The second post.. over a year later!

Blogging is totally not my thing. In fact, I don't even need to tell you so because my last post was over 20 months ago! I feel like this is a time in my life where so much change is taking place.. I oughta buckle down and give this another shot :)

July 2nd changed my life: Derek and I found out that we are pregnant! It has been quite a journey since then dealing with all of the changes in my body and trying to prepare ourselves mentally and physically for parenting. I've heard "Mom" becomes your greatest identity... and I can already see how that's true - every thing that I do can and does affect our baby! My diet hasn't changed significantly aside from my decision to eliminate chicken and incorporate lots of chocolate milk :) I'm 30 weeks as of yesterday, 10 more to go! Derek is signing us up for childbirth class through Lamaze today and we will start early January on Thursday evenings. I've begun work on the registry and am almost finished.. just in time for the January 14th family shower! I have a feeling these 10 weeks will fly by; especially with special ed. student teaching.

Another rollercoaster I rode and continue to ride: student teaching. Following the surgery to have my ovarian dermoid cyst removed, I began student teaching at Skyline HS in Ann Arbor in the health department with Anne Bezeau as my cooperating teacher. The experience was challenging, I was thrown right in. Learning to balance outside life with the demands of teaching was no easy feat, not to mention the challenges that each class presents in regards to behavior management, developing routines, giving and earning respect, grading, and planning. GAH! All in all, I look back fondly. I so loved my students and was invigorated with the content that I was able to teach and share with young people. Of course I have regrets: not getting more involved with the school, not taking more time to develop certain relationships, and not staying on top of my EMU requirements... but, dealing with recovery and my quickly changing body, I can fairly say I gave it my best. I can say that I would be truly happy in a health classroom ... perhaps I'll expand my job search beyond special education! :) Maybe that will change as I head into my next placement at Saline Adult Transition program...

I may or may not already want a break from this game of catch up. To be continued...