2 weeks to go...

The countdown has begun I guess, even though we have no idea what the actual date will be. Technically today I have two weeks and one day left, but this baby clearly has a mind of her own and she's going to do things the way she wants.

Last week, I found out that she is already 7 pounds and is breech. Evan and I have tried and tried to get her to turn over. I'm sure anyone who saw us would laugh at the ridiculous things we've done. We started with ice on the top of my belly and a heating pad on my pelvis. We later added a change in elevation by having me lie down on an ironing board with one side propped up. Wait, there's more. Additionally, Evan shined a flashlight at the bottom of my belly and played music. He has also started singing and talking to Emma....and shushing me whenever I speak. There is no telling how wacky this kid is going to turn out with parents like us!

It's probable that none of these things will work. She doesn't want to turn because she's (1) not ready, (2) doesn't have room, (3) my body just isn't made for a vaginal birth. But, we keep trying and hoping that I can have the labor I want - a natural one. I feel like I've been reading and preparing myself physically, emotionally, and mentally for labor, but now it might be all taken out of my control. Well, the little control I had to begin with anyway.

So, now we're just sitting and waiting. Every little pain I have makes me wonder if it's coming. One thing we do know, though, is that she is coming. And, she's coming very soon!

Another school year is over...

Yesterday, we had a staff luncheon and had to come up with exciting and wonderful things that had happened this year. And, although I know there were many great things that happened, I just couldn't seem to pull them out of my brain at the time. So, here is my redo (with some non-Primary additions).....

1. Best Color Guard season ever...

Although I have loved every group I've ever worked with, these girls and this season has been my absolute favorite! For the first time, I finished a season not dreading next year, but looking forward to the possibilities of the future. I had m

ore responsibility this with this group than I've ever had in the past, but I felt the least stressed. The improvement of the group was definitely recognized in the community and I received compliments from so many people. Definitely one of my top accomplishments of the year!

2. I passed both my test (special ed and generalist) and I'm on my way to getting my Texas Teaching License!

This year, I had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time with a wonderful kid. He is autistic and absolutely fascinating to be around. In the short amount of time I spent as a special ed aide last year, I knew that special education was an interest I wanted to pursue. After this year, though, I have realized just how interesting the area of special education is. I have learned just as much from my kids as I hope they have learned from me. Each of them is a puzzle and so challenging at times, but also such wonderful little humans to be around.

3. Barbers Hill has a winter guard....

Not only did we have an awesome Fall season, these girls actually wanted to keep spinning this winter. They continued to amaze me and even came home with a trophy. It was a challenge to do everything while I was pregnant, but these girls really stepped up and made the first year of winter guard a huge success!

8 months later

A lot can happen in 8 months, which is the last time I wrote about anything. Looking back, I should have been writing about the many wonderful interesting things that have happened, but I didn't so here I go.....

The big news

The number one, most important thing that has changed in my life will here in 16 weeks. Evan and I are anxiously awaiting the arrival our first baby!

We found out in October, and from the beginning, Evan has been so excited. I, on the other hand, took some time to warm up to the idea. Evan has a gift for focusing on the fantastic side of things and completely ignoring everything else. I'm working on it. But in the beginning, all I could think about was everything that would change in our lives, the plans we would have to postpone, and the new roles we would both have to take. It didn't help that I felt sick at this time, too!

I probably got off a lot luckier than most women in my first trimester. I never "got sick," but I sure did feel like it a lot! We both already ate pretty healthy, so I didn't have to change much about my diet, and I still haven't. Giving up caffeine has been my only food sacrifice, which hasn't been much of a problem. I didn't drink many soft drinks before, but I did drink tea. I miss tea. On the plus side, I've only had one migraine since I found out. Wacky.

It's a girl!

And she is a mover! I was at school the first time I felt her move. Mrs. Burgess was reading Little Rabbit....and reminding the kids how to listen respectfully when someone is speaking... when I felt three tiny taps inside my belly. She saw my face and figured out what was happening. I was so surprised and not sure if it really was the baby. From then on, my little soccer player / kickboxer / ballerina has been moving and shaking all the time! She even wakes me up sometimes!

Evan is amazed by the kicks just as much as me. The first time he put his hand on my belly and felt it, I thought he was going to jump through the roof. We both just sit and watch my belly move sometimes. It really is amazing that there is a baby in there!

Daddy-to-be

Evan has conversations all the time with Emma. One of the first times he talked to her, he wanted to make sure she knew who was excited about her first. Minutes after taking a pregnancy test, he was already looking at baby clothes online...Red Sox baby gear to be exact! He told me everything there is to know about car seats and strollers the first time we went into a Babies-R-Us (babysaurus).

The best daddy-to-be story about Evan happened last weekend though. He made pancakes for me, which I noticed he'd been doing more. Of course, everything he makes is delicious! And, I do love pancakes, so I'm not complaining. When we had both finished, he said. "Can I tell you a secret?" He told me he was working on his pancake recipe so he and Emma could have weekend breakfasts. He's going to be such a great dad!

...after a visit home

Some days I wish I had split personalities so I could live all the lives I would need to satisfy my many fascinations. I want to be a farmer, dancer, teacher, veterinarian, writer, artist, athlete, city girl, country girl, student, time traveler, and maybe mickey mouse (except I'm actually too tall). There is just too much to learn, see, and do to fit into one lifetime, but I'm on my way to checking off as much as I can.

I've been back home (in Texas) for only a few days after an excellent 3 week trip to NC and I have so much on my mind. Things I want for my life, places I want to go, things I want see, who I am exactly. It's all too much. But, that's me. I've always been like this. Here are some things I'm excited about.

Camping and Hiking

A few days after I made it to Asheville, my dad decided we were heading to the lake....and that's where it started. I love being outside! I love trees and beautiful views. I love being in the sun (well, most of the time). I fell right back into my 'country girl' mode. The girl who wanted to set up the tent, and sleep outside under the stars. I fished with my dad and sometimes just sat on the boat while he fished. We took rides on the country roads in his big truck. I drove with the windows down feeling the cool mountain air on my arms. Magic.

I also had a chance to go on a hike with my aunt. She lives in Wolf Laurel and very often hikes on the Appalachian Trail....since it practically runs through her back yard. It was a pretty steep hike for most of the time, but it was wonderful. The sights, smells, and sounds of the great outdoors are so incredible.

We talked about taking 2-3 day hike next summer. I'm nervous about it (well, nervous about running into crazy people), but I'm also excited for an outdoor adventure. I really wanted to visit the Toe River again and the Cradle of Forestry since it's one of my favorite places, but I ran out of time (and company). I'm just so excited about getting outside!

I ended up bringing my grandfathers old tent back to Texas with me. My brother and I used to take it to Lake Chatuga every summer when we went with our grandparents and cousins....It's probably been 10 years since the last time the tent has been used...I sure hope it's made well. I also brought a lantern and a camp stove that my dad gave me for Christmas about 5 years ago. I'm sorry to say neither have been used before. I hope we get some good use out of them in the next few years!

That brings me to...

Travel and Vacation

Evan and I have been talking a lot about going to the Grand Canyon next summer. I am so excited. We haven't made any definite plans yet, but I would love to take a road trip, stopping at campgrounds along the way - hiking a lot while we're there. This is one of my outdoor adventure dreams....along with visiting the Lightning Field. I'm just so excited. I'm going to be planning this all year to make sure we actually go!!!!

I just watched Sister of the Traveling Pants yesterday and I am ready for a trip to Greece too! So beautiful. Luckily, Evan wants to go too. 5/10 year wedding anniversary?

Money Money Money

While I was home, I had the chance to talk to my friends and family about money. I see that everyone is having a difficult time...not just us. One good friend suggested I read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. She told me that her sister had followed the plan and quickly pulled herself out of debt. Well, that sounds good to me!

Evan and I had already decided that we needed to seriously sit down and talk about our budget (well, Evan was finally on board....so it actually happened). I told him about this book and an hour later we were heading to Barnes and Noble to pick up a copy. Last night, I was lying in bed listening to Evan read the first 50 pages out loud to me. Sweet, right? Anyway, Evan and I are really excited about getting down to business paying off our debts and starting to save money. I'm so tired of being worried about money, but now I feel really hopeful about our financial future. I also feel great about the Doyle team.

...speaking of sports

Running

Last summer, I really got into running and so did Evan. We were planning to run the Houston half-marathon, but money and injuries got in our way. It has been really hard for me to push myself to run alone, but I have done it off and on since we stopped running together back in January.

My mom, however, has been amazing! She joined the Asheville Track Club and runs three times a week with the group. They are training to run the Bele Chere 5k in July. I am so proud of her and my sister-in-law who is running with her. I wish I could be there to do it with them.

While I was home, I tagged along with them on their running nights and now I'm trying to keep up with their training. That's close to running with someone...if I'm trying to keep up with their training schedule, right? Anyway, this morning, I got up and ran around the apartment complex: 8 min. job, 1 min. walk, 8 min. jog, 1 min. walk, 3 min. jog, walk. I did it, but dang it sure is hotter here than it is in Western NC!

Once Evan and I figure out our budget, I am planning to sign up for atleast one race nearby. It's just something I really want to accomplish. I've really started to enjoy running and how it makes me feel....I just have to kick the lazy days in the BEEhind!

Planning for the Future

I am so glad that Evan and I are starting to really talk and plan our future. I'm beginning to better understand the things I want for myself and he is too. That sure does make it a lot easier to talk about the future...when you have and idea of what to talk about. In the past week, we've talked about - babies, houses, food, budgets, locations, so many things! It's exciting to talk about the future when you aren't so worried about money. I mean we still need to worry about it, but having a plan of attack has taken a huge weight off our shoulders!

nine lives

Yesterday morning was a scary one for me and my little boy cat, Pal. He's been crying lately over what we thought was a sore paw, but yesterday it got a lot more serious.

Pal is a big boy. He likes his food a lot, and most days is very impatient around feeding time. Yesterday morning, though, he was no where to be seen. I called him. Nothing. Rattled his food container. Nothing. I even poured food into his bowl and guess what? Nothing. After looking all through the apartment I finally found him in his litter box. He was there for almost 5 minutes and then came out crying.

It turns out he had a blockage (crystals forming in the body) that was making it hard for him to urinate. This is a serious disease in cats and can be fatal. I know this because my first cat died this way. So, of course, I immediately thought the worst and for most of the morning tears rolled down my face. When I took him to the vet, I could barely get the words out to explain what was going on.

$277 later, we are waiting on results from his urine sample to see what to do next. Can there please be 8 lives left?

a million and one things

My mind has been working over time lately, pulling in every direction in existence and maybe creating new directions. I don't even know where to start. A list will be best. I think.

1. I want to play soccer.
2. Dance and dance and dance.
3. I forgot how much I love Jack Johnson....because I just couldn't listen to him for a while. Now, that he's back in my life, though, I appreciate him that much more.
4. I am sick of being angry. I know that when I feel out of control, the only thing I CAN control is my emotions....but it just doesn't feel that way.
5. I want to be here and I want to be there. I don't want to do it, but I do. Can I just lie in the middle of the floor and listen to this song for hours?
6. By the way, the song is I Don't Wanna Wait by Roli Golan
7. I love my job, but I am not a good assistant. I am a reluctant leader. I try to hide it and pretend that I don't want it, but I do. I'm just scared.
8. I need a "good" duplicate of myself to boss me around when I don't feel like running or eating the right food, or when I get lazy. She'll have rosy cheeks and a beautiful singing voice.
9. Sometimes, I just want quiet. I can't get to a peaceful place too many days.
10. Buddhism.
11. Today, my kids had a music program at school. I wish you could have heard one of my 1st graders sing. I couldn't stop smiling.
12. I still think it's a game.
13. I am so happy that my choices have brought me to the place I am. I'm positive that there are people who think I missed out on something or that I didn't have as much fun. There are times when I convince myself as well. Then, I hear about bad decisions. The kind that put limitations where there should be no bounds. I am sad for you. More sad than I should be. I wish I could fix it. I wish I was more powerful than I am.
14. I love helping kids learn to read. Letters, words, sentences - they are all amazing. Do you ever think, "this is huge!" I mean, babies grow inside bellies for goodness sakes! That's amazing......AMAZING! The Earth can run itself without anyone pushing play or setting an alarm. It's genius!
15. 2012 might be scary.

My mind has run off too fast and taken all of my thoughts with it. This feels good though.

idance

I am a portable dance machine.....

I have been saving an itunes gift card since Christmas. I am a terrible saver in all aspects of my life. I save things that most people would throw away (I know this isn't news) for future craftiness. I hold onto feelings that should have been abandoned on a curb long ago. AND I save itunes cards until I find the perfect songs to buy.

Here's my purchase list for the last of my Christmas:

David Bowie: Let's Dance, Modern Love

Kool & the Gang: Hollywood Swinging

Pretenders: Don't Get Me Wrong

Rosi Golan: Album The Drifters and the Gypsy

And now since I'm home alone.....Dance party