5 on Friday!

I am linking up again for the "5 for Friday" Fun! Usually I discuss the 5 things I am most excited about this week. The first thing I have to say is not necessarily something I am excited about but something that has been going on this week with my sweet child. The rest are things I am excited about! :) Here we go:

1. Seperation anxiety has been hitting us hard this week. Kennedy cried for the first time when we left her at the church nursery last Sunday. She also cried twice this week when I dropped her off at daycare. The sight of her crying and holding out her chubby arms to me made me cry too. Not fun. Usually she is all smiles  like this picture below so it has been hard.

2. Do you have a Steak n Shake in your town? We just got one last year in Augusta, GA which is about twenty minutes from our house. It is sooo good. We went on my "cheat day." I ate a cheeseburger, fries with the sea salt and cracked pepper seasoning and a smores milkshake. I enjoyed every last bite. The smores milkshake was AMAZING! It's only here for a limited time so go get you one!

 

3. Football season is officially here! We had a lot of fun watching the game last night. I don't think we played our best but a win is a win! Go Cocks! Also, Clowney apparently had a stomach virus this past week so that explains why he was looking so tired! Hopefully we will get it together so we can have a 4 peat against Georgia next weekend. When we scored that first touchdown, I went nuts. Kennedy started laughing at me and waving her arms around! So cute!



 

4. Best moment at work this week: I teach science the last thirty minutes of the day. Science is not exactly my favorite thing to teach and right now we are learning about rocks. Yes, rocks. It's very hard to get third graders interested in rocks. I also feel like I really start to lose them at the end of the day. Sometimes I feel like I am talking to the wall. Yesterday one of my lower students made a major connection with the content from the lesson to something I had taught them the week before. Another student brought in a bag of clay soil from her backyard with some white rocks in it and asked "could these rocks be that talc rock you told us about?" YES! They are actually listening to me!

 

5. I always have to end with Kennedy! Her 9 month appointment yesterday went great. She is in the 90th percentile for weight (she likes to eat like her momma!) and the 65th percentile for height. They gave us a checklist of milestones for 9 to 12 months and we were able to check everything off except "begins to take steps while holding mom or dad's hands" and "understands what no and all gone means." I think she is starting to understand "no" a little bit but not fully. She is pulling up but not taking steps yet. However even if we hadn't been able to check anything off that list, I would still be the same proud momma I am. I love these two so much! I will leave you with this great picture of Kennedy and Daddy being silly. :) Have a great weekend!

 

Kennedy is 9 months old!

Our little princess is 9 months old today! I can't believe that she will be 1 in 3 months. Time has gone by waaay too fast! Her birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year. :) It was team day at school so she got to sport her "house divided" outfit today. Daddy is a Georgia Bulldogs fan and Mommy is a Carolina Gamecocks fan so it gets really crazy in the Kaune household during football season! Tomorrow she will be sporting her Gamecock dress! Go Cocks! Honestly, 8 months has been my favorite age so far so I can't wait to see what 9 months will be like. The most exciting thing she has been doing lately is eating table food! Her favorites are: chicken, green beans, scrambled eggs and pancakes. The last couple of nights we have sat down and ate as a family because she is feeding herself which is so nice. :) She has her 9 month appointment tomorrow and I am so relieved that there are no shots at this appointment.

Kennedy,
We love you so much! You are the greatest gift God has given us!
Love, Mommy and Daddy

I am linking up again with Natasha at hello!happiness for 5 on Friday. Here are the 5 things I am excited about this week:

 

 1. As I have said before I love to work out but I also love to eat! I am always on the lookout for things that are healthy but don't taste healthy. These breakfast sandwiches taste awesome and they (with a little bit of fruit) keep me full until lunch time! :)

2. On that same note, since Nick and I went back to work (about a week and a half ago) I have lost 3 pounds. I know that doesn't sound a lot but that puts me 15 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight. A pair of pre-pregnancy capris that were waaay too tight just two weeks ago now fit very comfortably. I think being back in a routine has helped me a lot with eating healthier.

3. I am way excited about the return of the Real Housewives of Miami. The first season I thought was awful but the second season was great. So far the third season has not disappointed. I am very excited for another drama filled season. Can't decide yet if I am Team Lea or Team Adriana. Hmmm....

 

4. I have an AWESOME class this year. Wednesday we did literacy stations for the first time and they followed directions perfectly. Not a single child came and interrupted my small group. Wow. I think it's going to be a great year.

 

5. Kennedy will be 9 months on Wednesday! Not to brag, (okay maybe I am a little) but EIGHT different people came up to me at Wal Mart last weekend to tell me how cute she was. She was such a ham, smiling and waving at everyone. Love this face!



"So What!!!"

 

I am linking up with Shannon for another "so what" Wednesday. Once again, I am only saying "so what" to one thing! This week, it's the RAIN! I AM OVER IT! It has rained soooo much this whole summer. When I was eleven, I moved out to Portland, Oregon with my mom from Columbia, South Carolina where I grew up. I made a lot of great friends but I knew that when I graduated high school, I would return to South Carolina and I did. One of the biggest reasons I left Portland was the dreary nasty weather. I am a sunshine girl! Well, this summer I have felt like I am back living in Portland. This has been the worst summer weatherwise I can remember from living in South Carolina. Not being able to go out for recess sucks. Especially the first two days of school. So yesterday even though the playground was soaking wet, I took my class outside and let them run around. So what.I am tired letting the rain ruin everything! Rain, rain please go away!

5 on Friday!

I am linking up again for the 5 on Friday fun!  I absolutely love this link up. It is so uplifting! Here is what I am excited about this week:

 

1. Gamecock football is less than two weeks away! AAAAAH! All I can say to the teams we are going to play this season is....."are you ready to be CLOWNED?!?!" ;) What can I say? Jadeveon Clowney is a beast!

 

2. I am really excited for my hubby. He is currently in grad school to get his masters in school administration and leadership with the goal of being an assistant principal and maybe a principal someday. He is starting his internship with our principal at school (yes, we teach at the same school and yes, that's where we met) and he is so excited about all the different things he gets to do. He graduates in May so we hope this will be his last year in the classroom!

 

3. Even though I was EXHAUSTED (you can read all about why on my "so what Wednesday" post) open house/meet the teacher went really well! Out of 19 kids, I only had two that didn't show up with their parents! I think I am going to have a really great class this year and I am so excited to begin my 8th year teaching 3rd grade!  I absolutely loved my dress that I wore to open/house meet the teacher. I got it from my cousin Louise's boutique "Eloise" in Aberdeen, North Carolina. Be sure to click on the link to her Facebook page. They have a lot of cute stuff and they will ship!

 

4. My sorority sister Elaine is expecting her first baby in February after two miscarriages and years of trying to conceive. These are the best pregnancy announcements ever. I had two miscarriages before I had Kennedy so I have a special place in my heart for women who are dealing with infertility and pray for them every night. Our sister Cammie also went through issues with infertility and is pregnant with a baby boy due in November. God is good!

 

5. Lastly, as usual, I am excited about Kennedy! Even though she has been sleeping awful this week, she still always has a smile on her face. The ladies at her daycare say she is the happiest and sweetest baby and I would have to agree. ;) She is such a blessing! As always I will leave you with this cuteness. :)

 





So What Wednesday

I am linking up with Shannon for another "So What Wednesday." Sorry for the late post but we had open house/meet the teacher today. Today I am just saying "so what" to one thing:

I drank one of these today. Honestly, I used to drink them all the time before we started trying to get pregnant. I don't care for coffee but call me crazy, I love the way energy drinks taste. I know they are bad for you. So what. This week Kennedy has been sleeping AWFUL! My husband and I are both teachers and we went back to work this week so I think it has to do with the transition of going back to daycare everyday. She woke up at 4:30 this morning and would not go back to sleep. Mommy had to meet and greet parents all day today. Our school does a "drop in" style open house/meet the teacher. It was a long day and I needed one of these. I don't plan on getting back in the habit of drinking them on a regular basis but I don't think I could have made it through the day without it!
What are you saying "so what" to this week???

Is that a donkey?!?!

This past weekend, we took Kennedy to my Aunt Gail and Uncle Karl's farm in Waynesboro, Georgia. She had a blast petting the horses, playing with their dog, "Spud" and riding "R2", the donkey.

 

It is crazy to us how much she loves animals because we don't have any pets! I keep telling Nick it's time to get a puppy! ;)

Five On Friday

Linking up with Natasha at hello! happiness. Here are the 5 things I am excited about this week:

1. I finally worked in my classroom for two days this week! Teachers officially go back Monday in my district for the "work week." If you are a teacher or know someone that is a teacher you probably know that the "work week" is full of meetings so if you want to get your classroom done, you pretty much have to go to school ahead of time. I am excited about the progress I made!

2. My amazing friend Cassie has her own classroom and is set up and ready for kiddos on Monday! Cassie and I became friends when she did my maternity leave last year. She got a job teaching 5th grade at a charter school nearby and this week was her work week. Her classroom looks amazing.  I know she will do fabulous in her first year of teaching! This chick is so awesome that she did her OWN lesson plans during my maternity leave! All I did was give her the standards I wanted her to cover. She is such a great teacher. I am so happy for her!

3. My bestie Megan and I met for lunch this week. I hadn't seen her in a few weeks which was waaay too long.I am going to be the matron of honor in her wedding on March 29th so we mainly talked wedding stuff but we also talked about our sorority sister Ashlee's wedding in Beaufort at the end of the month. We are going to road trip down there together and I am so excited for a girls weekend.

Megan and me on my wedding day! :) Can't wait for her big day!

 

4. My mom bought Kennedy this adorable smocked chevron dress. It's an 18 month so it will be awhile before she wears it but I can't wait!

5. I am loving Kennedy being 8 months! Can we just freeze time? She is soooo much fun at this age! Crawling, pulling up, saying "mama", lots of smiles and giggles! I will leave you with this cuteness!

 

What are you excited about this week??? Happy Friday!

Reality Rewind

The Bachelorette:
What a finale!!!!!!!!  REALITY STEVE WAS WRONG!!! I wasn't too surprised because he was wrong when he predicted Allie would pick no one and she picked Roberto and then again when he said Brad would pick Chantel and he picked Emily. I think I was just soooo glad he was wrong!!! Chris was my favorite out of the three that remained. Yes I know he was a little nerdy with all that poetry but Des seemed to really like it. Plus he was the most masculine out of the three left. What can I say, I love a baseball player!!! I am so glad that Desiree was up front with him about what happened with Brooks BEFORE he got down on one knee. What a great guy to still love her unconditionally. I really hope they stay together. I know some people are concerned that she just picked him just so she didn't end up alone. I don't think that's the case. I agree with her when she said sometimes you just don't realize what's right in front of you. Sounds a lot like Nick and I, but that's a story for later. ;)

AAAAAND Juan Pablo as the new Bachelor??? YES PLEASE!!!!! This is the first time they have ever chosen someone that was not in the top 4 to be the Bachelor but I am so glad they made an exception for him. Can't wait to watch!

 

The Real Housewives of Orange County finale:

I watch all of the Real Housewives except Atlanta. The OC housewives are by far my favorite. Maybe just because they are the originals? I am not really sure why, just like them the best. The finale was filled with lots of great drama but I have to focus on the issue with Vicki's son in law cussing out Lydia's 64 year old mother for putting her feet on the couch. Wow! What a pompous jerk! I love how he started to say "I own this place" then recovered himself. No sweetheart you don't own the place, you are living with your mommy in law. I am not understanding why Vicki lets her daughter and son in law control her own home when she is clearly doing them a favor by letting them live there? I don't think Brooks is the greatest guy but if her daughter doesn't like him being there then I think it's time to move out of mommy's house. I would have been mortified if my husband behaved that way. Sorry, but can we say "white trash?" Also, can I just say, I LOVE Lydia?!?! I hope she sticks around for many more seasons!

 

 

Dance Moms:

I always seem to love the underdog. Nia is my favorite on Dance Moms. I don't know much about dance but it always seems like she dances her heart out and then places 9th. :( I loved her "broadway baby dance." As for Kelly coming back, I feel like she probably will be back because the show will not be the same without her. But, I am going to have to side with Abby on this one! (GASP!) I think if I were the owner of the studio and she used that kind of language in front of the kids plus it was the third time she had stormed out like that, I would have to cut her and her kids loose. Other favorite moments this episode: When they showed clips that Maddie has the SAME face when she does every dance! YES YES YES! I have been saying that for years. Also, Kristi R. breaking it down!!! Wow!!! I wish I could shake my booty like that!

 

I would have loved to blog about Pretty Wicked Moms BUT it wasn't on!!! Did I miss something? Was last week the finale??? My DVR cut off a little early. Boo.



 

 

 



So What Wednesday

I am linking up again with Shannon at "Life After I Dew" for another "So What Wednesday!" This what I am saying "so what" to this week:

*I cried again at the Bachelorette last night. WHAT A FINALE! I couldn't help but cry! Will be blogging all about it tomorrow in my "reality rewind" post.

*Saturday night we went on a group date with our friends Jessica and Adam and my brother in law and sister in law, Jon and Rachael, to Adventure Crossing. Not a typical date night for people in their late twenties/early thirties but we had a blast riding go karts and playing laser tag and putt-putt! It was so much fun to be a kid again! So what I am 29?

*I have major anxiety about Kennedy sleeping on her stomach at night. She's 8 months old and has been rolling both ways for a long time now but it just worries me. Sometimes she doesn't turn her head and will lay FACE DOWN in her crib, yikes. I constantly check the monitor to make sure she's okay and it drives Nick nuts. So what! I am a mom, I am supposed to worry!!!

*I always seem to jump on the trend bandwagon a little late. I finally picked up two bauble necklaces at Handpicked a few weeks ago, one in coral and one in turquoise. I love wearing them! So what if I am a little late!

 

What are you saying "so what" to this week?

Reality TV Recap

My thoughts on this week's trashy reality tv:

 

 

The Bachelorette: Wow! What an episode. I am thinking Brooks will come back. Not just because of the rumors I have heard but I honestly think the whole process scared him and he left out of fear, not because he didn't love Desiree. At first I thought "geez, she's stupid if she takes him back after all that." But, then I remembered Jason and Molly! Look how that turned out! :) Can't wait to see the finale. I do feel bad for Chris and Drew. Especially Chris, because I like him the best. ;) I am still not a fan of Brooks aka the "long lost Hanson brother" but hey Desiree says she loves him!

 

Pretty Wicked Moms: Okay first off, the toddler brawl. I do think that Miranda needs to discipline her son more efficiently. However, I am still not understanding why Emily didn't say anything or go to Amzie as she continued to try to take Ledger's chips. If my child kept trying to take another child's food, I would do something about it, that's rude! But, Miranda needs to address the issue of her son hitting because obviously what's she's doing (or not doing) isn't working. As far as the grown up brawl, I am team Miranda on this one. I thought it was completely disrespectful of Emily and Nicole N.to do what they did. Yes, Miranda was a little dramatic. However, I am with her, to come into someone else's home and ruin their property is so disrespectful. I loved Nicole B.'s take on the whole thing. "Let's just have some wine!" Hahaha. She is my favorite by far!

 

 



 

Dance Moms: I am sorry, but did anyone else think it was absolutely hilarious that Leslie tried to call Ivette out on wearing Spanx??? Leslie is the one who needs to wear some Spanxx! I also thought it was hilarious that Christi was breaking up a fight and not starting a fight! And as usual, I love it when ALDC beats Candy Apples! Woohoo! I wish the trio had scored higher though. I thought they did a great job, WITHOUT Maddie.

 

 

MTV's The Challenge: Rivals 2: Okay so I always thought I had a weird phobia. I am terrified of birds. No joke. But after watching this episode I realized my phobia is really not that bad. Ketchup? Seriously, Jemmye??? The look on Leroy's face was priceless. Also, I hope this doesn't come off as insensitive but I am so over Diem. It seems like she throws a pity party for herself and how insecure she is every challenge she is on. Also, I thought the elimination round was so stupid. What's the point of even having an elimination round if no one has to compete?

 

I was also going to post about The Real Housewives of New Jersey but ehhh, it was so same ole' same ole'. What did you think about this week's reality tv???