Hello October

I am happy this month is finally upon us. We have been going and going and going. It is time for a rest. Which is what I got last week in the form of Fall Break. Loved every moment. The start of the break brought Lily's baby shower. What a wonderful time with family. We celebrated the fact that this little angel would soon be with us. As Jack ate cake from everyones plate, and I literally mean everyones plate, I thought about how soon Lily would be held in everyone's arms. And just as happy as eating bites of cake from anyone who would give him some, Lily would soon feel that same happiness in the warmth of everyones loving arms. I was so overwhelmed with Joy that day.
The middle of the break brought Brian and I to a dealership in Huntsville where we made our first real big purchase. We bought a new vehicle for the kids. Yes. For the kids. (I do get the pleasure of driving it, but it's for the kids.) They needed a safe vehicle to ride in and somehow, we are going to make the payments. somehow. Brian is really talented at what he does. The owner of the dealership is now a client of Brians. She wanted to help us out. She gave us the. best. deal. in. the. world. We are very blessed. Very Blessed.
I became antsy at the end of the break and didn't want to be alone. Brian works all of the time and I just wanted him home with Jack and I. Finally the weekend. Football. IHOP. and Family.
In the midst of it all, Jackson managed to get a real big boy haircut. Seriously. He is officially a little boy who puts his cell phone and pasie in his "pockies." I love discovering what he has tucked away in his pocket at the end of the day. No matter how short or long that boys hair is - he will always be my baby. Always.

Happy Fall.

A little Closer

Just 22 more days until Lily's big arrival!!! Oh what a celebration it will be!!!

Under Construction

I have really messed up the appearance of my blog. I can't get it back to the way it was before. I don't even have an option to insert gadgets. So, please ignore the blahness for a while. I will return soon with an update on my sweet Lily and Jack. In the meantime...Happy Fall!!!

Hiccups

My sweet Lily is practicing her breathing techniques. Every evening we sit through 20minutes of hiccups. It's cute and makes me very excited to think that she will be here soon.

A Little More Jack Talk

Up - hop

Gum - gung

Monkey - onkey

Milk - Mulk

Footbal - ball ball

The pig says - wink wink

The frog goes - rrrooocckk rrroocck

Drink - gink

Big truck - honk honk

Poot - nnn boot

Sock - frock

Every day is a new word and of course, Jack knows a lot more animal sounds, those two are the hard ones to figure out!!!
There is always a little babble befor he says his word. For example: "uh huu mmmm nnn mulk."

Family

Things are running smoothly in the Smalley household. Jack has adjusted well to his new daily routine and I am enjoying being back in my classroom. Brian, of course, is busy, busy, busy with football coaching duties, and our dog Dale is living large. I like waking up in the morning to see Brian and Jack's little sleeping faces next to me. There is something so calming to see your little baby sleeping so peacefully. (Jack usually wakes up around 5 am and we have made a habit of laying him down with us until we are ready to get up. Jack loves it.) He is a snuggler too. I usually receive feet in my face while Brian gets Jack's cheeks pressed right up against his. Jack loves his daddy so much. If we by chance, we wake up and Brian has left for the day - Jack is devastated that he isn't next to him. It takes coaxing to get him up and over the emotional distress - usually Mickey Mouse Club or Elmo's World does the trick every time. He is a little lucky boy to have such a loving daddy. Lily is going to melt Brian's heart into pieces. I can only imagine what it will be like when the both of them are missing their daddy.
I get such a warm feeling thinking about lazy mornings with all four of us in the bed together. Laughing. Snuggling. Tickling. I am such a blessed momma. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Job Update

Well, I will be teaching again this year. A month into the school year and finally have a position. I am back at Ed White and thrilled to be back at that school. (challenges and all) It is only a part time position so I am extra excited that I will teach in the morning and then come home to be with my beautiful babies in the afternoon. It works out perfectly! I am teaching 2 classes of regular 8th grade English and 1 course of 8th grade honors English. It will be the FIRST time in my teaching career that I will be able to use lesson plans and pacing guides from the previous year! I know what to expect, I know what units to teach and when, and I am even in the SAME classroom that I was in last year. Now all I have to do is grab all teaching materials (around 10 boxes) from storage, carry it to the school, and set up the most welcoming classroom in the world before Monday. A tough task for someone two months from delivering a little baby! I'm not too worried about it nor am I stressing myself to get "setup." I have plenty of time and plenty of hands to help me!!!