What a difference a year can make...

It is pretty amazing how fast a year can go and how much your life can change in that time!  A year ago right around this time, I had just found out I was pregnant with who is now the light of my life.  A couple days later I ran the Bix race in Davenport.  After losing about 30 pounds in the spring I was convinced to run this race with my friend Lindsay. I had never run a race like this in my life, so why not start with one of the hardest mid distance races around (have you seen the Brady Street hill?) I trained for a couple of months, ran and finished the race, then faked my way through a couple of virgin bloody mary drinks and was pretty proud of myself.  Now a year later I have a beautiful baby boy, haven't run a single day since I crossed that finish line and to be quite honest I'm ok with that....but now it might be time to put that jogging stroller to good use!?!?

The Crib...

So up until last night Lincoln has been sleeping in his rock n play next to my side of the bed. We decided to start making the transition to his crib at two months and I guess we could consider night one a success! He slept till about 3:30 and fell back asleep until about 8:00 when he woke up all smiles for Mommy :)

It's been one week since you looked at me....

So it's been a couple days over a week since we welcomed our beautiful son into our lives and what a week it has been.

The first few days were a challenge. Nursing Lincoln was proving more difficult that I thought and the lack of sleep and raging hormones did not aid in the matter. Tears were shed but I'm happy to say we are doing much better.

The whole sleep while the baby sleeps has only happened occasionally, certainly not as much as I would like but it's so hard not to just sit and stare at my handsome boy :) and maybe clean a little bit too...

Overall, it has been a whirlwind of a week but I wouldn't change a second of it!

Lincoln Thomas

Lincoln Thomas Chamberlain
Born April 5, 2013
5:19 PM
7lbs. 6oz.
20.5" long
Washington County Hospital

Babyisms

Since I've been pregnant life in a school has been a bit more interesting. The difference between my experience being pregnant at school and other teachers is that as the librarian I know EVERY kids in school and they know me, so there are a lot more kids "interested" in the situation.

Most comments are pretty standard and if it were anyone but my students saying it, they would probably get a punch in the face for their lack of tack...

"Wow Mrs. Chamberlain you are getting big!"
"Mrs. Chamberlain your belly is really starting to stick out"

etc., etc.

Most kids have no boundaries so I do get random belly touches throughout the day. Some kids ask, some kids don't and for the most part I'm ok with it. There are some kid specific exceptions though, but I won't name names.

I also get a lot of really great comments, which I'm starting to call babyisms. Based on these babyisms I am beginning to think that some students don't think its a little human in my belly, but some kind of creature of sorts.

5th Grader Babyisms

After telling some kids that I'm a bit tired that day, to which they reply "Why?"

Me: Well it's hard work growing a human ya know

Student 1: It's not that hard, all you have to do is feed it
Student 2: how do you feed it?
Student: I don't know there is some kind of tube or something...


A couple of girls are asking me questions about how old I am and Baby C

Girl 1: How far along are you Mrs. Chamberlain
Me: Oh about 4 months or so
Girl 1: It doesn't even look like you are pregnant
Me: Oh there is a little belly there (to which I pull my shirt a little closer to my body so she can see the bump)
Girl1: Some people have that even when they aren't pregnant...

Girl 2: How old are you Mrs. Chamberlain
Me: 27
Girl 2: Are you sure you are ready to have a baby?

I have also been asked if I was keeping my baby after I had it, which is actually a bit sad, but not a surprise based on my student population.


Kindergarten & First Grade Babyisms
In the earlier months when I had only told a few people and the rumors were running wild :)

I hear a little first grader, who is a bit of a diva, whispering to another student about my being pregnant. She finally gets up to courage to ask...

Girl: (in total disbelief) Mrs. Chamberlain she told me that her brother told her that his teacher said you were going to have baby!?!?!?

Me: Well that's because I am

Girl: (with a look of total shock) You are? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh


At morning duty I was watching the Kindergarteners, one of them walks up to me

Girl: Mrs. Chamberlain can I pet your baby?
Me: Well I don't know about petting my baby, but you can touch my belly if you want. Thanks for asking first.


Students walk in to library class

Girl: Mrs. Chamberlain did your baby get out?
Me: Nope it didn't get out yet

Two in One....

It's no surprise that I missed a day of my little January project...but I'm blaming it on pregnancy fatigue and falling asleep on the living room floor.

January 5
So with only 3 months left before Baby C arrives I have been working on registries and man are they more difficult than I thought. Thanks to all my mother (and father) friends I put out a request for suggestions on Facebook and it was a good decision. I received SO many good suggestions!
So a big thanks to everyone.

January 6
So as much as I hate to admit it...I refused to try Nutella until I was in Italy (I mean come on...it's has to be better in Europe) and needless to say, I realized the error in my ways and have since become a big fan. I am always seeing Nutella recipes on Pinterest and have tried one before that combined my other favorite sweet treat...red velvet anything. Well I found another one and decided to try it out. I did add a couple of scoops of peanut butter to the dough...I do love the combination of anything chocolate and peanut butter :)

http://www.daisychubb.com/recipe-mini-nutella-cookie-cups/

Things You Shouldn't Feel Obligated to Do While Pregnant...Saving Cats

9 Lives...and Counting

So I had an OB appointment this morning...26 weeks and counting my friends! My appointments are in Washington and afterwards I stopped by my parent's house to chat and of course look in the fridge and also see if I can do some "shopping" in her pantry. (Some habits are hard to break)

When I arrived I was greeted, as usual, by my parent's three dogs who left shortly after with my dad. Since the dogs were gone, my mom let out the newest addition to the family...a little black cat she saved one night from two of the previously mentioned dogs, who let's just say aren't very fond of cats and would rather make them a snack than a playmate. The cat eventually crept out of its basement home and was having a lovely time being a curious little cat. Little did I or the cat know that my dad had returned to collect some of the trash and the next thing I know, Lucy, one of the dogs was in the house and after the cat in a flash. I immediately started screaming for my mom, ran towards the dog who had spotted its prey, and dove on the kitchen floor tearing the dog away from the cat. Luckily I got there just in time and the cat made its getaway safely back to the basement.

I looked up at my mom and said..."probably not something I should be doing while pregnant and it's a good thing I'm not more pregnant or kitty probably would have had a different fate." The cat eventually ventured back out of the basement and found a safe little spot under my mom's seed bin counter.

*Note the paint cans holding the counter off the floor. These were placed there when the refrigerator decided to have a major leak and to make sure the floor dried underneath these cans were put in place. My parents have since decided they prefer the new height of the counter and the cans have remained in this position for several months. Thankfully they had my handyman Todd build them a "stand" of sorts, which I will feature in a future post :)

Well of to bed...back to work tomorrow and I'm quite depressed about it! :(