Life of the Party

         When did things change? I was perplexed to hear that kids no longer go trick-or-treating. It is "a thing of the past," or at least that is how it was expressed to me. Childhood memories flood in about dressing up and driving around in the dark to collect candy while my parents chatting with the neighbors. I look forward to either making my costume or purchasing one. Maybe it is safer to having a gathering in a well lit area with set expectations of what is to go on. I will always be biased though.         My child is still too young to enjoy the delights of these festivities. It just doesn't seem as if the kids will have the same experience of knocking on the door. 

     The dreaded time of year as approached me. My birthday is today and I have almost hit my mid thirties. Year 33 has brought so many new things into my life that I cannot fathom what 34 has in store for me. My outlook on aging may seem strange to some. I'm thankful to have another chance to live. There are so many of my peers that would have loved to see year 34.       My husband has been a true gem. He as set up a very special day for me. I was to get up and be dressed in "a nice outfit." He arranged for a babysitter and prepared the baby bag. He surprised me with a day to ourselves. This is was the best birthday I have had in a while. Last year we didn't even celebrate it, so I feel blessed to say the least. 

      Oh how I miss the days of sleeping in, or at least getting seven straight hours of sleep. No one talks about the sleep regression cycles your young one goes through. She was sleeping almost eight hours straight, but now it's cut up into sections. She wakes up at different times, and getting her back to sleep is a total nightmare.       I have tried to keep the same routine and we are sticklers for a set bedtime. She absolutely refuses to take naps during the day. I don't know how she is functioning. With her weird schedule I have found that my performance at school has drastically declined. I walk into work as a sleepless zombie. Lesson planning and grading no longer occur at home. If I cannot get it done during my work hours, it just doesn't get completed. This has somewhat made me more present at home. I'm no longer worried about making time to sit to complete these tasks. Having children has also reset my opinion on homework. We just don't do ...

 Here I am another day closer to year 34. Everyone seems to hate aging, but I wear it as a badge. I've got time to reflect and I'm taking full advantage of it.  Year 33     Highs  -Being pregnant -Experiencing the birthing process  -Learning who I am as a parent  -Watching my husband rock being a "girl dad" -Bringing home Taylor  -Seeing my child smile for the first time -Finding peace with my past Lows - Having twins, but one not making it.  - Loss of a baby. I didn't even get the chance to know who she is/was. Taylor will never get to have a sister/twin -Postpartum Depression  -Therapy 

        The leaves have changed so fast this Fall. I cannot believe the difference this crisp air and Fall vibes makes. I'm back to wearing warm vests and drinking hot coffee. My mornings are filled with the urgency of packing for work and packing up the baby to go to the sitter. The warm sips of coffee on my way to work are a small reward in comparison to what each day holds. Teaching is both rewarding and stressful at the same time.       I was named team leader of the seventh grade this year. Living up to those expectations are no easy feat. There is more to this role than what I originally anticipated. Planning and scheduling for the team block is more than tiresome somedays. It's hard to find common time for everyone to meet. I'm beyond thankful for a new team this year. These new team members have made this year pass by so fast. We have the wonderful opportunity to do cross curriculum activities with our students. Finding the balance of pare...

         This month always brings back so man memories of a past life. Growing up I anticipated October each year patiently waiting for hunting season to open. My yard would be full of my dad's hunting party. Campers and tents lined the yard along with the smell of coffee that was always being made on the fire. The hunters would stay the whole first week of bear season. It became a tradition and we even had a huge trout fish fry the night before opening day. This is all a thing of the past now. All the older men that my dad hunted with have mostly perished from various illnesses and the younger ones have moved on with their lives.         My mom would prep for days. She would clean and have bunks made everywhere to accommodate the crew. There would be nightly fires down at the fire pit with shared beverages. I can almost compare it to a family reunion. These men watched me grow up and helped mold me into the person I am today. I knew the...

       I'm raising an amazing daughter, but at the same time I'm raising a goat herd. It has always been my dream to farm, but on a small scale. My husband is well versed in farming and was actually raised on a small farm here in NC. My daughter will have the opportunity to grow up with a first hand love for animals. We currently have various chickens, turkeys, and goats on our small track of land. This is land that I inherited from my paternal grandfather. It has been in my family for generations. Unfortunately, family members did not have the same opinion of family land as I did. So most of the property was lotted off and sold at a low price. I wish I would have had the money to keep it together. One day this place will be passed down to my daughter in hopes that she will value it as much as I do. Land taxes eats up a chunk of my pay each year, but I think it is more than worth it.       I like the idea of taking on this new adventure. It gives ...

      There are all these things our children are supposed to be doing, so what happens when your child doesn't meet the milestones? Not everyone develops at the same rate. Month 4.5 can be summed up in one word, "fear."       To put it simply. I fear everything. I plan ahead and scout out the potential dangers and risks. For the first time in years I even got the flu shot to help avoid potential sickness. I didn't want Taylor to catch it from me. My child hasn't been meeting all of her milestones, and I fear that it is something I have done wrong as a parent. The grasps of postpartum depression was a real battle for me. I had to attend therapy sessions and even be put on medication for a short while. I have recently been released from both. This is a set back for me personally. I want everything for Taylor, but I do not know what I have done or haven't done to help her reach this.       As a parent, I'm constantly told that it isn'...