july.

July is going to be an incredibly busy busy month for me!  I have to finish up 3 summer classes, a portfolio to get credit for an additional class, and take the Praxis 2 AND the RVE exams! As my mom says, 'one day at a time'...I'm really trying to do that because I think if I look ahead at all I might lose my marbles!  The good news is I have the beach to look forward to in August before I start my crazy Fall semester (and FINAL semester before student teaching!!!!!) Speaking of that - I only have...

months left until I am done with classes and my full-time job! :)  STILL not sure what I'll do next year for income, but I'll figure it out one day.  I may be MIA from the blog in July, but hopefully things will ease up in August! :)

newborn photos

Em and I finally found time to get some pictures of Lucy.  I'm sure this will be happening once every couple of months because we'll never have enough photos of this gorgeous girl!  It was my first time photographing a baby and she was a bit of a challenge at the beginning (she didn't want to go to sleep), but once Em got her down it was pretty smooth sailing.  I posted some below.

I hope you like them, Em and Mark!

quarter of a century.

So, last week I turned 25...and I'm not happy about it.

I have never really paid much attention to my age...other than the 'big' ones of course:

10 - double digits!
13 - teenager!
16 - driving!
21 - drinking! (legally!!)

21 also brought on graduation from college.  How is it possible that I have been graduated for 3 whole years?  I feel like I just left Radford.  I still long to go back to college.  I miss small town Radford, I miss Wal-Mart trips at 10 PM just because we're bored, I miss my roommates, I miss seeing snow on the ground and making a morning drive/skid to the store to get beer, mostly I miss no responsibility.

Turning 25 is hitting me a little hard.  I can't help but feel like my best 25 years are behind me, so what does that mean for the future?  I was born, raised by awesome parents, went through elem., middle, and high school with the ups and downs that goes with that, went to Radford and made lifetime friends and grew old friendships, met the love of my life, got engaged, got married, got my Bauer boy, enjoyed 24 amazing years with my grandparents...and the list goes on.  So, what now?  I guess I'll just have to wait and see!

he did it!

After two years of hoping, wishing, and praying and 20 weeks of boot shining, studying, laundry, and ironing Chris has graduated!!


Chris finished school with a 96% average - can you believe that?! He's so smart.  He has been assigned to the A shift at Station 18 which is conveniently located right around the corner from his Grandma!  I think she's already making a to-do list for him to complete, or at least she should be. :)


Just in case you're wondering (and you probably aren't, but I'm going to tell you anyway) his shift are from 8 AM to 8 AM, 24 hour shifts.  He will work one shift and then have 2 off.  On, off, off...pretty easy to remember :) His first day is WEDNESDAY.  That's right...he gets 4 days off, lucky SOB! Bauer is soo stoked that Daddy will be around so much - I'm thinking this may phase out the crate, but not if Chris has anything to say about it!

A few pics from his graduation day (also my birthday):

He looked so good!

All 28 new firefighters!


I'm so proud of him for dreaming and working hard to make it happen - I love you Chris!

lucy lu!

I have fallen in love, again.  This time it is with my niece!  I am seriously head over heels for this little girl!  She's BEAUTIFUL, sweet, and totally amazing!

You can read the story of her birth HERE.

She was 4 days late, but if you know my sister and Mark, you know that is spot on for their family! :)  Always late!

Lucy Evelyn, my first niece and my Gemini twin (well, actually I'm not sure since they changed all that crap).

How cute will my hubby be as a daddy??

What a little nugget!!

This picture makes me weak in the knees.  Look at those tiny little legs!! LOVE HER!

Em and I plan to try to get some newborn shots this weekend, so stay tuned for those!

countdown.

Only SEVEN months left until I can quit my job full-time!  I still have no idea how we'll pay our bills yet while I'm student teaching, but we'll figure it out!

Stay tuned for news on my niece/nephew - we're looking at this afternoon!! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.

the impossible.

Ain't that the truth??

About 10 months ago, after having graduated college with a business degree and working in the 'corporate' world for 2 years I decided that I wanted to pursue a teaching degree.  Why take the easy road, right?  Anyway, I had no idea how I would do it, but I knew it would be worth the fight.

On Sunday night I finished my first semester towards my teaching license!  I took 3 classes this Spring and ended with two A's and a B+ (my art teacher was a B**** - the B+ was actually a 93, but she decided she didn't want to follow the college grading scale of 90-100 for an A, so her scale was 94-100) BUT regardless I was pretty happy with my grades!  I managed to work 40+ hours a week, take 3 college courses, AND spend 40 hours in a 1st grade classroom.  While I was in it I had no idea if I would make it out alive, but I did and now I'm moving onto 3 more classes and 30 hours in the classroom this summer.

The quote above hit me because it really does always seem impossible until it is done.  Right now it still seems impossible to get my teaching license AND get hired next year, but I know once it is done I will be a much happier person, so onto the next one!

take me out to the ball game..

This past weekend the Demeria's (minus Timmy's family) took Grandpa to the National's game for this birthday!  He had a blast, of course, and so did the rest of us!

The verrrrry soon-to-be parents!!!!!

The old guys...just kidding, Dad! (and Danny if Erin reads this!)

i've fallen in love.

This little cutie below is Kylie, my friend, Megan's baby that she had back in February.  She is the most adorable, petite bundle of cuteness and I loooove her!  This was the first time I have seen her since she has been able to hold up her head and smile and follow you with her eyes and it was amazing!  It aaalmost made me want a baby NOW, but then I remembered how much I love to sleep.  Plus, I'll have a baby niece/nephew here in Richmond soon and I'll be able to get all the perks of having a baby without the poopy diapers and long nights! WINNING.

But seriously...is she not the cutest?!?!

Nom nom nom...

 I just love herrr!

a tribute.

This weekend my [second] cousin, Nick (Franca) lost his 6 year battle to Neuroblastoma.  When he was 15 years old Nick went into INOVA Fairfax with Appendicitis and left the hospital with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis.  Nick was a fighter and fought to the very end.  He was 21 years old.  I cannot imagine the grief and pain that his mom (my cousin), dad, sister, brother, and girlfriend are experiencing.  Recently, I prayed for peace for Nick and his family.  His body was in so much pain and his family and girlfriend were suffering greatly.  Nick is now resting peacefully and I just know he will continue to bless those that he left here on Earth.  He was truly an inspiration and had such an amazing attitude about his situation. 

When Amanda Brady died last summer this song struck me, and now it has a whole new meaning. CLICK HERE

why i want to be a teacher.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation week I present...

The top 10 (superficial) reasons that I want to become an elementary school teacher:

1. Summers off (duhh)
2. I am allowed to be completely over the top with all seasons and holidays
3. Casual Fridays
4. I get to work with actual 7 year-olds rather than a bunch of guys who act like they are 7
5. I will be able to work with other women
6. I will get home from work prior to 6 or 7 every night
7. I'll have the opportunity to continue my education (if I choose to do so!)
8. I get to say silly things like 'rise and shine!' and '1-2-3 look at me' and not get funny looks
9. Stickers. I've always loved stickers.
10. SUMMERS OFF!!  It's that  good that it should be listed twice.

 Happy Teacher Appreciation week to all my teacher friends and family! :)

family night

About a week and a half ago my mom, Emily, and I all went to Chris' recruit school family night.  It was fun to see where Chris has been spending his days for the past few months!  I had mom on video, Em on my camera phone, and me on the camera.  We were quite the spectacle.

 Chris was on the demonstration below.  He's the one at the nozzle of the hose.

The next big day is graduation day on June 9th!!