The next chapter

So I should really, really, really, really, really be finishing my sub plans for tomorrow. But I'm not. In part because ohmyholypasta that is boring - I've written way too many sub plans already this year for trainings and seminars and I'm tired of writing them. Luckily for my sub, my LAD kids are taking the CELDT and my Freshmen are typing in the library. Easy peasy (hopefully). So it's not like my plans have to be magically detailed. But I'm still not motivated to write them. The larger part of my reluctance to be productive is that I sooooooo owe you all a blog. It's been AGES since I posted last. I can't even remember what my last post was about. Probably about how weird or disgusting the youngest child is, because he's really weird and disgusting (in that sweet, endearing way). But you all deserve a real update and I have one to give you. We're adopting. Not today. Or even next week or next month. But today I talked with someone from a local adoption/foster agency and in November I'm going to attend an informational meeting so we can start the process. Ideally we'd have a new little Rodgers by *next* Christmas. So Poe will be 4, Griff will be 2.5, and NLR (new little Rodgers) will be...??? Our ideal age range is 3 or younger. So we'll see what the universe has in store for us. This has been something Bryan and I have talked about for awhile. And I don't want to put it off anymore - we have the love and the room (well, we need a bigger car, but that's an easy thing to fix). I've always wanted lots of kids, and three is our compromise. I also hate being pregnant with a passion of one thousand suns... plus I've finally lost all my baby weight. So this allows us to grow our family while preserving my sanity and my waist. My PPD with Griffin was pretty horrible, I don't want to go through that again. I also don't want to take off weeks and weeks of work. Obviously I'll take some time off when NLR joins our family so we can all have time to bond, adjust, and enjoy each other. But there's no "healing" time involved in adoption. No breastfeeding woes. No pads the size of life rafts. I'm sure it will come with it's own unique set of challenges, but I'm looking forward to facing those challenges as a family. I asked Penelope if she wanted a new brother or sister and she said "ummm... yes Mommy, I would please" Griffin just headbutted me. I take that as a yes. I'm really looking forward to it. Since both Poe & G were unplanned I never got the opportunity to anticipate or plan. We rolled with the surprise and were happy - but the intentionality of this process is a whole different animal. And the organizer in me loves it. So the process will not be fast. And I'm sure it will be stressful at times. We don't have any race/gender preferences. We do only want one (so no sibling groups), and for a variety of reasons we can't take a child with significant health issues. But we've made the first step, and I'm so very glad we have.

Boys are disgusting

Exhibit A:

The other day I was taking a shower and G-Man was in the bathroom with me. I hear an odd splashing sound and peek out to see Griffin dip Bryan's toothbrush in the toilet and then brush his teeth with it.

Gross.

Exhibit B:

Griffin tends to spit up. Especially since he is in a constant state of motion even after he eats. This morning he spit up on the rug after having done a somersault about 2 minutes after eating. Immediately after he pukes he sticks his hand in it.

Exhibit C:

He routinely lifts the lid of the potty seat and either puts his hand or his foot in the pee-catching receptacle.

Gross. Boys are GROSS.

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A difference of opinion

Griffin and I don't always see eye to eye.

Case in point:

My idea of brushing his hair is sitting down (mostly still) for 10 seconds.

His idea of me brushing his hair is wiggling out of my grasp, crawling around on the floor while laughing hysterically as I mutter obscenities under my breath, shrieking with delight when he is recaptured, then flailing around like some sort of Pentecostal as I attempt to brush, and finally it ends with me giving up. This lasts about 6 minutes.

I have a feeling this won't be the only thing we disagree about as he grows up.


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No time, you get this

Things are i.n.s.a.n.e. in the Rodgers household.

Mostly because I don't think I really grasped just how many meetings teachers are required to attend. There are even more your first year (although heaven forbid you become Dept Chair b/c you have a crazy # of meetings then). I literally have meetings twice a week. At least. Some at lunch, some afterschool. Today I had two. Tomorrow I have one. Tomorrow is also Back To School Night. Friday I have one. Oh! I forgot, I have two tomorrow since I have one before school AND at lunch.

Now, approx 25% of these meetings are my fault... i.e. I called them. And it's because I'm meeting with counselors/intervention specialists/SPED aids/students to work with those who are falling behind. I know, it's only week 3 (4?) but there are a few students who already need to play catch up. I want that to happen NOW instead of December 1st. So I bring a bit of this on myself.

The rest of the meetings are required but MOST of them are productive. So at least something is being accomplished or I'm discussing events/information that is relevant/directly impacts my teaching practice or my students. So thank goodness for those kinds of meetings... because I've been in useless meetings and they make me want to pull out my hair.

In kid-related news, I have decided that our children are geniuses. GENIUSES. Griffin can point to #s 1-9. He also has about 10 signs and 3 spoken words. And other than the fact that he's still not sleeping through the night and can throw a tantrum which can be seen from space, he's the sweetest boy child I have ever known. I'm totally unbiased.

I'm actually pretty impressed with his number recognition skills. I need to work on letters.

Penelope recites books from memory. Not joking. If she's NOT reading by her 4th birthday I'll be shocked. I wouldn't be surprised if she read much sooner than that. She can't throw a ball (she throws it behind her) but she'll read very early. Since she is my child, no one should be surprised. Bryan might argue that I still cannot throw a ball. (He'd be wrong. I can throw. Just not accurately or with any distance.)

Let's see... what else?

Poe has taken to saying "be careful with my body" when she is being roughhoused (is that a form of that word? Is it a verb or noun? Meh, whatever). It's pretty funny. I've taken to saying it as well, it's a good phrase.

Weaning is going ok. We nurse once a day - usually at 4am. I'm hoping that soon we'll give that one up (because hopefully he'll soon be sleeping at 4am). He's getting better with sleep as long as I'm NOT the one to put him to bed. Stinker.

Daycare is going well, the kids still like Stephanie and she's been teaching them Spanish and phonics. I'm glad it's working out... just one less thing to worry about.

Bryan is still working, the house is good, we're all ok. We had a fever scare last week that landed us in the ER but everyone is better. I turn 30 in 13-ish days (eep!) and will hopefully spend the weekend before my birthday on the beach.

More later. Maybe. Probably. I've been neglecting the blog and haven't been posting as often in some of my forums. I will be giving at least one up, I just don't have the time... and when I do have downtime I really need to spend it sleeping or spending as much time with B and the kids as I can. From what I have heard from many experienced teachers is that you need to find balance or else you burn out quickly. I'd like to retire as a teacher so I need to start pacing myself.

I'll start next week. Next week is better for that. M'kay?

Where does the time go?

So we have all survived an entire week of work and daycare. In fact, most of us enjoyed the week and the new routine... Although we would all enjoy it a lot more if Griffin would decided that sleep is a worthwhile endeavor.

I haven't nursed him since 4am this morning, so we'll see. He hasn't asked to nurse yet, but since he prefers to nurse at night I'm expecting a few protests tonight. I have no idea if I will cave or hold firm. At 4am, nothing is certain.

Anyway, a full week has passed - already! Next thing you know it will be Labor Day, then my birthday, then Winter Break, then Spring Break, and then the end of the year. Ohmygoshyouguys the year is almost over!

This year I turn 30, Penelope turns 3, and Griffin will be 2. Bryan will also age, but since he looks perpetually 23 it doesn't matter if I post his age since no one will believe me. (he'll be 38)

So my question is, where does the time go? We celebrate our 4th anniversary this year. FOUR. I know that's nowhere near my parents 31 years, but I feel like we just got married. Now we have two kids and a car payment.

Speaking of weddings, I can officially fit into my little black dress from our wedding. It doesn't fit quite the same, but I can zip it. hooray! I don't think I can quite fit into the wedding dress though, I still need to lose 5ish more pounds. I'm 2 lbs away from having lost 40lbs since G's birth so I'm feeling pretty good about that. I could probably be doing better if I'd excise once in awhile. I think a few of us SHS staff are going to get together once a week for yoga, so that will help. It will also be nice to do something just for me and to cultivate some deeper friendships out here.

Speaking of work, I should head to bed so I can attempt as much sleep as Griffin will allow before work tomorrow. But before I sign off, here are some pictures of our trip to the aquarium this weekend.















And then one more of Sissy since I didn't get a ton of her at the aquarium



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How you know...

So, how do you know when your toddler has seen "The Little Mermaid" too many times?

When you're out to eat and the first thing she does upon sitting down at the table is exclaim "Look Mommy, a dinglehopper!" and the proceed to comb her hair with a fork.

Also overheard today:

"Hi, my name is Penelope and that is my mommy Jessica and I am two. What's your name?"

AND

"Mama, you're big and daddy is big but Bubby is little. (pause) And I'm little too"

Ok, so how did YOU wean?

Last night was awful.

Griffin nursed to sleep at 8; woke up at 9:30 and nursed; woke up at 12:30 and I tried rubbing his back, rocking, singing, shhh'ing... it seemed to work at first, his eyes were still closed and he settled back down for a moment. But then? Then it was terrible, horrible, no good, and very bad. He screamed and flailed about like a child possessed. *sigh* Bryan took him at that point and gave him a bottle. He had a few ounces and eventually fell asleep. Then he was up AGAIN at 4:00, 5:30, and finally at 7:15.

I nursed him each subsequent waking for about 20 minutes - not like it helped since he woke up each time cranky, whiny, and on the verge of screaming. Which is what he's been like every night for the past.... 16 months?

If I would have nursed him during the Abyss (as I have taken to calling it) he would have fallen asleep, but he would have stayed attached for anywhere from 20-40 minutes in order to stay asleep. This is not ok. He is not an infant anymore and I cannot sleep while he nurses.

So if we're counting, that means that Bryan and I got less than 6 hours of sleep and no stretch longer than 2.5 hours.

The whole situation pretty much sucks.

And B and I are very much looking forward to next week when we'll be in Sacramento and my parents will have the kids for a night.