Life at 4 months, Parent/ Teacher Conference, and More!

4 month Check-In- I’m a little late in updating the blog this month. Things have been a whirlwind with school winding down. I finished my last day of work for the year on Friday and we attended my brother-in-law’s high school graduation. We enjoyed a lovely 3 day Memorial weekend and now Carter and I are left to fall into our summer schedule. Carter had his 4 month checkup last Monday, a week after he turned 4 months old. He weighed 14 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 25 ¾ inches long. His weight is average for a 4 month old but his head and length are that of a 6 month old. He’s a big, solid boy. I’m constantly amazed at how he’s changing and what he’s learning. He smiles at us all the time and is watching our lips as we talk to him. Sometimes it seems like he’s even trying to mimic us and the sounds. Carter is rolling over, not often, not because he can’t, but I think, because he’s perfectly content to stay put (Shelby informed me last night that he thinks Carter is like me and doesn’t like change). He is spending less time on his play mat and more time in his swing because he likes to be upright and see what’s happening around him. He smiles a lot at the dogs and they seem to like him too. They both periodically check on him and Charlie is quick to let me know when the baby monitor goes off (as if I didn’t hear it!) and he follows me into the room when I get Carter up from his nap, or when I change him. I like the idea that, to Charlie, we are “his people” and Carter is “his boy”.

 Parent/ Teacher Conference- As school wrapped up, I actually found myself not quite ready for the year to be over. With my maternity leave right smack in the middle of the year, everything felt very disjointed. Everything fell into B.B. (before baby) and A.B. (after baby). But I do know that some very strange things started happening at school. This year marked my 5th year teaching at Ascension and my 7th year teaching over all. I finished the fall semester very tired and very pregnant. I was so ready for maternity leave and I think my teaching had fallen into a rut, things got a little stagnant. But after I had Carter and returned to work, I felt rejuvenated. I was excited to be back amongst the students and my passion for teaching had returned. I did lesson units I had never done before and I was amazed at what my students had produced. And those students whose behavior often had me pulling my hair out just didn’t seem to bother me as much. I think all that came from becoming a mom. I am able to look at students in a different light. They are all some mother’s “Carter”. So, being a mom has made me a better teacher. But I also think being a teacher is making me a better mom. I so want Carter to love learning and school. I want him to love to read and write. I’m doing all I can at this age to stimulate and engage him, but I really look forward to doing all those fun activities that come later. (I know, I know, enjoy this time while it lasts…trust me I am!) Being a teacher has also helped me be a better time manager, which I’m learning is essential in motherhood. I still have a lot to learn about juggling a clean house, work, a baby, and my own sanity! This summer is going to be so much fun!

And More!- One of the highlights of the last few months has been my encaustic art class. Encaustic painting uses hot beeswax as the medium. It has been so much fun, not to mention incredibly therapeutic. It’s my mommy away time. On Saturdays, I watch Carter for a couple of hours while Shelby holes up in the office to write and work on his blog—his daddy away time. I think it’s been really great for both of us to continue to have time to ourselves to be creative. I think it makes us better parents to have time to do what we love to do. Here’s the link to Shelby’s blog: http://thepurgingofthepencontinues.blogspot.com/ and here are a few of the finished pieces.

"On the Road to Chillicothe"- 8x8 Photo Transfer on Encaustic

Photo by Kim Jackson

"1/14/12"- 8x12 Mixed Media Encaustic

"Dust Bowl Dance"-10x10 Mixed Media Encaustic