New Beginnings

Our lives are filled with new beginnings these days-some entirely new and some familiar. I'll try to keep them brief, but that's hard to do when one only posts every 8 months or so. Shameful, really.

1. School has started again. This year is going to be tremendously better than last year. Not only because I'll be gone for a nice little chunk of it, but because two students have moved on that made my life absolutely miserable last year. Justin was fearing that I would come out a different person, and not in a positive way. This year will be splendid. I am going to be organized. I am going to be prepared. I am going to be efficient. I am going to do my job better. This year will be the great year that I wanted to have last year.

2. My mom put my grandmother into the nursing home this late summer. It's been rough for both of them, but it's the best place for her. She's healthy, but dementia has set in to a level that requires the 24 hour care that cannot be provided independently. Please pray for my mom.

3. Elaina is growing and developing like crazy! It's so much fun to hear her new words, and teach her new things and phrases to use. She has her own little language that Justin and I are slowly becoming fluent in. We muse over her every night. Such a good, sweet little girl and the joy of our lives. We're going to start potty-training soon. I'll let you know how that goes.

4. The pregnancy and new baby coming in October! This is really exciting in different ways than I was excited about Elaina. I have so much less anxiety about this one because I don't find myself freaking out about whether or not she will need onsies, how to give a bath, how to change a diaper "just right" or how often. I feel like I'll be able to let some of that go and not be so stressed. I'm secretly hoping for a good sleeper, but not expecting it. :) The pregnancy has been wonderful and the stages have been familiar. Baby moves a lot, especially when I sit down or lie down to rest (maybe not a good sign?) and I am down to about 5 or 6 work outfits that I must rotate it seems like every other day. That's OK though. I also have less anxiety about the delivery. By that I mean I'm not petrified because I have a general idea of what to expect. However, it must be noted that since I know what to expect, there is a certain amount of anxiety that lingers. I'm just hoping the delivery and especially recovery will be quicker. I am at a serious loss of energy, so the sooner I get that back, the better.

That pretty much sums it up. I can't spend a lot of time blogging these days, but I will try. We'll see when you hear from me next. Maybe not until Baby, but hopefully before.