My Not So Big, Big Reveal

I don't know why exactly, but I have been putting off telling my class about my pregnancy. On Friday, I finally decided to tell them since other kids from church and friends' kids already knew and were saying things to me in the hall. I wanted them to hear it from me.

What do I know? Half my class already knew! Mostly my girls. I had NO idea they knew and found out they had heard me talking to the teacher next door but had promised each other they wouldn't say anything to anyone. One of them is a twin and didn't even tell her sister.

I have to tell you, I love this class! Their comments were hilarious! These are some of my favorites:

"We heard you talking to Mrs. Tyson about it...but then you were still so skinny that we thought we were wrong. But then you wore that blue dress last week and we saw your tummy!" Note to self: don't wear the blue dress until I want to look really pregnant.

"Are you leaving? Because in kindergarten my teacher had a baby and got fired and didn't come back so we had really mean substitutes for the rest of the year." I guess mom's who stay home got "fired" in kids' eyes. :)

In the most serious tone, "Mrs. Harris? Does your husband know?" I assured her he did.

"I think you should name the baby, Baby Harris!" How clever.

"I think you should name the baby Rose Danielle instead of Danielle Rose!"

"Mrs Harris, do you want bottles, or a skirt, or bibs, or blankets, or a dress?" After telling her she didn't need to buy the baby anything, "I already made up my mind in my head, and I have my own money, so you might as well just tell me what you want."

From a boy, "Mrs. Harris, are you allergic to flowers?" So cute!

I told them that I have been eating during the day because the baby makes my tummy hurt if I don't. One boy chimed in, "Yeah, and if you don't, the baby could DIE!" I feel more like I am going to die if I don't eat my little snacks, not the baby.

Now when they see me eating in class they say, "Oh, the baby's hungry again!"

"My mom is pregnant too! But she is fat already."

"I saw a picture of my mom when she was pregnant with me and she was huge! She didn't look very good, no offense." Is this what my kids will say about me in second grade?! Ouch!

One of my boys didn't say a word but after about 10 minutes of my class being excited about the news, he proceeded to throw his arms over his ears with his head down. I don't think he liked the pregnancy talk. His mom later told me he does this when people hug too. Affectionate kid.

Anyway, they had me cracking up pretty good and I didn't want to forget their comments.

For your enjoyment I will share what I found on my desk this morning from a student. I had told them that when I do start getting fat they couldn't say anything. I believe this was in response to that.

If you can't read it it says, "Dear Mrs. Harris, You are very skinny not fat even graycie says so."

(Gracie is a 4th grader she bikes home with).

I'm going to frame this someday.

85%

I had been thinking over the past while of all the cute ways I could blog the gender of our baby since I knew we were finding out today. However 85% seems to be a frustrating, not quite sure enough number for Chris and I today! It's hard to get excited when there is a chance the gender will change. Maybe that's what we get for going in at 16 weeks. Luckily we get to go back for free in 2 weeks to check again which will still be 2 weeks earlier than my doctor's office.

So, without further ado...We were told by our ultra sound lady that she is 85% sure we are having a... GIRL!

I'll let you know in 2 weeks if that is still the case. :) It was still fun to go and see our baby moving around. Next time "it" needs to listen to it's parents and stop crossing those legs (which on any other day was so stinkin' cute) or to get that cord out from between said legs. The tech said that the femur bones are pretty long... which is just such a shock considering the daddy is a mere 6'4". All looks good, it just seems the baby is creating drama already. Hmmm, it must be a girl! I know I promised a picture but I'm tired and will have to post it later.

It Is What It Is

I have been awful at posting, I know. I have lots of excuses-most of them lame. I've just decided lately, that it is what it is. Here are a few examples:

-I have not been that tired with the pregnancy, but very lazy! Hence, the no posting, no inviting friends over for dinner (because I'm not cooking so much lately -lazy again, and it makes me throw up-literally), I don't want to clean, but do because I have to, Chris has taken over laundry, I don't walk around the classroom while reading chapter books but sit on my stool, and it took me a month of having ugly half chipped toenail polish to redo them.

-I can't wait for my baby bump but I have this idea in my head that I'm not supposed to start showing until I'm closer to 5 months because it's my first. Well, this is not happening as planned. I am now the proud owner of some belly chub that likes to stick out a bit after I eat and when I sit. After much embarrassment and dismay I have to say, "It is what it is."

-I have girls camp coming up mid April and am in charge of the crafts for the stake. I am actually really looking forward to doing the crafts with the girls but not much about the fact that I will not be in a room to do them, but in a screened in porch area...in Florida...while 5 months pregnant. Cross your fingers for me for cool weather! Again, it's okay, it is what it is!

I'm not whining, just coming to grips with some things which is fine because there are so many awesome things too. My pregnancy is going really good! No problems or weird things (if you can call pregnancy side effects normal). My class at school is phenomenal even with some of my crazy boys, my husband is still treating me like a queen and I'm hoping this will happen with every pregnancy, not just the first, and I have awesome friends and family who love me despite my recent laziness.

What I am most excited about is that I made an appointment for next Wednesday to find out the gender of the baby! I will be 16 weeks, so I should be far enough along to tell. I am going to a 3D/4D place that was having a Wednesday "bump day" special for the month of March and is about half the price of everywhere else. Chris and I both are excited to know so we can start saying "he" or "she" (and so I can start decorating the nursery!) I promise I will add a picture with that post. The laziness just keeps coming into play and I don't feel like downloading pictures at the moment-sorry! At least you know I will post again in less than a week!

Baby on Board

Thanks so much for all the congratulations! We are beyond excited about our coming baby! It has been a long, long, long road for us and we still feel like it's a bit of a dream. Although, the nausea helps brings things into focus a bit. :)

I am just over 8 weeks along and our projected due date is Sept. 2nd. Since my birthday is on the 8th, I am thinking this is going to be a great early birthday present. (I am thinking positively that I won't be having this baby ON my birthday. No late babies please!) This date works perfect for school since I won't have to leave a class mid-year and the year will end before I get too uncomfortable.

I feel lucky that I have only lost my lunch once so far and have moments of feeling pretty good. On a whole though, I am feeling pretty disgusting but can function. My best friends as of late have been: yogurt, oatmeal, applesauce, Honey Nut Cheerios, Ritz crackers, and Preggie Pop Drops (amazing candies that have something in them to settle the stomach.)

Chris has been the perfect husband of a pregnant lady. He has been cleaning, not complaining about my bland dinners, or lack of any dinner made, has been comforting, loving, and everything else. Plus he is as giddy as I am! We are now just praying that everything continues to go well. I will try not to be annoying with posts, but no real promises here. We are too happy to rein it in too much. Oh, and Audra, I will post a picture of me as soon as there is something to see!

An Order To All Things

First Comes Love

Then Comes Marriage

Then Comes Baby in a Baby Carriage!

Catch Up

I know it's been over a month since I have posted, but now I have tons of pictures so I'm going to TRY to let them do most of the talking because well, we all know pictures are just more fun. I am an explainer though so we'll see. As a general disclaimer: I can't stand how blogger puts pictures in backwards order and how much of a pain it is to move them around, so my timeline of pictures is a little messed up. You'll be able to follow along I'm sure!

I spent from Dec. 20th to the 31st in San Diego with my family this Christmas and it was FANTASTIC! My family showed us a great time and made sure we hit all my favorite spots. This meant that we saw the ocean a lot and ate Mexican food to my heart's content. Chris spent most of his mornings and afternoons golfing. I'm not kidding, he played 5 rounds of golf and went to the driving range on top of that. He was pretty much in heaven.

For the first time in a few years all of us were together so my parents could get a much coveted complete family picture.

My sister Audra, Me, my brother David

Three of us with my parents

Whole group

(Me, Chris, Mom, Dad, Dave, Luke, Will, Audra, Chloe, Ethan)

I got to meet Audra's baby, Chloe, for the first time! She was to die for! I'm in love for sure.

Oh, I love this guy too! :)

We had a fun day at the San Diego Zoo. Audra's boys, Ethan and Luke were the resident experts and corrected me many times. Ethan told me the birds were not just condors, but CALIFORNIA Condors! Duh!

Luke had me cracking up with his love of this gross stuffed cheetah on a little train we rode and his comment about the hippos we saw playing in the water. Turning to me with a big smile on his face, "Oh, that's quite a creature!"

The boys weren't cooperating...

until I asked to take a picture of Ethan's nose!

Cute Chloe, being as happy and content as always at the zoo.

I had to make it to the La Jolla tide pools. It being December did not deter me at all.

There were HUGE starfish everywhere we looked!

I finally found a pet I want. I seem to be the only one who wants these sea slugs as pets. Not to mention I'm the only one who thinks it is awesome to hold them. I tried to get some kids to pet them and they looked at me like I was crazy. I always did like sea creatures better than any others. Aren't these guys fat! The fattest I've ever seen!

We also saw an octopus, but he got away before we could get a picture.

Gorgeous, gorgeous day! Look at all these views we had that day. Why did I leave San Diego???

We also biked around that day on the coast up on the cliffs. The waves were huge! We saw Seal Beach (which really is roped off for the seals), and a wedding going on that was beautiful.

This one is on Coronado Island right off Downtown San Diego. It is famous for the Hotel Del Coronado which Chris and I got to stay at for part of our honeymoon. I love their huge tree they decorate different every year. I buy at least one ornament from there every year.

Christmas morning. I think Chris was most excited with his pound of Sees Chocolate plus two more pounds of it in gift certificates. Well, that and the money both sets of parents contributed towards a new TV. Oh boy, this could be dangerous!

I got the boys Zhu Zhu Hamsters. Winky and Scoodles. Although for the first day they were "Tinky and Skittles."

Luke was pretty excited about his. When he first opened it he said in the sweetest voice possible, "Awww! What's this cute little guy?!" Gotta love that kid.

I also got them some books. Luke is "reading one" very intently.

I loved seeing all my family, including grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins too. I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas!

These are just some fun pictures of school stuff before the break. We did lots of fun Christmas crafts and centers the week before Christmas.

Gift Bags,

Holiday themed worksheets and another gift bag,

Christmas Memory,

Reading corner with all my Christmas books (and yes that is a cup of hot cocoa I let them drink while reading. Only 2 spilled and thankfully not on the books! I'm crazy, I know),

We made cute Christmas trees out of upside down ice cream cones, white frosting for snow, green for the tree, and lots of candy for decorations.

I've noticed some kids really don't care if their stuff looks nice, EVER, so I tried to document both sides.

Kid who doesn't care...

Kid who does.

Kid who doesn't care...

Kid who does.

(If you want to learn how to make cool snowflakes, just ask - One of the perks of being a teacher :)

Kid who doesn't care...

Kid who does.

I didn't take a picture of one of the ones that didn't care about their reindeer, but let me tell you... there were a couple doosies!

Want to know what the common theme was? All the "Kid who doesn't care" were boys. There are exceptions to every rule of course but...I'm just sayin'.

Just so you know we did "real" work too, here is an example of a cool clock each kid made to help them remember how to tell time. I should have taken a picture of a kid who doesn't care. Wow, you should have seen that.

This I posted so you can see how creative kids are now days. I had them add to Verb Man showing different actions he can do. Please note "farting" and "bleeding." I stopped them there though there were many more hands that soared into the air after having been inspired by the two children before them. I had to laugh.

Candid Comments

Last school year I had an abnormally large amount of creepy and gross kids and parents who would shock me. Think back to creepy dad with no semblance of personal space, sweaty dad (even in December), "I believe in killer whales" child, I will wash off the math game piece I dropped in the toilet and put it back child, and so forth. This year I have such an awesome class, that I feel I am being repaid for my sufferings last year. I still crack up at some of my students' comments and doings and am so glad they just keep on coming. It seriously is one of the best things about teaching to me. Anyway, with these cute kids, I don't have so many gross or weird stories as just funny ones. (Why is it so much funner to post the former kind?) Here are some of my recent favorites anyway:

1. On making a list about places that are special to them, one student wrote:

"Disneyland, school, Adventure Island, church - because I'm supposed to like it and if I don't God with PUNISH me! The bathroom is also special to me because everyone needs some privacy you know."

2. I have 3 students who spend part of their day with a specialist because they have some learning disabilities. One of them has a bit of autism along with some other things, and this kid has become one of my favorites. He is draining because he has to be refocused every three seconds, but he cracks me up. One day he couldn't do what we were doing so he was drawing a mask instead. He colored it with markers and was very proud. He asked for some tape, but when I told him I wasn't going to let him tape it to his face, he took matters into his own hands. When I wasn't looking, he went to the sink and doused his face in water to make the mask stick. I felt a tap on my back and a, "Mrs. Hawwis..." (which is how he says my name). When I turned around I saw this

The marker bled through the wet paper, covering his entire face in marker. He didn't seem to mind though and even wanted to see the picture I took on the camera. His reaction to seeing himself was, "Oh, so funny!"

I had to scrub this poor kids face with soap until it was red to get all the marker off.

3. Same kid as above... We are finishing a test when this child comes back from his special class. I tell him to grab a book to read for a couple minutes. The class is totally silent when he YELLS, "Ha Ha, HE FARTED! Oh my gosh, ew, look at the fart. I can see it, look!" He was reading a book called Walter the Farting Dog. As you can imagine, my whole class erupts in laughter. I do too, so what are you gonna do?

There's a bunch more, but I can't think of them right now.