Exercise Nerd

I'm the type that likes to research anything before I do it.  When Ken was job hunting, I thoroughly researched each potential city.  I knew the hospitals, the safest neighborhoods, best schools, possible commute times, etc.  And I've thoroughly researched running too.
Anyway, I found that when you have never run independently before in your life you are not supposed to just go out and run as far and as fast as you can and call it good.  You've got to work up to it or you will seriously injure your body.  For example,  the program I found recommended that the first week I run for one minute and then walk for two minutes 7 times.  The next week I run for one minute and then walk for one minute 10 times.  From there I am going to run for longer periods of time until I can run for 20 minutes straight.  That may sound silly for those of you who are "in shape," but this is hard work.
Today I just got through my run by doing math the entire time.  Mostly fractions of how much of the run I had completed.  That's right, I'm all kinds of nerd.   I also calculated how long it would take to run the half marathon at all different kinds of speeds, factoring in bathroom breaks. 
Also, I tried to smile during the running intervals.  It really seemed to help.
If anyone out there has some great running or exercise tips, I'd love to hear them.  My body is trying to remind me that I hate running and I'm doing what I can to ignore it.  I want to enjoy this.

Just a normal Sunday morning

What is a Sunday morning look like in our home?  Well we have church in the afternoon, so we get ready at a slow pace.  And we play as we go.
Sometimes we, you know, play with vacuum attachments.

Cowboy cleaner

And his Deputy

Toddlers are awesome

Last night was a night of firsts for us.  It was the first time that Jared "got sick" all over his bed repeatedly.  I don't know how many times exactly because Ken did all of the night shift.  It was obviously gross and it would've been great if we could've all been healthy and sleeping.  But Jared's toddler brain made the night better.  When we would go in, he would look at us and say "I spilled."
We tried to teach him the term "throw up," but I don't think it made any sense in his mind- nothing is actually being thrown.  He just kept saying "I spilled."
Now, he is doing fine.  And I am so glad to have the memory of the night when Jared "spilled!"

Singing to my babies

I sing a lot.
More than I ever thought I would.
Jared is learning songs.  He likes "Tigger song," "Old McDonald," "I like bananas, coconuts and grapes," "I am a child of God," "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," and "Elmo's song."  He mostly likes to sing them while we brush teeth, go up or down stairs and before sleeping.  Sometimes if I am singing, he says "Top, Mommy.  Dewids durn!" (Stop, Mommy.  Jared's turn!)   And then he proceeds to sweetly mumble some notes.  And I love it.
When he was a baby he had almost no interest in music.  I would try to sing to him to calm him down, but he never took much notice and continued to wail.  He didn't really seem to care about music until he was one and a half.  Rosie is a different story entirely.  She loves music.  When I sing Jared's bedtime song, she will stare at me the whole time.  I feel like an amazing singer during those moment.  Her favorite (ie- has been the most consistent in calming her) is "I am a Child of God."  Because she likes it, we sing a lot more often now.  Jared has even sung to her a couple of times.

This is a nice stage.  I want to keep it forever.

Hit the Ground Running

I just did something that I truly never thought I would do.  I just signed up for a half marathon.

That's right a half marathon. Specifically the Sunburst half marathon here in South Bend! 

 

It ends on the 50 yard line at the Notre Dame stadium- so cool!

This is one of my 25th year goals.
Now, I am a little bit terrified because this is a huge thing for me.
Two main reasons why I want to do this.  First, I just had a baby and I would like to fit in jeans.  This means they should button up and not have that flesh bulge above the waistband.  I want to feel normal and strong again.  After Jared, I volunteered to be in a postpartum study through BYU.  I basically got a personal trainer twice a week for an hour. It rocked.  This time around I don't have that, so I'm going to do it myself. Second, I want to prove to myself that I can.  I never really tried to be sporty or athletic when I was younger.  My older siblings were stronger and faster than me (probably because they were significantly older), so I gave up and decided it wasn't my thing.  I've told people for years that I hate running, but the truth is I've never tried outside of gym class and a handful of other halfhearted attempts.  And I am doing this because I learned when Rosie was born that I am a tough lady.

I've planned out a training schedule for the next five months, which I'll let you know about a little later.  And I'm working on mixing in a little excitement with my fear.

I AM AN ATHLETE!

Sleeping like a baby

This is how ours does it.

Hatched

So much love

 Jared really does love his little sister.  I worried that he wouldn't quite a bit before she was born.  But he loves her with all of his toddler enthusiasm.  She mostly doesn't mind...

Darling girl

Family photo

Blessed day

On Christmas day, we blessed Rosalie Ann. 

Four generations: My grandma, Ida, my mom, Kristen, me and Rosalie

The men and the baby

The cutest shot of my Grandpa and Jared

Christmas

Christmas was, once again, pretty amazing.
The best part about this year was being reunited with all my siblings and their families.  Now, the first 4 grandchildren are boys and they are all old enough to play together.  So this is what I was really  excited for:

Here Lincoln (the little blonde) walked into a sword fight on accident!  It was a beautiful boy moment!

Christmas Eve morning, we all went and took family pictures.  This is the whole gang.  I really wish I'd held Rosie so she wasn't so tipsy.

This year, for the first time ever, we opened presents Christmas eve on account of early church.  And no one wanted to make the little ones wait until afterwards.

Ruth literally stealing the limelite in her new safety running vest.

Rosie's first Christmas present!

  

 

Ken's joy over receiving dried peppers.

The next morning we took the traditional children-on-the-stairs photo before church.

 Merry Christmas to all!

Grandma's visit

It was so wonderful to have my mother-in-law here!  Here are some pictures from her stay:

Doing what grandma's ought to do- Giving chocolate chips to toddlers!!!

From out of a cardboard fortess...

into civilization!!!
We are almost done unpacking boxes after a big push last night.  I am loving that I now know where (most of) my possessions are.  But I don't want to move for a long time.  It is certainly unpleasant on both ends.  (Except the part before you move when you try to eat all your food- I loved that.)
Since I am nearing the end of this period, I will let myself complain just a little bit.  Here is why I hate unpacking boxes:

• Chaos- every time you open one it feels like you are back at square one.  This means no table or bed or walking space.
• Decisions- Being the head woman of the family, it has fallen upon me to decide where just about everything goes.  This decision-making often spawns more decisions because of required rearranging, streamlining or additional purchasing.
• Children-  I truly love mine, but having one arm for unpacking (fortunately only for the later boxes- Thank you Marcy!) or keeping a toddler away from breakables makes me want to just leave those boxes packed forever.
• Space- I am now certain I will never have enough of it.