I'm Baaaaaaaack! All things are BRAND NEW...

Hello... is anyone there? I mean seriously, I haven't posted AT ALL since last October! I PROMISE I have good reasons though... no I'm not going to make excuses. I think these reasons are pretty legitamate.... and by that I mean I had every major life experience all crammed into the past 9 months.

Reasons I Have Been M.I.A. :

1. I got ENGAGED!!!!

     It is cushion cut perfection and I could just go on and on about how he proposed in Florida last November on the beach under the moonlight... but I won't ;)

2. I got MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!

    Yes! I really did! To the most amazing man that I get to now call my husband :)

3. I was PREGNANT!!!!!!!!! 

     Of course we always knew we were going to spend the rest of our lives together, so we were so excited when we found out I was expecting and due in June! When January rolled around (5 days after our wedding) we found out I was going to have a little BOY!! Joe and I were over the moon .... :)

4. I started a NEW JOB!!!!

     

       I resigned my 3rd grade classroom and took a job in the same town where my husband works. This was SUCH a difficult decision and one that definitely brought a lot of tears. That job was my dream job, but life has its way of taking interesting turns, and this was one of mine. I took a Title 1 Aide job in an elementary school in the town my husband and I would soon live in.

5. I started getting very swollen, and there was bad news...

      

       With pregnancy comes a lot of weird things, right? Frequent trips to the bathroom, the expansion of all kinds of body parts besides the belly, the waddle, and swelling. Well, apparently my swelling was on a WHOLE entirely other level. A fun and exciting 4D ultrasound appointment took a surprising turn for the worse. I wasn't feeling all that terrible, but apparently things were not right with my body. I was admitted to the hospital 2 times in 1 week before the doctor delivered the bad news...

Trying to make the best out of an unexpected night in the hospital.

     I had HELLP Syndrome, a severe form of preeclampsia. Our son had to be delivered in order to get me better, and I was only 29 weeks pregnant. He was going to be tiny, and our hearts were broken. I was rushed to a major hospital 1 hour away with plans to deliver the baby via emergency c-section that night. Our blissful and care free pregnancy just turned into a horrible dream, one that still didn't feel real. To everyone's surprise, my condition began to level off. I was able to hold off the delivery for 4 days before my body simply couldn't handle it any more. 4 days = 16 days that our sweet baby wouldn't have to be in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, according to the doctors, and I was so glad that I was able to hold out for just a little longer. I would be only one day away from being 30 weeks pregnant when they decided he had to be born.

Admitted to the 2nd hospital after hearing the news that our baby boy was going to be delivered at 29 weeks.

Our son was born March 31, 2013 :: Jackson Charles :: 2 lbs 14 oz. I was not able to see my baby for 2 days after he was born due to my condition and all of the medication that I was still on. Seeing pictures on my husband's phone was the only way I was able to see Jackson.

This was followed by 2 long months of Baby Jack being in the hospital at the NICU...

     The entire month of April and May were filled with a LOT of ups and downs. Going in to the NICU journey, everyone told me that there would be a lot of ups and downs before Jack would be able to come home. Little did I know, each day could have its own ups and downs. It was a roller coaster ride to say the least. The doctors and nursers were simply amazing. I owe them my deepest gratitude.

They gave me my son.

The first time I did Kangaroo Care with Jackson

Kangaroo Care with Baby Jack

The NICU started to feel like a second home

Silly Baby Jack!

This little boy has my whole heart...

Growing bigger and getting very feisty!

Look mom, no tubes!!!! 

This was a very trying time for our families, and especially Joe and I because we were....

6. MOVING!!!!!!!!!!

     If you can believe it, our lives got even crazier! We moved in to our new house in April, less than 2 weeks after Jack was born. Between moving, unpacking, going to the hospital to see my baby, and spending time with my brand new husband, I was a very busy lady!

7. FINALLY, Jackson Charles came to live with Joe and I. Best day of my life. Period.

We brought Baby Jack home May 30, 2013

I couldn't get him out of that hospital fast enough! Later I told Joe I was so worried one of the doctors or nurses were going to change their mind and tell me I couldn't take him home. I don't think I actually let myself believe he was coming home until we were in the car and out of the parking garage.

I think he is adjusting well to being at home with mommy and daddy!

8. New life with brand new husband, brand new job, brand new town, brand new house, brand new baby.

     Since that sweet and special day that Jack came home, life has started to settle down. I was blessed to be able to have the whole summer to bond to my sweet boy and adjust to taking care of a baby. Saying I am *obsessed* with my little guy would be a HUGE understatement. I think I have at least 2,000 photos of him on my phone! It all comes with the mom territory, right?

Baby Jack :: July 27, 2013

I also found out I am going to be doing a 6 week maternity leave in a 1st grade classroom starting on the first day of school... yes, I think I am ready to go back to work. I think.


     Our family has been immensely blessed in the year 2013. I do not know what I have done to deserve such an amazing man or such a precious little boy. I have grown and matured in so many ways since that last blog post, that I almost feel like an entirely different person. Here's to a new school year full of fun and exciting experiences! Cheers to the beginning of a new school year! I'm baaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!

Currently and a *Freebie!*

Today my plan is to not have a plan.

It is my last day in Orlando and I am going to soak up every. last. drop. of sunshine & happiness! You see, I need it to last me through the next few weeks until Thanksgiving Break when I'll have my toes in the water and booty in the sand once again.

By the way, no one ever told me teaching was so stressful! I was counting on you all! Holy moly it's a lot of work. :) 

Anyway, this break has been exactly what I needed. I have spent a lovely week with my mother and my grandmother laying by the pool and thinking about everything BUT school. (Well, except when I  am on here... and Google Reader... and Pinterest... and my email... ok maybe not.)

A couple of nights ago we went to Downtown Disney. Every time we come to Orlando (which is about once or twice a year), we have to take a day and check out Disney World and Downtown Disney. Since it's just the 3 of us this time, we decided not to go to Disney World, but we did manage to spend the evening at Downtown Disney and it was a BlAsT!

Where Dreams Come True...

This is made completely out of Legos! So cool!

(Sorry it's a little grainy...these were taken with my cell phone and the sun was beginning to go down.)

I'm a Mr. Potato Head kinda girl! :)

This was taken at our resort... the fountain and the lake is just so pretty I couldn't help myself.

 Alright on to the teacher stuff! I created this {Apple Themed} Even and Odd Numbers Activity as morning work a few weeks ago to give my 3rd graders a little more practice. The kiddos love it because they get to cut and glue, and it was also fun! If you want to grab this FREEBIE click {here}!

Now on to Currently over at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade with Farley...

I noticed that there's a typo in the "wanting"...oh well.

This is my first Currently with Farley! I am so excited to be able to share and take part in such a great linky with so many inspiring and encouraging educators! Reading everyone's posts helps me realize I am not in this alone and how I feel, which is sometimes overwhelmed and exhausted 75% 90% of the time, is pretty normal! :)

Go link up!

Linky Party and a *Freebie*

One of my plans for fall break was to clean up some of the files on my MacBook and organize all of the documents into neat little files. I did this over the summer, (hey I even have a TpT file with mini-files of all of my products!) but once school started and I kept making new forms/activities... it's a big mess once again. I LOVE organizing and making things neat and tidy, but it seems like it's the first thing to go when I get busy during the week. I am lucky if I have enough energy to take a shower, slip on jammies, and kiss my sweetie goodnight. ughhhhhh

Question: How do YOU keep all of your files organized for TpT/ school on your laptop?



During my cleaning spree this morning, I found a form that I had planned to post and totally forgot about!

My Behavior Form Report is a version I used during student teaching in the spring. Now that I have my own classroom, I felt like I was lacking in my weekly parent communication, and I remembered that I used to send this home every week. It's quick and easy (helloooo it's just a check mark!) and parents like to hear about their child's weekly performance. You can use it in any way you wish, but I have been sending it home in our Monday Folder. If you want to check it out, click {here}!

Now for this awesome linky party being thrown by Leah at Learning 4 Keeps called "If You Can't Be Deep... Be Funny".

Sometimes, it's nice to take a break and have a laugh! Pinterest is GREAT for that!

The theme for this week is THAT IS SO ME! :)

Here are some funny posts I've ran across recently:

Please?

Oh Target...

...so it's not just me then??

Really though...

I love fall, but this is true!

...maybe not with the beard though? :)

I could sleep for days...no WEEKS!

Last but not least....

Oh Kate!

Now, get on over to Learning 4 Keeps and link up with Leah!

Fall Break and Teacher Organization Binder!

Hi friends!
     How is October treating everyone? October has to be one of my favorite months of the year. The breeze blows a little crisper, the leaves are a lot more colorful, and the festivities are so fun! This year I happen to be enjoying October a little more than usual, as I am enjoying the sights and sounds of Orlando, Florida! So yeah, I'm kinda missing out on all of my favorite Midwest fall festivities, but nothing compares to swimming, laying out, and listening to island music for a week after months of stressful fun school work!

The view from my balcony! Orlando, FL

With my Mom by the pool yesterday evening!

   While I have been floating around with an umbrella in my drink, I have also been working on a new Teacher Organization Binder that I made for myself several weeks ago. I was inspired by so many organizational binders that have been floating around TpT, Pinterest, and even my colleagues at work. I sort of combined the best of the best and even added in a few things I felt were important/useful too!

The result is an adorable Chevron Themed Teacher Organization Binder! It turned out so great that I think I am going to have to redo my personal binder at school (as soon as I get back to Indiana that is... haha). If you want to check out my Chevron Themed Teacher Organization Binder, click {here}.

How is everyone else planning to spend their Fall Break? Are you looking forward to your own fall festivities, spending time at home in your jammies and sleeping in til 8 am, or are you jet setting to a warmer location?

Tell Me Something GOOD Linky!

Long time, no see...I know! I think about my blog on a daily basis, but I can't seem to get a handle on my everyday work enough to sit down and WRITE! I have so much going on right now, and it's all so exciting. {I say this in all sincerity, but no one ever told me that teaching was so time consuming life consuming!} I mean, WOW! My days fly by which makes my weeks fly by, and before I know it I can't remember what I even did yesterday. I am so loving my job as a teacher, but I have yet to figure out the balance. Right now, I get up at 4:30 am and usually don't make it home until 7:00 pm. Talk about being tired... but that isn't what I'm here to talk about today!

I wanna tell you something GOOD! :)

Something GOOD from school: 

I am finding that classroom management is probably my biggest strength as a teacher. I know this is odd, especially for a 1st year teacher, but managing behavior is something I just have knack for and I LOVE it! My class has been getting so many compliments, even from custodial staff, and we even earned a "Good Behavior" party! Each time my students have excellent behavior as a class, they earn a letter towards spelling "Good Behavior". {They can also lose a letter for bad behavior as a class} I write the letters at the top of our white board. We have been working towards spelling Good Behavior since the first week of school and we finally got to write that "r" last Friday! As their reward, they chose to have a cookie and drink party. The cookies and drinks for that party were the best $7 I have ever spent! :)

Something GOOD from home:

I found out I am heading to Florida with my mom and grandmother for Fall Break in October! Yay! First of all, this is the first Fall Break I have had since high school, because my university didn't have a Fall Break. Second of all, this will be the first break I haven't had to waitress! So it is actually a BREAK! I am so excited, and I always look forward to spending time with my mom and Nana!

1st Week as a Teacher and a *FREEBIE*!

Hey everyone! I'm so excited it's finally the weekend. My 1st week was AMAZING! Everyday, I go home thinking about how much I love my job and how lucky I am to have such an amazing opportunity at such an innovative school. I was sooo pooped yesterday from all the excitement this week that I didn't get to add my Freebie Friday post...but I know ya'll love freebies so I didn't want to disappoint.

I actually created this freebie to use when I was subbing, before I was hired as a 3rd grade teacher. I found that I always preferred to leave the regular classroom teacher a note at the end of the day, and they appreciated it as well. I created this form to make it easy and cute!

{For some reason, the picture makes it look like there is only border on one side, but the actual file includes the entire border and everything is centered!}

You can grab a free copy of the "A Note From the Sub" {here}!

I also promised that I would post a couple of more pictures, so here ya go!

My job board: "Whooo is helping"

The sign I painted for door to my classroom!

This is my meeting area. My mom found this rocking chair on our local Buy, Sell, Trade and spray painted it tiffany blue! She also painted the owl stool {on the left} for me as well as a gift.

The top of the table my mom painted for me!

The rest of the table. I love it!

My mom also painted a stool for my best friend, who is also a first year teacher teaching 2nd grade {on the right}!

This comic doesn't really pertain to me, but I thought it was funny! Gotta love life as a teacher!

Have a good weekend!

O.W.L. {Outstanding Weekly Learner} of the Week

This morning I woke up and realized that this is my last weekend of the summer. My life will forever change on Wednesday... my first day of school as a TEACHER! I have been waiting for this moment since I was in 3rd grade, but I am still starting to get nervous. I have a million post-it notes in my purse, car, nightstand, couch, pants pockets etc with reminders of things I need to do! My mom asked me yesterday what else I had left to do for my classroom and I told her "I have no idea! I'm just gonna keep going until I can't think of anything else!" haha

My classroom is thiiiiisss close to being finished. I will be posting pictures as soon as I think it's ready...which will probably be Monday night.

In order to strengthen my classroom community, I decided to create my own version of Student of the Week. In one of my practicums during college, I was in a 3rd grade classroom where they had a student of the week every week. The teacher did a great job of keeping up with it, and it allowed students to feel special and share parts about their life that may not have come up otherwise. It also allows students to find things in common with other students!

So, I will be implementing an O.W.L. of the week to go along with my classroom theme of owls! O.W.L. stands for Outstanding Weekly Learner. If you are interested in having an OWL of the week, you can click {here} to check it out at my TpT store!

Now, off to the pool to enjoy my last weekend of summer :)