 |
Stories |
3/15/06- Daniel had a GREAT day at daycare today. He got his long nap in the morning, and was actually still asleep when I went over at 11:15 to feed him. I fed him, and then went over for my lunch and they said he laid down around 12:15 and was still sleeping at 2:15pm!! I couldn't believe it! He woke up around 2:30, and they fed him before I got over there at 3:00pm, so he did really good.
Caleb also had a good day, and when we got home from school, Aaron was home and ready to mow the yard before we went to church, so Caleb played outside with
his little mower and pretended to mow like Daddy! He just loves Aaron and wants to do evverything like his Daddy- it's so cute!
3/13/06- It was a good first day back at school! All of the kids were excited to see me, which was nice, and most importantly, Daniel and Caleb had a great day.
I LOVE being able to go over and feed Daniel at 11:15 each morning!! Caleb and the older kids have lunch between 11:00 and 11:30, so they are all settled in there when I come over. One of the high school helpers stands by the back door with Daniel at 11:15, to let me in. He is so excited to see me when I get there (mainly because he's HUNGRY!) but he just smiles so big when he sees me and it's so great to see that adorable smile.
3/12/06- Daniel has dropped the late evening feeding! I've been feeding him before bed around 9:00pm, and then putting him to bed around 9:30pm, and he'd sleep until 7:00am. But, Friday night, I fed him at 7:15pm, and by 8:15pm, he was very ready to go to bed. So I went ahead and put him to bed, but wondered if he would wake up again to eat. But, he didn't!!! He slept all the way until 7:15am!!!! So he went 12 hours between feedings, and slept for 11 hours. We've also moved Caleb's bedtime up to around 8:00pm, since he's gone back to school. It's so nice to have them in bed early!!
3/11/06- This morning, I took Caleb with me to my school to straighten up the music room for next week and make sure I had everything ready to go. Daniel stayed with Aaron and took his morning nap, and it gave Aaron a chance to work on some things, and it gave Caleb and I a chance to be together. Ever since Daniel was born, Caleb and I haven't really done anything together, just the two of us, so it was fun to be with just him. He is so fun to talk with; he's just like talking to a little adult. We've started talking about his upcoming birthday, since it's not that far away. It's so cute to hear him say, "my birthday is in May!" and when you ask him what day, he says, "May 22nd!!" He's going back and forth between wanting a Thomas the Train party and a John Deere party. He has loved Thomas for almost a year now, but all of the sudden he's talking about a John Deere party. Oh, and sometimes, he talks about having a Bob the Builder party! So, we'll see what he decides on closer to his birthday.
3/10/06- Things went well today! I made it out of the house by 7:05 this morning! Today was my "trial-run" for Monday, and I was able to do it- yeah!!! I get up when Aaron kisses me good-bye and goes to his school (around 5:30) and then get myself ready, have breakfast, get Caleb's breakfast ready and packed in his pack, and then get him up, pottied, dressed, teeth and hair brushed, and then get Daniel up, diaper changed, and out the door! Since school is only 10 minutes away, I think I'm just going to feed him at the daycare. He did great this morning, just a little crying on the way, but I knew he was ready to EAT!
I didn't go over to check on them this morning, I just called, and the said everything was going great with both of them, and they were actually getting all the kids ready to go for a walk. So, that made me feel good, and I just went over to nurse Daniel at 11:15am, after teaching 6th grade, and that worked out great! It's so nice to be able to go over and nurse him, and to have that little bit of time with him. And while I'm nursing in the back room, I can hear the older kids having lunch, and I can hear Caleb talking with his little friends- it's so cute! After I fed Daniel, I spent a little time talking with him, and then handed him over to Denita (the lady who runs the daycare) and went back over to my school to have my lunch.
The afternoon went great, and at 3:00pm, all of the kids were outside on the porch sitting and waiting for their mommies! Caleb and Daniel were happy and I was so glad. They both had a great day, so now I feel better about going back on Monday.
After school, we ran by the house to pick Aaron up, and we all went up to Lookout Mountain to see an elementary school that Aaron found out is looking for an assistant principal. It was a really nice school and they had a great playground, so we had fun playing with Caleb and watching him play on the different things. He's really doing a good job of getting around challenging pieces of equipment, even though he's on the small side. He also has excellent balance. I can't get over some of the things he's able to do.
While we were in Chattanooga, we decided to get a bite to eat downtown at a little Italian place that Aaron found out about called Mama's Italian House. It was good and we just fun to all be together.
3/9/06- Today the boys went to daycare so they could get use to everything and since I'm not back "officially" until Monday, I can run back and forth between my classroom and the daycare to see how they are doing. Daniel woke up with a dirty diaper during his morning nap, so his nap was not as long, but everything worked out well and they are learning his schedule and enjoying him! Caleb was a little more attached to me today when I went over, so I'm going to have to be careful when I go over there. He's fine playing with the other kids, but he cried when he saw me. He was fine the rest of the day, though, so I know he's just getting back into the routine of going to school.
3/8/06- Today was so beautiful! Caleb and I spent time playing outside this morning while Daniel took his nap. Daniel woke up around 11:15, and after I fed him, I got lunch ready for Caleb and I, and we all went outside and had a picnic! It was so fun! I brought the blanket out and Daniel's bouncy seat, and he just loved being outside- he cooed the whole time! Caleb and I had a yummy little picnic and all of us enjoyed the beautiful day that God gave us.
3/6/06- Today I went to school to teach a 6th grade class. I'm teaching my three 6th grade classes this week to get a "jump" on their upcoming night program- their last program at SPES. This is my favorite concert to prepare for, and the kids have a blast with it. It's the "Decade Concert," where we go through Rock n' Roll hits of the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's. Then, after I've gone through the music, the groups, and the history and fashion of these decades, the kids form musical groups and do a song of their choice (with my okay) up on stage, dressed like that particular group, or band, and in the style of that decade. One of the 6th grade teachers is very musical, and he brings in instruments for them to use on stage: guitars and a drum set, and then we put the digital piano up on stage from the music room, and have the stage all decorated. This teacher also has several special lights, so he brings those and runs them during the show, so it's almost like a real rock concert that these kids are pretending to perform in! I have had some great performances over the years and it's some thing that the kids talk about even after they've left the elementary school. I have seen past kids in Wal-mart, and they always come up to me and talk about the "Decade Concert" that they participated in when they were at SPES.
So, I brought the boys over to the little daycare/school where they will be going through the end of the school year (May 25th!). Caleb just loves it, and I know he'll have no problem going back after being home the last 3 months. He talks about school all the time and he misses his friends, so he's anxious to go back. Daniel is only 3 months old, and he is such a laid-back baby, and just goes with the flow with whatever is going on. I was really nervous about leaving him for the whole "hour" I was going to be next door teaching 6th grade! I know he'll be fine when I go back to teaching full-time, and the two ladies that run the little daycare/school are just FANTASTIC, and they have some great high school helpers that come down in the morning and at lunch time to help out and play with the kids. But, it's just him being so young still, and me not being there for those few hours during the day. Today gave me an idea of how things can work with me going over there to nurse him. I'm done teaching 6th grade at 11:15, so if he takes his usual long nap from approximately 8:30-11:30am, then I can nurse him. Today, when I got over there after 6th grade, he had just woken up, and one of the high school girls was just holding him and talking to him, and he was just cooing at her and so happy. So that made me feel good! I fed him in the back room while all of the kids had lunch. I could here Caleb talking at the table with the other kids, and it was just so cute. The interaction with the other kids his age is just what he needs and I'm glad that he is so happy. In fact, I had planned on taking him home after lunch, but he wanted to stay there and take his nap with the other kids! So, I let him stay and I took Daniel and took care of a few things over in the music room.
Thursday and Friday, I'm going to have the boys go all day so they can get use to being there, the ladies can get use to Daniel and his schedule, and I can just have "piece of mind" before I go back full-time next Monday. I'm just thankful that my school has this daycare
right next door, and that I have these 2 wonderful ladies to watch, care for, and educate my children for a few hours during the day. This is
not your typical daycare; these ladies do EVERYTHING with these kids from ABC's, to counting, to shapes, colors, spelling, recognizing their own names, to discipline and manners, and so much more. Caleb LOVES them and I know they love him also, and they will take such great care of both boys while I'm next door.
3/5/06- Daniel is 3 months old already!! Wow!! It's just flying by. Oh, I forgot to mention that when we went to the doctor, Daniel weighed 15 pounds!! So, he's more than doubled his birthweight in just 3 months! Now, if he's gaining like this just on my milk, what will he gain when he starts eating solid food?!?!?!
3/4/06- Boys are doing better. Caleb is still a little whinny and attached to Mommy and Daddy, but he's not running that high fever anymore, which is good.
3/3/06- Caleb wasn't feeling well today, (he had a high fever) so I took him to the doctor, just in case he needed something with the weekend coming. He was excellent; he let Dr.Fox listen to his heart, look in his ears and mouth. He didn.t have an ear infection, but one of his tubes was working it's way out, so Dr. Fox wanted to get it out so wax wouldn't build up around it. He showed Caleb the tool he was going to use to get it out, and Caleb sat still while he did it. As far as him running a fever, Dr. said that it was probably just some virus, and it would run it's course. He noticed his nose was swollen inside, and he had some drainage in the back of his throat, so he gave him some medicine for that.
I also had him look at Daniel while we were there. He's doing great, but I had noticed some rough red patches on his skin near his shoulders on his arms. He has had a bad case of seborrheic dermatitis (basically, cradle cap) for the last 6-8 weeks, and the doctor had told me before that it can spread down the forehead, in between the eyebrows, a little on the ears, and even on the shoulders, and he has all of that, so I thought the red patches were probably just part of that, but I wanted to make sure. He said that it was a type of eczema, so he gave me a prescription for an ointment to put on the patches, and it's working great already! As far as his extremely dry scalp, he said as the weather gets warmer, it will get better, and just keep doing what I'm doing, using a soft brush on his head when I shampoo his hair.
This evening, I had to go grocery shopping- I hadn't been for about 2 weeks! So, since I had a lot to get, Aaron stayed home with the boys while I went, and that was nice. We're all stocked up again!
3/2/06- Today we went to the Chattanooga Zoo and Chuck E. Cheese with Lisa and Lorence!! We had so much fun! The weather was great and the kids loved seeing the animals at the zoo. After the zoo, we headed over to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch and to play. I had 2 really good coupons, so it didn't cost that much for the 4 of us to go, and the kids got plenty of tokens for all of the games and rides. We all rode together in the van and just had a great day!!
3/1/06- What a beautiful day! 70 degrees outside and sunny...so Caleb and I spent the morning outside during Daniel's nap. I cleaned and washed all of the outside toys that had been "sitting around" all winter. We washed the sand and water toy stand and all of the toys that go with it, and then put new sand in it. Caleb washed his Cozy Coupe car and had lots of fun with all of his outside toys.
2/27/06- This morning, the boys and I headed up to Franklin, TN to see "Nana and Papa" (my parents). They had come down to "finalize" their property search, and over the weekend they found a 5 acre piece of property and made an offer on it!! Yeah! It was just a quick trip for them, and mainly a "business" trip, but I knew they would want to see the boys. And since they needed to head back home to get back for work on Wednesday, it made more sense for me to go up there, so they wouldn't have to go so far out of their way down to Chattanooga. Anyway, we met in Franklin, went to some stores, and then went to lunch, and then over to the realtor's office for them to finalize the contract. The boys were really good. We were at the realtor office for about 2 hours, and we took turns holding Daniel and taking Caleb outside to play in the courtyard area and on the sidewalk. He just had too much energy to be inside, after the 2 hour drive up to Franklin, and the excitement of seeing his Nana and Papa! We played that game where one person has their back turned and the other one can run up from behind to get closer, but if the "leader" turns around, the one running has to stop and freeze until the leader turns around again. Caleb had more fun with that- it was so cute!
After we said goodbye to Mom and Dad (Nana and Papa), we met up with my brother, Matt, for dinner at Panera Bread, and then went up to Goodlettsville (just north of Nashville) to see his new house. Caleb asked if he could ride with Matt up to his house, so I let him. I just transferred the car seat over, and he was SO excited to ride in Matt's truck. It was about a 30-40 minute drive up to Goodlettsville from Brentwood, TN. His house is GREAT!! It is in a great location and he has it set up so nice. Caleb was so excited to see his Uncle Matt.
I got on the road around 8:30pm, which worked out great. I got to Murfreesboro around 9:00pm, and Caleb was asleep, so I fed Daniel for the last time, and changed his diaper, and talked with him a little bit before I got back on the road. He needs to stay up for a little bit after he eats- he doesn't like to go right to bed after he eats for the last time at night. So I was back on the road by 9:50pm, and got home around 11:00pm. Daniel stayed asleep when I put him in his crib, and Caleb just asked me as I was laying him in his bed if I could take his shoes and sock off, and then fell back to sleep- it was so sweet! I was so thankful that everything went well and that we got home safely!
2/26/06- We had a good day at church today and went over to our preacher's house (Perry and Heather's) in between services and had a great time. Aaron preached in the morning and did a great job. However, Daniel woke up shortly after Aaron got up there to preach, probably recognizing his Daddy's voice, and wouldn't go back to sleep! And I think he also missed being home, since we were gone all day, because when we got home in the evening, I put him in his pack n' play to play, and he just kicked and cooed and had so much fun!
2/25/06- Well, Maggie did great last night- we didn't hear her at all! She's a very good bird, and Aaron was saying he had never thought to have a bird as a pet, but that it might be something to consider. I know my Aunt Jeanne has had birds as pets and just loved them! So, maybe we'll get a bird someday..."we'll see!", as Caleb says!
2/24/06- We had a very fun eventful day today! Caleb and Daniel and I went over to Lisa's house for a little bit, and Lorence and Caleb played, and Daniel and Laney ate and cooed. Then, we went to Pizza Hut for lunch. We hadn't been in a while, so the kids were excited to go...and so were Lisa and I! After Caleb and Lorence ate, they wanted to go over by the video games that Pizza Hut has, so since they were close to where we were sitting and we could watch them, we let them go. Lisa and I were saying that we dread the day they learn that you really need quarters to make them work, and they start asking for money!!
After lunch with Lisa, Lorence, and Laney, we went home for naps so we'd be ready to go to Joey's birthday party!! Joey is Josh and Rachele's second boy and he was born just 3 months before Caleb. They have been good buddies from the start and it's been neat to see them grow up together. Joey turned three, and he had a dinosaur party, so that was a lot of fun. They had the kids in Joey's bible class and their families at the party, and then Rachele's parents, so we all had a good time being together.
We have a "treat" at our house this weekend. Aaron' school has a pet parakeet, named Maggie, and different teachers take turns bringing her home for the weekend, so Aaron brought her home to with us this weekend! Caleb just loves her!! Aaron met us at Josh and Rachele's house, so Caleb rode home with him, and imitated the bird the whole way home. When I called Aaron on the cell phone, I couldn't tell who was squacking...Maggie or Caleb! It should be an intersting weekend!!
2/22/06- Today I had a dentist appointment at 4:00pm Eastern time, so Aaron was able to meet me there after school, which worked out great. I left a little bit early, and then fed Daniel in the van right before the appointment, so he would be all set for Aaron. Caleb brought a little toy set in and played with it the whole time, and Daniel just cooed, looked at his litle key ring hanging from his carrier, and kicked and tried to grab it, and he also watched Caleb play. I'm so glad Aaron was able to watch them.
When my appointment was over, we had about 2 hours before we had to be at church, so we ran to Babies R' Us, and then got some dinner at Souper Salad. We didn't get anything at Babies R' Us, but we have 2 gift certificates, and I've been looking for a car seat/booster seat for Caleb, that will eventually be used by Daniel. There's one at Wal-mart that I really liked, and I didn't know if Babies R' Us had the same one or not. Well, they do...and it's actually on clearance! I'm going to be down in Chattanooga on Friday, so I'm just going to think about it and decide if that's what I really want to get.
2/21/06- Well, I took Caleb to his little school to play with all of his little friends that he's been missing, and packed his lunch and blankets so he could stay for the day and take a nap. I got to talk with Denita, the lady who runs the daycare/school where Caleb goes, and now where Daniel will go. I just wanted to touch base with her about him and his schedule, and see what I needed to bring in a few weeks. If he keeps this schedule, it will work out great, with him waking up at 7am, and then going down for a long nap from 8 or 8:30 until 11:00am, because I can feed him before I leave the house in the morning, take them to school, and then he'll go down for his nap, and wake up when I have my break at 11:15am, and then I can just go over and nurse him.
I took Daniel over to the music room with me, and I went through all of the mail I've received over the last 2 and 1/2 months. I found my plans from last year, so I can just make sure I have everything ready for teaching those lessons. And I made sure program dates were on the books, so now I need to get working on those. Hopefully with all of these programs before the end of the year, the weeks will go by quickly! It was a good day, though. It was fun to see everybody- kids and teachers. They all loved seeing Daniel! He was fabulous the whole time I was at school. He took a nap on a blanket I put down on the carpet of my room, and just went around the school with me when I had to go and talk to different teachers!
Caleb had a great time at school. He was excited to see me when I came to pick him up, and talked about his day the whole way home. They said he was good, so I was glad.
2/20/06- Another relaxing day! Aaron was home today, so we had a fun morning making breakfast and eating together. Aaron worked on some some "deacon duties" and I went through some packets of pictures from the last few years. I'm wanting to "gradually" start scrapbooking, so I'm trying to get my pictures all in order, and pick out pictures that I want to use in the boys' scrapbooks. I'm wanting to do a scrapbook for each boy of their first year, and then a Christmas one, going back to when Aaron and I were first married, so I can have pictures and stories of each Christmas together.
I realized tonight that I only have this week and 2 more full weeks before I have to go back to school to teach. I just got really emotional, because the time has just flown by and I can't believe it's time to go back already! I think I'm going to go over to the school tomorrow and work on a few things, so I know what I'll be doing when I go back.
|
Contact This Site's Owner
