I've moved

I've got a new location.

It's true.

From now on you can read all about my life en espanol here:

www.lifeenespanol.blogspot.com

Lucky

I'm listening to this:



and I just watched this:



Both of which remind me how lucky I am to have this:



Happy Tuesday.

The Big One

Isabela will be 1 in exactly 29 days...

Aside from the fact that that is just unbelievable, it also means we have a 1st birthday party to plan.

Things that will not be present at Isa's 1st birthday party:

*Inflatables

*Clowns

*Cartoon character cutouts or posters

Things that will be present at Isa's 1st birthday party:

*Really tasty BBQ

*Beer and wine

*A very cute 1 year old eating BBQ and cake

It will be a very low key event with some good friends and the celebration of a beautiful life.

Plus, the added bonus of my mom, who is flying down for the weekend

Can't wait to celebrate this little life

Pump it Up

So, I have begun to workout. OK, so I've worked out twice in the past week... it's a start.

I'm feeling more motivated than ever, though, and I have decided to use the Tracy Anderson Method. For those of you unaware of the pint-sized workout queen, you can find out more here: www.tracyandersonmethod.com.

She trains Gweneth Paltrow, Madona, and Shakira, to name a few. Her whole deal is that she exhausts your larger muscle groups to get your smaller accessory muscle groups working, thus pulling everything in and getting you smaller while also making you stronger.

I know, that made me sound as though I know a lot more about muscle groups than I really do; which is close to nothing.

Basically, she's always switching things up, which helps prevent bulk and gets you lean.... which sounds good to me.

So, I've begun and I hope to continue so that I can get myself at least close to the size I was pre-Isabela. I'm also working on eating better. Not less, just better; incorporating more fruits and veggies and and less processed foods... which have always been my weakness. I just love chicken nuggets.

We'll see how this goes, but I'm feeling pretty good about it so far. Here's a little glimpse of what this whole method is all about:

Summer.... I can almost see it

Spring Break is over....

Insert sad face here

Now we're back in full swing until Summer Vacation....

Exactly 53 days away....

But who's counting....

I will just watch this video to cheer myself up til then

House Projects

So, now that we have finished remodeling our kitchen we aren't planning on doing anymore large renovations for a while; but in the mean time I have a bunch of small projects I wan to take on as the summer approaches. In order to really try and complete these things, I have compiled a list... and I do love a good list. So here it is:

1. Gather frames and pictures/objects for our future wall collage on the wall at the top of the stairs.

2. Sand and paint the headboard in the guest room... I'm thinking of trying a distressed grey color to go with the turquoise walls.

3. Paint both closets in the bedrooms and put on new knobs.

4. Repaint the hallway and Isabela's room (the same color, but they need another coat).

So, that's it for now. In regards to #1, here's what I had in mind:




This is a photo from the blog, younghouselove. You can read about how they did this awesome collage wall here: http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/04/its-done-and-we-heart-it/

They are pretty much my fav house blog and I can't deny that I am slightly jealous of their day job, which is to renovate their house and blog about it. I love these two!

So, that's all for now. I will be trying to get a new house tour video up soon since there have been so many changes since the last one. I just want the house to be in tip top shape before that happens, but hopefully in the next few days.

Much love!

One Big Mash Up

OK, so here's what's been going on as of late:

1. Life is still very much in crazy mode and has no chance of slowing down until June 17th when Summer break officially begins.

2. We have finished remodeling our kitchen and it looks awesome! The house is really coming together (pictures coming soon).

3. I have officially gained weight, and it's not just due to having a baby. In fact, I have put on more weight in the past 3 months or so as made obvious by my increasing bottom half. I am now faced with the harsh reality that I can't eat whatever I want and not work out and still remain a size 0. If I want things to change I have to make a plan and commit... we'll see how that goes.

4. I am the process of deciding whether or not to change masters programs. I am more than half way done with my current program but have not been impressed with it thus far. I found a great online program from University of North Dakota with a concentration in ELL (English Language Learners), which is what I want to focus on and will help me a ton when we move back to the states one day; however, they will only let me transfer 9 units, meaning I'd have a long way to go before finishing; but the idea of being done with a masters sooner than later is tempting, even if the program kind of sucks, decisions are the worst (name that movie).

5. Here's a fun update: My brother-in-law has gotten and accepted a job at the school we teach at and will be moving down here with his wife and adorable baby boy in August! Hooray for family! They are young as well and we absolutely love them and cannot wait to have them here to hang out with and to watch our kids grown up together, at least for a little while!

6. #5 means we will be living in Mexico for the next 2 years, since our family will be here for that long as well. After that we are considering moving somewhere else in Latin America or going back to the good ol' USA, we shall see where opportunity lies.

7. James and I have decided that we are going to begin the adoption process this coming fall. We will be adopting from Mexico through an agency that a friend of ours went through. This could take up to a year and a half, but we are motivated and excited to get the process started. Adoption has always been something James and I were passionate about and it's awesome to see that it can now become a reality... more info on that to come.

8. OK, take a breath; that's a lot, I know. I will conclude with this: I want to make it my goal over the next year to find a way to make this blog into something that I could do for some kind of living. I love to write; my college major was Journalism. I love the idea of working from home and spending more time with my kid (eventually kids). I love the idea of making my own schedule and not having piles of work to take home with me after the official work day is done. My main issue is finding a direction for this crazy mash up of a blog that as of now rarely gets used. As well, it's finding the time to really sit and commit to working on this goal along with all of the other things going on in my life. This is why I have given myself a year to figure it out. Ideally, if this works out, I could quit my job after the 2011-2012 school year and stay at home to write and substitute teach every now and then to earn some extra income. So, I need a plan, right? Every goal needs a plan. I'll get back to you when I have that plan...

Wow, so if you're still reading... whoever "you" are, I applaud you. I will attempt to write more often here so that my posts do not become overwhelming and filled to the brim with updates in every direction. Much love and cheers to the unknown!

A Day At Home

Today I get to have a glimpse of what it'd be like to be a stay-at-home-mom.

Our nanny had to stay home today to take care of her son and since we don't have a back up daycare plan (maybe we should get one of those), I got to stay home with the girl.

So far the day has gone something like this:

*Woke up at 6:30 to a smiley and still sleepy almost 9 month old, cuddled, changed a diaper, made a bottle and drank some coffee while playing with blocks

*8:30- nap time for baby, did a load of laundry, folded diapers, skype chatted with the sister

*10:00ish- nap time over, fed baby some apples and papayas then took baby and dog for a walk on an absolutely beautiful day

*10:30, returned, baby drank some juice and ate some crackers, played, I did another load of laundry

*12:30, another nap for baby, cleaned a bit, another load of laundry and blogging with a girly movie in the background and another cup of coffee in hand

It may sounds a bit mundane, but this has been one of the best days I've had in a while. I love spending these moments with Isa and getting to go through her routine with her.

As much as I love teaching, I often find myself wishing I could do this stay at home thing everyday. I'm sure every working mom struggles with the same thing.

For us, there isn't much of a choice since we both have to work to make it financially, and honestly, I enjoy working. I enjoy getting the chance to do something I am passionate about and good at.

And on those rare days I do get to spend all day with Isa, I revel in them. I am full of fervor and love for this girl and I cherish the time we have.

I know if it was everyday, I might take it for granted, as is often the case with beautiful things we see or get to do all of the time.

This is not to say I wouldn't highly consider the opportunity to be a stay-at-home-mom if I had the option, but it is to say I am thankful for what I have right now.

I am thankful for bottles, dirty diapers, toothless smiles, tiny baby barrettes, laundry, cuddling, mangoes and most of all this girl

Pearly Whites

Isa has her first tooth breaking through. She turned 8 months old two days ago and I was starting to get used to the idea that she would never have teeth; nope, we were just going to have to get her a pair of fitted baby dentures and that was that. But at least we wouldn't have to pay for braces.

James saw it this morning. A tiny white tip peaking through her pink gums. I feel so bad for her. Seriously, how painful. There's a reason these things happen when we're babies... can't talk and can't remember the pain.

My baby girl is growing up and it's happening so incredibly fast.

An Absence

Pardon my absence. Life has become a whirlwind and when I find I have some free time all I seem to want to do is sit. That's it; sit.

It has been quite a year thus far. I have taken over another long term sub position. Thankfully it is in the same grade level as my last one, so the team I am working with is the same and the curriculum is the same, but man, this is tough.

To go from one classroom to another and have to pick up where yet another teacher had left off. Both classes have such a different vibe, so it is a big adjustment from last time. A month in and I am finally feeling like I have a handle on this new class.

But it is exhausting. While teaching definitely has it's good days, I'd say it more often has the days where you come home exhausted and strung out because a handful of your 25 3rd graders decided to be, well, 8 years old that day and you know, act like themselves; which I can't really blame them.

It makes being a parent tough. When I get home from my long day all I want is to be fully engaged in my time with Isa. I only get about 3-4 hours before she's off to bed and I want to make them count.

However, when you're physically worn down and realize there are still lessons to plan or papers to grade, it can feel like too much.

It's made me question whether or not teaching is really the profession I want to pursue, while being a mom at the same time.

That is something I will not decide now, however, it is a thought that is hard to escape at times.

*****

I had some wonderful friends visit over the weekend. They are some of the best. We had such a great time and when they left, my heart hurt for San Diego; for the relationships I have there and the connections that I know I will be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

This does not help with the whole "I'm exhausted and not so sure I want to teach" scenario.

*****

And yet, I know things are constantly changing. Our life is so uncertain right now and some days it feels as if we have a handful of options in front of us while at other times it's as though there are only a few.

I have to trust that things will be OK no matter what we decide and that I continually carry my home with me; James and Isabela.