Monthly Archives: May 2015

Maternity Photos and Family Photos

May 27, 2015

Our family did a little mini maternity and family photo sesh with Anne from The Photography Shoppe (website here facebook here) on Mother’s Day. It was raining and started storming at the end, but we made it through the session! Whew! I was 34.5 weeks pregnant at the time, so I had a pretty good bump going :) I was happy to get some more maternity photos and ALWAYS nice to add some family pics in there too. Check ’em out! And thank you Anne, we love the pictures!

// royal blue dress // denim toddler dress // blue hair bow //

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Birthday Bash and Our Weekend

May 26, 2015

This was a big weekend for the Koch’s! John has worked ultra hard the past 5 months and just finished an addition onto our cabin in Yankton, so it was the big reveal and Grandpa Dan’s 70th birthday party! We had the whole Koch clan down for the weekend and had so much fun with everyone. Despite the crummy weather, the cabin and lake were still so soothing for this 36.5 week preggo gal.

We started on Thursday with a trip to the Cottonwood Bar, our favorite for live music, drinks, and ice cream! YUM. Ivy didn’t want to share her ice cream with the birthday boy Papa!

Dance Ivy, dance!

Happy 70th birthday Dan!

We even got a special visit from cousin Emilie :)

We braved the weather one day and headed to the lake. We bundled up but it was still nice to break in the first day on the boat for the summer!

Counting fingers with Uncle Jeff

Captain Ivy!

On Monday, we had the day to just us three. We took Ivy to the Gavin’s Point Fish Hatchery and Aquarium and it was so much fun! We got to feed the trout and Ivy LOVED it. Hilarious. We had to make a trip to the beach too. She wasn’t a fan of the sand. She better get over that fast!

Hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend with your family and friends. We are forever grateful to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Thank you thank you!

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So long, so long…

May 18, 2015

Today was a pretty bittersweet day. Heart-wrenching and plain old easy at the same time. Today… was my last day of calling myself a teacher.

I take that back.

I can’t say that with full heart. I will always be a teacher. Ya, so, maybe my job title is changing to a stay-at-home-mom (read post here), but I am proud to still say I’m a teacher. Or I was a teacher. I don’t know, it’s still confusing.

But it took me to step back and quit this position to realize how much I really really loved and appreciated my job. Sometimes you get caught up in the day to day life of work and get into such a routine you don’t recognize how important and valuable your job is, but these past few weeks of teaching have reminded me how lucky I am to have been a teacher and how much I absolutely loved my job. Teaching is such an admirable job and I have had some of the best years of my life in my classroom.

Reading (and crying over) this news article this weekend (news article here, or same post from her blog here) about how a mom of a middle schooler thanks teachers for doing things when no one is looking and admiring teachers all around, made me again, appreciate that I was able to be in a career that had such advantages and the ability to change children’s lives. It’s those moments behind your classroom door when you bond with a student and know you’ve made a positive impact in their life that make it all worth it. Those a-ha moments that spark a student’s mind into another stratosphere are the absolute best. And there are always those handful of students that you create that very very special bond with and place in your heart each year. That’s what I will miss the most.

The students.

Being that role model when a student so desperately needs one. Being there for them to teach them not only subject matter, but character traits, life skills, social skills, and so much more … teachers really are incredible people. That news article I read could have been about each and every teacher that worked at Edison, and in fact, probably every school out there. Teachers are the guiding light for your children. My children someday too. And know that they are soooo well taken care of. Teachers are the parents away from home. We love your children and simply want the best for them.

Now, I’m moving on to my new job. My children need me and I want my full heart and mind to be there for them. I want to be their teacher, their guiding light, their role model. Today was difficult saying goodbye, it’s like that awful breakup, the one where you know it’s for the best to move on, but it’s just so hard to actually do it. That one. You cry, and you’re thankful for the time you had together, and you say your goodbyes, and you move on to something different, your heart pulling in two different directions. That’s how it felt today. I appreciate each day I have spent as a teacher in my last eight years, but it’s time to say goodbye, and time to move on to what I see myself as now. Simply calling it, the mother to our children.

The best job in the world…

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Baby Boy // 35 Weeks

May 15, 2015

How far along: 35 Weeks // Due date June 18

Gender: Boy

Weight gain: 24 lbs and my theme song is “Lean Back” (Do the roc-a-way, now lean back, lean back, lean back, lean back) That’s how I look lately! Trying to get my center of gravity back.

Last Doctor’s check-up: April 28 at 32.5 weeks – baby’s heart rate was 150 and everything checked out perfectly! Doc said he’s already head down. (UMB WHAT, getting so close!) Next appointment is May 20 and then we are down to meetings every week.

Maternity clothes: Looking at making it through this last month. These weeks are the hardest because you’re just so big! I plan on living in dresses and shorts and tanks this month since it’s pretty nice out now. I love this natural white dress, so pretty and classy for a romantic evening with the hubs. This striped one looks fun to wear to a little happy hour date night. This denim dress is calling my name for a lunch with the ladies downtown. Once baby is out, I might live in these beach dresses. They look nice and flowy to hide the baby weight until it comes off, plus they’re ultra cute in five different patterns/colors. I bought these denim shorts, but might round up some more fun ones like these black and white ones, or these floral ones, or these white ones. And I NEED TO FIND A SWIMSUIT! We have a cabin by the Lewis and Clark Lake and it’s almost boating season! This tropical print one is fab, and this blue and orange chevron one looks pretty cute, but my favorite is this ikat tankini! So cute with the ruched sides and colors. Not looking forward to being a swimsuit super largo, buuuuut, I can’t miss out on the boat and beach! Palm tree crop top in these pics found here. And yes, that is a hole in my leggings. But they’re too comfy to get rid of!

Sleep: I’m sleeping SO well lately. It’s like my body knows and is storing up all the rest it can get in prep for those late nights waking up with baby boy. Plus the cool weather at night with the windows open, my FAVORITE. I love the fresh air. Minus those birds chirping at 4am to wake me up to shut the windows, but at least it’s a pretty noise!

Best moment this month: We took some maternity/family photos on Mother’s Day last Sunday during a mini session (those are perfect! 30 minutes is about all Ivy and John can handle!) with The Photography Shoppe (website here, facebook here). It was rainy and gloomy, but those pictures are sometimes my favorite! I can’t wait to get them back! Last year we took maternity photos, newborn photos, 6 month family photos, and 1 year family photos with Finished Vision Photography and I LOVED them! (website here, facebook here). She’s SO great but has moved to the Chicago area (miss you Marie!). Photography Shoppe has always had AMAZING and such UNIQUE photos and I’ve known Anne since middle school! I can’t wait to see how they turned out and get some new family photos.

Worst moment this month: Procrastinating!!!! I need to get serious about washing all of his new clothes and blankets and finishing the baby’s room! All items have arrived that I’ve ordered and they’ve been sitting on the rug in his room for 3 weeks. Should probably get on that. He could be here any day! EEEEK! Second worst moment – sugaring! So I heard about this alternate method of hair removal and tried it and FAILED. Apparently it’s supposed to be less painful, but ladies, you know how it is down there when you’re preggo, NOT PRETTY, and swollen, and nasty, and yuck. Well, she did about half of the Brazilian and I had to tell her to stop it hurt so bad! Then I started crying!!! BAH! LOL. (How humiliating!!!) Such a wuss. I just wanted it GONE and since I can’t see anything down there, I thought this was a good idea. Not so much. So, back to shaving…blind shaving… ugh.

Babyboy35weeksmin-19

Miss anything: Bending over and reaching down without having to squat my legs wide open. SO AWKWARD and UGLY. This belly is IN THE WAY.

Movement: At 35 weeks, my app says baby is 18 inches and 5 1/4 pounds, so not much room in there anymore for his somersaults! I feel the jabs and kicks all the time still. I’ve gotten told three times this week that “He’s dropped!” Oh boy, oh boy, ooooooooooooooh boy

Cravings: Give me ALL THE ICE – smoothies, ice cream, slushes.

Looking forward to: END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!! Today is the last day of school! I can’t believe it! We have a teacher work day Monday, but basically done. It is so exciting but also really scary. I am staying home next year (read post here) to be with my babies and I am very very very happy about that! It will be so strange walking out these school doors for the last time, and I will probably cry, I really love teaching and working, but I know I will be SO SO SO thankful come August when school starts again and I don’t have to leave my 2 month old or almost 2 year old! I’ll miss my students!

Thinking about: Little baby boy Briar and his parents (read story here). This would be the amount of weeks Megan was pregnant and lost their baby. I’ve been struggling with that this week and making sure to acknowledge every single kick our little boy kicks. This pregnancy thing can be scary and it really is a miracle that our human bodies can do this. I’m thankful for every little jab that takes my breath away. Keep cookin’ little mister.

Love you to the moon and back embroidery hoop here

Other baby #2 posts – 30 weeks // 26 weeks // 20 weeks // gender reveal // pregnant reveal

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Dear Moms, we’re doing just fine

May 9, 2015

With this being my second official Mother’s Day, I remember my last one and reflecting on how I am doing as a Mom and if I was living up to my expectations. From last year being mostly supporting and nourishing my child, to this year and actually having to parent and teach and support. I think about what I write in my Mother’s Day card to my mom. How she’s always there for me, how she helps me through anything, how much she loves me, and how much I appreciate her. And those things just touch the surface of what a Mother really does. With another year down the hatch, I’m thinking deeper about being a Mom. Am I raising my child to be independent? Is she a free spirit? Do I allow her to explore and learn about the world around her? Am I allowing Ivy to discover who she really is instead of molding her into what I want her to be? Mostly, am I being the kind of mom that I dreamed out to be?

Dear Moms, we’re doing just fine.

This video reminds me how tough it really is to BE A MOM. Titled the “World’s Toughest Job,” these producers created and posted a fake job called the “Director of Operations,” and held interviews. HILARIOUS. Eye-opening with how demanding this job really is!

https://youtu.be/HB3xM93rXbY

Dear Moms, we’re doing just fine.

When I think about my mom, I am so thankful with how we were raised and all of the love we received. It makes me think, “How am I doing?” It’s such hard work and I feel like I fail on a daily basis to live up to my expectations of how I want to be as a Mom and how I want to raise my children. But, we all have our own way of raising our children and we do what we need to do to survive. (Insert any crazy thing you’ve done for your child to keep them quiet or to keep you sane! I could list about a million!) However, we have more in common with other Moms than we think. We love our children. We support our children. We show strength and courage. We are dedicated. We are role models. Think about your Mom and how much you idolized her as a child. That’s what we are to our children. How you turn to your Mom for support and love and kindness. We are there for our kids, we show them support, love, and kindness, and in that way, I think we’re doing just fine.

https://youtu.be/mjd8aSYgAo0

Dear Moms, we’re doing just fine.

The best thing of all with being a Mom, is the connection your have with your children. Nothing beats that run to Mommy to make me feel better saga. A mom holds a power stronger than any pacifier, or blankie, or comfort object. A mom’s tender touch and love has the strength to get rid of any tears. The connection a child has with his/her Mom is immeasurable. And Moms, just remember the power that you really hold.

https://youtu.be/DRoqk_z2Lgg

Dear Moms, we’re doing just fine.

This Mother’s Day, I’m going to soak in my successes and forget about my failures. My child is beaming, full of confidence, independent, exploring, and happy, and what gets better than that. Of all the things we read on how to parent, and what to do when your toddler is screaming, and how to survive the terrible twos, and yada yada yada, everyone has opinions. Instead, tomorrow, I’m going to give Ivy extra love and support, squeeze her a little harder, give her a million and one kisses, and remember how lucky I am. How lucky I am to BE A MOM! And to recognize that, we’re doing just fine.

Mother’s Day Specials

– The Ellen Show Mother’s Day Special – enter to win this giveaway – tons of great prizes and discounts on the products that were features

– Win a year supply of Huggies diapers and wipes – enter here

– Take an extra 20% off with code MOTHER at Crazy 8 – link here

– Lucy Darling Shop – take 20% off with code iLOVEMOM20 – link here

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