My Little Sweet Pea...

SUCCESS! My lil man ate an entire container (or equivalent) of sweet peas. He ate the rest of one half of a container and acted like he wanted more so I gave him half of another container. He ate it all from the bowl I put it in. Yay! He likes sweet peas. Then he went down for a nap. Thinking he'll be up around 7 for his last bottle and a bath...which he now really needs since he smells like peas.

Training is over! I did get some stuff out of it. I keep looking at the employment page and there are positions open and ones that I am thinking about but I just don't know. I adore the people I work with so it really is a Catch-22. I think there's no way I can do another year at the Hill but the thought of having to get used to new people and a new administration is what keeps me from actually going for anything right now. I just don't know.

Mom is coming tomorrow to help me organize. Thank God! I need help. Why I didn't inherit the organization trait from her is beyond me. I pretty much inherited everything else. Arg. I try and try to be organized but I always find a way to fail at it. Plus, I am a huge procrastinator. It's a problem for me.

Tonight, I need to finish changes to the project I'm working on for my old job and tomorrow I really need to go to the office to make copies and try to get it done.

Really hoping my boy chooses to sleep later tomorrow like he's done the last 2 mornings. That way I can actually enjoy it too...since I've had to get up the last 2 mornings.

Okie dokie...time to work on this project. Lata!

Five Months...

My sweet precious boy is five months old today! I cannot believe it has been five months already! That is not fair! He is about to start crawling any day now. And while I love watching him learn new things...it's bittersweet for me. It just means he won't stop growing...as badly as I want to stop time some days or find a way to bottle up these moments so that I can relive them later. He gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth. So cute...then he tries to sort of leapfrog forward. This is okay if he is on our bed or in his bed and it was okay Saturday when he was on the soft carpet at his Great Pop & Great Nana's house but not okay on our floor. It's not so soft so he tends to cry when he face plants. Poor thing....

We had a great time on Saturday at my Pop & Nana's in Northport. It was Gabe's first out of town trip since the trip to Ocala we took when he was about 4 weeks old. He slept all the way there and then slept all the way home. Pop & Nana love their great grandson. I love watching Pop with him....they always look like they are involved in deep conversation. And Nana made a wonderful meal...complete with my favorite mashed taters.

We started Gabe on solids a couple weeks ago. He loves sweet potatoes. We've tried peas and those were a negative and sweet peas I think will be okay once he gets used to the different taste. He's teething something terrible so I am hoping he cuts a tooth soon. I feel so bad that there's not a whole lot I can do. We do vanilla extract and Humphey's teething pellets but he still seems irritable.

I'm out for the summer (except for a training today and tomorrow) which is awesome! Trying to make some extra cash by helping my old job out with a project which will be done by July...and probably needs to be done before next Wednesday! We leave for Alabama. I won't lie. I'm excited but nervous about this first trip out of state. It's a long trip and I just hope and pray Gabe does well.

The b-i-l and s-i-l are all moved in and I'm still trying to organize and find little ways to make more room in places. It hasn't been a super easy adjustment which I didn't expect. Once you've had your own space, it's hard to let some of that go. But it could always be worse and I feel better with them here than stuck at my mother and father in law's where there would be much less space. We all have our little quirks and things that annoy us but it'll be okay.

I seriously need to keep this thing updated more while I'm off this summer....whilst doing the millions of other things on my list. But right now, I hear my big boy stirring from his afternoon nap. Time to go cuddle. :)

Four Days...

There are officially FOUR days left until I can begin my summer break. I should be packing stuff up and clearing out my classroom but I would rather sit here and write since I haven't been able to do so in over a week. Life has been hectic lately as you can probably tell from my lack of posts...if anyone actually reads them. To be honest, this blog is really more for me...an outlet of sorts when life gets crazy...as it generally is. Life at home has been a tidbit crazy but the additions to our household are fine with me. My b-i-l and I get along just fine - he's the brother I never grew up with (I have 2 half brothers but didn't grow up with them). We constantly pick at each other and give each other a hard time but I love him just like he's my own brother. He gives us both hugs before bed and tells us he loves us...he truly does have a big heart. I couldn't have picked a better brother-in-law. And when he and Jason get together, well forget it. They have their own language and it is absolutely hysterical to listen to them. You have to be an Elliott for some time before you start to understand what they are saying. My s-i-l has become a wonderful friend. We've not always been the closest and we've butted heads a few times but I love her like a sister. I know at some point that we will all be tired of one another but for now, things are running smoothly.

Gabe has decided sleeping through the night now is optional. I think he must really be teething b/c he wakes up on average 2-3 times a night. I give him his binky and he goes right back to sleep. I tried baby orajel last night (he made the funniest face b/c apparently it doesn't taste too good) and he only woke up once needing his binky. Then he was awake at 4:30 to eat...and he was AWAKE. He did finally fall back asleep around 5:15 or so.

I got him a new bath seat because the one sling we were using just got nasty and I couldn't clean it. So we got a plastic bath recliner...he LOVES it. I put him in it and he just looks like he is straight chillin. He smiles and coos and has a good ol' time. I can't wait till he learns to splash his feet. Right now, I think he's getting used to the fact that his feet are actually submerged in the water. This seat allows him to sit upright more whereas the other one laid him down, just at an incline.

I am so ready to spend the summer with my sweet boy...but I know it will spoil me and I will never be ready to come back. I did pass my Elementary exam...once I am able to add it to my teaching certificate, I'm hoping some positions will be available that I can apply for. If I can't find an elem position or another LA Middle school position, then I will be stuck at the Hill, which will obviously be where God wants me...but I am already dreading next year. Sad right?

Okay, well, I guess I better get ready for my first class. Hope I get some time to write more later. Ciao!

And In-Laws Make Six...

Well, it has been quite the last few days. Busy, busy, busy! Thursday night, mom came down, and thank God she was here. Jason had to help his brother pack and load stuff up in a truck and his wife, my sister in law, had class so I took their 9 month old daughter, Mileena, over here to watch. Poor thing has the rash of all rashes down you know where and was so NOT happy. She was tired, made herself throw up, and finally passed out around 9:30 or 10 with my mom standing in our Florida room swaying back and forth. They slept here Thursday night. I worked Friday and mom came during my 6th period class to see the chaos that ensues and she cannot believe I make it out of that class without causing bodily harm to some...it's my worst class and completely exhausts me by the time 8th period rolls around.

Mom went to a hotel Friday night and Steve & Amber brought more stuff over. Saturday morning, they finally decided to rent a truck. I decided to stay behind to try and organize the space a bit and make room for their stuff where there was no room. I took Gabe to the Jameson Inn where mom was staying and ran some errands. I bought an over the toilet organizer for their bathroom b/c without it, there would be no room for anything. Bought one for our bathroom too since we could always use the extra space. I reorganized our pantry (if that's what you want to call it) so that we could fit their food in it too and now we have a ton of food....shouldn't need to go on a serious shopping trip for some time. Amber and I had an interesting time putting together their bathroom organizer...I'll leave it at that. Two deliriously exhausted women with tools and only pictures as directions can lead to some very inappropriate comments....I'm just sayin'. :)

Sunday we missed out on church because we were just exhausted. We all went over to their mom's for ribs and corn for lunch and then my honeys and I came back home to try and organize while Steve and Amber went to church for a dinner. Jason reorganized the garage (which is now full of all of their stuff) so that we could have a walkway. I hung up clothes and tried to clean up the kitchen. I ran by the store and when I came home we sat outside for a bit with our sweet pea. Jason has been working on a necklace that will help him remember to pray for Israel. It's a cross made out of cedar with a star of David carved into it. Really neat!!

I think we finally managed to pass out around 11 and I was up at 7:30 (well 3:30 to feed the baby and back down at 4:00). Jason made us omelets. They went looking at houses and I went out with my lil booger while Jason worked on putting a window unit in our Florida room. Thank God we had a day off today....and thank God for those that died, the very reason we have this day off. Gabe and I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond so I could buy some Wonder Hangers to help alleviate space problems in our closet and their closet. I bumped in to an old professor from college...whom I absolutely adore...and we caught up a bit. I met the family at Ling's Buffet for lunch, then we went over to Southern Hospitality in Plant City. We've decided that we really do want to decorate our house cabin style which might mean some things have to go but that's okay. Jason found an awesome entertainment center that he's actually going to make. Why pay $3800 for something when you have an amazingly talented husband who can build it? He's already measured and drawn out everything on paper. I can't wait!!! It's gonna be off the chain!!

So, our house now consists of 4 adults, 2 children under the age of 1, one boxer dog, one papillon dog, and one cat....oh and A LOT more stuff. But, we're getting creative with space and while it's still a work in progress, we'll get there. So that was my weekend....

And I am super sleepy so I'm gonna get off of here, and get some things done so I won't need to do them later...

Toodles!

Mondays....

What a busy weekend!! Friday night I spend about 2 1/2 hours grocery shopping. I was trying my hardest at couponing and finding great deals and while I brought home a lot and only spent $100, I only saved about $18. But I will get there. I have to build up my supply of coupons I suppose. I bought my expandable file to keep my newspaper inserts in and now I just need the elusive baseball card holders...cannot find them anywhere.

I stayed up until 11 Friday night to clean up the kitchen and dining room a bit and then I was up @ 5 am with Gabe and proceeded to finish cleaning the rest of the house. Hubby helped me clean our bed room and then I cleaned both bathrooms, swept the floors, baked red velvet cupcakes, and did laundry. I didn't get to make the cheesecake stuffed cupcakes but I made little mini cupcakes and they were still good.

My s-i-l Tina came over to decorate and did a really nice job and then about noon, everyone else came over for Jason's birthday. We had chicken and yellow rice, chips and dip, veggies, and other odds and ends. Jason received some of the sweetest cards.

Later that evening we went to Shoot Straight in Lakeland to look at guns, left empty-handed for the 2nd time, then went to Applebee's with a gift card he got. Got decent sleep Saturday night I suppose and then Sunday we went to church. A couple in our church just got back from hiking 700 miles from the bottom of Israel to the top. They are founders of a ministry called Walk Worthy and they walk all over the place to minister to other hikers/wanderers who are in search of something and they tell them about Jesus. They shared their testimony of Israel with us....such a neat couple. Their names are Randy and LuAnne but their hiker names are Chuck (because he really does look like Chuck Norris) and Tigger (I think, but don't remember why her's is Tigger). They own nothing except the clothes on their backs and the items they hike with....they are truly and inspiration and a model of what it means to BRING the Good News to people.

After church we went to a baby pageant for Gabe's cousin Preston. He won his division. Of course he happened to be the only boy but we decided that was because all the others knew they couldn't compete against his cuteness:)

We had a fire last night on the patio and roasted hot dogs and corn on the cob with Steve & Amber. Gabe fell asleep around 5, woke back up around 6ish, ate, and fell right back to sleep about 6:30. And he was OUT! Usually, whether he is sleeping or not, I give him a bath and try to feed him again before he goes to bed officially but he seemed so tired that I just let him be. And he slept until 4am. He slept all night on his belly. When I laid him in his crib, he immediately flipped over. I tried flipping him back and he flipped over again so I let him. But this was the first time he's ever slept on his tummy at night so every single noise I heard I thought was him. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep...plus I had tummy cramps throughout the night. I woke up this morning and felt just yuck. I think my constant going going going has me about gone gone gone.

We headed to school already running 15 minutes late but on the way there, I spilled coffee all over myself. Of course I immediately start to cry because I am so tired, I'm out of sick days, and I just want to go home and stay there. And Jason convinced me. He reminded me about our $1000 emergency fund we have in place now and said that's what that is for...and nothing is important enough for you to put yourself through that. So I came home, put my absence in the system, emailed my podmates my sub plans, and went back to sleep. I think I was only able to get an hour in though...I forced myself awake from a crazy dream where gang bangers had entered our home and I was shooting at them and actually killing them...creepy and so not how I want my sleep to be interrupted. How about a dream of fluffy white bunnies frolicking through a field of flowers? Wouldn't that be more relaxing than killing a bunch of intruders. Seriously, I need a vacation.

So here I am now...updating my blog with a raging headache. My normal proofreading self is going to click the publish button without rereading what I just wrote so if it is riddled with a gazillion typos, deal with it. This English teacher is exhausted and ready for the next 3 weeks to just go!

:::Sigh:::

Today....was borderline horrid. It was my hubby's birthday and I didn't even have a card for him so I started out feeling awful. I wasted 30 minutes of my morning time waiting on a parent to show for a conference. She never did. And although 2nd and 4th period were great today, 6th period led me into a fury. I actually SLAMMED the office door I was so angry. Yea, it phased them for about...3 seconds. I was extremely close to tears, which I have NEVER been during a class ever before. I feel so bad for the hard working, respectful, polite kids because they are constantly overshadowed by the other idiots. I'm so tired of students not caring, or thinking they can get away with anything, or not taking responsibility, or instigating and acting like they're innocent. I'm over parents enabling their children. Now, some parents KNOW how their child acts but many either have no clue or don't care because it is surely ridiculous how many parents think their child is an angel. I gots news for ya....


Yesterday, I came across 2 open positions at a school I interviewed for back in November. I wanted to transfer there SO bad but they chose someone with more experience over me. But she really liked me then and told me to make sure I apply if another position ever opened. I laughed inside. Like another Language Arts position is going to open up at a school that has barely any turn over. Suuuuure....


And then there they were...not one but TWO Language Arts positions at this school. Please Jesus! I applied for both and since I've already interviewed once, hopefully I'll have an advantage. It's a magnet school...an 'A' school...with students who actually like to learn. I'm not even sure how I would be able to handle that. I might go through a bit of culture shock if I get this job. :)


Went to Longhorn's tonight for hubby's birthday. Twas yummy. Saturday we're having a mini get together here and I will be trying my hand at red velvet cheesecake cupcakes. Sure hope they turn out well...or I'll be going to purchase a Publix cake. 


Gabe will be 4 months old tomorrow. I can't even think about it. 


The four month mark makes me nervous now. I've been following the blog of a woman who lost her 4 month old precious girl to SIDS back in February. I think she passed one day after her 4 month birthday. And since following her inspirational and emotional blog, I have run across similar stories and many of them happen around that 4 month stage. I know it might sound silly and I need to trust God for his safety but as a mother, it still gives me the willies. Anyways, I have so much fun watching him learn and grow, even though time refuses to stand still for me and sooner than I know it, he'll be walking and talking. I love him more than words can even express...


That's why, I hope I get this job. I think I would actually enjoy teaching then...and I want my son to know I like my job. And honestly, right now, I don't. That's awful, I know. But the summer is almost here and then I can relax with my boy and enjoy peace. Oh sweet peace...

16 Days....

That, my friends, is how many days are left in this very long and frustrating school year. And the good thing is: time is flying. The bad thing is: time is flying. Ha! I like time to fly when it's school. I do not like time to fly when my son is growing up so fast. He will be 4 months old on Friday!!! How in the world has it been 4 months already?!? On Monday afternoon, while I was of course on the phone with our insurance agent, he flipped from his back to his tummy and then back over again. Took me a second to even realize what he'd done and then I flipped out. I think my agent was scared. Ha! He's been flipping from tummy to back since he was 4 weeks old and now he's done the opposite. Then he actually belly laughed with daddy. Daddy can make him laugh more than I can apparently. I joke that it's because he looks funny...but no, daddy is funny and he looooves his daddy.

Tomorrow is my hubby's 27th birthday and what do I have for him? Nothing. This is the first year since we've been together that I have not given a ton of thought to his birthday. I suppose it's because I've been a little preoccupied lately but still...I feel horrible. We're celebrating with the fam on Saturday so hopefully I'll have time before then to think of something.

We finally sold the bike on Saturday! So as of this morning, our emergency fund is funded with $1000 and my car is paid off....PAID OFF!!! I love those 2 words. Tomorrow, my Discover card will be paid off and Jason's credit card will be paid off and then we'll have one small bank loan left and one interest free card left with balances...well, and my wonderful student loans...but isn't that more of an investment? No, it's debt. I know. It feels so good to finally pay my car off after 7 long years. I leased that car in February of 2004, financed it in February of 2007, and now, in May of 2011...it is paid off! Do the happy dance!!!

Sunday morning, my poor hubby woke at 3am with the stomach flu. I think that may be what Gabe had, only a milder form. So he was up for 5 hours vomiting. Took him to the doc and he got some drugs and was feeling better by mid-afternoon and then of course, I got it. Thank God I didn't have it as bad as he did but I did stay home on Monday. It amazes me how those 24 hour things seem to last LITERALLY for 24 hours. I think I started feeling it around 3pm Sunday and around 3 pm Monday was feeling great. So strange....

I'm really excited about how my view of money has changed. I was watching some show on Cribs Priciest Pads or something and some girl had over 300 pairs of shoes and like 200 purses. Now, normally, I would think, "Wow, that's a lot of shoes and way too many purses." But I actually got really sick to my stomach thinking about the excess that we have in this country. If all the sports players and actors and multi-millionaires would just give 1 or 2% of what they have to those who don't have at all, I don't think there would be much need left.

I refuse to use credit for anything anymore. If we don't have the money, then we don't need the item. I've never been a big FAN of credit. I've always realized it's potentional for destruction and tried my hardest not to use credit cards and we had zero balances on all cards until the house b/c of course, there was paint to buy and area rugs, and groceries, a fridge, and W/D and other things that we INITIALLY did not have the money for...but no more. Besides, the Bible clearly states, "The borrower is slave to the lender." I don't know about you, but I don't want to be a slave to someone who takes my money. I want to be a servant of Christ, something I can't be fully until I cut the chains of debt off completely. After all our initial debt (besides house) is paid off, then we can start on a fully funded emergency fund and then once that is funded, we can start paying more on the house and pay it off early! How awesome would it be to be COMPLETELY financially free? What could you do with all that money that you wouldn't have to give to someone else? Oh, the possibilities!

Okay, well enough of my rant. I need to go make copies for my kids today! Toodles...