The promised hat, ranting teachers, and belly pics

So here is a picture of the hat I created out of thin air. I'm hoping to see if it actually fits a child when I visit with the Chicas later today. If not, it will look nice on Blanco, I'm sure.
If things work out and you want the "pattern", I wrote it on a scrap Post-It note but I have located that so e-mail me if you want it. But you may want to wait and see if it looks cute or not.

I was reading the Chronicle online this morning (like, when do I not do that. . .) and I saw an interesting article about "high-tech" teachers who are anonymously blogging to vent some frustration. Here's the article. I read a few minutes of some of the blogs listed and had to nod along with the trials and tribulations. A lot of people ask me if I miss the classroom and, yes, I miss the parts of teaching that happened in the actual classroom for the most part. You know, when kids learn and say funny things and stuff. It was everything that had to do with the front office, parents (to some extent), the cops, etc. that really bothered me. Of course, what I miss most are the awesome teacher/librarian/counselor/admin friends that I made along the way. But this blog is not for reminiscing about old times as a schoolteacher. . .I have three topics and I have no energy to dawdle. . .

Last topic is some belly pics. More and more recently, people back home have asked for pics or have just asked if I have "popped". In a word, no. I just look kind of fat and round. But I am sure that I will wake up one morning very soon and have a more defined bump. Then I won't look so ridiculous at the gym with my "pregnant lady" theme t-shirts (I was sick of people looking at me like I was working out as part of a New Year's Resolution. I wanted to scream "I'm pregnant, not fat, people!!!" So I got two clearance tops at the Dunne's that say "Best-Dressed Bump" and "One Cool Mama". Now people just avoid making eye contact).

So below are some belly pics: one of my baseline, day-I-found-out-I-was-pregnant belly and the other is from last night. If you'll be offended by seeing some of my pasty, white Irish skin then stop reading. Otherwise, continue.

Oh, and, yes, I got a haircut last week, but my face has looked so red and blotchy from having a cold that I have not really wanted to pose for anything lately. Wow, I used to be so much more tan than I am now. ..

Baseline:














Belly at 18+ weeks


And, yes, I am wearing maternity pants. Sure, my normal jeans still fit, but maternity pants are as comfortable as sweat pants but slightly more fashionable. I have a blog in the "works" mentally about why I love maternity clothes. I figure I'll need to at least have a bump before I can pull that off.
So, adios, amigos. Que le vaya bien and all that good stuff. I'm off to blow my nose again.