Happy Easter!

Well JJ got to experience his first Easter this year. He had to wait almost a whole year for this event to happen. He did NOT have a good time with the Easter bunny…I’d have to say it was an overwhelming fear/sadness/anger that he felt toward him.

Easter day was great. JJ started off the day in Sunday school with a few of his buddies, then came home to relax for a little while before heading over to Aunt Linda’s for lunch. After a filling dinner of ham, meatballs, olives, deviled eggs and pasta salad, it was off to the front yard for an egg hunt. Grandma Taylor filled a few plastic eggs with coins and taped them shut; then, they “hid” them. It was so adorable to see JJ walking around holding his Easter basket. He would find an egg, pick it up, shake it and continue walking. When he found another egg, he would drop the first one and pick up the second one. Stay tuned to my myspace (www.myspace.com/ucirvine2001) for the video of him doing his hunt. He looked so cute in his my first Easter onesie and bib. Nana got him a soft little bunny rabbit for my first Easter as well.

He was so exhausted by the time we got home, he fell asleep. Seeing as how he only napped 20 minutes in the first 8 hours of his day, I’m sure this nap is going to be a long one…..now the only other milestone we’ll have in the next few weeks is his birthday! Go JJ!!

Pictures!

Just thought I would let everyone know that John has a ton of pictures on Photobucket. Here is the link and all you do is pick the categories on the side to see the pics.

http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/jfj3rd/

Goodbye 2008!

As I look back at how much my life has changed in the past year, I am absolutely amazed. This time last year, I was 5 months pregnant and just barely showing. This time last year, I was working as a day to day substitute teacher. This time last year, we had a Christmas tree because we had plenty of room in our living room. This time last year, our living room had a couch, coffee table, and dining room table in it.

Flash forward–I now have a beautiful 8 month old little boy named JJ who brings absolute joy to my life. I am teaching kindergarten in a school that I love. We have no Christmas tree, but instead have a baby swing, exersaucer, jumperoo and various other baby toys in our living room.

It’s been a heck of a year. JJ has been through a lot, having lots of little illnesses, including a UTI that he was hospitalized for. Despite it all, he’s been thriving. Sitting at 5 months, crawling and standing supported at 6 months, cruising at 7 1/2 months. Now his latest endeavor is knee walking which is adorable. He’s got a gorgeous little smile and laughs all the time. He talks a lot too, although his favorite word is dada. We’re still working on mama.

John has turned into a wonderful father, just like I knew he would. It was a little rough at first, because I think he didn’t really know what to do with him when he was tiny, but now that the little guy is bigger and moving and active, he and daddy are playing all of the time. Plus, he is an expert putter-to-sleeper. Mommy has a hard time with that.

Needless to say, although my hours are longer, I find myself wanting to come home sooner so I can be with the little love bug. I’m glad to be back at work, but I certainly am enjoying the time I spend at home too.

What will next year bring? Hopefully a permanent position where I’m currently at. Hopefully, a little less in debt that I currently am. Hopefully becoming an even better wife and mother. Hopefully a raise for John and a little more respect at work. I have a feeling it’s going to be an amazing year. God only knows….We’ve got about 8 more hours until we find out. Hopefully our first night’s sleep of 2009 will be a great one! (By the way, JJ. That was a hint for you! Ha-ha!)

It’s been awhile!

So I’ve been so so busy lately. I just realized that it’s been darn near two weeks since the last time I posted. I’m finally on Christmas break from school and it’s definitely a much needed break. I’m loving being able to be home with the baby again. It’s really nice. I’ve been out of work for 5 days now and haven’t yet had time to be bored.

We did Christmas with my dad Sunday. We met with my mom, stepdad, brother, sister-in-law, niece and of course John and JJ. We had the breakfast buffet at the Marriott and it was delicious. They do made to order omelettes which I think are the best. Plus they have the best fresh fruit. It was yummy. JJ got a few nice toys, a stocking, and some munchies. His grandma and great-grandma sent him some gifts too. He got a stocking, bib, and baby’s first Christmas hat.  The landlords even got the baby some gifts–one is an ornament and the other is yet to be unwrapped.

JJ is starting to feed himself now. He eats cut-up bananas, pieces of itty bitty pasta, and the best gift of all–strawberry apple puffs. He loves those! He’s even getting a tooth. I’ve been feeling it in his mouth (bottom center) for darn near two weeks now.  It hasn’t quite popped through though. He’s handling it pretty well though.

Well, tomorrow is Christmas and we’ll be celebrating with family. I’ll give you more updates later!

So stinkin’ busy…no time for NOTHIN!

Okay, so my title is a little hick-ish if that’s even a word. I used to be a devoted blogger, blogging a little each day. Now, I rarely have time for stuff like that. Heck, I rarely have time for much of anything these days. My days begin at 5 am—well okay, okay. You got me. They really begin at about 5:40 a.m. by the time I really drag my butt out of bed. I’m out the door by 7:15 and return home between 4:15 and 5:30. Most days, I’m not even in bed until 10:30 p.m. Feel sorry for me yet? Ha! I know what most of you moms are thinking. That’s what being a mom is all about. You think you get to sleep? Give it up. That was over the minute you gave birth.

Anyways, we took a trip up to Tahoe, Chico and Sacramento last week. Boy were we busy?!? The baby and I flew in Tuesday to meet John who had been up there since the previous Friday. Our first stop was out to Chico so JJ could meet his grandpa, auntie, and great-grandparents for the first time. We did a lot of visiting. JJ also got to visit his 2 year old cousin Aubree while we were up there. He took his first ever bath in big tub and boy did he like it. Too bad we don’t have a big tub for him to take a bath in here. The sink just isn’t the same. (We know this because we also tried a sink bath while up in Chico.) We spent Thanksgiving with JJ’s great aunt and family. Loads of people came. JJ got to try turkey for the first time and he loved it. (Well it was turkey and sweet potatoes and it went over way better than the plain turkey we had earlier this week.)

After Thanksgiving, we decided to skip the sales. (Too dang cold for a mama and baby to be out before the sun comes up.) We drove out to Sacramento to watch John’s brother get married. Never thought that would happen! (Just kidding, Steven.) Anyhow, we’re all glad he’s making such positive changes in his life. He’s a much different person than he was a few years ago when I first met John. I’m excited for he and his new wife who are expecting a little girl early next year.

We decided to head on out to Tahoe to spend our last day of vacation with friends and family. We visited with Steve, Sissy, and the girls which John was super excited about. We also got to spend a little bit of time with JJ’s grandma and Nana. Everyone seems to be doing decently.

On a completely different note, I just found out that I won’t be getting a contract from Adams. As long as a leave of absence is filed and not a letter of resignation, then the position must be filled by a long-term sub and not a newly hired teacher. Sucks for me….but what do you expect with all the budget cuts? Why would they want to fork out the extra money for benefits and salary? But, I’m getting lots of professional development courses out of the way and if I stay here all year, then I will have my first year done for clearing my credential. That takes a little stress off as I’ll have 3 years to get my last year of clearing done. I can’t wait. As soon as I get my clear credential, we’ll start trying for baby #2. Plus my resume will be amped up with all the extra work I’m putting into this.

A little math for you: A full year teaching at a sub salary–approximately 21,000. Lowest starting teacher salary–approximately 47,000. Per my principal, the state of California would have to cut 160,000 teaching jobs or close every school in California for 25 days to be able to meet the budgetary demands the state is thinking of putting on California. Get real! Sheesh.

Anyhow, there’s been a lot going on, but I’m running out of time and energy to write anymore. Hope you enjoyed the latest installment of MY LIFE!

Pictures from our recent trip to NorCal

Fathers Day Photos

Little Johns very first fathers day, DH’s first fathers day and some of the pictures that came from our day.

Hubby’s First Father’s Day

So today was a very special day–not only was it my birthday, it was my hubby’s first father’s day. It was very eventful. Daddy got to spend quality time with the little one because I had to do a couple of interviews for my tutoring business (www.tutoring911.com). I came home and we went on a walk just me, my husband, and the baby to go get a smoothie. After we came back, we got ready to go to my dad’s house for a barbeque.

At the barbeque was me, my husband, little JJ, my mom, grandma, aunt, uncle, cousin, dad, two half-brothers, one sister in law and 3 nieces and nephews. Usually family get togethers are a little tense with our family, but surprisingly we went through 3 1/2 hours without any trouble whatsoever. We had loads of food and the burgers were great. I got my husband a card from the baby (I got my dad one from the baby as well) and a framed picture of him and the baby so he could keep it on his desk at work.

We got a picture of all the grandkids together for my dad and took a picture of all the dads at the barbeque as well. There were five of them. Then we had some cake and ice cream. Root beer float ice cream is the best. It was a fun day and everyone loved getting a chance to hold the little one. Boy is he a spoiled.