Listening to: Mindy Smith "One Moment More"

I'm back....

Everyone needs a break from blogging sometimes. I have been pretty consumed with baby stuff the past few weeks. I decided that since it was Christmas break I would be getting all the important preparations done. So far I have made a birth plan (THAT was traumatic, let me tell you), scoured consumer reports, planned a diapering system (we're going cloth, but that's because we're a bit hippy). I feel that I'm well on my way to being at least as prepared as I can be. You may think this is a little premature, but it's really easier for me to do now while I'm not working. Today we will register at Target.
We had a great Christmas. It was great to see everyone, but I think I am enjoying the "after Christmas rest" even more than I did all the visiting. We were supposed to go back to school next week, but it's not going to happen with all the damage inside the building, so it will be nice to have another week off.
I'm back, for reals, I promise.
NOW, I have a question, for all of you mom's out there. Please help me out.

What is the one baby "thing" that you couldn't live without?

I need to know. Leave a comment.

Let there be Light!

"Paul, I don't think I can handle another 40 degree night."

Our lights came on yesterday right before we got home from Portland. Today I went to school to help clean up the aftermath of the wind storm. What a mess. It smells terrible. Like mold. Please pray that we can clean this up before school starts on January 2nd. I'm a little doubtful. I think there is actually water in the sheetrock. I am actually a little worried that this will not be a safe place for a pregnant person to work. I haven't really gotten a medical opinion on it yet, but I go to the doctor on Wednesday and I will be discussing this with her.

The Robinson’s: Wind Storm Edition

Christmas parties? Nah. Christmas concerts? No way. The weather had different plans for us this week. I was sitting in my classroom Thursday after school after a stormy afternoon (in more ways than one). I was hanging around for the staff Christmas party and then the all-school Christmas concert (at our school it’s still called a Christmas concert). Because of the weather, we decided to cancel all that, so I went home around 4 pm. Between 5 and 6 pm the roof would literally be ripped off our school building, causing major damage to the interior of our school. Community members would stay all night covering up computers and records and generally trying to keep the damage to a minimum. I would return in the morning to find that mine was one of only three classrooms with minimal damage. There are still Christmas ornaments and presents in my classroom that need to be delivered around the community. I’m hoping to get to that next week. I was shooed out of the building on Friday because it may be dangerous for my little one. I want to help but really don’t know what to do. I would make cinnamon rolls and take them out there, but Paul and I are still without power after 48 hours. Although there was no damage to our house or surrounding property, winds at 70 mph are scary to listen to, so I went to sleep as soon as possible that night.
How am I writing this? Our computer has battery power and I’ll post this when I get to the Robinson’s who we’ll be visiting today. Paul and I have vowed to be more ready for the next time something like this happens, even though it’s not likely to happen for another ten years. The trees that are down on my parent’s property are to many to count, and my grandparents counted at least twenty on their property.
Do we take things like running water, heat and electricity for granted? Definitely. Last night as Paul and I were laying in our bed (our house was about 45 degrees inside) we were remembering some shows we watched on PBS called Frontier House. They took two modern couples and had them live off the land, build a house, etc. Kind of like reality TV only more interesting. It was the kind of thing that Paul would rock out, but I would probably complain the whole way through. They even had to use all the original materials and clothes. No gortex, no warm down jackets. REI is the ONLY reason that I can be an outdoor girl, and it’s still not my first nature. Anyway, all that to say that we were pretending to be frontierspeople, but we were tired of it. REALLY. After only two days. I want to do laundry, I want to wash my dishes. And it isn’t even that bad. We ran down to McDonald’s this morning for breakfast AND I can take a shower at my gym anytime I want. Moral of the story: we area wimpier than I thought, and by next week when this is all over I will probably be taking things for granted right and left. But besides the heat and the running water, what do I miss most? I’d have to say it would be the lights on my Christmas tree. I’d have to say it would be seeing my kids sing in their Christmas concert that they practiced so hard for. I’d have to say it would be having a safe place to work and teach. What do I love? I love the way our small community pulled together to help each other out. I love how I feel grateful for everything I have this Christmas season. I love how I’m not stressing out about having the most tasty appetizer at the next Christmas party. Things that seemed like a big deal on Monday are unimportant right now, and I am looking forward to celebrating Jesus with the people I care about with a very….grateful….heart.

Click here for a really condensed version of Anne of Green Gables

Friday Favorites: Ultrasounds!

Introducing....Elias Paul Robinson! These are his feet. Don't be worried if you can't see them. They are really there.

This is a profile.

Another profile with arm over chest.

And this is his boyness. It's easier to see if you pretend you are looking up from underneath.

Ultrasound Lady: Do you have a sense of humor?

Us: Yes! (at this point we still didn't know the sex)

Ultrasound Lady: Well, there is his penis and right nxt to it you can see his hand.

Overall, it was a very good experience for both of us. Paul considers a good experience at the doctor's office one where he remains concious the entire time. We were both really impressed with how much we could see, the four chambers of the heart, important arteries, bladder, kidneys, brain. It looks like we have a very healthy baby boy! The technician gave us a 95% certainty, which is the highest she will go. She even showed us a testicle, so we are pretty much buying boy stuff.

Thank you for praying for a healthy baby!

IT'S A BOY!
stay tuned for pictures tomorrow...

3 1/2 hours until the ultrasound!!!!

Remember When?

In December of 2003 I started blogging. I was a substitute teacher for Portland Public Schools. It was quite a year. I found this quote from my early blogging days and I am going to repost it here. I get pretty sentimental when I think about leaving teaching to be a stay at home mom. It's a hard thing. I love my job.


epitaph for a newt

Kindergarten classrooms are often chaotic. On one such chaotic day in one such chaotic classroom a newt was killed, but not intentionally. I'm almost sure that if those PETA people knew what went on in kindergarten to classroom pets they would be picketing every elementary school in the country.

"Teacher! (frantically) The newt is stuck!!!" (visualize other children also screaming and jumping up and down in the background) Indeed, the newt was stuck. It's head was stuck in the lid of the aquarium almost as if in the act of putting the newt back into the aquarium someone had closed the lid too early. It's head was inside the aquarium and the rest of it's totally stiff and terrified body was outside."OK", I said, "I'll open the lid and you catch the newt." I assigned the roles this way because I don't like to touch dead newts. The catch was successful.
Me to the class - "Sometimes when a newt gets hurt he doesn't like to be touched or petted for a long time so we are going to leave the newt alone during choice time." I said this as if the newt was alive. This is the nice thing about being a substitute, the real teacher can break the bad news tomorrow. I just have to break the news to her...


I remember talking to the teacher later and her refering to the newt as "the newt with nine lives". Apparently they are very resilient. I'm not sure if the newt lived through the aforementioned episode. Was it a noble death? I think so. Goodbye newt.

Is it a boy? Is it a girl?

I can hardly wait. We have our big ultrasound on Thursday afternoon. Of course, I am preparing myself for the fact that baby could hide, but last visit the doctor said it was very active so I have my fingers crossed. This is the first time Paul has come with me to the doctor's office, mostly because doctor's offices really creep him out (and hospitals too, but we'll deal with that later). So I'm really hoping that this is a good experience for him. Two of my fellow bloggers have made BIG discoveries recently at thier ultrasound (check out dance by the light and linhart live) so that makes it harder to wait. Pray for a healthy baby!

"Honestly, a snow day is indescribable bliss, nature's mental health day, and one of the greatest occupational perks ever known to man or woman. Reason enough to go into teaching...though I must say, the kids are pretty fun, too!"

~Esme Raji Codell

One of the things I most love about teaching is reading books aloud to my kids. I have often thought of being a children's librarian and probably would if the job security were not so horrible. Esme Raji Codell is a teacher and author who speaks out for children's literature and reading aloud to children - one of the best things you can do for your child! If you are looking for quality books to read to your students or children she has timely and witty recommendations on her blog and also on her website.

Friday Favorites: Baby Name Voyager

Do not attempt this on dial up. Type in your own name - it's fun! It also may make you think twice about the name you have chosen for your future offspring.

Yesterday I gave my kindergarteners a snow picture to color. One boy was coloring his snow yellow.

ME: That's an interesting color for snow. Why did you choose yellow?

THEM: That's where someone peed. Oh yeah and Mrs. Robinson?

ME: Yes?

THEM: You can eat white snow, but don't eat the yellow snow.

ME: Thank you.

By the way, our snow is gone. As much as I miss it it was nice to get to work in half an hour this morning instead of an hour.

20 weeks = 5 months = halfway there!


Baby Robinson was 5 months old yesterday, meaning I am officially halfway through my pregnancy. As if on cue, I felt him/her move for the first time. He kicked me on the way to school in the morning. And amazingly, he let Paul feel him kick later on that evening. All in the same day. I haven't really been able to "for sure" feel him until now. I knew there was something going on in there, but never felt a definite kick until yesterday. Our ultrasound will be a week from tomorrow. We'll let you know what we find out.

And this was after a lot of it had melted. Sunny and cold today with the promise of more snow and freezing rain tomorrow. School has been two hours late every day this week, which is fun, but I feel like we're not getting a whole lot done here. My Costa Rican husband is in heaven. He has had three days off and goes for a walk every day in the snow.

Outside the snow is falling... this is before I left for school (two hours late)
this is on the way to school
this is an hour later (still on the way to school -usually only takes me half an hour)

So now it's 11:20 and school is already out and I am headed home to bake cookies and be cozy. Paul has the day off today!!!

Family is just accident.... They don't mean to get on your nerves. They don't even mean to be your family, they just are. ~Marsha Norman

Friday Favorites? More like Sunday favorites. Friday came and went and I never even once thought about blogging my Friday Favorites. I have three this week...

1. Chai Tea. I have always been one for "food phases" as I call them. Times where I can't get enough of a certain food. I have peanut butter phases, grapefruit phases and right now a chai tea phase. And that can be an expensive one. Fortunately, my brother in law Dan gave me a recipe for do it yourself chai tea, and it's wonderful. You do have to play around with it a bit until the spices are exactly as you like them.

Chai Tea

3 quarts water
20 tea bags (I use lipton but you could used the equivalent in loose black tea)
2 tbsp cinoman
ginger
cloves
allspice
cardamom - this is the most important ingredient, don't try making it without, it can be rather hard to find, I found my local food co-op the cheapest

Use generous helpings of the spices. After you have made it a few times you will know exactly how much you like. Simmer all this together in a big pot for about an hour, then strain it into a juice container (you will never be able to use this for anything else other than chai tea, I labeled mine chia tea only). When you are ready to drink, use about 2/3 tea and about 1/3 milk or soy milk and microwave or steam. Enjoy! Oh yeah, add sugar or honey, I use about three tsp for a big mug (I admit it). This lasts me a whole week, and I drink it every morning.

2. This American Life

All right, I am an NPR junkie. I really like to have something noisy around, it helps me work, and NPR, though liberal through and through, as my husband likes to remind me, is interesting to me. I love a good story, and This American Life has entertaining, witty, real-world stories. Listen sometime, you will bust a gut. Some of my other favorite programs are A Prairie Home Companion, Splendid Table, and Car Talk.

3. A Charlie Brown Christmas By Vince Guaraldi Trio
A must have for any Christmas music collection. Need I say more?!

Baby Robinson - 19 weeks

Well, I just got back from my 19 week appointment and Baby Robinson is just fine. More than fine, actually. The doctor had a hard time getting an accurate heart rate reading because baby kept kicking and hitting her doppler. She said I have a very, very active baby. We may have a feisty one on our hands. In two weeks we will go back for an ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby. I have a feeling that it is a boy, but I could be totally wrong. For right now we call it Baby E, since all our names start with E anyway, but once we find out the sex we will commit to a name for sure.

"Joe: "Happy Thanksgiving." (brief moment of silence) "It's your turn to say 'Happy Thanksgiving' back."

Rose: "Happy Thanksgiving back.""

- Joe and Rose "You've Got Mail"

Friday Favorites: Potato Leek Soup

check it out at food love... Oh, yum.

Another Friday Favorite: this blog

This week's firsts (I'm assuming that 99% of my readers are either female or my dad, so if you're not, disregard this)

1. First time I looked down in the shower and couldn't see my feet.

2. First time I peed when I sneezed. (First thought "I can't believe that just happened", second thought, "So that's what those Kegel excercises are for...")

Once in a while I get emails from a company called "Restoring Order". It's a professional organizing company run by a Christian woman in Portland. She wrote this blurb in the email and I thought it was OUTSTANDING. So I'm sharing it with you. I hope I don't get in trouble for copying and pasting it here, it can only be good business for her. I love her perspective. I heard her speak one time and it was wonderful. Her website is www.restoringorder.com


Just Wait


In about a week, a little baby boy is on the way to the Norris household.

One thing I've experienced throughout the pregnancy—that has surprised me greatly—is foreboding warnings from perfect strangers. My two least favorite words to hear have been "just wait." Over and over again, unsolicited, I have heard this phrase "just wait," followed by some impending threat.

"Just wait until you're up all night" people have said while wagging their fingers at me. "Just wait until he's running around and into everything" ladies have scolded. The most disturbing statement was the woman who—in all seriousness—looked me in the eye and said "just wait until you lose your identity completely."

These threats are never followed by any resolution or action that can be taken; they just dangle awkwardly in the air. (It's not like you can really do anything about the sleep deprivation that all new mothers face. And what is the alternative to an active child who is "into everything"? An inactive, sluggish one?)

I'm not sure why people feel the need to warn new mothers of the changes about to occur. Are these advice-giving women trying to help others avoid the shock they felt as motherhood arrived? Do they really think that mothers-to-be (which they once were) haven't considered—in trepidation and wonderment, how their lives will be irrevocably changed forever? Is there a deeper warning behind their "just wait's? And, most saddening, why are these warnings almost always negative?

Since I can't figure out the source of these warnings, I have decided to convert "just wait" to my own purposes. For me, "just wait" is going to be a promise of the good things to come.

I tell myself: "just wait" until they place him on my chest as he has just begun breathing air for the first time. "Just wait" until he can feel me, his mother, and be comforted by my voice and my smell. "Just wait" until I can kiss his face and his fingers and his toes and drink in his new baby scent. Trevor and I can barely "just wait" until we can share our little boy's name with our extended family—a delicious secret we've been savoring between the two of us. And I can't hardly "just wait" until he smiles or laughs for the first time.

What will he look like? Will we recognize him as a part of ourselves? Will he inherit our curly hair or will he be bald? What will getting to know him be like? What will his first word be, and which blankie will be his snuggly? At that moment when he takes his first steps one day, we both want to be there, but will we? When he falls one day, will be there to catch him? I guess we'll have to "just wait" to learn all these things and more.

Life can be overwhelming and it's so easy to fall into the pattern of negativity. We all do it. It's easier to warn than encourage. It becomes habit to complain rather than compliment. It's easier to point out faults than strengths. We think the worst rather than the best.

What would life be like if we lived with a spirit of encouragement, thankfulness, and anticipation instead of one of negativity? With Thanksgiving approaching, I want to acknowledge and count my blessings. I hope that you can, too.

Instead of communicating in discouraging ways we can decide to communicate encouragement. Instead of complaining about the rain spattering against the windows, we can be thankful for the roof over our head. Rather than dreading change in life—and I'm about to experience a major one—we can anticipate change with joy. After all, change is proof that we are still ALIVE and granted another chapter in our own book of life.

Those with a light and thankful heart can live with purpose. May these wonderful upcoming seasons bring joy to you and yours,

~Vicki Norris (mother-to-be)

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

Wow, I just cannot stop myself today. Here is an article that made me mad. Especially this line,

"We've always known that dads were economically important to kids, but this suggests that the way dads interact may make a difference, especially in dual-earner families."

Heaven help us, have father's roles become purely economic? Of course they make a difference! Every day I thank God for my husband. His impact on our child will be phenomenal! His role is not a matter of money! OK, I feel better now.

The rain just never ends... Here - read for yourself. It's pretty bad when you have to move branches out of the way just to get to work. Paul and I are particularly miffed because the flooding has damaged and closed (until further notice) our absolute favorite place to snowshoe - Mt. Ranier National Park. And yes, I specifically asked the doc if I could snowshoe. The next storm is supposed to be worse than the last. So if you don't hear from me for a while I've probably drown.

Blustery Days and such...

There was no school yesterday because of a wind and rainstorm that cut power to most of the little community I teach in, but not my house. So I was at the gym, getting ready for the day and I get a message on my cell phone telling me there's no school. My first reaction is "YIPEEE!" My second thought is, "What am I going to do all day?" Now, normally this would not be a problem but it was a three (now four) day weekend and I had been extremely efficient. Paul was not around for me to hang out with and he had taken the computer WITH him (no blogging or obsessing over baby names on the internet?)! I had two choices, watch daytime television or be creative. You mom's are all probably laughing. I know, in just five months I will pray to God to have the problem of nothing to do, but right now, in my childless and efficient state, it was a problem. Don't worry, I am very good at relaxing and soon found myself in an overstuffed chair at Starbucks with a parenting magazine (doing my homework, you see). Then I meandered on home and organized my whole closet, putting all the clothes that no longer fit (which is about half of them) into boxes. Then I started on a knitting project, then I started on another knitting project, then I read, then I made myself the most gormet taco salad you have ever seen. You get the picture. I went over to my mom and dad's just as they were hooking up the generator to their fridge. At this point they'd been without power for sixteen hours.

ME: "Wouldn't it be funny if as soon as you got the fridge working the power came on?"

They didn't think that would be very funny, but you know what happened? About 30 second after they hooked it up the power blinked back on.

Just Finished Reading: Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith

The second book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series! Loved it.

Friday Favorites: Cousins-to-be

My sister in law Anna has given me permission to announce that they are expecting on June 7, 2007. That's right! Baby Robinson is going to have another cousin, and really close in age. My mom is going to have THREE grandkids, she'll be in baby heaven.

I heart comments! How lucky am I? I love all the comments that you have been leaving. I especially love to know that people actually read my blog. I think I would blog even no one read my blog, because I love to write. But it's special to know that you care. I'm jealous of the three hundred episodes of AIO that Sarah and Paul have stored up for thier little someday monkeys. I love the positive comments about the names - especially from Grampa Mark :) I think that I will continue in the Peter's tradition and make all two year olds listen to AIO, I'm sure she loves it! And I love that Jeana took the time to find out what my names mean.

I tend to be a blogstalker myself. I read the blogs of persons I have no connection with, except for maybe similar values and beliefs or interests. It's kind of relaxing, like watching TV. Of course I love to read the blogs of you all that I actually know, to keep up with your lives. My Dad just started a blog, I think it's called "did I buy that?" but I can't find it on blogsearch. I'll have to get the specifics from him.

Someone once told me that pregnant people have better immune systems. Well, that's is a lie! I have been sick twice now. And I have this itchy nose, itchy eyes type thing, like allergies, that I can't get rid of. This morning I am a bit miserable. I probably need to start eating better. Paul has been getting rid of stuff in preparation for the baby (in some cases actually burning it). We have a small "office" where we will put the crib and changing table. We already scored a crib for 50$ at a garage sale. And since the space has no windows I think I will put up some of those decorative lights. Our barn apartment is not really "baby friendly" and we will definately have to move before the little one starts walking around.

Have a great Saturday! I can hear the wind and rain outside and we are in for a very blustery weekend. It was raining so hard yesterday that the kids had to play under the playshed for all three recesses. It wasn't supposed to start raining until later today but I hear it already. I think I will get my candles out just in case the power goes out.

Friday Favorites: Adventures in Odyssey

I absolutely can't wait for my kids to be old enough to listen to Adventures in Odyssey. Of course by then it will be "so ten years ago mom!" I don't care, I'll listen to it on my own. I used to wash dishes at a certain time each night that I knew it would be on the radio. Unfortunately, our local radio station only plays in on Saturday mornings now.

Have a great weekend! We are in for a wet one here in Washington. I am going home to make soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Report cards.....they're finally done. What a great feeling.

Baby Robinson is four months old today!

This is a pic of a fetus at four months (but it's not my baby, I know some of you were confused last time). According to Jeana (and my doctor and the internet) I should be able to feel my baby move anytime now. Interesting story about Jeana, she and I found out we were prengnant on the same day! The morning after I took the test, I got a myspace bulletin that said she took a test last night and found it was positive. She is due a few weeks before me and this is her second child. So she's an experienced mama. We've been swapping stories ever since. A link to her blog is on my blogroll.
Fun quote from today: "Teacher, your belly is cute. It's nice and fat."
In about a month we will have our official "finding out" ultrasound. And we will not keep it a secret from you. Although, I now understand why people sometime keep the name a secret. I will seriously consider this with my next pregnancy. People don't seem to understand that I don't really care what their opinion of my choice in names is. If anything it makes me more decided to use the name. Probably about five people now have let me know that they don't care for the names. And since I know you are wondering what they are, I will tell you, but they are subject to change without notice.

Boy: Elias Paul Robinson (Eli for short)
Girl: Eliza Joy Robinson or Eliza Jane Robinson (Ellie for short) or Eva Jane Robinson

Now please don't leave a comment telling me you don't like the name. I am certain to delete it. If, however, you have something positive to say about the name, by all means let me know.

I'm not buying it! (or - my theory about maternity clothes)

warning: this may be long and boring to you if you are not currently or are not ever planning to be pregnant

Yesterday, I went to Portland to shop for maternity clothes. I made this special trip because shopping for maternity clothes anywhere within thirty miles of my house is - well - depressing for me. I have a hard time finding clothes for my normal body because I am a long person, I have long arms and long legs, making places like Target a virtual impossibility. Little did I know, that shopping for maternity clothes ANYWHERE would be well - depressing. Now, another thing is, I am a picky shopper, I don't ever by anything I don't love. I also shop alone, as a rule, because other people slow me down, with the exception of my mom, who I've been shopping with, well, since day one. Another things is, I don't go shopping very often, so when I do it's with a strategy and it's serious. All that to say, I am not your typical shopper.

Before I started shopping I was really looking forward to this stage of pregnancy when I got to start wearing maternity clothes because I LOVE the way a pregnant body looks! And don't get me wrong, I love my little bump :) BUT - I am disappointed that most maternity clothes seem expressly purposed to COVER UP that bump and not to accentuate the beauty of it. Plus, maybe I'm being a little snooty here, I think they are ugly. There, I said it, they are ugly, that's my opinion. One little thing, there are a few designers that make beautiful maternity clothes, but, and here's the big surprise, your can't buy them for under 50 bucks a piece, which is alot to pay for something you are only going to wear for 6 months.

So my plan of attack when I entered Portland was to hit the resale shops. However, most resale shops that carry maternity clothes are resale kids clothes with about two racks of resale or consignment maternity clothes. I had the best luck at Picolina in the Clinton neighborhood. I bought 2 things there. I hit maybe 6 of these kind of shops, thinking it would be the cheapest way to buy the things I needed. I was really disappointed. Not only did nothing fit, it wasn't my syle, and I felt like I was being covered up, "tented" if you will. Finally, I decided to stop into my favorite "normal clothes" store because I needed a break. I was complaining to the person there about not being able to find maternity clothes.

"oh hoooooooney", she said, "I never wore maternity clothes with any of my kids."

I stared blankly at her.

"oh yeah, I just wore normal clothes that were very stretchy."

And with that, she started filling up my dressing room with clothes that would fit me in pregnancy and beyond. Let me tell you, I think this could actually work. It seems stupid (yeah, I said stupid) to buy clothes that you don't really like and are only going to wear for 6 months. I think someone has tricked us pregnant women into thinking that we actually NEED this stuff.

But I bet you are wondering how this works, how regular clothes could actually fit your pregnant body. Let me tell you what I bought yesterday:

1. one black skirt that fits under my belly

2. two very long and stretchy long sleeved t-shirts (fortunately this happens to be "in" right now so I found them easily)

3. one of those really long sweaters that go down to your knees

My plan is this: don't waste my money on maternity clothes. We'll see how this plan works but right now I think it's a good one. Who knows, I may be so huge in my 7th or 8th month that I just have to go out and buy the wretched stuff.

I'd like to hear from my girlfriends: have you had problems of this kind? what was your take on maternity clothes? do you think I can make it?

From Babycenter:

"At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help the air sacs in his lungs develop. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you were to shine a flashlight at your tummy, he'd be likely to move away from the beam."

Friday Favorites:

Purely Decadent Peanut Butter Zig Zag Soy Ice Cream! I treated myself to this recently after a particularly unfun trip to the OB/GYN. It made me feel better!

We spent Saturday afternoon carving pumpkins with Mark, Barb and Dan.

From left: Annie's, Dan's, Barb's, Paul's, Mark's











Hard at work: mine took about 15 minutes, the rest worked on theirs for hours.














Paul's pumpkin (yeah, he's an overachiever)













Dan's pumpkin. I like the teeth.

Friday Favorites: Netflix

I will never go to the video store again. I love netflix. I used to have a strict one movie a month rule, but I found that if I chose the 5.99 plan on netflix, I can get two movies a month and don't even have to spend gas money driving to the movie rental place. Once I paid about 4.50 for the movie and spent gas to get there and back to drop it off, the difference is only a few cents, plus, I get two movies instead of one, and they have a better selection.

This is for my brother Dan, and all Christopher Walkin fans everywhere!

Here it is!!!! It may be unintelligable to you, but to me it looks like baby is just kickin' back, relaxing. Head is on the right, feet are on the left, side view. Paul can "tell" from this pic that baby is going to be chubby, but I think he's basing that more on the fact that both our families breed chubby babies. This is a pic of a pic, because we don't have a scanner, so it's not as good as it could be. Enjoy!

Ultrasounds, Sugar, and Bellybuttons

The ultrasound went really well. Paul's prediction, "He's gonna be a chubby kid - I can tell." I was actually farther along than I thought I was, but only by about four days. Everything showed that me and my baby are very healthy. Until I see my doctor though, I can't excerise. And I really enjoy that, so it's a bummer. I am going to put pictures on tomorrow, but right now my computer is acting strange. The baby was moving around ALOT! I asked the technician if the baby had hiccups, because that's exactly what it looked like. She said no, they just move like that sometimes, sporatically. I was surprised that I still can't feel the baby moving, it was seriously moving THAT MUCH. I'll get to see him/her again in about 6 weeks for my 20 week ultrasound, when we will find out the sex. I went right out to JoAnns and bought a few scrapbooking things so I can scrapbook the pictures. Seeing the baby made things quite a bit more real to me, and I am having urges to PREPARE, even though I know that birth is a long way off.

This is totally unrelated, today as I was driving home I heard a commercial for ......... sugar. Yes, sugar. What make sugar producers feel that they need to promote thier product? I would hope that they could gage by America's rapidly expanding waistline just how popular and addictive thier product is. Now don't get me wrong, I love sugar (my current craving being SweetTarts, yum!). I eat plenty of it, nothing artificial here. But come on, is sugar really in danger of extinction?

Another funny thing from my classroom. First of all I need to say that I am really enjoying sharing this pregnancy experience with my kindergarteners. As soon as I let the staff know I ended up telling my kids because, well, news travels fast in a small valley. So they've known for a few weeks.

Kindergartener: "you know Mrs. Robinson...

slight rabbit trail here. You have no idea the names that I will respond to... sometimes they just call me Robinson, or Robin, not out of disrespect but because they are trying to tell me something and the words just won't come fast enough. Also Wobinson, Teacher, Hey You, Mom, Grandma, and names of other teachers in the building, etc. anyway....

"you know, Mrs. Robinson, when you eat your baby eats." (this was right before lunchtime)
"Yes, I know, that's good thinking."
(the other students pondered this for a bit - you could see the wheels turning)
Another Kindergartener: "You mean it goes down your throat and then the baby opens up it's mouth and then he swallows it, right?"
ME: Not exactly.

Thus began a discussion about umbilical cords and bellybuttons, and before it got too graphic (and it CAN in a kindergarten classroom) it was time to go to lunch. Saved!

Because of some concerns I have with my pregnancy (really minor concerns, no cause for alarm) I get to have an ultrasound tomorrow! Please pray that my concerns will turn out to be nothing! The bright side is I GET TO SEE MY BABY! So I am really excited, but nervous too.

We had fun at the pumpkin patch on Saturday. I just wanted to let you know a little bit about it in case you wanted to go. I think they are only open on the weekends. They had amazing apple fritters, which I got the recipe for and will post on Food Love soon.


"Lattin's Country Cider Mill & Farm9402 Rich Road SEOlympiaPhone: (360) 491-7328A small, family owned farm and country market. A producer of wonderful, award winning ciders, freezer jams, frozen homemade pies, and syrups. Carolyn Lattin and her daughters, Debbie and Sherrie, has been perfecting all natural products since 1976. The Lattins' products are all home-made and remind us of a simpler time when our moms and grandmothers had time to freeze and bake. They also have strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry ciders, as well as fresh fruits and pies. The farm is also open for wandering around and feeding the animals, and children are welcome. Lattin's fresh cider won the 1998 National Cider Championships, chosen from 28 entries from 14 states. Their cider is pressed weekly, and delivered to accounts throughout the northwest. None of the cider is pasteurized; no preservatives or sugars are added.Lattin's products available online at Columbia Steppe"

from applejournal

The Pumpkin Patch

FYI:

An article on the emerging church in Portland

Sunday

Our waffle iron caught on fire this morning....luckily, we had already made enough waffles to satisfy our hunger. Yeah, of all the things to catch on fire. I am glad that I get to buy a new one. I could have pretty much lived on waffles when I was single, so it brings back good memories.

When we opened to barn door to let the dogs out, they took one look at the weather and decided they could "hold it".... Paul and I had a similar reaction to the idea of going to church this morning, we took one look at the weather, one look at our nice, warm house, and opted for the latter. We are toying with the idea of going for coffee and to the library later, but we'll see. It isn't often that my husband wants to take a "non-productive day off" so I take advantage and encourage it when he does. He works so hard.

From Babycenter:

"How your baby's growing: Your belly may soon be big enough to announce to the world that you're expecting, but your baby is still tiny. In fact, he's only about 3 inches long crown to rump — roughly the size of a jumbo shrimp — and weighs just about an ounce. Despite the small proportions, there's a fully formed baby inside your womb now. Much more proportional than it was a few weeks ago, his head is now only about a third the size of his body. His tiny, unique fingerprints are already in place. His kidneys and urinary tract are functional, and he's starting to urinate out the amniotic fluid he's been swallowing. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed, and your odds of miscarriage will drop considerably."

I finished The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and loved it. I love it when you finsh a book you love and then find out it's a series! I have the others on order from the library. The series follows a lady detective in Botswana.

just can't help myself: another Friday favorites

Watermark: A Grateful People

Mark and Barb got this for me for my birthday and I haven't been able to stop listening. Christy Nockels is ending her singing career with this album because she wants to "give her kids the best of herself". I admire that.

Friday Favorites: My Starbucks Travel Mug

About 7 years ago (that's right, 7!) I bought a travel mug at Starbucks. Little did I know how it would change my life. It befriended me in the store. It was marked down and just fit so nicely in my hand. It was stainless steal. I started falling in love.
Let me tell you a little about my travel mug:

-it fits perfectly in any car cup holder
-it keeps beverages hot until at least noon
-on cold mornings, I can leave it in my car, go work out in the gym, come back to the car and it will STILL be hot
-I have carried it through Multnomah, my master's program, to church, to substitute teach in scary places and my first job
-the mug has actually become a point of contention in our marriage. Specifically, Paul wants the mug (think Lord of the Rings "we wants it" "we needs it"). He even went so far as to tell me I had actually given it to him, but I don't remember this. Needless to say, the mug and I have a very special relationship. The unspoken rule is, whoever has to get up first, gets the mug. Most of the time that's me. So I'm OK with that for now. I can share, I'm a kindergarten teacher.
-I have tried to find Paul his own, equally special mug, but each one that I buy is lacking something, some quality, that my special mug has. It doesn't fit in the car, it leaks, it doesn't keep things hot enough, you get the picture.
-I actually think that there is something divine about my mug. I think it is a gift from God. It comforts me. It is one of the small blessings in my life. I think God DOES bless you with small, comforting blessings. It's OK to name them; to say that you enjoy this or that material thing.
- Our mug is certainly not the most expensive one we've ever had. That's not the point. It's because it's so perfect. It's because it's been with me through lots and lots of hard work. It's because my husband wants it so much.
-well, that's my friday favorites, if you looked at the time that I posted this blog, you would think, "Isn't Annie supposed to be teaching?". It's one of those state professional days, and yes, I do have a lot of work to do, but I am not neglecting my students. Have a great weekend!

I wanted to share one of my favorite pictures from Alaska. This is Donna Erickson, we stayed with her while we were in Unalakleet. She is showing us her homemade parka.

Paul and Dan climbed the (once) mighty (and still active) Mt. St. Helens volcano on Saturday. The weather was good and they both live for the good views. I climbed this mountain once and then swore I'd never do it again. The rules say you have to bring a hard hat in case the mountain spews on you. Good job guys!

At the "top", the rim of the mountain. Dan is somewhere out there, I'm not sure which one.

Looking at the new dome with Mt. Ranier in the background.

Meet Baby Robinson (12 weeks)

Here's my belly picture. Within the past few weeks it's grown a lot. Actually, this pic makes it look a little bigger than it actually is. Or maybe it just looks bigger to me because I haven't seen myself at this angle. Sometime within the next couple of weeks I should be able to feel the baby move so I'm really excited about that. On Saturday I went to Old Navy and bought some maternity jeans (10$ off right now if you are in need of some) and some maternity sweatpants. And I've worn one of the two nonstop since then. Can I just say that I haven't shopped at Old Navy since I was about 20? But it really does rock my world right now. So much more comfy. My Paul is so great at taking pics. The baby is his new excuse for getting a digital SLR and I think it's a pretty good one. We will be making the investment before too long.

Check out this hilarious blog. It's a comic strip about a kindergartener who blogs via voice recognition. I love it because I work with five year olds all day. Believe me though, reality is stranger (and funnier) than fiction.

www.beingfive.blogspot.com

Friday Favorites:

I'm going to copy some other bloggers that I admire and start Friday Favorites. My current favorite thing is the Bella Band. I't my favorite because my jeans won't button anymore. This allows you to place a rubberband through your button hole and attach it to the button, you put the band over your button and zipper to hide and smooth out. In that wierd stage when maternity clothes are waaay to big and real clothes are uncomfortable, this is the BEST! I got mine on craigslist. If you pay full price it's 26$, but even at that I think it's worth it.

Yesterday Paul said, "It's definately time to take a belly picture."

Coming soon!

Now Reading: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

I have enjoyed the first few chapters of this book, set in Botswana. That's all I can really say so far.

Walking to the lunchroom with my class I passed a male teacher. He was wearing black. We exchanged hellos.

Kindergartener: "Is he a bodyguard?"

I'm back!

Sorry for the lack of blogs, another one of those blogging dry spells. Open house was a success! I actually love this part. Schmoozing with parents! I used to hate it and I've come a long way. What have we been up to lately? Paul started back to school, I had an all day math class on Saturday (glad that's over), we had a potluck on Sunday after church with some visitors from Alaska, had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa, open house. We've been pretty busy. I've been pretty tired (going to sleep around 8:30 or 9) but everyone promises that in my next trimester (one week away) I will have more energy. The thing that's surprised me the most is how emotional I've been. Not normally a cryer. Now I cry about little things (like extreme home makeover). Like I read on one pregnant lady's blog, "we definately shouldn't be eligable for jury duty". And other things too. Paul's not so sure I should even be driving (judgement impaired, you know!). This book has been one of my favorites (my mom loaned it to us), especially for Paul, because he can feel left out sometimes, but he really loves the science part of it, and hearing things like our baby is growing fingernails. He's hooked on it. It's really more of a coffee table book, with real pictures inside the womb. It's probably really expensive.
I had better get my you know what movin' so I can get to the gym and watch Oprah. It'll probably make me cry.

This article claims three - D fetal scans are "dangerously misleading". I like what one commenter said, "These pictures show that babies in the womb are just that - and it's painfully obvious that abortion is wrong."

We are pregnant.
"Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you. Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of life."- Maureen Hawkins

This picture is our baby right now. It is growing fingernails and toenails. It can kick and swallow.



This is a picture of what our baby's feet would look like. More info coming soon. I heard the baby's little heartbeat at the doctor's office this morning!

Paul and I want to get away for a nice, (somewhat cheap) weekend. I mean, we are willing to go to a hotel, but not an expensive one. Do you have any advice for us? Leave me a comment.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches


ME: What's your favorite kind of sandwich?
Student: Peanut butter and jelly...(pause)...and do you know where jelly comes from?
ME: Where?
Student: From a jelly fish. When you tickle it, it makes jelly...(pause)...and the jelly comes out of it's tentacles.
ME: Wow, I didn't know that.
Student: And do you know where peanut butter comes from?
ME: No, where?
Student: Ummm, peanuts.

I thought you might enjoy this picture. This is a project that Paul has been working on all summer. He is interning with a housing development and this is thier first "model" home. The one they sell to people. He has two quarters left until he is an official "construction manager". I'm so proud of him.

Still Hippy
"Teacher, you sound really sick."

"That's because I am."

"Maybe you should go to the doctor."

Yeah, I finally took their advice and went to the doctor yesterday. I am taking my first antibiotics in three years. I went naturopath a while ago and it has served me very well, but I am veering off that path for just a little while. Don't worry though, I am just as hippy as I used to be.

Finally feeling better....

On Thursday I came down with a pretty nasty virus. I spent most of Friday and Saturday flat on my back on the couch or bed. I AM going to work tomorrow, mostly because it's getting pretty boring around here. Yesterday Paul took me to the movie store and the Super Walmart to get some Top Ramen (the only thing that sounds good) and soft tissues. I am going to watch Akelah and the Bee today. By the way, I had a bit of a "thirtysomething" moment yesterday when I was in the video store (I know I'm only 29 but it's close enough). I was standing in a line to rent my video and it was quite long so I had alot of time to space out and watch those TV's that they always have previewing movies that they want you to rent. But this time it wasn't a preview, it was a Prince video, you know, the artist "formerly known as prince" that was extremely popular in the 80's and 90's. There were two teenage boys behind me.

"That guy looks freaky."
"Yeah, who IS that?"

Yeah, they didn't know who Prince was. Now let me tell you, I have never owned a Prince album AND I actually do think he is a bit scary AND we never even had MTV growing up (thank goodness), but, I COULD pick him out of a lineup. These kids had no idea. I am no longer YOUNG. Don't get me wrong, I am not sad about that, it just came as kind of a blow.
The mountain of tissues by the computer is getting high. I finally feel like maybe, just maybe, I could do a little laundry today. Paul is at church now, I'm glad because I think he was getting a little cabin fever with me not being able to go anywhere. He cleaned the whole house yesterday. What a guy!
By the way, this is my favorite product for fighting colds. You probably all have heard of it or have some at home. It's wonderful! It's called Emergen-C. Better than Airborne, I think.

post #602:

I noticed some of my students digging a big hole in the pea gravel under the big toy in the playground.

ME: "What are you doing guys?"
Them: (nonchalantly) "We're digging to find the devil."

I also have this little girl who goes around telling all the other kids that Santa isn't real. You can imagine the conundrum this puts me in. It's a very emotional issue for a kindergartener. She even uses logic, "Well, have you ever SEEN him riding around in the sky?" The other student thinks for a while, "Hmmmm, no."

Yes, and today was a tough day. We had a throwup, a painting mishap, and my nerves are a bit fried. About 40 Clorox Wipes, multiple hand washings and a fruit salad later I'm doing much better. You might think this is an easy job. Honey it's not.

This is a farming community. I'm reminded of that every day. You city folk may not know this, but to a boy in the country, the world is his bathroom. And....sometimes when they come to school they forget, you know, that the playground is NOT his bathroom. And I'm sure after my gentle reminder, he won't forget again.

Permission to obsess please?

OK, I am ready to confess that I am obsessed with Alaska. I really can't put my finger on exactly WHY either. Most of a half hour car ride to Olympia yesterday was devoted to trying to convince Paul to move there. I got on craigslist this morning to look at real estate in Alaska (not as cheap as one might expect). I don't know what God has in store for us. I continue to teach this year with considerably less fervor than in years past (for many reasons). I have books checked out from the library on Alaska, and I am currently finishing this one, about life in small town Alaska. I am also in the middle of another one, Looking for Alaska, by Peter Jenkins (the man who wrote A Walk Across America). There is a chapter in this book about Unalakleet, the village we spent most of our time in last year. I even have Paul reading books about Alaska. He is more attracted to the ruggedness of it, but is still very skeptical about the feasability of a venture like this.
In other news, a Saturday stretches out before me! I love this feeling. There's nothing like working all week to really make you enjoy your weekends. I am really loving the personality of my new little crop of kindergarteners. I won't have to put as much effort in this year for many reasons, only one grade, only 11 students, an aid all morning. It took until my third year of teaching to finally feel like "this is doable". I have to say, I am in a very unique situation that most people would give thier right arm to be in. Class size and environment can make a huge difference. This year we are doing a "reading buddies" program, which I have been pulling for for a while. Older children are paired with younger, reading together and building relationships. I get to have contact with some of the rest of the kids, not just the littlest ones, which is really nice. My kids from last year have moved on, which is a little sad, but I still get hugs in the hallway.
Last night Paul and I went to Olympia, walked on the waterfront, went out to dinner at Ramblin' Jacks (we met my parents there) (Ramblin' Jacks is where we went out to dinner late at night after our wedding, we love it for sentimental and tasty reasons) After that we went to Barnes and Nobles to look at books. Sidenote: I was in the browsing in the parenting section of the store and my eye caught a book called something like "diaper free parenting". This involves holding your baby over a little bowl when you FEEL LIKE THEY ARE READY TO ELIMINATE. No thanks! What scares me is when I told Paul about this he thought it was cool. Anyway, we love B&N for the big chairs and coffee and the fact that you can stay there and read a whole book and no one would look at you twice. I fell asleep on the way home, it's been a long week.
I really should stop not because the laundry is actually piling up over the hamper and onto the floor, and I want to go to the gym too. If you've made it this far in today's blog, WOW, thanks for listening.