16 Weeks

Today marks 16 weeks. According to babycenter.com, the baby is 4.5 inches long, 3.5 ounces, about the size of an avocado. The site says "expect a growth spurt in the next three weeks"; the baby should double in weight and add inches.

It's amazing how the way I stand changes whether it looks like I am showing very much. But, Will and I agree that the baby bump is definitely there!

Classroom Questions

This weekend I saw two people whose first comment to me, before "how are you", was that they enjoy reading the things my students say to me. I am glad these stories amuse you guys as they do me. It is definitely keeping my days interesting. There is one class in particular that has no qualms about asking anything they think of. Here are two of my favorites so far:

About a month ago, out of nowhere, one of my students, said "Hey Mrs. Simmons, are you going to have a 'c-suction'?"
a c-suction
"Yeah, my mom had a c-suction when she had me. Are you going to have one?"
oh, you mean a c-section.
"Yeah, a c-section."
"Mrs. Simmons, what is a c-suction?"
Okay, a c-section.....[how do I explain this to my freshman?]......You know what a normally delievery is, right? So, with a c-section, they cut the mom's stomach and lift the baby out.
"Eeeew, that's disgusting"
"I would never do that, eeew"
"Like the other way is less disgusting!"

A few weeks later, this was the question they asked....
"Mrs. Simmons, I know where babies come out. But, hhooww?"
[yet again, how do I answer that?]
Well, you know how we talked about triangles or rectangles dilate, which means you can make them bigger or smaller. And, the same with your pupils after you go to the eye doctor.
"yeah, but...how?"
The same type thing happens. A woman's cervix [said slightly softer than everything else] dilates, which means it starts to get bigger. When it reaches a certain size, the baby is ready to come out.
"Oh, that makes sense."

I don't know if I am ready for their next question.

Boy or Girl?

Yesterday Will asked me if I had any preference for a son or daughter. I was excited because Will brought this up at a time when we were not talking about baby or pregnancy. Finally, with his classes over and India behind him and medical school applications submitted, he has time to think about the fact that we are pregnant! This is a day that I have been waiting on for weeks now. But, I digress....

Do I want a boy or girl? I guess it depends on what day it is whether I have a leaning one way or the other. When I was growing up, I always wanted my first child to be a boy, so that my other children would have an older brother. But, since I have two nephews, I think a girl might be fun right now. Most days I think it is going to be a boy. But, the last two nights in a row, my dreams have given us a baby girl.

What is most funny is others' opinion on the matter.

According to one woman, because I have been so sick through the first trimester, I am definitely having a boy. According a different woman, because I have been so sick through my first trimester, I am definitely having a girl. So, that is not the clue. Another friend has told me that I am having a boy since a boy was the first born in my family. The aunt has told me she wants a girl, and has referred to the baby as a girl since we knew were pregnant.

Four weeks from tomorrow is the big day. Christmas week (Dec 22) we have the doctor's appointment and ultrasound that will answer the question.

Pregnancy in the Math Classroom

Naming the Baby
"Mrs. Simmons, have you decided what you are going to name the baby?"
We have ideas.
"Well, I think you should take your and your husband's name and put them together to make up a new name."
hhhmmmmmm William + Rebecca = Wilecca or Rebilliam or...... maybe not
"No, Mrs. Simmons. You should name your baby 'Bubbles.' Bubbles is a great name for a baby boy or girl. Don't you think?"
I think for that one I will just grin and say I'll think about it.

Inappropriate but funny
"Mrs. Simmons, is your husband a manly man?"
Yes, he is definitely all boy, manly.
"Cool. You are going to have a boy."
Again, what do you say? Do boys really think that way??

Will in India

Well, here are a few pictures to give you an idea of Will's India trip. From everything he says, he really did have a good experience. He enjoyed the food. He ate lots of India food, which he says is hard to describe because even as you eat it you are not sure what meat it is or what the sauce is comprised of. He also ate Pizza Hut three times, funny.

Because most of their work was done at the pastor's conference, it was not evangelical in nature. Their main goal was to be a support to the workers who are there in India every day of the year. He worked primary at the table, helping sign people in and getting their basic information ready for the doctors to see. When he wasn't there, he was one of the main guys in charge of recreation time. That was probably what took him the farthest out of his comfort zone, but the kids were so well-behaved he said it went really well. As you can ask him, I am sure he has more details he can share.

13 Weeks

There is not much to see right now, but I thought 13 weeks might be a good time to show the pregnant belly before it really starts showing.



Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be pregnant while teaching? It's kinda like getting an up-date on how others view you, whether you asked for it or not. I guess the real question is when they say "kids say the darndest things," do they mean high school kids?? I took this picture on Thursday (the day the number of weeks changes). That very day here are a couple of the conversations I had with my students....

1st period:
"Mrs. Simmons, you lookin' fat."
ummmm, thanks. What do you say to that?

2nd period:
Kids don't mess with me today; I have already been called fat.
"Mrs. Simmons, let us see!"
"You don't look fat Mrs. Simmons."
"No, you don't look fat. You just have a bulge."
"Mrs. Simmons, do you want a boy or a girl? -barely pause- 'Cause you are definitely having a girl."
"You don't know that"
"Yeah, look at the way she is holding the baby."
Again, what do you say to that?

Welcome Home!

Will is home from India! He is safe, healthy, and with a beard. And, I am happy! He said it was a great trip. I hope for more details than that soon, but for now, I am happy enough to know that he is back with me and with no intention of leaving again.