2011 Nashville, TN Half Marathon

This weekend has been great! We made it to Nashville in 8 hours and talked the whole way...I don't know about Keisha but my throat was sore in the car from all the talking! LOL We just had a lot of catching up to do since we don't get to spend that much time together. This weekend has been a total success! The town of Nashville has been awesome and the people are so nice! Our condo was very centrally located (in the Enclave Condos right off 440) so it made it easy to get to the mall, dinners, the race, etc...all within 15 minutes from our condo...the traffic was a little heavier than we expected...but overall it was a great trip!

We got here Thursday, did a little shopping (for the kids of course), went to dinner at Cantina Laredo, got our race packets and relaxed at the condo while watching The Town. Friday we drove around a bit, went shopping (again for the kids...I see a trend here) and then met our friend Stephenie who now lives in the Nashville area (about 45 minutes from downtown Nashville) in Franklin for lunch at Genghi's Grill.

Friday night we wanted to chill since we had to get up at 4 am to leave the condo at 5 to catch a shuttle from the LP Field parking lot to the start of the race. So we got dinner at Panera Bread - a light, easy dinner since we didn't want our tummy's upset for the big run, watched the movie Taken and went to bed early. This was the biggest race I've ever been in so the crowd was a little more than we expected.

These are pics of us before the race.

This is a picture I took looking back at all the runners behind us! Crazy!

21,944 people participated overall!

And after the race...WE DID IT!

My stats:
13.1 miles in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 57 seconds!

We stayed together until mile 9 when Keisha's knee started really hurting so she told me to run ahead. That's when my competitiveness really kicked in so I bumped up the speed a bit for the last 4 miles. Probably why my knees hurt that night!
After the race we had massages and pedicures and then had a celebration dinner at Maggiano's!

I felt great during the race, but that night my knees felt like a crippled 90 year old woman! LOL Luckily the next day they were fine. My muscles were a little sore but overall my body recovered great for running 2 more miles than I had ever ran before! (my longest run to date was 11 miles the weekend before the race)

Sunday we got up picked up the condo (washed the sheets, towels, etc.) so Keisha's friend Lisa would not have to have someone come in and clean after our stay. She let us stay there for free so it was the least we could do! We left the condo around 9:30 a.m. drove through some rain on and off and made it home at 5:30 p.m.. The best part of the drive home was Keisha and I listened (and sang) to some old school songs like...Salt-N-Pepa's Whatta Man, Jay Z's Big Pimpin and Can I Get A..., J Lo's I'm Real, My Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Get Right as well as Mase' Feel So Good. That reminded us of our 'pre-kid' days of Panama City spring break trips! Good times...good times for sure!

Colton's 18 month's Check Up!

This morning we had Colton's 18 month check up at NW Pediatrics in Fayetteville with Dr. Silvey.

Stats:

Weight: 23 lbs 13.5 ounces (25th %)

Height: 32 inches (45-50th %)

Head size: 19.3 inches (80th %)

He used to be a short chunky monkey with a big head...now he is a short skinny monkey with a big head. :-) I have a feeling the 'skinny' part is because I've been trying to cook healthier at home and so far he is not a fan...but he will catch on eventually. To compare stats with his big sis at 18 months click here.

Dr said everything looks great! He does have some allergy issues (like his daddy...thanks babe!) but other than that he is doing great!

Looking at me with a smirk on his face almost like he was embarrassed thinking 'mom I'm naked here!'

Can we say 'someone should have fixed her hair better this morning!' LOL

Lauren insisted she go with us to the Dr. so here she is reading her book like a good little girl.

Colton apparently thought 'if I hide under this book maybe the Dr. won't see me'

It was pretty cute!

Running off steam outside after his shots.

Lauren saying "bubby it's ok...I've had shots before too"

My big 18 month old!

One happy big sister!

Shot's he received:

MMR 0.5 mL SC

Hep A 0.5 mL IM

DTaP 0.5 mL IM

Flower Pictures

Sunday after seeing the Easter Bunny we moved on to the other side of the Pinnacle Mall where they had these nice flowers set up...just perfect for a fun mini-photo session. :-)

Why Is The Easter Bunny So Scary?

Sunday, I decided I would get the kids all dressed up to get pictures with the Easter Bunny in Rogers at the Pinnacle Mall. Aunt Kristen and Uncle Brian were going to meet us there since they had not taken Ava yet either.

On my way to the mall I called to just make sure we would not be going during the Easter Bunny's break. Well I was shocked to find that the Pinnacle Mall did NOT have an Easter Bunny this year! WHAT?!?!?! I mean, did these people not know the work that goes into a mom of two getting their kids all dressed up and out the door without getting something on the clothes five seconds after they are all dressed? I mean they were all dressed and ready to go, loaded in the car and I was almost to the mall...PLUS my sister-in-law got her 9 month old daughter all prettied up to see the Easter Bunny for the first time! I was NOT about to let this time go to waist. :-)

The security office (yes that's who I had to talk to about the Easter Bunny) told me that "we don't have an Easter Bunny this year but he is over at Old Navy this weekend". I thought 'ok, we will just go over there'. But before we went I thought I better call and check it out. The person at Old Navy assured me that YES they did have an Easter Bunny walking around the store. I being the crazy creative mom I am said asked if they had anything set up for pictures and the store associate said "well we don't have an official set up, but there is a bench outside you could use" and I thought 'perfect'!

We get there (me, Kristen, Brian and the 3 babies who are all dressed up in their Sunday best) and make a full lap around the store but don't see a bunny anywhere? I found 2 managers at the front of the store greeting customers and I just said "I have a random question for you...I was told the Easter Bunny was at your store today since the mall doesn't have one this year" and the guy said "oh, that was yesterday." I wanted to scream...but kept my cool and said "NO! I was literally just told 10 minutes ago by someone at your store that the bunny was here today" (how's that for keeping my cool!) I explained the situation and he asked the other manager if the bunny was still here. She said "he's not but he could be" with a smile on her face. So, they went to the back and had someone get the bunny (and by that I mean someone had to get all dressed up again since they thought they were done for the weekend!).

Needless to say, we basically made someone get all dressed up again just to take photos with our kids! LOL Hey, that's what you do when you are a mom right?!?!?!

Colton was not a huge fan of the bunny and Lauren would not even sit near him which is why I'm in the photos below

(BTW I'm consoling Colton in the 2nd photo...not getting on to him)

Oh, the things we do for our kids!

Half Marathon Running Assumptions

So about 6 months ago my friend Keisha mentioned the idea of doing a half marathon with her in Nashville in April 2011. I instantly thought YES I WANT TO DO THAT because it's always been something on my bucket list. Well I mapped out everything I needed to know about training...or so I thought. I started training in January using the Hal Higdon 12 week method (although since I had not been working out I added in an extra 4 weeks (16 total) of training so that after 4 weeks I would be running up to par with the HH training method) I started out by running 1 mile - 3 days a week and gradually increasing by 1/2 mile increments during the week and running 2 miles on the weekend as my long run, increasing by 1 mile every 2 weeks from that point on. I went from not working out at all, eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and nursing Colton to working out 3-5 days a week and not nursing Colton at all.

I assumed that I could eat like I was when I was nursing Colton because the 3-5 workouts a week would wash out the food I was eating...first assumption that was wrong. I assumed that because I was running, all my left over baby chub would just melt away...assumption #2 wrong. I assumed that my 'saddle bags' as they are called would just vanish into thin air...assumption #3 wrong.

Well about 6 weeks ago (2 months into my training) I noticed my pants were fitting tighter than they had before in the waist and legs. I thought what is going on? because I just didn't understand how someone could be running 10 miles a week and be getting bigger. I reached out to basically everyone I know for advice...I mean if you were ever considered a 'runner' you probably received an email from me. LOL I did some research myself and found that runners in training normally retain water (for hydration on long runs), store carbs (again for the long runs) and gain muscle. I was perfectly happy with the muscle part but not the water retention or carb storage since that was making me gain/hold on to the fat instead of letting it vanish like I had dreamed. I started eating better than I was (but honestly still could have done better...especially during the 2 weeks stuck at home from the snow). Well I think that time was the peak of it all because now 6 weeks later I'm noticing that everything is going back to normal...but the good news is I have more muscle...so I'm assuming that the fat is finally starting to s...l...o...w...l...y go away...first assumption that I think is actually right! When I assessed my eating habits 6 weeks ago I started doing better then but figured why would I train for 4 months and only half way do something...why not get the full benefit by eating right too...not half way right like I was really doing but actually eating right about 80% of the time (80-20 concept). I think that new mentality is helping me not only physically but mentally also. After 3 months of bad assumptions I think month 4 is the month everything clicked with me. I know...I know...why did it take 3 months you ask? I honestly think I lived in fantasy world for the last 5 years! I know it sounds funny but I was very lucky with both kids and could eat what I wanted when I wanted and not gain weight. With that said, when you are pregnant and nursing for a combined 3.5 years (44 months) out of the last 5 years (pregnant with Lauren in Sept '06, had her in June '07 and nursed until March '08...then pregnant with Colton Jan '09, had him October '09 and nursed until Jan '11) then you will know how hard it is to get back on track...it's not the fact that I'm a procrastinator...no that would not be it at all. ;-)

Anyway, I'm happy to say that I have stuck to the Hal Higdon program (with some minor adjustments for things called winter and sickness), am eating much better now and feel great! The race is less than 2 weeks away now and I feel ready...nervous but ready! This past weekend I ran 9 miles and plan to run 10 or 11 this coming Easter weekend with the race of 13.1 miles next weekend the 30th! Watch out Nashville...here I come!

Lauren's First Soccer Game Spring 2011

Saturday, April 9th was Lauren's first soccer game of Spring 2011. Let me just say something clicked with my little soccer star because there was a huge difference between Fall 2010 and Spring 2011! She was actually running after the ball and kicking it down the field, etc. A few times she was even pushing nudging others out of the way to get the ball! Go Lauren!

Getting a little pep talk from dad during a water break

Let the shoving nudging begin!

My little soccer star!

And what did Colton do during the game you ask?

Playing Well Together

We had a great weekend with lots of fun stuff going on...so it's nice to capture these special moments on camera of the kids playing and laughing together! We love them more than they will ever know and I'm going to miss these times when they get older!

Colton LOVES Lauren so much that sometimes he comes at her like a Vampire baby because he just wants to hug and kiss her! Luckily most of the time she lets him.

They are both big into books...Colton is especially into any type of car book (cars, trucks, trains, etc). He goes around the house and says "ca-ca" for Car anytime he sees a car or wants us to read him a car book. :-)

Princess Lauren

After going to Hannah's birthday party and playing dress up...we came home and Lauren wanted to dress up again. She got Lipstick at the party so she had to put some on. She didn't want me to take a picture of her outfit...just her lipstick! :-)

Love you baby girl!