SLC Marathon

About 3 months ago I ran my first marathon. Thus far in my life, I've run a couple races. 5k, 10k, sprint tri's, and a handful of half marathons.

I remember my first half. I had decided to run a half. I told Jared my plan. I was in nursing school. I remember being nervous. I also remember specifically saying to Jared, "I will never run a full marathon. That's crazy."

Call me crazy because I ate my words.

I have always loved running, but after having Andrew it has been different. It is harder and just different. I don't know exactly how, but physically it is harder and mentally harder. I'm always thinking about how I'm spending my time. Should I be with my family? Should I have cleaned the house instead? Will Jared be OK with Andrew? Will he be hungry? (Yes, I ran a marathon and breastfed the whole time).

BUT I wanted to retain something of my former self after having a child. I felt lost in a world of colic, of poop and spit-up shirts, of exhaustion.  My world was upside-down. So I started training for a half. I've done them before, but training with a colicy baby is hard. I did it.  6 months after he was born I ran a half. I was proud.

Then the new year. We lived in a new home. In a new state. Not knowing anyone or anything.  I turned again to running, but set a goal of running a marathon.

Training was not easy. No. Not at all easy. Jared was very supportive of me, but the transition in our move was hard on us both. I did a couple half marathons with Andrew in tow because Jared was on call so he couldn't watch him on the chance he would be called into the hospital.

I trained up to 20.5 miles. I hit the wall training. It was horrible, but it was a good thing. When it happened in the marathon, I was ready - mentally.

I had originally planned on running the Lake Lowell Marathon, BUT when I saw that last year there was only 45 marathoners I decided to bail and run the SLC marathon.

Jared was awesome and got people to cover his call, he bumped surgeries up and worked late the night before we left.

We drove to SLC and went straight to packet pickup. It was fun to be at a larger race again with a real

I was number 731.

That morning I woke up. Fed Andrew and Jared and I were off for the tram to the start line. Jared saw me off. I was nervous to say the least. The corrals were off so I started with a group faster than I wanted to pace myself.  But I tried to pace myself. It is hard to run slow when all around you are running faster.

I hate to say it but I missed most the sites.  I didn't know where to look so I missed it. Womp womp. But quickly the half marathoners were split from us (mile 11 ish I think) and there was hardly anyone around. A couple people, but most were half marathoners.

Some of the marathon course was really pretty and cool. Most of it was neighborhoods and just boring streets.

I started to feel it around mile 16. It hurt. By mile 19 I was struggling mentally. Everything felt like it was uphill. Mile 21 came and I started to walk through water stations, stretch a little and then run to the next one. This was when I met Susan. She is a med student at UofU. It was her 3rd marathon. She was having a hard time this time and we talked to pass the time.

The last mile and a half went quickly even when it was so slow the last 4. I saw Jared, Andrew and Jared's parents at the finish.

I crossed the finish line at 4:27:25.

I hurt. It was hard. Physically and Mentally. Hard. I thought I would never do it again. Until a couple days later....

I was so happy to see my little guy and Jared and everyone that supported me. Thank you.

I did end up running another marathon 6 weeks later. (crazy!!) The Famous Potato Marathon.
It didn't go as well. I've been having pain in my knee. BUT I finished. I am proud to say I've done 2 marathons.

I really enjoyed the accomplishment of running the marathon. I truly love the distance, but the training just takes too much time away from my family. Maybe some other time I will get faster at the marathon. Maybe I will do Boston? I don't know. I'm not sure what is next for me.

Look Who's 1

Happy Birthday to the sweetest little boy around! We couldn't be more blessed than we are right now with our little guy.
I can't believe how quickly this first year has gone. Some I'm glad is passed us, but most I will miss dearly.
I never knew how much I could love until he came into the world.

I love you Andrew.

11 MONTHS

Oh NO! Only a month and this man will be a year old!!!! Where has the time gone.

He has changed so much in just a year. I miss how little an innocent he used to be although he still has his moments.

Andrew still loves to eat. He is very good at finger foods and his favorite is cheese.

He pretty much just babbles. Da-da, ma-ma, ba-ba, ta-ta, all sorts of noises I can't explain and then razzing noises.

He will point to something he wants to see, likes or is interested in.  It makes things nice for me because it helps communicate what he wants.

He took his first steps on the 20th. THREE! He was walking to daddy.  Soon he will be confident enough and be running around. Where's my baby???

He hates having his teeth brushed. Such a battle.

He LOVES dogs. And laughs everytime he sees another dog.  I don't really 'get it' since he has a lazy dog at home he can stare at, but whatever.

He is still loving the stroller. And LOVES being outside. We were at the park for over 2 hours the other day. Loves the playground equipment. Loves to watch the other kids and tries to imitate them. Loves the swing. Loves the slides. Loves the rocks. LOVES IT!

He is doing a little better with being left at the gym daycare. Why? I don't know. But it is a welcomed relief. Now I can do a 40 min workout and they said he only cries a little. Maybe there is hope!

Andrew is really a happy boy, but can be so needy. He is starting to get a bit demanding and when he doesn't get his way he will start to throw a fit. (especially if he's tired) I can hardly wait for this next stage...... :/

Love this cute chubby man!

Our stats

I'm only a month and a half behind with his 9 month visit

Andrew was most likely sick for about a week before his appointment. He would NOT breastfeed. STRIKE!  A whole week of it. I would offer and he would bite me. Sometimes... he would nurse. However, most the time I was bit, and then left with a harmed ego and pumping. BLAH.

And solids were only eaten because he had to survive.

SO I think we lost a little weight, however you would never know it.

The office visit went well. I really like our new Ped. He actually spent 30+ minutes with us. He said that Andrew looked just as healthy as could be and developing right on track.

So our stats,

Weight: 22.5 Pounds - 75 - 90%
Height: 29.25 Inches - 75%
Head: 18.5 Inches - 90%

A big boy is what we have! He is so so cute! and I love him so much.

TEN

10 month mark has come and past.
I can't hardly believe that he will be one year old in a couple months!

He is as cute as can be. And a super happy bubba. HOWEVER he has some major seperation anxiety going on that prevents Mom and Dad from ever getting to far. House included.

He loves to babble. Da da is his favorite right now. Ma-ma comes out when he is upset. :/

Not walking yet (yeah!) but loves to hold our hands and walk around. Stairs are also still a super fun thing.

If mom and dad are eating it he wants some too. Loves to eat food, but is getting more picky. But he LOVES yogurt.  (having 8 teeth helps with the whole eating thing too)

We like to go to the park and swing in the swing. Mom takes him on runs all the time and he does great.

He complete another half marathon this last month. That's Number 2 for this little guy.

He LOVES LOVES LOVES to read books. Dad reads him a bunch every night. Lil' smarty.

Never a quiet bub. Church is still hard. But if he is making happy noises people just have to deal. I'm not taking him out (unless it is the passing- the only exception. That and if I'm not feeling confident). If I did I would never-ever sit.

He really loves soft things. Stuffed animals and blankets beware he will do a face plant into you.

Sleeping is off an on. Some nights he will sleep through the night. Some he wakes up once to eat and others we are up multiple times a night. He does sleep better with a blanket though. Sometimes he won't go to bed without it.

Because of our move we haven't gotten our 9 month check up yet.  Opps. It was a combination of not having insurance and then when we got it we had to have our records transferred via snail mail, then the MD only sees new patients after reviewing his records and only on Tues and Thurs.  That combined with spring break... ugh.
It has been a work in progress since Feb.  BUT next week he has an appointment so we will find out how big out little man is. In the mean time he seems to have stabilized out at around 23 ish pounds for the last few months.


We love our little man!

He is also a vain little guy. He loves to look at pictures of himself and likes to see the screen when the camera is pointed at him. Vain man!

9 Months! He's been out as long as he's was in!

I can't believe he has been with in our arms as long as he was hanging out in my belly!

It seems an eternity ago that I was pregnant. Some things I miss. The movement. The miracle of it all. Call me weird but I'm also starting to miss my line down my stomach. It's finally starting to fade.

Other things I would prefer to never experience again. Morning sickness. Broken ribs from all the kicking. The itchy stomach. Heartburn. The nice new umbilical hernia I have. The stretched out skin. The list goes on and on.

Other things I still don't get. Namely Sleep.


So on to Andrew!

(This post really is about him I swear)

He is adorable! We love him. And he is thoroughly spoiled (though I don't think he knows it, but he kinda milks it at the same time...)

Things we like to do:
The fridge. If it's open he'll crawl over and pull everything off the shelves he can reach. (personally I don't mind. 30 minutes of fun for him 1 minute of clean up for me - don't worry all the breakables have been moved up)
Shower. If the water is on in the shower he is going in, clothes or not (its a walk in shower- no door).  He loves to shower with us. He just crawls around and splashes in the bit of water. Plays with shampoo bottles. He loves it.
The book shelf. All the books somehow like to come out of their shelf....
Reading! Loves it still. Even when he is the grumpiest grump (We call him Major G - G for grump)
Baths - he just loves to splash and pull himself up on the faucet.
Drumming - He drums on everything. Chairs. counters, tv walls, cabinets, couches, books, toilet,the oven, everything! I don't mind except when we are at church... those metal chairs being drummed on can get loud.
Watch baby Einstein. Some things never change, but he has added some curious george and mickey mouse clubhouse, but he's not nearly as interested. (don't judge the tv watching. We do limit it)
Pull up. If he can pull up to a stand he will. On the fireplace, tv, couch, toilet.... etc...

Going up stairs. He is quite good at it too! (yes we have a gate) We wanted to teach him how to go up properly to try to avoid falls. Now teaching him to go down.... haven't figure that out yet.
Crawling. EVERYWHERE.

Chasing the dog. Dog hates it, but Andrew loves it. Charlie's better with it if I'm holding Andrew and running after him. Then its a game.
Be outside. It doesn't matter if its in the stroller, or just getting the mail. Outside is the best. Maybe he'll be a forest ranger or lumberjack....
Last but not least....
BEING NAKED! If ever he is a grouch just get him naked and its all good. I've never seen a faster turn around from grump to pure ecstasy. So don't judge all the naked pictures. They are usually at night right before bed time when he is super fussy. You'd never know because he is super happy... and super naked.

Andrew is the sweetest little boy.
I love seeing his personality come out. He was called "Spunky" the other day at church. And that is EXACTLY the word I needed to describe him. He always wants to be entertained, and is always on the go. All day is go go go. No sitting. Demand. demand. demand. So yes... he is 'spunky'. (such a nice positive word for a needy, challenging little guy. I love it!)

He rarely sits still...

He loves to see the animals at the zoo. And loved the lion!

He smiles big every time daddy comes home. I love to see his big smile when he sees me come around the corner.

He has also adapted a cheesy grin he likes to use on us as well as others.

He now will wave. Its really more of a heil Hitler arm out 'wave' but we are working on moving the fingers too.

He can stand on his own for a couple seconds at a time, but isn't super confident so as soon as he realizes he isn't being held or holding on to something he reaches out and usually falls.

No, we are not sleeping through the night.

He is getting his 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th teeth (tops and bottoms). It's been another very rough month of teething including having an eruption cyst (aka blood blister on the top where one is breaking through). Did I mention Very rough????

He still likes running with mommy (it is outside after all)

Separation from mom and dad is the worst.
Food is the best.  He is the best eater. Really.  Like   #1. First place! Red ribbon!  The BEST eater.

Love him. love him. love him!

 

P.S. - We still occasionally blow out.... 

Hello 8 months

The last month was full of fun.

(Can you tell he LOVES remotes??)

Andrew was sick quite a few times. First with a GI bug. Then a cold. The last another cold/possibly flu. (I had it too.... It was bad.)

He also got both front teeth in at the same time on Christmas (of course all happening while he was sick) He was such a grump, but I can't really blame him, but it was rough at night. - And then not being at home ... blah.

He got to experience his very first Christmas. He was good with it. He actually enjoyed seeing the new toys more than just ripping the wrapping paper.

He also got to play in the snow.

He is about 22 pounds (estimate), and wearing 9 month clothes and would probably fit just fine in 9-12 month but I haven't gotten them out yet.  And wears size 4 diapers (only at night - I'm trying to finish of all the 3's first but they are getting smaller and smaller - only 40 more to go)

He pulls up on anything and everything. Couches, Tv, chairs, crib, walls, windows, beds,  boxes, trash cans, strollers. Really whatever.

He will walk if you hold his hands- and enjoys it.

He's crawling as good as ever and loves to crawl after the dog.  (Charlie hates it, but takes full advantage of being faster and knowing Andrew can't get up on the bed.)

He loves the stairs.  And he isn't bad going up them, but we haven't figured out the concept of going down...

He will say Ba-ba-ba-ba if coaxed.  And when he is upset will grumble out a ma-ma... (I'm not sure how I feel about that one... only saying ma-ma when he is ornery. Oh boy.)  Other than that he doesn't seem too interested in actual words, but more about just making noises.  I love it. Let him be a baby for a while longer. :)

He loves to eat.  But not the biggest fan of peaches.  He did try Chicken for the first time and wolfed it down.

Being separated from mom and dad is the worst right now.  But we are getting better each time we go to the gym. We are up to 40 minutes now without crying the Whole time....

He loves it when daddy gets home and comes to greet him.

He also loves to watch Curious George.

His favorite book right now is Dear Zoo. He loves the monkey and doggy.

He has taken to stuffed animals and will bury is head in them making noises.

He is napping more!!!! HOORAY! He is sleeping 2-3 times a day 45 mins to 1 hour 15 minutes each time. (Most days..... not today..... grrrrr.....)

He still gets up at night. Somewhere between 1 and 4 times a night. Usually in the 2-3 range.
(For fear of jinxing things I'm knocking on wood as I type this)...He has given me 7 and a half hours of sleep a few times. (three to be exact) I LOVE IT. Although some times it doesn't pay off as it should since he goes to bed at 7pm...

He really likes to lick windows.... at church, at home, wherever. It's kinda weird, but sure funny looking from the other side. HA!

Love this guy!!