More Photos from Chicago

As you know for the end of October we went to Chicago. As you also know, Hurricane Sandy prevented us from coming home which equalled an extra day in Chicago. It was awesome! My sister lives in a beautiful little town, and the accessibility to parks made me jealous. Anyway, the kids all together had all sorts of fun, and seeing them do yard work made me wish I had a yard. Anyway, here are some pictures from the adventures in leave raking...

 

All the kids were excited to help, Makayla preferred to help her Joe-Joe.

 Here, we were trying to encourage the kids to jump in the pile of leaves, instead, they preferred to rake them..

 Makayla saw that Jacob was watching, he became her baby, and she wanted to kiss him ALL.THE.TIME.

 Don't worry, the kids were supervised. I think Jaime loved the fact that they yard was getting raked. I LOVED raking the leaves, it made me wish I had a yard.

Makayla is looking at her work. She loved the rake, maybe for next year, I will get her her own.

 

She tried to be gentle, but really enjoyed kissing Jacob. She really loved him, and misses him. She talks about Jacob, Joe-Joe, Joe-Joe's mama and Joe-Joe's dada all the time. Other than the drive home, I think she enjoyed herself. I know that I miss it and cannot wait until our next trip. Thanks Jaime for having us!

Today...

Was the start of something beautiful. I went for a run and it felt great! It was only 2 miles, as I know I have to take it easy to get myself back into shape and ease my muscles back into running again. But I did it.

And then I found this, and remembered why I started. This sign was perfect, and wish I knew a website where I could make this sign a real sign.
But, I am going to go, I need to get some sleep...430 will come way too soon.
Happy Thursday

It all happened at the zoo..

Well, or fair, or carnival or where ever else you were this weekend. Welcome back to the work week! I am sure you missed it, I know I did (not!). Anyway, I know I haven't blogged in a while and I want to start again, so I thought I would start with posting pictures from this weekend. Now my sister Rachel, over on her blog, usually ends up posting pictures of my daughter from events.  I have to get better at carrying my camera to capture these moments, but sometimes, I am just living in the moments with her. Anyway, Friday we went to the Nazareth Carnival with her Godmother and her son. Here are some pictures from that.

Let me just tell you, I COULD NOT get her to get off of the Carousel!

Look at how much fun she is having! Last year when we went on vacation, she hated rides...this year...she <3 them.

Saturday, was her Godfather's graduation party from college. Yes, he graduated a while ago, but he wanted to wait until his friends who went to China came home. Anyway, I don't have pictures from there to post, as I am sure my sister took a bazillion pictures, but I do have this one.

Yep, that is my kid and yes, she is cleaning a boat!

Anyway, happy Monday. I better get ready for work, and yes, I was supposed to get up at 4:30 to go to the gym, but I thought sleep was more important. Have a GREAT Monday!



Hydration

With the weeks until my half coming down to being able to fit on one hand, I thought it would be better to start trying out things while running. Just like running in skirts, I don't want running while hydrating to wait until race day. So, I ran to Walmart on Friday before my 7 miler to see if they had a hand-held water bottle. They did, so I bought it. While I did not have time to fill it half way and freeze it before the run, I did fill it half full with ice cubes and then water. (I will get to my review here shortly, I promise) Anyway, since I don't take pictures while I run, here is a picture of me before 7 miles...

Anyway, I used the water bottle, and it was surprisingly easy for me to adapt. It wasn't added weight, and while it just took some time for me to figure out a way to comfortably hold it, I was glad I had it. I am glad that I am trying to figure the whole drinking while running thing out, my stomach got queasy a couple times and I am thinking that I drank too much water at one time. I also have to figure out how to ration my water, because even though I know there will be water stops along the race, my training runs do not so while training rationing is a necessity. I also need to figure out how to drink so that my stomach doesn't get queasy. So, back to my run...my water bottle only lasted for the first 3.5 miles, that explains why my first 3.5 miles were much faster than my second half. Needless to say, I have no idea what took me so long to bring water along. Well, actually I do know. I started running in September where it wasn't the dead of heat, and then that took me to winter. I guess now that I have water, I also have 5 weeks to get used to running with it, I also have 5 weeks to learn to hydrate while running so that 1- it lasts for long runs and 2- I don't get that queasy feeling anymore. VERDICT- I am glad that I asked about hydrating to all my running friends. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Here is a picture of me after 7 miles...

Why am I not smiling...here...let me show you...

And because I can't end my blog post with ugly pictures of a must needed pedicured feet...

HAPPY SATURDAY! KEEP ON RUNNING.

Happy Spring!

Spring has sprung. What did you do today? Me, I ran 4.66 miles. It was supposed to be 4.5 miles, but once I got going, it just ended up being 4.66 miles. And let me just tell you, it was not quite spring out there for the run. It felt more like summer. I also realized I need to find other options for running, and it might just mean I have to drive to a destination (bike path, down by the canal). Running around where I live gets old quick. But, what a beautiful day! I couldn't have asked for anything better. Don't forget, today as the first day of spring you can go to Rita's and get your free Rita's. I myself might just go there and get one. I think I deserve one. Besides, who can say no to Rita's? Doesn't Rita's go hand in hand with springtime/summer? I know that at the end of my half marathon, there are 2 things I asked for. An Auntie Anne's gourmet pretzel in Almond, and a Rita's gelati. Anyway, here are some more pictures from the trip to Pittsburgh.

Happy Spring!

WIAW

So it seems that all my hard work is paying off. Yesterday, on my training run, I ran all 4 miles under 10 minutes. Yes, I know that to some that is really slow, but to me, it seems like a huge milestone. I have only be running since September and I never thought that I would be here. When I started running, my goal was to finish a race, now I want to own the race. I want to actually feel like a runner, not just feel I am pretending to be one.  I know that I will never be able to run sub 7 minute miles, I am not built like that, but to actually be running a race where my pace is in the single digits. So, while my weight loss is stuck at 54# right now, I am trying to kick it up a notch.  So, while this isn't what I ate today, it is a healthy breakfast none the less. I also know that I need to make sure that I am eating enough, so it is just as important that while I am watching what I am eating, that I am eating. For Lent, I gave up being so hard on myself, and cutting myself some slack, but it is still important that I don't let it all go. So, here is my Tuesday morning breakfast.

And because my blog is not complete without pictures of my daughter

Have a great hump day! Try to get outside and enjoy the weather, I hear it is supposed to be beautiful today and tomorrow.  I know we are going to try to enjoy every minute of it.

Hot Fudge Face

This is what happens when you give your child homemade ice cream cake that includes hot fudge...

Needless to say, she loved the cake, loved to wear it (a huge change from her 1st birthday) and I think she loved the bath even more!
Speaking of 14 month old, on Valentine's Day my wee 1 turned 14 months. Here is the monthly picture, although it is getting harder and harder to get her to sit still...

I am not sure if she is falling asleep, or letting me know that she is getting bored. Either way, that was the end of our photo shoot, but a great start to our Valentine's Day. I hope you had a great V-day, I know the best part was spending it with my daughter!

New Bathtub

Since the move that happened 2 weeks ago, my daughter loves taking a bath. No seriously, she really does. I am not sure if it is because she is no longer in a baby tub, or because she is starting to develop or own personality, or well a combo of the 2, but let me just tell you how happy she gets when I tell her it's time to take a bath and to go to Makayla's bathroom. I mean come on, how many 14 month olds get their own bathroom! So, when I tell her it's time for a bath, she runs into her bathroom and stares directly at the faucet wondering why the water isn't coming out yet. Then, when it is time to get in it, she has a fit like she is in her own little swimming pool. Well, I guess to her it is. So, without further ado...

Breakfast in photos

Since, my mom (Hi Mom!) has been asking for pictures of Makayla, here are pictures from breakfast this morning. I love how happy she is in these pictures, but really, she is happy all of the time. She makes me feel so special.

This one is my favorite...she grabbed my face :)

Yes, I am wearing a tanktop..I always wear one under my shirts...just hadn't gotten that far yet.

She thought it was funny I wanted to take pictures while she was eating

Bananas and French toast...

Face is stuffed...

Looking at the dogs...making sure they won't eat her food.

Smartphone Photos

So, I just learned how to get the photos off of my smartphone without having to email them to myself. Yes, I am that person. SO, here are random smartphone moments.

Here she is sitting on her "throne"

Her "America's Next Top Model" pose

She really does control the remote

You want me to do what?

Reverse fish lips

I have a 6 month old!

This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but I had blogger issues...
Oh my goodness where on earth did the last 6 months go? How on earth did 6 months go past and why did it happen so fast? So, in honor of my sweet babes being 6 months old, here are the traditional monthly posed pictures.


Makayla,
Every month you grow more and more independent, and your personality grows bigger and bigger.
You now know how to roll over, and you love to show me how.
You cry whenever you can't see your mama, and laugh whenever I come back into a room so that you can see me.
You love your exersaucer, but love the walker at Nana and Pop-Pop's too.
You can make the walker go backwards, but soon I am sure you can get it to go forward too.
You love when the dogs play with you, and I can't wait to see how you will get along when you are walking on your own.
You went swimming for the first time on Memorial Day, and fell in love with it immediately, Mama loves that about you.
You love to eat, and you love food. We have only been giving you fruit and vegetables, but I think you are ready to move on.
You love sitting up by yourself, you look like a big girl when you do it.
You love your cousins, your legs go a mile a minute when you hear the names of Shae and Joey.
You and mama go for a walk everyday, you have helped mama lose 20 pounds so far!
I love it when you are cranky, because as soon as you see me, you laugh and giggle!
You still sleep through the night, but there are times when you still need your mama! I can't wait to watch you continue to grow.
We go to the doctor's on the 24th, I can't wait to see how you grew!
Mommy loves you! I love you to the moon and back!