The week of the 28th!

This past week was super hectic as I hit my 28th week of pregnancy. Not only did I complete my last week of work, but I got a new car, prepared for Caroline's wedding, and celebrated Leslie's and John's birthdays.

Week 28: June 1, 2016

Baby Size: coconut or a large eggplant and weighing around 2 1/4 lbs. 

Symptoms: I still have a little back pain if I sit too long, but I slowly am having less and less sleep at night as I can't seem to get comfortable and have very vivid dreams.
Baby movements: Moving much more. Since the pools are open and I have been laying out, I can see her move under my bathing suit. She also moves around when I get really hot from the sun.   
Maternity clothing: Still wearing a mix. Since it is summer time, I don't wear any pants and can get away with a mixture of loose dresses that aren't maternity. My shorts are from Gap and just basic drawstring, which are very comfortable and can wear post baby. 
Cravings: Still wanting sweets like crazy but trying to limit the amount ( but I can never say no to a Wendy's chocolate frosty).  

Missing: deli sandwiches.

This week I had my 28 week appointment where I had my glucose test. I'm hoping for good results. Even though everyone comments about how small I look for being pregnant, the doctor said my stomach is measuring a good size and have gained about 22lbs. so far :(

{Prior to going to Milton's for Leslie's birthday dinner}

This picture was taken by my good friend Marisa who said I needed to document my last time in my room after 5 years of teaching at St. Francis middle school. The last week was really bittersweet as I was super excited to start my new journey as a full-time mom but sad to leave my very best friends who I love dearly.  I really felt blessed as the school came together and gifted baby Harper a sweet little onsie, a bib, and a monetary gift to help with upcoming expenses.  And best of all, my best friend, Ashley, had chocolate covered strawberries delivered to my school to celebrate my last day of work}

{The were so delicious}

Not only did I say goodbye to my job, but I said goodbye to my Honda Accord coupe that I had for 10 years. I really enjoyed that car, but I was super thrilled to have a new and safe car to drive little Harper around. 

Back to school/ Work!

Yay! I have successfully completed the first week back to school for the 2015-2016 year! Being a middle school teacher has its extreme highs and lows throughout the school year, but I have really high hopes for this one! On drop-in day last Friday, I met all my 67 students- all who seemed to love school and had such great energy. ( I know what you're thinking... that is a really small number when talking about 5 academic classes, but being a teacher at a private school has perks!) Nevertheless, the first week has come to an end, and I feel great about the school year. My students are wonderful, my co-workers (friends) are one of the main reasons why I love my job, and the staff is so supportive and wonderful. Even though I have only been a teacher for 5 years now- I hope to keep this positive energy on those not so great days. Hopefully all my friends who are teachers and my sweet sister who is starting her first year as a lead teacher at Lovett, loves it this year too!

Our little Masters Graduate!

Today, our little Caroline graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Master's Degree in Elementary Education with honors (so smart)!

{Future in-laws}

 

Washington, D.C. Trip

 To start my summer in a new way, I decided to go on an out of school field trip with 8 other teacher chaperones and 41 eight grade students ( what an adventure). It started bright and early with a 4:30 am drive to the airport and on our way to Washington, DC, Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Mount Vernon in Virginia.

Our first stop was to the Newseum, which is obviously a museum dedicated to the news. Anything and everything you could think of news related was there, even an Anchor Man themed level with fun articles of clothing and props from the movie. The Newsuem also had large parts of the Berlin Wall, 9/11 pieces from both the buildings and planes, and newspapers from every year.

{Berlin Wall}

{View from the terrace}

The next museum was the Air and Space, which was really neat to see the Wright Brother's original hang glider as well as Amelia Earhart's plane that she flew.

{Wright Brother's glider}

Being a fan of the movie "Night at the Museum", I was really excited to visit the Natural History Museum, especially for the dinosaur exhibit, but that specific exhibit was closed, and I was only able to see one dinosaur ( I was hoping to see T-Rex).

{The Hope Diamond- 45.52 carats- found in India}

{The head of the T-Rex}

The last museum of the day was the American History,  which has very random items, but the best item was the original Star Spangled Banner; however, I couldn't take a picture of because it is slowly fading.

{First Lady Dresses}

{The Wizard of OZ's ruby slippers}

After a long day of Museums, we drove to Jamestown, Virginia, home of the first permanent English settlement in America on May 4, 1607, but the land they settled on was home to the Powhatan Indians (Pocahontas's father's tribe).

 

Yorktown, Virginia is most famous as the site of the siege/ surrender of General Cornwallis to General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War on October 19, 1781.

Williamsburg, Virginia was founded in 1632 as Middle Plantation on high ground between the James and York rivers. This area served as the capital of the Colony of Virginia from 1699 to 1780 and was the center of political events leading to the American Revolution.

{An adorable home that I loved}

{Got a picture of my parent's favorite painting in their house}

{Bruton Parish Episcopal Church where George Washington attended while in Williamsburg}

{Williamsburg Governor's Palace}

{Colonial Williamsburg}

That night we drove from Williamsburg, Virginia back to DC to end our day by doing a night monument tour.

{Abraham Lincoln- 56 steps to see him, which was how old he was when he died}

{Washington Monument}

{Where MLK Jr. gave his "I Have A Dream" speech}

{Vietnam Memorial- the 3 races that served: White, Black, and Hispanic}

{Korean War}

 

The next day we went to the Crime & Punishment Museum, which was neat and disturbing at the same time. They had all major killers, mobsters, and other random pieces from the law enforcement.

{The car in which Bonnie and Clyde were killed}

{Ted Bundy's car (very disturbing)

The WHITE HOUSE

{our 41 kids}

The Holocaust Museum was so powerful and gut retching because of the personal touches that they added to the four levels. Anything from uniforms, diary's, pictures, and actual films were there to provide you with the most detailed moments of the war and to help you remember the survivors and victims.  

National Archives was wonderful to enter in and see the most important documents that started our Nation, Charters of Freedom:

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, 1776, announced the separation of the 13 colonies from Great Britain and the establishment of the United States of America. The Declaration articulates the highest ideals of the Revolution—liberty, equality, and the right to self-determination.

THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, 1787, codified the spirit of the American Revolution in an ingenious, practical scheme of government to promote the welfare of all its citizens. Considered one of the most influential legal documents of all time, it has served as a model for over 100 countries.

THE BILL OF RIGHTS, 1789, spelled out the rights of individual citizens. The First Congress of the United States proposed 12 constitutional amendments. Of those, 10 were ratified and are known as the Bill of Rights.

The Kennedy Center 

 {Watergate Hotel}

FDR Memorial

MLK Jr. Memorial

{Jefferson Memorial}

Being able to go inside and see Washington from above was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Washington Monument

 

{White house from above}

WWII Memorial

Mount Vernon, my favorite stop on our trip, was home to George Washington and Martha Washington for more than 40 years.

 

{George's view from his back porch as it was when he was alive}

{Potomac River}

{George Washington's tomb}

US Capitol

Arlington Cemetery

  

President John F. Kennedy and First Lady