The baby in the picture...that's my baby!

A few weeks ago, we took Kedzie to go get some holiday pictures taken. She had on her brand new red tutu. She looked pretty stinking cute.  

The pictures turned out pretty well and we put in our order.

This week, the photographer called to let us know they were ready to be picked up.

I convinced my mom to come with me on an adventure to the mall. (Man it is so much easier to have a comrade when you take a newborn to the mall.)

After my mom shopped in Coldwater Creek (for almost two hours), we went to get the pictures.

The girl working the counter asked me for my name.

As she was searching her filing cabinet, she made a comment about, “the baby in the pictures.”

I just figured she meant that Kedzie looked so cute; she could be a baby in the advertisement.

But no, two of Kedzie’s pictures were actually featured by the photographer for all of the store customers to see.

I had to take a picture and I sent it to Mr. Campbell as well.

Too bad we won’t get paid for royalties. But, I did get a free picture thrown in thanks to my mom’s insistence.

New superintendent = bye bye STEM programs?

Yesterday I found out on Facebook that our superintendent was leaving our district to go to a MUCH bigger district.

Minutes later I checked my work email and saw that the Facebook rumor was true.

I sent a text to one of my friends who works in the elementary STEM program that the superintendent’s wife runs. Funny, she was actually at breakfast with his wife as she had just broken the news to her and some of her other coworkers.

Their departure makes me sad on various levels.

I didn’t know our previous superintendent, and I don’t know the current one—but as I also worked in the elementary STEM program, I got to know this superintendent’s wife fairly well. To me, she is much more than a superintendent’s wife. She has a PhD of her own, and she is extremely funny and bright. She actually got me into the STEM program that I work in at the middle school level. She has been extremely supportive of me and decisions I had to make for my own career. When our baby was born, she was one of the first people I sent a baby picture to.

I am also sad because of the uncertainty of what can happen to the elementary STEM program. This program was the superintendent’s wife brain child. It was something she had developed for years and these plans were able to come to fruition as two new elementary schools opened in our district. It is a great program because kids who had been previously underserved in our district are finally being challenged—or so many of their parents report. The kids learn about engineering and work on engineering projects in 4^th and 5^th grade. These STEM teachers are able to focus more on content than testing, yet their test scores show that this program is successful.

Also, since I work in the middle school STEM program—there is some uncertainty there. Will the district continue to support the Gateways to Technology programs? Will there still be money designated for the licenses, trainings and consumables that my program needs? Will the new superintendent view STEM as such a priority?

I love my job. I have taught several subjects in the seven years I have been teaching, but teaching the Gateways to Technology curriculum is my absolute favorite. I have done this for the last two years and I was hoping to teach this curriculum for many more years. I love over hearing my students say to their friends that, “they can’t wait to come to my class so they can finish their _________ project.”  My class focuses on project based learning and the students study and solve real world engineering problems.

True, we don’t know what will happen when the new superintendent is hired in our district. Perhaps they will be someone who also views STEM as a priority? I don’t see how or why the district would want to get rid of the STEM programs that are currently in place, because it seems like they would be allowing the district to take a step backwards?

STEM is not only a popular buzzword in the media but it helps our kids to become global thinkers and problem solvers. I know this firsthand.

Can we continue the STEM programs without our superintendent or his wife’s leadership? Yes. Like any good parent who raises their child—they have given us the tools and resources we need to be successful. Now, we just need the support of the school board and the new superintendent.

I will do whatever I can to make my voice heard.

Santa Pictures on November 8...It's never too early

I will admit it--I am pretty excited for Christmas. Yes, it is the first year we have a little one and yes, I realize she has no idea what is going on, but I am so ready to put up my Christmas tree and get in the Christmas spirit.

One of the pics of Kedzie from her first trip to the mall! 

My hubby has been home with me since the baby was born on October 17th. He is going back to work this week, (insert sad face :( ). I am going to miss him a lot--but that means that one day I can secretly put the Christmas trees up.

He is not a big fan of my love for decorating the house for Christmas before Thanksgiving.

He was also not a big fan of me taking our 3 week old to see Santa--on November 8.

We don't live super close to the mall--so a trip requires some advance planning. I had a groupon to get some Christmas pictures taken for our little one and I also had checked ahead of time to see if Santa was going to be at the mall.

Lucky for us, we were able to kill two birds with one stone. (In case you were wondering, Santa actually made his first appearance at the Barton Springs Mall on November 4th!) So, Kedzie got to see Santa for the first time...she slept the whole time AND we were able to get some newborn/family Christmas pictures.

It was awesome!

And, I have already sent our pictures off to Shutterfly to get our Christmas cards made.

Love this little face!

So, what if I am 44 days early!

Socks! (Can you ever have enough--especially for your baby)

Socks are kind of a funny thing in my family.

I am one of those people that wears socks to bed. I used to wear these really high socks that covered my calves. In fact, when we got married and at our reception--when hubby went to pull off my garter, I made sure I had a pair of my high socks on.

One Christmas, my grandparents (my dad's parents) bought everyone socks. They have five kids; so their kids, their spouses, and all the grand kids--"we ALL got socks." That is a running joke/common phrase whenever the family gets together.

Ever since our daughter has been born, I have felt like I did not have enough socks for her. Her feet always feel cold, so I like to keep socks on her feet. (Plus I can't bear to take her out without something on her feet.) I received a pack of socks from one of our friends as a gift and then we got a  few random pairs here and there.

But, she was wearing the same pair of socks in a pretty frequent rotation.

I think my mom realized that Kedzie needed more socks because she bought me another huge pack of socks this weekend. And, maybe she said something to her sister because my Aunt also gave us a bunch of socks this weekend?

So, now Kedzie should be good on socks. I think she has more pairs than I do.

Plus, her socks are all super cute. Nice neon colors, lots of pink, cute little animals on them--you get the picture.

But, there is one thing that I noticed...the socks go into the washer in pairs (as they come off her feet) and then somewhere, somehow, they seem to disappear. She has several pairs that are missing their "brother."

I wonder if I will ever find them?

Or when I do, will they still fit her feet?

A little crying fit...but note the socks. They have little rabbits on them. So sweet!