Only ONE more week!

I am proud to announce that I have made it back to teaching now for 7 weeks and only ONE MORE WEEK TO GO!!! I am way excited! It has definitely been hard leaving Garrett everyday to go to work. It's even harder to come home and have the energy to be a mom! I so look up to so many moms that work outside of the home! It is tough! Our families and friends have taken time out of their busy schedules to help us out to watch Garrett! We can't say enough thanks to how you have helped us! I am glad that I don't have to continue to work and can soon stay home with Garrett.

I can't believe that I am only one week away from retiring! That is sooo crazy to think about! This is my fourth year teaching and it is going to be strange not to go back. I can honestly say that I am going to miss it. There are many things that I will miss and many that I won't. Take today for example: I had a boy in my class have a COMPLETE meltdown! I am not just talking about a few tears, but full on screaming, head banging, almost digging eyes out type of meltdown. This all started when some boys were teasing him about a bug being on his shirt. Yes, at one point there was a bug on his shirt, but they didn't let it go and thought it was funny to keep tormenting this boy until he was beyond hysterical! NOT FUN!! His only solution to calming himself down was to suspend this boy! I wish I had the power sometimes to do that! Needless to say, I had to try and deal with that for almost 45 minutes while my class "hung-out" and waited for me to come back to the class. On the FLIP side of today: I had three great moms come in and present me with a treasure chest full of presents and treats for "Teacher Appreciation Week!" The best being $25 gift certificates for dinner and a movie! That was sooo nice of them! It makes all the hard work worth it when you have the support of great parents. I also got a card from a student yesterday that said, "too bad you're retiring this year. I think that kids next year would really like you!" That pulled at the heart for a minute knowing that there will be no next year! Despite all the ups and downs, the stress, the long days, the after hours work, the meetings, the conferences with parents, the not so fun emails and phone calls home to parents, recess duty and bus duty....the list could go on, I WILL MISS BEING A TEACHER!

Thanks to all the friends I have made over the last four years, the principals I have worked with, and the fabulous students that I have had the priviledge of teaching! I have grown and learned so much and if there is anything I have learned, it is how to be a better parent for my own kids! My teaching career is not ending, it is just beginning! I can now be my son's life-long teacher!I miss you too, Garrett!

Mother's Day 2008

I can't believe I just celebrated my first Mother's Day! I remember last year at this time wondering if I would every be a mom! Just a few short weeks later, we found out we were pregnant! Colin has always been sweet and gotten me a card and a gift in the past on mother's day just to show he cares and to say that he was excited for me to be a mom some day! Well, this year was special that I have a son to celebrate with! I woke up and got breakfast in bed and then opened a few gifts! My favorite being a new tent! I am so excited to camping this summer with Colin and Garrett. Our first tent that we have used for almost six years now isn't big enough for our whole family, so we had to have an upgrade! Yay! I can't wait, we are already planning our first trip in a couple of weekends! I love camping! Then we attended church where all the priesthood filled in for the women's callings. ALL the women in the ward got " a day off " which was nice. Unfortunately, I have a teaching calling for the fourth Sunday in Relief Society, so Colin didn't have to teach. Even better though that he got to coordinate the whole day for everyone in the ward! Great job sweetie! I know the women appreciated it! We then went to my family's house to have dinner which my little sister made and then to Colin's parents for dessert! Let's just say that we couldn't pass up strawberry shortcake at my house before we went to the Lewis's and also had strawberry shortcake! Lucky for me, that's my FAVORITE!! That is way too yummy to pass up having a second time! Colin says all the time, if I were what I ate, I'd be a strawberry! Last, but not least, I had to get a picture with my son. Garrett was being so wiggley! He would hardly hold still. He loved giving kisses on my mouth and cheek. I never thought I would enjoy slobbery kisses as much as I do! What a cutie! Thanks to Colin for making me feel special on my first Mother's Day. I look forward to the many more ahead!

A poem for his mommy
by Garrett
(okay....Daddy helped a little! )

I like to hear your sweet, soft voice.
I love your shining smile.
I like it when you read to me,
I've liked it for awhile.
It really makes me happy,
When you feed me everyday.
I try to keep it all inside of me,
But spit up, I just may.
Thanks for all you do for me,
My diapers, clothes, and baths.
I try to say my thank yous
With my smiles, giggles, and laughs.
I'm glad that you're my mommy,
No one else would do.
But most of all I want to say,
How much I love you!

Love

Your Son,

Garrett

The big race

We participated in the Race for the Cure on Saturday downtown at the Gateway! It was sure a fun thing to do as a family. This was my second year doing it and Colin and Garrett's first. We raced in honor of my dear friend Kristy's mom who passed away almost three years ago of breast cancer. Even though I haven't directly been affected by someone in my family having cancer, it was such a special thing to be a part of. There is just something about 17,000 people supporting the same cause that is inspiring. I participated last year in a diabetes walk and want to do the same thing this year. Hopefully one day they will find a cure for cancer and diabetes, but until then, let's RACE!!!

Garrett and I waiting for Trax! He enjoyed his first ride on trax. He slept the whole way there!



Colin and Garrett trying to squeeze their way through to the starting line. It only took us about 1o minutes to get there!

Just after we were 1/2 way done, Garrett decided he didn't want to ride in the stroller anymore! Thank heaven we had our bjorn that we could still carry him in!


WE made it to the finish where we met up with Kristy!
We are excited for our next race in September!

3 Months Old

Our little guy turned 3 months this past week. We don't know exactly how much he weighs or how long he is, but we do know that he's getting big and heavy. He is at such a cute stage right now, so smiley and making the best baby noises. After 3 months with this kid, we just love him more and more everyday.

Garrett making monkey faces. You can't hear it through the photo, but you can almost feel the sounds he's making. The cooing and gooing is just the cutest thing ever.

As you can see, Garrett is getting bigger and taller. He is already the same size and his monkey buddy

Garrett is also getting a little more coordinated with his hands and has been sucking on his fingers and putting things in his mouth. Not even the monkey's hands are safe from Garrett's slobber.

Recent photos

Here are some photos that we have taken the past couple of weeks.

I love to give Garrett a bath. He is enjoying them a lot more lately and is kicking his cute little legs and splashing a little bit with his arms. It is fun to put on his lotion after and listen to him coo and goo because he likes it! He loves to be wrapped up in his towel after to stay warm and it is fun to cuddle him while he's in it. Most of all, I just love how he smells after...no one can resist that fresh baby smell after a bath!

Colin has been asking me for weeks to play his favorite WWII game with him. So, last Saturday night I agreed to sit down and "play" with him. I did end up the winner even though Colin basically played for me. He thought that would help me want to play again? I was proud of myself that I lasted a whole HOUR! Garrett is also enjoying himself in his bouncer!

Daddy and his boy

Garrett has learned a new trick....blowing spit bubbles!

This is Colin trying to hold our son and get dressed at the same time! Don't worry, he was holding him over the bed just in case. He did manage however to get fully dressed with our son in his arms. I offered to help, but he insisted on holding him because he had just got home from work!

This is a cute picture of Garrett with his Grandpa Lewis. Garrett has his "nibble my toes" onesie on because he knows that his grandpa loves his eat them!

This picture is just too hilarious! He loves his fingers and was chewing on them. Notice the "cleavage" on this porker! I think he gets it from his dad! ha ha ha

Future in the "MO TAB"?

We watched Conference on Saturday and Sunday. I really enjoyed many of the talks and as always, the beautiful music. It was Garrett's first conference and he did really well. He takes after his DAD and SLEPT through most of it! Come on, admit it, I think we ALL take a long blink or two...I DO! We did catch this cute photo with him singing along with the MOrmon TABernacle choir! I hope he also takes after his dad with a great voice!

WE LOVE SPRING!

Spring is my favorite season for so many reasons. I love that the weather is getting warmer...the short sleeves and capris come out of the closet. I love to paint my toe nails and to wear flip flops. I love that the earth becomes more green, the trees bloom and the daffodils and tulips are everywhere you look. What I have also loved about it is more walks with Maggie and Garrett. I can't lie...I have been taking walks for a couple of months now...I just can't stay inside all day! It is just more fun now because we don't have to bundle up as much. Pretty soon we'll take the wool liner out of the car seat and we'll have to go early in the morning to avoid over heating. I think Garrett almost looks forward to a walk daily just as much as Maggie. When I ask him if he wants to go on a walk with his puppy he grins from ear to ear and kicks his chubby legs. It is also fun to make faces at him as he rides in his stroller and I can tell that he really enjoys being outside. Something about the rhythm of the stroller and cement always seems to put him to sleep after awhile and he doesn't even flinch as all the dogs say hello to Maggie. As you can see in this picture, he is sporting his new sunglasses that he got for Easter!!! They didn't last long, but I still managed to get a smile from the cutest baby on the block! Here is to many more sunny walks with Mom and pups! Yeah for Spring!