Please Help!

Donors Choose is a nonprofit organization that helps public high school teachers get supplies for their classrooms. I've gotten books, dictionaries, a bulletin board, a classroom library, bookcases, and supplies like paper and highlighters. With the budget what it is, the only way I can get materials is to buy them myself or rely on the generousity of donors.

Here is the link: donorschoose.org/smarquart

Until the end of the day tomorrow, all donations will be matched if donors use the promo code SPARK at check out.

All donations are tax deductible.

If you choose to donate, my students and I thank you.

Allison Jean

I'm sure you're all dying to know Allison's birth story. It's like the complete opposite of Owen's 21.5 hours of agonizing pain with little relief. Like Owen, Allison was due on the 5th. And like Owen, Allison didn't arrive until 9 days later. This time the doctor scheduled me for induction, but we didn't need it; she decided to come that day anyway. We checked into the maternity ward around 9am. It took awhile to do the paper work and get hooked up to the machines. I think that was all settled around 10:30. Then we kicked back and relaxed until it was time for the glorious epidural. That was probably the most painful part of the whole day.

The doctor came in for one final check around 3pm. She had tickets to see Harry Potter that evening was checking my progress to see if she was going to make the movie or not. She made the movie. Allison was born at 3:11. That little darling just slid right out. The whole "after delivery" was different too. (I didn't get to see Owen after he was born. The nurses whisked him away.) Allison was plopped right on my chest. I was the first to hold her. The first thing I noticed was her mouth - same as her brother's. The second thing that I noticed was all that thick, dark hair! If I hadn't been there, I wouldn't have believed she was mine. Owen hardly had any hair before his first birthday. She weighed 8lbs at birth and weighs more than 15lbs now, almost 5 months later.

She finally rolled over on my birthday. We have been practicing for months, but she just wasn't catching on. Now she can roll over, she reaches for things, and she eats rice cereal. She can sit up in the high chair or on the floor if she is propped up with pillows. She can't run away from Owen yet, but that's coming any day now. This poor girl gets squeezed and kissed whether she likes it or not. Owen is a very "hands-on" big brother. This boy is going to love her to death. I think that will be the next post.

1 + 1 = 2

Precious, right?

I really don't think they could be any cuter.

Allison's first taste of rice cereal (against doctor's orders)

The kid LOVES it!

You better watch out for Super Owen!

I'll actually write a post one of these days. In the meantime, just enjoy the priceless photos of my two little darlings. They're angels, most of the time.

Trials of a Newly Seasoned Mama

We have Internet, people! And a phone! It's only taken two years, but it has finally happened. Now that I'm a mama-of-two, finding time to post will be a juggling act. I'm up to the challenge.