Baby has a personality!

I'm going to give away the name we have been thinking out.  We've been trying it out on baby since New Years.  I know it's odd to say but she really does have her own little personality and this name seems to fit her.  Not only that, but she even seems to like it!  She wiggles and kicks and rolls in response to it.

Lucinda Richelle Rudd

Lucinda means light, graceful or beautiful light.  We will call her Lucy, Lu-lu, or Lou.

Richelle is the feminine form of Richard, in memory of Jeremy's dad.  Richard means strong or powerful, and Rochelle means rock.  Yep, that is so this baby!

So she'll be a strong light in our lives!  And it has a nice ring to it when said all together.  She's going to be a moose!

Only about 3 more months to go!

We need a little...

The song "We need a little Christmas, right this very minute..." keeps running through my head, but instead of the word "Christmas", it should be something else.  Christmas is over, and I'm good with that, but there seems to be something lacking.

So maybe it's PMA, but that's three words and doesn't quite fit.  Positive mental attitude.  Which I am attempting to find for my new years resolution thing.  I would like to attract more positive energy into my life, but I need to put out what I want to get back.  This is according to Wayne Dyer, author of "The Power of Intention."  I love that idea, that I can manifest my destiny, pulling all I need from the universe by putting out what I want.  It has worked brilliantly in the past for me.

I'm feeling a little desperate, which is not what I want to attract.  I want to send out good Karma to get good Karma back.  I want to find my groove.  I've lost my groove.

When working with resistant learners in my job, my mantra is that they are somebody's baby.  And if it were my baby, I'd want me to be kind to her.  It's difficult when I am repeating the same things over and over again, and am disappointed when they do not do their work, do not pay attention, or do not act respectfully.  I am struggling with this.  I want to put out that I have a great rapport with these students and can help them to accomplish their goals.

With my coaching, I want to be a positive influence, and guide them to work hard for what they want and work together.  But yesterday at practice, it was such a fail, and I feel then that I failed.  I must be patient and repeat how to deal with and prevent drama within the team.  Again.  I want to put out that we are a strong, smart, hardworking team that people look up to.  I want to be proud of them.

With my parenting, this morning was all off.  We always end up yelling at our children and becoming frustrated when we have to do things for them because there is no time for them to do it themselves.  The look on my daughter's face this morning broke my heart, and I yelled at my husband, blaming him, but it is me too.  I want to put out there that we have it all together, our morning routine works like a charm, and when it doesn't I can concentrate on what is truly important instead of being worried about being late.

And finally, I'm up in the air about next year.  There are so many unknowns, like how this baby will be and how easy or difficult it will be to care for her or feed her.  What will this mean for me getting a job next year?  I really want one, really, really bad.  I'm so desperate that I'm putting out there that I'll never get one, frustrated that there are no postings yet, no signs, no chatter of possibilities.  And what will I do if I don't get a teaching job?  Will I be aiding again?  Is that what I want to do?  I want to be rolling in possibilites.  Actually, I want a social studies teaching position with my own classroom at the school I aid and coach at now.

Because all this stuff is not falling into place easily, I swing back and forth from feeling hopeless to feeling angry and frustrated, and kind of panicky.  I should be putting out to the universe that I have everything that I need to accomplish my goals, that I am capable and confident in my ability and the universe's ability to care for me.

So I need a little groove back, right this very minute!

Emily's Baby Announcement

She's really hoping for a little sister, thus the eyelashes! Almost 17 weeks!

Hello?

Hey, look! This blog is still here!

I wonder how many people have stopped coming since I haven't posted in forever!

Just wait...

... big news coming soon!

Wonderful Wedded Weekend Without Wippersnappers

On June 2nd we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I sometimes cannot believe I got so lucky to find the perfect match for me at such a young age, that we practically grew up together. We know what makes each other tick, we make a great team. I remember how proud I was on our engaged encounter when we cruised through the "things you really need to discuss and agree upon before you get married" as saying, "yep, check, got it, did it, right on!"

We spent the couple days around our anniversary with our friends who just moved back to Iowa in their stylish and quaint house. We sat up way too late talking, drinking and having fun, slept in a little and were greeted with eggs grilled in peppers and toast, walked to the library, ate Mexican for lunch, lunged the kiddos at the park, went out for drinks and conversation that evening, slept in a bit again the next day, and then left for home. It was like staying in a Bed & Breakfast!

But, we were with children... and we hadn't "escaped" anywhere exotic. So, we made plans for the girls to go stay with Grandma! Friday night to Sunday afternoon, free! As free as if we were just the two of us! It has been longer than I can remember since this has happened, and it was well overdue!

So as soon as the girls eagerly dragged Grandma out the door, (they literally shoved shoes on while chewing the last of their lunch and grabbed Grandma by the hand, and said, "See you later, love you, bye!" to us without so much as a glance backwards!) we looked at each other and were confused... what do we do now?

So, we took advantage of no kids and indulged in window shopping, a walk along the riverwalk, and then a Hal Jordan fix - The Green Lantern! Then for drinks and dessert at a friend's house! The next day, we slept until...

...wait for it...

9:30!!!

Then we putzed around the house drinking coffee at a leisurely pace until we decided what we would do with our day. Hiking, it was decided, would be our activity of choice. We loaded up the water bottles, laced our boots, and consulted the book of Iowa hiking trails. Pikes Peak was looking good as we hopped into the car and headed out.

We decided to head to McGreggor, a little past the turnoff for the park, for some lunch before our hike. What a cute little tourist trap! Tons of kitchie stores, history, antiques, bars, B&Bs everywhere. After a lovely lunch at the brewery, where we sampled the local concoctions, we strolled through the town. I'm plotting a couples weekend or girls day out!

Then we drove to the park and spent three hours tromping around in the woods, not another person in sight! We covered 8 miles of hilly terrain, enjoyed the scenery and each other's company, got plenty of exercise and fresh air! We finished the day by renting the 2nd to last Harry Potter movie. Ahhhhh, it was the perfect day!

The next day I nuked gas station cinnamon rolls (surprisingly good because they were drenched in a thick blanket of creamy frosting!) and made the coffee to greet the best daddy ever (next to my daddy, of course) for his father's day! I know other people say this about their husbands, but when I say it, I mean it! Who else would put up with all my crap and our children's crap, really? We enjoyed our breakfast, went to church where I lectored (the mic was not working, again... I'm starting to think it's me because it only happens to me), and then headed out to be reunited with our wonderful little angels (said with only mild sarcasm).

Lunch with Jeremy's mom and his brother's family, and then off to my parents, where I went with my daddy to put some holes in targets with a 22, 45, and 9mm. Good times! Then home again, home again, jiggity jig!

It was such a wonderful weekend and we did so much! Several times we looked at each other and marveled at how well we worked together and all that we do together, and were just thankful that we were in each other's lives!

It's not about me

Coaching is not about the coach, I try to remember that. But after all the success my kids have had this past year in each of the sports I coached, I can't help but sit back, smile, let the pride I have in each of them gush out of me!

Nine of them are moving on, and I can't help but feel greatful for the short amount of time I had with them. I so look forward to the ones I will have next year.

They all taught me so much, and I reveled in all their successes! Each PR, each mastery of a new move, each advancement or placement or seconds shaved off was cause for celebrating for me, even though they were the ones who did all the hard work and preparation to make it happen. I'm still really proud of them.

My husband is the best!

I truly don't deserve the man I married. A lot of times I don't appreciate him like I should, but let me sing his praises right now.

At this very moment, he is in our master bathroom, transforming it from a plywood project into a sensational spa retreat, after having spent the whole day with our almost 3 year old, grocery shopping, planting a garden and cooking dinner. And I'm pooped!

He is very patient with me. I'm not high maintenance in the buy lots of clothes, jewelry, or shoes, but I'm difficult in my own way. He must really love me! I'm very thankful for him!