Life and Prayer Journal

I've been wanting a journal that I can record everything in from grocery list to prayers and everything in between! When I couldn't find what I was lookIng for in the stores I decided to create my own...something unique to me anf that fits my personality! I figured if I created it, I would be more likely to use it!

This is what my cover looks like! 

I love to scrapbook so I took two sheets of paper anf connected it with ribbon that my mom had given me.  Then I added some scrapbook stickers and emblems to add my finishing touches! I love how it turned out!! The picture below is the notebook I bought from target originally. A little creativity and scrapbook things turned it into something unique for me! 

Inside my first tab, I made a meal planner and used monthly calendars from a calendar l got free from jo anns fabric. 

The next section, I am using as a place to specifically pray for my husband. I decorated tab as a way to make his section unique for him!

The next section is a place to pray for my children; therefore, I made a tab special for them also!

The last two sections are used for prayers for others, shopping lists and to do lists. I haven't finished those two sections yet. I will post pics when I finish.

Classroom Schedule

I wanted to share my busy schedule.  With the 90 minute reading blocks for all the older classes, we were given all morning specials! Talk about a busy morning!  The hardest part is we have some students leave at 11 as well as some only come three days a week; therefore, we have 3 main days of learning and the rest review days.  Below is what my schedule looks like:

As you can see my schedule is crazy this year! Not much I can do about it except ask for a more consistent specials schedule next year! Most things I can't get in every day.  There is just no way possible to go to every special and fit in all that we have to every day, so this year I had to be real creative in planning my daily schedule.  Calendar I add in literacy and of course we do math so that the students are receiving a lesson in those areas every day.  Of course with calendar, the students are learning numbers, patterns, days of the weeks, months,etc. but we also added in a daily message for the students to practice letters, sight words, and even some writing during that time.  I work in a Christian school; therefore, we try to have some form of Bible story, praying, Bible craft or activity every day.  Eventually we will start going to church every Wednesday with the  rest of the school, and that will take the place of Bible on that day which is our busy day already! We also had to  add in library on Wednesdays during our small groups time.  Our small groups are our Literacy and Writing groups.  The students rotate between four groups during this time: some form of writing (journals, practice writing letters in the alphabet, describing a story or something to go with our science theme to  get science in more), reading (picture reading, retelling, sight word and letter books, etc.), listening (listening to story on headphones), and some form of art, game or activity to go with the letter or sight word we are learning depending on student and what level they are.  Math and science groups work almost just like literacy groups except there are only three groups (You can see on my schedule, we only have time for this three times a week.) and they only go to one a day and rotate to a different group the next day we meet in science and math groups.     We usually do one science group and two math groups.  In math we start out the year  doing shapes and colors and then switch to numbers.  Eventually we get to patterns, sorting, adding, etc.  Science we usually stick to the Scholastic Clifford themes. 

This is our afternoon schedule.  There isn't much to it except the Daily Five. We usually do four groups instead of five and two of the groups are led by the teacher each day.  The students' alone groups are listening center and reading center. (They can read alone or together with a buddy.)  The teacher leads working on writing and working with words or letters most days; however, there are those days that the students will play a game, write the room, etc. by themselves while the teacher assesses students or works one on one with a student.  

What Should I Take To Hospital When Having A Baby

This was a topic I looked up several times when preparing for my stay at the hospital; therefore, I wanted to share what I felt like were musts when packing.  Below are a list of the 15 things I felt were most important:

1.)  Spaghetti strapped tanks and nightgowns- I only brought one spaghetti strapped tank and wish I would have had more.  It made breastfeeding so much easier.  Plus I felt better in it than the hospital gown!
2.)  Snacks for my husband as well as myself after the baby was born.
3.)  Extra baby clothes-the hospital provides infants with outfits; however, I enjoyed being able to dress him in cuter clothes for all the visitors and pictures we took!
4.)  Soft music-made sleeping a little easier as well as made the atmosphere more inviting.
5.)  Socks with grip- Keeps you from sliding around when you can barely walk as it is.
6.)  Boppy-Would have made breastfeeding so much easier those first few learning days.
7.)  Maternity bras-I loved being able to just unsnap and go with it when feeding my little man!
8.)  Phone or other way for internet access-Kept my mind off the pain and made time go by a lot quicker being able to text and browse online.
9.)  Camera, video camera,etc. You will want to take a lot of pictures and videos!!!!!!!!
10.) Husband or other support person and a few encouraging Bible verses-Definitely made the labor process so much easier!  He was amazing walking me through the contractions and rubbing my back, praying with me, etc.
11.)  Going home outfit-loose fitting as well as something that aren't too low on your waist in case you have a c-section.
12.)  Notepad or journal-my husband and I wrote a note to our little man those last, painful hours before he arrived.  I can't wait for him to read be able to read them!
13.)  Toiletries- deodorant, contacts, glasses, solution, etc.
14.)  Pony tail holder-  You will hate your hair in your face the whole hospital stay!
15.)  Your own pillow just in case you have a c-section.  I so wish I had one for the car ride home.  It would have made the trip a lot less painful!

10 Must Haves for New Moms with Newborns

As a new mom, there are a few things I've realized are very important to have that has made my life as a new mom much easier!
     #1. Swaddles- From the day he was born, he loved to be swaddled! We tried blankets; however we couldn't wrap him tight enough.  A friend of ours gave us swaddles with velcro.  What a night saver!  He slept so much better being wrapped as my seven year old says, "As snug as a bug in a rug!"

     #2.  A camera (or phone)-I don't think I could have survived without one!  I love taking pictures of all his firsts to have as memories.
     #3.  An infant stroller-I love getting out of the house for some fresh air and exercise!  It has been used multiple times a week since week 2!  And he loves it! It's one of the few ways that will put him to sleep!

  
  #4.  A bouncer-He sits in it while I clean, shower, etc.  I love that it is small and light enough to fit in my tiny bathroom!
     #5. Moby Wrap-Seriously one of the best inventions!!  I used it when I had set up my classroom, taken walks, done chores around the house and even during Zumba!
    #6.  A bassinet with a shelf on bottom-For all  those times I wake up at night, this has been a life saver.  I love that I can reach over, pick up my infant, diaper, wipes, and burp rag all without leaving my bed!
    #7.  Spaghetti strapped nightgowns-These have made it so easy to breastfeed during the evenings as well as throughout the day when I don't feel like getting dressed. 
    #8.  Spaghetti strapped tanks-Again for breastfeeding; however, these make it easier to feed when out and about. It is so much easier to pull top down rather than all the way up!
    #9.  Nursing cover-So much easier and lighter than a blanket when feeding your little one in public!
    #10.  Tommee Tippee-This bottle is amazing especially when breastfeeding, but also wanting to get your baby used to a bottle for a babysitter, this is the one you want! My little one will drink from this bottle like a champ, but also still breastfeed and be good at it! 

lessons from a newborn

I have written about lessons from children in the past but for some reason I never thought I could have learned a lesson from a newborn...or better yet God could use a newborn to teach me such a valuable lesson!  But then again God can do all things...right?! For nothing is impossible with God...but that's another lesson for another day! Back to my newborn...this seven week old baby lying in my arms eating right now in a camper at 4:38 in the morning while its storming outside..oh how that could be another lesson of its own. I love how God uses what we feel like is so random.  God is using this little, helpless infant to bring me closer to Him! Ooh how I love this child!  Tonight or rather this morning as I was feeding this helpless baby I related him to myself with God.  I was brought back to something I heard on klove awhile back. I thought about how this little baby sometimes wants all of my attention...like yesterday when I was packing and he was in his swing crying wanting my attention... he didn't want me to just talk to him and rub his little head every now and then. He wanted all of me just like God wants all of me. He doesn't want me just partially calling out to him while I'm busy doing other things. Yes he wants my attention then too, but he wants all of me at times also without phone calls, texts, my baby, etc. As I sit here thinking about my helpless infant, fully relying on me...that's how God wants us to be with Him. He wants us to fully rely on Him...not just times of need but always! We should be like this helpless infant crying out to our lord and savior all day every day...relying on Him every step we take...like that song...!

You Know You're a New Mom When...

You Know You're A New Mom When:

Your new bed time is anytime your child is sleeping whether it's nine in the morning or five in the evening. You sleep whenever you can.

Some weeks you shower two or three times a day or some days not at all.

Meals become once or twice a day instead of three times a day.

If you get breakfast, it's usually closer to lunch time.

You wash your own bed sheets more now than you ever have due to pee, puke, and poop!

It's very rare you get to eat your dinner hot or even warm for that matter.

You always smell like sour milk.

Your hair is in a constant pony tail.

You use the restroom and take a shower with little eyes watching.

You get peed, pooped, or puked on multiple times a day.

You carry extra clothes for yourself in your car everywhere you go.

You have to find time to brush your teeth or hair.

You're constantly lifting ten pounds or more despite what your doctor tells you.

Your sister becomes your best friend with the best advice. She understands you more than anyone else.

Getting ready in the mornings is brushing your teeth and using the restroom. The rest gets fit in in between feedings and diaper changes.

You have people constantly asking you how you're doing.

People bring you food and even desserts for a couple weeks straight.

Laundry is overflowing out of two or three different baskets.

You learn to eat, write, and do chores left handed or one handed.

Dates with your significant other becomes fifteen minutes of alone time with each other or constant crying in the background. You long for alone time with just him!

If you go it out on a date, there's three instead of two.

Your car becomes full of burp rags and blankets.

You actually sort laundry by who it belongs to instead of by color.

Sleeping for more than five hours becomes very rare if ever.

The dishwasher becomes your best friend.

You always have an extra body in your room at bedtime, when changing, etc

You have a screaming baby in the back seat of the car and there's nothing you can do about it.

You change more diapers than you used the restroom in your third pregnancy.

A bouncer sits outside your bathroom door.

Your living room becomes infested with baby swings, toys, diapers, wipes, blankets, a boppy, etc.

You wear the same four or five outfits everywhere.

You have small, beautiful blue eyes that look into yours and your heart melts.

You never thought something so small could be so precious.

You get that feeling of being loved when he's crying uncontrollably and you pick him up and he lays his head on your chest and lets out those sighs from crying and calms down
immediately knowing mommy has him.

A sleeping baby in your arms is very relaxing.

When you have little hands touching you that feels like water dripping down you.

You get lots of little wet kisses all over your chest, arms, shoulders, etc.

You find a love deep down in your heart that you never knew you had....a love that is indescribable that doesn't compare to anything I've known before!

Homemade Drawing Books

I decided at the last minute to make goodie bags for my stepson.  We aren't really having a party because we will be camping and the boys will be to a theme park on his birthday; however, I thought it be fun to surprise him with a little party when he got back to the campsite. I bought a few decorations and some items for gift bags for him and my niece and nephew.  One of the things I put in the bags were small pack of markers; therefore, I decided to go ahead and make each of them their own drawing book that they could write and draw in while we were camping.  I tried to make them according to what they each enjoy!

My niece's:

All I did was put together some computer paper, and added a cover (scrapbook paper and stickers).  I hole punched the sides and sewn the pages together with ribbon! Simple, but girly for my niece!

My Nephew's:

My Son's:

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