Liz Beth

This weekend, Alex and I had the privilege of keeping my in-laws dog, LizBeth, while they were visiting Ben and Megan in Nebraska. She is a bearded collie and such a good pup. She didn't bark once and she's been wonderful with E.

Alex and I have been looking for a good breed to work well with our family schedule as well as E. As he grows, we want him to learn to love animals like we do. If I could, I would go adopt all of the animals at the Humane Society but I know there's a limit on what we can handle.
Alex knows a couple of women, Kim and Lisa, who work with Rescue and have rescued many dogs in the past. They know the breeds that would also work well with kids. We do not want a small dog. We do not want a dog that will be annoying either. Unbelieveably, we are leaning towards a breed that has a HUGE heart. Literally.


 The Great Dane has a good disposition, often called a "gentle giant". Charming and affectionate, they are playful and patient with children. They love everyone and need to be around people. The Great Dane does not bark much and only becomes aggressive when the circumstances require it. They are reliable, trustworthy and dependable. Courageous and loyal, they are good watchdogs.

Now that's what I want in a puppy!!! 
I've discussed with my husband that this would require BIG poop, BIG bed, BIG responsibility, BIG training, BIG money. We've learned that there are many great danes that need to be rescued and adopted due to people not able to afford them as well as they do not have the time to train them. This breaks my heart. We would accept this dog as another kiddo in the family. Everett will have a new brother. Hehe. 

We are not sure on the time frame we would like to get one but we are thinking about this late Spring/early Summer.

December Prayer

After a few weeks of a busy schedule, I'm ready for things to slow down with this week and with Christmas break. With the recent tragedy in Conneticut, I can't help but take a moment to "take a deep breath" for the parents and families, neighbors and friends of these families who've lost loved ones. We don't quite understand why God calls us home at certain times but we have to trust that HE knows what he's doing. A neighbor and fellow teacher in the JacksonR2 District said it perfectly on Facebook recently.....

God is in our schools. We teachers love and shepherd our kids every day. Students care for their friends and try to live their lives as witness to their faith. Prayer groups meet, Bibles are carried and read, and the pledge is recited. Yes, "under God" and all. I do not lead my students in prayer, but I pray for them. I don't read them Scripture, but I love them and they know that my classroom

is a place of love and acceptance. No one comes over the PA to pray, because what prayer should it be? My students are Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Mormon and yes, Atheist and Agnostic. God is in our schools because God is love, and love is present every day. Students and teachers who are Christian, Muslim, Jew, Atheist, and Agnostic are loving, caring, supporting, laughing, crying, hugging, and high-fiving each day. If God isn't in a school it's because individuals are waiting for someone else to take him there. It is our responsibility to bring God everywhere we go by our actions and the testimony of our lives. "No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." 1 John 4:12

 

This hits my heart hard because what better way to handle God in schools than this? God is good all the time and all the time God is good. HE takes care of us like a Father takes care of his child. Those children are in heaven and running, jumping, laughing, playing with their new bodies and with their smiles towards Jesus. They are finally home. 

Throwback pics

 Thanksgiving 2011...4 months pregnant.





Here was the first belly pic we took last year.

 Here we were being goofy and silly at a wedding.

The last pregnant pic from Baby E We were on our way to the hostpital.

Tia Claire and I on the beach. Thanksgiving 2011.

 Destin, Fl. for Thanksgiving 2011

Last Christmas season! This year will be even better!

Blogging Strike

So it seems like forever since I've blogged. Maybe I can say I've been on a blogging strike? Or maybe I just have a schedule and it seems like I've lived by it. :(
Well, the good news is that I feel like I'm able to handle the transition into "Mommyhood". With the support of our family and friends, emotionally I'm finally at peace. God's definitely shown grace through this year and my friends, it's been quite a year. 2012 has definitely been the best year and the hardest year of our marriage. Here are the top tens of 2012 (so far).....

10. Being a mom is hard.

9. My class at West Lane is fantastic and wonderful. 

8. My friends are extremely supportive.

7. La Croix is where I'm spiritually fed.

6. Laundry and I don't get along.

5. McDonald's is the best place to have small group.

4. I've met Holly, who is my long, lost friend that God brought me.

3. I've been blessed with a husband who is a Godly man, who talks to me, who loved me for who I am, and who makes dinner and dessert on a night when he knows I'll be tired when I get home.

2. Everett who is my baby boy that I'll forever love. 

1. Being blessed to be a blessing to others from a gracious Father.

There you have it. The year is not quite over so anything is possible. 

As for today, I'm home sick. yesterday was the first day that I began to work out again at CrossFi573. I didn't feel too great in the morning but went anyways. I felt fine again until about 10:30. I just wasn't 100%. Around 7:00 it really hit me. I drove straight home and began to throw up (yes, I made it to the toilet). After, I was literally exhausted. I went to bed around 8:30p.m. and woke up at 8:30 a.m. Needless to say, obviously my body needed rest. This morning, I've felt better but still not 100%. Breakfast stayed down and we will see about lunch.

#mommyprobs #bellyache

BREAK TIME

SIIIGGGHHHHH......AAAHHHHH... I've actually sat down to not only blog for the first time since school has started, but to also let off some steam. Holy moly guacamole, I had no clue that having a full time job teaching and having a baby at the same time was going to be this hectic! So many people told me that I wouldn't have as much time; but SERIOUSLY!? No time whatsoever for myself. I get lucky to have a shower everyday. 

So now that I'm done with my tantrum, I'll fill you in on the happenings of the Skeltons. With the schedule change of Alex's job, we basically tag team everyday. He gets to spend time with Everett in the morning while I pick him up from Nana's around 4-5 everyday. He's such a happy baby that it doesn't bother him much at all. The next couple of months will truly show how he likes it or not. 

Yesterday was Everett's 4 month check-up. He's doing fantastic! With height he is at 50%, with weight he's at 75%. Let's just say, he has no problems eating. I fed him with a spoon for the first time last night and he was very confused. Haha. Alex fed him carrots today and it was his first taste of real food! Tonight we are trying them again for supper. 

He's going to be fully on formula probably by the weekend. My decision to stop pumping at school and breastfeeding him was basically due to me feeling overwhelmed balancing job/home. I felt like I wasn't getting my work done at school like I needed to be. He's doing great with the transition. His poop is definitely different that's for sure. 

School is going well. I'm very blessed to have such a fantastic class this year. They're so sweet and respectful. This year is going to be wonderful. I just pray that I will be able to keep up with it all and not stress out.

It's still warm outside but it's going to be feeling like fall pretty soon. I can't wait! 

Last Day of Summer

Well we've come to this, the last day of summer. It's going to be so hard going back to work tomorrow! Students come on Thursday and fiasco begins! I'm excited about this year though. I've heard that I have a wonderful class that will do great.

Yesterday was so amazing! Having the afternoon to spend with a good friend, Holly, was well worth it! We left the little men at home with Dads and not only did we get pedicures, we went to El Torero's and had a drink and cheese dip. AHHHHH....lol!

When I got home, it wasn't much time until it was time for church. The message was unbelievable. Ron, our pastor, got text messages in in the form of questions and a few volunteers chose questions for him to answer. Many of the questions were about adultery, divorce, suicide, homosexuality, etc. The discussion was informing and intricately engaging. Personally, I learned a few things that I didn't know. For example, did you know that the Bible never mentions suicide up front? Many people "take their lives" in the bible but it never refers to "suicide". Interesting. Ron mentioned every time how we as Christians need to lead with GRACE. So true.

After service, Alex had to work; so Nathan, Holly, and their little boy Finn went with me to Beef's! It was a very lovely dinner and good conversation. They had never been there before so it was an honor to introduce them to it.

When I came home with the little man, we were bum tired. I put him to bed and I sat up piddling. I found out that there was a meteor shower happening!!! I texted Alex to wake me up when he got home so we could watch it. I've never seen one before. Well, too bad we are two exhausted parents and want sleep over experience. Ha. I guess we will just have to wait until the next one.

As for the last day of summer, I've got a to-do list. No surprise there. Looking forward to the start of things tomorrow and seeing my school family. Let 2012-2013 begin!

Mommy Time

Well it's Saturday. T-minus 4 days left in my summer until school officially starts. I've gotta do what I can before students soak up all of my time. Today, Alex is working in the morning as well as after church. Little Man and I vacuumed, hung up laundry to dry, and folded clothes. Everett had a bath (which he loves) and then he's take two naps already today and it's 1:15 pm. He's such a good baby!

When Al gets home from his first shift, I'm meeting up with a friend Holly Moran whom I met through small group this summer. She has a little boy who is about a month older than E. Her husband is a lot like Alex so we decided that we should just start having Mommy time together. Today we are leaving the babies at home with Dad and getting pedicures. We've talked about maybe in the future: massages. That is music to my ears!!! I've also thought about maybe wine tastings, winery trips, StL trip, etc. So much to do when you have a few hours to yourself. It's essential to take care of yourself when you are so busy taking care of others.

This evening I'm bumming out. I was supposed to go downtown for my friend Amber's birthday to celebrate. At this point, no babysitter. I also want to spend as much time as I can with E before school starts. He needs to stay on schedule!!! We've been heading to bed between 7-8 each night. Now, give or take a couple of nights we've gotten home late from parties or family functions. He's sleepy today so I'm guessing that he's catching up from lost time with sleep.

I will post tonight how Mommy time was! Very very very excited!!!

Fridays Are So Bittersweet

As I'm snacking on my breakfast (cinnamon toast) and sipping my chocolate milk (yummm), I'm preparing for an outrageous day finishing my classroom and preparing for Open House next Monday. YIKES! What has happened to the summer. I will SO be ready for a break once school starts. What a challenge it will be to go to work everyday to be with kiddos when I won't be with my own. Everett is such a good baby though, I do believe that I can handle it.

Today is the last Friday of Summer (meh....). It's so bittersweet and so exciting to know that this is my third year teaching, to know that Alex has been blessed with a job, to know that I have 29 students as of yesterday (grrr), and to know that I can wake up everyday in this country being free to do what I want and when I want.

At the same time, I need to "get with it!" Rolling out of bed at 7:00 is hard right now. What am I going to do next week when I need to get up at the butt crack of dawn?! I'll make it. I've done it before, I'm sure I can do it again. It will be very interesting getting through that first week of class. Most likely I will be living off coffee and sweets.

Headed to my second home (room D1) at West Lane. Pics coming soon!

Survival Vs. Prevailing

Out of both words in this title, which one means more? If you chose survival, you're wrong. Prevailing is the correct answer. Why? I'll tell you why. Today I experienced one of the best trainings I think I've EVER been through. It helped give me perspective not only in my workplace but also in my home, at the mall, out in public, etc. Many other teachers joined me as well as we learned, "Strategos". It is a training on what to do if an intruder comes into the school building, or any building for that matter. 

In the morning, the instructor gave us so much information to process and talked statistics about school shootings that date all the way back to the 1700s. This is not new knowledge people. The guy gave us the real facts. Sugar coated? No way. We were told that we are the first line of defense whether we like it or not. We also learned that it may take up to 15 minutes for first responders to come upon the scene. Needless to say, we found out the truth about what "could happen". 

This is the book that he recommended us to read. It's the facts and the whole story about Colombine. It discusses how the two young males had been planning this for months. They had their targets and their plan in place. It even goes into detail about the security videos and the weapons/explosives they used. 

 

Lunch was served at noon and then the afternoon was the "scenarios". I'm not talking about walking around the school just talking about what to do. This guy only showed us three rooms and discussed what we could do to protects ourselves. The second part, he came around with an air gun and pretended to actually come after us. IT WAS SCARY! The first two times, he told us to just hide. He reassured us that he would find us. This is the natural instinct to do in a matter of emergency and feeling frightened (We talked many times about the Colombine shootings and how a women called 911 and just hid the entire time when she could've been doing something, she was also in the library). The hard part was that we couldn't run or hide until the first shot went off. Man oh man, talk about adrenaline! We hid and tried to be out of sight. It was hard because when other people came into the room with us (a couple of teachers and I stuck together), we almost didn't want them coming in because we were trying our best to be out of sight. 

The second scenarios that we ran through, we could lock and barricade the door. This is called Lock Down. Many schools are doing this now and it's the best thing to do to use up time. My group did GREAT! It was still suspenseful before we were called out. 

All I can say is that after that training, I feel better knowing what to do in case of an event like that ever taking place wherever I am. I recommend anyone to take this course whether you are a teacher, janitor, volunteer, etc. at a school. Safety is the most important thing first and foremost.