Baby Showers

The last two weeks were filled with 3 baby showers. My staff had a shower for my coworker Tracy and I a couple weeks ago. We had such a great time! Let me start by saying that I work with the most amazing teachers, many of which are my close friends. Mandy and Heidi planned the shower and did an incredible job. The games we played were hilarious ....we laughed so hard! They also had our students create a book of baby advice for us, since we are both first time moms. We are 1 month apart and are both having girls. :)

Last Friday my students and their parents surprised me with a baby shower at school. While I was on my lunch break and the students were at recess, the parents decorated my room and got set up for the shower. Although my students had made a couple comments that week that made me suspicious, I had no idea they were going to go to the extent that they did. Hannah was once again showered with thoughtful gifts and my students were so excited watching me open each one of them. I am constantly grateful about the class have this year. They have made teaching while pregnant so much easier, I'm going to miss them so much when I leave them in less than a month!

Following the baby shower thrown by my class, I drove up to Fortuna for a shower that my sis, mom and aunt put on. Everything was so perfect! The decorations, food, family and friends able to make it, thoughtful gifts, etc... I had such a great time. Hannah is so lucky to have such a large group of family and friends that love her so much already. I can't wait for her be here!

Work Baby Shower

Tracy & Me with our hostesses Mandy(left) and Heidi(right)My incredible staff

Opening gifts

Surprise Baby Shower thrown by my class


It's hard to read it on the white board, but it says

"Welcome Hannah Nicole Heald" :)

Opening gifts

My wonderful 2nd graders

Fortuna Baby Shower

Beautiful cake that my mom designed

Adorable decorations

My sister made Hannah's name for her room (I was so excited!)

Sooo many cute clothes...

The girls

Baby book from Grandma Musone
With my diaper cake made by Ang and Amy

With Auntie Nicole

Maternity Pics

Last weekend our close friend and photographer Ian Myers (http://www.sonomasierraphotography.com/) , took maternity pics of us at 32 weeks. I'm so glad we have pictures of this special time. I love being pregnant and time is flying by so quickly! We have less than 2 months to go and we are so excited to meet our daughter.

Kisses from dad

shoes from Grandma Musone

Mother/Daughter weekend

Last weekend my mom and sis came down to stay with me while Josh was out of town. We had such a great time hanging out together. Friday night we ate out at one of my sister's favorite places down here (The Olive Garden). We stayed up chatting until we couldn't keep our eyes open any longer. Saturday morning we got up early and drove to San Francisco for pedis and manis at Silk. It felt soooo good to be pampered! We had our own private area and had, by far, the best pedi/mani ever! If you are in the city, I recommend you look into an appointment at Silk. Visit their website @ silksf.com. They are reasonably priced and do such a great job! Make sure to call in advance for an appointment. Saturday afternoon was spent shopping and enjoying a delicious lunch at Tex Wasabi's. Saturday night we made Mexican food for dinner and rented a couple movies. I didn't want the weekend to end. Can't wait to see my family again this upcoming weekend for my Fortuna baby shower. :)

Relaxing at Silk

With my beautiful mom and sis

Pregnancy Update

This past Friday was the start of week 31. We can't believe how quickly Hannah's arrival is approaching! She continues to be very active. She moves a lot in the evenings, especially for dad when he talks to her while we're laying in bed. :) It's crazy because now I can sometimes feel where she is in my belly based on how hard my stomach is in a certain spot. She likes to hang out on mostly on the right side. Along with kicks she's now pushing and stretching up against my stomach. It is the most incredible feeling! She is almost 4 lbs. and 17 in.

Overall I've been feeling great except for my feet and ankles swelling. I'm continuing to exercise at least 5 days a week....along with cardio, I make sure to get in at least 2 days of weights/week. I'm going to look into pregnancy water aerobics classes because I think they'd be a lot of fun and much better for my feet. I still have yet to use my pregnancy yoga dvd.

I've been trying to not be on my feet as much at work, which is really hard to do at times. I'm lucky I have such a wonderful class this year! They are so sweet. Many of my girls enjoy talking to Hannah and give my belly hugs daily....2nd grade is such a fun age. :) My good friend & coworker Tracy and I are due 1 month apart and we're both having girls. :) This upcoming Friday our staff is throwing a shower for the two of us. Below is a pic of me that Josh took at 29 weeks.

Friends for Life...

I don't know many that can say that 10 years after graduating from high school they are just as close with their best friends as they were on graduation day. I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful group of girlfriends. (Some of which I have been friends with since preschool!) After all these years we've managed to stay connected by getting together every winter break, planning spa weekends, having sleepovers (you're never too old for a sleepover with your girlfriends), winetasting, going to each other's bachelorette parties, bridal showers and now baby showers. :) Despite the distance between us and how busy our schedules are, we always make time to get together. This past weekend we got together for Michele's bridal shower and had such a great time. We hung out that evening after the shower and had dinner, laughed a lot and of course had a dance party late into the evening. Lisa and Sarah had their traditional "dance off".....I burnt so many calories laughing!


I know that as time passes our friendship will not change, it is something that I know I can always count on. Amber lives in Arizona and can't make it out here nearly as much as she'd like to. Although she's not able to be here for most of our get togethers, she's always in our thoughts.

"My Girls" plus Katrina on the left, Michele's college friend

(Just missing Amber)

Best friends since 2nd grd.
It's so great being pregnant with a close friend
Me 28 weeks ~ Renee 33 weeks

Sarah and LindzReady to get our dance on Sarah and Lisa with their "microphones"With Michele (the bride to be)

Please help

We are all aware of the state of financial crisis our country is in right now. My job (along with many of yours) is on the line. My school district is seriously considering eliminating class size reduction, which would increase k-3 classrooms to 25 and so on. If this goes into effect most likely I, along with some of my good friends, will not have a job next year. This stresses me out greatly! I know that in some ways it feels as though it is out of our hands, however there is something that can be done.

If you have a moment I'd greatly appreciate you calling or emailing your legislators today and please forward this message far and wide. The Feb. 2nd deadline has gone by without a budget. We need everyone's voice to STOP Sacramento politicians from:

1) Undermining Class Size Reduction by offering full flexibility on categorical programs. The governor's proposal for complete and permanent "flexible" use of all state categorical funds would allow local districts to eliminate the state's successful Class Size Reduction program and won't save the state one dime. Eliminating CSR is a giant step backward for our kids and will hurt ethnic minority and low-income students the most. Giving students individual attention is not possible when there are 40 students to every teacher. Teachers, parents and students get it. Why can't our lawmakers? "Flexibility" means no accountability and no guarantee that education money will be spent in the classroom.

2) Illegally manipulating Prop. 98 (the minimum school funding law) so the state will never pay back more than $7 billion owed to our schools.

3) Cutting $10.8 billion from schools and colleges over the next 18 months. They could be voting on these destructive measures any day now, since the governor and Legislature are required to reach a budget solution by February 2, 2009. This deadline was set when the governor called a special session under the Proposition 58 rule. It is time for our elected lawmakers to stop playing games and get serious about finding the additional revenue our schools need and our students deserve. If they don't, an entire generation of students will pay the price.

Your voice can help secure the funding our schools need.

Step One> CALL YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND YOUR STATE SENATOR > USING CTA'S "CUTS HURT" HOTLINE:> 1-888-268-4334 > * Tell your legislator to fund our schools, uphold Prop. 98, and protect the Class Size Reduction program. > * If you'd rather e-mail your state leaders, go to this site https://listserv.nea.org/t/975/86478/19/0/>

Step Two> CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS> 1-800-294-9811 > * Tell them to make sure they include funding for our public schools and community colleges in any Economic Stimuluspackage. > * If you'd rather e-mail your congressional leaders, go to this site https://listserv.nea.org/t/975/86478/20/0/>

Thank you for lending your voice to the fight for our students and public schools. To find out more about the state budget crisis and what CTA (California Teacher's Asso.) is doing to advocate for more funding visit www.cta.org

I hope everyone well. Take Care!