School's Out For Summer!

School is out for this teacher! Although I am attending some summer professional development workshops this summer, the rest of my time is William's. Two amazing teachers at my school put together a mom-kid event calendar for May, June, and July. The local library also has events throughout the summer. I am hoping we stay active & busy while we have so much time together!

So far, we have gone to the park (first time in a swing!) and looked at plants with Dad. Who knows what's next?!

Teacher Life

I just finished my eighth year of teaching. I've taught all eight years in third grade & all at the same building, but in three different classrooms. I've taught on a team as large as six teachers and this year on a team of two. I've learned that to be a good teacher, you must surrounded yourself with good teachers. I am definitely surrounded by some really great teachers! The third grade team has always been strong at our school, even with all the changes it has gone through. We do our best to put the students first and make them our priority. 

The picture above is my third grade team (with one trying out first grade for a couple years). These ladies have become colleagues and, more importantly, friends. They were there for my infertility struggles and pregnancy celebration, not to mention a daily support in the classroom! I would not be as good a teacher without them by my side. I feel blessed to have them in my life. 

This coming year, one of my very dear friends is coming back to third grade after teaching fourth for a while. I can't wait to teach with Annie again!

More Reach, Grab, Play, Eat

William: 5 months

5 Month Stats

Weight: roughly 15lbs

Length: 25in

Eating: Still chugging away at breastfeeding! The breasteding going well, but pumping is starting to get annoying. Good thing summer is literally days away and I won't have to do that as much since I will be home with Will. His eating schedule is now stretched to 3.5 hours (may try to stretch to closer to 4 hours once I am home for summer). No solids yet, we will probably wait til June. But I am reading some books about baby food!

Bedtime: We are attempting to break Will of his swaddle. He's been arms out for a bit, but now we are freeing the feet at well. Never knew how exciting it is to have your feet free!! ;) It allows him to turn/pivot more and even roll over to his belly which is new for him. He will be sleeping on his back, but wake up on his belly which startles/upsets him. I'm sure eventually he will enjoy belly sleep, but it wakes him up right now. We have started giving him his paci and covering him with a light blanket for sleep (nighttime and naps). He is sleeping from 8p-6:45/7a (with a 10:45p dreamfeed). 

Naps: Pretty much the same as nighttime sleep. His naps are getting a bit longer and he doesn't need held as often. Except now without the swaddle, he wakes easier and needs settled. 

Diapers: still size 1, but think we are moving to size 2 soon

Clothes: I packed away all his 0-3month clothes. He's wearing 3mo & 3-6mo clothes right now. 

Favorites: Being held is #1 on William's list of favorite things in life. He is okay for a little while not being held, but if there is someone in the room that is available to hold him, they better be getting over to him. And it doesn't matter if you are making dinner or even putting his bottles together, he wants to be held right then and there! I've been told I was just like that!! ;)

Will also likes his police car and activity jumper. The police car helps him move around the kitchen/dining room area. Being mobile on his own is something novel to him. The activity jumper lets him strengthen his legs and jump as much as he wants to. Plus, there are little toys on there to figure out.

Dislikes: Being 'stuck' on his belly once he's rolled over. He tell him to rescue himself since he knows how. 

Development: Will can roll over both ways now! He sometimes forgets that he can do this, though, and gets mad that he's put himself in tummy time. Give him a little nudge and he's good to go back on his back. Each morning, he starts him day on his playmat/playgym. He bats at the hanging toys and practices his pivoting and rolling skills. We put him on the open carpet with toys around him to make him reach for his toys and roll to get them. Just in the past couple days has William started grabbing onto his feet and holding them/ checking them out.

As for weight, the extra 6pm 3oz bottle and upping him daytime bottles to 5oz have helped in adding some extra rolls onto Will's legs and filling out his belly & cheeks. I hope my nursing can keep up with his new appetite! But I have plenty of milk in the freezer to supplement if the little guy is still hungry.

Will is also finding his voice right now. He is working on make sounds at all different volumes and pitches. Our favorite of his giggle! We haven't been able to capture it on video yet, but we hope to soon!! He normally only laughs at Bret and mostly when Bret is telling me about his day. Then Bret will try to be funny or make silly sounds and Will just stares at him (like, What are you doing?!). Bret goes back to the regular story and Will starts cracking up again!

He's looking towards loud sounds and we are trying to say his name as much as possible with him so he starts recognizing it as his own. He is still as alert (read: noisy) as can be and wants to know what everyone is doing around him at all times.

Looking Forward To: 

-completely no swaddle sleep success

-starting solids (or at least having a plan to start the solids)

-summer starting so we can spend more time together as a family

Next month, Will is HALF A YEAR old!!! How did that happen??

Reeeeeeaaaaaacccchhhhhh

Now that Will can turn over both ways, he's working on reaching things while he's in his belly (tummy time).

The struggle is real ;)

Lady, could you stop taking pictures of me and help me out?!

My First Mother's Day

Today was my first Mother's Day! William decided to start it a bit early by waking at 6:40am (instead of 7am). So he and I started the day off with some cuddles and rocking, I didn't mind one bit. 

After he nursed, he played on his playmat. And by played, I mean that he rolled over and over and over. He was rolling like he'd been doing it for months instead of days. Bret got up and got to see Will's new trick as well. Will was trying to impress us and practice his new skill as he flipped over and over for twenty minutes straight. Tummy time is now a little different as Will can roll his way out of it. 

Most of the day was a normal, calm Sunday. Lots of cuddles and time together as a family. We met both of our parents and Bret's sister/brother-in-law for dinner. It was great to see everyone! We had to jet out of dinner early as Bret had a night shift at work. 

We did have time for a quick photo shoot for our first Mother's Day:

We Have A Roller

William is now rolling from his back to his belly! This was Saturday morning and Will rolled about three times total. I'm sure he's just going to get better & better at it.