Knock, Knock... Is anyone there?

My apologies for the unplanned hiatus.

New school year.

New baby.

Balancing both.

Twenty-six kids.

Common Core.

Teaching technology classes in and out of district.

What a whirlwind.

September went well. The excitement of back-to-school, newly sharpened pencils, reuniting with teachers...

And then October came.  

Post-partum kicked my butt. That's real life kiddos.  

An overwhelming sense of anxiety took over as I tried to make sense of my new role as a working mom in a classroom full of change. 26 kids worth of change. A fainting spell before the morning bell in early October led to a few mental health days, and boy did I need it.

October and November were stressful, trying, challenging and left me questioning my career path and if teaching was what I wanted to do forever. There were long days and even longer weeks where I just didn't feel the excitement, the classroom "butterflies" if you will, while planning and prepping for the next day's activities. I was overwhelmed with the challenges of a large class, differentiating given the many low reading levels, the dynamics of a two-person grade-level team, new Common Core standards, and establishing routines with a support teacher. On top of that, I wanted to be able to give our sweet baby all of my love and attention in the few hours we had together but school anxiety loomed overhead. 

After a few doctor's appointments, the opportunity to talk with a professional about my anxiety and troubles finding balance, and some help getting my hormones back in check, I'm finally feeling like me again. And boy does that feel good. (How did I know I was starting to feel better? Oddly enough, I wanted to bake. Be creative. Be crafty. I'm sure that sounds odd, but for weeks while I struggled to kick the postpartum I was feeling so down, depressed, and defeated that I had lost any desire to bake and be creative and wondered if it would ever return. And it did.)

Here are merely a few highlights from the end of September and October... (Notice the lack of baking or DIY in October. Stick with me. I made up for it in December.)  

(For classroom updates check out my class blog here.)

September 

A Potluck Picnic display for classroom donations

Our class brochure and "What's Grilling?" handouts for Back-to-School Night

  
Working on our Super Reader capes courtesy of the very talented Hope at 
Shenanigans in Second Grade.
 
 

A back-to-school photo shoot

 Five iPad minis as part of our district's new iPad initiative

Cupcakes for a teacher friend's engagement

 

Deep sea fishing with Sarah, Dan, Mr. Lovie, and my dad. Crazy sea sickness. 

Miss K's 4 month appointment 

 

Celebrated National Speak Like a Pirate Day in Room 16

 

Got pretty in pink for Kerri's bus, burger, and booze bachelorette party

 

Baked a few dozen cupcakes for baby Kai's first birthday

October

Boo!

Lounging at Memere's.  

Miss K's monthly picture

Girl LOVES her toesies...

Playing outside waiting for Daddy to come home...

And wedding 6 of 6-- a best friend's wedding in beautiful Assonet.

 

And while Momma and Daddy partied, Miss K enjoyed a photo shoot with Auntie Leah. 

 

 

While I wasn't feeling 100% that day and was overwhelmed with thoughts, worries, and concerns about school, I was honored to stand by my sweet friend's side, much like she did for me three years earlier. Family-aside, my girlfriends are some of my most valuable treasures.

Meeting Baby Jake

One of my favorite pictures of Miss K--smiling as always

We visited Nana and Grampa and played in Auntie Leah's bed!

Go Pats!

Miss K's first Halloween

 

Did I mention she loves her toesies?

Our little princess--sitting up like a big girl!

November and December updates are coming up next! With the new year upon us, I will strive to blog more--but I make no promises. As I continue to find balance as a wife, mom, teacher, friend, blogger, baker, crafter... etc, family first. Miss K is growing leaps and bounds every day and I don't want to miss a thing.

With jammies on and Chinese food soon to arrive, it's time for some r&r with Mr. Lovie.

2013 you were pretty fabulous, but I have a feeling 2014 will be another one for the books!

Miss K is on a roll--literally!

Miss K seems to love her velcro Swaddle-Me and sleeps 10-11 hours a night. (And the crowd goes wild!) So, given that she loses ability to use her arms and legs, there have been a few mornings where we will find her rolled over near the corner of her crib--almost a 360 degree rotation from how we placed her there the night before. (We haven't considered those official "rolls" due to her glowworm-like physique when in her crib.)

But then...

This morning on her playmat, she actually rolled over!

 

 

actual footage from Miss K's first roll

And because she is so stinking adorable... 

From Thursday-- 2 months and 20 days old...headed to Meme's for a visit... 

From Friday at the car dealership waiting ever so patiently for the oil change to be complete...finding shelter from the rain...at 2 months and 21 days old...

And fresh from a bath Sunday morning-- 2 months and 23 days old--double booked for showers but sending our love!

Dusting Off the Blog

How do I dust off this blog and start anew after a busy four and half months have passed?

The thought of that alone is daunting.

But I am up for the challenge. Soon. 

Tonight I am enjoying my first Mother's Day with our sweet baby, Kensington Elena who joined us Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 11:47 am after a whirlwind 15 hours of discomfort, surprise, and life-changing bliss.



I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a wife. I'm a niece, cousin, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. I'm a student, and a teacher, a colleague, crafter, and baker. But until the end of time I will forever be Kensington's mom, and that is the most esteemed and humbling title I will ever have.

 

Blogs, Books, and Baby

How do fabulous teacher bloggers stay up-to-date reading teacher blogs, create such fabulous lessons and units, and blog so regularly?


I recently started a new technology course, have been working tirelessly with our state's DESE in my application for my professional license (I've met all the requirements, but they want specific paperwork that has been a guessing game until this week.), co-presenting at our district's School Committee meeting for Curriculum Corner next week (on using Twitter in the classroom), and have been spending uber amounts of time in the classroom organizing files and rearranging centers and supplies to make room for our three new classroom computers (!), work on a ReadBox display for our school's library (Pinterest-inspired and shown below) and working on printing, cutting, matting, laminating, and re-cutting stacks of centers and activities from some of my favorite bloggers-- including Pitner's Potpourri, Classroom Game Nook, and the Polka-Dotted Teacher...

and get ready for baby!!

Our third grade is celebrating Pajama Day tomorrow with a jam-packed day of read alouds and literacy fun! My cupcake pajamas are ironed and ready!

I've got a few new spelling and science activities in the works for TPT...

But for now, it's time to get ready for a bridesmaid's weekend in DC that kicks off tomorrow night!