Lots of Time on My Hands...

So, I realize that in about 6 or 7 months I will never again be able to use this title for a blog seeing as that once baby gets here, time is precious. So, I think I'll use it while I can. I have been lying in bed for the last three days due to some yucky bug that has attacked my immune system. I normally, probably wouldn't take it this seriously but seeing as that it isn't just me I have to worry about anymore, I'm a little extra cautious. It's been nice though, getting reaquainted with some of my old friends that I usually watch in the summer. Paula, Rachel, Tyler, and Ina kept me entertained and pumped to start cooking again. Of course I couldn't pass up watching two t.v. shows that sort of hit home, right now - A Baby Story and Bringing Home Baby. I watched those two in a whole new light. Anyway, so after a very uneventful, but relaxing day at home, I've had plenty to keep me entertained. So, thank you to Foodnetwork and TLC for helping me pass the time at home, in bed.






Gotta love these faces!!

Jennifer :0)

Month two

So, I'm going to try and be really good about keeping track of my ever-growing belly each month. Here is month two. Don't let that little pooch fool you, folks. That isn't baby, that is Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and a lot of NOT exercising. Let's see how much longer this favorite brown tank top of mine will continue to fit!

December In this picture, the baby is about the size of a large grape.

Slowly expanding,

Jennifer :0)

Happy To Announce...

We're going to have a baby!

Meet Baby Dub! We feel so fortunate and blessed that God chose us to be parents. Especially since we just started talking about it a couple of months ago...we were thinking we might be ready. I guess we are - because ready or not here he/she comes! We found out December 12th, and we were very excited, yet a little bit surprised. I'm about 9 weeks along, and definitely feeling the affects of being in my first trimester. Our first appointment was on January 8th, and the doctor said everything was looking good. This is when we first saw our little "blueberry", as I've been calling it (that's about as big as it is at this time). We were able to see the heartbeat and we were even able to see it move on the screen - amazing! Now we're just praying for a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and of course, Baby! It's nerve-wracking being so early in the pregnancy because of all the worries of what could go wrong. I'm choosing to have a more positive way of thinking and put it all in God's hands. It was His plan to give us this baby in the first place, and what happens isn't up to me, anyway. Here are some pictures from the night we found out!

We're still sort of in shock here!

Those wonderful, amazing two pink lines!

We went over to my mother-in-law's house and I walked into her bedroom and put the test in her face! She yelled at me, "I don't have my glasses on, what does it say?!?" It was pretty funny!

She was pretty excited!

My dad's reaction was the cutest of all!! He knew immediately what was going on when I handed him the test.

My mom took a little longer to process. She had just woken up and she thought she as looking at a thermometer!

She gets it now!

Blessed,

Jennifer :0)

A year ago, today...

This time last year I was about to walk down the aisle and officially and FINALLY become Mrs. Austin Aldrich. My wedding day was the most special day of my life. I had so many wonderful people around me who loved and cherished the day as much as I did. I was finally getting my dream, Christmas wedding and it was everything I had envisioned, and more, and to top it all off - the husband I had always dreamed about! As I think about how much has happened in a year - it blows my mind! We loved our duplex in Dallas, but we needed something more practical and closer to our jobs and families. We bought our first home in July and I couldn't have been blessed with a better one. We love it here, and are back close to our friends and family. I went through my wedding pictures and picked out the ones that captured my wedding day so perfectly. I have been so fortunate and blessed in this last year. I have the most amazing husband anyone could ask for. The day I became Mrs. Austin Aldrich changed my life forever. I look back on that day with such nostalgia and fondness. I could relive it over and over and over, and never get tired of it. I leave you with some pictures that captured the love that we/I felt on that day. It's crazy that it has already been a year, but if every year is as wonderful as this...I can't wait to see what else God has in store for us. I love you, Babe. Happy Anniversary!

"Mrs. Aldrich, why are you a princess today?"

There are two events in my life, up until today, that have profoundly changed my life and made me feel completely 100% changed. The first, when I accepted Christ at the age of 8. The second, the day I became Mrs. Aldrich, and the third happened today....I received one of the greatest honors and privileges that a teacher can receive. I was nominated as Teacher of the Year for my campus. I was completed shocked and dumbfounded the second I found out. Me? Why me? I work in a school FULL of AMAZING teachers. I thought for a split second, "Maybe she miscounted." Whatever the reason, I went home, showered, changed, met my principal back at school and headed off to a "Surprise" Teacher of the Year luncheon. As I walked in the door, my Superintendent greeted me and pointed to the sign that said, "Welcome WYLIE ISD Teacher of the Year." Was this seriously happening? As I walked down the line of school board members, shaking their hands, the last one I came to was holding flowers. I looked up, and there was my hubby smiling at me, holding a bouquet of flowers. He had known for three weeks! He can really keep a secret. What an awesome luncheon it was. We headed back to Groves and as if the luncheon wasn't enough, I was greeted at the door with a cape, tiara and wand and the entire school was there clapping for me as I walked down the hallway - so surreal. As I walk all the way down the hallway and back, I turn the corner and the entire Kindergarten is chanting my name, my class runs up and gives me huge hugs, nearly knocking me over - so worth it. Then, one of my kiddos looks at me and says, "Mrs. Aldrich, how come you're a princess today?" I have to admit...it did feel like royalty. ;0)

My Principal, introducing me at the luncheon....we were both teary-eyed.

2008-2009 Wylie ISD Teachers of the Year
My Assitant Principal, greeting me with my garb!

The first thing I see when I come in - amazing.

My class on the left!

The walk of fame.

This picture is so meaningful to me. That's Kate, she's on my team. She's been my mentor, my friend, and last year's Teacher of the Year.

A hug from my kiddos.Getting mobbed!

The best Husband EVER!

Me and my Kelly.

The best Mother-in-law EVER.

This is Elva, our school's secretary! LOVE HER!

Our awesome Librarian!

Annu - couldn't do without her either!

My amazing boss.

Blessed,

Jennifer :0)

The many definitions of "Green."

Myself and some other teachers at school are heading up a recycling program at my school this year. So, I'm trying to educate my five year olds on what it means to be "green." We've been recyling for a few weeks now, and we've talked about it, but I wanted to make sure that they realized the importance of it all. So, I read this really great book called My Class is Going Green. It was actually written by a Kindergarten class, which made it even better because my kids could relate and see that even at their age, they can make a difference. So, ANYWAY, before I read the book I asked, "Who can tell me what it means to be green?" I got some silly answers, but the BEST response was, "That's the color you get before you barf!" I had to laugh at that one! I appreciated the honesty, and I'm hoping that after the book and the lesson, that my kids can tell you the REAL definition of green! :0)

Just another day in the life of a Kindergarten teacher.

Jennifer :0)

1, 2, 3, 4....

Yesterday morning Kelly's class came in for an hour while she observed a lesson. Seeing as that teaching a math lesson to 42 five year olds in one room would be next to impossible, I went to put on a Magic School Bus instead. Well, as luck would have it, United Streaming wasn't working. I was forced to turn it on PBS Kids, even though "watching TV" at school goes against everything I stand for. Luckily, Sesame Street was on...at least it's educational. This segment for introducing the number four came on. I LOVE this song and I LOVE it even more that Feist did a remake for Sesame Street. It made me smile.




I'm now encouraged to search YouTube for all the songs that Sesame Street did for 1-10 to intro. these numbers for next year. What can I say? I'm a fan of Sesame Street.

Jennifer :0)