23 weeks and/or 6 months

Not really getting any bigger, but 6 months seems like a big milestone. Only 17 more weeks to go.

Lesson Plans

I haven't posted recently not because nothing is going on...I'm sure other people are doing wonderful, fun and lovely things with their lives.

It's just that I wouldn't know because all my spare (and not so spare) time has been devoted to researching, designing and writing lesson plans.

I've even started dreaming about lesson plans.

When I'm not doing lesson plans I think about them, when I'm eating I make mental check lists (there's a reason why the call them mental...as in crazy).

I feel almost prepared for my first day, but I wish that it would hurry up and get here so I can sit back and say, "Whew, that wasn't so bad", and then start all over again!

The Tale of the Castle and Cow

This is one of the first block structures Maya has ever built with a purpose. It's a castle complete with purple steps and a garage for the orange car. Maya has become enamoured of dragons, princesses, kings, queens and especially wicked witches. Which is what we are dressing as for Halooween.

I was attempting to get a second shot of the front before I moved around to the back, but Moo, the flying cow, (seen in picture #2) demolished it before I got there. The story goes something like this.

"Wow! What a great castle...let me take a picture before you knock it down," I said.

"Oh I won't knock it down, I just fixed it!" Maya replied.

"Click, click" said the camera.

"Crash!" said the castle.

"Oh, Maya! I wanted to get a second picture!" I cried in dismay.

"But Mommy I didn't do it...Moo did!"And thus ends the tale of the castle with the purple steps.

He loves me. He loves me not...

Chad sent flowers to me at work yesterday to congratulate me on my new job. He loves me...

Tales from the dark side...of the school

I've just returned from a successful job interview with the principal of Holy Redeemer in Ellwood City. I have officially been hired as the new music teacher for grades K-6. I am oscillating between ecstatically elated and absolutely terrified.

I keep telling myself I can do it and then I start to fear I can't. On the up side, I have never failed at anything I put my mind to, on the down side I only try things I know I can do... so I am in a Catch 22. Did I apply for this job because subconsciously I know I can? {shrug} Dunno. Besides (I tell myself) it's music... I know music, and it's kids... I know kids.

The truly terrifying aspect of this is that I do not have a teaching certificate, I have never made lesson plans, and they are giving me very little to go on. But (I tell myself again) it's music, and I know music. It's one of the few things I do well and have been doing for 26 years now. Ye Gads! Twenty six years? When did I get old enough to have done something for that long?

So stay tuned for the scary tales of 160 elementary students and teaching plans gone horribly awry... ooohhh spooky! Here comes Mrs. Adams...music teacher extraordinare.

Farewell to Summer

Sedum
Golden Rod
Snowball Bushes

Fall is approaching. Leaves are already begining to change, the air is getting cooler and the last of my flower gardens are in bloom. After the snowballs fade to brown, the goldenrod droops, and the sedum dries up, there will be nothing left...until spring. So here are the lovely remenants of my garden.

Fairy rings and other things

"I've brought a book," he announced, and stepped respectfully around the little lines of sticks on the ground. "Puck of Pook's Hill, " He read from the cover. "The title is nice to say - say it Maggie: Puck of Pook's Hill - but the story makes little sense. It's about fairies," and he lowered himself carefully next to her, settling himself within the outlines of the little dining room. "Fairies," he went on, gazing at her solemnly, "are the creatures who buy up all those used teeth."

"There's no such thing," she said.
"No such thing!" Uncle Morris looked offended. "No such thing ? Maggie, do you know that some fairies have been known to spend as much as an entire dollar on a single molar? And you say there's no such thing? A dollar for one tooth! And do you know why?"

She put a strand of hair in her mouth.

"They make drinks out of them!" Uncle Morris explained. "Drinks! Did you know that? They drop each tooth into a buttercup of boiling dew, and let it steep for a few minutes, then they drink the liquor."

Maggie scrapped off a thin channel of pale-green scum from the rock under he knee and rubbed it along her thumbnail.

"Save that," Uncle Morris said, observing her. "That's frog make-up. They use it around their eyes."

Maggie examined her tinted nail and wondered for a moment what it would be like to brighten the eyelid of a frog with its yellow-green film. Just a slender circle, she thought, one here, one here.

"Here," Uncle Morris offered. "we'll collect it on this leaf," and for a brief moment Maggie held out her thumb, but she withdrew it quickly and wiped it clean on the edge of the rock.

"And do you know what they call it, " he went on, "this wonderful liquor brewed from the molars of thousands of young mouths across the land?" He looked at her. "Do you know?"

"No."

"Uncle Morris lowered his head and his voice at the same time. "Tooth tea," he said confidentially. "Tooth tea. But sometimes their tongues get tangled, and they call it 'two teeth' instead, which confuses the fairy cooks no end - they put two molars into a single buttercup instead of one, and that makes the tea to tart. Then the fairies become angry, and they all start yelling at once, "The two-teeth tooth tea is too, too tart. " Sometimes you can hear them, late at night, although most people mistake the sound for the chirping of crickets. Have you ever heard them?"

--excerpt from Sylvia Cassedy's "Behind the Attic Wall"

Drum Roll Please...

Finally after much finagling and a bruised abdomen, the sonogram tech was able to complete the scan and get all the measurements. Everything is as it should be all the parts are in their places.

The heartbeat was up to 160 and the baby is weighing in at 1 pound 2 oz. This one is going to be a whopper! After much cajoling, she finally turned so that we could tell what she was. That's right...It's a she!

I am very excited to be having another girl because Maya is such a joy, and besides we are going to save a fortune in clothes since their birthdays are only a month apart! Now I know not to get rid of all those totes of clothes in the closet...But I'm also faced with the idea of storing 2 years worth of clothes until this little one is ready for them. Now all we can do is await the arrival of our next princess.

First Day of Gymnastics

Maya went for her first gymnastics class today. She had so much fun, and so did I. Although I must admit that the 15 minutes of stretching and running around about did me in! Comparatively speaking though, I'm still pretty flexible for being 6 months pregnant.

Maya loved the jumping, the running, the somersaults and doing flips on the bar. She couldn't wait to bounce on the trampoline and run under the parachute. She walked the balance beam all by herself and crawled the whole length of the foam block pit.

What I loved is that she is learning to follow directions from someone other than me, to take turns, and patiently waiting for others to be done. I also loved the fact that as soon as she was done, she wanted to call Chad and tell him all about it. I guess what I love most is this semi independent stage where she will ask for my help, but is just as happy to run and do something by herself. I guess I realize that this stage is fleeting and it won't be long before I hear, "Mom, just leave me alone" and " I don't need your help" instead of "I love to walk beside you," which she said going up the stairs to bed last night.

New Wallpaper

What do you think of the new and updated look for the blog. Chad thinks I'm nuts for spending so much time fussing and swearing at the html code, but I find it strangely rewarding when I make it work! I love the feeling of accomplishing something new even if it did take me hours to figure out! So enjoy...and if you don't like it, I don't want to know!

It's about time!!

Fri Sep 8, 10:30 AM ET
Model

MADRID (AFP) - Excessively skinny fashion models will be barred from a major Madrid fashion show later this month for fear they could send the wrong message to young Spanish girls, local media reported.

Madrid's regional government, which is co-financing the Pasarela Cibeles, has vetoed around a third of the models who took part in last year's show because they weigh too little.
The authorities collaborated with a Spanish health organisation to come up with a minumum body mass -- a height-weight ratio -- of 18 for the models.

Spanish daily ABC said it was the first time such restrictions had been imposed on a fashion show, although a recent wedding dress exhibition in Barcelona banned fashion models who took a dress size below 38 (British size 10, US size eight).

Several models at last year's show provoked a row when they claimed their careers would be under threat if they put on weight.

Organisers said they wanted to "help ensure public opinion does not associate fashion, and fashion shows in particular, with an increase in anorexia, a disease which, along with bulimia, is considered ... as a mental and behavioural problem".

The event will take place on September 18-22.

Will the United States Ever Elect a Woman President?

By when will the U.S. elect a woman to be president?
In the next election................14%
Within the next decade..........23%
Within 10 to 25 years.............35%
In 26 years or more................13%
Never........................................18%

19938 Votes to date

This is a poll that Yahoo! News was running today. I answered the poll realistically, in my mind, and answered within 10 to 25 years. Not that I wouldn't love to see a woman president in the next decade, I just think it will take a little longer, but I definately believe that America will have a female president. Now what really disturbed me about this poll was that 18% of the people polled said never. In my mind I see two reasoning behind this: either they don't want a woman president and voted never in hopes that it won't happen, or they realistically think that America is so closed minded that a woman will never get elected.

Now I'd like to think that in this day and age that equality between the sexes is becoming more of a reality. As a matter of fact, women have been granted suffrage in every country in the world excepting Saudi Arabia, which has just begun to give men, and in the future women, limited vote. Today the only two countries, which never had a female member of government in at least a sub-ministerial position, are Monaco and Saudi Arabia. Even the Vatican has got one Assistant Vice-Minister. In 1999, Sweden became the first country to have more female ministers than male. 11 women and 9 men.

There are 191 members of the United Nations and a few independent states outside. 19 have got female leaders at the moment.

• Of the monarchies, there are reigning Queens in Denmark, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom - and the latter is represented by female Governor Generals in Canada and Saint Lucia, who function as their countries' de-facto Heads of State.
  
• The 6 female Presidents are in Chile, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Liberia and The Philippines.
  
• At the moment there are 7 woman Prime Ministers; in Bangladesh, Germany, Jamaica, New Zealand, Mozambique, South Korea and The Netherlands Antilles.

So what makes America, supposedly the world leader, so backward in electing a female as president?

Half Way There

Half Way There

Finally 20 weeks is here, or 5 1/2 months for those who don't know that a pregnancy lasts 40 weeks (give or take). I'm offically half way there. Unfortuately no one has noticed yet that I'm even pregnant, (or they just think I'm getting fat and no one wants to hurt my feelings). But I work with children, lots of them, and as anyone with kids knows, they are short on tact and big on opening their mouths. So I have to say that I'm a bit surprised that not one kid has even said I was getting bigger. I didn't start to show with Maya until I was around six months, but I guess I thought I would get bigger, sooner, since this is my second. *shrug* Guess I thought wrong.

All is going well, and I have no complaints (unless you ask Chad). Aside from being tired, I feel great. I just can't wait until the 12th for the follow up sonogram so we can hopefully find out what this kid is... animal, vegetable, or mineral. (I am the very model of the modern Major General... sorry, I digress) However I am leaning toward octopus because last night it was simutaneuously kicking in five directions at once.

We did pick out a cute Noah's Ark border for the nursery and Maya picked out a fairie- flower pot border for her room. If they come soon, we may be able to get the rooms painted this weekend, and I will be able to check one more item off my "to-do before the baby comes" list.

Finally, that Monarch...

Sorry these pictures are so small...BloggerBot is not co-operating today. But if you click, you'll get a better view.

Male TigerSwallow

Monarch

A Household Icon...Gone

Chad and I used to watch the Croc Hunter all the time. We watched the story of how he met his wife. We saw his wife waddling around after animals while pregnant and wondered why he would name his daughter after a pet. We loved his infectious love of animals and we aspire to teach Maya the way he taught his kids to love all animals. They say only the good die young and this is true of Steve Irwin. I can only hope that I die doing what I love best.

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Tributes from around the world are flowing in for Steve Irwin, the enthusiastic Australian "Crocodile Hunter" who enthralled audiences around the world with his wildlife adventures.

Irwin died Monday morning after being attacked by a stingray while shooting a TV program off Australia's north coast.

Irwin's manager and friend John Stainton said Irwin died doing what he loved -- filming life in the wild.

Typical of the hundreds of tributes that have been e-mailed to CNN.com is this one from Tina Treece of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: "Crikey, I miss him so much already."

From Auckland, New Zealand, Ashwin Prabhu writes: "To most of us he appeared immortal, always one step ahead of every animal he encountered."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who knew Irwin and his family well, praised him as a "passionate environmentalist" who promoted a serious conservation message.

"He made an extraordinary contribution to creating a widespread appreciation of the value and uniqueness of Australian wildlife," Howard said.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said his friend Irwin was "always the showman" who was generous with his time in promoting Australia.

Actor Russell Crowe told Australian media Irwin was "the Australian we all aspire to be."

Irwin was snorkeling at Batt Reef, a part of the Great Barrier Reef offshore from the town of Port Douglas, when the incident happened.

"He came over the top of a stingray that was buried in the sand, and the barb came up and hit him in the chest," Stainton said.

Irwin was in the area to film pieces for a show called "The Ocean's Deadliest" with Philippe Cousteau, grandson of Jacques, according to Stainton. But weather had prevented the crew from doing work for that program, Stainton said, so Irwin decided to do some softer features for a new children's TV show he was doing with his daughter, Bindi.

Irwin was director of the Australia Zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. He is survived by his American-born wife, Terri, and their two children, Bindi Sue, born in 1998, and Robert (Bob), born in December 2003.

"The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," Stainton told reporters in Cairns, according to The Associated Press. "He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, 'Crocs Rule!' "

"Steve was a larger-than-life force. He brought joy and learning about the natural world to millions and millions of people across the globe," said Discovery Communications founder and chairman John Hendricks in a statement. "We extend our thoughts and prayers to Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin as well as to the incredible staff and many friends Steve leaves behind."

Irwin's enthusiastic approach to nature conservation and the environment won him a global following. He was known for his exuberance and use of the catch phrase "Crikey!"

"His message is really about conservation: He really wants to leave the world a better place for everybody," Animal Planet's Maureen Smith told CNN.com in April.

"It's unbelievable, really," Jack Hanna, the host of "Jack Hanna's Animal Adventure" and director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo, told CNN. "You think about Steve Irwin and you think of people who are invincible."

Hanna, a friend of Irwin's, noted that Irwin's persona of the Crocodile Hunter was no act. Irwin grew up around crocodiles, snakes and other animals at his parents' Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park and had been handling such creatures since he was a child.
"Steve really knew what he was doing. He was one of the finest reptile people in the world. He knew more about reptiles than anybody did. He was raised that way," said Hanna.

At Australia Zoo at Beerwah, south Queensland, floral tributes were dropped at the entrance, where a huge fake crocodile gapes, the AP reported. Drivers honked their horns as they passed.

"He has left a legacy: That people do love some of the unloved animals like crocodiles and reptiles that people wanted to kill," Stainton told CNN. "He's actually put a position in their hearts for them. I want that to continue. ... I want people to really go out there and remember Steve Irwin for what he really was, which was a great conservationist, saving wildlife and actually promoting wildlife that people didn't love."

Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.

Four Things

Morgan sent me this so blame her if you couldn't care less!

Things you may or may not have known about me in no particular order.

A) Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Piano Teacher
2. Lab Technician, yes they actually trusted me with chemicals that could cause explosions.
3. Pizza Tosser (yes I really can slap a pizza in the air)
4. Cook (which is why I don't cook now)

B) Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Princess Bride
2. The Mummy
3. The Matrix
4. Lake Placid

C) Four places you have lived:
1. Prospect, PA
2. Sandusky, OH
3. Indiana, PA
4. Delavan, WI

D) Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Neat
2. Super Nanny
3. (I don't get to watch too much TV since I work evenings but that's ok with me)
4.

E) Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Carribean Cruise
2. Toronto, CAN
3. European tour
4. Italy (I'm not sure this was a vacation...I was actually there for a semester studying ceramics but I didn't know if it qualified as places I've lived)

F) Websites you visit daily
1. Friends blogs
2. Baby Center
3. Wondertime
4. Yahoo

G) Four of my favourite foods
1. Cheese
2. Cheese
3. Cheese
4. Bread

H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Alone on a beach
2. Alone in the woods
3. Alone at my own house (anyone sensing a pattern?)
4. Visiting Morgan

Stunt Rider in the Making

Stunt Rider

Pedaling in Reverse

Maya's legs are finally long enough to reach the pedals, and she has the concept of making it "go". But she still prefers going in reverse and practicing tricks. One day we may all be watching her try to jump the grand canyon, hopefully in a less tacky outfit than Robbie Knievel. The funny thing is, she never went forward in her walker either...she just scooted around backwards slamming into tables and chairs and laughing hysterically. Hmmm should I ponder this?

Not a monarch, but cool none the less

Butterfly

This is a shot of one my butterfly bushes (aptly named because the butterflies love them). Usually it's covered with Monarchs, but since I sat and waited for one to appear, of course none did. I did grab this nice shot of a tiger swallowtail though. In addition to butterflies we have seen, humming birds, bumble bees, hummingbird moths and any number of small whizzing things that generally move to fast to be identified. Hopefully I'll get a picture of a Monarch before the season is through.

Giant Hosta, Little Maya 

It's a surprise...for now

We went to the Dr's today for our "big" ultrasound. The one where they take all the measurements and make an educated guess at the sex. Well, this one is even more stubborn that Maya was and the poor tech couldn't even get all the mesurements let alone determine the sex. So for now it's a surprise. At least we got a good profile shot because the baby was laying on it's side the whole time and would not roll over. We are scheduled to go back Sept. 12th to finish the measurements and hopefully the baby will be more co-operative then. I'm in trouble if I have two kids as stubborn as me!