Bye Bye Maternity Leave

I am so incredibly sad to not get to spend all day with this lovely lady:

Today is my last day of maternity leave. These past 3 months have gone way to fast. I have thoroughly enjoyed staying home and loving on my kids and cooking for every one and cleaning and laundry. Now, even though I'm going back to school, I still have to do all that!

I know she will be fine with our wonderful babysitter and that her big brother will protect and take care of her. I do miss my students and coworkers. But, oh, how I will miss her!
I am jealous of all you SAHMs!!!

It's Official!!

I feel like we are officially a family of 4 now that we got our first family of 4 pictures taken.

Little Miss snuck in for her 3 month photo shoot....

Baby C, just lounging on a bed of roses...what? you don't do this every day?

I could just eat her up! Those eyes.....

I have the best looking family....but then again, I think that I'm a little partial!

For Sale

Out with the old....in the with new...hopefully! I would like to replace our beautiful buffet and dinning room table set with a newer set. This set has been great, but it is just time for a change.

The Buffet has enough room to hold your precious items and display them elegantly with a glass shelf, mirrored backing (which can help make your room look bigger), and interior lights to highlight! It also has plenty of storage underneath.

The set also includes this beautiful table that can easily seat EIGHT people once you add the table insert.

The table includes 2 captain comfy captain chairs and 4 regular chairs that you can easily replace the fabric on the chairs to match your home's decor.

I'm willing to sell the table and buffet separate, but would prefer to sell them together as they match so well! The price for both is $700, however I am willing to negotiate. Feel free to email me or leave me a comment if you are interested or know of someone who is interested!

Renovate? or Not to Renovate?

Since I've been home on maternity leave, I am a a little embarrassed to admit how much TV I have started watching. Baby C isn't one for conversing just yet and Big C's topics of conversations revolve around animal noises, trucks, and Mickey Mouse. I've been watching all different types of shows from "Dog The Bounty Hunter" to any home improvement shows. Whenever I watch these shows I always think the same thing...sure, I can do that! (Yes, even bounty hunting!)

I noticed that on the home renovation shows, they always do 2 things.

1. Paint

I know I said in the past that I wouldn't be painting any time soon....after painting 3 rooms while being pregnant, I'm all painted out. Painting can be a quick, cheap and easy solution to updated a room.

2. Lighting

Another solution can simply be changing how you light your house. Whether it be installing recessed lighting (This site has 5% off on lighting closeout, but check it out soon because it ends April 30.), adding a lamp, or simply moving your lamps around the room, these simple and cheap solutions can bring a whole new updated feel to your room. This I'm going to have to try 'cause this girl's painting days are over....at least for now! I'm no Bob Vila...

but it can't be that hard.....right?

Chit Chatting with Baby C

I caught Baby C the other day "talking" the ear off of this red bird. I think that they were talking about Kate Gosselin finally getting voted off of Dancing With The Stars.

Then she noticed I was watching her. This is her "This is an A, B conversation, C your way out of it" look.

AHHH...2 months old and I already have to monitor her conversations! I didn't like the way that bird was lookin' at her!

Sleeping Beauties

Baby C has discovered the joy of sitting up in her bumbo seat....

to which she promptly fell asleep in! It's not exactly a recliner,but she likes it!

Big C is a WILD MAN when it comes to sleeping. He if very rarely in the same place when I come to check on him.

And neither are his toys. These landed on the floor before he fell asleep.

No matter how they sleep, they are my sleeping beauties.

Teacher Gifts

Kelly's Korner is doing a "Show Me Your Teacher Gifts" this week on her blog. As a teacher, I thought that I would share my favorite gifts. Most teachers spend lots of their own money on their students. It is not uncommon for me to go to the store and pick up a little gift for Big C, Baby C, and my 22 Kindergarten students. This can be a big financial burden, but we teachers do it because we view your children as our children. Here are a few ideas.

Gift cards are always GREAT! Generic gift cards are good if you aren't sure of where to go. Chances are, your teacher will spend the money on your child's class.

I always purchase things from Target for my "children"...aka students. They have an excellent $1 spot to get things from!

Walmart has a huge selection of things for the classroom. For my classroom, I purchase many classroom supplies for craft projects, classroom parties, birthday and Christmas presents for the students.

Chances are, any gift card you purchase will be spent on your child! If you want to get a present strictly for the teacher, try a Starbucks Gift Card...Starbucks has something for everyone even if your teacher isn't a coffee drinker!

Children's books is always a gift I love to receive. I use so many books when teaching and updating my classroom room is a huge financial commitment also. Beginning teachers usually don't have a big selection for their classroom library so helping out by purchasing a couple books not only helps them, but your child will benefit by getting to ready those books also.

If you aren't sure what books would be age appropriate, you can order books from Scholastic Book Orders. I'm sure most of your children's teachers send them home. When you order one book for your child, order an extra for the class. Not only are you encouraging reading for your child, you are instilling the love of reading and learning in other children as well!

Also, your teacher earns points depending on how many books are ordered. These points can be redeemed for classroom supplies. Yet just another way to help your teacher to help your child!


One of the most meaningful gifts I can receive is a simple Thank You note. I have kept every note, card, scrap of paper that has the words "Thank You" written on them. I have them filed in folders by the year and class that I received them. Whenever I have a 'bad day' I go through this folder and my day immediately turns better!

Remember, a simple Thank You can go along way!

Coffee Drinkers

Today, Starbucks if giving free brewed coffee to anyone who brings in a reusable tumbler. Drink up coffee lovers!

I Can't Believe....

Kate Gosselin has not been voted off of Dancing with the Stars yet and that her dance partner hasn't "offed" himself or her!

4 year old Suri Cruise still drinks out of a baby bottle!

Jessica Simpson cut her hair off....

...I think it may be a wig...I hope!

...how much air-brushing are done to celebrity photos. NO ONE has the perfect body!

Siblings

Oh how my heart melts with joy....

every time I see these two faces!

Mommy loves you both!

Baby C 2 Month Check Up

Baby C had her official 2 month doctor's appointment today.

She weighed in at 12.1 pounds and 24 inches long. That puts her in the 90th percentile for both height and weight. Her head is 16 inches which puts her in the 97th percentile. This is very similar to what Big C was when he was 2 months old. Our doctor noticed how much she looks like Big C when he was 2 months old. Baby C got a clean bill of health! The doctor was impressed by how well she controlled her head and her alertness. There was a little concern that she may have a small hernia, however her doctor is pretty sure that it is just a true outtie belly button. She will check it again at her 4 month appointment to make sure. Baby C loved the nurses until they have her the shots! She was smiling, cooing, and even giggled at them....then SCREAMED and cried. It never gets easy watching your babies get shots. She is sleeping it off now.

Here is just one of her "battle" wounds.

I might be retiring her nickname "Pukerella". I discovered that she doesn't like it when I drink milk, hints the puking up. So, for now, I have cut out dairy from my diet. Bring on the Soy milk! It actually does not taste that much different and isn't that bad, if you get the vanilla soy milk. Oh, the things we do for our little ones!