Kindergarteners discuss where baby's come from

I don't know why I've waited exactly, perhaps to keep kids from trying to stick their heads up my shirt to get a glance at Baby. When I think of telling my kindergarteners that I'm going to be a mommy, I remember my friend, Rachel, who is preschool director at our former church. I was teaching 3-year-olds at the time, and one Sunday Rachel came in to visit. She had explained to the children that she had a baby growing inside her belly, and from that moment on, I remember a certain little guy pulling her shirt up to see the baby every chance he got. I want to preserve my modesty, outside the doctor's office and delivery room, as much as I can, so I guess that's why I've waited to tell my young friends about the baby.

Well, I've decided its time to be brave and install an invisible electric fence on my blouses, if need be, and tell some of the kids what is going on. I started easily with my afternoon bus kids this week. I have about 10 kids who wait in my room at the end of the day until their bus is called. We will usually read a book or talk about something important to kindergarteners like burping or recess or who kicked who that day. So, this particular day, it came up that I am going to be a mommy. Apparently there are some kindergarteners out there who know quite a bit about giving birth and they immediately began voicing their knowledge about where babies come from. N* said "They cut the mommy's belly open and pull the baby out!" I'd say there has been at least one C-section in that family. Then, N*'s best friend, S* piped up "Babies can come out another way, too!" I thought, okay, here's the butt theory. When I taught preschool last year, a little girl explained to us that her mommy was going to have a baby and that the baby would have to come out of a 'special place'. She then whispered to me and the other teacher that the 'special place' was her mommy's butt. Well, I'd guess that little Mr.S* actually knew the real special place and merely said "It can come out of another place, too. And it's

'SGUSTING!!" "YEAH!" said N* "It's 'SGUSTING!!" All of a sudden kids were asking "Where's that, Mrs.Brown?" and I replied "SOOOO; Who kicked who today??"

I'm beginning to think that I should have waited until next August to tell, when I'll have school for only about 2 or 3 weeks before I have the baby. In the meantime, if the kids were asking why my tummy was starting to grow this year I could've just said "I eat LOTS of ice cream."

Citius-Altius-Fortius

who can tell me what that means?

Today is one of my favorite days. The start of the olmpic winter games. This year the games are in turin, italy; but it is being called the torino games. Like some of you i imagine, I will be glued to the tube for the next fortnight. (that's what bob costas always calls the games). My TiVo's are primed and ready. Tonight, when the broadcast of the opening ceremonies begins, i will be watching anxiously to see how the torch will be lit this year.

The 2006 Olympic Winter Games emblem portrays the unmistakable silhouette of the Mole Antonelliana. It is transformed into a mountain, among crystals of ice, where the white snow meets the blue sky. The crystals come together to form a web: the web of new technologies and the eternal Olympic spirit of communion among peoples.

Labor pains will be a breeze

Okay, I discovered tonight that labor pains are probably not the worst part of pregnancy. I tend to think of myself as having a high threshold for pain--until tonight. Any of you who know me know that I have very thick, dark curly hair. Well, as you would imagine my arm hair and leg hair are also dark. And my facial hair is also dark. So, confession number 1: I use dipilatory cream on my face. There--cat's out of the bag! I'm not proud of this, but if I didn't do so, I would have a slightly noticeable hairline on my lip which some would refer to as a mustache. Well, part of taking care of this baby is taking care of myself--thus, I cannot use dipilatory cream until after this baby is born. So tonight, I pulled out the DUNH DUNH DUNH DUNH--TWEEZERS!

Let me say this:

OUCH!

I didn't scream. I didn't cry--though my nose twinged and my eyes wanted to water--I held it together. BUT I WANTED TO YELL BLOODY MURDER AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS over and over and over again. Some of you may be saying "Why bother if it isn't really that noticeable?" And I answer by saying "No, you're right, its not that noticeable now, but as the pregnancy progresses, a woman's hair tends to grow in thicker--therefore, I do this to avoid growing a handlebar mustache. I have decided that if I begin to look like Elvis in a few months, I will sing ""Blue Suede Shoes" in my lowest voice and perhaps even throw in some "Jailhouse Rock". However, if Hitler should happen to rear his ugly face in the mirror when I wake up in the morning, then, I will wax. I don't care how many horror stories I hear. I'm not afraid to go there. Just pray for Geron, as he will be the one who will have to yank the strip off.

I didn't know that all these hormones would make me confess my darkest secrets. You may want to continue tuning in as there is no telling what I might reveal next.

hiatus

Apparently, just about every blog I read, has been taking a little break. Of course I have too, but I wanted my baby post to be on top. I saw this today, and now have to find one

Imation Flash Wristband

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Available in blue or black, the Flash Wristband design features a durable rubber molding that fits conveniently around your wrist, plugging into itself and protecting the drive from accidental damage or loss. Simply "unplug" the wristband and plug the drive into the computer's USB port."

things that cause morning sickness--or anytime of day sickness

Believe it or not, I am one of the few lucky mothers-to be who don't throw up. Well, so far anyway, and I'm on week 10. Its supposed to peek between weeks 8 and 12, so I think I'll probably make it. Some unfortunate moms would be going crazy at my job this winter as I have witnessed 2 kids puke up a lung in the last week, but that does nothing for me. A coworker shared with me the details of being a wanna-be-puker during pregnancy. She found that she COULD NOT do fried chicken--the smell of it was almost enough to do her in. She lamented that when she was dry heaving, she would run to the bathroom, grab the sides of the toilet and say "Fried chicken! Fried Chicken!" in hopes that the mere thought would cause her to blow out SOMETHING. Alas, it didn't work. So, what makes me wish I could bow over the porcelain throne and donate my last meal? Note the following:

Forgetting to eat breakfast

Eating really sweet cereal or greasy foods for breakfast

Cooked broccoli with cheese on it--had it at school one day and couldn't finish my lunch, haven't tried cooked broccoli since

Cafeteria smell on fried food days

Close talkers with salty breath--almost had a mini-throw-up in my mouth just thinking about it

After dinner belches that sound like they were productive--DID have a mini-throw-up in my mouth when Geron let one out tonight

I'm sure there will be other puke-inducers as pregnancy progresses, but for now, if you've had doritos for lunch, just came from having lunch at KFC, or have just finished downing a 32 ounce soda, please keep your distance. You'll be glad you did.

Affirmation

One of the highlights of the workweek is when the grandkids of Becky, our secretary, drop in for a visit. They are three and five years old, and a lot of fun. They usually come into my office to play with my toys while their mom talks to Becky. We have a good time. Yesterday I asked them if the knew I was going to be a daddy. They were excited for me. A*, who's five, voluntereed to babysit anytime we need her to. Her younger brother E* said "neat". Becky tols me later, that when they all got in the car to leave, A* told everyone that she thought that I was going to be a good daddy. When Becky told me, it made my day. I hope she's right!

Pregnancy Alzheimers

So, this pregnancy thing brings with it things that aren't as enjoyable as everyone makes them sound. Don't get me wrong, I love knowing that I am carrying my baby, but some of the things that are coming with her or him are completely unenjoyable, more so for others than myself. For one, I thought Geron was bad about clearing a room, if you know what I mean, but I think right now my body could produce the same results as a fire alarm going off in an elementary school. Nough said. Moving on, pregnancy alzheimers. Alzheimers is a disease that affects the memory--you forget many things or you tend not to act like your former self. Let me give you a picture of what I mean. One of the duties at my job is to monitor the cafeteria during the children's lunch hour. I try every day to provide positive discipline to these children when they act up, you know, not yelling at them in front of their friends or just being cruel. You remember that ONE cafeteria lady who never seemed like anything was going right for her and she took it out on the kids. Its very important to me that these kids know they are loved. Well, right now, I'm not so sure they know it from the way I've felt lately. You can imagine that being a cafeteria monitor could be an irritating experience without being pregnant. But tying in that, and then adding on that I AM pregnant and very tired around that specific time of day, and have to stand on my feet for almost two hours straight, just know that my response towards the littlest of things might not be typical. Today, for example, I was talking to a particular student about his recent hair do. It has been sticking straight up on top the last couple of days and I just found a casual way to ask him about it. He said that it was because he doesn't comb it. Well, a kid sitting close by made a crack to this student about his hair and the student replied by saying "SHUT it!" Me, trying to remind this child that saying such a thing is considered rude and should respond in a different manner, whether having been offended or not, patted him on the shoulder and sweetly said "Shut up, (name)". I WAS MORTIFIED!!! The kids thought it was quite amusing, but it took me quite awhile to dig myself out of that whole. I tell you, Alzheimers comes with pregnancy. It makes you act a completely different way. Let me just end to say "Pray for Geron. If I'm this way at school, I'm sure he's seeing a lot worse at home."