New Entryway

In August, we used some curriculum money I had earned over the summer to transform our entryway into something a bit more organized and useful than just a dumping ground and a pile of shoes.

Before:
(The teeny tiny shoe shelf was broken because Colin sat on it).

After:
All supplies from IKEA.

Buckets: Knodd $29.98 for both
*One for each kiddo, and I'm thinking I might get some vinyl lettering to put their names on their buckets, once Snowflake has a name :)

Hat rack: Tjusig $29.99
*Kevin and I hang our coats up on the hooks. I was a little disappointed in this product because it's not quite long enough to screw into studs in the wall. So Kevin had to use some leftover laminate we had to make a backboard. Those Swedish measurements...

Hooks (we bought 2 sets...one for each kiddo): Tjusig $19.98 for both
*I might put vinyl names on the wood part of these hooks too.

Shoe bench: Tjusig $79.99
*Worth EVERY penny, because Colin can actually sit on it and all of our shoes fit!

Total: $159.94 + tax

We LOVE this so much more than our old, ghetto set up.

Simply Music: Highs and Lows

After my intro sessions last weekend, I was sure that signing up the 4 students who came would be cake (except maybe not the one who was discouraged at the end). The biggest challenge, I thought, was to get these 4 students to all choose the same day and time for lessons.

Then came Monday. No money from anybody. And an email from my co-worker/friend whose daughter I have taught piano lessons to for the last year and a half saying her husband said it wouldn't work in their budget. I emailed the teacher I talk with in St. Paul and she emailed me some awesome fast facts about cost, value, etc. I tweaked it and sent it to my coworker. She emailed me back saying she would forward it to her husband, but she wasn't sure it would convince him.

I came home absolutely defeated, coming to the realization that I spent $650 and 40 hours of training for naught.

I went to work on Tuesday and I got a phone call in the middle of the day from another parent, saying she was on board and she'd drop off some money for me that evening. 1 student.

My co-worker emailed me saying her husband agreed on the condition that they get an extra month or two for the lower introductory rate. I obliged, knowing that the cost of the lessons is more than the cost of traditional lessons (for good reason). I figured if I could get this group started, they would soon realize the value of Simply Music lessons. I emailed everyone letting them know that I reduced the lessons for the duration of the first level to the intro rate, and after that it would be the regular rate. 2 students.

On Wednesday, I emailed everyone I hadn't heard from, just wondering what they were thinking about signing up for lessons or not. Later in the day, I found an enrollment form in my school mailbox. 3 students.

That afternoon, I met with a student and parent who had forgotten about the introductory session.

On Wednesday night, I got an email from the parent who seemed discouraged and she was in. She dropped a check off for me this morning in our mailbox. 4 students.

And today after school, the parent/student I talked to yesterday came to my classroom to become more convinced Simply Music is worth the value. And my student total rose to 5.

5 students! At the beginning of the week, I wasn't sure it was going to happen at all. But now it's reality. I've got a handful to start with next month.

5 students, 50 minutes.

And I'm perfectly fine with that :-D

29 weeks

29 weeks Snowflake vs. 29 weeks Colin
Uh...I accidentally deleted the covered belly picture from my camera. So you only get a bare belly shot this week ;)
How far along? 29 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +22 lbs.

Size: Butternut Squash, or a little over 15 inches and 2.5 lbs.

Baby Development: "His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day." (From babycenter.com)

Best moment this week: Grocery shopping. Why, you say? Because I spent $91 at Aldi for not one but TWO WEEKS worth of groceries. The groceries were not a bunch of processed, boxed meals. They included 6 fresh chicken breasts, fresh chicken tenderloins, and 1.5 lbs of ribs. I still have a bit of money left over to buy more milk, bananas, and whatever else might come along this week. I had another best moment, and that will be in my next post.

Movement: I feel his/her little feetsies kicking me and his/her butt pushing all the time. I love feeling him/her move :)
Food cravings: I crave nothing in particular.

Food aversions: Nothing anymore really, but I DON'T crave rich sweets like cupcakes and brownies like I did with Colin.
What I miss: Not snissing, not having round ligament pain, alcohol, being able to bend over to pick stuff up off the floor without feeling pain.

Stretch marks?: None.
Maternity clothes?: I wear maternity pants and a mix of maternity/non-maternity shirts.
Sleep?: I sleep as well as Colin sleeps.
Gender?: We'll let you know in December!
Belly button?: Outie

What are you looking forward to this week?: Starting piano lessons on Thursday, and a doctor's appointment on Tuesday.

Simply Music: And now it's up to fate.

I held my two introductory sessions this weekend. I had 1 person attend Saturday (1 didn't show), and at one point she said she was 99% sure she'd sign her son up. As she was leaving, I realized I didn't tell her the price of the student materials (books and what not) and when I told her, she said, "Well that makes a big difference." I emailed her to clarify costs and everything. I haven't heard from her yet.

Then today I had 3 parents/2 kids attend (1 parent/child didn't show). All 3 were interested and filled out their availability form. Then I checked facebook and one said it's not in their budget right now :(. This student is one I've had for a year and a half, and she started pretty young, so she only took lessons every other week to the tune of $31/month. Now lessons are every week and they cost more. So I'm really sad about that. Especially since I know she'll do really well in it.

I told everyone that I'd like to start the first week of October, so I'd need the money for at least the student materials tomorrow (Monday) so I can order and receive the materials from Simply Music on time.

The two students I haven't mentioned both go to the school I teach at, so I said they could just give me the money at school. I guess I will find out tomorrow if they're going to sign up!

After tonight's session, I was so sure I'd have at least 3 students, if not 4. Now I'm down to hopefully 2.

Have I told you lately that I hate money? Because I do.

Hello Again! Post 2: Midwife appointment

"Wha? Post 2? Confused." You say? To make up for lost time, I'm posting more than once today :) So go back to the previous post, and there you will find the usual weekly update.

So...I had a midwife appointment today. I took a half day off (morning) of work for it, because it was the glucose test appointment. The glucola drink was larger, grosser (which I realize isn't a word), and flatter than I remember it being. The lab tech assured me it was the same as before. She was definitely wrong.

Weight was okay, blood pressure was great, heartbeat was 137 bpm (Colin's was 136 bpm at this point). Baby is still head down with feet to my right. I asked my midwife if there was any way to avoid getting Group B Strep this time around, and she said no. It took 2 nurses about an hour to get an IV in my arm last time, and that was uber annoying so I'd like to avoid that if I can. But I guess it's out of my control.

Since my midwife's cool like that, she said she was going to skip the cervical check since I didn't have any pre-term labor problems with Colin :) YES!

I have an appointment a month from now, and then I start the every-other-week appointments. Seriously, this pregnancy has flown by. Before I know it, I'll be all snuggled up with a baby in a warm house during the cold winter :)

After my appointment, I had some time to kill so I went to Caribou for a Hot Apple Blast and Bruegger's for a sundried tomato bagel with a slice of muenster cheese. Then I was off to Kohl's to use my $10 free card to buy some fleece jammies for Colin to wear since it has been so cold at night. After I browsed at TJMaxx and Target, I headed back to work. I was not feeling well at all the rest of the afternoon, but I made it through the day.

Hello Again! Post 1: 28 weeks

I'm back! We have a working modem again :)
28 weeks Snowflake vs. 28 weeks Colin
How far along? 28 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss: +22 lbs. Now that the clinic got their digital scale back, I choose believe it. That old scale they had was always wrong ;)

Size: Chinese Cabbage, or 14.8 inches and 2.25 lbs. Holy cats, I'm gone for 2 weeks and my baby gained an entire pound and almost an inch!
Baby Development: "She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world." (From babycenter.com)

Best moment this week: We got to hang out with Leah, Tony, Isaac, and Ezra last weekend for a spur-of-the-moment get together and grill out!

Movement: Snowflake is starting to cramp my comfort. I find it hard to get comfy in the chair to read books to Colin with a big ol' belly in the way. I love feeling him/her move though :)

Food cravings: Now that the fair is done and over with and I never got my pickles and corn on the cob, I crave nothing in particular.

Food aversions: Rich sweets like cupcakes and brownies

What I miss: Not snissing, not having round ligament pain, alcohol, being able to bend over to pick stuff up off the floor without feeling pain.

Stretch marks?: None.
Maternity clothes?: I wear maternity pants and a mix of maternity/non-maternity shirts.
Sleep?: I sleep as well as Colin sleeps.
Gender?: We'll let you know in December!
Belly button?: It's...just...weird looking. The center is an outie, but the outside circle is still indented.
What are you looking forward to this week?: I have 2 Free Introductory Sessions about Simply Music this weekend--one Saturday morning and one Sunday afternoon. I'm so nervous. I wish I had a cleaning lady (or at least hired one for this occasion) to clean my house so I can just focus on my presentation. We may go to the apple orchard and pick some Honeycrisps this weekend.

Still here

Our wireless modem went on the blink over a week ago after getting struck by lightening. Our printer got struck too :( Kevin ordered another modem online and it should be here by the end of the week.

Needless to say, I've been kind of "unplugged" for over a week. My email and facebook and blog and other website checks have been limited to the approximately 10-15 minutes per night I can squeeze onto Kev's computer. And it's been kind of a nice little break from technology. Not that I've gotten a whole lot of other things done :)

Last weekend, I started a new knitting project, canned some pickles and grape jelly with my dad, watched as my dad, Kevin, and my mom tore out the old carpet in Colin's "new room" and cleaned it out, went to a wedding (without Colin!), made my own laundry detergent...

And I'm an officially licensed Simply Music teacher now. My free introductory sessions are next weekend. I'm hoping I get some kids signed up. I guess if I do it right, statistically, 90-110% of attendants sign up for lessons (110% because they tell someone else to sign up too).

School has been good. I have a pretty good class this year so far. A few spitfire girls, but hopefully I can rein them in early.

At 27 weeks, I'm also offically in the 3rd trimester! 28 week belly picture to come this week.

So that's it for now! See you on the wireless side later this week :)

26 weeks

26 weeks Snowflake vs. 26 weeks Colin (includes pictures!) and the wordy 26 week post
How far along? 26 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +18 lbs. This is on my home scale which is more forgiving than the scales at the clinics, which I refuse to believe ;) For the last week and a half, there have been doughnuts in the teachers lounge. Good ones. And I indulged. I'm so naughty.

Size: Eggplant or English Hothouse Cucumber, or 14 inches and 1 pound 10 oz.
Baby Development: "The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat." (From babycenter.com)

Best moment this week: Finishing my Simply Music training last night! I have to do a licensing conference call, and then I should be good to go to start teaching!

Movement: Snowflake is starting to cramp my comfort. I find it hard to get comfy in the chair to read books to Colin with a big ol' belly in the way. I love feeling him/her move though :)

Food cravings: I'm still thinking about the corn on the cob and the deep fried pickles at the MN State Fair. Yummo. Pretty sure we won't be able to go this year :( So if you're going, will you please eat some for me so I can live vicariously through you?

Food aversions: Rich sweets like cupcakes and brownies

What I miss: Not snissing, not having round ligament pain, alcohol, clothes that fit.

Stretch marks?: None.
Maternity clothes?: I wore a few more pair of maternity pants this week, but I am waiting on the shirts since most of what I have is long-sleeved.
Sleep?: I sleep as well as Colin sleeps.
Gender?: We'll let you know in December!
Belly button?: It's very circular and the top part sticks out a little bit. When I sit down and lean back, my belly button disappears...
What are you looking forward to this week?: We have a wedding to go to this week--Kevin's BFF's sister. It's at a winery, and it should be fun to get out and have some fun. My parents are coming up to watch Colin while we're gone, and my dad and I are going to make pickles. My first canning experience! And they're also going to finish painting Colin's room. It's so nice to have help :)