The Flood of Water and Emotions

Flood of Water:

God told Noah to build an Ark. We didn't necessarily get that warning, or any warning for that matter. When I walked up to the school building this morning, I saw from a distance what appeared to be ice coming from the front door. As I got closer, it looked like a scene from some sci-fi, X-Man movie where the guy can shoot sheets of ice from his hands. So, I eased around to the other entrance, only to be greeted by Mrs. Cassity - Cheshire cat grin included - and she asked whether I wanted the good news or the bad. The bad news? A pipe burst and flooded a third of our school, my room included. The good? It didn't bust in my room, as it did a few years ago with only a minor mess. The ice came from the water that had been gushing from the front doors since an unknown hour this morning. When Mr. O'Rourke, our amazing custodian, got there this morning, he was greeted by the water literally pouring out of the building.

Looking into my classroom. Those ceiling tiles are from the room across the hall where it all started.

My classroom. If you look hard you can see where the water comes up the bottom of the stool. Laren's room. Water standing about 2 inches here, too.

The room where it all started. That's dirt accompanying the water.

Where the ceiling literally fell out. What you can't see to the left is how the ceiling braces broke through.

Looking out of the office doors. Servpro finally arrived around 9. Apparently they don't do things in a hurry.

Looking down the hall toward the History wing.The area in front of Mrs. Free's and Mrs. Cassity's offices. Mrs. Cassity's office. There shouldn't be a glare from the carpet. We worked through the morning to get stuff off the floor so it could begin drying. Servpro came in after that to start sucking up the water. When I left a little after 3 today, they were still working hard. Good thing a blizzard is coming tomorrow, and the powers that be cancelled school.

Flood of Emotions:

If wading through two inches of water just to get to my classroom weren't enough, I got some of the worst news (in my opinion, anyway) that I could get pertaining to school. We learned today that the best principal, albeit the ONLY principal, but definitely the BEST principal I have ever had, is moving on to bigger and better things. Not all is 100% official, yet. She is still waiting on the approval of two different boards, but for us, the end is coming. Now, I realize that I haven't been pregnant for quite sometime, but I still seem to be at an all-time emotional high. I greatly appreciate her telling me a few minutes in advance, so I didn't blubber like an idiot in front of a group. I just cried a little - hearing it the second time around did NOT make it easier, only softened the blow a bit. I am so thankful and appreciative of the time that I have had to work with her. I feel like I learned so much. I am so happy for her and the opportunity that she is soon about to have; I know it is a step in the higher direction for her. And, like she said this morning, God's timing is NOT always what we have laid our for our lives. However, selfishly somewhere in the back of my fantasy world, she would be my principal until I retired (which would put me in my 50s and her almost 70...), but I know that all good things must come to and end. She is loved (even still!) and will be greatly missed, because she is MUCH more than my boss. :)

The Name

I have wanted to be a mom forever. I look back at pictures of me coddling my dolls, giving them bottles, and pushing them around in miniature strollers. I have DREAMED of being called Mommy. It's such a sweet word that means so many different things. Comfort. Love. Warmth. Protection. Devotion. I find all of these qualities in my own mother which is why she is so precious to me, although I don't call her Mommy anymore. So, is it what you are called as a mother that is what is special, or is it just that you are called?
For a few weeks now I have notice Olivia repeating "BeeBee" - a LOT. At first I thought she was saying "baby", or maybe even referring to some toy. But then she started patting me and saying "BeeBee". Hmmm...is that me? Am I her BeeBee? I woke up this morning before she did and some piddling around the house. She coughed herself awake (bless her heart!), so I decided to go ahead and fix her milk cup before she got riled up. Standing in the kitchen making that cup, I heard her singing "BeeBeebeeBeeBeeeeeee..." and my heart swelled. I know that she wanted me. Her BeeBee. I don't care that it's not Mommy. She doesn't care, either.

So long 2009...You were a GREAT year!!

Wow...what an amazing year we have had...



In January, I was able to make it through my ninth month of pregnancy without a hitch. In fact, I was due on January 29th, but was sitting that night at Open House at school because she just wasn't coming. The only reason I made my last day of work the 27th was because I was afraid my water would break in front of my classroom!



So...on Monday, February 2nd, after several :) hours of labor, we went in after her! Olivia gave us a pretty good scare by not breathing and staying in the NICU for a week. I remember this is an extremely difficult, yet joyous month. I was pretty depressed for a few weeks relating to the pregnancy and breastfeeding, etc..., but thank goodness it didn't last too long.



Sometime around the middle of March, Olivia started sleeping pretty much through the night. Thank you, LORD. We were so blessed with this. It makes me nervous to even consider another child, because surely I couldn't be blessed twice with this! It didn't help that I was the Yearbook sponsor and the final product was due March 23rd... (I'm SO glad that's over with!)



The best part of April was Spring Break! I finished up maternity leave around the first week of April, had to work a week and a half, then got to be out again for a week for Spring Break! Sweet.



Obviously May is a time to rejoice because school's out for summer, but that and our beach trip was about it. We found out around the middle of May that Michael would be losing his job at the end of the month. We weren't sure what was going to happen after this; however, God was in control, even if we weren't too sure about it.



With June, Michael enrolled for the Summer schedule at Shelton. He already had about a year's worth of classes under his belt, but he started these courses with graduation in mind. Olivia, who by now is officially "Bitty" (which started as Itty Bitty Baby, then Bitty Baby, then just Bitty), is just growing and growing. She started eating solids in June, and had a new found addiction for Baby Einstein (which she has not grown out of).

We relaxed most of July, but at the end I was having to rev myself back up for the school year. July was tough for Bitty because she was cutting her first teeth. (Now she has 6+!) I was sad because I knew that it was going to be extremely difficult for me because I had just spent all summer with her and Michael.

August brought first day of school jitters. Michael became a stay-at-home Dad. I appreciate him so much for this. We have pretty much swapped roles, and he is doing an amazing job with Bitty. I am mostly very jealous of him because of the time that he gets to spend with her, but I am so glad for her that she gets to spend all of this time with her Daddy. Most children never get this opportunity.

In September, Olivia became a crawler. Lordy she is FAST and into everything! This was great to see, but the best part of the month was Bryant winning it's first football game in years - literally breaking a 30something game losing streak. I cried, I cheered, I stormed the field like a 17 year old. It was the best night.

October was a busy month. Not many breaks at school, and we tried to go to almost every Bryant game, which dominated our Friday nights. Bitty turned 8 months old and celebrated (sort of...) her first Halloween as a Giraffe Ballerina. We only trick-or-treated two houses. :)

November was a month of thanksgiving. We had so many things to be thankful for, as you have already read! We celebrated Thanksgiving several different times, ate great food, and spent valuable time with family. Alabama won the Iron Bowl and ended the month and season with an undefeated record...setting us up for a trip to the SEC championship.

December and May are my favorite months, because school is winding down and that means I can rest up and get ready for a fresh start. We started the month celebrating with our Sunday School class and a SEC championship for our team...Roll Tide! We ended the month celebrating the birth of Christ and Bitty's first Christmas. She didn't really understand the meaning of Christmas, or opening presents, or what any of it meant, but I think she had as much fun as an 11 month old could have! :)

All in all, even with the uncertainties of jobs, school, and money, we have had an unbelievably amazing year. We have grown closer as a couple, as a family, and to our friends. We thank God for all of our blessings, and we pray that they continue into 2010. We also thank you who have supported us with prayers, words, and in other ways. We love you so much and hope that God blesses you more.

The First Christmas

It's been 2009 years... In a million years I could never imagine what it would be like to know that God has chosen me to carry the Savior of the world. Knowing that I would be giving my precious baby up for the saving of everyone else. What was Mary thinking that first Christmas? Even though I think the song has been overplayed in the last few years, I just wonder if Mary really knew what her life was going to be like after the birth of her baby. In the last 1o months, I have been almost daily surprised at what all Olivia does. Was it the same for Mary?

This has been such a special Christmas for me. I have really seen this year from someone else's point of view. I spent Christmas morning misty-eyed just thinking about what it was like 2009 years ago in a stable filled with animals. I have been amazed this year at the love that I feel for Olivia, and the love that she shows me, knowing that the only person who loves her more than me is her Heavenly father. Such an amazing thought...

Traditions

So, this year, because it was our first family Christmas, Michael and I wanted to establish some traditions. I wanted to start this year with a birthday party for Jesus, but didn't think Olivia would really understand or care, so I decided to wait until next year. Before we started opening presents though, Michael told Olivia all about why we have presents and what Christmas really means. It was very sweet. Also, in an attempt to thwart the beginnings of materialism, Michael and I have decided to follow in the footsteps of some of our friends (with a little modification). We decided that we wanted to do three gifts from Santa Claus to represent the three gifts from the Wise Men to Jesus, and one special or sentimental gift from us. This year, her three gifts from Santa were toys: a polite tea set, pink mega blocks, and a sit and ride toy. For her special gift from us we chose the Guess How Much I Love You book - two copies - a board book to play with now, and a special copy for her to have when she won't tear up the pages. Her stocking contained the practical...bath stuff and fruit snacks!First, Olivia opened a gift from MawMaw and PawPaw Parrish. A sweat suit outfit with some tee-shirts. Sweet!
Then she opened her stocking. The bath soap was a big hit. She kept going back to it. She loves bath time!
Checking out the gear shift on her new riding toy. It is also a walker. It collapses down into a rider.
Mega blocks! We have since decided to put these up for a few months. They're meant for 1+ ages, so we'll probably get them out around February. (GOSH - she's almost a year old!!)

Working on opening a present with Daddy. She still isn't sure about tearing the paper!Although it was after 7am, she was still sort of sleepy!Reading her new book. Having tea with Daddy! (And yes, that's a booger bubble. Sorry.) The soda in the background was in my stocking! :)This year's tree. Notice the lack of ornaments around the bottom third of the tree. Those are the ones she could reach...

The Early Christmases

Like every year and every other family on the planet, our Christmas time with family spans several days. Thank goodness though it's not hectic, because it normally starts early in December, and goes through Christmas Day rather than cramming it all in within just a few days. Our Christmas season started a few weeks ago with Michael's Granny's Christmas party in Pell City. The family is so large that Granny Harris rents a building to house everybody because they just don't all fit in a normal size home. Although, unfortunately, key people were missing, it was overall a great day. From her Pe-Paw David and Nana Lisa Olivia got a Baby Einstein (you know the obsession...) book and a car steering wheel that sings the ABCs. She likes the steering wheel - she LOVES the book. It has been the first thing she plays with in the mornings, and she usually gives it to us several times throughout the day to show us the pictures. She doesn't read it in any particular order, and loves to randomly flip the pages.

Reading with Mommy
Showing her book off

Her new thing: randomly standing!

Last Saturday our friends Jeremy and Karri came over for supper. Olivia is secretly in love with Jeremy! He was showing her (for the 1456th time) how to open a present. She is, unlike her mother, a gentle unwrapper.

She got an Olivia DVD and Granimal pop n' lock heads! We sing the Olivia theme song to her all of the time (It's just her name over and over again...), but she had never actually seen the show. When I put it in the DVD player the next day, she froze when the song came on! It was too cute!

We spent last Sunday afternoon and evening at my Mom's house to celebrate Christmas with my parents and brother's family. We had a great visit. Olivia got a stroller from my parents that she has to push. She is doing such a great job walking behind it! Such a big girl!

The Greeting

As any teacher knows, the last few days before a big break are always the toughest. I was so looking forward to being home; it was like I couldn't drive fast enough. I walked in the front door, and Bitty was sitting in the kitchen floor. She could see me as the door opened, and when I walked in, she started clapping! My heart immediately melted. But, it was just a fluke...I thought, until she did it again today! She may not be saying "Mommy" right now, but I know that she loves me!!

Bye Bye, Bitty

Bitty's tricks seem to be multiplying daily! She says "bye-bye" fairly regularly, and often not at the appropriate moment. She has vocalized "da-da", but it's not always clear that that is what she is saying. She doesn't put sound behind it, but I have seen her several times mouth "m-m-m-m", which I feel confident is directed toward me. :) She can "patty-cake", and has corrected her thumb/hand clapping with hand to hand contact. Although she doesn't sing with the "patty-cake" song, she does love it when someone else sings it. As far as movement is concerned, she crawls quick as lightning. She pulls up on anything and everything, and "walks" up and down the furniture a lot. Michael said that Thursday she just stood up where she was in the middle of the floor. Granted, she only stood for a few seconds, but she did it without holding on to anything! The video is of her saying "bye-bye" and waving backwards...