Much Apologies...

Much apologies to those who actually attempt to read my blog (mainly being my dear mother....) and have given up on me ever posting again.  As it happens so very often, I have become a bit overwhelmed with all that's happening and blogging is the least of my interests.  Between end of the year school work, purchasing a house (YAY!), resigning from my job of 4 years (yes, after making an offer on a house...am I crazy???), and welcoming home our family from Africa, I've been a tad preoccupied.  Excited, but preoccupied.  Hopefully soon, after things slow down a bit, I will be back on board the blogging train and posting pics of our precious Buttonfly.  He is changing so much and getting in to so much more....I'm lovin' it!!!

Crazy NC Weather

Living in North Carolina, we have become accustomed to some unpredictable, extreme ends of the weather spectrum (if there is such a term - probably not...).  We see these extremes especially this time of the year.  Just a couple of weeks ago, we had our greatest snowfall of the season, topping out at around 4-5 inches...then, hardly a week later, we had 80 degree temps.  What is that all about?  At least we don't have time to get the winter blahs...there's usually a breath of fresh air in between the dreary, windy, bitter days.  Ah, but spring is in the air and I love it.  I'm trying to savor every sunny day we have.  Levi loves being outside which works out great for Matt and I.  As long as sunny days are in the forecast, we'll be outside talking about every little thing and watching Levi explore the wonderful world of our patio and downtown T-ville.  How thrilling it must be for him?!  So, if any of you (who are so fortunate to live in the great metropolis of Thomasville, NC) see us out and about in "Toot-Toot," you'll know how badly we've been waiting to get out of the apartment and out of hibernation.  Also, please don't honk, I can be a bit jumpy!   

Here's Levi Buttonfly playing in his "gently used" turtle sandbox on our patio.  Quick story...I was on my way home from church one Sunday evening and there it sat on the side of the road at "Paw-Paw's Bait Shop" for $10.  I exercised my bargaining abilities a bit and haggled it down to $8.  Matt will confirm that I was overly impressed with myself and beaming obnoxiously at my great fortune!

Here's my baby trying to humor me in what was probably, for his size, knee-deep snow.  He was not amused and neither was I after a couple of minutes.  I think he's inherited his dad's love for snow.  I couldn't help but drag him out for these pictures.  Who knows when he'll see this much snow again?!

What the animals say....at least from the perspective of a 13 month old!

At the request of his aunt, we had to post Levi's latest accomplishment, his attempt at his animal sounds. It isn't his best performance, however, you get the point. Unfortunately, he hasn't heard many of these animals, he's just imitating the poor attempts of his parents. Funny what we do to entertain our children, isn't it? You can imagine how often we abuse Levi's new found interest in animal sounds for our own enjoyment. Cheap thrills, right?

Sugar Shakes

Here's a video clip of Levi and his "smash cake" at his birthday party. This is the perfect example of what happens to a baby who gets his first taste of sugar. Just to give you all a heads up, this video is a bit lengthy, so feel free to stop the clip after you see Levi's sugar shakes. I'm mainly posting this video for Uncle Chris and Aunt Linders who were present (in spirit) all the way from Kenya. We miss you both (terribly) and wished you guys could have been there in person. Love you! Enjoy!

Oh, one more thing, the cake is a monkey's head...in case you're wondering. Levi is looking at his face, but for those of you watching, it looks like a large brown mound...not exactly something you picture for a one year old's birthday...just FYI...

Snow Day #2...

Here we are with another snow day and no snow!  Just another typical North Carolina winter....strange, and apparently, unpredictable.  We had a snow day a couple of weeks ago and I forgot to post pics of Levi's first snow.  His high chair is by the window and that morning, while eating his oatmeal, he kept looking outside and talking about the snow.  After breakfast, I kept finding him straining to look out of the window at all of the strange white stuff on the ground.  I decided to bundle him up and take him for a ride in the snow on "Toot-Toot."  As you will see in the pictures below, he is a pretty laid back boy and didn't get as thrilled with the snow as I had hoped.  Oh, well, at least he's cute, right?  As ridiculous as it is that I'm home from work today, I am thankful to be spending it with Levi instead of 50 other kids.  I would never want the responsibility of calling snow days, so, whoever you are, thanks for the day off (even though i'll have to make it up eventually...)!!!

Levi and "Toot-Toot"

warming up at Monkeez Brew and checking out my boots...

rollin' down the alley...

after mom stuck my hand in the snow...

spaghetti...my favorite part of the day!

Everything

One year ago today I was in a hospital bed holding a part of me, a stranger that I knew I would fall in love with every day for the rest of my life.  Honestly, life couldn't be any sweeter.  Levi brightens my life with every smile, giggle, kiss, and, believe it or not, every diaper.  Last year, I lay in that bed trying to imagine why God decided to entrust me with with such a special little package.  My life has continued to be blessed ever since.  

This afternoon, I was flipping through his baby book and feeling pressured to fill in every blank and answer every question.  Silly, huh?  One question in particular prompted me to write this post..."What have I learned this past year?"  I'm not really sure how to answer this question.  How do you sum up a life altering change in just a few blank lines.  As those blank lines stared at me, taunting me to write some fluff, I opted to shut the book, take advantage of Levi's nap time, and snooze a little myself.  

I'm not quite sure what I've learned this year...I feel like I've had to learn EVERYTHING.  Those of you who haven't experienced it yet, after becoming a mother, I'm convinced you are issued a new brain.  Most mothers will testify that they lost brain cells after giving birth.  I definitely believe I'm more confused and forgetful than ever before, just ask my mother.  However, maybe it isn't because I lost brain cells, maybe it is just because I was given a new brain, a mother's brain.  The reason my answer to the question in Levi's baby book is "everything" is because I feel like I, with my new brain, have had to learn everything new...everything a mother needs to know.  I've learned how to tell time based off of Levi's cry...time to eat, time to nap, time for a diaper change.  I've learned that you don't actually need 8 hours of sleep to function during the day...5-6 hours will do (although this isn't my preference!).  I've learned which silly children's songs are perfect for the occasion...whether it is bathtime, bedtime, or diaper time.  I've learned how to be creative to distract a wandering, curious boy or simply to cure boredom in places that are not child friendly.  I've learned that banging your head repeatedly on a hard surface (wood floors, brick walls, or mama's head) does not always cause pain or need for worry...it is just a way to cope with the day to day stresses of being a little baby boy.  I have also learned how a smile from a bright, blue-eyed boy won't only melt the heart of his parents, but also those hurting from the pains of a sinful world.  I've learned that the giggles, screams, and silly games of an infant will wash away the stresses of work and any other complaints I selfishly dwell on.  I have found a new love for my husband as he assumes the role of father, one of the most important examples and relationships Levi will ever have.  I have found a strength in myself I never knew I had.  A strength to say "no" to temptations that may prevent me from being the best I can be for Levi.  A strength to fight against this world, our media, and all of the things I'm terrified will harm and corrupt my child.  I have discovered a growing desire in myself to not settle for mediocrity.  I want and need to be the best I can be for Levi.  I have also gained a greater appreciation and love for our Savior and the sacrifice God made for his children.  

Through much trial and error, I'm sure my new brain will continue to develop.  I just hope I won't continue to be so forgetful, absent minded, and confused.  Sometimes I just want to slap myself because I do and say some of the most ridiculous things.  Maybe all of that has to happen in order push out whatever clouds my mind and keeps me from being "on my game" for Levi.  I just can't imagine how much crazier I could get!

All that aside, I just want to wish my growing boy a happy birthday and thank God for knowing exactly what I needed when He blessed us with Levi Allen.  My heart has never been so full.  I love you baby and thank you for all you've taught me this year.

A New Grinch in Town...

I will begin this post by quoting a letter that was placed in our mailboxes at school last Friday.  I assure you, these are not my words...

"Let's take a look at the Christmas issue first.  Many of you feel that not allowing our students to celebrate Christmas by doing "fun" things at school is wrong or prison-like.  I want you to put yourself in MY shoes.  I too stress over eliminating holiday fun from school.  However, as an instructional leader, I know that education has changed dramatically.  School today is about growing students academically; rigor and accountability.  We often discuss how many of our students struggle to read, write or do mathematics.  How can making a gingerbread house, creating a Christmas tree or reindeer, watching a Christmas movie, or making Christmas crafts or ornaments resolve those issues?  They can't!  If you Google "Christmas" or look it up in the dictionary, you will find that Christmas is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that marks and honors the birth of Jesus.  Christmas is NOT Santa Claus, Christmas trees, stockings, reindeer, ornaments, etc.  Those are only symbols or mythological characters created for the holiday.  So where does the North Carolina Standard Course of Study address the birth of Jesus---it DOESN'T.  And although "Christmas" cannot be taught or symbolized in school, due to the religious context, it can be shown and offered in many ways throughout our school within your own HEART of those you touch on a daily basis.  We SHOULD bring the "spirit of Christmas" into our classrooms and school EVERYDAY; not just this time of year."

Can't you just picture the devious, green, furry Grinch stuffing all of Christmas into his large bag and preparing to drive his sleigh off the cliff? 

Let me begin by stating that I do agree that one of our main focuses in education is obviously the academic growth of our students, hasn't that always been the purpose of education?   I also agree that we should never force our beliefs onto our students.  However, how do we ignore Christmas?  How do we prevent our children from sharing in the joy of this season?  This is our culture here in America.  Failure to share these "symbols" with our students is failure to teach them about our culture.  Is that not educational?  Part of the curriculum of some grade levels include teaching about Christmas around the world.  To this, we were told to "teach 'HOLIDAYS' around the world and to leave America out because we already know how we celebrate here."  Are you kidding me?  So, let me get this straight...we can teach about Kwanzaa, Hanukah, and the beliefs of other cultures, but not our own?  Not only has our school refrained from doing any holiday related crafts, they have completely wiped Christmas from our school.   We were lead to believe that this is coming down from the state and federal government; however, every other elementary school, that I'm aware of, still have signs of Christmas in their school.  In fact, I've been told that even the county office is decorated in twinkling lights.  If it is good enough for us, why isn't it good enough for the children we teach? At my school, the decorations from previous years were boxed up and sent home.  I no longer work at a school, I am the employee of an institution.  Just take a stroll down my hallway.  No more Christmas books, trees, wreaths, or even snowmen.  These educators are allowed to teach and discuss Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and any other culture celebrating during this season; however, our traditional teachings are not allowed.  Hmmm...shameful, isn't it?  

Many of you are probably not even aware that this is taking place.  Take the time to ask questions, raise awareness, stand firm in what you believe should be taught, shared, and enjoyed in your schools.  These decisions should never be left up to a panel of scrooges who enjoyed the smells, sights, and sounds of this magical time of year in their "good 'ol days." Many of our students do not have the resources and/or devoted parents to make gingerbread cookies, sprinkle some glitter on Christmas ornaments, watch a Christmas movie or read a Christmas book.  Should they not experience these privileges at school?  What fond memories do you relive about your childhood this time of year?  Is it what you scored on the end of year tests, what reading strategies you learned in the 2nd grade, or perhaps the 1st time you memorized your multiplication tables?  I'm sure it is safe to me to bet that it was probably none of these.  I remember singing the "Drummer Boy" and trying to roll my tongue just like my teacher...."ba rumbababummm."  I remember standing on the stage with my friends as we depicted the nativity in front of the flashing cameras of many supportive parents.  I have fond memories of making ornaments of oranges, cloves, and cinnamon.  To this day, when I smell cloves, it takes me back to the innocence of childhood and the joy of Christmas.  Ahhhh, I'm so thankful for those memories.  

I am not going to be responsible for taking Christmas out of the schools and the hearts of our children.  Will you?