Back to School

The Bug Hero took this picture of the Baby Hero to send to me during school. This is the Baby Hero enjoying some tummy time mid morning today. I sure did miss my boys. The hardest part about today was leaving the apartment. I cried on my way to the car.

At school I felt like a rock star, famous athlete, and a super hero all at once. The kids did dances in the halls, I heard them singing, "MRS. HUGHES IS BACK!!!" It was great! I also got tons of hugs from students, and two students even brought cookies to celebrate my return! I got a standing ovation as I walked into one of my class periods. They were really grateful to see me come in, and then they were excited that I started explaining the math to them.

The most frequent comment I had was, "You're BACK!" Said in a grateful, pathetic voice, "I can finally understand math again!" The other comment was, "Oh yeah! We have to follow the rules, she's back to enforce them." Strangely, that comment wasn't made while whining, it was just a statement of fact. Some of the kids seemed pleased that I was enforcing the rules and making them stay on task.

I was told by several teachers today that the kids were thrilled to see me, one teacher told me about how all of her classes danced in her room to tell her that I was back. A couple of the kids told me that they understood I needed to have the baby, but I should never leave them again for that long.

I feel loved. I hope I can keep it up and finish out the school year strong. It was a good first day back.

Faith not Fear

Yesterday I had a baby shower at work and I came to the realization of a few things:
1. While I don't really want to go to work, I will be fine going back to work. Because the students haven't liked my long term sub, and it's been a bad experience for them, that they won't push me really hard because it's easy to follow a horrible act.

2. The faculty at South Hills is amazing! They will support me and it will be fun to see them more frequently. They also understand how hard it's going to be and are there for me.

3. I just need to make the decision to live by faith and not fear that all will be well. Yesterday and today I have made that choice and life is a whole lot better. There is power in positive thinking!

4. By going back to work, I have the power to leave it at school. I worked very hard so my sub could replace me and I think that's why I've been getting frustrated. I tried so hard to create my procedures and way things work so she could come in and not need me. However, she has called on average 3 times a week--and most of the questions she has asked I could care less about. All she needed to do was make a decision and I would have been pleased with the outcome. But with me being in charge, then I can leave it at school and not worry about it when I come home. I also won't have someone else calling me and asking me questions about grading late work.

5. I have an amazing family! You guys are awesome and have helped me realize just how blessed I am. I will have support from you guys as I try to survive these last really bad 10 weeks.

6. Last but not least--the baby hero will not remember that I left him for 10 weeks, nor will he care. He won't be adversely affected for this and will bear no permanent scarring from this. It will also be great bonding time for the Bug Hero, my Hero, with the Baby Hero.


The baby hero is happy and content. I really love this guy! He spends most of the day awake and happy to be around. He talks quite a lot, and while this movie may not be the best--he has some high squeaks and squeals that we would like to have others enjoy as much as we do, he doesn't like preforming for a camera. We just love him! He's content to sit on the couch or ground and listen to us talk to him or around him. He's wonderful!

Back to Work, one week early

Today has been really good, Baby Hero wise. He's on his third nap of the day right now, and that's a good sign. We're getting really good about not having the Baby Hero fuss, but that doesn't necessarily correlate to sleep. He's just awake and quiet.

Last Night wasn't so hot, because he was willing to sleep, but only if Mom or Dad held him. So we took three hour shifts in the rocking chair to help him sleep. Unfortunately, we didn't get as much sleep as we needed.

Today marks the one week I have left on maternity leave. Between the lack of sleep and realizing that I'm going to be leaving my angel, this morning was rough emotionally speaking. We were fine later on, after both of us slept.

I got a call from the Math Department Chair at our school, asking when I was coming back, and then informing me that I get a priceless student as soon as I get back. I was the only math teacher that the parent of the priceless student approved of. (It sucks having a great reputation at the school, because then I get problem children to take care of and baby sit.)

I also found out that my long term sub hasn't done the best job, because everyone wanted me and apparently I'm really hard to replace. So I get to come back to another headache. The administration hasn't been to pleased with her abilities to disapline classes and get grades updated.

So, basically, I'm back to work one week early and it's stressing me out. I really wish that I had an office job that even though I was stellar, I was replaceable. Work wouldn't haunt me the way that this job does. (I like teaching, but honestly. Leave ME ALONE! I'm on maternity leave. I'm trying to adjust and keep my kid happy.)

As I reflect on the pi day experience, when I showed Baby Hero off to the principal, she asked me if I really wanted to quit for next year, or if there was any way she could convince me to work for her again. Flattering yes, but also it should have clued me in on how bad things were in my absence. I told her that I really was moving to Indiana with my husband and baby and that she would have to find someone to replace me. I just wish that I could be like another teacher at our school who quit this year when she had her baby. She doesn't have to go back next week. I'm really jealous. I don't want to go back.

I'll probably feel better about this whole thing once I get some sleep and if it leaves me alone for this week. (Seeing how it's the end of the quarter, it probably won't leave me alone...which will make me not too thrilled to go back to work.)

Reading

I have had tons of time to read, while the Baby Hero eats. I've been branching out from my usual fanitsy reading because I'm running out of really good books in that category.

Most recently I've been reading two books, (because they are books that make me think and I can only last so long with those types of books before my brain explodes. Yes, I like to be entertained when I read, not informed.) The two books are: The Audacity of Hope by Barak Obama and Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled--and More Miserable Than Ever Before by Jean M. Twenge. Reading these two books at the same time is giving me a headache. Obama says that a lot of the problems in our society and government are because people are only looking at "what's in it for me, and not what's best for our society." I completely agree with what he is saying. For example, when someone is talking about the inner city kids and how bad their schools are, they say, "those kids are..." Instead of "Our kids are..." We'd be much more willing to help out everyone if we thought of them as us or thought of us as Americans, not just focusing on our needs and wants. In the other book, it says that thinking about only us, and doing what's best for only us is how we are raised. And that irks me.

I agree with both authors and it's driving me crazy! I am becoming more pessimistic as I read indepth about different policies and attitudes. The way we are raised is causing most of our governmental problems. (Which does make sense, but it is still driving me crazy! Because if it's due to our attitudes and our believes, then we're not going to make progress until we can change all of that. Which I don't see happening any time soon. No one likes to make drastic overhauls and it's hard to want to put other people before you.)

Another set of books that I've been reading are autobiographical. Alcatraz verses the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson. (That's Alcatraz Smedry's pen name.) I have loved this book! There is a sequal as well, and I love everything about these two books. Alcatraz has a talent in breaking things, and his side kick Grandpa has a talent in being late. I have enjoyed these books much more than I have enjoyed the others.

I also have started reading Fablehaven with the Bug Hero. I am enjoying revisiting one of my favorite books, and he's really enjoying the book as well. The Baby Hero is listening to the book as he eats, but we're not sure how much he is picking up. It could be that he is just enjoying eating.

He's doing a little bit better about taking naps. Thanks Aylosha for the suggestion about 1-2 hours of wakefulness. He doesn't do it all the time, but when we can get him to, he's much happier. And the book you suggested, I will be reading as soon as it comes from Amazon.

One Month Old

Happy One Month Birthday Baby Hero! We love having you out--even though you hate taking naps during the day. You have great facial expressions, and love to tell stories with your arms and face.

Any suggestions as to help convince him that naps are a good thing? We can get maybe one hour nap in during the day...he sleeps a lot during the night...but not during the day, and by early evening, late afternoon, his not a happy camper.

When Baby Hero met Grandma Honey

Grandma Honey came to visit us for a few days. We were sad that her visit wasn't very long, only about three and a half days, but we were happy to have her! We loved her presence and she spoiled us rotten! We love Grandmas!
The Baby Hero also enjoyed getting to know Grandma Honey. He was pleased that she came, because she has been the only one who has successfully cut his fingernails and not his fingers.

Pi day Celebrations

My very First Pie! I made the crust myself and I had made the pie filling previously. I canned it and then it turned out really well!
On Friday, We took the Baby Hero to school after the minions had left and got pictures taken with all the super heros. I took full advantage of the fact that the Baby Hero is too young to complain about the nerdiness of the costume! I had a blast!

Happy Pi Day!

I want everyone to enjoy Pi Day, and eat Pie! I will post pictures of the super heros in matching outfits! (The Baby Hero is too young to complain about geekiness, and I am taking full advantage of it!)

Eat some Pie!

Generations of the Hero family

On Grandma Cutler's last day with the Baby Hero, we got the generations of a family together. There is my Grandma, My Mom, Me (The Super Hero) and the Baby Hero in this picture. We made the mistake of interrupting his dinner...this is the best picture that doesn't make it look like Baby Hero is screaming on the top of his lungs, "FEED ME!" But he is.

We let him finish eating and then took a three generation family picture. The Baby Hero is much happier in the successive pictures.


Also that night, we took a family picture. Our first, but in no way our last. I come from a family obsessed about pictures and preserving them for future use. I also love to scrapbook, so I'm excited about all the pictures we get to take.
I am recovering well. I have days where I don't want to get dressed, still, but this past week I did get dressed four out of the seven days--which has been the highest number since the Baby Hero's appearance. I am sad though, that I have three more weeks before I have to return to the life of a super hero in middle school. I am not ready for that. I enjoy holding my baby and having the flexibility of not getting dressed if I don't feel like it.

Heroic Feat!!

We are extremely proud of our baby hero. Yesterday, he allowed us graciously, to pacify him with a pacifier. He had rejected them firmly for the first two weeks of his life. He seems to think that now that he's 16 days old, he is old enough for a pacifier. We are proud of his decision and are grateful that he will suck on one for a half hour!

Yay Baby Hero!!

Adventures of a Baby Hero

The Baby Hero has been busy this past week. He takes lots of naps and sleeps for long periods of time at night. (Yes, we are spoiled with a baby hero...he likes to sleep for about four hours between feedings, and sometimes we can get in six hours before he wakes up.)

He loves to wake up right after a feeding and make faces at whoever is holding him. He has a cute little smile that we were trying to catch on film...but the baby hero had different thoughts in mind, as you will see below.

The baby hero contemplates waking up.This waking up business is too much work!!

I am going to sit here with my tongue hanging out because the efforts of waking up left me with no energy whatsoever.

I will try to put up photos whenever I can, but our Internet has been temperamental and hasn't wanted to work at all. We will use it whenever it works and keep you posted on the baby hero's heroic activities.