Sure, why not?

These words seem innocent enough, but twelve years ago they changed my life. I used those words to respond to Stanton when he asked me to "go out" when we were in 9th grade. I mean really who thinks that the person you "date" in 9th grade will end up being your husband?! Dating in 9th grade isn't really even dating. It's writing each other love notes during class. It's holding hands in the hallway. It's staying on the phone for hours at night. Also, there was very little "going out" seeing as how neither of us could drive yet. But thats how our love story started, February 28th, 1997 in the phone booth area in Chili's. We've been together ever since. Our first big relationship conversation came when we had to go to different high schools. I was heart-broken when we had been dating for several months and now I had to go to school with out him. I cried and cried. I now realize that the situation was such a blessing. I just know that if we would have been at the same school I would have had one of those stupid high school girl moments and ruined everything. We stayed together through it all. In college, we contemplated taking a break just for the experience of dating other people. We quickly realized that we didn't want to be with other people. And here we are 12 years later, married for 5 and a half years, with a baby. I can't even begin to tell all the amazing times we've had together. And fortunately the tense times have been few and far between. We constantly thank God for bringing us together and keeping us together for so long. We are quick to recognize that we are probably the only people who can put up with us for this long :) Anyone else would have run out on my crazy weirdness a long time ago. SO thats what I've been thinking about today. What a journey we've had and what more may come. Whatever the future holds, I know that we can handle it. And I've already made Stanton make the promise that I go first. On that somewhat morbid note, I say goodnight and leave you with a picture, my two monkeys.

Good Morning Sunshine

Actually, it's kind of overcast this morning, but who wouldn't love waking up to this sweet angel?!

White and Nerdy

Well, I didn't go to SING. Instead, I gave the tickets to MaryAnn who sent her dear husband Chris with their precious 5 year old daughter Caroline to watch the singing and dancing. I can't wait to hear how Caroline's date night with her dad went! I know that will be a wonderful memory for their family. Chaselyn is feeling much better today. She's back to eating on her normal schedule and actually stayed awake for most of the evening! We went to El Chico's for dinner to support Sight for Sierra. We got together with most of our life group and had some fantastic conversation over some good food. It was a great night with Stanton, friends, and Chaselyn.

One of the more interesting conversations came up toward the end of dinner. Jenny, one of the LG members and a 2nd grade teacher was talking about having to deal with benchmark exams and having no recess and all the messes in the schools. Then Stantonio asked what kinds of math things her kids learned. We discussed how some of her second graders couldn't find pages in their text books because they didn't know number order. They didn't undrstand that page 52 would be a little after page 30 and not back near page 110. Oh, the heartbreak! I can't imagine being 7 years old and not knowing how to count.It makes me think that I may send my kids to private schools. I mean if the teacher has to spend the time to help other students find the right page, my kids are missing out on some valuable learning time. Then Ben, Jenny's husband made the same comment that I've been thinking for years...I think kids don't like math because their teachers don't like math. Many elementary school teachers dread having to teach math, which in itself would be fine, but then they purpetuate their hate into young minds by sharing their ill feelings with the students. I saw it in my education classes during my undergrad. (Warning: I'm about to get very stereotypical here.) These cute little sorority girls who loved kids and had the kindest souls, would ask me why I thought I wanted to teach math. "It's so hard" "I have never been good at math" and my biggest pet peeve "I'm not a math person". These types of statements are allowed and not at all questioned. I've never heard someone say "I'm just not an english person". It just doesn't work. It's perfectly acceptable to not be a math person. Math is so concrete. 2+2=4 will always be true. Throughout elementary school there is generally one answer to each question. Its not arbitrary or subjective, there are rules all you have to do is follow them. I understand that not everyone's brain is wired the same, but I refuse to believe that most people can't grasp the basic logic of math. I'm not at all artistic. But I do hold a deep appreciation for those with the artistic flair. I would so love to be able to make a beautiful painting or really understand music. I've actually heard elementary school teachers (and Jenny can back me up) who said something to the effect of "I don't want to teach above 3rd grade, because I can't do the math." Come on!! I want my kid to learn from somebody who can take her to the next level if she can understand it. I don't want the teachers knowledge (or lack there of)to hinder Chaselyn's learning. I don't think thats too much to ask.

Ok, I'll get of my soap box now. I do want to close by saying that I know there are many good teachers out there and that unfortunately due to state demands and such, they don't truly get their chance to shine. I am very appreciative of many of my math teachers who made me feel like it was ok to like math. Now I'm proud to be White and Nerdy!

Should I stay or should I go now?

So, I have free tickets to the SING program at Baylor tomorrow night. SING, from what I understand, is a production by different sororities and fraternities on campus, in which they put on a 7-8 minute broadway type skit based on a theme. Anyway, it sounded like fun, so Stanton and I have been planning on going for like a month. This would also be the first evening we left Chaselyn for the evening. MaryAnn and Chris were so gracious to offer their services, but now I'm having second thoughts...

Since its on a weeknight, I would only get to see Chaselyn for a little bit in the morning, a little in the afternoon when we picked her up, and then a little before bed time. So in my mind its like a whole day without her. The closer it gets, the more I'm chickening out. I just love her so much, I would rather do something on the weekend where I can spend all day with her and then just a couple hours out with Stanton. To add to my distress, Chaselyn has a little cold and I just feel its my job to take care of her.

Oh, the craziness of motherhood. I never would have imagined that my life would be so impacted by another person that I would consider missing a long awaited date night with my hubby. I've always been quite self-centered and not very empathetic (it's ok, the first step is admitting you have a problem), but Chaselyn has changed that. I am grateful that I have become a little less selfish, this was one of my big fears during pregnancy. But now I'm wondering if I'm taking it too far. I don't have to decide until tomorrow, but as I sit here and type with my sweet angel coughing and wheezing while she sleeps, I can't imagine not being there if she needs me.

Right now, I'm guessing I'll be sitting here at about this time tomorrow night writing some more and being around just in case ;)

I'm working on it

So, in an effort to give this blog a fighting chance at success, I am giving up facebook for lent and focusing some of that energy toward this blog. Obviously, the whole point of lent is to increase prayer, so I will also be praying during the free time from facebook. Speaking of prayers, Stanton and his work partner Elisa could use some of those about now. They are stuck at the office trying to finish up a grant proposal that is due tomorrow. Its looking like it will be a long night for them.

I'm off to eat now. I better hurry before Chaselyn wakes up. I appreciate any tips on how to make this blog better. I don't like that the area around the letters in the header got all blurry, but I'll work on fixing it.

God Bless!
B

The Beginning

This blog is being created with the intent to keep updated photos and stories of our household. With Chaselyn quickly growing and doing new things all the time, we wanted a way to not only have pictures, but also tell about our adventures in parenting. Since we live away from our families, this will hopefully be a good way to stay up to date.