Summer, End of Year, Caroline latest

I made it. I made it to summer. I was worried that I would end up lasting to the end of the year. I've had friends placed on bedrest or delivering early and thankfully, I just made it to summer. I even left days on the table. I just wanted to be there at the end of the year when their scores came in (they came in the last day of school...I had to hand them out as they were walking out the door since we had been at the park all day...,I really wanted to be able to go over the scores with them). We worked so hard together and I wanted to be the one to share their results with them and I at least got to tell them that they passed. I wanted to go on their last day of school with them. Me. No one else. Speaking of scores...they were great! I'm so proud of them. I'm so grateful to God that they came back that good. I didn't want to let them down or frankly, be that pregnant one who did the children a disservice and just left the kids hanging. There were days that I taught from my chair just trying not to get sick in front of my class.

Yesterday, I packed all but a few boxes up in my classroom and Micah came and hauled it downstairs. Two short years ago I became an elementary teacher. Day one of teaching a child threw up. Shortly thereafter, I had another wet her pants. Then, another pooped their pants. I thought what have I got myself into. I thought that a lot. A lot. I never have worked so hard in all my life. My class as with all the classes at my school were very heterogeneous. Children came in at all different levels, different socioeconomic statuses, special education, bilingual education, foster homes, gift and talented and a partridge in a pear tree. We are not departmentalized so we taught all subjects. Three TAKS tests. Just being absent was a feat! But, I was sad yesterday. I even ugly cried. I really don't have a happy medium cry. It's all or nothing. I really learned so much about life the last two years ago. I grew up in a bubble. Not really on purpose, it's just my reality. The kiddos taught me to be more grateful and compassionate. They come in with so much and for some of them school was their refuge.

Micah and I trekked back to the hospital for our sonogram to check on Caroline's growth and to see what kind of labor I would be having. My last doctor's appointment has me weighing in at about 20 pounds from my original weight and my tummy measuring right on schedule. Caroline is weighing in at 4 pounds and 13 ounces. She is currently in the 23rd percentile regarding size and is on track to weigh 6 pounds. These are only estimates based on bone measurements, but it at least gives us a guide. As for the kind of labor I will have, it's still up in the air until the doctor reads the results next week. We had a hard time seeing her. She hides during the sonograms. Her feet were up by her head. How does she do that? I have been having Braxton Hicks and even had one during the ultrasound. We had to stop for a moment until my stomach unhardened.

Much love,

Fourth Anniversary

On May 27, 2006 I married the most handsome, witty, caring, loving, smartest, loyal, Texas Tech obsessed, sports-lovin', red meat eatin' All-American boy I could find. Today is my anniversary, and my hubby is out mowing the lawn after our little celebration of our day as we've had lots of moisture and a for sale sign on the front lawn. So, this year the gift calendar is a little odd. The fourth year you are supposed to give flowers or fruit on the traditional calendar. On the modern calendar the fourth year is appliances. Flowers, for Micah? No. Fruit, for Micah? No. Appliances? What, like a mixer? I bought him a grill last year. Now, knowing Micah who ALWAYS gives the best gifts and writes the most eloquent cards that make me laugh and cry at the same time I did, in fact, get him a gift. Nothing that measure up to the slide show he made for me complete with timing to music (I tried to upload it...so sweet, so, very, very sweet). I got him "morts." That stands for mesh shorts. It's the first thing he puts on when he gets home. We race to see who can put on their cozy clothes the fastest and meet in the living room when we come home. We love our "cozies." No, this gift had nothing to do with flowers, fruit, or appliances, but he's outside mowing in them as we speak and they are red. And, he loves red. We both brought home dinner for each other trying to be sweet. So, now we have dinner for several nights and that's always nice. And, with my slideshow and Micah with his "morts" life is good after four years married. Like his text said earlier in the day, only 71 more years to go and I'm excited to spend it with him.

Much love,

Showered with Love

Saturday we were immensely blessed by friends and family at a shower thrown by friends in Plainview at the home of the Holloways. The table was decorated in a garden, vintage quilt theme with pink and green tied throughout.


These were my sweet hostesses that went above and beyond. From left to right: Kim Phillips, Courtney Williams, me, Carrie Huber, and Mindy Holloway


The grandmothers and aunts aren't the least bit excited!


Presents galore!


Opening gifts



We will be playing dress up!


We unloaded the gifts temporarily in our blue room with the golf bags and poker table. Dodger took his job snooping and guarding gifts very seriously. He was growling and wouldn't move...and we laughed. Micah put him in the car seat and was carrying him around. Next, he will be testing out the crib.


Much love,

My Enemy

This is a Mud Swallow, also known as Barn Swallow, aka my nemesis. They terrify me. I have knocked down nest after nest April through September last year. I have already put out their hopes of a new home on my porch with the water hose once or twice so far this season. Today I tried to go out and knock down a very large, fortified nest and I was so petrified of them, I ran back into the house. They swoop and loom and love my porch...even more this year for some reason. Don't they know my house is on the market and looming isn't exactly good relations with prospective buyers? I promptly called Micah and informed him that it was his turn to eradicate our porch of the nest. While he literally had to bust it up with the rake and water hose, I tapped on the glass to keep the birds from dive bombing his head while Dodger did his part at barking ferociously. Team Malouf wins again!

In other news, school is winding down and I'm feeling very overwhelmed. LOTS to get done! Tomorrow is Dads and Donuts. Besides the last day of school park day, it is our last big event that the teachers put on of this year. Whew, thank goodness!

Birthing classes are going well. Last night we had a tour of the hospital, where to go, what to do. Last night's topics touched on assisted birthing. Forceps equal GIANT salad tongs. I'll pass, thanks. And, I had to see another birthing video and an animated cesarean video. Ouch. And, double ouch.

Much love,

Highland Elementary Diaper Shower

My coworkers at Highland threw me a diaper shower on Monday after school. Paige, my third grade coworker, is having a little boy and is due three weeks before me and so we had a double diaper shower. For everything pink, there was something blue! I am feeling good on diapers and wipes now!

As you can see, it was a free jeans day on Monday. I was not about to not wear my fabulously comfortable maternity jeans!


They had us play candy bar in the diaper game. I was not any good!


Outfitting the wee ones!


My fourth grade team got me all hooked up to bathe Caroline!


Much love,

Mother's Day 2010

Happy Mother's Day 2010! This is my first Mother's Day that I get to celebrate. I know, I know Caroline is still baking in my tummy, but others are celebrating me so I'm going along with it!

First, our camera broke right around the time I found out I was pregnant. Micah sent it off to be repaired and it's still "under repair." Well, tired of waiting and eight months pregnant...I wanted a camera so Micah went and picked one up this week. I wasted no time taking a few photos!

A question I've been asked a lot is, "How's the nursery coming?" "Ummmmm, not really done," is usually my answer. We have our bedding and bed picked out but with our move and house on the market here's the plan.

We are thinking we will set up the crib in the seating area of our bedroom.


Here's Caroline's sweet bedding.


Then, Saturday night after we had come home from the Leftwich's cookout, Micah had this for me. The small package of flowers was from Caroline and Dodger. I suppose Dodger knows how to purchase flowers...maybe he bartered wet kisses for my flowers?


And, these cards. These sweet, sweet cards. Did you notice that my daughter came out of utero to sign my card. Talented and smart, I tell you. And, Dodger, too.


Then, we went to church. I knew that I would feel emotional. I usually do in church, but when the children began coming forward and handing their moms flowers in the congregation accompanied with the hugs and kisses. I lost it. Couldn't stop. "For this child we prayed." We so wanted Caroline. So wanted her. And, now, I'm 32 weeks pregnant sitting in a Mother's Day service. Then, our sweet pastor, Dr. Hart brought me a flower. Oh, how precious and a memory I will treasure.

Off to Lubbock to meet Micah's family for lunch at the Overton Hotel. What a neat experience! There was quite the buffet. I filled my plate with all sorts of goodies. Mitch and Sherry gave Caroline an adorable pink and green tiny smocked floral print dress. Oh, I can't wait to put her in it!


After coming home, I threw on my cozy t-shirt and pj pants and crawled into bed to snuggle with Dodger. He's been in Midland while our house has been showing, but I couldn't stand it any longer. He's come home for some sweet lovin'. We missed him! I'm glad to have my four-legged,furry little boy back!


Much love,

Waddle Waddle

Waddle, waddle. That's my walking pattern at the end of the day. Tired, slow, and waddling down my school halls. Three more weeks left of school. Wow...this year has really flown by! Today we wrapped up our Mother's Day Tea. We had all sorts of sweet treats, a slideshow, and the sweetest books they made for their moms...I can't wait to start accruing goodies such as hand prints, I love you, Mommy notes, portraits drawn by them, and sweet poems. Now, we will be fieldtriping and wrapping up this year with ceremonies. Another looker at our home this week. We also started childbirth classes this week. We are with three other couples. Quite informative, but during the breathing/relaxing part we were told to imagine being on a beach. Good with that. Then, place imagine your toes in the sand. Check. Then, imagine bronzed bodies. Ummmm, have you seen my body? I turn a shade of purple when I'm cold. I began to giggle. It didn't help Micah, too, was giggling. Mind you, we were on a mat, on hospital pillows, on the floor. Not relaxing.

Much love,

Veil of Fog

I don't know. A common response from me lately. I should respond with, "God knows. I'll follow." I feel foggy. I can't make decisions. I can barely think. Really. I was looking at childbirth classes and baby basic classes and I had to close the document because there was too many choices. I need to focus. I usually pride myself on being on top of everything. I feel like I'm sinking. I need someone to throw me a line or just put my on auto pilot and do my thinking for me. I have got to put Caroline on a waiting list for daycare in case I go back to work. I couldn't call on Friday because I don't even know what to say. Literally, that's how bizarre my mind feels. I feel like the only thing I can do is concentrate on keeping Caroline in my tummy, eating, and going to work (and May is one busy month!). And, clumsiness. It's weird. I've never been graceful, but I literally tripped over a chair during the TAKS test while trying to actively monitor. So now I have got to get on with decisions like planning on whether I will work, where will I work, planning on where Caroline will sleep, planning on her care next year, planning on baby classes, and finalizing school activity plans. On top of everything, I really miss Dodger. He been well taken care of by Micah's parents so our home could be shown with ease, but our home isn't the same without him. He brings life and fun to our home. He's cuddly, snugly, entertaining, and now we need to get him home. Isn't there a study that dogs reduce stress?

Much love,