Sara's Page
November 2009
On the day that I write this, Ayla is 11 weeks old! We have been enjoying the transition to parenthood and all that it entails. We are so grateful that we have been able to create a working situation that allows us to keep Ayla home for at least the first year of her life. Neither of us attended day care and we don't necessarily want her to right away either.
I am adding my birth story here for anyone who wishes to download and read. As I look back on it, I think it's inspirational even to me. I had made the choice to deliver Ayla without medication; my preparation paid off and her birth was exactly what I wanted. I still feel an overwhelming flood of self-confidence when I think about what I accomplished that day. Brian was with me every moment, no doubt a testament to what we can achieve together.
Summer 2009
2009 has been a year of many changes for the B&S Show. It all started just before Christmas 2008, with the discovery that we were expecting a baby! That seemed to trigger a chain of events that has kept us on our toes as the year has progressed. We set our intentions on New Year's Eve that this would be the best year yet, and so far, we have not been disappointed!
This summer, my coaching practice kicks off it's first summer camp program, Girl's Camp for Life. The program is designed to build confidence, enhance decision-making skills, and prepare young women for success in high school and college. Check it out at www.girlscampforlife.com. The site is of course built by BatchTechnologies.
During the spring semester I taught College Success at Tallahassee Community College and loved it! I have been invited back to teach in the fall and will add a Career Planning course to my pallet. I love working with the students; it's a great way to stay in touch with why I went into education in the first place. The content of these classes is closely aligned with what I do in private practice as a coach, so it's a nice match.
This spring I also signed a contract for my first, independent consulting gig! Brian's department at FSU needed an instructional designer to work on content development for an online course and they approached me about doing the work. I have really been enjoying myself and look forward to a finished product I can be proud of!
My goal this fall is to refocus my energy and grow my coaching practice with one-on-one clients and group coaching experiences. I facilitated a group this spring and I really enjoyed it; I would like to do it again, maybe even creating a series for high school seniors.
Hands down, the most exciting event of the year is the arrival of our daughter. We are both so pleased to have this gift come into our lives. We are patient and want her to take the time she needs to grow, but we are also excited to see, touch, smell, and yes, even hear her! Our friends and family are planning a shower for us on July 5th this year, the day after our anniversary. It's sure to be a celebratory weekend - be sure to check back on the site for pictures!