Decisions, Decisions

The hardest decision I have had to make thus far as a parent was who would watch Mason when I went back to work.  We are not fortunate enough for me to stay home with him, we do not have a relative close by who doesn't work to watch him, so what do you do??

This was extremely hard for me.  I mean I never really went to daycare, my mom was always home with my little brother and I.  I also read a lot of studies showing that daycare is actually exceptionally beneficial for babies.  Regardless of how I was feeling, the decision had to be made because I was going back to work.

We learned that you can't wait around when it comes to really good daycares because they fill up fast.  Nick and I choose a couple to go and visit and speak with.  We liked them both but didn't LOVE either.  To be honest, I don't think I was going to LOVE any of them.  However, after much debate (i.e. stalling on my part) we made a decision!

Well, when we called to sign Mason up, they were full.  We were going to be put on the waitlist.  My heart sank.  Luckily, we had a good back up in another place we had visited, but I still wasn't thrilled about the situation.  We went ahead and got Mason registered for a daycare near Nick's work in the Galleria area.

A few days later we were pulling into the drive and saw our neighbors outside.  They are really nice, and they have the cutest little blonde, curly headed boy named Thomas who was 3 at the time.  In making conversation we asked if they had a good babysitter for future reference.  Holly, our neighbor, misunderstood and thought we meant daycare type person.  We didn't correct, took the name and number, and went inside baffled by what had just happened.

We figured it couldn't hurt to call and see what it was all about.  We trust our neighbors, Thomas is still alive and wonderful, and this may be an answer to a prayer we didn't realize we both had.  So, Nick called and Ida agreed to meet with us.  Funny thing, she called Holly after she talked to Nick to ask about us.  She wanted to make sure we were ok, just like we wanted to check her out.  We went to her house and met her and her husband Steve.  This was the most amazing experience ever!  I instantly knew Mason was in the right place.  At the time, Mason was only 6 weeks old, and she picked him up and he smiled and seemed so happy!  From that point on we have never looked back!

I am writing this because, while so many out there are luckily enough to be with there babies everyday, some of us are not.  Those of us that can't be there every minute of every day need people like Ida to love our babies, take care of them, and treat them like their own.  This is exactly what Ida and Steve do for my wonderful baby.  Mason is lucky enough to have an extra set of grandparents who love him as their own.  I am also writing this because Ida asked us to bring Mason over once he got his hair cut.  We went over there and as soon as we opened the door and Mason walked in he walked right to her arms up and gave her a hug!  She was so excited to see him, and the joy on both of their faces melted my heart.  Ida and Steve, better known to Mason as MoMo and PoPo, are the best people I could have ever asked for to take care of my baby.  Ida also has her grandson, Jacob, and even though he is 4, he adores Mason!  I love that Mason already seems to have an older brother to take care of him, play with him, and teach him things!  In home daycare has worked for us, and I highly suggest it to any parents that have to work and put their babies in some type of daycare.


If you made it through all of that, here are a few pictures!

He is learning Spanish, has an entire other family, and is spoiled like crazy.  Also, Mason comes home with dirt on his clothes, food in his hair, and most important of all a smile on his face!

Catch Up!

Just merely living life has been exhausting lately and has been the cause for my lack of posting.  However, I have survived my first six weeks as a teacher at a public school!  I must admit that while it has been amazing it has left me questioning my career choice.  Teaching is by far one of the most exhausting jobs ever!  It doesn't help when you have 150 short stories to grade, and it turns out that my kids spell like the Chick-fil-a Cows. 

Moving onto other things...

My cousin's Quince was a couple of weeks ago, and we had our own fun while the birthday girl partied with her friends!

This week is concert filled, which is going to be fabulous and terribly exhausting!  Wednesday we are going to see Carrie Underwood and Billy Currington with my brother and his girlfriend.  Then, Friday we are going to see Shakira with my parents.  My dad loves her, so Nick and I got him tickets for Father's Day.  He is so excited!

Also, the weather is completely wonderful, and I can't wait for it to be colder!  I absolutely love fall and winter clothes!!

Exhausted!

Let me just preface this with the statement, my new job is completely exhausting!  It has been a crazy first two weeks at my school, and has included going from seven periods to eight, changing homerooms, adding and losing kids, and all kinds of schedule issues.  Public school is so much more work than private school!!

Anyway, there have been lots of things going on other than school/work since my last post.  So, here begins the pictures and descriptions of what we have been doing!

Nick was chosen season ticket holder of the match at the last Dynamo home game.  He got to lead the teams onto the field, we got to stand with the players before the game started, and we went onto the field during half time.  Very cool and definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

My fabulous in-laws sent me the most amazing care package to start the school year off.  It was full of wonderful teaching/office/school supplies.  Plus, who doesn't love to get a big box in the mail!

We partied with the Mexican side!  My mom's aunt and uncle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and as many may know Mexicans know how to throw a party!  We had a blast, and everyone was there.  My nephew did question my mom's true Mexican-ness though...he asked, "Ama, (Spanish word for grandma) you don't talk like brown people so you must not really be a brown a person!"  It was hilarious, and he has a point, my mom never really speaks Spanish in front of him or to him.  The best part of the night was when my mom's cousin Henry, who we all love, gave my dad a hat!  My dad said he liked Henry's hat, so Henry said he could have it because he had another one in his car...pure awesomeness!  So, below is my dad with cousin Henry and their hats!  Henry then walked around the party, pointing at my dad, and telling everyone he had a white cousin!

Eric and Selina showing off their moves!  We really had a great time, and it was nice to be surrounded by family.

I am so thrilled that tomorrow is Friday and that I have a three day weekend in store.  Plus, I have pretty much the best mentor teacher ever this year, and she is buying me lunch!  I will try to post more frequently, but I make no promises, seeing how exhausting teaching at the largest middle school in Houston ISD is!

Love is in the air...

So, this coming Friday will be the 13th and also marks a year and a half of married life for Nick and I.  This is amazingly awesome because we got married on a Friday the 13th!  Needless to say it is kind of exciting, and is the inspiration for today's post.  Obviously, I love my husband but a few other things I love include:

• Our wedding wall!  We have this weird cut out thing in our house that I had no clue what to do with, and then my best friend, Sara, gave us a sign that inspired everything!  It has all kinds of memories, and serves as a constant reminder of the best day of our lives.

• Going along with the whole wedding thing, I still love our wedding invitations!  We did not go the traditional route, but I still think they are the best thing ever!  I love that we are crying by the box for those who could not attend.  In case you can't tell, the invitations have us on them!  A local artist created them for us after talking to us and learning what our interest were.  Nick has on flip flops, a soccer ball, and a finance book.  I have a camera, paintbrushes, and a book.  Since we like to travel there is a suitcase with stuff about us on it like the UST star, Viva Italia (that is where we honeymooned), a Don't Mess With Texas sticker, etc.  They were amazing and completely us!

 

 

• A more recent love is that I will be teaching in The Heights this year!  There are so many aspects to love about this...I am at one of the best schools in the district, I am a Vanguard teacher so I will be teaching GT and Pre-AP kids, Nick and I can carpool, and the people at this school are incredible, plus, I just adore The Heights!

Bittersweet

Friday was my last day with my students, and today and tomorrow are in-service days.  As excited and ready as I am for summer, I will truly miss my kids!  I could never have asked for a better group of kids to be my first class, and I will always remember them and miss them.  We have all vowed to stay in touch, and I hope we do because these kids are beyond incredible and I am truly blessed to have had them in my life!

Some of my students with their paper plate awards!