Can you believe it??

We're still waiting for teeth, still waiting for her to crawl. Her preferred mode of transportation is still to roll across the floor, but she is beginning to scoot forward as if she wants to crawl.

Oh, and I think she said, "duck." She said it after I said her name, so there is a chance she might have said something else (or that she made a noise that wasn't a word at all), but since she was sitting in an inflatable duck playing with a rubber duck, I'm going to assume she said, "duck."

Just me?

I'm all for making kids as safe as they can be, but am I the only one who thinks this one is just a little over the top?

[caption id="attachment_674" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="The SafeFeeder"][/caption]

In case you aren't familiar with this little gem, it's a bag in which you put your child's food so that s/he can suck the food through the bag. This, presumably, ensures that there is no possibility of choking since the food is liquified in the process, therefore eliminating the need to chew.

Wow. It's a wonder any of us survived.

Fun times!

With the summer (at least as far as the school year is concerned) drawing to a close, it was time for a little escape. Poor Dan has been stuck in Las Vegas all week, working. Doesn't your heart just bleed for him?

With Dan away, Madeline and I decided it was a good time to go visit some friends in good ol' Dacula, GA. We had a really nice time and can't wait to see them again!

[caption id="attachment_667" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Madeline with a couple of Leatherberrys."][/caption]

 

Inquiring minds have asked

So, here's the link to the place where Madeline will be hanging out with other kids, singing, reading, learning sign language, playing, eating healthy meals and snuggling down for a nap while Mommy goes out and tries to make a difference in the lives of some kids who don't believe in themselves. :)

http://odysseyearlyschool.com

Hair!

Here, baby! There, mama! Everywhere, daddy daddy...

[caption id="attachment_662" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="It's there. You just have to look closely. :)"][/caption]

In Case You Hadn't Heard

I got a job! Woohoo!

I've accepted a position at a local high school, teaching 10th & 12th grade English, as well as one period of History of American Film. (I'm still not absolutely certain of my qualifications to teach that last one, but it sounds like fun!)

It will be bittersweet. I've gotten used to cuddling my sweet Madeline any time I darn well please, and seeing her precious face all day. But, I have confidence that we made the best decision for her care, and surely she'll have more fun with people her age than with her old mommy who just wants to eat Pop Tarts and read the same old books over and over again. A girl can only stand Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? so many times before her 8-month birthday.

I am very excited, though! I can't wait to get back into the classroom. I'm incurably bossy and a staunch grammar snob, and I haven't had an outlet for those things in two years. Now, someone is going to pay me for those very traits that the rest of the world finds so annoying. Plus, classroom supplies - Sharpies, note pads, stickers, and the like - are among the small things in life that make me very happy.

So, it's time to start brushing up on teacher lingo and make copies of my list of "Words That Aren't Words." You know the usual culprits - "irregardless," "conversate," "unthaw," etc. It's also time to let my baby girl go play with other babies, instead of being stuck with Mommy all day. She's going to love it. :)

Did I mention that an old friend from college teaches at the same school? I'm pretty excited to be reuniting (and it feels so goooood) with her.

Special thanks to Julee for helping me find a job!

I've always known that God has called me to be a wife, a mother, and a teacher. This will be the first time I've done all three at the same time. I'm going to do everything I can to try to fulfill His purpose for me and not to disappoint Him. It is only by His grace that I have the ability to do any of these things, and only with His help that I can be everything He has asked of me.

The adventure begins!

Updates

I realized that I haven't really posted any updates on what Madeline's been up to, lately. So, here you go:

• As you know, she won't take a paci, at least in the traditional satisfying-her-sucking-reflex sense. She does, however, like to play with them and has recently been trying to shove two of them in her mouth at the same time. And, by this, I mean the entire paci, not just the part that's supposed to go in her mouth.


• Her preferred mode of transportation is to roll across the floor, although she has been arching her back and scooting backward to reach her destination, as well. She has also been doing just a little scooting in an almost army crawl, so we think she might be mobile before long. EEEK!!


• We've been trying a variety of foods with her and she is quite the little foodie. The only thing she has turned down so far is peas. I can't say I'm surprised. I didn't like them until I was 30.


• After visiting several possible child care prospects for August, we have finally decided on a place that looks wonderful. It's very close to home, Dan's office, and the pediatrician. It's very clean and secure, and it looks like a lot of fun for her. They even have a video monitor that will allow me to log in from my computer and check on her any time I want during the day! I think she'll be happy there! :)


• She is finally starting to get some hair! It's just duck fuzz, but it's hair. It won't be long before that pretty little head will be adorned by ribbons, bows, and barrettes.


• She will soon have outgrown her little car seat in which we brought her home :( and we'll be buying her a big girl seat. Sigh.

That's all for now. Tune in next time for Adventures in Madeline's World!

Because I Have a Daughter, Part 4

Because I have a daughter, I want her to know what it's like to be a citizen of this great country.

Madeline can be anything she wants to be. She can vote without fear of being attacked on her way to the polls. She does not have to hide behind a veil. When she grows up, she can marry any man she loves, or stay single if she chooses. She can have as many or as few children as she wants.

 She can walk into any house of worship she chooses and praise God in a way that feels right in her own heart. Not only that, but if she decides that God has called her to the pulpit of a church to lead His flock, she can do it. Madeline can pursue her education to her heart's content. If she wants to be an engineer, a brain surgeon, the owner of her own company, or if she wants to run for President of the USA, that's her prerogative. She does not need anyone's permission.

I'd like for her to know that there is nothing she can't do.

Today, I want my daughter to know how blessed she is to be an American.

Happy 4th of July!

And, Madeline is 7 months old today. Holy cow.



“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”- Psalm 33:12