I'm back!

So I know I haven't been utilizing this blog as well as I should but I am back now and ready to share :) Jason and I went to our 32 week Ultrasound and were happy to learn Baby Andrew is growing well and even has hair on his little head! I also am happy to state that through some blogging I was able to find out that the bouts of continous tapping I would feel from time to time were not a baby banging his head against my stomach but instead him dealing with his first cases of hiccups. AWWWW how cute!

I am going to try and post the 3D shots on the blog but due to my crappy computer abilities i am not going to promise anything :)

It's a BOY!!!

So in case any of you wondering these past few weeks, we have found out we are having a BOY! We went in for the U/S where they check all of the baby's organs, sex, and size. Everything was perfect, except as usual our little one did not want to cooperate fully and we have to return in 4 weeks to finish looking at all of the anatomy ( not that I mind, I love going in and seeing him on the screen moving and shaking).

J graduated this weekend and our families flew down for the occasion. Graduation was very formal and A LOT faster than our previous undergrad graduations (4 1/2 hours in the pouring rain). J started his BAR classes this past Monday and had to miss the U/S but my parents were there and loved seeing their grandson on the television in all his baby glory.

Thank you to all of you making your helpful suggestions and those of you who voted on the sex of the baby. ( bask in your greatness if you were right :) )

I'm Back!

So, I know I have been MIA for a few weeks but I'm back and ready to chat :) All is well after the shooting at the school a few weeks ago, and things have gotten back to normal (whatever that means ) :)

I attended Kelly's baby shower yesterday (thank you Amanda for hosting such a magical tea party) and it was very nice to see all the girls as well as little Harper. Kelly got some great and adorable clothes for the future baby Josephsen and we all got to oooohhhh and aaaahhhh over everything.

J and I are doing well here in the sunny city and he decided to accept a job offer, so we are on our way to total adulthood! I am very excited for him because as he would say it "it's his DREAM job" and I couldn't have asked for anything else. I only have about 5 weeks left in school and then I'm off to Seattle for some fun on the West Coast.

The baby is still doing well (I'm sorry I haven't posted the recent U/S pics but I have yet to figure out our scanner-but I will have them up sometime in the next few months :) ) I am starting to wonder if the grumbling in my tummy is ever baby Andrew but for now I will have to wait until he/she decides to make their precense more well known. We are set to find out the baby's gender May 19th so please be checking for that in the next few weeks. We are very excited to find out the gender and I can't wait to start registering and buying more things for the baby.

I have decided with all the verteran mother's/ preggies out there I would like to use this blog as a forum for suggestions and words of wisdom. So I will start it: If you have any suggestions for stroller brands and snuggly brands that have worked for you please let me know. O would also like to know what I shouldn't even bother purchasing yet, because the baby wont need it for a few months or even for the first year. Thank you to everyone who has already made wonderful suggestions and I hope to learn from all of your wonderful insight and wisdom in the coming months.

See you all at the next one!

Aren't I worth danger pay?!

How much more do you think they pay the military when it comes to working in the danger zones. I heard of something called danger pay and feel after this week's events I am entitled to a a bit more cash! First of, on my way to work Monday morning, I noticed a helicopter flying over the blocks next to the school. I have seen copter's before in this area and know they are there for either 2 reasons: a news copter looking for the scoop on the local shoot out or a police copter searching for the suspect of a shoot out. Looking closely I realized it was the latter and hit the locks in the car. I was immediately stopped at a red light and kept looking around to be sure no one was running toward the car ( not that I would have a clue what to do... in my head I would quickly spring into action and drive off leaving the murderer in my dusts...actually I would probably freeze and sit unable to move like Bambi in front of a semi!). I was glad when I walked into the school building and it was business as usual. There were a few kids in the hall, teachers in the front office, and I began to wonder if everyone was oblivious to what I had seen. I asked a few teachers and -No- they knew and saw it, but what else is new. CRAZY!!! Where do I work! and why do I keep working there!

Click and read:

http://www.nbc6.net/news/15911887/detail.html?dl=headlineclick

I wasn't feeling so well today and decided to take the day off. Boy, I couldn't have chosen a better day than today... The school was put on lock down after 2 men were killed in front of the school. Everyone was fine but the students were kept in the same classroom for 4 1/2 hours! I would have gone nuts and I think they would have eventually killed each other and then me if I had been in the room with them through the ordeal! :) Some of the teachers stepped out during the lock down and saw the bodies across from the PE field. I will definitely need to look for a new school in the next year or so...but for now this is the second incident in a week and I am going to have to make sure I am more careful from when driving outside of the school grounds.

I have new pics of the baby but have not scanned them yet so I will do so as soon as I figure out how to use the scanner. These are cute because the baby if face up and you can see its nose, hand, and feet.

Be back soon,

N

Here is the baby. We are at 12 weeks and the baby is measuring above expected and has a very strong heartbeat. The baby was on its stomach the whole time so all the pictures are face down. This picture you can see the spine in the back and the mouth.

Above you can see feet on the right and in the pic on the right you can see our little duck face :)

The baby was moving and kicking the whole time and that was very cool! I did not include it in this post but will on the next one, but the baby was also waving at us during the frontal face picture. Imagine alien/the scream mask :)

I'm still here!!

So I went to my second doctor's appointment last Friday. I was hoping they were going to do another ultrasound but the doctor stated they were only going to do an ultrasound in 5 weeks, at 24 weeks, and right before the baby is born. I am scheduled with an ultrasound place that d0es 3-d and makes dvds of the ultrasound this Monday. I am also going to get another ultrasound in May from them as well. I was disappointed when I found this out. For some reason I thought I was going to get one very doctors appointment :( Anyhoo, I will have more to share on Monday.
Kristy and I just got back from our Bahamian Cruise. It was fun but I was sea/morning sick the ENTIRE time! Dramamine would just knock me out and the evenings were always the worse. I couldn't do any of the formal dinners and any activities past 9pm were too late for me. I really felt bad for Kristy, but she was a great sport through it all. :) Love Ya Sissy!
I'm still not showing, those of you who are wondering. In fact when I tell people I am 11 weeks they comment on how I don't look pregnant at all. I hope that is a good sign, of course my luck it means that I am going to BALLOON soon. :) I know our little blob is still in there because they played the heartbeat for us during our last appointment. That is so cool! The nurse couldn't find it at first and I was really worried, she seemed fine, and then there it was. :) It was very loud and very fast. Anyway, I cant wait until Monday to see it hanging out. If I can figure it out I will try and add our photos when we get them.
I'll be back soon to share our doctors appointment and more. Keep checking and remember to keep voting on the sex...you only have a few more weeks. :)

I see the yolk sac!

I have been racking my brain trying to figure out the exact date of conception in regards to the pregnancy, and have not yet been able to figure it out. I guess it doesn't really matter in the scheme of things, but I have an appointment on Friday and want to know ahead of time the growth and advancement needed so far. I am always over prepared and over informed. I am one of those people that will hear a new word or phrase or disease and will go home and Google the hell out of it. I love to know everything. :)

This was proven when we arrived for our first ultrasound appointment on March 4th. The doctor was performing the ultrasound and knowing we were first time parents felt the need to point out everything. Of course having done my research and having viewed photos of early ultrasounds, I already knew what to look for. Imagine her surprise as she is looking for the baby and I burst out with "There's the yolk sac!" I was excited because I knew that that meant there was a baby in there, the doctor was so surprised. She was like "you know about the yolk sac?" Now, I didn't want to act like a know-it-all (nor did I really know all that much about the yolk sac other than it was round and there for the baby to feed off of until the placenta and other organs were formed to provide nourishment. I do have to say, the first time I learned about the yolk sac I was extremely grossed out, first of all it looks just like egg yolk and the thought that you have something in you similar to a chicken is a little freaky! - I didn't really want to think of my child as a half chicken half human...chiman?)
After that she assumed I knew all that there was, and trust me I don't, and didn't really review as much as I expected. (Needless to say, I have a lot of questions for my appointment on Friday...nothing the world wide web wont answer but it is so much better coming from a professional)
The doctor I have I chose specifically because she was female. At the end of our last appointment she informed us that we would be meeting with another doctor in her office. (Is that normal?) She introduced us to HIM and I was immediately taken back by his oldness (Sorry to all those oldies but goodies reading this). Having thought about this for about 3 weeks now I am more comfortable about meeting with an older, male doctor. For one, he has been around pregnant ladies and pregnancy much longer than my much younger, female doctor. Second, he will probably be more calming about the everyday stresses because he has seen it all. So I am able to say with 85% acceptance that I am comfortable with seeing MR. Doctor on Friday (although I am still hurt by the pass along to another doctor).

Enough about that, I have been busting my butt trying to get the paperwork done for my Rookie Teacher of the Year Award.(yes, I was chosen and it only took 3 years :) They give you an honor and not even 30 seconds later I am handed a 15 page packet of 2 page papers I need to write explaining my philosophy in teaching, why I became a teacher, parent recommendation letters, etc. Of course, I can't just write what is really true so I have to add and embellish a little. For example, instead of writing "my philosophy of teaching is based on my hate for whining and complaining and therefore focuses on keeping the kids super busy and silent." Instead I wrote something to the effect of, "As a teacher, I have been able to realize the talent and capabilities our students hold. I believe a child is shaped by their environment and therefore try and maintain a very welcoming and safe environment in the classroom." Pretty good huh :) On top of all this I also have a 36 page portfolio due April 11th. Of course, I waited until the last minute to complete it and have a cruise planned for next week-eliminating an entire 7 days to work on the portfolio. But I am sure I will get it done. I always do. :)

On a very lawyery note, J had his first official interview today. The firm was looking for someone to practice litigation and immigrant law with a little bit of real estate ( I guess they are one of those firms that dabble in everything). J and I weren't expecting much but we figured it would be great practice for future interviews. J called today and told me that he had a great interview and the firm told him that if had taken the bar they would have offered him the job right then and there. So I guess that was a loss, but it definitely did a lot by means of ego booster/mind relaxer. (J feels much better now that he knows that his resume and work experience is impressive enough to merit a job offer :) Now why wouldn't he believe me when I said it, I guess it does not count unless it comes from a complete stranger :)

Well, I just realized I just blogged the heck out of the day today and will be signing off. Please wish us luck in finding our new apartment and J a job, oooh and me some energy and brain power.

Until next time,
Nina and Baby Andrew

My brain has fallen out of my head!

So I am going to try and type this without making too many mistakes, but I don't have my mind today and it is really weird. I heard from many of my fellow colleagues that when you get pregnant your mind kind of flies out of the window, but I didn't think it would happen this soon. "Friends" just started and it's the episode where Phoebe is really pregnant and really emotional, sooo looking forward to that! :) I really think I am in denial and haven't really grasped the concept that I am pregnant.Even typing or saying the word out loud doesn't feel like it's sicking in. I feel like this is happening to someone else. I am excited but I am surprised I am still having a hard time believing the concept. I'm pregnant. I"M PREGNANT! - No, nothing. I was reading about this, and all the books say it is not only normal but common. Makes me feel better but I still can't wait until I really feel like I am having a baby!
J and I are planning on moving soon (need more room for the baby) and I think once I start decorating a nursery I will feel the pregnancy vibe. I was throwing names around with Jason the other night and we have definitely decided on the name if it's a boy, but we are still debating our choices for a girl. I tend to lean towards the different (no Ashley's, Jennifer's, Jessica's, etc.) We are definitely looking for the unusual, but what we do have are Isabella, Scarlett, Charlotte, and Caroline. My favorite name is still under consideration but we don't want to reveal it too soon. What I did realize was between Amanda, Olivia, and myself (if I have a boy) all of the boys will have "H" names. Harper, Hayden, and ....(don't worry we will reveal our names in due time) :)
Second weird thing that has been going on regarding El Bebe is my LOOOOOW energy level. I have been feeling like a zombie since 2 this afternoon. It feels like too much effort to even create full sentences. I don't know how those moms with like 16 kids do this that many times. I am seriously considering never doing this again :) J/K Seriously though, the pregnancy thing is no joke and I will never think otherwise again. Every pregnant women should get a medal of honor. For Pete's sake we are creating a new human being- a whole person.
Sorry for all the chatter but exhaustion makes me LOOPY! Hope to be more coherent and insightful, less whiny, and I'll even try and include a joke. :)

Talk to you soon,

Nina

Read me!

I guess having a blog doesn't guarantee anyone is going to read it! :) I don't know why I was thinking I would get 1,000 hits on my first day as a blogger...but 2! I guess I should spread the word about my blog...then I guess others will try and read it.

Right now I'm at school wondering how these children ever survive without and adult. Aghhh! They are driving me nuts. Every 5 seconds it's "Ms. S- my throat hurts...Ms. S- I have to go to the bathroom....Ms. S so-and-so are looking at me." Give me a break! Since when did I take a job as a referee? I feel I spend more time diffusing situations and saying no to ridiculous requests then I spend teaching. I guess that's what I get for working with 6th graders. These kids are definitely the whiners of the century!

On a happy note, I am currently celebrating day 6 as Rookie Teacher of the Year! Of course 5 seconds after I received the award I was handed a 5 pound packet due Friday! I have no idea how I am supposed to get all of this done, I guess sitting here blogging isn't helping but procrastination is my middle name. I guess that's why I work in such a dysfunctional school. I never feel like I without things to do because everything is done last minute here.

As for our little blob, as I so affectionately call it, it is kicking my butt today. I couldn't tell you the last time I wanted a nap and that is all I could think of today! I even debated laying on the student's desk during planning period today but decided against it when I realized I would be in direct view of the window. ( not so good to be seen by colleagues and students passed out on a table in the middle of the day :) I also have never felt sooo bloated in my life. My stomach is looking pregnant today even though I know I can't be showing this early. I think I am going to have to pull out the sweatpants tomorrow!

On that note I will sign off today, but please, please, please don't forget to visit, vote, and share any fabulous comments and opinions! Have a great Barracuda Day! :)

I've become one of them!

So, I guess it was inevitable that I would eventually jump on the blog wagon and start my own "day in the life..."

First of, Congratulations to Amanda and Ben Jones. They have just welcomed a beautiful baby boy into their family on Sunday!

I guess I should explain a little bit about who I am and why I wanted to start this blog. My name is Nina and I am 26 years young this year. I am happy to say I went through a mid-twenties life crisis and have excited my previous quarter life with a new look on life. I am currently living in Miami, Florida with my husband (a 3rd year law student) and teaching 6th grade in Liberty City (yes, it's on Grand Theft Auto, and no you don't find a pimp or ho on every corner, just every other) :)

I have been living out here in Miami for 2 and 1/2 years and still have mixed feelings about my timeout here. My first 5 months were spent looking for a job and dealing with a VERY stressed out 1L. February of the first year I received my teaching certificate and began to embark on the time of my life! ha ha Teaching has been the most rewarding thing I could have ever done and teaching here has been the lesson of a lifetime (Ever see Dangerous Minds or Lean on Me?)

I spent the last 2 years planning my fabulous wedding to the love of my life ("J"). We were married last December in Puerto Rico and it was definitely the best time I have ever had in my life. Every friend and relative that could make was there and I have never felt so much love in my life. J and I have been together for 6 years and had big plans for our life...moving out west in a few years, a job as a lawyer, a stellar teaching career, and children in about 4 years.

It's funny how plans can change in the blink of an eye, or should I say in the heat of the night :) J and I have were surprised but elated over the news of our pregnancy. We definitely didn't waste anytime between the honeymoon and Valentine's Day because we got pregnant exactly 1 month after the wedding! We are very excited to be welcoming a baby into the family and we have the privilege of being the first for our parents to welcome a new edition.

Due to the many changes, I have decided to record and chronicle the events in our life. I hope this is fun and interesting as well as allows our friends and family to keep in touch.

Happy Tuesday!