SANTA!!

Santa Claus came to Raeleigh's classroom today! Every year he brings a bag of toys and clothes to each child regardless of financial need! I love Love LOVE her school and the people who make this happen! I (along with Raeleigh's teachers and therapists) was shocked that she was not terrified of Santa! She loved him...but wouldn't look at the camera!

bedrest, yuck!

So, two days ago I ended up in L&D because I was having an excruciating pain in my back. My doctor thought I was in labor and after 30 minutes of screaming that it was my kidney he finally gave me some Demerol. Wow...that is good stuff. I knew it wasn't labor...I've been in labor...it wasn't as painful as what I was feeling. I had 3 days of student teaching left and then graduation next Saturday. I told my OB I wouldn't walk the line if I could just PLEASE finish all my days so I could get my diploma! He agreed to let me finish and as long as I don't have any other problems between now and then I can WALK! Yay! So..I am trying my best to stay in bed or on the couch when I'm not at school. I really, really want to walk that line!!

My Firsts....

My FIRSTS

Well, I'm stealing from Renee again...but she ALWAYS has such fun stuff!!

1. Who was your FIRST prom date?
Corey...my JR year! It was sooo much fun!!

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
Everyday :)

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?
Bahama Mama

4. What was your FIRST job?
Babysitting

5. What was your FIRST car?
Mercury Cougar. I really loved that car but it didn't hold an infant car seat very well...

6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
Brandon

7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
Raeleigh

8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
I had two. Ms. Mary in California for the first half of the year and Ms. Stacey in Tennessee for the second half

9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
From Tennessee to California...I don't remember it but I know I flew back and forth LOTS during the first four years of my life!

10. Who was your FIRST best friend and are you still friends with them?
Rebecca and yes we are still friends!

11. What was your FIRST sport played?
Baseball when we moved back to Tennessee

12. Where was your FIRST sleep over?
Besides my grandparents I would guess probably Rebecca's house

13. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
Raeleigh...if she would only talk back...

14. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?
My cousin Ladana's...I was the flower girl although I was a little too old for that I think..I was 12

15. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
I was glad it's almost FRIDAY!!

16. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Leann Rimes and Brian White

17. FIRST tattoo or piercing?
piercing: my ears when I was 3
tattoo: *sigh* my ladybug and shamrock when I was 19...thank goodness I got it where no one could see it

18. FIRST foreign country you went to?
um...the Bahamas when I was 14

19. What was your FIRST run in with the law?
um...a speeding ticket when I was 17...I was going 79 in a 65 on my way to school. The officer asked me if I was running late and I told him I would have made it if he hadn't stopped me!

20. When was your FIRST detention?
8th grade...I wrote "kiss my rear" on an assignment given by a substitute...poor woman

21. What was the FIRST state you lived in?
Tennessee...then moved to California for 4 years...then back to Tennessee

22. Who was the FIRST person to break your heart?
um...Byron I guess...had a huge crush on him LOL

23. Who was your FIRST roommate?
Brandon LOL

24. Where did you go on your FIRST limo ride?
I've never been in a limo...maybe someday!

Wow...

So yesterday I had a student (who likes to start drama) come up to me and say that another student (who ordinarily is a good boy) said that Raeleigh was R*******. Nice huh? 10 years old and already it begins. I decided not to say anything to anyone except Brandon last night. I told him that it just wasn't worth saying anything. The more I thought about it last night the more sleep I lost...mainly because it is a hate word and they need to know that. If they had said the "n" word it would have caused a riot! So I mentioned it to the teacher I am working under this morning and told her I still didn't think I should say anything to him but I also didn't know how to even go about addressing it. She was really upset that he had said it so she pulled him out and she and his homeroom teacher talked to him. At first he denied it completely but eventually he fessed up. They have called his mother b/c apparently he has been causing problems in other classes lately (like I said he is good for me)...he is getting paddled (decision of his mother)...for saying that word???..not really... but essentially THAT was the straw that broke the camel's back. I'm glad in a sense...he has set an example that it is WRONG and you CAN be punished for using "hate" words.

Giveaway!!!

My friend Renee over at Life with My Special K's is having a giveaway! Her friend Lu made a really awesome painting of Renee's daughter and she is giving a painting to one lucky winner! Just go to her blog and leave a comment on the post to enter! The drawing will be held on November 25th!!

I just can't get over this!

As I have mentioned before, I am currently teaching 5th grade. They are SO into the election! I am teaching Science but I did an entire lesson on the election and candidates yesterday (because the Social Studies teacher is not teaching them anything about it...grrrr!) It's obvious who the parents of the children are voting for based on things they say, but one thing has just stuck in my mind and I cannot get over it. A student raised their hand to tell me that their parents don't vote and told her she should never vote because your vote only counts if you are rich! WHY would you tell your kid that?!?! For one, it kind of says, "Don't ever plan on voting because you'll never be rich!" Secondly, it's just not true! I'm glad that it gave me the opportunity to make sure they knew that EVERY VOTE COUNTS!!!! Geez...some people!

Trick or Treat

Just like years past, we made it to about 3 houses this year! Oh well, someday she will want to go, I just know it! She did get tons of candy trick or treating at school so I guess we can ruin our teeth with that for awhile! Here are some pictures!

What in the world is on my head?!



Yep, I'm the cutest!

happy halloween!

Myspace Comments


Look for trick or treat pictures later tonight!

I voted!

This is the first time I have been old enough to vote in a Presidential election. I was so excited :) Raeleigh was really ill until we got to the machine and then she loved it! I feel like a good citizen! LOL! Now if I could just convince my husband how important it is to GO VOTE!

a sad day :(

Raeleigh's teacher is having surgery on Monday and will be out until after Christmas break. I have known for awhile but she told the kids yesterday. Raeleigh clung to her ALL DAY! Even though she may not know exactly what is going to happen she senses the sadness and the tension in her classroom. As soon as she got there this morning she wanted the teacher to pick her up and she just hugged her. It is really sad because we love her teacher so much and she has been so good with Raeleigh. I am looking forward to January when she comes back :(

where did she learn this?

As soon as I walked in my classroom yesterday my intercom came on. My mother had called and needed me to call her immediately. I knew something must have been wrong with Raeleigh. When I checked my cell phone, sure enough, I had 3 new voicemails from my mother and from Raeleigh's teacher. Apparently she had terrible diarrhea and needed to be picked up. Brandon went to get her and when he walked in the room she was doubled over holding her tummy. Poor baby! He gets her out to the car and she laughed histarically! She ate fine yesterday and was in the best mood! She never even had anymore diarrhea. We had assumed she was getting the stomach virus since we had all already had it. Where in the world did she learn to fake sick??? If she is that good at it now I can only imagine how she will be when she gets older!

oops! skipped a day!

I was so tired last night that I did not post. Shame on me! My appointment with the perinatologist was great! The baby's heart looks perfect and there are no other problems! We are definitely having a little boy! He was showing off to everybody! I guess he just wanted to keep us wondering for a day! Little stinker!

boy or girl?

I guess you really never know for sure until they get here, right? Today on the ultrasound my doctor said, "it's a girl isn't it?" Um, NO! It better not be! He just got a really quick glance so he wasn't sure if that's what he saw and the baby WOULD NOT cooperate to let us see again. I have an ultrasound with the specialist tomorrow so we will see what he thinks. I am really hoping he (or she) will open wide and let us see BOY PARTS! Not that two girls would be terrible but I was already so ready for a boy. *sigh* We will see tomorrow :)

Pumpkin Patch

Raeleigh had her first field trip today! She rode the bus and loved it! They went to the pumpkin patch and got to pick and paint their own pumpkins. Then they had a snack and played on the playground before lunch. Raeleigh had a blast and I was surprised how well she keeps up with her peers! She is becoming so independent and she learns so much from the other kids! I am exhausted but I can't wait for her next field trip!


On the hayride



Painting her pumpkin



Waiting on a snack...silly girl!



Getting pushed in the big swing



My favorite!



With her pumpkin...beautiful :)

drinking from a straw!

Raeleigh has finally started drinking from a straw! Her teacher sent her sippy cup home on Monday and said she didn't need it anymore! Here is a picture of my big girl and her new cup!

the virus...

Well, I think it has hit us! I was sick on Sunday but I was sure I didn't have the stomach virus because it wasn't "that" bad. Brandon came in from work today and said he didn't feel good and was going to lay down. He has been in bed since then! Ugh! I have given him meds to knock him out so maybe he will wake up tomorrow feeling better! Hopefully Raeleigh won't get it but I'm not counting on it. She has her first field trip tomorrow and I am praying hard she doesn't wake up with it tonight!

54 days....

until GRADUATION!!! I have started my second student teaching placement today in 5th grade and so far it is wonderful! After having a wonderful experience in a Kindergarten classroom last semester I was so sure that I wanted younger children. The 1st graders that I just left almost killed me! I am so glad to have the opportunity to work with some older children to see where I would like to obtain a position next fall. So far these kids are great! They are excited because I'm here and best of all they understand why I am here and they respect me. I am looking forward to a great 8 weeks here and cannot wait to walk the line on December 13th! Woo Hoo!!

Precious Moments

I had this picture in my Buddy Walk montage but I really wanted to post it by itself. I LOVE this picture! They are so much alike it is scary! Maybe, just maybe, Rudy will be a little like me :)

Buddy Walk 2008

Today was the Buddy Walk for the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee. We had a great time! Since Raeleigh could walk this year she really enjoyed running around all over the park! Here are some pictures of Raeleigh and our team, Raeleigh's Buddies!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Heaven's Very Special Child

A meeting was held quite far from Earth

It was time again for another birth.

Said the Angels to the Lord above--

"This special child will need much love.

Her progress may be very slow

Accomplishment she may not show.

And she'll require extra care

From the folks she meets down there.

She may not run or laugh or play

Her thoughts may seem quite far away

So many times she will be labeled-- "different, helpless, and disabled"

So, let's be careful where she's sent.

We want her life to be content.

Please, Lord find the parents who

Will do a special job for you

They will not realize right away

The Leading role they are asked to play

But with this child sent from above

Comes stronger faith, and richer love.

And soon they'll know the privilege given

In caring for their gift from heaven.

Their precious charge so meek and mild

IS HEAVEN'S VERY SPECIAL CHILD

Raeleigh's Montage

I have been attempting to finish this for about a year now and I have finally done it! YAY! Hope you enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed making it!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

21 Things About Raeleigh

For DS Awareness the past couple years I have written a list of 21 Things about Raeleigh. I would be glad to share last years list but...my computer crashed since then and my documents weren't recovered. So here is the list for this year!

21 things about Raeleigh

1.Her favorite food is chicken nuggets. She can eat them for every meal every day and never get sick of them.

2.She hates for me to fix her hair. Usually if she sees me coming with the brush she will run away or scream.

3.She loves to drink Diet Coke from a Mason jar just like her Papaw Worm.

4.She loves Hershey bars.

5.She loves to go to church. People have been known to fight over nursery shifts just to play with her :)

6.She has just learned to shake her head “no” when you ask her a question. It is the cutest thing!

7.She hates to take a bath because the water gets in her face. However, she loves to go under in the pool.

8.She hates photographers. She has had her picture made (successfully) in a studio ONCE in her life.

9.She is named after her daddy and mommy. Daddy's middle name is Ray and Mommy's is Leigh.

10.She is going to be tinkerbell for Halloween this year....and she couldn't care less.

11.She loves her little tykes swing at her Mamaw's house.

12.She thinks every time you get in the car you must be going to Mamaw and Papaw's.

13.She loves to torment my mother by pretending to hate her and then laughing about it.

14.She walked at 32 months. For almost 3 years I was praying for her to walk and now I beg her to sit down...she is so confused :-)

15.She loves to watch Sesame Street videos on YouTube.

16.She is going to be moved into a toddler bed at Christmas. Mommy and Daddy are not thrilled about this transition.

17.She hates to sleep with ANYBODY.

18.She hates to stay in a hotel. She prefers her bed ONLY.

19.She calls her sippy cup a “baba.” If I correct her she will argue with me about it.

20.She loves anything with buttons...it fascinates her.

21.She is going to be the best big sister in the world in January!

fill my cup, Lord

Brandon and I have been out of town on a marriage retreat all weekend. We were on the lake, in the middle of nowhere, getting back in touch with each other and most importantly praying and letting God speak to us. It was AWESOME! The couple who spoke are Steve and Debbie Wilson. They travel all over to share their story and help couples reconnect. If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of their conferences I highly recommend it! Here are a few pictures from around the resort.

We're here!!



Our Cabin



The "love" hammock :) I so want one in my yard!



a gift from our church for the weekend



Our weekend transportation...one per cabin HA HA!

Miss Independent

Raeleigh is just the best form of entertainment! This morning when I opened her car door to get her out for school she quickly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep! I laughed at her and she opened her eyes and laughed too! Funny girl! Then we walked to her classroom. When she went in she took off her coat and handed it to me. She walked to her chair (it is a wooden chair with a buckle), climbed in, and attempted to buckle herself in. She is always the first one in her room at school and instead of playing she decided she was ready to learn today! She is growing up so much!

31 for 21

Ok, so I totally stole this. For the month of October in honor of Down syndrome awareness I will try to post everyday. Yep, I'm a week behind, go figure :) So...I will try to post for the next 24 days of the month without skipping! We will have lots going on so surely I can do it! Yay!

She can say "diaper" :)

So...I didn't hear it..yet..but her teacher assured me that she can say it and she KNOWS what it is! Why does this excite me? It makes me feel like maybe, just MAYBE, we can move onto making her understand "potty" and I am SOOO ready for that! Two kids in diapers does not sound good to me and I should really bite the bullet and start potty training. Ahhh...wish me luck :)

Brown Bag Homework

This is "brown week" in Raeleigh's class and tonight she came home with a homework asssignment. The teacher sent home a brown paper bag to fill with brown items. Tomorrow she will "show and tell" about her items....um, yeah right! More like "throw and yell!" My creativity is running low lately (apparently 16 first graders 5 days a week will do that to you) but I have managed to gather a few items (hershey bar, brown leaf, and groovy girl with brown hair). I wish I had more time to get ideas from my friends in blog land! Oh well!

Ahhh!!!

I absolutely CANNOT stand to be sick! Ugh! I started student teaching on Monday and I'm in a room FULL of snotty, coughing 6 year olds! I have guzzled orange juice and bathed in germ-x. My nose started running on Thursday (my birthday) and I just knew what was coming. Sure enough, Raeleigh's school called on Friday morning and she was running fever. I assume she picked it up from me and since her immune system is weaker showed symptoms faster. So I picked her up and we came home. I was ok until yesterday and it hit me, too. No fever, thank goodness! Raeleigh has been on oral meds and she is much better. However, being pregnant I can't have ANYTHING! So, here I am eating chicken soup and drinking juice. This stinks!

Snips and snails, and puppy dog tails...

...That's what little BOYS are made of! Gosh, I don't know what to do with a boy! We are very excited though! Brandon is so glad he decided to find out! Here is a picture of our little prince! Not the best quality but you get the idea!

Rudy Jerrett Brown

It's a....

...just kidding! We will find out tomorrow morning (hopefully!) what we are having!! I can't wait! I also can't believe I FINALLY talked Brandon into finding out! YAY! More news tomorrow...

Light of My Life :)

Gosh I love this child! I have no idea what I did for entertainment before I was blessed with her!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Some Random Fun

So I hijacked these quizzes from my friend Renee's blog. They were kinda fun! I had to laugh when they described me pretty accurately!

You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)

Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.

Your Response is: Stay Calm

You don't have much of a fight or flight response. In fact, you rather do neither. You don't like getting worked up. You are able to approach most threats calmly and rationally. You don't let your emotions get the best of you!

A Great First Day!

Raeleigh's day was great! I think she is a little spoiled :o) She took her nap in the teacher's lap! She played and ate her lunch! She got a sticker in her notebook for a good day and got to visit the "treasure chest" for good behavior! She chose a purple necklace that she has now decided she doesn't like it and wants me to wear for her! I am looking forward to a great school year and can't wait to see how much my big girl learns!!

First Day Pictures!

Here are some pics from this morning before we left and on the way! She went right in and when she saw all the kids she clapped her hands and said, "YAY!"

Today is the day!

My baby starts school in an HOUR!!!! I think I may be sick :( I am so nervous for her and have been praying all night (because I couldn't sleep!) for God to let this go smoothly and for her to LOVE it! I will be taking lots of pictures! I will post them and all about her day tonight!

My Little Tomboy

I forgot I had taken these pictures until I was going through my camera! These are from 2 weeks ago. We went to our Sunday School class' Mexican dinner and everyone brought their kids, too. Raeleigh has nothing but little boys to play with at church and she hangs right with them! We let her play outside and after about 30 minutes she was filthy! Here are some pictures I took when we got her home.

Hair stuck to her head from sweating in the 100 degree weather!


Her bloomers! Of course she was wearing GOOD clothes!!


She looked SO much worse before we left! I did manage to get most of the mud off her legs and arms before we came home. YUCK!

One week from today...

...my baby is going to school :( She will be in a preschool program with typical and developmentally delayed 3 and 4 year olds. She will attend all day from 8am-3pm! Gosh, she is getting so BIG!! The great part about it I start my student teaching in the same school system in a few weeks and we will be out on all the same days... YAY! Pray for my sanity this week...pray I don't run away with her to keep her from going HA HA!