My career choice...

So mid January, I felt like I had been struggling to stay afloat in my teaching career. My main concern was managing my time well in the classroom. In all honesty, our reading program has WAY too much content, and it can be really stressful trying to fit it all in under the time given each day. Not only that, but the time also depends on how the students react to the tasks given. Sometimes reteaching is the only option, because it would be foolish to continue on when the class doesn't understand what they need to in order to move to the next concept. After a few weeks of teaching on my very own, I feel like I am gaining control back, and improving more and more. 

Also, I am proud to say that I was nominated for an award for being an "outstanding student teacher". It is extra paperwork that I have to do, and only one person in the state of Ohio will win, but I am soooooo excited that I was even nominated by Wright State. I have had a few people come in and observe me teaching, and I have been told by many people that I am doing very well and they are really impressed with my ability to control my class at such an early stage in my teaching career. These compliments really do make me smile and I truly believe I am in the right career field. I cannot think God enough for the gift He has given me.

Today, I am still working on time management, flexibility, and letting go of control in the classroom. It will forever be a learning experience, but I am ready for the challenge. I was born to be a teacher and I will continue my passion as an educator. 

Who will she look like!?

Every single day, I find myself thinking this question ^^^. I cannot begin to describe the curiosity that I have when I think about her. It fills my head up all day, everyday.

This is the only thing I have to go off of...  I think she very well could look like me! 

And if not, she will have some of TJ's adorable features!

Well, we have 10.5 weeks to go before we find out... God is most certainly teaching me patience.

Bittersweet Moment.

So, today is a bittersweet moment.

I found my first stretch mark on my stomach. I am kind of upset abut it, considering I use cocoa butter often... but I am trying to stay positive.

This is a symbol of a beautiful thing happening, and I will receive the most precious gift from it. Emerson is way more important than any stupid mark on my body anyways.  <3

25 Week Bump Pic

Here is my 25 week bump pic. Getting bigger and bigger each week!!! <3

Bump Pics

Here are the two bump pics that I have taken so far. I will take another at 25 weeks!

13 WEEKS:

 20 WEEKS:

Stay tuned for more bump pics!!!

Emerson Kate Owen.

Many people wonder how TJ and I came about the unique name of Emerson Kate for our daughter, so I thought I would take the time to explain here.

About 4 years back, we had a little girl in the YMCA summer camp named Emerson. She was sassy and spunky, and totally adorable. That was the very first time that I had heard the name.

A few years later, I had a dream that we had a daughter named Emerson Hope. While I loved the name Emerson, I did not think Hope sounded very good as a middle name with our last name. Anyways, I told my mom about the dream, as well as TJ, and they both agreed that it was a totally awesome and unique name.

I researched the name and it means Son of Emery. While it is originally a boys name, and many people liked to remind me of that, I was and still am in love with it.

After we found out that we were going to be parents, TJ told me that he wasn't completely sure on the name. I was really upset, but I respected his opinion and decided to start over in our journey for a baby name. After hours of research and frustration, TJ decided that we should stop looking until we knew for a fact that it was a girl. (We have had a boy name for years that we are dead set on, so we weren't worried if it was a boy)..

October 31st, we found out that we were having a girl! Although we were soooo excited, I was extremely stressed out, because we were still conflicted with what we would name her. On the drive home, we spouted a few names here and there, but none really stuck with me.

When we got home, I told TJ that it was his turn to start researching girl names. I was exhausted from doing so, and still very frustrated from my previous attempts at it. I got him to a website with thousands of baby names, and he started with the letter A.... then B..... then C..... then D.... then E.....

About 20 minutes later, he turns to me and says, "Um babe.....please don't be mad at me..... but I think I like Emerson after all." I was soooo shocked and ecstatic. I was relieved. I smiled from ear to ear, and then asked him if he was sure. He responded, "yes". I told him that he wasn't allowed to change his mind anymore, and he agreed that our daughter was officially Emerson.

As far as the middle name, its simple. My middle name is Kay, after my grandma Judy. I like Kay, but I thought Kate was a super cute and modern variation of it, so that is what we went with.

And there you have it; the story behind the name Emerson Kate Owen.

PS- Nicknames include Em, Emmy, or whatever else as long as it's nice and appropriate. :)

New Christmas Traditions and other Holiday Plans

TJ and I have had a routine for years on how/ where we celebrate Christmas and other holidays. We have so much family, and at times, it's hard pleasing everyone around the holidays. Here's our schedule that we have be doing for a while now... and at this point, it's not up for discussion. :)

Holidays:

New Years- Dayton (home).

Valentines- Dayton (home).

St. Patty's Day- Dayton (home).

Easter- West Virginia (Dad's house).

Mothers Day- Logan Co. (Roby/ Owen).

Father's Day- Logan Co. or West Virginia depending on the year.

Memorial Day- Logan Co. (Roby/ Owen).

4th of July- Tennessee (TJ's grandpa's house).

Thanksgiving- Lima (Roby),

Christmas Eve- Lima (Roby).

Christmas- Logan Co. (Roby/ Owen), Tennessee for a few days after.

With Emmy on the way, there will be a few changes being made. Nothing too serious though...

From now on, we will be staying the night at home on Christmas Eve (after the Roby's celebration). This is different because we used to stay the night at my parents house. Reason for the change... Well, it's simple. We want to have our own little family Christmas before going to visit the rest of the family. We want to spend quality time seeing what Santa brought for Emmy, and watching her open gifts from Mommy and Daddy. Also, we want to bake a birthday cake with her in our celebration for Jesus being born. It's absolutely crucial that she understands the true meaning of Christmas. 

As far as Santa.... let's talk about that one. I know that I can never predict the future, but this has been a topic that I have really thought about. What will we do the day she asks if Santa is real or not? Here is our response: "No, he is not real, but it is fun to believe he his." My reasoning for this is because I want her to be able to trust us when we tell her Jesus is real. If we say Santa is real, and she finds later in life that he isn't, how is she going to be able to believe anything that comes out of our mouths? Hmm... just my thoughts. To each, their own.