New Beginnings?

Tomorrow afternoon I have an interview for another school district in St. Louis. This district is known for its issues and the state has just taken them over. I am going on interview but have already said I won't take any position except for Early Childhood. If I could get Early childhood that would be amazing because then my salary would be much higher than at Head Start. I would start Aug 2 which would be nice too since I still haven't been able to get unemployment and I don't want to drain our savings before the baby even comes. That money was supposed to be for once I had the baby and was on leave.

I have also applied for the community college and would love to get on with them as well. The nice thing is I can do both and once bring in a little more money and do a job that my kids could come to. It would help build up that savings and it would help us finish those projects around the house that we want to do.

But I'm putting the cart before the horse. First I have to get these jobs which will be interesting interviewing when I really can't hide the fact that I'm pregnant. I put on my suit jacket and it bulged at the bottom. I guess I will wear it unbuttoned.

Wish me luck!

Swimming pools and Donkeys

Yesterday our friends asked us if we wanted to join them at their grandparents house for a day of swimming and food. We said sure.

So after Alyssa took a three hour nap we headed off to the house. Once there we spent a wonderful two hours in the pool. Alyssa enjoyed splashing and getting out of the pool to get the ball that was thrown out of the pool. She also realized that she could get out of the pool get a snack and then get back in the pool and splash some more.

After two hours in the pool we went to see the peacocks and donkeys. Alyssa did not like the peacocks and when they started making noise she freaked out. She really liked the donkeys and wanted to pet them.

We then went inside for a wonderful dinner and some ice cream then home.

It was a wonderfully packed weekend with lots of family time and nap time.

Happy 4th of July

It is a day to celebrate the birthday of America. It is a day to celebrate our freedom with family and friends eating hot dogs and hamburgers and wearing red white and blue.

For church this morning I made sure Alyssa was wearing her blue and a cute skirt. Me I get to church and realize I might be one of just a small few that has on no red, white or blue. It is amazing that as a mom I can make sure my daughter has it but don't even think of myself.

We came home from church and got to spend an hour with my mom before she took off to head back to Arizona. Then it was nap time for me while Chris and Alyssa played. There are so many times where I lay up in bed with a huge smile on my face as I listen to the two of them play. It is such an amazing sound to hear.

I came downstairs and Alyssa helped me make brownies for tonight. Her favorite part was licking the bowl clean. She had chocolate from head to toe and the biggest smile on her face. I took pictures but my camera battery died so no uploading them until tomorrow.

Now Alyssa is down for a late afternoon nap, I have worked on cleaning out the bedrooms upstairs to start the nursery and Chris is working on the stairs for the deck. When Alyssa wakes up we will pack the car up and head out to a good family friends house.

There we will eat and laugh till our bellies hurt and then enjoy fireworks from all over the St. Louis area from one location. I hope Alyssa will be able to stay awake to see the fireworks, though I'm not sure she will care.

Happy 4th everyone and stay safe!

16 week update

This pregnancy Pregnant with Alyssa

How far along? 16 weeks

Total weight gain: About 4 pounds. I'm happy with it and know it will start to go up but hope fully it stays slow.

Maternity clothes? Yep but I do still wear some no maternity tops and I CAN put on my old jeans I just can't sit down with them on and they are SUPER uncomfortable.

Sleep: I am actually sleeping though the night again I don't have to get up to pee. But when I wake up you better get out of my way.

Best moment this week: Feeling the baby move today!

Movement: For the first TRUE time today. probably a few times over the last 2-3 weeks.

Gender: unsure will find out on July 20th my motherly instinct says boy.

Labor Signs: none

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but getting more shallow.

What I miss: a good drink every now and then. I could have gone for a Margarita tonight.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out the gender and starting the nursery

Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy today and don't worry about tomorrow.

Milestones: Well according to my weekly updates the baby is the size of an avocado and is 4.5 inches long and weighs 3.5 ounces.

Zoo

I have titled a blog Zoo before but that is what we did so that is the name again! Each time we go to the Zoo it gets more and more fun because Alyssa knows more and more. This is the 3rd or 4th time we have taken her.

Today we went and she thought every animal was a puppy and LOVED waterfalls. Every waterfall we would see she would ooo and awww over.

We got there a little after 8 so we could do the children's zoo for free. She liked seeing the fish and birds. She got to pet a guinea pig and goats. We saw the pigs and they were playing and eating cardboard boxes. Alyssa watched them for a few minutes and the yelled at them "No no no" she didn't like them eating the cardboard.

She enjoyed seeing the birds and watching the sting rays. She loved running around the zoo and watching the people.

By 11 am it was hot and there were a lot of people there so we left. She took a nap in the car and then we went to eat. After we ate we had to go to home depot for some things and Alyssa ran around charming everyone in home depot.

At home she took another good two hour nap and then went out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. By 7pm she was ready for bed and so is Mommy.

*Side note* I loved going to the zoo today but this pregnancy is going to be harder and harder as the summer goes on. By the time we left the zoo I told Chris I felt like I was waddling. He asked if I wanted to know the truth I told him sure and he told me I was. It was also hard to hold Alyssa for too long because I would have pain on the underside of my belly.

*Another side note* I for sure felt the baby kick for the first time today. I have been having feelings for about 3 weeks at times that I thought, it might be the baby but never For sure. Today at lunch we were sitting there waiting for our food and I felt the baby for sure 5 or 6 times kick me. It was great! I can't wait until I feel it even more.

I love being a mom

Today Alyssa got up at 5:30. That is so not fun! But when she comes in climbs on the bed and gives you a big smile you can't help but smile back.

At 8 we were ready for a nap and we both took a two hour nap. When we both woke up I took a shower and Alyssa played. After the shower I came down and started to fix a picnic lunch for Alyssa and I to take to the park. While I was fixing the meal she dropped a can of soda on the floor and it exploded all over so quickly I picked up the most liquid part and off to the park we went.

At the park I got a blanket out and we sat on the grass and ate our lunch while watching other kids play and the cars drive by.

After we ate we played on the playground for about an hour then left to come home. We came home to ants on the soda so I had to clean the kitchen. Alyssa tried to help but it wasn't working so I put her down for a nap and she slept long enough for me to get the whole house clean.

She woke up and we have since been eating a snack, reading books and making each other laugh.

It is so great to be a mom! Tomorrow it is the zoo with Chris and Alyssa. I can't wait!

16 weeks

16 weeks. Today I am 16 weeks pregnant. It is nice to be this far. I was so nervous when I went to the doctor on Tuesday. I was sure something was wrong, I still hadn't felt the baby move and still didn't feel good. As soon the doctor found the heartbeat and it was beating a wonderful 156 beats per minute I felt a sigh of relive. The doctor gave me a new prenatal hoping that it would help make me feel better(so far it has!).

I came home and started to look at bedding and cribs and other things on line.

This pregnancy has gone a lot faster than with Alyssa. I can't believe that in less than 20 days we will know what we are having.

I hope that this pregnancy keeps ticking along and that this baby will be here before we know it. I can't wait for December, yet at the same time I am enjoy the time with just one child before we add another.