The Suits Sisters

Dear Baby, People often talk about women and the glow they have when they're pregnant. I got it a few times, but not as much towards the end when I was as swollen as a big balloon. (A BALLOON. Just ask your Dad) But no one really talks about the Daddy Glow. Your Dad had The Glow for days after your birth. He loved to talk about you and show you off to anyone who would listen . He got in trouble in the hospital for carrying you down the hallway in his arms instead of your crib-on-wheels. He couldn't put you down.  While you stayed in the NICU he visited you late at night and early the next morning.     You've got a great Dad and he'll teach you a lot of important things in life.. like how to pay for things with exact change and how to keep a beat. And I'll teach you how to talk him into giving you things and getting you out of sticky situations (I've become a pro).  Love, Mom  P.S. As I typed this he held you while you screamed like a wild woman....

The reason I'm retiring + sweat pants, day time tv and eating lunch whenever I want to

Dear Room 523, 4 years ago I painted your cabinets and filled you with books, baskets and students. Students that have thrown up on your floors and learned within your four walls. You heard about South Carolina history, reading strategies, plants and animals. You watched as I all but stood on my head to teach 3-digit subtraction. You heard chapter books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlotte's Web. You watched as I hid behind the back cabinet door and ate Sugar Daddies during my break. I piled you high with papers. You heard "Mrs. Suits" as many times as I did. Over and over again. I grew from a young, timid, first year teacher to a loud, confident, experienced one. You were my safe place to try new ideas, act silly, to teach and befriend students.  You were my home away from home. Students will continue to learn in you without me as their teacher and I'm going to miss that.  With fond memories,  Mrs. Suits 

A few weekends ago Ma, Pa, Ben, Anna and I went up to NC to visit Dad's family. We introduced Gran to Caris. A great memory to have! 

Dear Baby, Today you are 3 months old. Congratulations! You celebrated by sleeping from 10PM to 6AM last night. Today you learned to "cluck" with your tongue. Your dad says that you guys have a secret language and he clucked at you almost all night.  I missed you last week while I worked, but we are going to ROCK this summer and the next 18+ years. Go easy on me in the teenage years, okay?  Love, Mom 

Excerpts from the Working Mommy-World  as a 3rd grade teacher Night before work : pick out a work outfit from the 2 possible work appropriate choices. Look longingly at your yoga pants and whisper "I'll see you soon" . Make lunch and remember how much you dislike bagged lunches. Pack a soda to drink later as a reward for making it through the day.  Somewhere between 3-4AM Wake up to baby. Either feed or stick pacifier in mouth.  5:30 AM Wake up to alarm. 3 days into the working world: turn off alarm and fall back asleep. Awesome. 6:30 AM Feed baby, pass her off to Mom or Husband.  7:25 AM Spend the next 7 hours answering to Mrs. Suits, writing passes to the nurse and teaching/entertaining 20 ready-for-summer kids  Remember how germy, needy and talkative 9 year olds can be Think, "For the love of all things that are holy, can someone please fix my projector bulb. All I ask for is one 30 minute magic school bus video" ...