First Day of School!

My favorite four year old started his second year of preschool Monday.  I made my dad squeeze in a quick photo shoot before he had to go to work.  How handsome is this sweet thing?

Please notice the different color socks.  That is Paul's thing.  He thinks it is really cool to have crazy socks like this.  I'm just happy I can still get him in a shirt with a collar.

I didn't think I was going to be sad because this is our 2nd year of preschool.  He is going three days this year instead of two, but it is at the same school.  However,  when I hugged him goodbye my heart felt a little heavy.  He hugged me a little tighter than usual, but was ready to get started in the classroom. He did come back to find me after we said goodbye and I thought he was a little sad, but he just wanted to ask where his friend Kipton was.  Super.

When I picked him up he reported his day was AWESOME!
He said he learned a lot of things, but he couldn't remember them all.  He played outside twice.  His teachers were nice.  There were new kids in his class but he didn't know their names.  He took a nap.  He ate most of his lunch.  He went to the bathroom twice and washed his hands one of those times (super).  And then the thanked me for taking him to school.

I seriously hope that he always loves school and learning this much!  To many more four year old adventures!

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Before I get started, have you all read this article?  My friend Sarah sent it to me and it is hilarious!   Since I went on two vacations one with kids and one without, I can personally affirm how true this situation is.

Well back at it today.  The great thing about being a teacher is that it is a fresh start.  You can wipe the slate clean and start over.  Everyone is so optimistic at the beginning of the school year.  You can smell the freshly sharpened pencils.  The students seem excited about their newly purchased binders.  Who the hell know what happens by late September, but I love the buzzing around the first days of school.

To celebrate this school year I bought myself these amazing new grading pens from Amazon.  If you are a teacher you need these ASAP.  Even if you are not a teacher you probably need them.  Look at all these colors!

We were actually back to work last week without students.  And the air conditioning was broken.  I know many schools have never had air conditioning and let me just say AMEN to you.  It was awful. We were all wearing shorts and tank tops, which obviously not very professional but absolutely necessary.  Hopefully things are up and running this week.  Because no air conditioning with 30 high schoolers in a classroom can only lead to one thing: puberty stank.  And that my friends is disgusting.

A little classroom preview.  

I also bought Charlie some back to school kicks.  Guess from where?  AMAZON.  What did people do before this one-click phenomenon?  Is it even money?  It's amazing.  They are so freaking cute and he looks even more adorable when wearing them.  Side note: a nine year old girl thought Charlie was a girl at the park the other night.  Instead of letting it go, I made sure to correct her.  I'm very mature.

They boys have a big transition when we go back to work as well.  Paul asked me the other morning, "You have to go to work AGAIN?"  So another Amazon (should they give me money for all these mentions?) purchase for Paul helped ease his pain.  This little device pitches the balls to you for a fun baseball afternoon!  It is a big hit with the entire neighborhood.  If you're a boy.  

As I am starting my 11th year teaching I feel like I have a few things down.  For example, yesterday I treated myself to a manicure.  I went with a blue/teal color.  The lady next to me commented that it was a very bold choice.  I told her it was trendy now and I had teenagers to impress.  It is really great that I can catch some girl's attention with my fashion choices and nail polish color.  Ha!  Here is to another school year.  May my students be nice, the air conditioning strong and fall break be here before I know it!

Right Now

I have red wine and a computer.  It should make a perfect recipe for blogging, but I am so freaking tired.  How do people do this?  The novelty of the working mom, still going to the gym, staying home and practicing letters with my toddler, all while breastfeeding my newborn is gone.  G-O-N-E.  Now exhaustion has set in.  I read somewhere, that if you want to be happier then you should wake up an hour before you have to in order to have some alone time, or do something you don't think you have enough time for.  Like writing.  But my alarm already goes off at 5 am.  Who can get up earlier?  It is a good idea in theory, since after we get home from work and put the kids to bed, I can hardly keep my eyes open to watch an episode of the Mindy Project.  But I don't think I can do it.

What I really set out to write about is breastfeeding.  How hard breastfeeding is.  I think about quitting every single day.  And then I feel guilty for thinking that every single day.  I breastfed Paul for three months as I struggled with milk production and really didn't know how to increase my supply.  Things are a little better this time but I still have a hard time making enough for Charlie.  Sometimes after he has fed for 25-30 minutes on the boob, he will still drink 3 ounces of a bottle.  And sometimes this bottle is formula.  And yes that bums me out a little bit.  My pregnancies are relatively easy, and I can get these babies out of my body fast and furious, but for some reason my boobs don't want to cooperate.  The best feeding Charlie and I have is first thing in the morning.  I am full, he can eat sleepily, and it is calm and satisfying for both of us.  From then on out it is a crap shoot.

And to add to the stress of the whole thing, I am back at work.  Pumping at work.  I would like to take a moment to virtually hug every woman who exclusively pumped for their child.  I mean when you see your nipples grow 4 inches in length as they get sucked out of any normal resemblance, you know your love your child.  I pump in our book room at school.  I have to drag a chair in there every time, and put a sticky note that says "occupied" on the door so some sorry male teacher doesn't walk in and get the flashing of their lives.  I can hear the copier and people talking right outside the door.  It is not the most relaxing environment one could create.  But it's the only option for right now.

Another thing that is hard is that I have 90 minutes off a day (I am a teacher and work 3 days a week).  In those "off" 90 minutes I need to plan for the next day, make copies, grade papers, meet with students, go to staff meeting, eat lunch, and maybe (if I'm really lucky) go the bathroom.  Pumping takes about 28-30 minutes out of this off period.  To say I can't get everything done is about the understatement of the year.  I leave work feeling like I didn't even experience my day.  I was running around so crazily that I hardly have time to stuff my "lose the baby weight" approved almonds in my mouth.

But every time I think about quitting, I start getting sad.  Ryan remind me that I felt just as guilty with Paul, but I don't seem to remember it like that.  Maybe because this is the last time I am going to do this.  Maybe because I wanted things to be a little different this time.  I don't really know.  All I know is that I've washed my pump parts and bottles for the third time today, and have packed that pump bag for work tomorrow.  I'm going to last at least one more day.