I truly am the luckiest woman in the world.
On Thursday afternoon, Chris left for Michigan to attend the wedding our our very good friends, Kamran and Nicole Ismail and spend time with his familiy. I was incredibly bummed that I couldn't go due to being too pregnant to fly.
Enter best husband in the world.
After two long nights of parent teacher conferences, I got home late Thursday night to find not one, not two, but nearly TWENTY hidden love notes around the house to let me know how much Chris loved the baby and I while he was gone! It has definintely made his time away more bearable - especially because I have been laid up on the couch for most of the weekend with a horendous cold.
Needless to say, I am so excited that he is coming home tonight and we can hang out and catch up. Our first birthing class began yesterday, so I have a lot of teaching to do on the subject of breathing through contractions! :)
Finding thankfulness in love, life and parenting with a few adventures along the way.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
The Laws of Gravity
We all remember the days of hanging upside down on the monkey bars on the playground, doing handstands and being held upside down by an older sibling/relative. Good times, yes, but the feeling of blood rushing to your head is one that will never be forgotten.
Today, the doctor told me that the baby has "flipped" and already has it's head in the downward position. So what's the deal? Do the laws of gravitational force not apply in utero? Why would any creature want to be upside down for such a long period of time? I mean, I still have WEEKS to go before this kid comes out! It just can't be comfortable and my scientific brain cannot wrap itself around this wacky concept.
I should totally be grading, but contemplating Newtonian physics is way more entertaining.
Chris's response to my thoughts: "You are such a dork."
Takes one to know one. :)
Today, the doctor told me that the baby has "flipped" and already has it's head in the downward position. So what's the deal? Do the laws of gravitational force not apply in utero? Why would any creature want to be upside down for such a long period of time? I mean, I still have WEEKS to go before this kid comes out! It just can't be comfortable and my scientific brain cannot wrap itself around this wacky concept.
I should totally be grading, but contemplating Newtonian physics is way more entertaining.
Chris's response to my thoughts: "You are such a dork."
Takes one to know one. :)
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Quite The Week
When it rains, it pours. This has been quite the week in the Daniel household.
It began with both of us having insanely busy weeks at work. No big deal. We're both used to that. What we didn't anticipate was Chris's one-year old truck to get stuck on the highway because it wouldn't shift into gear, a $1900 price tag to fix it, my blood pressure to spike to 150/90, my doctor telling me to wear wrist braces 24/7 due to severe carpel tunnel as well as finding out there is a good chance I won't go full term. Let's just put it this way - we were both really glad when the weekend arrived! :)
Despite the craziness that the week entertained us with, we did have a few great moments. Last weekend, we picked up the final piece of furniture for the nursery. It is a beautiful gliding rocking chair that was a gift from my step-mom, step-grandma and step-aunt. We are SO incredibly lucky to have such a caring and supporting family as we embark on a new life with a little one! :) THANK YOU Rose, Fran and Rene!!!
Like a first grader who got her first 100% on a spelling test, I hung an accomplishment on the refrigerator too! My Master's diploma arrived on Wednesday and it is proudly hung right on the refrigerator! Chris and I laughed so hard at the lameness and simplicity of the action. Let's face it though, is there really a better place to hang up one's best work?
With my diploma posted, I also received a copy of my transcripts which I promptly sent to our HR department. Next week's monthly paycheck is going to ROCK with the pay raise that will come along with the completion of my degree!
That's it for now. Chris is at the Broncos game today with some work buddies and I am working on some long-term lesson plans with my feet up on the couch. I'm sure Chris will have tons to talk about after the game.:)
More soon. Prego out.
It began with both of us having insanely busy weeks at work. No big deal. We're both used to that. What we didn't anticipate was Chris's one-year old truck to get stuck on the highway because it wouldn't shift into gear, a $1900 price tag to fix it, my blood pressure to spike to 150/90, my doctor telling me to wear wrist braces 24/7 due to severe carpel tunnel as well as finding out there is a good chance I won't go full term. Let's just put it this way - we were both really glad when the weekend arrived! :)
Despite the craziness that the week entertained us with, we did have a few great moments. Last weekend, we picked up the final piece of furniture for the nursery. It is a beautiful gliding rocking chair that was a gift from my step-mom, step-grandma and step-aunt. We are SO incredibly lucky to have such a caring and supporting family as we embark on a new life with a little one! :) THANK YOU Rose, Fran and Rene!!!
Like a first grader who got her first 100% on a spelling test, I hung an accomplishment on the refrigerator too! My Master's diploma arrived on Wednesday and it is proudly hung right on the refrigerator! Chris and I laughed so hard at the lameness and simplicity of the action. Let's face it though, is there really a better place to hang up one's best work?
With my diploma posted, I also received a copy of my transcripts which I promptly sent to our HR department. Next week's monthly paycheck is going to ROCK with the pay raise that will come along with the completion of my degree!
That's it for now. Chris is at the Broncos game today with some work buddies and I am working on some long-term lesson plans with my feet up on the couch. I'm sure Chris will have tons to talk about after the game.:)
More soon. Prego out.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Birthday Fun
Yes, it's true. The national holiday has come and gone. What national holiday, you ask? My birthday, of course! :) 26. Twenty-six. T-W-E-N-T-Y-S-I-X. Geez. My sister called to wish my a happy birthday recalling how it seemed just like yesterday that I turned 16 and got a cute little car. That thought was followed by, "Oh my gosh, that was 10 years ago!" I was proud to see that Kristen's math skills were at work.
Anyway, despite the momentary struggle with passing over a quarter of a century, my birthday truly was a fabulous day. My students sang to me, friends brought me breakfast, my husband and friends organized dinner and Chris booked an AMAZING prenatal massage for me this morning as my gift. It was great! I feel so lucky to have so many people in my life who are so caring.
The restaurant we went to last night was called Tamayo. We have wanted to go there forever, so it was great to go on such a special night. The restaurant specializes in modern Mexican cuisine - basically REALLY good Mexican food that is pretty too! :) Octoberfest was also going on right outside on the block surrounding the restaurant which provided for a fun stroll after dinner was complete.
Thanks again for all the cards and phone messages! I feel truly loved!!
Here are a few pics from last night's dinner with Matt, Stacey, Dawn, Chris and I. Enjoy!
xoxo

Our friends, Matt and Stacey at Tamayo for dinner.

Our friend, Dawn. She and I teach together. Her birthday is tomorrow. Virgo power!

Chris and I at Tamayo. Good food and great company!

Matt, Stacey and Chris enjoying the sites, smells, tastes and sounds of Octoberfest. :)
Anyway, despite the momentary struggle with passing over a quarter of a century, my birthday truly was a fabulous day. My students sang to me, friends brought me breakfast, my husband and friends organized dinner and Chris booked an AMAZING prenatal massage for me this morning as my gift. It was great! I feel so lucky to have so many people in my life who are so caring.
The restaurant we went to last night was called Tamayo. We have wanted to go there forever, so it was great to go on such a special night. The restaurant specializes in modern Mexican cuisine - basically REALLY good Mexican food that is pretty too! :) Octoberfest was also going on right outside on the block surrounding the restaurant which provided for a fun stroll after dinner was complete.
Thanks again for all the cards and phone messages! I feel truly loved!!
Here are a few pics from last night's dinner with Matt, Stacey, Dawn, Chris and I. Enjoy!
xoxo

Our friends, Matt and Stacey at Tamayo for dinner.

Our friend, Dawn. She and I teach together. Her birthday is tomorrow. Virgo power!

Chris and I at Tamayo. Good food and great company!

Matt, Stacey and Chris enjoying the sites, smells, tastes and sounds of Octoberfest. :)
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Insomnia
It's 3:47 a.m. I've been awake for hours. What is it that people think about at this hour of the morning? Let me tell you!
1) How is it that a ceiling fan can spin so fast and not make any noise? The laws of mechanics and physics amaze me.
2) The seemingly immortal Steve Irwin has passed away. The conservationist and zoological community has lost a major player and it is incredibly sad.
3) Parents. This weekend I received an email from a parent whos child clearly exaggerated and twisted a conversation that we had on Friday thus leading to a blind-siding blow to my intensions to watch out for the amount of homework she had. When did teachers become the wrongdoers in every situation without being given any thought or benefit of the doubt to what might have ACTUALLY have taken place?
4) Parents. Am I going to be that way?
5) My husband works so hard. Day in and day out he pulls himself out of bed before 5 a.m. and gets in his truck for a 50 minute drive to his jobsite where he works hard all day and often leaves after everyone else is gone. He gets home after days like this and then only wants to take care of me. His drive an ambition are inspiring. I love him beyond imagine.
6) Like a 5 year old sleeping without her blanky for the first time, I miss my mom. Yup, it's true. I'm not sure if it's the point I'm at in pregnancy, the flu/moldy fruit I've been dealing with the past few days, or if I just plain miss her. But, I do.
7) I turn 26 on Friday. I have passed and waved good-bye to a quarter century. Is this the point where people start to feel old?
8) I should not have this much going on in my head at 4:00 in the morning! SLEEP MEGHAN!!
1) How is it that a ceiling fan can spin so fast and not make any noise? The laws of mechanics and physics amaze me.
2) The seemingly immortal Steve Irwin has passed away. The conservationist and zoological community has lost a major player and it is incredibly sad.
3) Parents. This weekend I received an email from a parent whos child clearly exaggerated and twisted a conversation that we had on Friday thus leading to a blind-siding blow to my intensions to watch out for the amount of homework she had. When did teachers become the wrongdoers in every situation without being given any thought or benefit of the doubt to what might have ACTUALLY have taken place?
4) Parents. Am I going to be that way?
5) My husband works so hard. Day in and day out he pulls himself out of bed before 5 a.m. and gets in his truck for a 50 minute drive to his jobsite where he works hard all day and often leaves after everyone else is gone. He gets home after days like this and then only wants to take care of me. His drive an ambition are inspiring. I love him beyond imagine.
6) Like a 5 year old sleeping without her blanky for the first time, I miss my mom. Yup, it's true. I'm not sure if it's the point I'm at in pregnancy, the flu/moldy fruit I've been dealing with the past few days, or if I just plain miss her. But, I do.
7) I turn 26 on Friday. I have passed and waved good-bye to a quarter century. Is this the point where people start to feel old?
8) I should not have this much going on in my head at 4:00 in the morning! SLEEP MEGHAN!!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
...for the belly lovers...

My beautiful wife. What a trooper. Most of us can carry a 20 weight for short while and some of us longer. This girl has been doing it for over a month and has another two to go. She is back at school teaching away and on her feet all day. She is doing a terrific job remaining positive and not letting the aches and pains bring her down. I hope all of you who are trying and who are planning, have the same optimism and positive attitude my wife is expressing. I am such a lucky guy. Thank you all for you love and support during this exciting time.
Honesty is a virtue?
After struggling to hold three chubby, swollen fingers up when describing a situation to my students, I sighed. This sigh was followed by,
"No disrespect, Miz D., but I have noticed for the past 4 or 5 days that your fingers are just fat. Have they always been that way?"
Gotta love the honest truth from a 14-year-old's mouth.
"No disrespect, Miz D., but I have noticed for the past 4 or 5 days that your fingers are just fat. Have they always been that way?"
Gotta love the honest truth from a 14-year-old's mouth.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Baby Central!
We have been hard at work the last few weekends to get the nursery ready for Baby D's imminent arrival! Just a few more items to put in place and we'll be done. Check out what we've completed so far!

Last weekend, we painted and put up the shelves in the room. Chris made the shelves from scratch!

The bassinet in the corner is a family heirloom and over 90 years old!

Meet Gladys the Giraffe, Rory the Lion, Rita the Rhino, Edison the Elephant and BoBo the Bear. (We spent a lot of time in the room yesterday putting these guys up. It didn't take too long before the wallpaper glue got to us.)

Oh baby! At 29 and 1/2 weeks, I'm growing by the minute!

Last weekend, we painted and put up the shelves in the room. Chris made the shelves from scratch!

The bassinet in the corner is a family heirloom and over 90 years old!

Meet Gladys the Giraffe, Rory the Lion, Rita the Rhino, Edison the Elephant and BoBo the Bear. (We spent a lot of time in the room yesterday putting these guys up. It didn't take too long before the wallpaper glue got to us.)

Oh baby! At 29 and 1/2 weeks, I'm growing by the minute!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
And So It Begins...
Three days have passed since the first day of school and it has been confirmed: 8th graders are just CONFUSED. I'm not quite sure there is any other way to describe their meandering walk, wondering eyes, nonsensical answers and just plain, general, weirdness. Apprently, I missed the day of school back in college where they told teachers to stay away from this crowd because I think I would have signed up even EARLIER to take this group on!! I love the weird and unexplainable! They are so much fun!
The past three days have been exhausting, exhilerating, funny, frustrating and every other emotion in the book. To put it simply: it has been a reminder of why I LOVE teaching! My classes are more challenging than ever before with my numbers over 30 in every class. But hey, the more the merrier, right? Just more people to laugh at my lame jokes and suffer the wrath of my obsessive compulsive organizational style. Now that's power!
My sister also entered the bizzaro world of teaching this week as she began her semester of student teaching in a 1st grade class in GR. I am SO PROUD of her!! We have already begun to trade stories of funny events that have taken place. What is even more hilarious - the similarities that exist between 1st and 8th graders. Turns out we both have a tooter extraordinaire in our class!! Gotta love those Sir Stinkalot's! :)
Chris's sister also had a hugely triumphant few days as she flew to Chicago to make a HUGE presentation that wowed one of the partner's at her firm and landed her a nice raise. With only last-minute instructions to arm her and an arsenal of web links to give her the information she needed, Lindsey pulled of her 40 minute presentation with flying colors. Way-to-go, sis! We are SO PROUD of you!!
While I have been busy setting up labs and scaring my students on the second day of class with a 200 point research project, Chris has been the best supporter ever. His job has pulled him away at the wee hours of the morning and doesn't bring him home until late - yet he still listens to me yammer away on my drive home about this student and that moment of the day. He truly is the best husband around!!! I am so lucky to have him!!
That's about it for now. It's 7:35 p.m. and my marshmellow feet and hands are calling out for elevation and sleep.
Class dismissed.
The past three days have been exhausting, exhilerating, funny, frustrating and every other emotion in the book. To put it simply: it has been a reminder of why I LOVE teaching! My classes are more challenging than ever before with my numbers over 30 in every class. But hey, the more the merrier, right? Just more people to laugh at my lame jokes and suffer the wrath of my obsessive compulsive organizational style. Now that's power!
My sister also entered the bizzaro world of teaching this week as she began her semester of student teaching in a 1st grade class in GR. I am SO PROUD of her!! We have already begun to trade stories of funny events that have taken place. What is even more hilarious - the similarities that exist between 1st and 8th graders. Turns out we both have a tooter extraordinaire in our class!! Gotta love those Sir Stinkalot's! :)
Chris's sister also had a hugely triumphant few days as she flew to Chicago to make a HUGE presentation that wowed one of the partner's at her firm and landed her a nice raise. With only last-minute instructions to arm her and an arsenal of web links to give her the information she needed, Lindsey pulled of her 40 minute presentation with flying colors. Way-to-go, sis! We are SO PROUD of you!!
While I have been busy setting up labs and scaring my students on the second day of class with a 200 point research project, Chris has been the best supporter ever. His job has pulled him away at the wee hours of the morning and doesn't bring him home until late - yet he still listens to me yammer away on my drive home about this student and that moment of the day. He truly is the best husband around!!! I am so lucky to have him!!
That's about it for now. It's 7:35 p.m. and my marshmellow feet and hands are calling out for elevation and sleep.
Class dismissed.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
28 Down, 12 To Go
Number of ring sizes changed: 2 and 1/2 and rising
Shoe size changed: 1/2 size
Belly Button Status: Innie is almost and outie
Number of Bathroom Trips Past 9 p.m.: 3
Hours of Rehearsal by Future Drummer: 16
Odd Cravings: 1 (shredded coconut)
Pedicures by Hubby: 1 and hopefully rising :)
Days of Feet No Longer Visible: 6
Belly Rubs by Friends/Strangers per Day: 5-8
Number of Meals per Day: 4 plus snacks in between
Forgetful Moments: COUNTLESS (I forgot I drove an automatic and NOT a stick yesterday...made for a bumpy ride!)
Thoughts of Parenthood: ENDLESS!!! All these weird and crazy things have happened over the last 7 months, but oddly, I don't care! I can't wait to be a mom...HURRY UP BABY!!! :)
Shoe size changed: 1/2 size
Belly Button Status: Innie is almost and outie
Number of Bathroom Trips Past 9 p.m.: 3
Hours of Rehearsal by Future Drummer: 16
Odd Cravings: 1 (shredded coconut)
Pedicures by Hubby: 1 and hopefully rising :)
Days of Feet No Longer Visible: 6
Belly Rubs by Friends/Strangers per Day: 5-8
Number of Meals per Day: 4 plus snacks in between
Forgetful Moments: COUNTLESS (I forgot I drove an automatic and NOT a stick yesterday...made for a bumpy ride!)
Thoughts of Parenthood: ENDLESS!!! All these weird and crazy things have happened over the last 7 months, but oddly, I don't care! I can't wait to be a mom...HURRY UP BABY!!! :)
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