Weekly Roundup: 7 of 52

Monday: 2/11

Last week's "Pass" on my Interim Assessment meant I was able to sign up for my Final Assessment to take next week.  The price tag is stressful enough! Thank goodness work pays! ... Monday at 4:30pm I begin my 96 hour assessment, finishing Friday @ 4:30pm.  .... Yep, the freaking out is beginning... 

Tuesday 2/12:

Leah has a new love for the spare bedroom bed... Some night she starts off the night there and moves to her room, or starts in her room, and moves to the spare bed....There is alot of bed jumping going on.  Its always a surprise to find her in the morning and gives me a mini heart attack when I look into her room to get her up and she is not there... 

Wednesday 2/13

I tried the pinterest - mashed banana, oatmeal & chocolate chip cookies... they smelled awesome... looked kind of good... but BLAH!  I am not that much of a banana & chocolate fan. 

Work from home attire.... running clothes on first thing in the morning to make sure I go... 

Thursday 2/14:

I was able to attend Leah's Valentine's Party at school.... her and her friends are so cute.   They passed out valentines, but it was very unorganized.... I think Leah gave all of her valentines to the same 3 kids. 

This is Leah's bff Logan.  He lives a street over, I love his mom, and he has a baby sister that will be in the same grade as Emily. ..... also, my baby girl really is a giant! 

My other little Valentine. ....Since I picked up the girls early I headed to visit my parents & sister who was home from school for V-day with her boyfriend.   Leah got to see Aunt J's boyfriend bring her flowers and Papa bring home flowers to Grandma.  Leah kept asking where her flowers were.... 

Brian just bought me a little thing of candy & a card for the holiday.  I gave him a card as well.  We never really do anything for Valentines day... 

Friday 2/15:

Daddy brought Leah home flowers!  ... She was so excited. 

Saturday 2/16:

Me and the girls met up with my sister n law & niece Jenna for lunch. 

And then we headed to the Magic House.... (St. Louis Children's Museum) 

Leah LOVED it...She caught a "fish" here and was so proud! 

She loved playing Ice Cream man.... she is paying me to get ice cream from her. 

The girls had a great time.  Mom & Aunt Tara were a little stressed though.  The place was a zoo... the girls wanted to run every which way in different directions.  It was so hard to chase after them, with the stroller in the crowds... I kept thinking I was going to lose Leah.  

Leah is very into her dress up clothes right now.... Today it was Snow White. 

We headed to dinner for my dad's 60th birthday.  Leah kept kissing my cheek and Emily thought it was the funniest thing EVER! .... and yes, she has a giant loaf of bread in her hand. 

Sunday 2/17:

Started off the morning with my monthly organized run with Ms. Melanie & Ms. Holly.  5 mile Fun, Flirty & Fabulous run at Forest Park. 

After... on our running high. 

These 2 look way prettier after running 5 miles than I do! Sheesh. 

Emily's first Eureka Mardi Gras Dog Parade.  She did awesome. 

Leah pretty much just wanted to dance in front of the band... it was a fabulous afternoon out in the cool sun! 

Their Relationship

Emily will be one tough little girl....

Or very dependent on her sister.

Where I am.

I haven't written an actual, heart felt, feelings driven post in a long time.

This weeks mark 4 years of blogging.

4 years ago little Miss Leah was magically created in my belly.

I needed an outlet for my emotions so I turned to blogging.

I blogged when I was happy, sad, frustrated, anxious, sleep deprived, aggravated, scared, excited and proud.

The writing was my therapy.

All those emotions are still there as I am at this new place in my life.

Probably alot more happy, excited, and proud than ever before.

But I do not feel the need to write about them anymore.

I was the first of my friends to get married.

The first to start a family.

I was just in a different place in my life than those that I usually turned to to share my excitement with, seek advice, and just chat.

I think I used writing on the blog as my "friend".

I wasn't lonely by any means...

My blog was just there for my free therapy.

To listen.

To not judge.

But I feel like things have changed lately.

I finally found a hobby in running.

Any frustration, anxiety, stress melts away when I run.

The therapeutic need to write has lessened. 

Many new people have come into my life in the past few months as well...

Neighborhood mommy friends who are all in the exact same point in their lives as me...

Running friends who share the same goals...

And as ironic as it is... Blogging friends.

I no longer feel so alone I guess.

We run, we email, we text, we instagram...

Last night I had a minor situation with daycare.

In the past I would have immediately blogged about it before bed.

Instead I called up a new friend, Jenn, who sends her kids to the same daycare and vented.

I did not need to write.

...

In the past I think I was just trying to find my footing in this "young working mothers club."

Feeling a little alone.

Navigating my way thru it all without much help from others.

But now I feel like I am finally standing steady.

Confident in where I am in my life right now.

Of who I am and what I have.

And who I have around me.

Life is good.

Body After Baby: Half Marathon Training Week 4

Day 1 - 5 miles

Did 5.3 miles with my new handy dandy water bottle. It was weird at first, but I am starting to love it! ... Ran at a 9:30ish pace. 

Day 2 - Off

Rested I did.  My boss was in town so I skipped boot camp class and ate a large, fancy, seafood lunch paid for by the company instead.   Shrimp, wrapped in bacon... it was AMAZING!

Day 3 - 6 miles

Sorry... cant figure out how to rotate it... but it was a good run. I started off slower because I was starting to get a cold and wondered how the run would go.... I started at a 9:30 pace and ended the last 2 miles at a 8:30 pace! 

Day 4 - 5 miles

My cold really hit me hard this day... I made it to boot camp but that was it.

Day 5 - 6 miles

This did not happen either... It was Friday Girl's day and just no time to get a run in with having the girls all day and the sun setting early. I cannot wait till its light out until 8 oclock again and I can get in runs after dinner!

Day 6 - 8 miles

I had all intentions in making it 8 miles... but I just ran out of time.  The girls had their appointment for pictures at 10:20 and I did not want to be late or feel rushed with them.  I knew me rushing would effect them and I wanted them to be happy so pictures went well...

I ran all around my old stomping grounds... The girls were at my parents house so I ran thru the neighborhoods, past my old  high school... Fenton is hilly, and the memories that come flooding back are amazing.   Its a good run for my mind and body. I think I will be doing it all again Saturday.

Day 7 - 5 miles

I hadnt looked at the schedule so I had no idea what I was supposed to run... but 4 miles just felt good.  I ran thru our neighborhood to catch up on what houses are being built where...The entertainment of a new neighborhood! ...  It was an awesome sunny 50 degrees out and it felt nice to go fast.  I am absolutely loving the 50 degree range for running. ...When I got back I took the girls for an additional walk.... together I probably made it to the 5 mile mark. 

And when we got back it was bath time for Miss Em. 

Weekly Roundup: 6 of 52

Monday 2/4:

This combination starts any day on the right foot.

I am on an Almond Joy kick right now and it totally makes me feel like an adult.  Anyone else think of those as adult candy bars?

My 10 lbs of potatoes led to Potato Soup.  It wasn't bad... a little thicker than I would have preferred.  ... And I still have 5 lbs left... 

Tuesday 2/5:

My boss came to town to do reviews.  It was my first time meeting him. (He's in KY).  I usually just wear jeans to work, but felt the occasion deserves dress pants..and my hair down! And FYI... Boss is great. Of course different looking than what I pictured in my head.... Review went great.  Pretty much confirmation that I am darn awesome. 

Wednesday 2/6:

This girl turned 8 months old and earned herself a trip to the Doctor.  For the past week she hadnt been finishing her bottles.  (Only eating a few oz of her first bottle of the morning after not eating for 12 hours...) I had emailed the doctor earlier in the week (the GREATEST tool ever!) regarding it and she said to bring her in if she stopped sleeping and got crabby.  For 3 days she has woken up multiple times thru the night and seemed fussier so I brought her in.... verdict: She is just a terrible teether. 

Thursday 2/7:

Sported a little poka-dot & leopard to the office. 

Friday 2/8:

Daycare was closed for teacher development so I had to take the day off with the girls.  I told Leah it was a "Girls Only" day since Daddy had to go to work.  We started off the day with hitting up Krispy Kremes.  Leah was a bit upset to find boys there... obviously it was supposed to be girls only day for everyone everywhere! ... she also was amazed by the donut making. I love this picture.

We hit up a few stores and mommy finally made it into Jareds to get my rings inspected & cleaned. Another ban this year for our 5 year?  I think yes.... please Brian?

Leah was being such a good girl I knew she needed to burn off some energy so we of course had a Chik-Fil-A visit. I love that place. Sadly they are all pretty far away from our current house... 

I knew I would be receiving my IA grade sometime during the day but honestly had completely forgotten about it until I was sitting at Chik-Fil-A watching Leah play.  I checked my phone and Gmail was not even signed in!  Once I signed in, the first email to pop up was from "elearn" and I pretty much went straight into an anxiety attack.  My heart stopped, my stomach dropped, I began to freak.  I did not want to open the email there incase it was bad news.  I knew I would cry. I somehow waited till we got to the car.  Usually I check any sort of exam results with Brian on the phone with me, but since I was in the car and not on a computer it was a little hard so I had to be brave.... And my day was made when I saw those 8 words :"You have been graded as Meets Minimum Requirements."  I am now only a Final Assessment & one exam away from my first designation!  This is HUGE!  I have been working on this process since 2009 and I am so close to an end point (sort of). This year, its happening! 

A mothers dream ... Leah stayed asleep for a nice long nap, but Em woke up about 10 minutes after we got inside.... 

Since Big Sis was fast asleep, Emily actually got to play without someone constantly hugging her, moving her, rolling her over, taking her toys.... It was AMAZING to see how much this girl could actually move and play without someone harassing her!  ... and I love how she sits like this!

A few minutes later she started yanking on that cord..... hmmm how to baby proof that!?

Once Leah woke up, Emily went down.... it actually was kind of nice.  I was still on the high of passing my exam so I decided to conquer our closet. I removed all of the clothes that do not fit and moved that dresser from the bedroom into the closet, thru the bathroom, ALL BY MYSELF! We had kind of always planned to have it in there since the closet is so ridiculously large... and we need to make room for our future King size bed that we hopefully will be getting sooner rather than later! .... and that would be Leah stealing a pair of shoes to walk around the house in... 

Saturday 2/9:

Brian called while at work and asked for us to meet him at the bowling alley so that Leah could experience her first time bowling.  The girl LOVED it. And I LOVED watching her and her dad enjoy this experience together. 

And yes, it was cosmic bowling at 12:30 in the afternoon. 

Sunday 2/10:

The rainy morning was spent with Leah & I making valentines from the $5 Target kit. 

And then I made them into a banner! 

Once the rain passed and the Sun graced us with its presences the weather was perfect out! The evening was spent outside... Leah prancing along the entire time with her pom poms.  This girl is turning girlier and girlier by the day!

It was Em's first real stroller ride and she was kicking her feet the whole time!  Cannot wait for the spring weather to arrive for good for nightly walks! 

And of course we had to get the car out.... Leah even let our neighbor Brayden drive!  Brayden is an older man... in Kindergarten and Leah thinks he is the bees knees. ...  I admit I am nervous for their future... 

And Emily became a climbing, pulling up fool!! I don't know how many times we found her body surfing on her toy basket! 

It was a good good week... 

Guess Who's 8 Months Old!

Body After Baby: Half Marathon Training Week 3

Day 1 - 5 miles

The weather was FANTASTIC in the upper 50s so I did the 8 miles I  missed the day before.  It was an awesome run.  I felt amazing. I tried to run with water, and then tried GU for the first time... GU = grosses texture EVER but I think it works well. Its basically like frosting.... gag me! I took it around the 6 mile mark. The water bottle only lasted me till the 4 mile mark where I took about 2 drinks and threw it away. ... thats more than I have ever drank while running so its progress!  I felt like I could have easily ran longer. 

Day 2 - OFF

And I did... I even skipped boot camp. my hamstrings and butt were SORE from that 8 mile run I guess.... It felt nice to rest intentially.

Day 3 - 6 miles MP

This run was supposed to be at a "marathon" pace... or about 30 seconds faster than my normal pace.  .... I didnt so much achieve that, nor did I try.... but I did take the route that covers some MAJOR hills... you can tell by my times that I hit these miles right at the 3 mile mark... that 4th mile is brutal!  The Half marathon is notorious for its hills so I need to keep at this route... Overall... 5.57 miles. 

Day 4 - 5 miles

I was in the office and 5 miles on the treadmill just did not sound like something I wanted to do.... so instead I did some speed/interval runs on the treadmill before boot camp class.   I did the first 2 miles at under a 8:30 minute pace, and the 3rd mile was done at 7:30 minute pace for 1.5 minutes then 9 minute mile for 1 minute intervals.  It really kicked my butt.  I was DEAD for boot camp class and slacked a little.... which means the teacher/trainer harassed me the whole time.  

Day 5 - 6 miles

Bad Kim skipped this run again.... I was SORE from the day before and could barely walk my butt muscles were hurting so much... plus it was super chilly out....

Day 6 - 6 miles

I finally did what I was supposed too!! ... I dropped the girls at my parents house and ran on the new trail that runs from valley park to big bend/270.  Its pretty flat, and along the river... I will definitely head back there again.  But since it was my first time on the trail, it seemed like it made the run take FOREVER! I kept checking my watch wondering how far I had gone... hopefully next time its not like that! 

Day 7 - 5 miles

Woke up to surprise snow!  My running group had planned for 3 miles at a local park, but the snow made them all ditch.  I tried to go anyway since I was already up and dressed.  I got to the park (after sliding a bit on the snow) got out of my car, walked to the trail, and decided that it was just too icy and not worth getting hurt over.  So instead I stopped by Bread Co (Panera for you non St. Louis folks) and picked up breakfast for the fam.  I thought I might head out later once it warmed up and melted the ice, but as the day went on, when I finally found time, I studied instead. 

Let's review... 

Kim is no good at following the training plan.  

I am pulling the  "adjust as needed" card frequently. 

I started mouthing the words to the music as I run.  I think it really helps keep me at a good pace and keeps my breathing in check.   People that drive past me probably think I am talking to myself... 

And I think all runs on the treadmill will now be interval/speed runs.