Bigger and Better Things...

Today was officially my LAST DAY as a kindergarten teacher at Post Elementary! I am now, officially, a STAY AT HOME MOMMY! I thought I might be a little sad to leave, and I have had a few moments, but I have butterflies of excitement about what lays ahead!

The past 6 years have been full of so many good times, hard times, rewarding times and challenging times. I'll never forget my first week of teaching when I had to file a police report on a parent, yes a police report! After making it through the first week I thought I could do anything but the first year was quite a challenge. Teaching was so much more involved than just teaching, there were parents to deal with, kids to discipline, papers to file and keep up with, supplies to buy, and tests to be given. After making it through the 1st year I felt empowered, I could do anything. Then, year two started and my little classroom got smaller and smaller as more and more kids continued to pile in. By the end of the first week I had about 33 5 year olds, with no help. The first three weeks were crazy, we hired two new teachers and things calmed down. Then, Hurricane Katrina hit and we gave up hope that we would have a normal year, with our numbers growing again. After year two, I KNEW 100% I could do anything, and I did! Teaching was a challenge and that's what made it fun! When I look back on what I accomplished with my kids, it still amazes me. I had kids who came into my class not knowing how to write their name and they left, at the end of the year, reading, writing, adding and subtracting. I have had my fair share of challenging kids but I'd like to focus for a second on the ones who kept me doing what I loved to do. In the past 6 years I've had so many kids who have made a huge impact on me by what they have learned, how much they have grown, and how much they care. One amazing thing about my job, the thing I'll miss the very most, are the hugs and the unconditional love. Some of the kids I have worked with have been extremely fortunate some, on the other hand, have been extremely disadvantaged. Some parents were overly involved and some parents I never even met. No matter what their background, they just wanted love! I will miss the hugs each morning as they came into class and each afternoon as they got on the bus. I'll miss seeing the kids grow up before my eyes.

In the past 6 years I've made some amazing friends. Some I'll leave behind and some have already moved on.

I will miss taking with these two ladies every day.

'

As I leave a job I loved, most days, I move on to bigger and better things! Thanks to Zak I get to try my "dream job", something I've always dreamed of being, a stay at home mommy. And that job starts today! I know its going to be the most challenging thing I have ever done but also the most rewarding!

This past week has been so special.

Kellie and Jessica have made work so memorable and everyone has been so supportive of our decision. Kellie and Jessica put together a few surprises this week, one of which included breakfast this morning.

Zak brought home 6 pink roses last night. One for each year I've taught.

Then, tonight Zak took me and Colton out for my "retirement" dinner at Alicia's.

It's been an amazing and emotional week but I'm ready for a change, I'm ready for bigger and better things, I'm ready for some COLTON time!

1 year and 100 posts later...

One year ago today I started this blog.

One year ago I had no idea what life had in store for our family.

One year ago I hadn't met the most amazing little man in the world.

One year ago I was a teacher.

Today I have blogged 100 times.

Today I know what life is all about.

Today I have an 11 month old who has changed my life in so many ways.

Today I am a stay at home mommy. (Well technically in 5 days)

One year later I cant believe how amazing life is...I am so lucky!!!

By Water and By Air

Memorial Day we took Colton for his first swim at the neighborhood pool. He is definitely a water baby and loved every single second of it. He didn't even mind that the water was freezing!

What a fun fun time! I see many trips to the pool this summer and we are looking into some swim lessons too!


Speaking of lessons... Tonight Zak and Colton had some "flying lessons".

One...

Two...

Three...

Fly!

11 months old!

You are growing way too fast little man...

In the past month you have gone from three teeth to seven teeth. Those teeth have caused you a lot of pain and a lot of sleepless nights. They have also helped you start eating everything in sight from chicken nuggets to green beans and macaroni, and not that the teeth help you, but even some ice cream too.

You have become quiet the little dancer you shake your head and your little bottom and bend your knees smile and scream. We can't help but dance along with you!

You love toys that roll, your turtle and your tonka bus have to be some of your favorite toys. Your most favorite thing to play with right now is the doggy kennel. Probably not the safest thing to play with, but no matter how hard we try, we just can't keep you away. You also love things that open and shut and anything you can put into something and take out.

You are discovering everything, and I mean everything. If our head is turned for a second you are out of sight playing in a drawer, with Sadies food, opening and shutting the door, and yes, you have even found a yucky trash can or two. Your a fast little dude!

Since around 10 months when you got your third tooth, sleeping through the night has been a thing of the past. 4-5 nights a week you are up atleast once for an hour or so.

You hate to miss out on anything! If there's anything going on you squirm and wiggle free while we are trying to rock you. You don't have to be the center of attention, although most of the time you are, you just want to be with everyone so you don't have to miss out on a minute of anything fun.

You understand "no-no" and you hate those words! When we say it you stop what your doing, look at us with sad puppy dog eyes and the dinosaur tears start. Its hard not to give into you.

You are also showing us that you really know who "mama" and "dada" are. You call for us when your unhappy or excited and it is music to our ears.

You are still the happiest baby we know. When we take you out to a restaurant you get so excited you scream and laugh. Your not like most babies we see, you are so happy and quite loud about it. We feel like we are bothering others, then we look up and see how many people are smiling at you and commenting on what a cutie you are. We can't disagree.

You are the most amazing little guy and mommy is counting down the days ( 11 ) until I can stay at home with you! Plans are well underway for your first birthday and we just can not believe how fast this year has gone. Happy 11 months Little Man!

And now for your viewing pleasure... a few outtakes! (This was the hardest month BY FAR!)

An Amazing Mother's Day Weekend!

I have had an AMAZING first Mother's Day and I took lots of pictures to share with you. My weekend started Saturday morning when these two handsome twins decided to take me on a shopping spree at the outlet mall. After shopping Zak took me to Tony's Pizza on Jones road. Its been his favorite pizza place for quite some time and he is always telling me how great it is and it was as good as hes always said. After pizza, we ran some errands together, relaxed at home a little while and then met my parents and Becky for dinner at Bjs Brewhouse to celebrate Mother's Day.

Here is a picture of Colton, this morning, with all the clothes I got on my shopping spree. He's holding the sweet card he and Zak gave me this morning.

After seeing a floral arrangement a friend made for a secretary at work, I was inspired. I put these together for our moms and really enjoyed getting creative, although it was much harder than I expected and they didn't turn out anything like I envisioned.

For Zak's mom...aka...Grandma

For my mom ...aka...Nanny

This morning, Zak and Colton let me sleep in. After Colton's breakfast they came in to get me with a sweet card and lots of cuddles. Zak planned a picnic for the three of us. He packed the picnic basket with all of my favorite goodies and we headed to the park by Labay Middle School. It was awesome! We found lots of shade and it was a beautiful day for a picnic.

Chef Daddy making my lunch for me!

Colton was such a sport. He sat in his stroller and played while Zak and I ate.

Then it was time to play...

It was just too hot to play at the park so we headed over to Nanny and Grandads to celebrate with Nanny.

Then it was over to Grandma and PawPaws to celebrate with Grandma.

We finished off a very special Mother's Day with blueberry pancakes at IHOP (I know we ate a lot). It was an awesome awesome 1st Mother's Day...one I know I'll never forget! I am so blessed to have such an amazing family to celebrate with and this guy...well he is the reason I got to celebrate today.

MeeMaw

MeeMaw we are so glad you are feeling better, you are so strong! We wish we could be there with you but are thinking of you all the time.

We love you so much! Hugs and kisses from all of us here in Houston!!!!

10 months old...

Beware...Long Post ahead but pictures to follow!

(Notice how the 10 month sign is taped to the couch and Colton has a coaster in his hands to keep him busy.
This picture took both Zak and I to capture the moment.)

It sounds so crazy to say it, but we have a 10 month old. I'm not sure why, but 10 months sounds so much older than 9 months. The past month has been super busy for our little guy. He is learning so much. He is finally crawling. It took him a while to get the hang of it but he is now on the go 24/7! He has learned to wave a little better and will wave at anything. He is clapping and when he claps he looks so proud of himself. He looks at you like "Look what I did, I didn't know I could do this!" He is pulling up on everything in sight from the couch to the table to his crib and lot of other things that aren't really safe to pull up on. He's had a few spills but is actually pretty sturdy. He will pull up on the coffee table and walk himself to the other side. When we get him up in the morning he greets us, standing up. When he couldn't roll over and get up I could get him back to sleep with a little rub of the head and a binki but now when he's up, HE'S UP, whether the sun is or not! He has become a little bit of a restless sleeper. Noises wake him easily and he doesn't fall to sleep near as easy as he once did. We still rock him every night because we love that time with him and we just don't think you can cuddle your baby enough...ever! Last week I noticed he cut his top right tooth. He has been a real a champ when it comes to cutting teeth. (Notice I said has.) He had been acting a bit weird for about a day or two. He refused to nap (but was sleeping through the night). He refused his bottle but ate every bite when it came to baby food, cookies, and wagon wheels. He wasn't fussy but he was a bit needy and extra cuddly. I actually started to panic a little and I got my self all worked up that he was getting dehydrated and sick. (Oh me...worked up...no!) I paged the pedi at 6 on Saturday evening and about two minutes after I hung up I noticed his little tooth. I hadn't even thought a tooth was a possibility, I don't know why, I guess I'd just given up on him getting another tooth! After the tooth broke through is when everything changed. The past two nights have been a bit tough. This ia how they have gone... He has been getting up a few times a night. He wakes up upset about 30 minutes after going to bed and is easily put back to sleep. The second time he gets up anywhere between 2 and 4, screaming, and I am able to rock him back to sleep after a while. The third time he gets up around 4 or 5 , and daddy gets up with him, this time he is up for the morning. Once he's up he is happy he just wants to be up. What is it with sleeping? He must just be startled by the pain and wake himself up. He has been napping a little, but not well. I can't imagine how tired he must be! Tonight while I was getting him ready for bed I could tell, for the first time, how much pain he is in. He was grabbing for anything to get in his little mouth. Poor guy. Hopefully his 4th tooth will break through soon so he can get some rest. We still think we have a pretty brave and tough little guy he may hurt but he's as happy as can be, for the most part! He is such a happy happy baby. He loves to get out and about. He loves sitting in a highchair at restaurants and he loves being pushed around with his feet propped up in the stroller. He loves to play and sing but hates to do it alone. He sings and talks the whole way to and from Nanny's each day. It's like he's trying to tell me about his day. (It's no surprise he is a talker between myself and his daddy. He has no hope for being quiet!) It's so sweet. I love that time with him even if I just get to peak at him in the mirror. He loves splashing in the bath and meal times. He's figuring out finger foods and I'm slowly letting him try some table food. He ate a bit of PawPaws birthday cake last weekend. He loves wagon wheels and all those other baby biscuits. He is so cute when he tries to eat the puffs since he can't quite figure out how to get them into his mouth. He loves Sadie and is getting curios about Chloe now that he can crawl over to her and try to pet her. She's really not sure about him. He plays tug of war with Sadie and her sock. Sometimes I think he is more excited to see Sadie when we get home in the evening than Zak or I. He laughs out loud at the sight of her and immediately tries to jump out of my arms to touch her. He also has a new love for his binki. He's always taken a binki but had been going off it a bit until recently when he has wanted it with him every second. I'm happy for that because when he doesn't have the binki in he's grinding those pretty new teeth...ewwww! A couple of days a go he was saying and repeating after me "mama". Music to my ears even if he isn't really saying it to me.
Time is absolutely flying! A little birthday planning has already begun and I can tell it's going to be huge!

WOW...that was long...I warned you! If you are still with us, thanks, here are the pictures I promised from the last month.

Love my Astros

New toy

Crawling EVERYWHERE..Nothing can stop me now

Playing with my new friend Renner

Out to eat with Miss Leah
Hanging with some friends
See how cute I am... I was the talk of Central Market today loungin' with my foot propped up...this is how I roll