Surprise!

I bet you can hardly believe it-- a new posting! We are actually still living and breathing and stopping every once and a while to capture Madison milestones. This is her 'shocked' look... so I thought it would be perfect for a new post.

It's amazing I don't take the time to blog anymore, because so much of my life actually depends on other people's blogs. I have a somewhat demented routine of scanning through every blog I know before I actually do any work at night on the computer. I'm certain it's simply my brain's way of procrastinating to avoid things that must be done. I even click on some blogs that haven't been updated for over a year... with the faint hope that maybe today is the day. If only I spent this useless time adding to my own!

Life with Madison is flying by.... she finally started to crawl (at almost 11 months... her own sweet time)... and now she's 'cruising' around the furniture and tables (that's the new parent lingo for walking, but hanging on for support). Madison is still the master of the household (I wonder if that will ever change). She laughs and smiles and loves to copy us (especially with tooth brushing-- she loves to copy mom!). She can't stand when people try to help her do something... she must discover how to do it on her own (I can't imagine where that trait comes from). She is working on tooth #10 (even one of her molars came in!) and she loves to eat fruit, chicken noodle anything, and cool whip. Madison continues to be mesmerized by Elmo and will stop and drop everything if she so much as hears his voice!

I somehow survived my first year as principal... and I've only searched for a new job once this past year. Tomorrow is our last official day of school with children. I continue to learn a great deal about my own set of morals and values... as they are constantly challenged. I have also developed the ability to have absolutely no empathy or caring for adults and their personal issues. I've built up an incredible tolerance to detach myself emotionally to situations.... a teacher's throwing up in their classroom, 'oh well... suck it up... we can't get a sub today'. You were in a car accident 2 months ago and your back still hurts... 'oh well... here's some duck tape and an extension cord for your heating pad.' You were up all night because your ex-lover was banging on your door, then followed you to work and you just called 911..... 'sucks to be you, I'll make sure we keep an extra eye on front door security today.... and let me know if you want someone to walk you to your car after your done teaching today.'.... and those are some of my more positive responses :)

Well, princess Madison has just rolled into my back and is requiring some mush time with her mamma.... because yes... she still sleeps in bed with us. It's on one of my 'to do' lists... move Madison into her own sleeping space... so I can have mine back before Baby #2 arrives (at least for a week or 2). But, it obviously isn't too high on the list, because she is 13 months old tomorrow! And in a few years, I'm sure I'll be wishing for the comfort and security of knowing exactly where our little princess is...