School...

I made it. I've successfully been back-to-school for an entire work week! Whew I'm exhausted...but it's absolutely amazing.

The beginning of this year of teaching was filled with "new" things. A brand new building, in a new district, and I'm teaching a new grade - 8th graders. Although this will be my 2nd year of teaching, all of the "new' things make it feel more like my first. But, I am utterly impressed with all that I've experienced so far. The staff is fabulous. Everyone I meet is positive, helpful, and enthusiastic about teaching and learning. The students are amazing...they will do anything I ask the first time, and I practically could leave them be and they'd still do the work...and do it well! And, the administration has it all together and are always working towards the best of the students! What a change :)

My classroom is filled with storage...and for those of you teachers out there - you know storage is hard to find. I have three entire walls will so many cabinets and drawers that I've lost count. And, I have my own personal storage closet for extra materials :) I have brand new black desks and matching chairs...and there's no engraving of lovely choice words on them...yet! We'll work on keeping them that way. I will no longer have to dust off or listen to the awful sound of my chalkboard, as I have a wonderful new white board.

I'm trying to decide what's harder: starting a new school year almost 7 months pregnant, or coming back to school after a 6 week maternity leave and being mommy to my little man? I'm hoping that it's harder to be pregnant?!

So, here's to hopefully another wonderful year of doing what I love, and getting paid well to do it! My dream was always to become a teacher and a mommy...

"The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams."
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Ready or not...here you come!

Dear Baby Krieger,

Today is August 19, 2010. There is approximately 102 days until your long-awaited arrival. I have this funny feeling time is going to fly by and soon enough you'll be here...

In order to feel prepared for my coming school year, I dedicated (okay and maybe obsessed) over getting your room ready. To date, thanks to my all-day shopping sprees and baby showers, your room is ready. You have an entire drawer filled with dreft-washed cotton footie jammies you can snuggle into on your first few weeks of life. Your little butt will be pampered with your gigantic stock of diapers and wipes piled in your daddy's closet :) Your bedding is washed, cuddly, and ready for a sleepy newborn.



OH, and don't worry, you'll be clean and ready to go...whether we go shopping, hang out with all of the many visitors who will ooodle over you, or if we're just cuddling and spending quality mommy and baby time. Check this out:



I really would like your help on all of the little essentials you might want for our everyday travels, but I did get a head-start on filling your diaper bag. I assumed you'll want a clean and dry butt, some toys to slobber all over, and a pacifier to hold you over in desperate situations. I can't wait for you to give me advice on what else to fill your designer diaper bag with :)



And, even though your tiny little hands won't know what to do with these yet, we have a collection of noisy, light-up, and colorful toys ready for you to play with! I can only imagine how many you'll end up with over the years...but for now I think you have a pretty nice stash!



Oh, and we thought we had your name all picked out. I've been sure of a name since the day I found out I was pregnant. I pictured a little boy and had the perfect name. Well, my mind has changed. Your daddy and I have been writing and crossing out many names and are down to a few. Your dad wrote several names in cursive writing on your changing pad cover to practice what we liked best :) It was really sweet. Instead of just choosing one name, we've come up with a few...and we're going to let you do the deciding. When you join us in this wonderful world, we'll see which name you look like and then choose!

So, sweet baby, keep kicking, wiggling, and moving. You've entertained me during my back-to-school meetings that normally put me to sleep with your kicks that move my crossed arms and your wiggles that make me smile. Keep growing big and strong so you can be the rough-and-tumble little boy I'm preparing for.

I can't tell you everything about being a mom yet, but what I do know is that you have a very loving mommy and daddy who can't wait for you to be here, family and friends who already spoil you, and fabulous little room awaiting you!

I love you already little man :)

Love,
Mom

25 Weeks!

How far along: 25 weeks and 3 whole days!

Food cravings/aversions this week: I'm still hesitant to eat chicken, however, cravings for it have been so terrible that I've given in. Each and every time I give in - SICK! Whoops...maybe I'll learn my lesson one of these days. My cravings are still constantly changing. I could spend hours in Hy-Vee and still not know what sounds good. I'm continuing my cereal-filled diet; I've finished my sixth entire box of cereal - a task I've never accomplished in my life. I am drinking a cream soda as I type this up, and it's scrumptious! We'll see how long this craving lasts...

Changes/feelings: This week I've been working at school. My first official meeting was on Tuesday, and the rest of the week I've been at school and in meetings from 8-4. It's been a change, that's for sure...but I'm definitely ready to be back to work. The first day I was able to work in my room I stayed from about 8 am - 8 pm. Lesson learned. This body is not meant for long hours after a lazy summer filled with pool visits, sweatpants, and afternoon naps. I took it easy the next couple of days by staying at school for just an hour or two, and now I'm feeling pretty much in the swing of things.

Memorable moment this week: My baby showers! I felt so honored and thankful as all of my best friends and family gathered to shower the little one with all of the essentials. It was still surreal to see myself surrounded with pastel colors and baby carriage gift bags. The gifts kept coming and coming, and soon enough the Venza and I were packed and ready to have a baby! Thanks again for all of the gifts everyone!

Least favorite moment this week: This weekend I looked down while watching T.V., and for the very first time I could only see my belly protruding. It was the first moment that I realized: there really is baby in there...growing and slowly but surely running out of room. This might be only one of a few times that I go through these changes in my entire life. How amazing. How am I going to feel for the next few months? And more importantly, where is this little man going to go?! November will be here soon I can tell! :)

What I am looking forward to: Meeting this little man. I can just picture him sitting on my lap...tiny and innocent. I can't wait to begin this next journey in life, and I'm feeling VERY ready!

A combination of the two?

As I flipped through old pictures reminiscing about our 9 years together, I stumbled into a pile of baby pictures. A small piece of our past was captured in this handful of memories. I couldn't help but to think about what this little baby is going to look like.

All summer long I've been creating "To do" and "To buy" lists. I've been obsessing over the perfect paint color, the exact way to organize drawers and cupboards full of bottles, footed pajamas, and boxes of diapers, the overwhelming thought of leaving my classroom of students in another teacher's hands for six weeks. I mostly forget about the miracle that's soon coming into our lives.

When I first glanced at the pictures, I thought, hmmm...so that's what we looked like as babies? I guess I never paid attention to our hair color as little ones. I never thought twice about how big of baby I was; yet how small of a baby Eric was. All I have to say is SORRY BABY K! We apologize for all of the things you might inherit that are not wonderful attributes. For example: I was nearly a 10 pound baby. That's right...10 POUNDS! Oh lord... Your dad: he has long, skinny toes and was born with this scowl on his face that to this day landed him with the nickname "The BIZ". I've boasted a double-chin since the day I arrived on this Earth...and sorry to fill you in, little man, but your daddy has one, too!


A combination of the two of us...a little mini-version of Eric with I'm sure a sprinkling of me - I hope! Well, baby Krieger...there are some good things about your Mommy and Daddy that we hope you inherit...those things just aren't as easy to see. They are built in, and hopefully we can "build" them into you, too.

We're not perfect, little pork chop, but we're sure trying really hard to become the best parents we can be. I hope you have your Dad's eyelashes and my love for learning...among many other things. I hope you love your life, and everything we've worked so hard to have for you. And, again, our apologies for the not-so-goods!

Can't wait for you to join us in this wonderful world of life!

Love you already,
Mommy

23 Weeks!

How far along: 23 Weeks...in one week I will be 6 months preggo!

Food cravings/aversions this week: My crazy cravings change all the time now. I never eat a whole bunch at one sitting, but I can guarantee you I'm eating all the time!

When we were sitting at the Sea Lion show at the St. Louis Zoo a little girl was downing a can of Pringles - Original. I almost snatched them out of her little hands...so I went to the nearest grocery store and bought myself a gigantic can of pringles :) There's still 1/2 a can left...I'm proud.
Ordering at restaurants has become difficult as well. Something sounds good, I order, then I see someone else eating something and I want what they have! It's a bad habit that's been slowly forming. Yesterday, Autumn and I went to lunch. I started with a fried pickle appetizer, followed by chicken wings (I know...why do I even try to eat chicken?) which I ate two bites of, and finished off with a kid's hot dog meal. Who knew?! I really only ate a few bites of each :)

Changes/feelings: I can feel little Baby Krieger kicking and squirming all the time now. The other night in the bath tub, I literally saw my stomach move from one side to the other. I could feel feet on the side of my tummy (they are normally towards the bottom). My bladder got a rest from his soccer-playing antics!

Memorable moment this week: Eric felt his first real kick on the outside of my bump! He always touches and rubs my belly, and talks to the little man on the inside. But, until this week, feeling kicks were unsuccessful. However, he finally felt his first real kick...and boy was it a kick! I even jumped!

Least favorite moment this week: My belly is growing, and growing, and growing. I know. That's what it should be doing, right? WRONG! In my mind, being pregnant means having a cute little baby bump for the whole 9 months...not one that keeps growing and growing. How am I ever going to find teacher clothes for this gigantic mound that I get to see everyday?

What I am looking forward to: Starting at my brand new school building...which means I'm that much closer to actually having this little baby! Just a few more months...