Three Months

Dear Caroline,

Three months...my, oh, my! You continue to be such a joy to our lives. You have such a pleasant disposition. You seem so content with everything as long as you've eaten even when you aren't feeling top notch. You had to go to the doctor for congestion this month and are having to take an antibiotic to help you get rid of some of the congestion. But, of course, you take your medicine like a champ. When I took you into the doctor you weighed 12.5 pounds. This past week you shocked us when you rolled over in your bed at night so early. We place you on your back to sleep, but you have insisted in flipping over to your tummy. Then, we had to strip off your bumper when you put yourself in the corner of your bed. We reinstated the movement monitor as well as the video/noise monitor. Daddy even caught you with an arm and leg hanging between the slats. You are usually only waking us once in the night somewhere around 2 AM to eat, but last night you slept the WHOLE night! I even woke up Daddy to go in and check on you. We were pretty shocked! You continue to love your bath time and looking at yourself in the mirror. You are eating about 4-5 ounces at a time. You seem to love for anyone to hold you; you don't really favor one person or another holding you...you love everyone! You have excellent neck control and are really hitting all of your necessary milestones. Here are a few shots from your third month.

Swing


Outside Picture Time


And, of course, Dodger thinks the camera should be on him. We have MANY pictures with Dodger trying to weasel his way into the shot.


Bath time love.



Sleeping on her way to nursery school


Measuring growth on lamb mat


Picture before a night out on the town


Working on those neck muscles in our Bumbo chair


Know you are loved.

Much love,

Mommy

Oprah

Dear Oprah,

Today you started your 25th season. I turned 28 about six weeks ago. I really have grown up with you. I didn't start watching recently...I really have watched for a long time. I have last period conference so I came home and watched while Caroline napped. Actually, let's be truthful. I had Micah set Oprah up on DVR so I could watch Oprah just last week after I get home from work(we are new to DVR--wow...so great!). I went to get Caroline early and as soon as I pulled her out of her carseat she had messed all up her back so the first thirty minutes were captured by the fabulous DVR while Caroline got a much needed bath! Back to Oprah. I have watched as you have changed hairstyles, gained weight, lost weight, lost dogs, struggled, cried from great surprises, and laughed with your best friends. I know this is silly, but I feel like we are sorta friends...friends with different views, but friends that talk about our views on the couch. And, I love "interviewing" people--have you ever played the question game with me? During the summer, I have scheduled my errands around the 3 PM showing of Oprah. I really admire her attitude towards education and hard work. I love a good pull yourself up by the bootstraps story! So, I've "Run On" and "I'm Every Woman" with you. Can't wait to see what's going to happen this season.

Much love,

High School

"Oh, AHS, oh AHS, we'll sing your praise tonight..." I think I remember most of the words to my high school song. This teaching high school gig has made me reflect back on my own high school experience. Speaking of high school, this year marks my ten year reunion. I would like to go and visit the 'ole stomping grounds, but since my best friends aren't going, it just wouldn't be the same...who knows I may change my mind! Here's a few thoughts about high school...

1) You know the cool guy or girl that you seem to think was just WAY too cool...they are still very present in high school and you know, now...not so cool...just obnoxious. Why is it that being cool was much more important than being kind and a person of substance?
2) I really enjoyed a good Amarillo High School pep rally. It seemed like almost everyone participate, yelled, etc. Having been to other school pep rallys...this is not the case for other student bodies. Goooooo Sandies!
3) R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I respected property, teachers, administration, rules, peers. This is not always the case.
4) There is a rule hanging in the hall. No PDA. I saw this couple holding hands. I'm going to not count holding hands as against the rules. I held hands. I was a good girl...not a rule breaker. Then, I came across a couple in the hall after school and this girl was visibly upset and her boyfriend was comforting her and telling her it would be alright. Not really breaking the rules. Everyone needs someone to tell them it's going to be okay from time to time. Having said this, anyone that starts mugging down in front of me...ewww...it will have to stop.
5) High school was not the greatest part of my life. I liked it. Have fond memories. But, not the greatest part of my life.
6) I really feel like I had a great academic experience with really knowledgeable instructors. People said how hard college would be...not really. I thought high school really prepared me for college in many ways.
7) Do you ever get on facebook and wonder what became of people? I do. And, there's some shockers out there. Most not surprising at all.
8) I still keep in touch with my best friends in high school on some level. I really like them.
9) I think I just recently threw out my last AHS heather gray tennis sweatshirt. It was looking dated.
10) I keep overhearing conversations and seeing the same types of behaviors to a certain degree and in some cases...the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Much love,

Holding on Tight

Our little family has been holding on tight as life has been going at full speed ahead. We have been in survival mode for about three weeks. We have moved to Lubbock after having our house on the market for several months longer than anticipated in Plainview. We took a hit which we definitely did not expect to happen on selling the home so I have gone back to work to makeup the difference. It's not pleasant to think about losing money on a house, but we were throwing so much money down the drain in gas and miles on cars that it made sense just to get out. We are really liking our new home. Of course, there are things here and there that we would like to do to make it our own, but right now we are still trying to dig out of boxes. Most were unpacked immediately by our great moms who came to our rescue before and after the move. I started working at a high school in town. I haven't taught high school since I student taught so it's been an awakening to my stern voice, no nonsense and sometimes sassy attitude that I have shelved for several years. I am teaching 9th grade World Geography and 10th grade World History. Two TAKS tested subjects on this new C-Scope curriculum program has my brain in overdrive. This working parent stuff keeps us busy and tired. Micah and I have done a really good job of trying to be equitable in sleep and duties. Caroline started attending a church nursery program this week. She seems to adjust very well to her surroundings. The first day I picked her up, Miss Dora asked if she could feed her more because Caroline was letting her know that she was still hungry. My child is SERIOUS about her eating schedule and portions! Everyday we get a report on what she did that day and they even write out lesson plans. She has been sleeping better since this week, too. School makes me worn out also.

In essence, if I haven't called, you haven't seen me or better yet you have seen me and thought--yikes...really pjs again, I seem a bit frazzled, etc. etc. etc.-----it's because I'm just trying to hold on tight until I figure out a little something called balance.

Much love,