Back to School

Today is a bittersweet day. Today marks the day where the teachers go back to school to prepare for the students next week. It is a week of excitement and renewed energy and is usually one of my favorite weeks of the first semester at school. However, I am not there this year. After Derek and I found out I was pregnant we made the decision I would stay home for this first year. It was a hard decision to make, but I think it will work out best for our family. My teaching co-workers and my principal were more than supportive of my decision and I will be forever grateful for their support. Fisher was my home away from home this year and I will miss everything about it.  I know I am not done teaching and I will be back :)

People have been asking what I will do since I'm not teaching.  I plan on subbing at the school I taught at, preparing our house for a new family member, spoiling my niece and learning a lot from my sister ( a new mom) and being thankful that Derek has such a great job!  As soon as November comes I know I will have plenty to do! I wish it was November now but I know I will never have these three months back!

For all my teacher friends, I hope your back to school week is great! Your students are lucky to have you :) And even though none of my students read my blog, I wish each and every one of them a wonderful year- they will always be my "first children"! Hopefully Hadley won't be as big a handful as 22 rowdy 9 year olds!

6 Months and Nursery Updates

This week marks the beginning of my 6th month of pregnancy! This is a fun milestone to reach as it makes it feel like our baby will be here SOON!

How far along: 24 weeks

Sleeping: Falling asleep is getting harder and harder
Best Moment of the Week: Picking up the nursery bedding!!
Movement: Yes! Her little kicks are getting stronger and stronger each day!
Cravings: Still craving anything and everything sweet...cupcakes, cookies, pies!! I told Derek that this must mean Hadley is going to be sweet since I'm craving so many sweets =)
What I am looking forward to: Painting the nursery
Milestones: Reaching 24 weeks. 24 weeks is a big week to reach. I am now at the "viability" stage of pregnancy which means Hadley has a 60% chance to survive outside the womb with several medical interventions. Obviously we want her to stay until November!!
This week was also so fun because Bedazzled called to say her bedding was ready. I think the owner was shocked that I hung up the phone and was at their store in under 30 minutes! I was really excited! I came home and put it all together. I just love it! Everything is coming together in her room. Here are a few pictures:

    The chair will go where the bassinet is! Here is the crib and dresser/changing table.

                                  A close-up of the bedding. I love all of the sweet details!

Last night, I babysat Emily while Mark and Caroline went to a FC Dallas soccer game. Jessica brought  Abbey and Zoey over to meet Emily. I can already tell what good cousins they are going to be to Hadley. They had so many sweet questions and comments about the baby and it just made me even more excited for November. At one point (when Emily wasn't screaming!) she was sitting in the swing and was just staring at Abbey and Zoey with these wide eyes. They were so good talking to her softly and trying to make her giggle. Emily showed off all of her tricks (screaming, eating and making a dirty diaper) and the girls loved every minute! It was fun to have all of my nieces together!

Abbey and Emily

I had so much fun with Emily and she is growing right before my eyes. We were cuddling on my bed together and she rolled over! Such a big girl! I was laughing and cheering her on and Maverick thought all that attention was for her. She jumped up on the bed and put her nose about 2 inches from Em's face and Emily froze. She smiled and thought Mavy was so silly. Her mom wouldn't appreciate this because she was mortified that Mav was licking Emily earlier!

Here are some other summer pictures I haven't posted yet. Its gone by so fast and I'm ready for fall!

In Destin, 21 weeks

Emily and her Uncle Bear- so sweet!!

We went to San Antonio a few weeks ago to visit Momu and Popu and to see Papa's new place. We had a wonderful dinner Saturday night with Momu and Popu (I didn't have my camera) and then went to visit Papa on Sunday morning. It was so much fun and I can't wait to go back. Here is Emily and her great-grandfather, Papa.