Peace and Quiet

Today I was glancing at one of the bulletin boards in the 2nd grade hallway entitled "Our Wishes for 2012." This could be good, I thought.

It didn't disappoint. My favorite? "World Peace and Quiet"

I love kids. I mean, the end to war would be great and all, but can we just get some peace and quiet in here?!?

But ya know, at second thought, the chic's got a point. Sometimes the world can be so NOISY. You know, with all it's stuff. All those demands, expectations, the keepin' up with the Jones', the need tos and should have dones.

Sometimes we all just need to be still.

For the past 6ish months, my middle of the night feedings with Abby (yes, we've definitely still got them) have come to truly be my "peace and quiets" (after the crying wake up call, of course.) The whole house is still, it's dark, and there are no distractions. Abby and I don't have much of an exchange, but we are as close as we can be. I have found some of those moments to be my most peaceful. The most special. And while I certainly can't wait to have a night of uninterrupted sleep....I secretly may miss those special sweet, peaceful, quiet moments with my baby.

So, as those feedings will likely (and hopefully) disappear, maybe my wish for 2012 should be to find a little more Peace and Quiet in my world.

Stacey

Routine

After two long, luxurious, restful, wonderful weeks off, I returned to school this week, and Abigail headed back to "Camp Gramma Grandpa." Only a few tears were shed! (Mine, of course!!)

At school, I was greeted with the bright, dimpled smile of my 4th grade student who is seriously 10 years old going on 37. This was our exchange:

Student: Mrs. Chambers, I am so glad to be back at school!!

Me: (Thinking, Seriously? Has someone made the coffee yet??) Oh, buddy, I'm sure it's so great to see your friends again, huh?

Student: Well, I guess. I am really just so glad to be back in a good routine!

We are kindred spirits, no? Or maybe we have just spent waaaay too much time together? I love a plan, I love a schedule, and routine is my middle name. And I looooove that my buddy has learned to love this too!!

Now, don't get me wrong. I love me some spontaneity, of course. It just has to be planned. :)

Ironically, my sweet little munchkin at home, my sweet Abigail, is teaching me that rolling with the punches is good. If mommyhood has taught me anything so far, it's that going with the flow is NECESSARY. Are we on a schedule? HA! But I have learned to read cues like a madwoman. I use the clock as a guide. And each day is new, amazing, and we are definitely learning as we go.

Can anyone relate?

A planner at heart,

Stacey

I'm married to an old man...

...a kind, funny, smart, thoughtful, manly kind of man.

A West Texas, boot wearin', truck-driving, God-fearing, open your door, call your mother ma'am kind of man.

A baseball loving, sunflower seed spittin', college football watching, Sic 'Em Bears, golf club swinging, Braves tomahawk choppin', not afraid of the sports cry kind of man.

A history book reader, obscure documentary lover, salesman turned accountant, wood-worker, furniture builder, artist, landscaper, obsessed with music, can talk to anyone about anything, make a friend anywhere kind of man.

A wash your car, fill your tank, do it without asking, no need to thank me, run downstairs 10 times for something you forgot kind of man.

An always kiss goodnight, date taking, handmade card making, it's all in the details, scratch your back for hours on end, trustworthy, take-home-to your mother, spend a lifetime loving kind of man.

A diaper changing, lullaby singing, silly song making, future boyfriend threatening, my daughter has me wrapped around her finger kind of man.

A real man.

My man.

Happy 30th Birthday, Jared. I love you!

Stacey

Happy New Year!

I love the feeling of Januarys. Anything is possible! It's a fresh start for positive changes, new attitudes, and many possibilities! Break out the green smoothies, budget spreadsheets, day planner, workout schedule, bible study sign-ups, blog writing (ehem)...you name it. Love it. Don't even try to hit me with your negativity about resolutions....I've resolved to be more positive. :) What's up, 2012?!

But wait, not so fast.

2011 was pretty awesome. Just so I don't forget my faves, in 2011...

Hollis moved down the STREET!

My baby girl was born.

Jared and I enjoyed the first weekend of spring weather in NYC.

I survived my last trimester of pregnancy during Texas' hottest summer on record.

iLove

RGIII!! (Someone pinch me!)

We had LOTS of Snow days!

I spent hours and hours on....

Yup, 'bout sums it up! Ok, back to my closet organization, menu planning, and journaling! :) Happy 2012 to you!

Stacey

Potatoes for Christmas

Teachers in some "fancy" districts get showered with presents at Christmastime from their adoring students. In the district I work for...not so much. The only "gift" I left work with was a sack of potatoes.

Literally.

Not sure why, but every teacher got a sack of potatoes.

It's easy to get caught up in all of the Christmas THINGS - what you're giving, what you're getting, what you're going to eat and wear....

This Christmas I was blessed to spend it with my very own little "sack of potatoes."

After giving birth to my own child this year, the story of Christ's birth touched me in new ways this year as well. Being humbled by this amazing miracle, as well as my own little Abby miracle, and the gift of being surrounded by loving family and friends this year....priceless.

Merry Merry,

Stacey

A Mother's Prayer

I L.O.V.E. Tina Fey. I happened to read her book Bossypants this summer in my private moments pumping (Sorry if that's TMI) (I highly recommend pumping for that reason - someone else attend to this child while I handle my business/breathe for a moment!!)

At the end of the book is Tina's prayer for her daughter. It's amazingly perfect and wonderful. I was reminded of it the other day and thought I'd share it. It makes me want to give a big squeeze to my Abby AND my amazing mother!

A Mother's Prayer for Her Daughter

By: Tina Fey

"First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it's the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach's eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half and stick with beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called "Hell Drop," "Tower of Torture," or "The Death Spiral Rock 'N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith," and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes. And not have to wear hight heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I'm asking You, because if I knew, I'd be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short - a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day - And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. "My mother did this for me once," she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby's neck. "My mother did this for me." And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I'll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen."

- Tina Fey

Go hug your mom,

Stacey

Oh, wait...I blog?

Whoops, I kinda forgot I had a blog! Embarrassingly enough, my last post was exactly 4 months ago today! There were several times since then that I sat down to add a post about my adorably amazing baby girl, something hilarious and heartwarming that happened at school, or something chic or exciting that Jared and I had planned (ha!), but...well....I probably chose to kiss Abby's chubby belly, work on a lesson plan, or snuggle up to that sweet husband of mine. Forgive me?

The past 4 months have been AMAZING. TIRING. HILARIOUS. HARD. WONDERFUL.

In a nutshell, my little munchkin has been a growing, healthy girl! To date, she's learned to roll over both ways, she's sitting up all by herself, she's making lots of fun noises, she's smiling, laughing, reaching, mouthing everything in sight, and she's up on all fours ready to make a move! She LOVES her baths, she thinks our dogs are the most hilarious things, and she refuses to sleep through the night. :) She's in the 90th percentile for height, which is kind of hilarious given her parents.

I'm back at the teaching gig, changing the lives of blind children one day at a time. :) Adjusting to life as a working mom has been easier than I thought. Seeing Abby having so much fun with my parents makes it even that much easier! The kids at school are just as hilarious and insightful as last year, making the days go by quickly and incredibly rewarding.

As for the hubs, our "chic and exciting" adventures have consisted of a few wild nights out that deemed themselves really not worth it at 3:00 am the next morning with a crying babe...and our most wonderful times are spent snuggling on the couch after the Abbster's bedtime and laughing together and smiling in awe of our precious gift.

Well, that about sums it up.

Good to be back.

Stacey