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.
December 18, 2006
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.
"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.
December 16, 2006
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.
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.
December 13, 2006
December 08, 2006
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!
December 07, 2006
December 05, 2006
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.
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!
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!
December 02, 2006
"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.
~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.
December 01, 2006
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.
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.
November 30, 2006
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.
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.
November 29, 2006
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.
November 27, 2006
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!!!
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!!!
November 26, 2006
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?!
November 22, 2006
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.
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.
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