Zzzzzzz

5 letters I am thankful for today:

S

L

E

E

P

That is all. #preggersout

A month of gratitude!

Let's make this an entire month of gratitude. Isn't that what November and Thanksgiving are all about, anyway? It should be. There's something very therapeutic and fulfilling about pausing to consider what you're truly grateful for at the end of each long day.

Here goes today's list!

1. What's the first rule of working out? Never skip a Monday! I'm grateful that I got to bed early enough last night to make it to my 5 am OTF class this morning. There's something truly refreshing and satisfying with getting an intense workout in to begin tackling a long Monday. I'm taking it a bit easier these days as needed on the treadmill and on the floor exercises, but who cares? I'm out there getting it done and doing great things for me -- and baby!

2. Will's obsession with pushing his little tractor everywhere. It's simply adorable.

3. FaceTiming with my parents so they can see Will's priceless face and antics. We haven't seen them in over 3 months, and I really miss them. FaceTime is the next best thing. 

4. Helping some first-year teachers close out their first marking period grades successfully. I initially was a bit bitter to have to go into work on our teleworking today, but I made the most of it, got a lot done, and helped people in the process. #mondaywin

5. My doctor says it is safe for me to continue drinking my chocolate Shakeology during my pregnancy. Phew! It's my AM obsession while driving to work and such a great source of protein to keep me going. #mmmmmmm

Our entire household is in bed before 10 pm = a small miracle! Keep them coming.

Make it a great evening and restful sleep, warrior women! #gratitudematters 

Monkeying around!

What an awesome Halloween weekend! So much to be grateful for and happy about. I feel another list coming!

1. My hubby having the confidence and sense of humor to wear the ridiculous banana costume I got him. What fun we LaBancas all had "monkeying" around!

2. Seeing Will with his toddler friends. They really are peas in a pod! It was especially cute seeing Will and Andrew entertain the trick or treaters at our door by actually handing them candy, filling and emptying the candy bowls over and over again, and then throwing all the candy down the outside stairs. #whatfun #toddlerlife

3. Rediscovering my love of afternoon naps. I think "sleep when the baby sleeps" also applies when you're pregnant with a toddler. #sleepwhileyoucan #2under2 #ohboy

4. Will is now mimicking everything we say and do, which is particularly entertaining when it involves beatboxing and ridiculous dancing!!

5. Going back to a Pure Barre class for the first time since being pregnant. I've missed it! #backtothebarre

6. Greg's homemade shrimp risotto. #pregnancycraving #delicious

7. I'm in bed before 9 pm. #mommywin

BONUS: I should also mention that Will adjusted beautifully to daylight savings time, a small miracle aided by his exhausting Halloween festivities and going to bed later than usual. #illtakeit

Happy November, warrior women!!

TGIF!!!

Happy Friday, warrior women! We made it! Woohoo! 

In the spirit of gratitude, I shall compose another list (7 items long, of course) of what I am most thankful for today:

1. One smiling, active, and obsessed-with-being-read-to toddler. Despite an epic meltdown before bed (due to his pure exhaustion with having taken a shorter nap today), I can't help but smile. Parenting is exhausting but also so amazing and exhilarating. #soblessed

2. Rice pudding. For some reason, I crave it all day long now. That and bread. And cheese. And mac 'n cheese. Soon I will be 500 pounds. #preggerproblems

3. Pink Out Day at school, where I got to get all dressed up in pink and look ridiculous in a tutu, all in the name of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. #bestcauseever #mymomisasurvivor 

4. I kept the tutu on all day with minimal issues, including not much itching. #outfitwin

5. Turning initial frustration over my 5am OTF class being full to taking an impromptu afternoon class there with a new trainer. Great way to end the workweek! #sweatoutstress

6. Getting to escape the house after Will's meltdown with Dexter the dog. It was crisp and chilly, just how I like fall. #walkingthedogsolvesallproblems #getoutsideandbreathe

7. Listening to an audiobook on my daily walks. Current selection: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. It's awesome, reading like a Hitchcock thriller and narrated in a pleasant British accent. #audiobooksareanewloveofmine

Here's to a great start to your Halloween weekend, warrior women!! Xoxoxo #cantwaittoseepicsofallthelittleones 😍😍😍

Gratitude matters!

Since 7 has always been my lucky number, on this Friday eve, I've decided to list 7 things from today that made me happy and I am grateful for:

1. Will being adorable in his monkey costume at his school's Halloween parade. I also didn't mind (secretly) that he clung to me and refused to let me put him down on the ground. See, Greg?!! He still likes me too!! #mommywin

2. Panera's You Pick 2 selections, especially their mac 'n cheese and autumn squash soup. #nomnomnom

3. My 4-legged walking buddy. He's a trooper. #lovemybrusselsgriffon

4. Cooking for my boys. I forgot to take a picture of my 3-cheese tortellini with meat sauce, but Greg approved. I impressed myself too. #wifewin

5. This gorgeous fall day. #lovemesomesunshine

6. Shopping at Wegman's while preggers. Oh, the endless possibilities! See pic below. And yes, the cookies are delicious. #eatallthethings

7. Tomorrow is Friday, and I'm in bed before 10 pm. #lifewin

Take time to express gratitude for all of your little life blessings! Life is too short and precious not to.

#everydayjoy #littlethingsmatter #gratitude 

Stay the course...

https://www.facebook.com/HuffPostParents/posts/1021975291158147

Because we could all use a good laugh at the end of a very long Hump Day.

Speaking of which, is it just me, or does this week already seem like the LONGEST week ever?!! Add in a full moon and Halloween, and you've got yourself quite the week of teaching. #goodtimes

Stay the course and keep fighting the good fight, warrior women! I promise it will be worth it.

#youcandoit #beastmode #onedayatatime #attitudematters

The apple and the tree...

The apple never falls far from the tree.

This saying has always fascinated me, as has the nature vs. nurture argument. This topic is particularly interesting as a long-time educator who is now a new parent.

As a teacher, I've always looked forward to parent conferences, the ultimate chance to see if students' parents were just as you imagined them to be ... and hopefully not worse! Much of how a child acts and behaves in school is directly dependent on the quality, structure, and love present in their home environments. Knowing how dysfunctional so many of my school's students' homes are, it's often a miracle they come to school in one piece, let alone function. 

I'm not blaming parents here, nor am I trying to comment on race or poverty. That's for another day and dissertation (Believe me, this equity warrior is passionate about closing the achievement gap!). My perspective has simply broadened since becoming a parent myself. It's a hell of a hard job. Even Adele mentioned that today in an interview (Her new single? WOW. Epic). 

I had my parent conference with Will's teacher last week and got a copy of the report back today. I am so happy he's thriving in school and learning how to more appropriately socialize with other toddlers. Thankfully, he's not a biter. Yet.

The teacher mentioned that Will "needs his personal space." This made me laugh, as Greg and I are both exactly like that. I operate much like an extrovert but need to unwind and recharge on my own, as an introvert does. Perhaps I'm an ambivert? Will has been like this since he was a newborn, and he is known as both Mr. Smiley and Mr. Independent at school. 

It's mind-blowing to see bits of yourself in your child. Will is definitely a great combo of us both, in looks and personality. He's Mr. Social and loves meeting people like me while also being wary when necessary and always inquisitive like Greg. 

I can't wait to see how far our little apple has fallen from the tree. Probably not TOO far, and that's perfectly OK with me.

#toddlerlife #thenextgeneration