Over Due Update...

I have been told on more than one occasion and by more than one person that I need to update my blog. I know. It's been a while. The thing is that I don't spend as much time on the computer "doing homework" like I used to do.

The good news is that I am D-O-N-E with school. I passed the test to get my Indiana license. I have to get certified in CPR and then I can officially apply. That means in about a month I will be an actual teacher!

The baby is doing well. I went to the doctor today. August has been going with me. She likes to hear the baby's heart. Today she told the nurse that it sounded like a monkey. She was also told she was a cutie and she said, "uh huh, I cutie." She insisted on taking her new Hello Kitty purse with her. Thankfully, it kept her entertained for the half hour that we waited.

And now on to Christmas pictures. This is all I have right now. I have not had my camera out as much as I would like.

Amy and Rylan got August Elefun. It is a cute game that will help August with her hand-eye coordination. The poor girl inherited my inability to see something and do it at the same time. Hopefully this will help her. She loves playing it. The night she opened it at their house, she made everyone play, including Rylan's sister.

August opening presents from Santa Clause. He brought her a veterinary kit. It is so cute. It has a little dog and cat and a kennel on the front to keep them in. It also came with all the regular doctor supplies. Travis said this is his favorite present. Now August can work on animals like daddy.

This is how she went through her stocking. She simply dumped everything on the floor and then started going through it. She wouldn't pull one thing out at a time.

August with her cousins on the Michels side. Youngest to oldest: Simon, Perrin, Stephen, and Rolande. August and Simon are about six months apart. They are too cute playing together. They even said please and thank you to each other.

At Dennis and Linda's for Christmas we played this game, I think it was called Rudolph. Each team had to take eight balloons, blow them up, and put them in the panty hose. Then one member had to put in on their head and say "Rudolph." This is Aug and the boys wearing their antlers.

Me with my Weiler cousins.

My brother and I with our Grandma Jinny.

When August and I got back from Olney snow was everywhere and Travis wanted to take her outside to play. Here they are trying to make snowballs to throw at me.

Then Travis wanted to take her sledding but we didn't have a sled. He took the lid off of a big storage container and drilled two holes in it. He tied some wire through the holes and then attached it to a long rope. He pulled August around the driveway. Her face was priceless as he pulled her through the snow. She just loved it and cried when we took her inside.

And finally....Travis and I have these hand-me-down chairs that are nearly as old as I am. About six months ago one of them started falling apart. It got to the point that the only way you could sit on it was if you pushed it up against the wall. I kept telling Travis that I was going to put it on the front lawn. I never did becuase I was worried that it would sit there for weeks before it was hauled away. The day I took out the Christmas tree I decided that I had had enough. I don't know how it got in the house but it was hell to get out of the house. It got stuck in the doorway with me outside! I'm sure it would have been a comical sight to see a pregnant woman push and pull and cuss this chair out the door. However, I feel much better with it gone.

Prayer Request

One of the teachers that I student taught under has a son serving in Afghanistan. His name is Ryan and he is in the Special Forces. While I was in Diane's classroom, she talked about him constantly and the students were curious and concerned about him. The school's special project for the holiday's was to send packages to Ryan and the other members in his unit. The project also focused on sending items for the children of Afghanistan. Ryan and others in his unit often saw the children and liked to share candy and other items with them.

This morning I received an e-mail from another teacher at the school that Ryan was hit with shrapnel in the shoulder and leg. He was air-lifted to Germany for surgery. I have been told that everything should be okay. Your prayers are appreciated.

Happy Shpanks-gibing!

At least that's how it's said at my house! August just loved making these Oreo turkeys. I asked her if she wanted to make turkeys. She was so excited at first and had no idea what she was actually going to be doing. I put the icing on the Oreo and she put on the Kisses and candy corn. I put on the eyes. If you look at the last picture, you can tell which ones I made and which ones she made. She was kind of upset when we were done. I guess we'll have to make more tomorrow when these are gone!

Things that I am thankful for: (in no particular order)
1. August and baby number 2
2. Travis
3. Almost being done with school (although sad I have to go back to work)
4. My family
5. When the students manage to keep all gates closed and the cows don't get loose and run across Lincoln Avenue!
6. Chocolate and all things sweet
7. Memorable experiences (like the ones below)
8. The fact that I think I am almost done Christmas shopping (although I am sure I am missing someone!)
9. Playhouse Disney
10. My friends

Happy Halloween

First of all, Happy Halloween. I know I am a few days late. I should have had these pictures up over the weekend. August was a cow. We only went to a couple of places but she had fun saying "trick-or-treat!"

I took August to get a flu vaccination on Monday. They didn't have any of the traditional flu vaccines left, so she got the mist. I told August that the nurse would be putting "water" in her nose and that she would have to sniff. We practiced a couple of times. After the nurse put it in her nose, Aug hopped off my lap and looked at the nurse and says, "Oh thank you I feel better."

I went to the doctor yesterday for a check up. We took August along so that she could hear the baby's heartbeat. We talked to her about it in the car on the way there. While I am talking with the doctor, August looks at her and asks, "We hear baby now?" It was in a tone of voice that said, "lets get this moving, I'm ready to go."

Having seen Amy's blog, I decided to ask the other teachers about this planetary alignment thing in the lounge yesterday. Every last one of them made fun of me! They looked at me like I was nuts! All I wanted to know was if anyone else had heard of it. The teacher that I am working with tries it last night and it worked for her. Ha! She made a public apology...so now I'm not the crazy one at school. (At least I didn't try to do it with my Swiffer like one of the other student teachers.)

Check it Out

You have got to check out this site! Mom found it and she is getting some great ideas for different things. This woman is sooooo crafty! Her stuff is so cute and thrifty.

http://makeitandloveit.blogspot.com/

Sunday Afternoon

August and I went to this little garden that is near our house this afternoon to take some fall pictures. The worst thing is that I could only upload one picture at a time. There are several more that I wanted to include but it was taking forever. Oh, check out my new profile pic. It is August riding the carousel at the mall.

Five Things I Love About Fall
1. The smell of the air.
2. The fact that I am sleeping with the windows open. I love the cool air when I sleep.
3. The color of the leaves.
4. The way August says "thank you" for everything. (I know its not really about fall, but I love it anyway!)
5. The sight of combines in the field. (Except not now cuz its too wet.)

Baby's First Pictures

We had our first ultra sound today. It took f-o-r-e-v-e-r. Apparently baby wasn't exactly cooperating and they had a hard time seeing the spine and the top of the head. These aren't the best pictures but you kind of get the idea.

By the way, my due date is still March 3. The baby weighs about 8 oz (so I don't know where the 15 pounds I have gained is at). According to the baby's size, I am due March 8. However, my doctor thinks I will have a February baby. So, March 3 give or take a week or two is when to expect baby. And no we don't know what we are having.

This is a profile of the baby. The head is to the right.

These are baby's fingers. They were up around the face about the whole time. About half of the pictures they gave me are of the fingers.