Just Like Me!

I am so excited and proud to see that little girls with Alopecia and Cancer are finally getting some affirmation that they are normal and that they are not alone in dealing with hair loss. Recently two major toy corporations have designed dolls that are bald to help girls dealing with these horrible diseases to feel more excepted and "normal".

Mattel's bald Barbie

As a young girl, I felt as though I was the only one who had to deal with being bald. I felt very alone and self conscious about my lack of hair. I felt left out when my friends did each other's hair at sleep-overs and when my sister got to pick out cute barrettes and headbands. It was always frustrating as a teenager when peers would complain about having a bad hair day when all I wanted was a hair day of any kind. It was uncomfortable when playing with dolls, because brushing their hair seemed somewhat unnatural to me. 

The American Girl doll for girls with Cancer and Alopecia

Luckily for this generation of kids, there is far more awareness about hair loss. If Mattel and American Girl are any indication, it is becoming part of the "norm" to be bald and a young girl. Bravo to these companies for helping these little girls feel a little less different, and for giving them reassurance that they are beautiful just the way they are! I am so proud of these companies and I hope with all of my heart that more follow suit and continue the progress being made.

Big Boy Bed Tips

Last night my little guy turned into a big boy. It's crazy that it can literally happen over-night! A couple of months ago, Liam learned to climb out of his crib. Luckily for us, there was one more set of brackets, so we were able to lower his mattress and buy us a little more time. Knowing that he had learned the skills needed to escape, we knew that lowering the mattress would not solve the problem long-term, so we began to prepare for a big boy bed.
We are so thankful that Liam's cousin Aiden out-grew his big boy bed right about the time we were in the market for one. We were also very lucky that the bed fit the Cars theme that Liam had already picked out. Before we got started, we both did a lot of reading about how to make the switch from crib to toddler bed an easy one. I also talked to several friends who had already made the switch to get any ideas that they had.

Here are the tips that seemed to work for us:

*Talk about the move from crib to bed before actually making the transition- We talked to Liam about the move many weeks before it actually happened.

*Let the child help pick out the bed/bedding- Although we were extremely lucky that what Liam wanted fit what we were given, we took him to Target and let him browse the bedding section. He just happened to pick out a sheet set that fit the bed!

*Have the child help with the assembly process- My husband, Liam, and I spent about an hour putting the bed together as a family. It didn't necessarily take that long to put it together, but we took our time and made it fun.

*Keep the crib in plain sight for a bit- We found this to be a big help! A child's crib is the place where they feel the safest, so taking it away the same time that you put them into a new bed can make it scarier for the little one. We left it up in the same spot it's always been.

*Once you make the transition, don't go back- We haven't had to deal with this yet, but I completely understand why this is an important step to follow. Even though we left the crib in the room, we used the crib mattress for the big boy bed. This way we won't be able to easily transfer him from one to the other. It's just as much for us as it is for him.

*Use a nightlight- Liam has never been afraid of the dark, but we were concerned that he would be nervous about the switch so we did it anyway.
*Be consistent- The first time that Liam got out of his bed, we took him back, laid him down, said goodnight, and left the room. The next time he got up, he tried to open the door (we are very lucky he can't yet) and after a failed attempt, went to bed.

*Think ahead- Look around the room and make sure that anything that could be unsafe to a wandering child, is put up or secured. A couple of examples are that Liam's dresser could be a bit unstable if it were to be climbed on, so we secured it to the wall. Also, his changing table was placed under the window. Knowing that he has learned to climb up it, we put it in the closet. Even picking up any toys that they could trip over and making sure that any cords (blinds, monitors, etc.) are out of reach.

*Follow the same bedtime routine- Liam has always been easy to put down. We read a couple of books while rocking, then give hugs, kisses, and say goodnight, we lay him down, turn off the light, and close the door. It has always worked for us, so we followed the same steps to put him to bed. I think that this helped greatly!

*Be positive!- When we discussed the big boy bed we always made it seem fun and exciting. It was always expressed as something that was a big deal and a huge step toward becoming a big boy. By the time the bed actually came out, he was jumping up and down with excitement.

We have only made it through one night so far, but already these tips have come in handy. If things change and more tips are useful, I will be sure to share them. But my fingers are crossed, that this will be one part of parenting that will be easier than expected. Here's to being hopeful!

Sleeping 10 minutes after turning the light out.

Oh, Summer Break

It is only day two of summer break, and Liam and I are loving it! My little guy is and always has been, a morning person. An early riser at heart, Joe and I are lucky to sleep until six on the weekends. However, it is quite obvious that summer break was well needed for the both of us. Since Saturday, Liam has slept in at least until 7am every morning. This is absolutely unheard of! Since the day he was born, this has happened just a handful of times until this week.
His need for some extra Z's doesn't stop there. He has always been a very good napper. A typical nap is about 3 hours. Once again, he is more in need than usual. He has been taking 4 hour naps off and on since Saturday as well. His extra rest has come at the best possible time for me! I too have been more sleepy than usual. I have taken advantage of all of his sleeping in (until this morning, when I just couldn't sleep after 6:30am). Unfortunately for me, I have also fallen into a nap pattern.
I'm so glad that summer came when it did. We both need a break, lots of sleep, and some Liam-mommy time. We have a great deal of exciting plans for the summer, but for the next few days we will be resting, rejuvenating, and cuddling up a storm!

Ready to Relax!

In between Liam's birthday party and Memorial Day weekend, our little family had a bit of a quiet streak. It was lovely to relax at home, take little family trips/walks, and actually feel like we were keeping up around the house. Then Memorial Day hit and ever since, we have been on the go! We went to Bend that weekend on our yearly friend vacation. It was so fun and relaxing, but coming home from a vacation is always exhausting. Unpacking, laundry, being tired from the long drive, these were all packed into the half a day we had to get back on track.
The next Saturday we attended my sister's 9th birthday party, I helped celebrate baby Olivia's arrival at Emily's baby shower, then rushed to have dinner with friends. That Sunday we spent the day at the in-law's house celebrating a way-early Father's Day while Liam played with his cousins.
These past few weeks at work have been challenging too. The kids are crazy, the days seem long, and now that there is some sun shining through the windows, it doesn't feel like we should be cooped up in the classroom anymore. Between scoring mounds and mounds of writing tests, finishing up several projects, cleaning and packing up my room, and studying every free second I can spare, even my work days have been packed to the brim.
This past weekend was crazy too! My second round of the Praxis began at 7:30am Saturday morning, followed by my mom's graduation at 10:30am, then lunch with the family. Finally, we got some peace and quiet yesterday, and it was wonderful! We still took a walk down to the fruit stand, then did the usual weekend grocery shopping, but it was calm, relaxed.
This up coming weekend as well as the next, are going to be busy as well. We are attending, what is sure to be, a wild birthday party Friday night, having a BBQ with friends Saturday, and then Joe's third annual Father's Day celebration on Sunday! But once we get through the next couple weekends, we are in the clear for a bit. Some family time is in our future and the calendar is clearing up (for now).

Efforts Not Rewarded

For the past three years I have been working on earning a reading specialist endorsement. This has excited my building's administration, who have been following my progress closely for over a year now. About a month ago I finished my last class and took the Praxis (which is a required test to earn the endorsement). Unfortunately for me, I did not pass it to Oregon standards the first time. Because both principals have voiced interest in moving me to a specialist position once the coursework is done and the test passed, I felt more than a little pressured to pass the test before the next school year.
This is why, the second that I found out that I had not passed, I signed up for the next one offered. There are only two more options before September, and I wouldn't get the scores back for the last one until a week before school starts. I wanted to give myself the best chance for passing before they needed me. Today, all of that changed. We've known for about a week that we will be cutting some programs/positions due to the budget projected for next year. Unfortunately for me, one program they will be "scaling back on" are reading intervention classes.
This means that the work that I have done, the stress that I have felt, the pressure that I have put on myself, was not at all needed. I have at least another year before there will even be the possibility that I will use the degree. It's not only frustrating because I have been expecting a new focus for quite a while (with admin. reassurance), but I'm also frustrated specifically about the next test that I am now signed up for. It just happens to fall on the day/time of my mom's college graduation. When I thought people were relying on me and that there was a time schedule, I was frustrated, but willing to take the test that day. But now that none of that is happening, I'm more than frustrated.
I've already looked into canceling the session, but in perfect ETS fashion the deadline has passed and at this point, I would pay for the test either way. I still want the degree for myself, and would re-take the test either way, but I would not have chosen the day of my mom's graduation and would not have been so stressed had I known this would be the situation. I do not blame the administration at all. I would much rather they "scale back" a bit on some things than loose people, days, or programs all together. It just would have been so nice to know a while back, so that I wouldn't be missing an important moment in my mom's life. : (

Everyone Says "They Come in Threes"

Everyone says that terrible, horrible, very bad things come in threes. Well, I sure hope so! That would mean that Joe and I have met our quota and should get some good luck for a bit. Over the weekend, Joe mowed the lawn. Well, sort of. It took him three times longer than usual because the mower was running slow and not really doing its job well. By the time the front and back yard were done, it was almost dead and now it won't even start. Looks like we will either be buying a new lawn mower, or paying to get it repaired.
A few days ago, I started the dishwasher and it made several new sounds that I have never heard before. The dishes came out clean (this time), but I have a feeling the end is near. We can handle washing dishes by hand for a while, but eventually that will be another thing to replace.
Then just today Liam and I came home to a very cold house. I thought that the timer just wasn't working, so I turned it on and walked away. A little while later, Joe came home, noticed it was still cold, checked the furnace, and realized that the igniter was broken. This too is not a huge deal. It's an easy fix, and is relatively inexpensive to fix. However, we leave tomorrow morning for Bend for the long weekend. My poor sister is going to house-sit. Hopefully in a warm house.
This is only our third month on our new budget, but situations like this seem to keep popping up. This is making it quite difficult to stick to our cash-only, money-allotted financial plan. As I said above, hopefully this is the end of our crappy luck and things will turn around just in time for my summer days with my little man.

Writing Makes Me Happy!

This week has been extremely crazy! So many ups and downs, and it's only Wednesday. Yesterday, I found out that although I passed in every other state (by far), I did not pass the reading specialist Praxis to Oregon standards. This means that I will be taking the test @7:30am on the day of my mom's college graduation, which will begin at 10:30am. It's going to be a busy/stressful morning. I hate to miss any part of my mom's graduation, but I don't have much of a choice considering that the test is only offered two more times before I begin teaching again in the fall. It makes me feel like a horrible daughter, but not passing the test the first time is making me feel like a terrible teacher and as though I have let down my principal.
As for work, I have spent the past two days, full days mind you, scoring sixth, seventh, and eighth grade writing assessments. I don't want to read another word! I'm exhausted. Also, the SSD budget for next year was approved last night, which has caused a great deal of stress within out building and throughout the district. I think that we (myself included) are in a much better situation than many other districts in the area, but it is still scary to think that we could loose friends in this process.
But in the midst of all of the hoopla, there are some very bright spots this week! We leave for Bend on our annual "friend va-ca" as soon as I get off work Friday. It will be a short trip, but I think it will be just what I need to get through the school year. A change of scenery, relaxation, a hot tub, shopping, and great friends is exactly what I need right now! Also, Liam's little sickness passed very quickly and his nightly routine, miraculously, was unchanged. Work-outs with mom have been a great stress-reliever, and the school year is quickly wrapping up.
When I began to write this post, I was thinking about all the tiring, stressful, sad stuff that has been weighing me down all day. But as I wrote, the positives started to jump out at me. Now, all I can do is think ahead. All of the great plans and the milestones in my near future are exciting and exhilaration. Life is so funny! One minute you feel like junk, the next you can't stop smiling. I love it!!