A few weeks ago, a good friend and fellow blogger of mine, Danielle Basset at Being Bassets, nominated me for the Liebster Award. As she described it on her blog, that it is for "up and coming bloggers that have less than 200 followers". I love reading her regular posts as she begins her new adventure of being a stay-at-home mommy. We met in college in the OU Marching Band, and immediately our friendship clicked. We loved the same things, and I loved her style. We got engaged to our sweet husbands within the same 6 months, so we made a plan that included our husbands being roommates, us being roommates, and most simply put, swapping places when we married a month a part. We both went into the teaching profession, but both have had the desire to be moms, and now I get to share in that journey with her too. Her friendship means so much to me, even though our paths do not always look exactly the same. Thank you for nominating me Danielle! Now let's see if I can think of 11 things about me, without reading hers at the same time.
1. I met my husband in high school marching band. We were drum majors together, and good friends, and then we fell in love. Our first date was "Monsters Inc." almost 11 years ago, and we've been married almost 4. I love our story, and couldn't imagine my life with anyone else.
2. We are expecting our first child in April 2013! I feel like I've waited all my life for this adventure, and I am ridiculously excited about it!
3. I am in my 5th year of teaching. I love what I teach and will miss the people I work with most all next year. I just hope I can keep plugged in to all the amazing things happening at Norman High!
4. We have a golden retriever, Lucy, and she is basically our child. She's named after Lucille Ball, someone I loved and watched regularly on "Nick at Nite" as a child. She is the sweetest dog, and I think will be a great "dog mom".
5. My favorite Christmas movie, and probably favorite movie of all, is "Elf" with Will Ferrel. It's not Christmastime until we watch it, and do so about 5 times each season. It's the first one and the last one we watch. I pretty much have it memorized.
6. My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird, and I have gotten to teach it 4 times. I am sad that I won't get to be there with my kids this year as they read it, but I know they'll be better people for it.
7. I was in the Pride of Oklahoma for 6 years (I got my Masters too...So don't judge!!!), and was able to go to all 4 BCS Bowls: the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Orange Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl. I also got to march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Being in the Pride was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.
8. I LOVE shopping for clothes. I have probably spent way too much money on clothes in my life thus far, which I'll have to scale back on next year. But I LOVE IT!
9. Living in an old house has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and is almost like a religion to me. It takes hard work, dedication, and a calling. I feel like I am preserving history and that it is my duty to do so. And it breaks my heart when I see old houses fall apart or are renovated to look modern.
10. If you haven't figure this out yet, I am also in LOVE with fall. The best time of the year by fall. The leaves, the cool air, marching band, pumpkin flavored things, boots and scarves, and all those delicious warm crock pot meals.
11. I miss my Grandma Re everyday. Much of who I am and much of what I do is because of her. She loved people, babies, fall, rootbeer, green, and shoe shopping. Just before she died, she was writing a poem out that she had memorize about friendship. Friends were so important to her, and they are to me too. The best compliment I could ever receive would be that they are reminded of her when they see me. That is my life's goal.
Now for Danielle's questions:
1. Why did you being blogging? A good teacher friend of mine, Heather Caram, suggested I start one. She knows me well and that I love to cook, craft, garden, and more. So I did! Thanks Heather!
2. What band/artist would be the soundtrack of your life? I think it would be the soundtrack from "UP!". There are happy moments and sad moments, but overall it is beautiful and it is all about friendship. I love it.
3. Favorite recipe? The one I make the most is pumpkin bread. It's not my #1 favorite, but other people love it!
4. Favorite place to be? At my house with Chris and Lucy
5. What is your must-have, carry everywhere with you item? Probably my iPhone. It has my lists, my camera, and almost everything, you know! :)
6. Where do you want to retire someday? Right here in Norman. In our big old house, where our many children and grandchildren like to come visit us!
7. What was you favorite childhood book? The Mouse and the Big Red Strawberry - My parents read it to me so much, I had it memorize by the age of 3. I loved it and still can remember most of the book!
8. Which country would you like to visit someday? I've been there before, but I'd love to go with Italy with Chris!
9. What is your Number 1 bucket-list item? Be a stay-at-home mom.
10. What or who inspires you the most? My husband, Chris. He is the most amazing person I know, and I learn so much from him everyday
11. Do you think being a mama has changed you or will change you and if so, how?
In this month of Thanksgiving, I am also trying to thank one person per day who have made an impact on me in some way. Here's who I'm grateful for so far:
1. Chris - my sweet sweet husband. Patient, kind, compassionate, generous, and the heart of a servant! I could write a whole post, or even book, about the reasons why I love him. So I will have to stop there for now!
2. Katie Lentz - a sweet Norman High teacher friend. She always goes out of her way to make me feel loved and special, so I hope that I can do that for her. She is an amazing teacher and friend!
3. Francesca Hunt - my best friend since I was just a few months old! Her parents are good friends with my dad, and have been since we were born. We spent our summers together in Kearney, and she is a friend that no matter how long we are apart, we can always pick up where we left off when we get back together again. I don't know who I would be or where I would be without her friendship!
4. Tom Valentas - my father-in-law. Chris is the man he is today because of him. By his example, Chris learned how to be an incredible husband, and I can't wait to see what he's learned by having Tom as his father. He is a good man, and will be an excellent grandpa!
1. Total weight gain: +12 lbs total still! Not gaining 4 lbs every week...WHEW!
2. Maternity clothes?: Yep! Maternity clothes are fun and stretchy, but just wish I could turn everything I see into cute maternity clothes.
3. Stretch marks?: No
4. Sleep?: I think my body is preparing for baby because I only sleep in 3 hour increments or so, then wake up, check the time, and then toss and turn some more. I can't sleep in like I used to on the weekends either!
5. Best moment this week?: Watching the leaves change colors all around Norman, and enjoying them with a bike ride with Chris. We got some beautiful pictures of them too! And on Friday, we heard the bean's heartbeat, and now the next appointment, we will find out what "it" is!
6. Miss anything?: Sleeping soundly through the night...
7. Movement?: None yet but I hear that 18 weeks is about the time you can start feeling those flutters. Excited about that!
8. Food cravings?: CANDY! Probably because of Halloween. And anything pumpkin, which is probably due to the season.
9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: Nope!
10. Gender?: I just can't wait to find out at this point! Tell me what you are Baby Valentas!
11. Labor signs?: No
12. Symptoms?: Wearing maternity clothes and weird sleeping patterns. And for the first time, a stranger notice my belly! Hooray!
13. Belly button in or out?: In
14. Wedding rings on or off?: On
15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Been pretty stressed these past two weeks with school stuff, but I am still feeling happy overall. I've had a few grumpy pregnant days, but hope those continue to be few and far between.
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