Norah 1 month and workout Update

My little girl is 1 month old.  Time flies!! She is really an alert baby.  She looks at everything and focuses so well.  She has great head/neck strength.  My first little screamed so loud for any tummy time and lil miss lifts her head right up and starts looking around.  She's still getting up a lot at night which I'm trying to remind myself is quality mommy daughter snuggle time, but boy do I miss my sleep.  Coffee anyone?

Sweet kiddos.  Big brother is sweet with her most of the time, but there is definitely some jealously.  When I'm not able to do what he wants he has reached the tantrum stage.  I try to divide my time as much as possible, but its hard.  Two is really busy especially when the older one knows when you can't chase him(nursing) and goes and does naughty things.  Lil stinker.

On the workout front I've been walking as much as possible.  

I've been trying to just take E on these walks rather than both of them so he feels like he's getting mommy time, but I have been pushing the double BOB.  It's a beast but for a double stroller its pretty sweet.

9 more days and ill be cleared for working out.  I miss my sweat sessions so much.  Just the stress relief alone or how about the alone time.  I'd take that to! Can't wait to start blogging about running and working out again.  It is what this blog is for, but until I can ill enjoy my littles.

Fall Days are the best

Norah is 11 days old.  It's been an adjustment and we are learning to manage two kids.  It's definitely a humbling experience.  

She's a serious cuddler.

And her big brother is diggin her which I'm so greatful for.

Today we spent the morning at a Pumpkin farm.  Sweet Emmit rode ponies, a barrel train, and as you can see pumpkins.  There was a craft fair and pancake breakfast.  Pumpkin pancakes btw are delicious!!! It was the best feeling to do that as a family.  I'm feeling really blessed.

I'm also enjoying my first glass of wine in over 10 months.  Life is good :-) 

To all who are racing and running I have run envy, but ill take these baby moments and live them up.  Truly the best moments in my life.

Welcome Norah!

Sweet baby Norah Josephine has arrived! Born Sept 17th 8lb 10oz.

Everyone is doing well, and I'm so happy to be home, healthy, and not pregnant.  :-) 

I'm looking forward to this new journey.  Being a mom of 2 has already shown to be an entirely different ball game but we are loving it.

Looking forward to sharing my journey of mommyhood and getting back into fitness.  I miss running.  I won't rush the healing process though.  I did have a c section so that really requires minimal lifting and activity in order to heal.  As we should with any injury ill take the time and enjoy my new family of four.  What a blessing.  Love them all.

Where did that dark hair come from lol!?! 

Anyone racing this weekend/ today? How did it go? 

One more pic 

32 years old and 39 weeks pregnant!

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday! It is very true that the years pass quicker as you get older and once you have kids.  

I've never subscribed to the "unlucky" theme of Friday the 13th.  I enjoyed my birthday and it was a great day.  Especially because the temperature was finally perfect for this very preggo lady.  65 degrees and sunny.  I spent the entire day outside with this little fella.

We rode tractors at the farm.  Picked apples and pumpkins in the garden, and played in the sandbox.  My dear husband brought me starbucks for breakfast my absolute favorite thing, and my parents delivered Friday fish fry for supper.  We love our fish fries here in WI.

I've also reached 39 weeks pregnant and can't wait to meet my little lady.  It's gotten extremely uncomfortable and my workouts are down to walking with my the jogger.  There is no room left in this inn.  I've signed the eviction notice.  :-)

When I was a Newbie

A post I recently read on crazyrunninglegs.com inspired this post.

As I sit here not running it makes me nostalgic.  I began running when I was 19 many years ago.  I did it to lose weight, get in shape, and fill that void that going from a 3 sport athlete in high school to nothing in college had left in me.  Little did I know what running would bring me.

At first it was all about losing weight, and being impatient I thought it should work right away. I also made the classic newbie mistake of running every day and piling on mileage as fast as possible.  It took me a while to realize my mistake.  I suffered a case of burnout and injury.  Learning from this I started again with a run walk plan and entered my first race.  CrazyLegs in Madison WI a 5 mile race through the campus and the city finishing on the football field.  It was painful and amazing and I was officially hooked.  My senior year at Madison I took the Marathon class.  The only requirement to pass,run a marathon.  There were 40 of us in that class and thanks to them I ran the Madison 1/2 marathon and then the Chicago Marathon.  Truly the best class i ever took!

I went on from there to run several other marathons and 1/2 marathons.  Every run and race I've done has helped me learn more about myself.  I've learned more about dedication, willpower, strength, and resilience from my years of running and the people I've met along the way.  I've learned to listen to my body.  To know when to push it and when to take it easy.  I've learned that running goes only as good as the shoes you put on your feet, spend the $ get the right show.  

I've learned that I'm a happier, more patient, peaceful person if I can get a run in.  

So as I sit here 38 weeks pregnant ready to be unpregnant I think of all these goals I've reached and things I've learned and I CAN'T WAIT!! To run again.  Where's my patience now?? Oh yea I haven't ran in a while I have none :-)

Electric Run Milwaukee Review

I've been needing a girls night with my friends.  We haven't had one without kids in a LONG time.  My friends are awesome moms, and I've been trying to get them to branch out into running/fitness.  This past Saturday night the Electric Run came to The Racine County Fair Grounds and I was pumped that my friends were up for the challenge.

Waiting for it to get dark.

Overall it was a good experience.  I really liked the music.  It was upbeat dance music that got everyone pumped up and dancing.  Me and Baby even were rockin a bit.  The light shows throughout were super cool as well.  All along the way were different displays of lights and music.  The waiting area wasn't packed either and there were plenty of bathrooms.  Being pregnant this is especially important to me.  The race drew almost 5000 people and I barely waited for the restroom.  

The things I didn't like.  The wave starts were a great idea but the race didn't start until almost 820 and it was supposed to start at 8.  Then my wave didn't go until almost 845 and we were in the front.  If we were in the back we would have been waiting forever! Races should start on time and have a more organized wave start.  If you came to run don't expect a good time or to be timed period or even to really run.  It was so crowded that many people who were trying to run had to walk.  Also the terrain was uneven and dark so it was a little dangerous if you were tryin to run.  There were no timing mats or chips.  This run is meant to be fun, and more walker friendly.  It's great for those who aren't ready to commit to a timed 5k, but for those who love there splits and PRs this was not the race to do it at.

I had a great time walking and talking with the ladies, the glow sticks and light shows were fun.  I was even more happy to be out there at 36 weeks pregnant doing something fitness oriented and since I'm not able to run anymore it was nice to still be in that atmosphere.  I'd definitely do it again. 

YMCA!! And an attitude adjustment :-)

My husband and I have been on a hunt for a new gym.  We both have belonged to gyms on and off over the years, but its no longer appropriate to be driving 45 min one way to the gym now that we have kids.  

Enter the YMCA.  This never would have been an option until recently.  They built a brand new Y 10 min from our house! It's beautiful and completely family friendly.  Today I had a tour, worked out on the stationary bike all in a reasonable amount of time so I could get back home and spend the day with my little.  

I chose today to finally check it out because I've been suffering on and off from workout withdrawal.  I've been walking and doing some prenatal yoga, but I miss running so much.  The bouncing of the elliptical has been hurting as well.  So stationary bike it was.  Sometimes you have to adapt.  I admit to tearing up when I saw a women rockin a treadmill workout.  Darn hormones.  Truly though that is how important running is not only physically but to my soul.  I'm glad I was able to ride the bike though.  :-). 3 weeks left of this pregnancy ill take what I can get.  My husband honestly noticed I was cranky this morning and told me to go to the gym for an attitude adjustment.  Lol it worked! It always does.  Thank you endorphins.

And thank you fortwofitness.com for making killer maternity workout tops, and I had to rock my kinvara4s which made me happy.  

We will be signing up for sure.  The pool alone got me talk about kid friendly and they even have a splash area that my little will love! 

Today = success!!