Kicking and Update

I feel like it is important for me to be updating the blog more often, if I am really going to use it as a journal. So... here is a little update of what has been going on.

This week Grace has been kicking a ton! Tyler and I call her Gracie, so I am sure that will be her nick name when she is here. I love to feel her kicking and it is so fun to know that our sweet little Gracie is moving around in there! I have felt her before, but this week it has been distinct kicking/ movements and I know it is her for sure! She likes to move around when I am laying on my side or sitting on the couch watching TV. I love to feel her moving around and it makes everything much more real. I know that she is really coming in October and that is exciting for Tyler and I! Tyler was so cute the other night... He was talking to my tummy and telling our little Gracie how much he loves her and is excited for her to come and join our family. I love to hear him talking about being a Daddy. I know he will be AMAZING! Gracie is going to love her Daddy so much! It is precious when we pray together and we always pray for my little brother Anthony who is in the MTC and our little Gracie.

It has been so fun getting ready for her to come. We have already bought a bunch of diapers and wipes, because they were on sale on Amazon! Okay... I LOVE the smell of baby diapers and wipes. Is that weird? It just smells like a new baby and baby powder, and babies smell delicious. :) We have also gotten a lot of cute outfits an items from family and friends. I got a bathtub thing for Grace from a wonderful lady that I work with(Theresa) and a little ducky that you put in the water and it tells you if it is a good temperature or too hot. A lady at work also got me a yellow outfit, because we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl yet. We got a diaper bag (Ty and I picked it out and got it for ourselves). We also got a few CUTE outfits so Grace will be a stylish little baby girl. My mom got so excited when she found out we were having a girl and bought us some really cute pink/girly outfits. They are adorable! We also got some outfits from Tyler's mom, Sandy.


I started working out again this week and it feels great! The only bad thing is that I need to be eating more often (but healthier). Eating was a big problem for me at the beginning of this pregnancy, but for the last month or so, eating has not been a problem at all. I LOVE to eat! However, that makes me nervous! I feel like now that I am eating normal, I need to make sure that I am careful and not over doing it on food.... like the old saying, "Eating for Two." I know that I am not supposed to literally eat twice as much as I would normally, but sometimes I feel that HUNGRY! So... I figure if I am working out that it should help to balance everything out a little... maybe :)

Dear Gracie,
Your Daddy and I love you so much! We are so excited for you to join our family. I love to feel you moving. It reassures me that you are doing well and growing strong! Your cousin Elsie was born a few days ago and I am sure you girls were friends in heaven. We hope the two of you will be close friends here on Earth too. We will see you in October!


All our love,
Mom and Dad

Iron Horse Monument

Tyler and I decided to go on a little walk/ hike on a Sunday... this is where we ended up :)

Baby McGee 20 and 21 weeks

Purple Sweatshirt and Blue Dress pictures are when I was 20 weeks pregnant (HALF WAY!)

 It's a GIRL!!!! (21 weeks in the Pink Shirt and my bump shows a lot more!)

 

The Big REVEAL!

We think her name will be Grace Eliana McGee. She will be our little "GEM."

My Job

Sorry..... None of my pictures worked. :(

I started working at East Valley Elementary in Yakima, WA on January 17th. I finished student teaching in November and then got a little time off, then work began. I was told it was a Special Education teaching position and from what I had been told in e-mails, online descriptions and other things... it basically sounded like I would be teaching preschool and there were a few special education students in the class. Well.... when I went for my interview, I was told it was a Social Intervention Program (SIP) which basically means that my students are unable to be in a general education classroom because they were unable to function socially and behaviorally. I asked if I could go see the classroom and observe the students, but I was not allowed to do so. Oh well...

Then I was asked if I would accept the job. At the time, Tyler did not have a job, we were living with his parents and we really needed some money, not to mention that I wanted some experience. I was so proud of myself for getting a job less than two months after finishing my student teaching. I wasn't allowed to officially start until my background check went through, but I was able to go and observe the students and see the classroom.

There were 7 students, all boys in the classroom, two para professionals and a teacher. The first day I was just excited and thought about all the things I wanted to do on the walls and decorations and all the fun frilly things. After I thought I had my plan for what I would do with the furniture and decorations in the classroom, I started paying more attention to the students and the para professionals... since they were the ones I would be working with soon. That night, I was still trying to be positive, but all I could think was.... WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?!

The classroom was nothing like I imagined. The kids were whinny, violent, aggressive and not very friendly. My para pros did not seem like they liked me and the parents were rude when I told them I was going to be the new teacher that would teach their child. I was officially nervous and scared. I took it on anyways (since I had already accepted the job) and on January 17th I was the teacher. I was responsible the IEP's, learning and progress monitoring. YIKES!

Needless to say, the month of January was stressful for me and I usually called Tyler at least once a day crying and freaking out. I was not enjoying my job. I am not exactly sure when it got better, but it did. I started settling into my position, I got to know my para pros better and I felt like things were going to be okay.

Then, I got pregnant. At the time I just thought all the stress and aggression from the classroom was getting to me and I wasn't sure if I should quit. I took a pregnancy test and was soooo excited when I found out. Unfortunately, I was REALLY sick. It made me miss a lot of work. Luckily I had a very understanding principal and special education director who were supportive of me doing what I needed to do for my health and the health of the baby.

I only worked at East Valley Elementary (EVE) from January to June, but it was a good experience. I learned a lot and I am glad I had an opportunity to get my name out there in the teaching community. 

New Year!

This year we kept our New Year's pretty chill, but it was still good :)

 7 Layer Dip and Chips

 We went shooting. The men did most of the shooting, but Sandy and I shot a few.

 We watched Dolphin Tale and played Five Crowns!

 We watched Cowboys and Aliens....

 We went and got a new Christmas Tree because the old one had light issues. We set it up to enjoy the colors for the evening.

 Chocolate Covered Almonds! YUMMY!

 Shrimp.... YUCK! Tyler, Randy and Sandy like it though.

 Of course we had "Tyler's Favorite Pudding Pie"

 VEGGIES!

Christmas 2011

We did Christmas in Ellensburg and Olympia (like always) and it was a blast! The pictures from both are all mixed together. I realized I did not take very many meaningful pictures this year. Oh well. haha