Another Month Down

7 months.

Each month I honestly believe Emily becomes an easier & happier baby!

This past month brought on a bigger love of toys.

Rolling EVERYWHERE.

Smiles every time she sees her big sister.

Lots of babbling that pretty much sounds like she is saying "blah blah blah"

Gross motor skills to attempt to feed herself puffs.

Id say she gets about 75% of them actually in her mouth now!

Discovery of her tongue and a need to stick it out constantly.

A few crawls in the forward direction...

but only when going after something she should not have, like a remote.

I am positive that this time next month I will be discussing how she is crawling all over...

Good bye last month of a non-mobile baby.

My New Favorite Shoes

I am linking up with Mel & Laura to talk about running shoes.



I just bought my first official running shoes so of course I want to talk about them.

I also have really strange shaped feet so maybe my "review" will help someone else in the market for new shoes.

So I apologize for the gross foot picture but...

See how my toes do not touch? (And how I also have the worlds smallest toe nails?) 

Yeah, that would be because my feet are really broad at the balls of my feet, but narrow elsewhere. 

Sometimes I have issues getting a good fit on shoes because of it. 

Most shoes just feel tight across the middle of my foot. 

I usually have to stretch shoes out before they feel comfortable. 

Wide width shoes do not really work either because then my foot is sliding around in the back. 

I was fitted for my running shoes just recently by Fleet Feet. 

I do not have any injuries or pain when I run. 

I do not have flat feet or super high arches. 

They said I have very good & normal wear to my older pair of shoes which means I walk/run how I am supposed too. 

No crazy side of foot or tip toe walking here. 

Besides my broad feet, I am pretty normal. 

Except only 1 pair of shoes in the store actually fit me! 

They would be the fabulous Mizuno Wave Riders 16. 

They have a wider "toe box" so they work for me! 

And I think they are pretty. 

No crazy colors here... which I like. 

They kind of remind me of volleyball shoes... 

At $115, I think its a pretty fair price as well. 

Since I have been fitted once now, I doubt I will again in the future. 

Unless I start having some problems or want shoes specifically for strengthening my feet or something. 

I am hoping that in 6 months when these gals are ready to be retired I can catch a deal on another pair at Sports Authority or something. 

And I saved the best part for last... 

Before these shoes I was averaging 9:45 - 10 minute miles... 

Today I averaged 8:55!! 

I have been speedy fast since I bought these shoes. 

I guess the lighter weight. 

Maybe the tread?

I don't know exactly what it is... 

But they definitely make running feel great! 

Body After Baby

After my 100 miles in December I took it a little easier this week.

I ran 17. 72 miles.

:)

Yesterday afternoon I unexpectantly had a pretty good run.

It was the middle of the day.

Leah was refusing to nap.

Brian had been brewing more beer leaving me with the crazy girl, and a baby that also did not feel the need to nap.

I told Brian I wanted to run!

Usually mid day runs, unless I plan for them, are pretty crappy.

I had pizza, a soda, and M&Ms for lunch...

But I got dress and headed out mainly because I wanted some alone time.

I wasn't sure how far I wanted to run, but I took the longer route that takes me thru old Eureka.

The first 2 miles I headed out FAST!

Paces in the 8:30 per minute range!

I would try to slow down since I kept seeing that number 8 on my watch and knew I was never going to make it back home at that rate but it was hard!

Right at about 3.1 miles, I entered "The Legends" subdivison/golf course area...

This is where my flat run turns HILLY!

That first hill kicked my butt!

I could not even run up it!

I had to walk to the top...

With a 14:15 minute pace...

Ok, first I have to admit that during my runs, I sit and calculate my pace in my head...

I calculate how long it should take me to run 0.1 miles, 0.5 miles and so on...

And then I like to watch my watch/clock and see if I am doing the math right.

My walking pace really threw me off so my mind was going crazy trying to figure it all out after that.

There are a few other BIG hills after that first one but I was able to keep running them.

My pace would reach 10:15, and slowly decrease as I headed back down the other sides...

I figured my overall pace once I made it back home would be around 9:30 per mile with my walking spell...

I was very pleasantly surprised to see that 9:15 pace!

And seriously a 10K in well under a minute!?

Im pumped! 

But terrified... 

That is 6.2 miles... 

The half is 13.1! 

Even if I can keep this pace for another 7 miles, I would end up just over my 2 hour goal... 

And I hear the Go St. Louis half is hilly... 

I have work to do. 

Luckily I have 13 weeks to get there! 

Crazy Leah

Yesterday's conversation...

Leah came to the top of the steps as she just woke up for the morning.

Leah: I heard something in my room that scared me! I think it was a storm cloud!

I head to the top of the stairs to hug her and pick her up.

Leah: mommy I smell something!

Me: you do? What do you smell?

Leah: I smell your eyeballs!

...

Everyday she also asks if there will be "more Christmas"...

...

We had her friend Logan over for 2 hours last weekend.

Leah threw a tantrum because Logan beat her to the top of the stairs.

Seriously!?

Everything is a competitive race with this child right now...

...

She came up to me one morning and said...

"Last night I drew my hand print on your wall. Sorry mom."

Someone was feeling guilty...

I have yet to wash it off...

(The house is a disaster....we have yet to recover from the holidays)

Someone on Facebook mentioned putting a frame around it and keeping it forever.

I love the idea!

But I don't want to encourage more drawings on the wall....

Where she drew is in the playroom...

And I have thought about doing chalk board paint on this wall anyways...

Maybe it's a sign.

...

We were all sitting at the table eating dinner happily when Leah turns to Emily and says...

"Baby's stupid!"

I was shocked!

I kind of yelled at Leah and told her that was mean and we do not say that.

I asked her to tell Emily she was sorry.

Leah refused.

She started bawling, ran upstairs, and continued to cry.

Punishing herself!

I know Leah does not understand what stupid means.

I'm sure she heard it at school and thought it was another word...

She was upset that she did something wrong and didn't mean too.

It broke my heart...

Parenting is hard!

2013 Goals

I am going to be a little more specific this year.

This may turn around and bite me in the butt...

Or will work great!

Personal Goals:

• KEEP RUNNING! Keep doing a race per month. Maybe do a few more 100 miles per month challenges... just keep going! 
• Run my half marathon in under 2 hrs 10 minutes.  I think I can pretty easily accomplish this... I really want to get under 2 hours but that will require some work.  I have 14 weeks to work on it! Either way, I want to finish strong and proud! ... and encouraged to do it all again! 
• Visit Seattle! ... Even if I have to go alone... I will get there! 
• Improve my photography in some shape or form... even if its learning 1 new little trick... Just learn something new. 

Work Goals: 

• Give a presentation.  This was one of my goals for 2012 for my review, but as its 12/31... it did not happen. Not necessarily my fault, it just got away from me and my boss... My boss believes presentation experience is the one quality that will quickly get you promoted at our company... It will happen in 2013. 
• Finish Modules completely.  I want to see a big fat PASS next to my Interim Assessment and Final Assessment. 
• Take C in October and score atleast a 4.  Yes.. that is not passing... I need a 6 to pass... but C is a beast that I am a bit intimidated by! I plan to start studying SOON, and will need those extra 6 months to get an acceptable grade... Yes, I want to pass in Oct, but I honestly will be happy with a 4. 

House Goals:

• Backsplash in the kitchen! 
• Backsplash tiling in the master bath. 
• Some sort of shelving in the Laundry room. 
• New landscaping in the front yard. 
• Paint atleast 2 more rooms.

Leah Goals: 

• Get that girl 100% accident free!  We have had more success with going poop on the potty... she will do it when she is not at home... but when she is at home, its like she believes its all OK to go in your pants.  Frustrating!  We will fix this.  Because seriously, next year at this time she will be 4, and I will DIE if this is still going on! 
• Get the girl to go to bed alone at night... an easier night time routine in general would be nice! 
• Involved in activities outside of daycare. 
• Still a happy, healthy, outgoing, crazy little girl. 

Emily Goals: 

• Also grow to become a happy & healthy little girl. 

Brian Goals:

• Celebrate our 5 year anniversary in a fun way!  (seattle!?) 
• More date nights and nights without the kiddos.  Stop feeling so bad to leave the kids over night and know we all need it... grandparents included! 
• Build an even stronger relationship. 
• Keep me on his budget, even with all my house to-dos, trip to seattle, need for clothes that fit (I will be needing an entirely new wardrobe this summer!) so I can keep a happy husband! 

I can do this all right!?

Bring it 2013! 

Goal Met!!!

First off...

Look at my pretty new Fila shirt/sweatshirt from Marshalls for 16.99!

Nice and fleecie and bright!

It kept me mighty warm today in these conditions... 

I got out there and finished off my 100 miles in December!!!! 

100.23 to be exact. 

The face of a girl that just met her goal!!! 

And at a 9:08 pace! 

Boom!

(since I dropped so much time on my pace... Can I please re-race my brother!?!)

& yes, my hat does have lights in it.

My brother won it at the Turkey Trot, from the running store that was hosting and gave it to me because his head is seriously too big for hats!

And then I was dying and had to rip off my top layer of clothing... 

I love ending on this high. 

I feel like I can accomplish anything right now! 

Stay tuned for my 2013 goals coming on the next post to see what I am wanting to accomplish in 2013! 

Body After Baby

I have been running.

A LOT.

At the beginning of the month I made it a goal to run 100 miles in December.

Last Wednesday, the 26th, I added them up...

(I write them down in my planner).

There were 6 days left in the month...

 (31 - 26 +1 = 6... counting days, always add 1!... discrete math lesson for ya)

That meant I needed to do 5 miles a day.

That day I was feeling great & got busy on the treadmill at work .

I decided to do an extra mile for a cushion. 

Thursday I finally got the chance to run with my new watch! 

I am loving the pacer!

I set my minimum time as 10:15.

It buzzes and tells me when I am "On pace" and "Ahead of Pace".

And probably "Behind Pace" but I am too competitive to let it ever actually say that!

I definitely worked a little harder to keep it saying "Ahead of Pace".

Friday I did 4.75 miles on the Al Foster Trail.

I had an average time of 9:52 per minute, but the run just sucked.

I did not eat breakfast before I went and was starving.

The entire run I was trying to tell myself it was OK to walk some...

I never did...

Had to stay ahead of pace!

Friday night & Saturday morning brought some snow...

Most of the ladies in my running group decided to stay in bed rather than meet up for our 7 am weekend run.

I was way too excited to get out there in the snow!

I had been looking forward to it for a while.

And it did not disappoint!

It was a GORGEOUS 4 mile run with my neighbor friend Jennifer around Route 66 State Park!

Of course we had to stop mid run and take pictures to post back on our group facebook page to make everyone realize that they missed out on the awesomeness!

Seriously! I loved it! 

I would run in the snow every day! 

...

I have been contemplating getting new shoes for a bit now...

The other day I finally flipped my shoes over to check out the wear on them and it was decided...

There pretty much was zero tread!

As in the parts where my foot touches, (balls of my feet, toes, heel) were completely smooth.

I was even missing part of my left heel!

So I decided I wanted to head to Big River Running to get a pair since its a local company, was ranked one of the top 4 running stores in the country, and is owned by a fellow Summit grad who's dad was my basketball and soccer coach growing up.

I had Emily with me because Brian said I could only head out shopping if I took a child with me...

I walked in...

An employee looked at me a few times but never said a single thing to me.

I waited for him to ask "Can I help you with something?"

Another girl walked in.

He walked right up to her and asked the question I had been waiting for...

And then proceeded to help her!

I just stood there holding Em.

Looking at the other employee and couple that was in the store to see if they saw what just happened...

And then I left.

Was it because I was holding a child!?

I was bummed!

So I took my business to Fleet Feet.

I walked in and took my number.

I was 21.

The sign said they were on 15.

I was a little bummed, but with the 8 employees in the store I figured it would probably go fast.

I started to check out the belts and water bottles and a girl walked right up to me and asked if I needed help!

I thought she might not be a shoe person so I told her my thoughts on the belts, and that I wanted shoes.

She helped me with it all... 10 seconds after I walked in the store!

I was happy!

And even happier when I walked out of the store with my purchases!

Mizuno Wave Riders 16s.

And a Spibelt to hold my keys & phone when I wear something that does not have pockets.

I love my purchases even more after my run this morning in my new shoes!

 I ran a 8:55 mile.

And ended my 4.5 mile run with a 9:05 pace!

These shoes make me so much faster!

I felt great too!

The goal to run the half in 2 hours is totally do able if I can keep that up!

So here I am...

1 day left in December.

Just under 6 miles to go to make my 100 mile goal!

I cannot wait to head out on a long lunch time run!

Oh and the forecast is calling for SNOW!!

What a great way to end 2012!