Short and Sweet

I am so excited for this week. Turkey Day is almost here (I can hardly believe it). I am looking forward to all the wonderful food and being with friends and family (of course)....and I can't wait to get my hands on some yummy crab, oysters and fresh salmon...I have been dying for some fresh seafood. This past month I have been really chowing on the salmon and crackers, shrimp and whatever I can get my seafood loving mitts on. But theres nothing like catching some yourself...or at least getting to the seafood market.

I did another six miles on Sunday and felt really good. I have got to do six on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be lighter days unless I feel all gungho and decide to do more and Saturday is my 1/2 marathon. Yipppee. So there you have it....short and sweet.

Me and the P-nutt just got back from our walk so now we're going down for a nappy nap....ahhh bliss! :)

24 Weeks....

This morning brought to you by....John Legend, Beyonce, a little Kanye West and a splash of Bubba Sparx. I got up and was out the door at 5:10 this morning. I walked for a little over 2 hours so I think I got in at least 5 to 6 solid miles.

I have made some changes to the "training" schedule. Starting next week it's 6 miles at least 5 days a week. Thats a nice lean 30 miles a week with the other two days for rest and weights. I need to keep up with it because it makes me feel so much better to be out there moving. I just want to stay in some kind of shape throughout this pregnancy. I am going to do the Seattle half marathon.....kinda. I just won't have an official #. I honestly just didn't want to pay $80.00 to walk a half marathon. I mean thats just crazy for a number and a T-shirt....it can go towards Christmas for the girls and I can participate just the same. So theres that. This weekend my goal is to get in 6 miles on Sat and Sunday.

So here we are at 24 weeks....I was looking back at my last pregnancy and it seems like they both have been pretty easy going. My blood pressures have been way better this time around and I think I have been a little better with the weight gain...I can only gauge by my clothing and so far I am still wearing the same pants. I haven't been around a scale or I would know the cold hard facts...haha! I still think I my belly looks small for 24 weeks...like last time....but I guess you be the judge! (pic to be shown soon! :)) LOL to all and have a rockin weekend!

If I were a boy.....

I'd seriously be grateful that I could stand up and pee. I know the other "preggers" out there have talked about the PP issue.....but yesterday on a walk with P-nutt in the backpack I went pee before we left....walked a quarter mile and had to go again....walked another quarter mile and basically had to RUN with baby in the backpack to the nearest toilet. I just don't get it....and poor teeny weeny probably was bobbing and weaving pretty good in there.

This week I am on a dark chocolate kick and was craving pumpkin seeds, salmon and garlic. I don't even like chocolate....in fact I hate it. Go figure? Lots of love to my hard working hubby! And thanks for the kind words Susan! I've put in only 7 miles this week so far....hopefully will have more time this weekend! P.O.F.N.

Don't TODDLE me!

I have to be honest....I love to teach. I love to teach children and so being a parent has made me see that I really do love seeing my babies learn and grow. I love watching Shelby learn new words or work out new math problems. I love reading to Natalie and hearing her say a new word for the first time or get excited as she recognizes the different characters (woof woof, moo moo, meow meow, grr grr ect)in the stories. I love to learn...and so naturally I love to see others (especially my girls)learning.

Being a parent isn't always a job where you get alot of thanks and praise....this is something that this 36 year old woman has had a hard time with. I am used to being out in the work force and in supervisory roles and I am used to getting props for a job well done. You know props like an "attaboy" or a nice fat bonus, promotion or raise. Even as a nursing student or otherwise I always saw that good work equals good grades and a nice big fat A in a class made me feel like I had accomplished something. I know everyone in the world probably knows that parenting isn't always easy. I honestly see now that the Baby baby stage (you know birth to one) was so easy....and I love the ages of 3 up until 12. (teenage years I am not so sure) This toddler thing is very challenging. This is a stage where my cute little P-nutt can't quite express herself through words just yet and when she is frustrated she resorts to monkey like behavior. Toddlers are a mystery to me. In the hospital I worked mostly with newborns, big people, older people, or older kids. I never knew that these little ones required so much energy....or Sanity for that matter. But I am learning....with a quickness. I laughed outloud yesterday....I mean I was in the grocery store line and I seriously busted out laughing....people looked at me like I was nuts. I had just realized that at the time I have one toddler turning into a fullfledged little kid...I will be experiencing the new teeny weeny going through the same thing. I think I laughed because....really I don't know but all I could do was just laugh.

Don't get me wrong.....being a new mom has taught me so much about myself and about love and perserverance and devotion and has brought me giggling to tears because something was just too funny. I do have a newfound respect for stay at home Moms mostly because I never knew how hard they worked and because they don't get the Props they deserve. It's not that I don't respect working moms too...they deserve props....and some people don't get the choice to stay home. My mom worked nights while my step dad worked days just so that she could be home for us when we were older so I have much respect for the sacrifices she made. It's just that my life has changed....from being a 34 year old woman who did pretty much whatever she wanted to do whenever to being a full time Mom who is now waddling after a toddler.

It's all about growing and I think about slowing down and seeing things as simple and uncomplicated and beautiful....I have had to slow way down in one sense.....and speed up in another sense (just to keep up with my 18 month old). So I'm learning everyday how to be a better Mom....and in general I think that is making me a better person.

I took P-nutt to the pool again today. She is really starting to like it. I am going to try to get her in for some swim lessons in January. For now we are just working on getting her used to the water and I want her to feel comfortable and have fun. I had the 1970's swim instructors....my beloved parents. One of my first swim lessons that I can remember was when my Dad DROWNED dunked me under water. I loved being a 70's kid....those were the days! Cereals were so much simpler then!

Today I have to get five miles in....so I'm off! I cheated and had a cup of coffee this morning so I'm still on a caffiene high. Sorry teeny weeny! LOL to all and talk soon!

Reading, Running and Tuckered Out!

I have been neglecting my blog....I just haven't had enough time in a day this week. You would never think that one little baby/toddler could wear this woman out but she really is one busy little chicken. Our days are filled with alot of running around...either me chasing her around or carrying her around in the backpack. The weather was yucky pretty much all week until today but we have got out and about even in the cruddy rainy weather. She is a little trooper. We finally bought her a winter coat...it is a 12 month coat and she is swimming in it. I can't get her to keep her mittens on for the life of me....and a hat...well there are good days and bad days depending on how Miss-chievious is feeling.

I finished reading "Flags of Our Fathers" right before Veterans day and thought it was a wonderful book. It gave me a new found respect for the veterans who fought WWII in the Pacific. I also respect the camaraderie of the Marine Corp even more. I am an Army girl and I thought we had serious camaraderie but after reading about all of those men who gave their lives without question...it was about honor and the code of taking care of your buddy.

I did 5 miles on Monday and 2 yesterday. Me and the P-nutt put some miles in this morning but I need to calculate how long we went. In 18 days or so we will be double digit midgets again...this time for the teeny weeny. Technically I have only about 15 weeks left to go. It seems like it's going by pretty quick.

It was a great weekend and part of this week because I got to spend five days with Jake. It was nice just to be together. We have been going non stop and at a pace of like 100 miles an hour so it was nice to slow it down and just BE. He honestly is the greatest...and cute to boot! :)

Hope everyone is having a great week. I will be deciding about Seattle here shortly. We are just working out our plans for the holiday....looking forward to that. Lots of love and happy vibes to all!

Chilly Willy

Goodness I really have been busy this week. The weather has been a little yucky with the rain and even a touch of snow and of course it is a little chilly. I took the past three days off from walking since I did alot last weekend. This past weekend was wonderful as usual. The days just fly by...of course and it's suddenly Monday again. We went swimming, mini golfing, trick or treating and watched movies. Lots o fun....and I still managed to get my mileage in. I am going to go out tonight after "DaddY" gets home and get 4 miles in. This week we are at 4/5/4/8.

I am going to be 22 weeks tomm and I think I am going to go out today and look at some maternity pants. I have been wearing my regular pants but my belly has been growing and I figure in a couple of weeks it's going to be uncomfortable to zip them up. I have been trying to eat healthy---er this time around getting in my fruits and veggies and dairy. This week I find myself craving the skittles, starburst, and sour patch kids. I try to curb the cravings but I do let myself indulge on occassion. I just tried out some pomagranite yesterday so I am going to try to curb the skittle cravings with that. (at least a girl can try).

Well me and P-nutt and Teeny Weeny are off...will write more soon. Wishing everyone a great Thursday! :)

Halloween Pictures

Halloween was so much fun....I felt like a little kid myself!