Yelling

Almost everyone has done it. From my three year old yelling at her little brother, “those are my toys!” To her mother angrily telling her she was too loud and woke her baby brother up. The fact of the matter is it takes an enormous about of self-control and awareness to NOT yell, when we get wrapped up in our emotions. (Remember we model the behavior our little ones will exhibit). Professionally, I have managed to cut out yelling almost completely. There are some times when I have to yell, but I also preface it with, “You, students, are making me yell and I HATE yelling.” They know it’s true, but because of the way our society is, yelling, at times, is the only way to grab their attention. I found a blog titled, “10 Things I Learned When I Stopped Yelling At My Kids.” In the blog, she, makes many good points. My favorite ones are as follows; • I can’t always control my kids’ actions, but I can always control my reaction. • Incredible moments can happen when you don’t yell. • Often times, I am the problem, not my kids. • Taking care of me helps me to not yell. I feel these points are so simply put, but their message is powerful. I think, many times the heart of the issue is that WE, as adults, are the problem. Many times when my daughter is not listening to me it is because she is struggling to get my attention, because I am focusing on her brother. It’s not that I don’t love her; it’s just that a baby requires more attention than a toddler. The same is true in a classroom with 30 plus students. Maybe that student lacks the attention they need from their family life and they seek it out in the classroom. Most of the time they do not care what kind of attention they receive whether it be good, bad, or ugly; in their minds it is attention. Not yelling requires more work. If you don’t yell, then what do you do? From time outs, sticker charts, behavior modification plans, there are my different strategies with lots of different resources. Find what works for your kids/students and use that. Many times we tend to lean to our personal preference, which may not be the best for the small one whose behavior you are trying to change. Adapting a plan that caters the child’s personality and needs will ensure greater success!





So it's been about 3 weeks, and I just thought I would share how Gavin's delivery went down. I started having contractions around 6am, and thought this is it better call into work going on maternity two days early (Yahoo!), but by 8am they had almost gone away. I was sad, so I walked Coraline to the park, let her play, walked back, did some squats, drank some water. Pretty uneventful. Then around 8pm I just want to go to sleep, but the contractions came back. I really didn't think much of it, but then they got more painful, so Matt and I went to the hospital around 10:30. When they checked me I was 9 centimeters and they were rushing me down the hallway to have a baby about 45 minutes later. Luckily, Susie and my great anesthesiologists were both able to do a wonderful job of helping me delivery Gavin Bosko. He was born Thursday, March 15th at 11:24 pm at 8 pounds 11 oz. Here are some pictures to enjoy :)

What are you grateful for?

After looking at the current bodyrock.tv blog they ask their readers to take the time to reflect on what they are grateful for, so I am doing just that :)

1. Living in American where I have such freedoms as speech, religion, and press.
2. A loving, hot husband who takes care of me ;)
3. Having a normal, healthy delivery for Gavin.
4. Coarline being such a tentative loving sister (and she's only 23 months!)
5. Having awesome talented friends who make me stuff...you know who you are!
6. My career. Enough said, if you know me then you know I love working.
7. Having a job next year. It may not be the same grade (ever) but I love the challenge and change.
8. Health- I am missing working out and I want to have a hot bod...now! Also, having healthy kids and husband...it's something I never want to take for granite.
9. Electronics...ac, cars, computers, phones, internet...love it all!!!!
10. Last but certainly not the least, my Grandparents. They have been such a blessing. I would not be where I am today, the person I am today if they were there. I love them and wish nothing but the best for them. R.I.P. Simo...

Twitter wars

I recently got a smart phone, and I'll be the first to admit that I am not smart enough for it. But I am learning! While I am learning Matt has been helping me out. He asked me if I would like him to create a twitter account for me, and I told him no, which turned into a big argument. He said he liked to read what other pastors had to say and it was very encouraging and inspiring. My argument was if I wanted a twitter account I would have one already and be using it. I thought it would be a waste of his time, my data, and truthfully if I don't use it, it's clutter to me and it has to go. Anyways, after battling it out, I read the intro and chapter 1 of Axiom (a book Matt is reading) and Matt's argument totally makes sense. Great leaders convey a message in a short word or phrase, and twitter is an excellent platform to do so. Although I am not on the band wagon yet, I will be shortly. Until then I read Holly Furtick's blog and ordered a book on amazon. Hahah, Matt that's what you get :)

A little Remodeling

So I inherited (stole) my sisters old dresser for Coraline. It was this cute whitish-pink color. But my sister had loved on it while growing up so it was in need of a little TLC. Since Gavin's arrival is quickly approaching (March 22), I am totally in the nesting mode and kicking Coraline out of her current room so Gavin can be closer to the master and Coraline can have the bigger room.



My inspiration came from pinterest. Someone had recovered their dresser in different fabrics. I thought that would be awesome. I bought fabrics, but in the end chickened out and just used the same color paint. Sometimes in my life I have to have things matchy matchy. Oh well, I really liked how they turned out.



I painted the drawers before I realized they were numbered so I didn't give much thought to which drawer should be what color. When I was putting them pack in I thought I could switch them around, turns out I couldn't because they were not aligned. So that's why there is a blue next to a blue.

Well, so much has changed since the last time I blogged. I am now a happy kindergarten teacher (not that I didn't like second grade, it just that I have a love/hate relationship with kinder), Coraline is running around like a crazy child, and I am expecting baby Rainey number 2 (and yes when the time comes we will find out what it is-hopefully Christmas time!). Oh, yeah and Matt's still around ;)

I really love this time of year, when the weather starts to cool off and the rest of the world gets ready for winter, and the deserts rats get ready to plant flowers. So Matt and I have been cleaning up the backyard to get it ready for many play dates. I have been search for a little play set, but haven’t found anything I sold on with design and price, but I'm still looking.

Last night I had Coraline try on her Halloween costume. I love it because I bought it last year after Halloween for half price. (Yeah, I'm that kind of mom). I made a red tutu for a red dress run, that I never did because it rained that day, so I wrapped it around Coraline twice and it adds an extra flare to her costume. I also, bought black tights. Now I just need to make some antennas and hope she keeps them on her head!

Happy Birthday Coraline!

This week I am teaching my second grades about poems.
So I created a poem to model for my students.
I think its kind of cute :)

Last Saturday was fun.
Fill with lots of sun.
My baby Coraline just turned one.

There was cake, and laughter,
While we watch her slaughter
Her sweet layered ladybug cake.

I love my baby Coraline
This much I know is true,
She grew 2 inches in about a month or two.

It's Birthday time

I can't believe my baby is a year old. Her actual birthday is Monday, but we celebrated today. She is so precious. I can't believe how one little baby could completely change the way I feel, think, and act. I kind of have an idea what love really is.

The party was amazing! Good food, amazing cake, and awesome fellowship. A big thank you to everyone who came out. Thanks for making memories with my family :)

Man, these times are hard...

I need to seriously blog more! The truth of the matter is, I need more time. But if I had more time then I would only fill it with more things. So here I am blogging.

I secretly like it when my baby wakes up in the middle of the night crying. She only wants me to hold her for a moment and then she goes back to sleep. I wonder if that is how God feels when we cry out to him? He holds us for a moment so we can mentally get back into the game, and then we're off dreaming again. I like it.

So this whole we might not pay government employees is lame. I'm not worried because I know my needs will be taken care of, its just lame. I'm praying for all the families whose livelihood depend on that income. And since education is a function of the state, I fear that it could trickle down to my salary, which would make it very difficult to find the motivation to go to work. I love my baby more than my paycheck, which would be non existent. Now, I'm just rambling.
I need to think of a closing catch phrase like, "Stay classy San Diego," or something...

Play day

Coraline had her first play day today. It was with Alexia. She is 8 months old and super cute. At first Coraline wasn't sure about the whole situation, but then she warmed up to her and started interacting. After rolling around for a while we moved to the swings (always a hit with the babies). Overall Coraline really enjoyed it, but she fell asleep on the walk home. I love my Baby C!

Weekend

Well, I think the weekly hiking trips have begun. This Saturday was the second time hiking telegraph pass. I really enjoy hiking with my firends and my dogs. Never a dull moment. There was only one crazy person who attempted to "steal" Tink. Good times...

Coraline is making such great gains lately!
The other night I was drinking a smoothie and she totally tried to drink it like a big kid.



Also she wants to crawl so badly. She gets on all fours and moves her knees or hands. What's really cute are her facial expressions. It looks like she knows mentally how to crawl, but her body just won't do it...It won't be long...However, I don't have any pictures. Matt won't let me take any because the camera distracts her...

Here's a picture of Coraline and her first mixed bottle...needless to say she does not like yams...

5 months

Today Coraline is 5 months old. She can officially sit up by herself when she is not trying to put objects in her mouth; she can also hold her own bottle. She has really gone through so many changes. She loves watching t.v. Matt thinks she likes football, but really its just t.v. in general. I know infants watching t.v. is controversial, but she's so drawn to it. If the t.v. is on she will literally try to do an 180 to watch it. I can tell we are going to have problems when she gets older. Coraline also loves the dogs. Whenever they walk by she reaches out and tries to touch them. It is so cute. I love my Baby C and I love being a mom!

This one's for you, Joan...

I know, I know I'm terrible at blogging...So I'm going to try to not make such a big deal about it in my head and maybe I'll do it more...

I had a wonderful Labor Day weekend (even though it's not technically over). Friday Matt and I bought a new mattress. Ours was too soft for my back and I couldn't sleep on it. On Saturday I floated down the river with Amy from church. It was super fun...even when I didn't get sunscreen on the back of my right leg and now have an awesome tan...Later that night I went to BWW to celebrate an awesome friend's birthday/cancer free party. Then we went to the Cress and tore up the dance floor!

Sunday was family day. I spent a good part of the day hanging out with my Grandparents and Joan, who was in town for the weekend! I love spending time with her and I wish we could do it more...Hopefully soon she will move back to Yumaa and we can!





too much fun with family!

Baby Coraline

Wow it’s been a while. Well, in case you didn’t hear I had my baby. Coraline Grace born April 11 at 11:59 am, 8.3 pounds, and 20 inches. Since then she is simply growing and consistently changing. I look at pictures of her the day she was born and I don’t even recognize her. She is so beautiful. My family says she looks like Matt but honestly I don’t see either of us in her.

My first mother’s day was interesting. I still can’t believe I am a mother. Needless to say I spent a good time of my mother’s day in the ER because I had a breast infection and a fever or 104. But no worries I have drugs know I am getting better!

Two Puppies

Having two dogs is awesome!!!
They entertain each other. All morning long, they have been chasing each other and bitting each others butts. Its great. Roxy makes this growling noise that sounds like she going to eat Tink, and Tink just bits her. They are too cute...

Baby shower

Yesterday was my baby shower! It was super fun...Thanks to everyone who made it possible...you guys are rock stars...here are some pictures



Jill took this picture...she is so artisy...



One of my co-workers made me a diaper cake...It was super cute!!!



Mi sistas...who are awesome!!!



Mama and papa...


Balloons... inter-national symbol for PARTY!

Afternoon Delights

So my Saturday stared with strawberry pancakes, which ended up on Tink's head. Don't ask me how because I do not know but the evidence speaks for itself.




After pancakes our church was having a servolution where we walked up and down 4th Ave handing out water bottles and gift cards. In total it was about a three mile walk. It was super fun. I think, I got a little sunburn.
Then we came home and I was super motivated to take care of the plants in front of our house. I pruned them, pulled some weeds, and then raked up all the extra foliage. I guess I didn't realize how much that can take out of an eight month pregnant woman, because I came into the house and passed out on the couch and my puppies joined me. Matt took this when I was asleep. I thought it was cute.

Goodbye to my good friend…

So Tuesday was an interesting evening…I had just gone to a doctors appointment, and was headed to my mother’s house, when I rear-ended a jeep. I was pretty freaked out. I got out and sat on the sidewalk for awhile. Then the ambulance came and checked me out, then the police. Afterwards, Matt and I spent four hours in the emergency room, checking out the baby’s heartbeat. While I was there I apparently was having contractions, but I didn’t feel them. So I received this shot to stop the contractions, and I felt like I was high. Now, I’m just bumming rides from my mom, until we can figure out what we are going to do with my car… As far as the baby is concerned, I can’t work out or have sex for a while. But everything is okay!!!