15 Months!

So I'm a few days late... whatevs.

She just had her 15 month check up today!

She's a whopping 24 pounds and 34 inches long!

My little bug is just growing way way too fast. I feel like she's this short little person now and not just my baby.

You are still wearing 12 month onesies but are up to18 month pants! Long legs little girl! You are wearing mostly size 5 shoes now! You still fit in your size 4 pink old navy jellies but not for much longer!

Your hair has gotten so long, you ask for "babow" and point at the bows on your wall until we put one in your hair, sometimes you demand more than one!

You eat everything. And lots of everything. French fries are a favorite but we try and limit them to once a week. You still love your fruits and veggies and eat them first.  It doesn't matter what's on your plate, you always want whats on mine or daddy's, even if its the same exact thing! You  have to have a fork or spoon while eating and you prefer mine and daddy's real silverware to your plastic ones.

You love climbing, especially onto the couch or into your little green car. And you have no fear about getting back down, you usually just go face first.

You have a new temper tantrum, feet stopping backwards walking thing you do when you're upset. It's actually hilarious to watch so I can't really get mad at you for it. You burst into tears if we say NO to you, and yell if we're not doing things you want.

You really play with your toys now, things we didn't really use before are fulltime toys now. Your stuffed Elmo is one of your favorite toys, and you still say hi to him whenever you see him anywhere. Even on the juice bottles at the grocery store. You also enjoy any type of toy where you put a ball in a hole and it pops out somewhere else. You giggle lick crazy with these toys.

It's amazing how much you're growing every day!

Again.

It's the first day of school. Again.

I work in a vocational school that does a 2 week academic and shop rotation.

So for two weeks, freshman and juniors have a double dose of academics while the sophomores and seniors are in shop classes.

That's right, 2 classes of English, 2 classes of Math, a Science, A History, gym and for many, an academic support class. That's a lot! but they do get a 2 week break in between!

So even though they all started school on the 4th, today will be the first day of academics with the sophomores and seniors! It's like the first day all over again with the syllabi, the class expectations, learning new names, and of course, the mountain of IEP's and who belongs to what.

I'll be excited to see if this 2 week rotation makes it easier, or more complicated, for me as an educator!

One Week

Welp, I did it!

I survived my first week of working at a high school!

I am so so excited and feel so fulfilled doing it.

I'm impressed with how much I retained from school.

I can read an IEP, can implement accommodations, and feel confident discussing protocols with other teachers.

Considering I haven't been to school in over a year, this is pretty fabulous to me!

I work with the most supportive staff and some of the most adorable kids.

Many already know my name and check in with me first thing in the morning when I'm stationed in my hallway.

It is a much smaller school than I have ever worked at or attended. 

The entire school consists of less than 600 students. Yea, four grades, less than 600.

And every student who goes there, had to apply to be there.

So even though we have some difficult children, they are there because they want to be.

And on top of it all, I get home two hours earlier than I used to.

I have time to play with Emmalee, unwind, and even catch some news before it's time to make dinner and start the bed time routine.

This is such an amazing new adventure and I think it's working out wonderfully.

<3

Moving On.

I can't believe it's September.

Yesterday was my last day watching the boys/being a nanny.

As much as I expected it to be bittersweet; I left like it was any other day.

Yes, I will miss them but I won't miss doing laundry for them and laundry for us, doing dishes for them and dishes for us, reminding them multiple times to use their manners, cleaning up bowls they left on the table...

When they're behaved, their adorable... but I digress.

Usually I hold on to summer as long as humanly possible, but this year, for the first time ever, I am so excited to see it go.

No more 10 hour days chasing around twins.

Instead, I'll be in a school 5 days a week, teaching.

I'll be home at 3, instead of 5.

I'm excited to wear my nicer clothes and my infinity scarves.

I'm looking forward to boots and hot coca with flavored creamer.

I want to bring Emma apple picking and to the pumpkin patch.

I want to curl up on the couch on a Saturday night with my husband under a blanket and watch a movie.

I'm excited to finish Christmas shopping (since I'm half done already!!)

I'm ready to move out of New Bedford and in the beautiful East Freetown suburbs.

I'm anxious to have a driveway and a yard with a swing set that doesn't have graffiti on it.

I'm excited to see what the next seasons bring.