Heavy Heart

This is my 7th year of teaching and over the years I have heard about my "kids" growing to become more mature, going to high school, graduating from high school, going to college, becoming parents (maybe a little to early) but I was not prepared to hear that one had died yesterday.

I got the news today driving out to see Trev at the deer lease and my heart literally sunk and then had 2 hours each way to spend in the car thinking about it. To. Much. Time. To. Think. To much time to think about how horrible it was that I wouldn't hear about her doing all the above mentioned things. To much time to think about the heart break of her family. To much time to think about the heart break of her friends who are also my former "kids". To much time to think about why was she in the wrong place at the wrong time. To much time to think that I hope I never lose Bailey. TO. MUCH. TIME. TO. THINK.

To keep myself from thinking myself into a tail spin I took time time to think about the delightful soul that she had. I remember the first day of school and pausing for minute when coming to her name..."Shadow" yes "Shadow" that's my name. Strange name for a child I thought but soon came to realize what a pleasent soul she was. She was the student of every teachers dream...smart, hard worker, intelligent,and helpful. The thing I remember most about her though was her very kind spirit. She really wanted others around her to be comfortable and happy. She was in my pre-ap class and the first day of school a kid had been misplaced in my class and he didn't speak english. Like just arrived from Mexico the day before didn't speak English and Shadow stepped in right away to translate and make him feel comfortable and then expressed concern that perhaps he might need a schedule change. She was my little mother and helper to a boy named J. J had autism and was intelligent but socially he was that of a 3rd grader. He often had break downs and at times led me to question why it was I was teaching. Shadow though took care of him. If he cried because he didn't get a piece of candy in a game she gave him hers, if he couldn't find his pencil she gave him hers, if he didn't have a partner she would be his. That is just how sweet her spirit was. I don't quite know why God takes kids from us so soon sometimes and I am not quite sure why he took Shadow either, but what I do know is that she toughed my life and I will never forget her sweet spirit.

First Canoe Ride

We really enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend and took Bailey on her first canoe ride out on the little lake near where we own a lot. She really enjoyed herself and liked to look over the edge of the canoe at the water rippling. Don't worry I had a death grip on her life jacket. Speaking of life jackets I think she would have enjoyed it even more if it had not been for that silly thing. Infant life jackets make it to where they can hardly even sit up so I had to prop her up with my foot or hold her in my lap if she wasnt standing looking over the edge. These are a few pics that we took. Don't worry these were just for picture taking purposes. She had a life jacket it on and didn't actually ride in the middle of the canoe by herself! They are taken with Trev's phone so one is a little blurry. I am so glad that we can take Bailey on so many adventures!

First Halloween

I think that our little lady bug enjoyed her first Halloween and looked too cute in her little ladybug outfit! :) I had originally thought that we would just dress her up take a few pics and go out to dinner but she ended up getting to go trick or treating after all. After dinner we decided that it would be cute for Bailey to go trick or treating at her baby sitters house. So we stopped by on the way home. They were getting ready to go out and trick or treat with some neighbors and so we went along. There were many people in there neighborhood that were way into Halloween and had cool decorations. Anyway, we really enjoyed it. Bailey just cruised around in the stroller watching all the action! :)

Halloween Part I

It was a beautiful day on Saturday! Bailey and I cleaned around the house and then when Trev got home from his deer lease we went on a little walk down to the creek. Our walk was cut very short though because we quickly realized that we were about to be carried away by mosquitos! Duh?!?! Its been raining for a month! Needless to say our little bear got eaten up a little. :( Bad mommy!

Sign me up for Oprah in 7 years

So I was reading blogs today as I while I was pumping at work and read over on Kelly's Corner about how she had weaned Harper and I literally had a stream of tears running down my face. I so never want that day to happen. If you have never nursed a baby or I guess I should say been successful at nursing a baby because the beginning can be tough you might just think it is crazy that some lady would be sitting there with her boobs hooked up to a pump at work, reading blogs and crying like a baby but that was me today. I always thought that I would nurse Bailey for a year and then it would just be real easy to stop but now that it is only 2 months away I think no way Jose I ain't going to do it. Actually after I nurse her the first time I figured that once she hit a year that I would nurse in the morning and evening for a while and see how it goes and forget about pumping while at work. After reading that post today however I thought I am never stopping and then had envisions of myself on Oprah claiming that nursing a 7 year old is totally acceptable! HA! Just kidding I won't be that lady....or will I?

10 months! Yipee!

Bailey Sugar Bear you turned 10 months old today! I can't beleive how much you have changed in the last month! You are still so much fun and me and your daddy love you more and more each day. Here is what you are up to these days:

1) You still wear a size 3 diaper but I don't think for long..might be our last box

2) I think I have figured fall/winter clothes out for you now. You need 18 month tops for your long torso and 12 month pants for your short legs. :)

3) You nurse or take a bottle (at sitters) about 4 or 5 times a day.

4) You eat a couple of things of food I make for you at the sitters which includes pears, mangos, peaches, yogurt, bananas, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes. I just put together a bunch of stuff and send you off with it.

5) You will eat almost anything from me and daddy's plate as long as we put it in your mouth. you will sit there like a baby bird and eat whatever we feed you. As far as feeding yourself you are still not real interested except for puffs and Ritz crackers (Who doesn't love Ritz?) and every now and then a morsel of cheese, carrots or green beans

6) You go to bed around 7 and get up around 7 in the morning. You take a couple of naps with a short nap in the morning. I think you might be thinking about only taking one nap the last week or so because you morning naps have gotten really short or you have skipped it all together.

7) You are super busy and crawl so fast now and will follow me and daddy from room to room.

8) You have quite a few toys but have fun playing with things that are not your toys. Sometimes it seems like you are inventing new tools or something.

9) You have a couple of bottom teeth that are not completly in yet. They bothered you for a couple of nights but they haven't been that bad.

10) You by far think that Duke is one of the funniest things. You love to crawl over to him and grab onto him. He usually just sits there and takes it. You do this really cute squat and smile right before you are about to "get" him.

11) You love bath time. Daddy usually gives you your bath. While he is getting the water ready I will sometimes take your clothes off in your room on the floor and then you streak through the hallway. :)

12) You do this really funny thing where you clap your feet. This weekend we finally got you to clap your hands but you I think you still like clapping your feet the best.

13) You pull up and investigate lots of things and have recently discovered the DVR. I think you might be trying to record some show or something.

WE love you so much sugar bear! I can't believe that you will be 1 year old in a couple of months! Love you lots and lots!

Snacks Please!

I am sure before long she will be eating dog food. For now she is just playing in the water dish and supervising Duke's breakfast eating. Good news is he doesn't often leave in morsels uneaten! :)