Angel Lavery

Pregnancy. That one word can bring forth the feeling of the end of the world or the beginning of a new life. In either case, change is bound to happen, and for math teacher Angel Lavery, a new life is beginning.

Lavery just entered her second trimester. “I’m still functioning,” Lavery said. “I can still do most activities.” She still goes about work as usual, teaching classes regularly, and still tries to do low impact exercises, such as taking walks or hikes. She occasionally teaches ballet class. “I can still teach, but I can’t do leaps, high kicks or turns,” Lavery said.

According to Lavery, she must watch her diet, including eating healthier with lots of fruits, vegetables and calcium from milk or yogurt. She has to limit her caffeine intake as well. In addition, she needs to increase her calorie intake by about 300 to 500 calories during the second trimester, so she eats more now. Lavery said that during the pregnancy, her personal cravings have been for salty foods, especially potato chips.

Lavery looks forward to finding out whether her baby is a boy or a girl. “For the four years that I have taught at Gunn, all the female math teachers have had boys,” Lavery said. “The last eight babies born have been boys! Not a single girl! I do not know what I am having but will find out on June 3rd.” Lavery wonders if her baby could break the streak and be the only girl out of the eight babies born so far from the math department.

For both her and her husband’s families, this will be the first grandchild born, so Lavery said both sets of soon-to-be grandparents are extremely excited. Lavery’s baby is due Nov. 5. She plans to return to teaching after the baby is born.